Books You Should Be Reading...

(So just ignore the fact that they are shelved in the Young Adult or Intermediate section of your local bookstore.)

Tired of the same ol’ same ol’? Young Adult and Intermediate books are the new realm for storytellers to boldly go where they’ve never gone before, so if you’re in the mood for an adventure then check out this reader generated list.*

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud

Bartimaeus footnotes his thoughts, snarks at the wizard world, and helps save humanity even when he thinks the world might be better off without them. No where will you find a character as dynamic, sarcastic, and altogether morally ambiguous as Bartimaeus in his adventures with the humans Nathaniel and Kitty. First book: The Amulet of Samarkand.

Tithe and Valiant (Modern Faerie Tales) by Holly Black

Urban-gothic (fantasy) setting where “everything was strange and beautiful and swollen with possibilities.”

Any book by Scott Westerfeld specifically:

The Uglies and The Pretties (The Specials is not yet out)

“A future dystopian story about a society where everyone receives plastic surgery when they are 16 that makes them drop dead gorgeous. But what else are they giving up in order to live in their "pretty" world? Chilling portrayal of where our conspicuous consumption and focus on one particular type of beauty might bring us in the near future, suitable for both teens and adults who are interested in the barrage of "perfected" images that we face every day.” (Diana)

So Yesterday

It's the story of professional "cool hunters" who are the ones that invent the trends that everyone else follows. Suitable for anyone who ever wondered why we tried to follow a trend. (Diana)

The Midnighters Series (First book: The Secret Hour)

A group of children born at the midnight who has magical access to the 25th hour of the day and all the horror and powers that come with it.

Teach Me by R.A. Nelson

“Another Razorbill offering about a young woman who has an affair with her highschool teacher. Very real, very raw, very moving. Not exploitive or gratuitous, but a realistic and emotional portrayal of a very difficult situation.” (Diana)

A Great and Terrible Beauty and its sequel, Rebel Angels, by Libba Bray.

“NYT bestselling story of a girl in a Victorian finishing school who discovers a magical realm, but deals with issues of feminism, sexual awakening, class struggles, etc. Also, the covers are DIVINE. Sell themselves.” (Diana)

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

“One girl's spiral into depression and invisibility after a serious trauma in her life (was also made into a television movie).” (Diana)

(Diana also says to check out anything by Penguin’s imprint Razorbill)

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

“Capra-esque examination of the afterlife.” (Diana)His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman

“They're about a little girl, but deal with some very very serious issues. Not children's books at all, really. They're about the nature of childhood and the nature of God. And there's sex. (They're making a movie out of this one, too, but Harry Potter it ain't.)” (Diana)The Giver series by Lois Lowry.

“The Giver won a Newberry many many years ago, I think, and she's recently come out with two more books in the series -- Gathering Blue and the Messenger. Another Future dystopian tale.” (Diana)

Ink Heart and Ink Spell by Cornelia Funke

“Truly wonderful,especially for those already in love with reading. It crosses over quite well into an adult audience-why they haven't yet escapes me!” (Lady T)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

“The thief of the title is a young Munich girl in Nazi Germany who copes with the stress of the war by swiping every book she can get her hands on. One of the main characters is Death,who also is the narrator.” (Lady T)

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

There’s nothing like high school romance, especially when the boy you love is a vampire. Melanie says, “It may even be better than Bray's stuff.”

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

“Follows the life of Jethro Creighton through five Aprils, from the April beginning of the Civil War to the April of its end. The war, unsurprisingly, changes everything thing in his life, including his family. While still a boy Jeth shoulders the burden of supporting his family and running the family farm.” (JMC)

Trickster series by Tamora Pierce

“These are the story of Aliane, daughter of Alannah, the King's Champion, and George, Master of Spies, from one of Peirce's earlier series. Ali becomes embroiled in a political intrigue in the Copper Isles through the machinations of the trickster god, Kyprioth. Trickster's Choice is the tale through the early stages of planning a rebellion. Trickster's Queen is the heart of the rebellion, along with a few surprising twists and turns with respect to who the new Queen of the Copper Isles will be.” (JMC)

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

“Mattie has ambitions beyond marriage and life on the family farm, despite the attentions of a handsome neighbor. While working at the local hotel in the Adirondacks, she meets a guest who later drowns. The guest left letters with Mattie with instructions to burn them, but instead Mattie reads them and learns that she was pregnant by her employer. Based on real life murder mystery from the turn of the 20th century.” (JMC)

The Tilghman Family series by Cynthia Voigt

“They are a little bit dated (one takes place during the Vietnam War), but still good. Set on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The first book (I think) was Dicey's Song, which tells the story of how Dicey, a teenager, brings her brothers and sister home to the grandmother she doesn't know after her mother either disappears or is committed or dies, don't remember which. Mostly about a young person who is used to being responsible learn to trust and how to give up control to an adult. The other books are about her siblings, her uncle who died in the war, and then about people in her circle of friends. Solitary Blue is a good one of the series, as well.” (JMC)

Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Here’s a review by JMC.

Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix

“To preserve life,the Abhorsen must enter Death.” (Amazon)

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Moose has a lot to deal with: an autistic sister, a mother obsessed with getting her killed, a new school and his dad’s new job at Alcatraz in 1935.

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

The four fantastic voyages of Lemuel Gulliver.

“One of the funniest, filthiest books I've ever read. I can't believe I missed it all these years. Of course, I doubt I'd have gotten the jokes when I was nine.” (Lisa Hunter)

Bromeliad Trilogy by Terry Pratchett

“In a world whose seasons are defined by Christmas sales and Spring Fashions, hundreds of tiny nomes live in the corners and crannies of a human-run department store. They have made their homes beneath the floorboards for generations and no longer remember -- or even believe in -- life beyond the Store walls.” (Amazon)

Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage

“At birth, Septimus Heap is carried away for dead, and his father, Silas Heap, is entrusted with a baby girl. When the villainous Supreme Custodian tries to assassinate the now 10-year-old Jenna, who, it turns out, is the daughter of the murdered queen, the girl flees to the Marram Marshes along with some family members, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, and a young army guard known only as "Boy 412.”” (Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR)

Summerland by Michael Chabon.

An American Narnia.

Photoshop Friday Favorites

It's Friday, and I don't know about y'all, but it's been a long week for me. For most of you this is your last day of work before your weekend (lucky bastards), so instead of discussing the world of bookselling, let's discuss books.

Our favorite books.

Now don't get all scrambly-panicked because "Oh Dear GAWD! How can I pick just one!" because this isn't a test, nor is it a one time deal. This is just to get some titles out there for others to read and enjoy this weekend (if they have the time), or to keep in mind the next time they are at their local bookstore. They don't have to be "intellectual" or "literature." We don't judge. They just have to be books you enjoyed for some reason and that you would like others to enjoy too. If enough of you participate and if I have time, I'll compile the list on Sunday when I plan to do some updating on this site anyway.

Ready?

Here we go:

Diary of a Wombat is one of my all-time favorite books. Yes, it's a children's book. Yes, it is about a wombat and written in incomplete sentences. Yes, I give it to children and adults alike, from newborns to cancer patients. The sweet, cuddly illustrations by Bruce Whatley and the simple, yet cheeky statements by Jackie French's wombat get me every time (and fast becomes a favorite of anyone I had this to).

The Tales of the Otori, of which Across the Nightingale Floor is the first book, is one of those series that my store stumbled on by accident. We saw the cover in the magazine and ordered it in because all things Asian were proving to be popular with our readers. When we got it in we put it on the table and promptly forgot about it...until we realized we'd sold out.

In less than two weeks (which is fast for us, especially when we aren't actively handselling).

So we ordered more in. And sold out. Suddenly we had people asking for the next book, rabid to know what was happening next, so of course we had to read this book everyone was so crazy about.

I finished it in four hours, and rushed to work the next day so I could have someone to talk with about it. Lian Hearn has created a lyrical world based upon the Warlord/feudal (please ignore my spelling mistakes) world of Japan, and added an otherworldly element to his fighters. Never is the fantasy so heavy-handed that you see it as that, fantasy, but instead you just accept. Of course these people can magically split themselves while fighting, or throw their image. Duh. They're ninjas!

If you're looking for a book that combines battle, honor, love, and a boy just trying to discover who he is and what he believes in, this is the series for you. Written for adults, it was awarded the "Best Adult Novel for Teens" title by the American Library Association (I believe).

I read The Eight when I was eighteen and in England for the first (but hopefully not last) time. I don't remember where I picked it up, some bookstore in London probably, in between seeing the sights, but I do remember that I became so immersed in Neville's world that I don't remember anything between London and York. Neville wrote her twin stories (one taking place in the present and the other during the Napoleonic War if I remember correctly) in the early seventies, but the action and the adventure remained relevant. Based around the search for Charlemagne's chess set (I know, it sounds mundane, but it's not), this fast-paced story makes its predecessors like the Da Vinci Code look like drabble. Not to mention that kick-ass female characters abound and the fate of the world is to be decided.

Chess is war, after all, people.

I would continue to babble on about all three of these books, but I must go to work (where I do not have an internet connection, but I do have a lot of returns to box up), so let's hear yours.

(I'll come back and fill in all the links for these books later, but they are quite easy to find on Amazon)

Real Chick Wit: Fun, Fabulousness, and Pipe-Cleaner Chickens

Two years ago, at the height of the Christmas season, I was busting open some boxes when I came across this book. At first I thought it was a children’s book, until I randomly opened to this page:



In case you can’t read the caption, it says, “Mary Katherine blamed it on Mary-Margaret and Mary-Margaret said it was Mary-Josephine. All Sister Agnes knew was that one of the girls was going down.”

At first I just saw the three chicks in bobby-socks staring down at the beer can. Oookay, I thought, beer in a catholic school would be bad. And then I looked in the background: the chicken tied to the bed, the poker cards on the floor, the miniature camera.

My immediate reaction: What kind of sick person comes up with this stuff?

My secondary reaction: I like it.

My tertiary reaction: I’ve got to show the boss!

Thus my store’s love affair with the chicken dioramas was born. Bitter with Baggage Seeks Same: the Life and Times of Some Chickens (by Sloane Tanen), was a huge seller that Christmas. Apparently my sick sense of humor was universal. Plus it was the perfect coffee table book to use as a conversation starter, that gift for the person who was impossible to buy for.

A week ago I was once again busting open freight when I stumbled across another book with pipe cleaner chickens. It was the follow-up: Going for the Bronze (Still Bitter, More Baggage)! Instant celebrations erupted throughout the store as we all stopped working so we could read it.

As you should also; it lives up to the original. I laughed so hard that I couldn’t breathe.

So go. Buy. Now!

The chick compels you.

Let Me Tell You About a Guy I Know… (Blind Date Reading Series)

Jeff introduced me to this guy the other day and he’s perfect for you.

Jeff? You know Jeff. Jeff Lindsay? He’s a writer, I think. You met him the last time we got together for that thing at that place…

Yes, Jeff. The guy with the hat. Exactly. Can I continue? Thank you.

Aaaaaanyway, Jeff introduced me to this guy and he’s just perfect for you. Perfect. Total sweetheart. Good looking but completely oblivious to the fact that that slutty LaGuerta woman was hitting on him the entire time. And he’s very laid back, very Hawaiian shirt laid—

Please. Don’t give me that face. You know you like Hawaiian shirts. I caught you checking out that guy the other day. Besides, it doesn’t matter what they wear as long as they have a sense of humor, right? And this guy? Total smiler, big joker, not afraid to laugh. Hell, half the time I didn’t even get the joke, but he was just grinning away and—

Of course he has a job! I wouldn’t set you up with a beach bum. What kind of friend would that make me? Don’t answer that. I can’t believe you still haven’t forgiven me for Ricardo. I had no idea that he was an unemployed himbo when I introduced you. I thought he was a bartender! Not that you have to worry about any of that with this guy, he’s completely legit, in law enforcement even.

No, he’s not a cop. Do I look like I want go through that again? He works for Metro Dade County as a blood splatter analysis, which means no late night phone calls to go out a scene or weird hours. His sister’s a cop though, and he doesn’t seem to mind that she has a more powerful job. I’m telling you, laid back! Perfect! I can hear wedding bells now.

What? His name? You mean I haven’t told you his—I’m such an idiot. His name’s Dexter, Dexter—

You’ve heard of him?

Wait a minute, you’ve heard he’s a what?

Whoa. Whooooa. I don’t know who you’ve been talking to—Was it Doakes? I bet it was Doakes. That conclusion jumping, bastard!—but he’s not like that, not like that at all. Dexter’s a nice guy. A really nice guy. He’s dealing with that whole sociopath thing really, really well. I mean look how well adjusted he is. And he loves kids! How can a man who loves kids be bad?

Serial Killer?

You think I’m trying to set you up with a serial killer?

That hurts. First of all, that’s never been proven. Ever. Hypothetically speaking, even if it were to come out that maybe, I said, maybe Dexter killed some people. I’d ask myself who they are. Maybe the people he’s killing, and again this is totally hypothetical, but maybe it’s just possible that they are in fact the serial killers. They are the evil ones, which then means that Dexter would be providing a service. Because most serial killers are never caught, and this is Miami. We have more than most. Don’t believe me then just watch CSI: Miami sometime.

Yeah, Caruso drives me nuts too. I tend to just blank him out, or count his acting crutches: glasses, hands on hips, walkie-talkie.

So about Dexter…

Oh, c’mon. How can you still have objections? He’s practically a saint! A good-looking, funny, children-lovin’ saint! And he may be performing a valuable service for our community!

Don’t you even want to meet him? He’s perfectly good at controlling his dark passenger as long as it’s not a blood moon or that he’s gone too long between kills. Hypothetically, of course. Not that you should be worried in the slightest because you’re not a serial killer, right? You’re safe.

And single. Safe and single…just like he is.

C’mon. Please give Dexter a chance. Anybody has to better than Ricardo, right?

It's a Pirates! life for me...

Stop the presses! Er, haul the main sail!

Pirates! In an Adventure with Ahab is available from Amazon! That my store doesn't have it yet is just one more example of the suckiness that is corporate America, but that shouldn't stop the world from worshipping a man with an author's bio like this:

Gideon Defoe, who lives in London, is the author of The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists. The pirate books are just the first stage of his plan to topple the global economy and create a glorious workers’ utopia.

Does that not fill you with the commercialistic need to buy! buy! buy!?

No?

Perhaps a summary might help:

They’re back!!! The Pirate Captain and his irascible crew of scoundrels return in their soggiest saga yet.Fresh from their mishaps with Charles Darwin and the evil Bishop of Oxford, the Pirates set sail in a bouncy new vessel——purchased on credit.

In order to repay his debts, the Pirate Captain is determined to capture the enigmatic White Whale, hunted by the notoriously moody Ahab, who has promised a reward.Chaos ensues, featuring the lascivious Cutlass Liz, the world’s most dangerous mosquito, an excerpt from the Pirate Captain’s novel in progress (a bodice ripper, of course), whale ventriloquism, practical lessons in whale painting, a shanty-singing contest in a Las Vegas casino, and a dra-matic climax in which the Pirate Captain’s prize ham saves the day!

Move over, Herman Melville.

Be the first kid on your block to have the newest in Pirate satirical fiction. Wow them at parties with your Ham knowledge. Revive some sort of respect for Melville!

This is your chance to be part of the new pirate craze, so don't be left behind.

In the future (as in way, way in the future) I'll manage to get up my review of Pyrates, and even some other novels that aren't quite so heavy on the funny.

Hopefully.

Not that you'll care because you'll be reading Pirates! In an Adventure with Ahab, right?