Book list for March

Books-March 2012
1. A young wife by Pam Lewis
2. The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (graphic novel)
3. The litigators by John Grisham
4. The golem's eye by Jonathan Stroud
5. The bully by Paul Langan (middle school book)
6. A truth universally acknowledged: 33 great writers on why we read Jane Austen edited by Susannah Carson
7. Save me by Lisa Scottolone (audio book)
8. God's jury by Cullen Murray
9. Out of my mind by Sharon Draper (intermediate book)
10. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (young adult)
11. The Birth house by Ami McKay
12. An elephant in the garden by Michael Morpurgo (middle school book)
13. 12 things to do before you crash and burn by James Proimos (young adult)
14. Bad Kitty for president by Nick Bruel
15. Good things by Mia King
16. Mama says: a book of love for mothers and sons (picture book) by Rob Walker, illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon
17. A month Of Sundays by Ruth White (middle school book)
18. Parrots and pirates by Elizabeth Levy (intermediate book)
19. Breaking Stalin’s nose by Eugene Yelchin (middle school book)
20. Ten Rules for Living with my sister by Ann M. Martin

1. We read this for the library book club. I liked the main character and her ability to take on her creep of a husband to protect her children. Good historical perspective on Argentina.
2. Caldecott winning book that was made into an award winning movie. The pictures are wonderful, but the story, not so much. Still worth reading.
3. As all of Grisham books are, a quick read, with a young, likeable protagonist. But, this has a few different plot twists and turns and some endearing, even if unlikeable characters.
4. This was for the gender study, been putting off reading it for a while, but finally had to. Super long fantasy with multiple character sets and an on-going saga, part two three books. It had some good parts, but not my genre.
5. Several of the middle school girls were reading books by Langan. This was pretty well done for middle school pulp fiction. Story line and characters well done.
6. Kind of long and some parts better than others, but good insights into Jane Austen.
7. I was so engrossed when listening to this, that I had to stop other activities and just listen. Well told story about the dilemma a mom faces when her two girls are in danger and one is her own daughter. Any mother’s worst nightmare!
8. I heard Cullen being interviewed on NPR. While the subject (the inquisition and the modern view on torture) is a little dry, the book is VERY well done and interesting to read.
9. Sharon Draper does a fantastic job of writing about a girl with CP who cannot talk or move herself, but is cognitively very bright. Many issues to discuss here.
10. Cinder is a futuristic retelling of Cinderella. Cinder is a cyborg and catches the eye of the prince, but many factors in her life keep her from being able to be his date to the ball. Mayer has three more books in this series. It will be interesting to see what she does with other popular fairy tales. She nailed this one!
11. The Feminist Book Club’s choice for this month. The story of a midwife in Nova Scotia at the turn of the 20th century. Issues of women’s health told in story form with many controversial issues addressed. We had groaning cake at the book club meeting. Yum! (recipe in the book)
12. I loved this book, with the main story being told as a flash back to the bombing of Dresden. Excellent story for any class studying WWII.
13. This was a short, but excellent novel for upper middle school and high school. Deals with grief over a father’s death as well as anger over a father who neglected his son.
14. Not sure why I read this whole thing. Was thinking of giving it to my middle school girls, but decided not to even though it was written on their level and did have several things they could learn about presidential elections. Bad Kitty is so bad, I just could not bear to give the book to them and recommend they read it.
15. Good easy read with a romance and a strong woman. Not great, but fun to read.
16. I read this for a children’s time at church. Well written, with pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon. Poetic and touching.
17. I love Ruth White and her stories. In Month of Sundays, Garnet and her mother have been abandoned by her father and when she is 14, her mother leaves her with her father’s sister while she (the mother) looks for work in another state. The characters’ interactions and individual development is well done and there are a few surprises along the way.
18. A good beginning chapter book, a little friendship issue, a little mystery and good, strong parents who love their children. Who could ask for anything more?
19. A Newbery Honor book this year. A super story told in the first person as a young boy unravels the lies told by the Stalin regime. How can Stalin be always right if he arrests the boy’s father and then does not let him go? Events cover two days with great drama. Opens good topics of conversation.
20. Perhaps my favorite book of the month. Pearl is such an engaging eight year old character and she has such great insights into herself and her family members.