Tag Archives: youth fiction

The Birthday Ball

The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry. Illustrations by Jules Feiffer. This is a sweet little book from heavy hitter and Newbury-award winning author Lowry. The Princess Patricia Priscilla is about to turn 16 and is bored with everything. Bored with … Continue reading

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The Mysterious Howling

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. Book 1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood. Read by Katherine Kellgren. When we meet fifteen-year-old Penelope Lumley, she is a recent graduate of the Swanburn School for Poor Bright Females, on her way … Continue reading

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Elijah of Buxton

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis Christopher Paul Curtis, native of Flint, Michigan, is the king of taking a serious topic and telling a funny children’s story about it. In Bud, Not Buddy, for example, he tells the story … Continue reading

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The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron The most recent Newbery award winner apparently got pulled from a number of libraries (mostly school, I think) because it includes the shocking word “scrotum” on the first page. As overheard by … Continue reading

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Peter and the Starcatchers

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson For those of you going through Harry Potter withdrawal, may I suggest Peter and the Starcatchers? This fast-moving adventure with a sense of humor takes us back to a time … Continue reading

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Jack Plank Tells Tales

Jack Plank Tells Tales by Natalie Babbitt Long-time favorite Natalie Babbitt (Tuck Everlasting) returns with this delightful collection, sure to be a hit. Cutting the microphone, Jack Plank is a retired pirate, looking for a new career. Every day, he … Continue reading

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Night Kitchen Radio Theater

Night Kitchen Radio Theater Volume 1: The Emperor’s New Clothes and Pinocchio Mr. FP has recently started recognizing and protesting adult books in the car. This was an effort to find shorter things that he might understand better. The Emperor’s … Continue reading

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Yarn and Linoleum

When I was young, I used to sit on the floor reading Nancy Drew Mysteries. “Play with me!” my little sister whined next to me. “When I get to the end of the chapter,” I said, not paying attention. Then … Continue reading

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People of Sparks

People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau. Read by Wendy Dillon. This is the sequel to The City of Ember, which you might recall I enjoyed. It was a nice little post-apocalyptic kind of story, ending happily when our characters escaped … Continue reading

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Gifts part III

As a librarian, I am bound to respect all genres and to tell you that I will help you find whatever book it is that you want to read next. As a gift-giver, however, romance is a challenge: most romances … Continue reading

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