Summer at Forsaken Lake by Michael D. Beil

Nicholas isn't sure how great his summer is going to be. His parents (recently divorced) have sent him and his sisters to their Great-Uncle Nick's place on Forsaken Lake. After living all of his life in New York, Nicholas isn't convinced that small-town life will have anything to offer him. Of course, that's before he discovers his love of sailing, the girl with an amazing pitching arm, and all of his father's secrets. Nicholas' dad spent his summers with Uncle Nick, and now Nicholas is uncovering a part of his dad's life that he never knew about. Secrets have a way of coming to the surface...but are some things better left hidden?

As much as I enjoyed this book as an adult (and I did), I think I might have loved it even more if I'd read it as a child. Yes, that would involve a bit of time traveling, but I can see it really appealing to a younger me. The possibility and excitement of a new life, even temporarily, is one of the great things about a summer setting. Nicholas, as a character, is engaging and strong; Charlie, the girl with the great arm, shines as a girl who can do anything that the boys can do (and, in many cases, do it a lot better). Their growing friendship strikes the right notes of affection and awkwardness. While I loved where this book ended (and think it ended on just the right note), I wouldn't be sad to see a sequel. Something tells me that Forsaken Lake has enough secrets and mysteries (and character) to sustain a few more summer adventures.

(The review copy I read didn't have the final artwork in it, so I'm looking forward to seeing what the illustrations look like.)

Check out Michael D. Beil's website and see his own version of "The Seaweed Strangler."

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamodour by Michael D. Beil
One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams
Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn

Bink and Gollie: Two for One by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile

Best friends Bink and Gollie are back! This time they're exploring adventures at the State Fair. Will Bink win the world's largest donut? Will Gollie find fame, fortune, and prizes in the talent competiton? And what mysteries will the fortune teller share? All will be revealed in Bink and Gollie: Two for One.

I feel like I've barely stopped talking about Bink and Gollie since I first read it. It's a funny, smart book with great characters and beautiful illustrations that's such a great read for beginning readers. I was so excited to see that now there's a second Bink and Gollie book and not only do I love it just as much as the first, but (if I may admit this), I might even love it a tiny bit more. The first story, "Whack a Duck," features Bink's seemingly unending determination and Gollie's dry observations. "You're Special, Aren't You?" has an incredible series of spreads that manage to convey just what stage fright feels like (and is topped with a lovely demonstration of friendship). The third story concerns questions about the future, a natural curiosity for children and adults alike. Whatever you do, don't miss this book, and expect to find it on many Best of 2012 lists at the end of the year.

Learn more about Bink and Gollie at their website. 

Check out the websites of Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Candlewick Press. 

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
Making a Friend by Alison McGhee
Let's Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile

A Boy and a Bear in a Boat by Dave Shelton

There's a boy. He hires a bear, who has a boat, to take him to his destination. He gets a bit sleepy, so he goes to sleep, expecting to be there when he wakes up. But when he does wake up, he finds that he's nowhere near where he wanted to be - and that the only thing he can see, apart from sea and sky, is the bear. And the boat. Which is named Harriet. This is going to be a long trip.

This is quite an odd book. Sometimes it's wonderfully odd, sometimes frustratingly odd, and ultimately, I think, satisfyingly odd. I wondered at times if I was reading some sort of parable or metaphor, given the small number of characters and the strange situations that they find themselves in. And although I think it's 'just a story,'  it's the kind of story that I can see people pouring over, sucking meaning out of, and writing long academic papers about. At its essence, it's exactly what the title says it is: a boy and a bear in a boat. It's a reading experience unlike any that I've had in a long time, and urge people to experience this book for themselves. I'd love to see it read in a book club for kids and adults and see what their reactions to the book are.

See more about Dave Shelton (and an alternate cover for A Boy and a Bear in a Boat) at his website. (I think I prefer the other one, although I do like the one shown here, too.)



I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of David Fickling Books.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Good Dog, Bad Dog by Dave Shelton
Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Winfield Martin

48 Hour Book Challenge 2012: Finish Line

Total time spent reading: 14 hours 27 minute
Total time spent listening to audiobooks: 1 hour 12 minutes
Total time spent blogging: 1 hour 1 minute
Total time spent networking: 30 minutes
Total total: 17 hours 10 min

Books Finished During 48 Hour Book Challenge: 10
Hourglass by Myra McEntire (390 pages)
The Little Woods by McCormick Templeman (261 pages read during 48HBC)
Margaret and the Moth Tree by Brit Trogen and Kari Trogen (176 Pages)
Purity by Jackson Pearce (157 pages read during 48HBC)
Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Clair (367 pages)
Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead (190 pages)
The Mount Rushmore Face That Couldn't See by Steve Brezenoff (90 pages)
My Name is Olivia and I Can't Do Anything About It by Jowi Schmitz (144 pages)
The No-Dogs-Allowed Rule by Kashmira Sheth (128 pages)
The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner (201 pages)

Books Started But Not Finished During 48 Hour Book Challenge: 1
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (1 hour 12 minutes)

Total Pages/Audio Minutes Read: 
2104 pages and 72 audio minutes

Well, I have reached the finish line. I feel okay about how I did. I fell short of 20 hours, which was my goal (although secretly I was hoping or 24 hours). Did I have 3 more hours (or 7 more hours) of reading in me? Maybe. I spent a bit too much time last night not reading, and then this afternoon I fell asleep for a rather long nap. Everything - time spent reading, number of books, number of pages - is down compared to least year, but I think I'm okay with that. I got through some books on NetGalley that I've been meaning to read and polished off some library books. I still have a massive pile of books in my house left to read (including the one I bought on Friday to celebrate the challenge), but I've read more than I think I would have on a "regular" weekend.

In order to mark the challenge, I have made a $20 (rounding up from my total reading time) to Reading is Fundamental. I also made a $20.00 donation to the Canadian Red Cross. It's not exactly a reading organization, but they do important work and I'm happy to use this occasion to make a donation.

A big thank you to Mother Reader for this great weekend.

My Every Single Thought: What I Think About Being Single by Corinne Mucha

What does it mean to be single? Is it enough to say that you're not in a relationship? What does it mean when you're in a relationship? How do you meet new people? How do you deal with not wanting to meet new people? These are some of the questions that flow through Corinne's brain. Single seems like it would be clear enough: one thing. Is that it? How can that be an adequate answer? If you've ever pondered a future alone with books and cats - and you don't even like cats - then you might have already had some of these thoughts. But I guarantee you haven't experienced them like this.

I first discovered this book while browsing on the Buy Olympia website. I was hungry for some zines and bought it along with one by Ed Choy Moorman...and then it sat on the arm of my couch for a long time. Why? I don't know. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood. Maybe I was waiting for the day where I would get up from my other couch (yes, I have two couches; yes, I spend a lot of time sitting) with purpose and grab it and not want to let it go. I didn't just read this; I devoured it. I laughed, I thought, I said "ouch" when things got too close. I loved the idea of a single Barbie. I love the exploration of words that rhyme with "single" and the interview with the single sock. I loved the ending. I loved all of it. If you are single, you need to read this. Period. I love the humour, I love the art, and I love Corinne Mucha's voice.  I can't wait to get my hands on more of her work. Could this have been the best $5 (American) I've ever spent? Quite possibly...yes.

See more of Corinne Mucha's work at her website Maidenhousefly.

Read it with:
Freshman: Tales of 9th Grade Obsessions, Revelations, and Other Nonsense by Corinne Mucha
Stitching Together by Ed Choy Moorman
My Alaskan Summer by Corinne Mucha

48 Hour Book Challenge 2012

I'm about eight minutes away from starting my 48 Hour Book Challenge.

I know I probably won't read as much as last year - I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and then, weather permitting, I'll be checking out the local Pride parade. But the rest of the time will be all about reading.

My "To Read" pile is massive. Check back soon for pictures and updates.

For more information about the 48 Hour Book Challenge, check out MotherReader's blog.

Update #1: 10:20PM on Friday June 8

Time spent reading: 2 hours 40 minutes
Time spent blogging: 0 minutes (I will count this blogging time in my next update)

Books completed:
Hourglass by Myra McEntire (390 pages)

Books started but not yet completed:
Margaret and the Moth Tree by Brit Trogen and Kari Trogen (70 pages)

It feels good to have one completed book under my belt. I'd been meaning to read Hourglass for a long time, and I'm hoping to read the sequel Timepiece before it disappears from NetGalley (I hope I'm not already too late!)

Here's a look at the pile of books I've corralled onto my couch to pick from for the next 48 hours:

I had it as one stack, but then that stack started to topple over so I put it in two. It looks a little less threatening this way, I think. I thought that it represents a pretty good mix of middle grade, teen, and adult as well as fiction and a bit of non-fiction, but it wasn't long before I realized that there was one big thing missing: graphic novels! Maybe this is okay, because it will push me to catch up on word (prose?) novels and books.

Of course, this isn't all I have to choose from. The third book from the bottom is actually my Kobo, and there's about 50 books I have on there right now. I toyed with the idea of making this a physical book only challenge, but my NetGalley list is so close to being somewhat manageable and I would love to read a few more of those this weekend. So my rule (for now) is that the Kobo will only be for reading in bed, while physical books can be for reading in the living room, bedroom, or outside. I'm hoping to find an audiobook that I can put on my iPhone for tomorrow.

Update #2: 1:58pm Saturday Afternoon

Total time spent reading: 5 hours 12 minuts
Total time spent listening to audiobooks: 1 hour 12 minutes
Total time spent blogging: 14 minutes
Total time spent networking: 0 hours
Total total: 6 hours 38 minutes

Books completed since last update:
The Little Woods by McCormick Templeman  (261 pages read during 48HBC)

Books started since last update:
Purity by Jackson Pearce (18 pages read during 48HBC)
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (audiobook, 1 hour and 12 minutes)

The good news is that all of my weekend commitments are now over. The not-so-good news is that my reading time isn't as high as I'd like it to be. I haven't said too much about a goal, but I had somewhere around 20 hours in mind.

I don't think I'm going to list the total books that I finish here (although that could change) - I think I'll save the big list for the finish line post. 

I'm enjoying The Scorpio Races so far, I'm having a bit of a hard time getting into it but I know that there's a lot of story left (and I'm a bit out of practice in listening to audiobooks). The Little Woods was one I got from NetGalley; it's set to be published in July. It's a mystery/thriller with a bit of supernatural mixed in, all set in a boarding school.

The plan is to now spend some time networking and seeing what other people are reading.  And then go read some more.

Update #3: 7:16pm on Saturday

Total time spent reading: 7 hours 1 minute
Total time spent listening to audiobooks: 1 hour 12 minutes
Total time spent blogging: 42 minutes
Total time spent networking: 30 minutes
Total total:9 hours 25 minutes

 Books competed since last update:
Margaret and the Moth Tree by Brit Trogen and Kari Trogen (176 pages)
Purity by Jackson Pearce (157 pages read during 48HBC)

At just over 24 hours into the challenge, I've completed four books,  read just under 1000 pages, and have 9 hours of reading/blogging/networking time in. That's not too bad! I'm reaching a temporary limit on teen angst, so I think I might switch over to some non-fiction

Poopy Claws by Gene Ambaum and Sophie Goldstein

One little boy loves his cat; his cat loves poop. Well, it's not so much that Stinky loves poop, he just doesn't always poop in the best places...or clean off all the poop. The boy's mother (a bit of a neat freak) isn't happy about the whole cat/poop situation, but it gets even worse when her finicky Auntie comes for dinner... and Auntie is on her way! This dinner is on a course for disaster!

This book is disgusting, and I mean that as a compliment, because I think that that's one of the things that the author and illustrator were going for.  I'm not at all the book's audience: I don't have a cat, I'm not really an animal person, and I don't overly like reading about poop. But I am a fan of Gene Ambaum (particularly his Unshelved comic) and while I don't know her work quite as well, I really, really like what I've seen of Sophie Goldstein's work. Those parts didn't disappoint at all. The story is sweet and funny and, well, disgusting; the art is colourful, energetic, detailed (I particularly lingered the montage of litter boxes) and, at times, disgusting. Seriously, I gagged while reading it. But I also think that in that perfect space where people who want to read about poop also want to read about a boy who loves his cat, this is just the book that they're looking for.

See more about the book (including a hilarious picture of someone reading it).

Check out Sophie Goldstein's other work, her Esty shop, and the online comic Darwin Carmichael is Going to Hell.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Unshelved by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum
Mother Ship Blues by Sophie Goldstein
Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi

The Mystery of the Silly Goose by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

Timothy, Sarah-Jane, and Titus are more than just cousins; they also solve mysteries around their neighbourhood. They've created the Three Cousins Detective Club (TCDC) and often find themselves in the middle of one mystery or another. When Lyddie, an older girl who isn't always very nice to the three of them, tells them that she needs their help, they have no idea what to expect. Lawn ornaments have gone missing from lawns all over the neighbourhood, including Lyddie's grandmother's darling goose. She wants the TCDC to find out what happened and bring the goose back. The TCDC isn't sure where to start, but the lawn ornaments won't be gone for long once they're on the case!

Years ago, when I was a young girl, I read a series of books that were based on the Ten Commandments. Years later this information surfaced to the front of my brain and I discovered the work of Elspeth Campbell Murphy. I don't think that I read any of the Three Cousins Detective Club books as a child, but there was something about them that seemed like it could have been familiar. The book started with a Biblical quote from Proverbs, but that was really the only overt mention of The Bible or religion in the book. There were themes of living an honest life and being true and fair with your actions, but it was worked into the life and behaviours of the characters. The mystery isn't too scary and the kids are never in danger; they use their head to piece information together and never do anything that goes against their moral compass. This series is, I believe, out of print, but if you are looking for Bible-inspired titles or books like that for young readers, do look up the work of Elspeth Campbell Murphy.

Find out more about Elspeth Campbell Murphy at her website.

Find it at Amazon. 

Read it with:
The Mystery of the White Elephant by Elspeth Campbell Murphy
The Mystery of the Silent Nightingale by Elspeth Campbell Murphy
The Mystery of Wrong Dog by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Nick and Amy have been married for five years. It's the day of their fifth wedding, in fact, when Amy goes missing. Their house is a mess and shows signs of a struggle...and Nick can't account for his whereabouts. Over the next few hours family, police, and the media get involved and Nick and Amy's seemingly-perfect life starts to crack away. Told in two voices (Nick's increasingly unbelievable one and Amy's diary entries), this is not the story you think you know.

This is going to be a terrible post (or, at the very least, a short post), because I don't want to say anything. The less you know about this book, the better it is to discover as you're reading. I knew very little going into to and was glad because I could experience the twists as they came (and boy are there twists). Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. So go, read it, and then tell other people to read it so you can talk about it.

See more about Gillian Flynn at her website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Crown Publishing Group/Random House.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

All The Things You'll Do by Kevin Glavin illustrated by Sarah Grepo

Children are so full of possibilities. And for first time parents in particular, there are going to be a lot of firsts. First time going outside. First time crawling, walking, running. First day of school, first time reading a book together, first time riding a bike. There will be a lot of firsts, some big and some small. There will be so many things that a child will do...and his parents will be right there beside him, behind him, and watching him while he does them.

The first part of this book is a celebration of possibilities in an abstract way. There are pictures and text (although, in the galley that I read, the words and images that you see at the same time don't match up; you have to flip the page to find the matching picture, which I found a bit confusing - I have heard that this is not the case for the finished book.) that talk about all of the many things that children do as they grow up. The second part of the book looks specifically at the reader and all the things that he or she might do. Pages invite the reader (and the parents, particularly for young kids) to personalize the book by including individual details like pictures, goals, and information about their lives. There are lists to record goals and firsts for each of the child's first ten years (poor seven gets stuck with the clunky "closer to Heaven," not really what I want to be thinking about if I was also thinking about my child), spaces to reflect, and room to talk about lifetime goals. It'll be a neat keepsake for families and a way to remember someone's childhood. Because of the personal aspects and the space to make it about you and your child, this is a book to buy rather than borrow, and one that would make a good present for new parents.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Kevin Glavin Publishing.

Find out more information about the book at its website.

Read it with:
I Can Be Anything! by Jerry Spinelli
Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss
Walk On! by Marla Frazee
Grow Up by Sandy Turner

Death by Petticoat by Mary Miley Theobald

There are some things about history that everyone knows, right? People were shorter back then. People were painted hiding their fingers and limbs because painters gave a discount if they didn't have to paint those body parts. Apprenticeships lasted seven years, pregnant women never went outside, there was a nail tax in Colonial America - these are all thoughts that are commonly passed along as fact. This book examines those history myths and separates truth from myth, misconception, and outright falsehood.

This is such a smart idea for a book. Myths and misconceptions abound in many parts of popular culture, and of course there will be those that persist about American history. I loved learning about the truth behind custom, clothing, trades, and American life in a number of different time periods. I was amazed at how many myths are shared between different time periods and different locations worldwide. There are a number of myths here that I hadn't heard before, particularly those that pertain to specific parts of American history, but it was still fascinating to hear how the ideas have come to be a part of common knowledge and what - if any - kernel of truth is found in those myths. I also love the design of the cover. Check out those cool skulls!


Check out Mary Miley Theobald's website for a list of her other publications.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Andrews McMeel.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Colonial Williamsburg: The First 75 Years by Mary Miley Theobald
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History by Richard Shenkman

Murder, She Wrote: Trouble at High Tide by Donald Bain

Jessica Fletcher, world-famous mystery novelist and occasional real-life mystery solver, is ready for a bit of vacation. She accepts the invitation of a high powered judge (someone who shares her publisher) to spend some time at his Bermuda estate. Sun, sand, and solitude - that's just what Jessica is looking forward to. But she's barely been there 24 hours before a murder is discovered: the judge's beloved niece. Even worse, Bermuda is experiencing a wave of Jack the Ripper-inspired murders. Could the same killer have attacked the judge's niece? Or is the murderer much closer at hand?

After a long week at work, I was so ready to curl up with the latest Murder, She Wrote novel. I slipped quickly into the pages and surrounded myself with Jessica Fletcher's gentle judgement and moral compass. The murder came quickly and a number of people were reasonable suspects with believable motives. I liked learning about the details of life in Bermuda (like families are only allowed to have one car), although I did pause at the mention of "Wikipedia" in the resource acknowledgements. As an added bonus Jessica's frequent investigative partner and sometime beau Chief Inspector George Sullivan of Soctland Yard makes an appearance in this book (tied into the Jack the Ripper investigation aspect). I enjoy him, and a part of me hopes that in an upcoming book he and Jessica will finally take a step forward with their circling romance.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Murder, She Wrote: The Fine Art of Murder by Donald Bain
Murder, She Wrote: Majoring in Murder by Donald Bain
Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire by Donald Bain

Samantha on a Roll by Linda Ashman with pictures by Christine Davenier

Samantha has a brand new pair of roller skates. She's super excited to try them out, but her mom has said "Not now." But Samantha doesn't want to wait - she wants to go, go, go! What harm could there be in just trying them on? Before long she's speeding through town and causing all kinds of havoc. Who knew that roller skates could go so fast?

This book is utterly charming. The rhyming story has a lovely lilt and keeps the momentum of the story building and building. Rhyming text sometimes feels forced to my ear, but this read in a very natural way. The illustrations were fresh and colourful and had just the right amount of whimsy. I like Samantha, a girl who's so filled with excitement and determination that she dives headfirst (or skates first) into an adventure. As a reader I had a pretty good idea that everything was going to turn out okay, but I had no idea how that was going to happen. I was a little late in finding this book (it came out in 2011), but better late than never; definitely check this one out and share it with some children who would like a vicarious adventure.

Check out Linda Ashman's website to see more of her work.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
I Will Not Read This Book by Cece Meng
No Dogs Allowed! by Linda Ashman
Miss Lina's Ballerinas by Grace Maccarone
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

Uncle John's Kid-Topia Bathroom Read for Kids Only

A Tyrannosaurus Rex would have had terrible breath. There's a restaurant in Taiwan where diners sit on toilets instead of chairs...and eat food out of miniature toilets. The Saxons would go to battle with wildly coloured hair in order to scare their enemies. The University of CA - Santa Cruz has a sports team named the Banana Slugs. A thief was arrested because he broke into a house, logged on to his Facebook page..and then forgot to log out before he left! These are just some of the amazing things that kids can learn in Uncle John's Kid-topia Bathroom Reader for Kids Only.

I don't remember the first time I read one of Uncle John's Bathroom Readers, but I know that I've been a fan for a long time. I like the short entries and the wide-ranging topics that the books cover. This book has special content to appeal to kids: food, science, art, animals, and (of course) bathrooms. There are also word games and quizzes for people who want to do more than just read. The review copy that I was reading looked there was some space left for later additions of graphics and details, so the finished product should have lots of high-interest eye-grabbers to keep kids reading. Don't think of this book just in terms of bathroom reading. It would also be a great book to pick up before a long car trip; the games, stories, and fun facts could keep young readers (and the young at heart) occupied for ages.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Baker and Taylor/Portable Press.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Uncle John's Creature Feature Bathroom Reader for Kids Only
Uncle John's Book of Fun Bathroom Reader for Kids Only
Uncle John's Top Secret Bathroom Reader for Kids Only

Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller

Arnie has a wonderful purpose in life. He's a doughnut! That means that he gets to wear some awesomely coloured sprinkles, hang out at a cool bakery, and make friends with all of the other baked goods. He's done a lot since he was first created, and his adventure isn't over yet, because someone has just selected him from the bakery counter. He's very excited but has no idea what's in store for him. Is this the end for Arnie the Doughnut?

This book completely won me over. I was skeptical at the start; the art style wasn't one that grabbed me right away, and there was so much going on: the little pictures, the words, the main story. I felt distracted and a bit overwhelmed. Then, as Arnie came into focus as a character, I was grabbed by his enthusiasm and zest for life. (Add him to my list of picture book characters that I would like a stuffed toy version of - maybe I need to add this as a tag?) I loved his outrage at learning that people eat doughnuts and the (spoiler alert?) twist that the other doughnuts know this - and are okay with it! I know that this will just illustrate my ignorance, but I had never heard of this book until it appeared on the new SLJ Top 100 Picture Books Poll (A Fuse #8 Production); if you're like me and this is a new book for you, I highly recommend tracking down a copy. You'll never look at doughnuts the same way again!

Also make sure to check out A Fuse #8 Production, where you can see interior spreads as well as other versions of the book.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller
Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard by Laurie Keller
The Great Doughnut Parade by Rebecca Bond
If You Give A Dog a Donut by Laura Joffe Numeroff