If the reading posts keep getting later in the month, perhaps I will lap myself and be on time again.
Surviving the Applewhites, Tolan (Y)
This was nominated by the teen book group that I moderate. Juvenile delinquent is sent to be schooled with an arty commune of a family, hilarity ensues. Not really my thing. Two stars.
The know-it-all: one man’s humble quest to become the smartest person in the world, Jacobs
Not just a book about the quest of reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z, but about becoming a dad and appreciating his dad, knowing more about his thirst for knowledge, and much humor and many strange facts along the way. The facts aren’t as strange as Sixpence House, but not many are. Fun read. Three stars.
Inside Job, Willis
Because we’re all anxiously waiting for her next book (more time travel and the Blitz- woo!), here’s a novella bound as a book. Fun story. Three stars.
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley, Walker (Y)
I’m not surprised that it won a medal for the best informational book for youth of the year. Well written and well illustrated story of the invention, missions, sinking and eventual recovery of an early submarine. Since steam power would have been too loud, the whole thing was powered by several men on a handcrank! Four stars.
Shelf Life, Walford
Premise: products from around the world with names that seem funny to (British) English speakers. Added bonus in the US: the excellent frisson of going from an unfamiliar product with a slightly rude (in English) name to an extremely familiar product with a slightly rude name that you need to think about for a while because it is so familiar. Super nerd bonus: the post-script about having to get legal clearance from all of the brand owners. Three stars.
The Witch’s Boy, Gruber (Y)
I love the style and language and the story kept me going quickly through the many pages. I read it as a book for teens, but many of the issues of parenthood, childhood, finding your way, etc seem more suited for us oldsters. But maybe that’s the way with all fairy tales. Positive portrayals of witches and worshippers of a female divine, which may preclude it from being booktalked at a religious school… Four stars.