Secrets, socks, and more blueberry pie.

I finally finished reading The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch (2007) which I started some time ago and set aside while I went on vacation for the 4th of July. Then I got distracted by listening to Nation and some other things. But I did get back to it and finished it just a few minutes ago. I liked this book, it had a very Snickety feel to it in the way the author breaks the "fourth wall" rule and addresses the reader directly to warn us that reading this book can put us in danger. Though it feels Snickety, it doesn't read like a Snicket knock-off. The story involves an 11 year old girl named Cassandra, a self-proclaimed survivalist, and her collaborator 11 year old Max-Ernest. They stumble upon a mystery, Scooby-doo style, involving a magician, his brother and an ancient society seeking the secret to... well, I don't want to give away too much of the plot. I'll just say that you will need to keep your dictionary nearby because this book will expand your vocabulary. This actually is the first in a series of five books, each one focuses on one of the five senses. This one revolves around the sense of smell. The characters are likable and quirky, just like the storytelling. I'd say this book is suitable for grades 4 and up.
I'm working on another pair of socks, I started them while listening to Nation, this picture is of the first one, which is actually already finished but this is the only picture I have at this moment. I'm making these for Mr. Richards but he doesn't like the color. Frankly, neither do I but I'm hoping they'll be so cozy that he won't actually mind the color.
Today I baked another blueberry pie. I really love blueberries. They are really plentiful this time of year so I think I'm going to buy more and freeze them so I can have blueberry pie in the winter!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Leave me a comment, tell me what you've been reading or listening to, or watching, or playing. Is there anything that you think I should check out? Let me know! Or tell me a story, I like stories.

Nation, Dalek, and Blueberry Pie

I just finished listening to Nation by Sir Terry Pratchett on audiobook. What a wonderful story! This book was nominated for the Carnegie Medal this year, which is the highest honor a children's book can be awarded in England, like the Newbery Medal here, but was beaten out by the wonderful Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. (That guy wins all the awards!) Anyway, we don't have Nation in our library at Marshall Lane ... yet! I plan to rectify that immediately. The story takes place in a parallel universe version of Earth on a tiny island that is part of a group of islands called the Mothering Sunday Islands, so named by a colonial empire much like the 19th century british. A boy named Mau is sent to The Boy's Island as part of a ritual to mark his passage into manhood but on his way back to his home island, a tsunami washes through the chain of tiny islands and washes away his entire village, known as the Nation. The same wave shipwrecks the daughter of the colonial Governor of the Mothering Sunday Islands. Together, the two young people rebuild the Nation with the help of the survivors from the surrounding islands. In the process, Mau challenges the wisdom of his people's gods for allowing such a disaster to occur. A very thoughtful and thought provoking novel. I would say this book is good for grades 5 and up.

So have you checked out Doctor Who yet? I finished my Dalek. And look! It's sneaking up on my poodle! Roxy! Look out! If you haven't seen Doctor Who yet, I know this cuddly little monster (and I don't mean my poodle!) is making you curious.

I've also been knitting iPhone cozies..

And baking blueberry pies.

I'm ready to go back to school!

In the mean time, here is a terrific story about a kid who wanted to help his local library.

Also, books are being delivered to the library during the summer so next blog, I will tell you what new books you can expect to find when the library opens in the fall. Isn't that exciting? Yes, yes it is.