The Boy In Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

I liked this novel although the subject matter was a deviation from what some people would consider children's book subject matter as it is about The Holocaust, I wound up realizing that many children's books I have read are about the Holocaust or even adult movies seen through the eyes of a child so I considered why many people after reading this book wonder about its inclusion in children's literature.  I decided it is that childish tone of the book that is absolutely adhered to until the very end.  There are no grown-up, quick realizations from an adult perspective for the kids to grasp the horrors - just childlike innocence with which to analyze their circumstances. I think its strict adherence is the difference in the tone - not that it is a book written for children.  All ages is a better classification of this book than children's.  If you read it to your children, be prepared to answer some difficult questions - as they will probably be very open, honest questions which is why they might be difficult to answer, as is with the questioning at the end of the book if this is material for children, particularly because there are no adult viewpoint summations of the horrors, no classifying 'bad' and 'evil'.  The boys in the book go right on assuming that they are in childhood, period.  As children do.

Watch as me and my boys (almost in their pajamas) go to brunch and then make
Story Runes - an easy craft to inspire storytelling and better bedtime stories.

Deciding upon the craft to go along with this book review was mind boggling.  What I did was go to brunch with my children and then, after stumbling into the best neighborhood craft store, I decided to make Story Runes and keep them in a little bag, and hang them from the moon. (A hanger made in the shape of a crescent moon.)  I hope you will enjoy it and even make story runes for you and your children.  What are story runes?  You can make up how to use them, that is part of the fun, or you can adhere to the rule that each person - or the designated story teller of the evening - reaches into the bag and pulls out a rune, stone, charm, or ball which might have a word, picture, letter, or just be a shape and color.  The storyteller then makes up a story depicting some aspect of the rune - for inspiration and added challenge.  Brunch was delicious.  We went to Pine State in Portland, Oregon, and I show you as much of the brunch as I can.  :)  I shot this video myself.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (Young Reader's Choice Award - Intermediate Division)

The boy who isn't in the striped pajamas, in the book, often thinks about eating a sandwich and sharing one with his friend - in the pajamas. I think we've changed sides, and I put all the stories to rune - to rest? - something like that.  If you read the book, leave a comment, tell me what you think.  Is it a children's book to you or is it all ages?

Ghost Girl by Tonya Hurly

MG to YA

Audiobook Read by Parker Posie

This is a review of the book and the audio reading.  The first few pages of this audio book, maybe even the first few chapters, the disaffected - almost apathetic - tone Parker Posie takes while reading makes one wonder if her agent set her up to read a kids book, unannounced.  However, as the story unfolds, and near the book's end, its impossible not to be awed by Parker's genius at conveying the teen sense/attitude/approach as one of the cool kids.  Definitely cool.  There is no way not to be drawn in to caring if she likes your hair, even if you don't like her at all.  You almost wear your high tops, or goth t-shirt the next day for Chapters 10 through 12.  Very silly, very fun, this audio reading with Parker makes the book even more of an experience in Ghost Girl high school, dead girl brilliance.

The book is 5 star YA to MG for plot, characterization, hilarity without even cracking a smile at times, wit and even heart-felt charm.  From the dead?  Charm?  Yes, you begin to care that the obsessed girl gets her kiss from her high-school hottie fascination without even feeling stupid about it.  Dead or not, fashion does matter and possessing another 'out' girl with a closet full of goth - not to mention a great guitar - helps her get to the dance with one good eye on her man.  A great read for any kid who is contemplating their first kiss on up to adult.  And, I recommend the audio book version.

Turn Upside-Down Days Right-Side Up!  

Make these easy, fingerless mitts (wrist warmers), here, along with me!

Other books by Tonya Hurley:

 

Heap House is Hilarious!

Edward Carey's trilogy which includes the book Heap House is eclectic, peculiar, and very funny.  If you don't like peculiar, you might not laugh, at first, however his odd humor manages wins over as the history of a mansion at the top of the 'heaps' outside of London unfolds.  This time, with a terrible fate for Wateringcan - the pet gull - and some very grim circumstances for our favorite Iremongers.

This book is suitable for all ages so I am including it in my middle grades to ya reviews.  Not sure if there will be a craft, but for people who love oddities, an annual trip to the city dump, or salvage yard scavenging this dystopian is a worthy read.  I gave it 4-1/2 stars.

Heap House: Book One (The Iremonger Trilogy)

It would be fun to make a gull.  Check back in October, we'll make a seagull or a crow.  Crow's like garbage.  Happy reading!

Two other books from the trilogy:  

Foulsham: Book Two (The Iremonger Trilogy)
Lungdon: Book Three (The Iremonger Trilogy)

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina, by Rachel Hart, Audio book narrated by Mandy Williams

I have read the book, and this time listened to the audio book while painting.  It is also considered YA, but this book could easily be read by kids younger than 12.  The plot is imaginative and draconic: dragons entering society in their human forms.  The author writes the book in an intellectual tone, symphony terminology, wine discussed as vinters would, and even clothing mentioned in historical terms.  Its not a swamp monster dragon morphing into a t-shirt and going to a bar.  It is historical, high-society dragonry with princes and footmen.  I liked it as an audio book and loved it as a novel.  Mandy Williams did a great job reading aloud to me while I painted, but something was lost along the way in all the interruptions and replaying of chapters when some part got skipped.   This plot is also a bit over-the-edge.  Its not boy meets girl, boy saves girl, but boy meets dragon who he thinks is a girl, boy is a prince, dragon flies over the city - nothing gets burned to the ground that leads to scores of deaths or anything, but it is necessary to stay with the intensity of the plot to keep up with the writing and get the whole point of the story.  If I had only listened to the audio book, I might not have gotten the sublties in the plot that I got from reading the book.

Seraphina - Audiobook.

Other books in the Seraphina series:
Shadow Scale (Seraphina)
Serafina and the Black Cloak

Make Dragon Wings!  Seraphina inspired wings to wear, here!