The Scorpio Races by Stiefvater (2011 Printz Honor Medal winner)

Different cover from one
in the LTC

This is one of those stories that suck you in slowly. You might not even be sure you like it but you have to know what is going to happen next. In the end, you are totally caught up in the world of the island of Thisby and the annual Scorpio Races.

Puck Connolly, first female to ever enter the races, has to race to keep her home. Sean Kendrick, four time winner and talented horse trainer, has to race to keep the horse that gives him purpose. So is this some horse/race story set in the north Atlantic? Not exactly since the horses in the races are mythical Capall Uisce (pronounced CAPple ISHka). They come out of the sea looking like huge race horses only they eat flesh and are almost impossible to train. If you can race one they are the finest mounts in the world, just don't get eaten while you try. 

If you let the lyrical, rich prose carry you along, the island, the people and the horses will come vividly to life. The story is about family, bonds, purpose, loyalty and ultimately love. If you are a horse person (such as myself) you will be moved by the land and water equines in the story. You might need a tissue. Also, please be warned that the film rights have been purchased so the movie is in the planning stages.

Jordan Sonnenblick visits with our junior high!!

Jordan Sonnenblick, internationally acclaimed young adult author, visited with our junior high students this past week. Many of his books have been reviewed here at lebrisary such as Notes from the Midnight Driver; After Ever After and Curveball. His live visit with our students was as great as his books. He was well worth the wait! For a brief report on his visit go to http://bit.ly/JordanSonnenblickvisit on our school website. I invite our readers to search his name here at lebrisary for the reviews of some of his excellent work in the modern realism genre.

Ally Condie wraps up her series with "Reached"!

Reached is Part III of Ally Condie's Matched Trilogy. Cassia, Xander and Ky have grown up a great deal in the last two books. The final installment brings the three matched friends together again in a race against time. The Society has collapsed, a victim of their own controls and the inside work of the Rebellion. The plague originally engineered to eliminate "Aberrations" and "Anomalies", perceived enemies of the Society's stability, has now out-stripped medical resources and is killing at an alarming rate. The Rebellion led by an appointed "Pilot" as leader is trying to take over by delivering life saving serum to all sectors of the population. Cassia, Ky and Xander are part of the Rebellion trying to save lives and find a true cure. Cassia as a data analyst, Xander as a medic and Ky as a skilled pilot. Friends and family, loyalties and betrayals mark this complex but satisfying end to the series. There are no easy answers for the three young protagonists but their will to live and love drives them forward.  A very strong addition to the popular dystopian novels genre, readers of Matched and Crossed will be entertained by the action and challenged to think about society, community and family.

Gordon Korman does it again with "Ungifted"

Donovan Curtis is the likable cut-up of his junior high school. Only problem is that trouble seems to find him wherever he goes. Detention is his home away from home. When a seemingly simple whack on the school statue of Atlas holding up the world ends up destroying the better part of the gym, it looks like the end may be near for Donovan. But instead of the expected expulsion, Donovan's family receives notice that he has been admitted to the district's school for the gifted The Academy of Scholastic Distinction. Pretty much a straight C kind of a guy, Donovan realizes that some sort of bureaucratic mix-up has taken place. He decides to go with this odd turn of events. The ASD may be the just the place to hide out while tempers cool. Donovan may not be gifted in the conventional way but it turns out that he does have some unique talents that his new classmates do not. The story is told from various characters' points of view.   Donovan, his parents, his married older sister, his brother-in-law's dog, the superintendent of the district, his old pals at the junior high, his new gifted classmates and the Robotics Club's competition robot are all changed in this hilarious, non-stop romp. You will never think of "gifted" in quite the same way.

2013 Newbery and Caldecott Winners!!

The Newbery Committee really did a fabulous job this year picking Katherine Applegate's The One and Only Ivan. Told from Ivan's point of view, you will experience a wonderful, thoughtful and intense experience.  Ivan and his animal friends are part of a small circus housed in a mall. Cramped, run down and losing money daily, life has few happy moments. Ivan is a philosopher and tries to make the best of his life including enjoying creating artwork that is sold at the mall. One day a baby elephant, Ruby, arrives and everything changes for Ivan. His love of art drives him make a difference in Ruby's life that effects everyone around him. Katherine Applegate is known for her other titles: Home of the Brave and the Roscoe Riley Rules series.


The Caldecott Committee also did a fabulous job this year picking Jon Klassen's This is Not My Hat. If you are familiar with an earlier title of his I Want My Hat back you know he has a quirky sense of humor and a thing about hats! Told in first person, small fish tells his proud tale of stealing a lovely hat from a very large fish.  Small wonderful details will elicit laughs and plenty of "uh ohs" as the story swims along to the surprise ending.  Jon Klassen also won a Silver Caldecott Medal for his illustrations of  Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett.  Jon Klassen is only the second illustrator to win both medals in the same year since 1946. The Caldecott celebrates it's 75th Anniversary this year!!