The Little Book of Big F*#k Ups: 220 of History's Most Regrettable Moments
by Ken Lytle & Katie Corcoran Lytle, MA
224 pages

I like to have a book with me everywhere I go, and I love everything history, so this not quite pocket size book was perfect.  It had little anecdotes starting with the very first "eff up": Adam & Eve eating the apple. It continues all the way up through 2010, mentioning some obvious eff ups like: 

-the sinking of the Titanic

-the Greeks accepting the Trojan Horse

-Y2K (and how it didn't happen)

-the Salem Witch Trials

and some more obscure eff ups like: 

-the introduction of rabbits to Australia 

-the Grover Shoe Factory Explosion in Brockton, Massachusetts

-the Great Fire of Meireki

-Edward III of England making unions illigal.

This book is interesting and good for random anecdotes about history.  Could come in handy on trivia night.

Crossed

Crossed (Matched #2)
by Ally Condie
367 pages

In the 2nd book of the Matched trilogy, Cassia is in the Outer Provinces, trying to find a way to search for Ky.  Her and another girl, Indie, escape into the Carving where they've been told Ky has gone. The Carving is like a bunch of caves and caverns that Farmers and people of the Rising (a rebellion against the Society) used to live in until the Society found it and the two groups deserted it.  In the Carving, Cassia reunites with Ky and they both make their way to the Rising.  Will they both join? Or will they be torn apart again? 

This book is BORING.  It was all fluff and no substance.  Ally Condie knows how to use her synonyms, and she writes gorgeous passages.  But in this book they were like a gorgeous airhead.  I hope "Reached" (the final book in the series) is better. It can't be any worse than "Mockinjay" was for The Hunger Games trilogy.

Dark Life by Kat Falls

304 pgs/2010

Living underwater does not sound exciting to me,  but Kat Falls makes it sound like an adventure! This book is a bit dystopian, a bit underwater western, with some mystery, lots of action and adventure and even a touch of romance. This will be a popular pick on the Truman list, I'm sure!

Hide and Seek by Katy Grant

230 pgs/2010
When Chase is out geocaching one day, he comes across a message in a cache-WE NEE. The next day it says more-WE NEED FOOD. Is it a prank? Or does someone need help? And can he believe their story?

This one is one the Mark Twain list for next year and I think adventure readers will enjoy it. It wasn't my favorite book on the list, but I think readers who like suspense, mystery and action will be picking this one up.

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

360 pgs/2010


About the Book: Aldywn is a typical ally cat-trying to find food and running away from the local animal bounty hunter. When Aldywn is running for his life, he ducks into a pet store to escape. But this isn't just any pet store-it's a pet store for familiars, animal companions to wizards. Aldywn doesn't know anything about the wizarding world or magic, so it's just his luck that a young wizard chooses him to be his familiar!

Aldwyn tries to fake his way in his new home and pretends to be a magical cat. When the familiars young wizards are kidnapped, Aldwyn and his new familiar friends must help them before it's too late-and Aldwyn has to decide if he should reveal the truth or not.

HermioneWeasley Says: I remember when this book first came out and it looked fun, but I'm not the biggest fan of animal fantasy, so I passed on it. I picked up it again for two reasons-1) it's nominated for our state book award and 2) a co-worker's third-grade son said it was the best book he ever read. So with those things pushing me to read The Familiars, I decided to give it a try.

The Familiars is very much The Warriors Series meets Harry Potter. (I was all excited to think of that "meets" line and than realized that Michael Buckley says the same thing on the back of the book-so much for being creative!:) It really is the best way to sell this book to tweens though and I think young fans of both series will enjoy The Familiars.

The Familiars has everything tweens will love-lots of adventure and excitement, humor, good guys versus bad guys, magic, danger, secrets and friendship. It's a non-stop adventure-filled ride and even though the book is long, it's easy to get caught up in the story and it ends up being a very fast paced read. Add in the fact that it's the start to a series, and I think this one will end up being very popular with tweens.

For adults, it's a bit predictable, but it's great for younger readers looking for excitement and adventure and a fun magical series. Since we put this out on our award shelf, it hasn't stayed long! Lots of fun for readers who enjoy magic and animals.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

296/2012

Greg has figured out how to navigate the high school social scene. Be friendly enough with every social circle and you'll get by. He has his friend Earl and they make movies after school, but then show them to no one. When Greg's mom suggests he befriend Rachel, a girl he knew in Hebrew school, because she has cancer, Greg is not pleased. Now he hidden social status is blown. And it gets worse when Greg and Earl decide to make a video about Rachel-and the whole school has to watch it.

The Final Four by Paul Volponi

256 pgs/2012

Malcom is a basketball star and only playing college ball because of the NBA's rules. Roko found hope in basketball after moving to America from Croatia.  Crispin is in the spotlight not because of basketball, but because his romance with girlfriend Hope is viewed as a good luck charm for the team. And Michael Jordan just wants to break out and be himself, and not compared to the player he was named after.

Taking place in the final moments of a final four game, an underdog school and a top school will battle it out on the court. Told in flashbacks and game time details, give this one to sports fans.