October reads

Books-October 2011
1. Saxby Smart private detective by Simon Chester (intemediate book)
2. The accidental genius of Weasel high by Rick Detorie (graphic novel)
3. Rachel Spinelli punched me in the face by Paul Acampora (young adult)
4. Bad kitty meets the baby by Nick Bruel (graphic novel)
5. My diary the totally true story of me by Giles Tibo (picture book)
6. The gift of Grace by Grace Mary McClelland (picture book)
7. Limpopo lullaby by Jane Jolly and Dee Huxley (picture book)
8. Come on rain by Karen Hesse (picture book)
9. The Saturday big tent wedding party by Alexander McCall Smith
10. When good wishes go bad by Mindy Klasky
11. Sweet Jiminy by Kristen Gore
12. The monkey and the crocodile by Paul Galdone (picture book)
13. Chicken little by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley (picture book)
14. The day Dirk Yeller came to town by Mary Casanova, pictures by Ard Hoyt (picture book)
15. Valiant friend: the life of Lucretia Mott by Margaret Hope Bacon
16. Baby proof by Emily Giffin
17. The last letter by Kathleen Shoop
18. The taste of salt by Martha Southgate
19. Shakespeare's secret by Elise Broach
20. Sing Me Home by Jodi Piccoult (audio book)
21. The Fadeaway Girl by Martha Grimes (audio book)
22. The Widower’s Tale by Julia Glass
23. Al Capone does my shoes by Gennifer Choldenko (intermediate book)


1. A cute, if somewhat formulaic detective series for third or fourth graders. Saxby is quite smart, but he has some issues with social skills. His best friend is a girl who often helps him out in solving his cases.
2. Written by the author of the cartoon, “One Big Happy.” In his first year of high school, Larkin Pace has to keep a journal for English class. He adds some line drawings and opines on topics of his sister, his girlfriend, his love of film and his parents. A great book for junior or senior high students.
3. I loved this book. One of the secondary characters is on the autism spectrum, but is treated, for the most part, as just another friend by the main character. Deals with family issues, disability, anger management and life in small towns.
4. A graphic novel for mid to late elementary school. Not the kind of book I would want my own kids to read, although some parts were pretty funny. A somewhat sarcastic way to look at the world.
5. A diary that is designed to teach young children about peace and self-awareness. Very poetic and nicely done.
6. Grace McClelland, a young girl with mal-formed fingers on one hand, has written this book to inform others about how to treat someone with an obvious deformity. Somewhat didactic, but written with grace and good will.
7. The rains come and a family in Africa must take to the tops of the trees to be safe from the flooding. While in the tree, the mother gives birth to a new baby; then the whole family is rescued by helicopter. The pictures are wonderful, but can a woman really give birth in a tree?
8. Another book about rain, but in this one, the little girls are hoping for rain. When, at last, the rain comes, they dance and rejoice with their mothers and neighbors.
9. Another in the series of the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I could read these as fast as Smith writes them. The characters are so sweetly flawed, but so caring of one another, especially, Mma Romotswe. Keep writing!
10. A genie in a magic lamp story where all goes wrong, but ends up coming right in the end. Easy to read, but wouldn’t waste my time with more by this author.
11. I have to admit I picked this up because it was written by Al Gore’s daughter. It was very well written, dealing with racial issues in the deep south. She tells a good story and involves the reader in her characters. I would read more by her.
12. Based on an old folktale, the monkey manages to outwit the crocodile and avoids being eaten.
13. Another retelling of the sky is falling. Pictures are very colorful and the language is somewhat sarcastic in places, an interesting choice for a book for young children.
14. Dirk Yeller is a mean outlaw and he yells at and threatens the townspeople. Until finally, he is taken to the library and taught how to read. Once he knows how to read, he is content and stops being so mean!
15. We read this for book club this month. It is an old book, but very much worth reading if you can find a copy. Lucretia Mott was an amazing woman who fought for the abolition of slavery and for women’s rights. She was a good friend to Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Very inspiring!
16. Giffin wrote Something Borrowed and Something Blue. Claudia does not want a baby and married Ben who does not want a baby. When Ben changes his mind, Claudia must give in or move on. While the story is told in an easy going voice, the subject matter is deeper and Giffin handles it without giving in to easy answers.
17. Set in the last years of the 19th century, this outlines the life of a family that moves from Des Moines to the Dakota plains. Fires, snow storms, locusts and a philandering husband. Can it get much worse? Family relationships are examined in great detail, but I never felt very close to any of the characters.
18. Very well written, the story of a young African American woman whose brother and father are fighting alcoholism. Told in multiple voices, this is a compelling read, even if you don’t agree with Josie’s choices.
19. Although this was published in 2005, it just came to my attention now, right on the heals of Anonymous, another story about the true identity of Shakespeare. Hero and her sister are both named for Shakespeare characters. Hero is intent on finding a pendant that may help to prove that the writer of Shakespeare’s play was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth I. A well-told story about a young girl figuring out how to negotiate being an individual in a world where conformity is key.
20. Multiple issues: fertility, frozen embryos, right wing Christians, lesbians, alcoholism, and fidelity within a marriage. Piccoult develops characters well and this time, I even liked her ending. While it came a little quickly, it made sense considering the rest of the story. I still think her books are better to listen to than to read.
21. I listened to this off and on for about 2 months. I couldn’t really get into it. This is told in first person in the voice of a 12 year old. Emma is an amateur detective, wise beyond her years, who manages to solve a 20 year old kidnapping and avoid getting killed herself.
22. Anything by Julia Glass would be a good read. Strong characters, interesting issues and a good deal of wit thrown in for good measure. I wish she had more books out.
23. I read Al Capone does my shirts a few years ago and this one was equally good, a strong, entertaining novel for upper elementary and middle school. My one complaint is why does Choldenko have to make the girls all have such negative characteristics? Even the women are portrayed with a somewhat negative stance. The boys and men, however, are portrayed more realistically. Some are negative and most are more positive.