What We've Been Reading--Abby

This January I decided to set a goal to read 50 books this year, and have since been reading away. While not all the books have been children’s books, these past few months I’ve been picking them up more. Around this time of year, as the season changes, I find myself drawn to stories that lean towards being a bit darker. I want some mystery. Maybe a creepy house, a twisted fairytale, or something just weird. I found what I was looking for in Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol, The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry, and Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson.

Anya’s Ghost is better suited for older readers. We consider it a YA novel, because of the cigarette smoking, and some other mature content. However, it’s a great story of Anya, a first generation Russian immigrant, as she deals with her cultural identity, being a teenager, and the creepy events that happen after she falls down a well, and finds a human skeleton.

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place is a super fun murder mystery. The students of St. Etheldreda’s School for Girls face a harrowing situation, as their headmistress and her brother drop dead during dinner. Do they tell someone what’s happened and face being separated from each other, or conceal the murder, and pretend all is well? Set in Victorian England, it’s a fun read full of great characters.

Nooks & Crannies is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets the board game Clue. Tabitha Crum a smart, mystery-loving girl is unloved by her parents. With no friends besides her pet mouse, Pemberley, she sets out on an adventure after receiving a mysterious invitation to the country estate of the wealthy, and reclusive Countess of Windermere, whose mansion is rumored to be haunted. She finds herself among five other children, unsure of why they’ve been invited. Soon, a large secret, one that could change their lives forever will be revealed, but not before Tabitha’s investigative skills are put to the test.

As a Librarian and lover of books, I often get swept up in the newest book that we’ve got in, and completely ignore my own bookshelf at home, which is full of books I’ve meant to read, but haven’t got to. While trying to get back to the I’ve-been-meaning-to-read-this-for-5-years-or-longer book, I picked up the classic, Heidi. The copy I have was once my grandmother’s, which she has since gifted to me. Published in the 1945, the book has beautiful illustrations, and makes reading a classic even more enjoyable. I found Heidi’s innocence, and positivity to be very inspiring, and found great joy in reading a story that’s 134 years old. Having not given travelling to Switzerland much thought previously, I now think travelling through the Swiss Alps would be an incredible, and restorative experience, just as it was for Heidi. 

In keeping with reading classic Children’s literature, I also recently picked up The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. I found the friendships between Mole, Ratty, Badge, and Toad to be most amusing, and somewhat inspirational. I found a certain honesty, and introspection to the characters and the writing that I haven’t read for a while, and very much enjoyed.

Here are some other books I’ve read, and really enjoyed:

Beyond the Laughing Sky by Michelle Cuevas

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Superstitions and Paranormal Science

This Friday falls on the 13th of the month, commonly believed to be an unlucky day. The assumption that this day is full of evil is steeped in history and myth, dating back to Biblical times. You can read more about the lore surrounding this day on National Geographic's site. The phobia of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia after the Norse goddess, Frigga, whom Friday is named after, and triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number thirteen. 

The Chicago Tribune listed 13 superstitions for Halloween, but many of them are feared all year long. Live Science uncovered the history of 13 common superstitions and shared them in 2012. You can read the article here. Time Magazine shared a brief history of Friday the 13th, and one of my favorite fun facts: In 1939 citizens of a small town in Indiana attached bells to all the resident black cats so they wouldn't cross paths with them. This seemed to be a successful way to avoid these felines, so they continued this precaution for the next three years. Many people have tried to debunk the myths surrounding Friday the 13th, and one group was formed to do just this. History.com tells us about the popular group the Thirteen Club, which was formed in the 1880's and ran through the 1940's. This group of New Yorkers would meet on the 13th and eat in groups of 13, on a table covered with spilled salt, naturally. 

As an elementary school student, some of my favorite non-fiction sections to explore were the 000s and 100s, home to such wondrous topics as UFOs, ghosts, aliens and witches. To celebrate the week of Friday the 13th, we want to share some books that we think are out of this world.

Alien Alert by Elizabeth Jaffe.  Phonics Comics, 2005.
Beginning readers can join in the graphic novel craze and enjoy three short stories all about aliens. The first story follows an alien band, the Crater Heads, as they explore the world around them to find new sounds to inspire their songs. From staplers to toilets, they try to find the right beat to get the crowd to tap their toes. The bright illustrations and silly plots are sure to entice readers to continue the stories.

Bigfoot and Adaptation (Part of the  Monster Science series) by Terry Collins. Graphic Library, 2011.
This non-fiction series, Monster Science, is represented in graphic novel format and aims to explain scientific principles with fun characters and easy to understand writing. Adaptation is explained using Bigfoot as a model to show how species can change over time. Check out the whole series! 

Witches by Roald Dahl. Puffin, Reprint Edition 2007.
After James's parents pass away, he goes to live with his Norwegian grandmother. She tells James stories about scary witches who like to cast spells to get rid of children. James believes his grandmother is just telling stories, until he comes face to face with a real witch!

Aliens Don't Wear Braces by Debbie Dadey. Scholastic Books, 1993.
After the art teacher disappears amid strange, bright lights, the surprising (and very pale) replacement teacher arrives. The longer she stays, the more objects around Bailey City start mysteriously losing their colors. Even more mysterious, the new art teacher seems to be getting brighter! Can the Bailey School Kids save the city?

  
Monster's Monster by Patrick McDonnell. Little, Brown, 2012.
Three little monsters, Grouch, Grump, and Gloom 'n Doom, think they are the worst monsters around and they're very proud of it! To put their bickering to a rest, they work together to create an even bigger and badder monster! But their monster isn't so bad after all.

 

Aliens on Vacation (Book one of the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series) by Clete Barrett Smith.  Disney-Hyperion, 2012.
David reluctantly leaves Florida for the summer to stay with his crazy grandma in Washington state. He isn't excited about hanging out in the "Middle of Nowhere", but his attitude changes once he realizes his grandma's Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast is more than it seems.  

Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer. National Geographic Children's Books, 2011. 
This award-winning work of non-fiction chronicles the events leading up to the Salem witch trials. Two young girls in Salem Village begin twisting and choking, and when a cure can't be found they are pronounced bewitched. 



Don't forget that this is the first official week of our 2014 summer reading program, "Fizz! Boom! Read!". If you or your little one love paranormal topics and science fiction, join us for a special science fiction themed storytime this Friday the 13th! We will share stories of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and other spooky, fun creatures! All ages are welcome and you will get to leave with a cool craft. Tweens can get together for our Fear Factor event to play gross games and minute to win it challenges. Do you have any Friday the 13th traditions or superstitions?

Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel

  Our adventure in Ghostopolis begins when terminally ill Garth Hale is caught in a chase between ghost hunter Frank Gallows and a skeletal horse, accidentally pulling him into the spirit world of the afterlife. Garth is still very much alive when he arrives in the world of the dead, and soon he encounters creatures both good and evil in this new and dangerous world.

   Upon witnessing Garth's flashy disappearance from his bedroom, his mother arrives at the Supernatural Immigration Task Force, frantically urging the ghost hunters there to travel into the spirit world to retrieve her son. Frank is abruptly fired from the SITF for his frequent missteps and chooses to go after Garth with only the assistance of an ex-girlfriend who has some very useful connections to the world of Ghostopolis.

   Garth discovers that he has special abilities in the spirit world because he is still alive, such as flying! This soon draws the attention and anger of the spirit world's evil ruler who sends very creepy and very large bugs after him. With the help of his grandfather and his ghostly mare, Skinny,  Garth must try his best to escape Ghostopolis and return to the world of the living. Will the SITF arrive in time to save Garth? Is it possible that Frank may not botch up his rogue rescue mission?

   The story ends quickly, but not without an epic battle involving Garth, an army of skeletons and the smashing of tall buildings!

   This is a great fantasy-adventure story with wacky humor and fun, creepy elements. Sprinkled throughout are also some touching moments involving Garth's mother and grandfather. The illustrations are wonderful, combining a distinctly cartoon style with an interesting color palette. Stop in the library today to pick up this great graphic novel!

Ghostopolis created, written and drawn by Doug TenNapel; Published by Graphix/Scholastic , 2010