Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan J Rio



Someone is looking for Magnus Chase, and after two years living on the streets in Boston, this 16-year-old knows he needs to lie low until he has a little more information. When he overhears the man and his daughter, who are handing out flyers with Magnus’s picture on it, he realizes that he is being sought by his uncles and a cousin, whom he hasn’t seen in ten years – and whom his mother warned him away from right before she died.
Curiosity leads Magnus to break into his uncle’s house in search of clues about why his family is looking for him after all these years of not caring. But he lingers longer than he should and Uncle Randolph prevents his escape.
Claiming Magnus’s life is in danger, Randolph persuades him to get in his car, and they take a speedy drive to the Longfellow Bridge. As explosions and fires draw near, Uncle Randolph explains to Magnus that he is the son of a Norse god; that today, his 16th birthday, he has attained manhood and will be able to resurrect his father’s powerful sword from the bottom of the Charles River, where it has lain for centuries. And the perpetrator of the pyrotechnics is after the same souvenir.
In true Riordan style, the non-stop action is a little over the top. Our hero is just this side of a smart-aleck – a little snarky, a little irreverent. Supporting characters are well-defined with their own quirks that add to the humor of the book.
Riordan sets the opening scene and many subsequent ones in Boston, which is brilliant. In the late 1800s, a Harvard professor was convinced that the Vikings had set up housekeeping in the Boston area, and he managed to get a statue of Leif Erikson erected on a main thoroughfare in the city. He was also responsible for including copies of Viking ship mastheads on the pillars of the Longfellow Bridge. He based all of this on wishful thinking and supposition, and Boston has lived with it ever since. Boston landmarks are prominent in the story. (The famous Swan Boats in the public garden are used to great comedic effect – but you have to read the entire book to get there.)
Norse mythology is a tangled thicket of nine worlds, and it helped that I had read up on it a bit. With giants, elves, dwarves, major gods, lesser gods, and even people, there is a lot to keep track of. While the story is complex, it isn’t confusing. And what a romp! Riordan hits this one out of Fenway Park.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Don't miss these new installments of your favorite series!


 Seven Wonders by Peter Lerangis


Book 3: The Tomb Shadows

Book 4: The Curse of the King

 
Saving Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
(Book Three)


The Survivors by Erin Hunter
Book 6: Storm of Dogs








Five Kingdoms by Brandon Mull


Book 2: Rogue Knight

Book 3: Crystal Keepers


The 39 Clues Doublecross
Book 1: Mission Titanic


The School for Good and Evil
by Soman Chainani
Book 3: The Last Ever After

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Wait by Antoinette Portis JJ Por


 

Three words
32 pages
Huge message.

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley J Bea



All his life, Micah Tuttle has heard stories about Circus Mirandus from his grandfather. Ephraim Tuttle discovered the magical circus as a youngster, and has been waiting ever since to claim the miracle promised him by the circus’s Lightbender. Now, with his health failing, Ephraim has written to the Lightbender asking for that miracle.
For Micah, the thought of losing his grandfather, the only caregiver he’s ever known, is devastating.  Then there’s Aunt Gertrudis, who has come from Arizona to care for her brother in his final weeks and take Micah  home with her after Ephraim dies. Micah is desperate to find the Lightbender, who he’s convinced can make his grandfather better.
You, too, can discover the magic of Circus Mirandus, and you don’t have to wait for the wind to blow you in the right direction. This is a book that has it all – stories of the impossible, of friendship, of secrets of the past, the love and devotion of a grandparent and grandchild, and a variety of characters that are larger than life. Your ticket to Circus Mirandus is your library card. So step right up, kids, for the – well, not the greatest show on earth but a very entertaining and enjoyable reading adventure.

Note: The author has sold the movie and television rights, so watch for this to come up on the big screen in a few years. But don’t wait that long to read it.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison J MOR





Oh, what a sheltered life the beautiful Rapunzel has lived. Her tower is at the center of her world, and as far as she knows, her world is the world. Until, that is, Jack the Beanstalker climbs onto her balcony. He’s come to find a cure for Glyph, the eldest fairy. And he tricks Rapunzel into following him from the tower.
So begins this delightful tale of an innocent, sheltered girl who discovers a whole new world as she and Jack follow Glyph’s command to seek the Woodmother. What a great take on this Grimm Brothers fairy tale. Grounded would be a wonderful choice for a family read-aloud.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Ballerina Dreams by Michaela and Elaine DePrince J782.8 DeP / First Position DVD Fir

Here's a winning combination for any would-be dancer, but any child who wants to excel at anything could learn a lesson from this book and its related documentary.
In Ballerina Dreams, Michaela and her mother tell the story of Michaela's life from an orphanage in Sierra Leone to a career as a ballerina.
First Position, an award-winning documentary, follows Michaela and five other dancers as they train and compete to be considered good enough to be professional dancers.
Read, then watch; or watch, then read. Be inspired by young people who work hard to make their dreams come true.