Hidden

Hidden, by Helen Frost is a 2012-2013 Lone Star book.  The main character, 8 year old Wren, is in her mom's van when it is stolen.  She remains hidden during that frightening ride to who-knows-where.  For two days she remains hidden in an old boat in the garage until she figures a way out.  This man who stole the van, who is an abusive husband, and a father of an 8 year old girl, did not intend to become a kidnapper. 

Darra, his daughter, and Wren meet again at a summer camp 6 years later.  They spot each other instantly and both have their own side to that fateful day.

Wren's chapters are written in free-verse.  I always think that makes a fast and fun read!  Darra's chapters are written in a style made up for this book.  After you finish this book, don't pass up the page at the end called Diving Deeper: Notes on Form, as the author tells you how to find another hidden part of the story...very interesting!

11 Birthdays

 11 birthdays by Wendy Mass is a cute read about Amanda and Leo who share the same birth date.  They have always had a combined birthday party, until this year.  They have not spoken since their 10th birthday.  Amanda's birthday is not all that she expected and she is glad it is over, glad to go to bed for the night.  Until...she wakes up to her birthday all over again!  I know, I know, who wouldn't want to relive their birthday...but over and over?  And why? You will have to read about this charming town of Willow Falls.


If you like this one, there is also Finally - when Rory Swenson finally turns 12 and 13 Gifts - when Tara has a big surprise on her 13th birthday.

Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever (Book 2)

If you like series books, these are perfect!  They follow the same 6 kids on their flight through life as they try to save the world or not...and as they try to find their real parents or not...  In this book, Max is duplicated as part of the ploy to catch the flock.  The real Max is put in a chamber that deadens her awareness, her senses.  Will she escape?  Will the flock figure out that their leader, Max, is an impostor?  There is also some progress made on the parent-finding side of the story.

Crossed

A  sequel to Ally Condie's Matched, it picks up right where Matched left off.  As Cassia is deciding who she will spend her life with; Xander, as the Society has matched her with and who has been her best friend, or Ky, who she is falling for.  Unexpectedly, Ky gets taken in the middle of the night and Cassia decides she must make it to the Outer Provinces if there is any chance of saving Ky before his certain death.  Will she find him in time?  Will she find the rebels?  Will they ever gain freedom back? What about Xander, will he turn up once again?

I am now going to have a really tough time waiting for Ally Condie's third book!  I don't think it comes out until November, 2012!  Yikes!!


Here is the book trailer, thanks to Penguin Young Readers.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (Book 1)

This was the choice that my 15 year old son and I compromised on as our audiobook pick for our road trip to Marble Falls for Christmas.  It was about 4 hours long, so it was the perfect length.  This is a series that I have heard so much about, I am glad I finally know what it is about too.  Who hasn't ever wondered what it would be like to fly?  There are six kids in this book who have wings, yes wings, and they can fly!  There is a lot of mystery going on and I don't want to spoil any of it.  Let me just say that these six kids, are led by 14 year old Max, are on their own, and have super-human powers.  There are others who have super-human powers too...and they are after the kids, known as "the flock".  A whole lot of action is around every corner and the flock fights or takes flight!  Turns out that there are 7 titles in this series, as of this posting.

Wonderstruck

Another fantastic novel in words and pictures by Brian Selznick (author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret)! I was wonderstruck by this story just as Mr. Selznick said he was when he went on a backstage tour of the American Museum of Natural History in New York.  He said he knew then that he would have to write a book set there (p. 630).

This book takes you on two adventures, one through words and the other through pictures.  They are set 50 years apart but run parallel until they intersect paths.  This is what had me in such awe.  What a creative genius!   It is full of mystery as Ben, who lives in Minnesota and dreams of wolves, but longs to find his father, and Rose, who lives just outside of New York City and dreams of a mysterious actress who she keeps a scrapbook about.

It is also a story of family, love, and special objects for collecting, not for their monetary value, but their sentimental value.  We learn about museums, curators, and cabinets of wonders.  What would you put in your cabinet?  It would be a fun activity to make your own cabinet of wonders or your own museum box, like Ben's.  You could either plan it on paper or actually make one.  You could even make a model of something which includes hidden objects from your life, like the New York City model. 

A Cabinet of Wonders

Brian Selznick's illustration of a Cabinet of Wonders

What a Way to Start the New Year!

I am so very excited!  I won the drawing for the January 1st Grand Prize over on Edifying and Edgy and their Holiday Break Reading Challenge.  My blog has not been working for the last two days, so I didn't get to say a big THANK YOU!! 

I really enjoyed looking at everyone elses daily entries.  You all have wonderful blogs and I love reading all the great things you say about so many books.  Enjoy another great year of reading!!

#1 Book of 2011 - Book Trailer - Day 17

My #1 book of the year is a sweet little book that I just connected with.  I grew up in Florida and this story found a special place in my heart.  I used the free version of Animoto to create my book trailer (which makes it quite short).

1.  Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm


Try our slideshow creator at Animoto.