Novels I have recently read and loved include:
THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY, by Laurie Halse Anderson. For years, Hayley Kincain has been on the road with her dad, trying to outrun his PTSD and lose his memories of the war in drugs and alcohol. But when Hayley is a high school senior, the pair settle down in what was Hayley's grandmother's house, trying to find a bit of normal. Spoiler alert: It won't be easy. This YA reaches out and grabs you right in.
GLORY O'BRIEN'S HISTORY OF THE FUTURE, is another winner by A. S. King. Using her flair for inserting an element of fantasy into her realistic novels, this time she has Glory drink a potion made from desiccated bat, which gives her the ability to see into the future. For Glory, whose mother committed suicide when Glory was four and who doesn't know whether or not she will follow in her mom's footsteps, the question is whether she herself has a place in this future she is seeing. Not as gloomy as it sounds! This could pair well with Andrew Smith's Grasshopper Jungle, showing a similar epic scope, but told from a female point of view. (YA)
And for something completely different: Jasper FForde's THE EYE OF ZOLTAR. Third book in his excellent Chronicles of Kazam, this is a terrific romp with sixteen-year-old Jennifer Strange, magician Perkins, and Crown Princess Shazza Blossom Hadridd Snodd (in her servant's body), as they journey from the Kingdom of Snodd through the neighboring Cambrian Empire in search of Sky Pirate Wolff, who was last seen with the Eye of Kazam around her neck. Which the Mighty Shandar wants in exchange for letting the dragons live. Jennifer Strange is a terrific character, as are all of her supporting cast. Go with it and you will be amused!
For picture books, I read HERE COMES THE EASTER CAT, by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Claudia Rueda, and it's quite long for a picture book. It features a very personable cat who is grumpy because he is jealous of the Easter Bunny. Lots of fun, and a quick read despite the 80 pages.
THE LION AND THE BIRD, by Marianne Dubuc, is another long picture book. It's 64 pages and there is minimal text, but the illustrations tell a complex and heartfelt story. When a lion finds an injured bird in his yard, he brings it inside to care for it, and the two become the best of friends. In spring, the bird rejoins his flock and the lion is left alone. But in fall. . . . The illustrations are delicate and lovely.
And finally THE BABY TREE, by Sophie Blackall, is a terrific story about a kid who wants to know where babies come from. The answers he gets are pretty confusing, but once his parents explain, he sees that (except for grandpa) each person has given him a piece of the truth. It's actually quite informative and very well done!
--
Lynn
Comments