Linda's Story Time Staff Picks

Snuff - Terry Pratchett

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:44:35 +0000

Snuff is Terry Pratchett’s latest novel of the Discworld. Commander Sam Vimes is off on a vacation. (As if a good copper can ever be on vacation.) Off to the country, peace, quiet, relaxation, away from the smog, noise, smells, sights, hurly burly, well you get the idea. Away from crime, his jurisdiction, all the things he knows so well. Well it’s not like anywhere really has no crime and Sam has a copper’s nose for it. He also has determination that justice must be done, and that it applies to all sentient creatures, even Goblins.

With his usual gift for humor, language usage and writing style that leaves you always wanting to see where it goes next, you have to read this book.

Terry Pratchett has been knighted in the U.K. for his “services to literature”.

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:34:40 +0000

A futuristic cautionary tale - In Maddie’s society, people almost never leave their homes. There’s no need to - with computers, they can talk to their friends, perform their jobs, take their classes, do their shopping, play their sports. Fully prepared meals are delivered to their homes, so nobody even has to cook! Maddie is content with this life, for the most part. But a boy named Justin shakes up her cocoon-like existence and convinces her to go out with him to a club. He likes being physically close to people, the sound and energy of live music, the smells of the real world. At first Maddie’s senses are overlaoded, but as she lets herself experience this non-digital, 3-dimensional world, she realizes how unsatisfying her old life was. But Maddie’s fathers isn’t about to let her out of his grip - the online school was his brainchild, and Maddie has already done too much to undermine his authority and threaten his public image and power.

Wisdom’s Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:28:37 +0000

What a blast this novel is! It reminded me of Princess Bride by William Golding in it’s jovial nature, narrative voice, and misbehaving characters. Filled with romance, power-mongering, eavesdropping cats, and an excrutiatingly humorous scene of intestinal distress. I will be thrilled to recommend this to young and old readers who want to be thoroughly entertained by an excellent book. And I’ll bet they’ll find another lover of books to give it to as a gift!

Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:14:20 +0000

Doug Swieteck is a victim of bullying. But the bullies are his father and brother. Each of them knocks him down every chance they get. His mother just tries to keep them away from Doug. Granted, the oldest brother is away fighting in the Vietnam War and they all must be worried sick about him, though some won’t admit it. But Doug has his friends, his passion for baseball, and the great fortune to happen to walk into the local library and see a James Audobon drawing. The two-dimensional yet incredibly life-like portrait of an Arctic Tern takes his breath away. When Mr. Powell, an old guy who works at the library, offers to help Doug learn to draw, Doug scoffs - only girls draw. The temptation eventually overwhelms him, though, and he finds he has a real talent for capturing the birds’ souls on paper.

Enter Lil Spicer, a tough girl who gets him a job delivering groceries around town. One of his customers has an Audobon print on her wall. Doug is indignant; he knows it was ripped from the library’s Portfolio. He makes the decision to try to gather all the missing prints and restore them to their rightful place.

I was totally immersed in this novel - the characters, some likeable, some detestable, but all believable; the evocative descriptions of Audobon’s paintings; the heartbreaking scene where Doug’s brother returns from Vietnam; the culmination of the characters’ growth - all were remarkable and memorable.

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:49:51 +0000

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish - If you look at the cover of this Dr.Seuss classic you’ll notice that Blue Fish is the odd one out. Travis sees himself as a Blue Fish - socially awkward, stupid, quirky in a bad way. And to make matters worse his Grandpa has just moved them to a more affordable house in a new town. Grandpa is a heavy drinker, and with Travis’ parents deceased, and the recent loss of his dog, Travis feels utterly abandoned. He just drags himself through school and life. Then a spot of brightness appears in the form of a girl named Velveeta who wears a brilliant new scarf every day. Velveeta is a strange bird, too. She’s outspoken and in-your-face and sees something in Travis that she refuses to let slide. Then there’s this other kid - Bradley Whistler - who gets his share of bullying but also seems to have a pretty good home life with wealthy, caring parents. He’s drawn to Travis and Velveeta, and together they navigate their school and personal lives. While this story sounds depressing, ultimately it is not.The characters find hope and comfort in each other, and even the adults mature into better, more fulfilled people than they were.

Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson and John Paterson

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:20:18 +0000

Flint Heart is a fresh and funny retelling of an old fairytale. The Flint Heart itself is a charm enchanted with dangerous power - it causes its owner to become mean, greedy, and destructive. Billy Jago, loving husband and father, has been transformed into just such an evil person. His son Charlie, his daughter Unity, and their dog Ship set off on a quest to rid the world of the cursed charm and restore their father back to the man he was. And what a quest! Sure, you’ve got the usual talking animals and colorful, mischievous fairies, but who ever expected a well-spoken and sensitive hot water bottle to play such an important role in saving the world?

This book was so much fun to read - I got a real kick out of it! It was silly, inventive, charming, ridiculous and luminously illustrated. Flint Heart would make an excellent family read-aloud for those snowy evenings in front of the fireplace with cookies and cocoa (and don’t forget the marshmallows floating on the top).

Z - Michael Thomas Ford

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:04:23 +0000

In a virtual reality world (mmorpg) populated by Zombies, Josh and his friend Firecracker spend lots of time hunting and eliminating the undead. Successfully gaining skills and levels, it’s their favorite passtime. It’s exciting and challenging, but what if it wasn’t just virtual reality? What if it was reality? Can they survive?

Well written and keeps you moving right along.

Great for fans of online gaming and zombies.

I Shall Wear Midnight - Terry Pratchett

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:49:46 +0000

The conclusion of the Tiffany Aching adventure. This novel is the 4th and last in the series. It began with Wee Free Men, continued with A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith. It covers the discovery and development of Tiffanys’ witch powers. Tremendous cast of characters, wonderful use of language, fantastic humor, and great plot lines (all Pratchett book hallmarks). Tiffany develops from a young girl with uncertain gifts to a true power in Discworld. Please don’t miss this series.

Wildwood by Colin Meloy

admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:10:09 +0000

Everyone in Portland knew it was a very dangerous thing to do, but Prue had no choice, really. I mean, what would YOU do if a murder of crows abducted YOUR baby brother and carried him into the Impassable Wilderness? Would’t you follow him in there and face whatever dangers might be in there to get him back? And so Prue and her neighbor Curtis enter a strange yet exciting world filled with both peaceful creatures and violent ones; but can they be sure which ones are which?

A modern-day adventure with a classic feel. This was a very exciting and absorbing story - one I’ll be recommending for many years!

Trouble With Chickens: A J. J. Tully Mystery by Doreen Cronin

admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:09:59 +0000

Tully is a retired search-and rescue dog who is hoping for some peace and quiet in his retirement, when he is approached by two goofy-looking chicks named Dirt and Sugar and their mom, who insist he help them track down their missing siblings. He wants to say no, but with the promise of a cheeseburger as payment, he reluctantly agrees.

Funny illustrations and deadpan humor make this an excellent choice for the emerging reader.