Queen of Hearts - Colleen Oakes

Queen of Hearts - Colleen Oakes

This is a different take on Alice in Wonderland.

Dinah, Princess and future Queen of Wonderland, is awaiting her coronation. In the meantime, her time is spent playing crochet, attending tea parties, and trying to avoid her father the King. He is a tyrant and criticizes everything Dinah does. Along comes Duchess Vittiore, Dinah's half-sister that she didn't know existed. Dinah knows she will have an even harder time pleasing her father.

After receiving a message, Dinah and Wardley, her best friend and love of her life, take off for the Black Towers. Events happen on Execution Day that force Dinah to run for her life.

The usual Alice in Wonderland characters are there, but not in the form we are used to seeing them.
Cheshire - The King's Advisor
Rabbit - Dinah's Guardian
Mad Hatter - Dinah's mentally ill brother Charles

Suggested Level: Upper Middle School and High School

Sweet - Emmy Laybourne

Sweet - Emmy Laybourne

A luxurious cruise ship is setting sail for a week long vacation. If you take this trip, you are guaranteed to lose weight. The ship is measured before leaving port and it will weigh less when it returns. The weight loss craze Solu will be on sale soon. This cruise is its launch party.

Laurel isn't sure about accepting her friend's invitation for the cruise, but decides she will. Besides, what could possibly go wrong? Laurel is seasick the first day out and does not take her Solu packets. She begins to see what it is doing to the other guests.

Tom is a former childhood star. He's working on a piece about Solu. He's doing interviews and filming. He never had any intention of taking the packets. He's careful what he puts in his body.

Tom and Laurel notice what is happening to the others on board the ship. They have become addicted to Solu. They will do ANYTHING to get their fix.

Suggested Level: Middle School and High School


The paperback released June 7. It has a different cover. I almost like it better.

The Fall of Butterflies - Andrea Portes

The Fall of Butterflies - Andrea Portes

Willa Parker is headed east to start new. It was her mother's idea for her to attend Pembroke Prep.
Willa has no intentions of staying there long. In fact, she doesn't plan to be around much longer.

The first person she meets is Remy Taft. Remy is the most intriguing girl on campus. Remy decides that she and Willa will be friends. Willa is around to Remy spiral out of control.

All Willa has ever wanted was to fit in. Remy helps her do that. Is there a cost?

Suggest Level: High School

Received an ARC at TLA.


I really like the published cover better than the ARC. What do you think?

Gerald's Journal: The Life of an Everyday Hero - David McElhinny

Gerald's Journal: The Life of an Everyday Hero - David McElhinny

Gerald is different from other students. He has to work harder than other students. 

In reality, Gerald really isn't THAT different for the other boys in his grade. He likes ice cream, pizza, and recess just like the other kids. 

Gerald's differences begin to disappear and his personality begins to shine. 

Suggested Level: Upper Elementary and Middle School

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Readlike

Everland - Wendy Spinale

Everland - Wendy Spinale

Gwen, Joanna, and Mikey Darling had survived the bombings and disease of London. Gwen takes care of her siblings by finding food while avoiding the Marauders and their leader Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer (Captain HOOK).

Captain Hook is searching for a cure and believes it can be found in an Immune, a survivor. He captures survivors and experiment on them. Joanna is one of their captors. Gwen sets out to save her. Along the way, she meets Pete. Gwen, Pete, his band of Lost Boys, and Bella set out to outsmart Captain Hook and save Joanna.

Suggested Level: Middle School & High School

Nimona - Noelle Stevenson

Nimona - Noelle Stevenson

Nimona, a shapeshifter, is a self-promoted sidekick to Lord Blackheart. They don't always see eye to eye in their villainous ways. Nimona is spunky and wants to destroy and kill everything. Lord Blackheart believes in the rules and that you can't go around doing that. He is curious about Nimona's past and her wild side.

Together, they set out to prove that the Institution of Law Enforcement and Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin aren't the heroes that they portray to be.

Suggested Level: Middle School & High School


I don't usually read graphic novels. I'd heard nothing but good things about Nimona. (That's what prompted me to read it.) I did enjoy it.

My Lady Jane - Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

My Lady Jane - Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Sixteen year old Lady Jane Grey is known as the Nine Day Queen. She was left the throne on her cousin King Edward's deathbed. Edward's sister Mary did not agree with his decision and overthrew Jane. Jane was sentenced to death for high treason.

That's the real story of Lady Jane Grey. The fictionalized version is so much better!

Lady Jane Grey is set to marry. Her cousin, King Edward, has picked out the perfect man for her. Unfortunately, Jane has no idea that her future husband spends his days as a horse. Gifford Dudley, who prefers to be called G, is an Edian, someone who turns into an animal.  Jane is not...

Edward escapes being poisoned by his confidant, but the kingdom believes him dead. Lady Jane Grey is announced as queen and dethroned by Mary. Together, Jane, G, Edward, his sister Elizabeth, and several other Edians plot to take the throne back from Mary.

Release Date: June 7, 2016
ARC Received from Texas Library Association Annual Conference

Suggested Level: Middle School & High School



I adore this book! It is smart and funny. The humor begins with the dedication and doesn't stop.
Ladies, please, PLEASE rewrite more history!


I was explaining it to my 7th grade daughter who told me that people changing into animals is preposterous. I told her that there are people in Harry Potter who turn into animals...
  

Wax - Gina Damico

Wax - Gina Damico

Paraffin,Vermont is home to the Grosholtz Candle Factory and all of its secrets.

Poppy Palladino is known around town for her terrible accident on national television. (Think American Idol gone wrong. Yes, there was blood.) She's picked on by Dud. One day there is an exact replica of her made out of wax left outside. Poppy knows it has to have come from Grosholtz Candle Factory. While snooping around during a factory tour, Poppy stumbles upon an old woman making candle figurines. She's given an unusual candle as she runs out of the room.

That evening, Poppy discovers a naked young man in the trunk of her car. He's made of wax and is alive. (She tells her parents that she's found a foreign exchange student for them.) There is also a fire at the candle factory that evening and Poppy is seen on the tape running from the building.

Poppy and Dud team up to find out what is really going on in their town.

Release Date: August 2, 2016
eARC received from Edelweiss

Suggested Level: Middle School & High School

Readalikes: Cloak series - Gina Damico

P.S. I love this cover!

Orbiting Jupiter - Gary D. Schmidt

Orbiting Jupiter - Gary D. Schmidt

The story is told by 12 year old Jack.

Fourteen year old Joseph has just been moved to a foster home from prison. He has his mind set on finding the daughter he's never seen.

Make sure you have a box of Kleenex handy for this heart wrenching and warm story. Unfortunately, I did not and was a blubbering mess sitting in a hotel lobby during TCEA. Thank goodness I was around other librarians. I'm sure they understood.

Suggested Level: Middle School & High School

It's been awhile...

OK- It's been over 3 years since I've posted anything. It doesn't feel like it has been that long.
No excuses, BUT I've been in three different schools in the past three years. I've closed a library, split the collection, moved books, updated collections, etc.

Things have calmed down and I plan on blogging again.

I haven't stopped reading.(Links to Goodreads Reading Challenge for that year.)
I read 88 books in 2013.
I read 114 books in 2014.
I read 77 books in 2015.

I've already read 38 books this year.

I'll blog about some of my favorites in another post.

I also plan on talking about some of the library lessons that I have.

Big Picture

This is my second summer as school librarian.

Last summer, I spent my time up at school weeding through the VERY out of date nonfiction collection. I withdrew about 2,000 books from the system. Everyone of them justifiable. I mean really, who needs computer books from the 1980s?

Before school was out this year, the library received much needed new bookshelves. So, all 11,000+ books had to come off the old shelves. Which means...that all 11,000+ books have to go back on the shelves.

It's not at easy as it sounds. What you'd think would fit, doesn't. Books have been moved three, four, or five times to accommodate the rest of the collection.

I've been up to school at least 5 days this summer. This wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that there's no AC. Have I mentioned that I work in Texas? If you haven't heard, it's hot here.

Today, I finally got all the books that are staying back on the shelves. (Thanks to the help of my mom and my 7 year old daughter.)

I have had to order new book ends and a new barcode scanner.

I refuse to go back up to school until the scanner get here. I'm hoping it won't show up until November. Let you know how that works out for me.