This Is What I Did by Ann Dee Ellis

This was a great read and even funner because the author is a Provo native, Ann Dee Knight now Ellis.  It's about a boy who witnessed something traumatic and how he deals with the weight of his experience.  It is a quick and interesting read.  Read it.  It's worth it. She did a great job.  I can't wait to read her other books!

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

"Lights shine in the city of Ember—but at the city limits the light ends, and darkness takes over. Out there in the Unknown Regions, the darkness goes on forever in all directions. Ember—so its people believe—is the only light in the dark world. And now the lights of the city are beginning to fail. Is there a way to save the people of Ember? No one knows. But Lina Mayfleet has found a puzzling document, and Doon Harrow has made discoveries down in the Pipeworks. With these clues, they start their search."

I enjoyed this book. It is a quick read and a fun read. I did find the darkness clausterphobic and it made me anxious,and made me crave the imagry of a tree and blue sky. But that is because the writing is well done. This is the first in a series of four. I am looking forward to the other three books.

No Shame, No Fear and Forged In the Fire by Ann Turnbull

I've been debating posting these books, since I read them earlier this summer. The main plot is kind of predictable and although enjoyable not particularly noteworthy. But I am posting about them anyway because the subject and setting was fascinating. No Shame, No Fear is about a Quaker girl living in England in the seventeenth century and the persecution that came with being a Quaker at that time. I had no idea about the Quakers and I found reading about them fascinating. Their views were revolutionary. They believed in people being able to feel the Spirit without a paid clergy and that all people are equals despite social class, gender, or any other factor. Quite a radical concept for that time. The book sent me to Wikipedia and many other websites learning about them. The book Forged in the Fire is the sequel to No Shame No Fear and is about the same characters who move to London. The story itself wasn't as interesting to me as it was to read about the Plague and the Great Fire of London, that occured in the same year. I found both topics totally fascinating, learned a lot, and went online to read more.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

The Goose Girl is a retelling of a Grimm's fairy tale (not one that I had heard of before). Ani is the Crown Princess of Kildenree and betrothed to the Prince of Bayern. She travels from her home to Bayern with her maid in waiting. Her maid in waiting turns traitor and claims to be the princess rather than Ani. Ani bides her time working for the King as a goose girl, trying to determine how to prove the maid false. Along her journey she finds friends and help in unlikely places, including herself.
There are two other books about Bayern including Enna Burning and River Secrets. Both are worthy tales, but The Goose Girl is the most intriguing.

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

Brisinger is the most recent instalment in the Inheritance Cycle. The first two books are Eragon and Eldest. The books tell a familiar story about a peasant boy, Eragon, who discovers there is more to him than meets the eye. He finds a dragon egg, it hatches, and he becomes a Dragon Rider. Thus starts an adventure of self discovery where Eragon and Saphira (his dragon) must battle fantastic creatures, befriend Elves, Dwarves and Men, and find a way to destroy the evil King Galbatorix.
I enjoyed the first 2 books and was excited to read the third. I liked it, but was a little disappointed in the movement of the plot, I felt it was slow. I was also bummed because I was about 3/4 of the way through the book when I realized that it is not the last book. The author originally planned for 3 books, but when writing Brisinger he realized that the story was too long for one book and made the series into a cycle! I'm bummed because I didn't get a conclusion as I was hoping, and I have to wait for the next one to come out.

Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The book starts three months after the end of Peter and the Starcatchers.^[3] Slank returns to the island with more of the Others, including a certain Lord Ombra, to reclaim the trunk of starstuff lost in the previous book. When they learn that the Starcatchers have taken the trunk back to England, they set sail for London. Peter follows, fearing for Molly's safety, and with Tinker Bell's help conceals himself on their ship.

Once in London, Peter does not know where to find Molly. After unpleasant encounters with beggars, traders and the police, Peter finally gets directions from J. M. Barrie to Lord Aster's house, and rescues Molly from Lord Ombra in the nick of time. However, Louise Aster -Molly's mother- has been kidnapped by the Others, and the children must find Lord Aster who is guarding the starstuff.

Meanwhile, back on the island, the pirates are hunting the Lost Boys. They capture the boys to use as bait for Peter, not knowing he is not on the island. (from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_and_the_Shadow_Thieves)

I Liked the first book more, but, I really did enjoy this story also. I will be reading the third book in the series soon!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

If you haven't read this classic coming of age story yet, you absolutely must.  It is a story of a young Irish girl in Brooklyn at the turn of the century (the last century that is).  I love this book and it is one of my all time favorites.  A gem.

Peter and the Starcatchers By Dave Barry and Riddly Pearson

Peter was the leader of the orphan boys because he was the oldest – or so he claimed. And because he could spit the farthest. Not that it did him much good, shipped off aboard a leaky old bilge bucket to be the servant of a tyrant king.But Peter and his mates aren't the only ones on the Never Land...Why is a trunk holding "the greatest treasure on earth" aboard the stinking, worm-ridden ship? Does it contain gold, jewels – or something far more mysterious and dangerous? And what is Molly, the beautiful daughter of a rich diplomat, hiding from Peter? (this is a summery from someone else but I forgot who and can't find it again. I will keep trying)

I really liked this book it was a fun quick read and is the first in a series of three. It is the story of how Peter becomes Peter Pan and Neverland becomes what it is. I have not read the others yet so if someone who has wants to post about them that would be great!

Holes by Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnats is unjustly sent to Camp Green Lake where he and other boys are sentenced to dig holes to build character. Stanley learns the warden has them digging holes for something else- but what?
It has been a while since I saw the movie so I can't remember how they compare. The book itself is a funny, clever, quirky and entertaining. If you need an amusing, easy read (category: ages 9-12), this is it.

The Book Thief

I borrowed this book from my Mom, a voracious reader/book collector, back in August.  She told me it was wonderful, but I was hesitant to read it because she told me it was the story of a girl in Nazi Germany.  I am always hesitant to read books about Nazi Germany because they are inevitably sad.  So I didn't open this book up and decided this last Sunday to return it to her unread.  As I handed the book back to my Mom, my sister-in-law made me take it back. "That book is amazing, and you can't not read it," she said.  So I grudgingly took it back home with me and read the first chapter on Sunday.  Oh my goodness, this book was AMAZING.  Any yes it was sad.  I cried really hard.  My eyes are still puffy.  What is it about?  Well I guess you could say it is about a girl in Nazi Germany and her little life in Himmel Street, on the outskirts of Munich.  The jacket of the book says, "It's just a small story really, about, among other things:  a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery..." It is a wonderful story about the power of words and books.  One final quote from the book; "How does it feel, anyway?" "How does what feel?" "When you take one of those books?'  At that moment, she chose to keep still.  If he wanted an answer, he'd have to come back, and he did.  "Well?" he asked, but again, it was the boy who replied, before Liesel  could even ope, her mouth.  "It feels good, doesn't it, to steal something back."

This is the story of a girl stealing some words back from Hitler.  It is a wonderful book.