Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
13 of the Books I Cataloged Today

Ways to Live Forever, by Sally Nicholls
Starred Review. Grade 4–7—Eleven-year-old Sam knows that he is dying from leukemia. He has decided to write a book that includes his thoughts on the matter as well as his lists and his questions, particularly those that no one ever answers like, "Why does God let kids get ill?" Through his writing, Nicholls has drawn a portrait of a family coping with a child's terminal disease. Readers meet Sam's mother, father, and younger sister, each of whom is dealing in a different way with his illness. Well researched and beautifully written, the book is equal to the best of children's literature about death and dying, Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia (HarperCollins, 1977) and Deborah Wiles's Each Little Bird That Sings (Harcourt, 2005). Sam knows that his father rushes off to work each day because he cannot admit to himself that his son is dying. He knows that his mother keeps Ella home from school during an unexpected snowstorm in March so they can have one last sledding day together. But, he does not verbalize this knowledge, just as his parents and Ella don't speak of his death. Sam is a child whom readers would want as a friend and he will be missed when the book is done." --from School Library Journal


1812 : A Traveler's Guide to the War That Defined a Continent (National Geographic)
"This official guide to the War of 1812 takes readers on a fascinating tour of the prominent historical sites in both Canada and the U.S. Timed for bicentennial celebrations continuing though 2015, this guide is published in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada, and is ideal for travelers who love history." -- from the publisher


ASVAB For Dummies Premier PLUS, by Rod Powers
"In the book you’ll find in-depth reviews of all nine test subjects with complete explanations for every question, proficiency exercises, and tips to help you pinpoint your weaknesses and hone your test taking skills. Inside the book you’ll find a companion CD with handy links to helpful information and a gateway to tests online. Go online and study wherever and whenever with free access to additional practice tests; and over a thousand questions to create customized practice in the subjects you need to study the most.

From the book go online for, free one-year access to: six ASVAB practice tests to sharpen your test-taking skills; one AFQT practice test to assess enlistment eligibility; create your own tests for practice where you really need it; feedback on your progress; 300 flashcards to improve your vocabulary; packed with practice questions; an in-depth view of each of the nine subtests; and proven study tips and test taking-tactics." -- from the publisher


Doll Bones, by Holly Black
"...a great book for those in middle school, or about to go in. There is the haunting (though some may argue that it’s all just a story that Poppy has made up, like the stories she makes up for the games she, Zach and Alice play). There is also a terrific adventure, and I liked how the three figured out bus schedules and how much money they had for food and all those sort of details. These three had to investigate and research and do — all great; plus, since this is about growing up, all those things are showing how, yes, these three are getting older and more responsible....this is a Favorite Book Read in 2013." -- School Library Journal


The Hunt for the Seventh, by Christine Morton Shaw
"Grade 6–9—"Find the Seventh." That whispered phrase haunts Jim in this eerie mystery of death, ghosts, family secrets, and ancient rites and prophecy. Jim has moved with his father and sister Sal to Minerva Hall, a vast estate of lush gardens with more than 100 statues. It is occupied by grumpy Lord Louis Minerva III, a disagreeable man who restricts areas of the Hall and grounds and closely monitors them with closed-circuit televisions. Curious about his new home, where his father has taken a position as Head Gardener, Jim begins to explore. As he does, he meets a mysterious boy he calls Einstein, who speaks to him in riddles. The ghostly whispers and encounters with Einstein send Jim on a quest to discover the estate's secrets. He finds an old schoolroom, and listed on the board are the names of the Minerva children, each followed by "deceased." At the bottom it reads, "Follow the Statues." And as Jim uncovers clues, he is haunted by the ghosts of the children and sees the details of their deaths, and he knows that he must pursue the trail to prevent some further tragedy. Morton-Shaw skillfully weaves ancient lore into a gripping mystery. The fine plotting keeps readers turning the pages as suspense builds to the surprising end. Genre fans will likely enjoy this hunt." -- School Library Journal


Jasper John Dooley: Left Behind, by Caroline Adderson
"Jasper John Dooley's beloved Nan is leaving on a cruise for a whole week! He feels so pththth. All he can think about is Nan missing out on their Wednesday card game, and whether it's raining where she is, too, and if she will ever come back. But each day something happens, from a stapling mishap to a hamster escape, and Jasper realizes that waiting for someone to return from an adventure takes forever ? unless you're having an adventure, too. This is the second in a series of chapter books featuring a charismatic and funny central character. An only child with active, loving parents (and a most impressive lint collection), Jasper John Dooley is a true original." -- from the publisher


Keep It Pithy: Useful Observations in a Tough World, by Bill O'Reilly
"O’Reilly offers a classic collection of the most memorable writings from his bestselling books, and looks back at how his opinions and ideas have been proven right or wrong by the passage of time. With his trademark candor and no-nonsense approach, each chapter focuses on a core theme as it gathers O’Reilly’s thoughts on the most compelling issues of our time and provides readers an illuminating guide to the American cultural landscape. A spirited and personal book, Keep It Pithy is the perfect addition to an O’Reilly fan’s library, or the best introduction for the few left uninitiated." -- from the publisher


Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, by Selene Castrov
"The Marquis de Lafayette has just ventured to American from France to join the Patriotic Cause and meet General George Washington. Despite his resistance to this meeting, Washington is impressed with Lafayette. The young Frenchman is dedicated and determined to prove himself. This riveting picture book captures the powerful and tender bond between the two men and offers unique portraits of both, while highlighting aspects of the Revolutionary War. It also includes a history of their friendship, timeliness of both men's lives, and resources, including a bibliography, places to visit, and Lafayette's legacy in America." -- from the publisher


Fodor's The Complete Guide to African Safaris: with South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, and the Seychelles
"Tourism in Africa is growing—the number of tourism arrivals increased from 37 million in 2003 to 58 million in 2009—and safaris are a key draw for visitors. Fodor’s The Complete Guide to African Safaris provides the most comprehensive and engaging information on the most popular game-viewing regions in Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, and Namibia. Other guides cover part of the process, but only Fodor’s deals with all aspects of the planning, picking, and preparing for safaris around Africa." -- from the publisher


She Left Me the Gun: My Mother's Life Before Me, by Emma Brockes
"A chilling work of psychological suspense and forensic memoir, this is a tale of true transformation: the story of a young woman who reinvented herself so completely that her previous life seemed simply to vanish, and of a daughter who transcends her mother’s fears and reclaims an abandoned past.

As she follows her mother's footsteps back to South Africa, Brockes begins to find the wellsprings of her mother's strength, the tremendous endurance which allowed Paula to hide secrets from even her closest friends and family. But as the search through cherished letters and buried documents deepens, Brockes realizes with horror that her mother's great success as a parent was concealing her terrible past—and that unearthing these secrets threatens to undo her mother's work.

A beguiling and unforgettable journey across generations and continents, this book chronicles Brockes’s efforts to walk the knife-edge between understanding her mother's unspeakable traumas and embracing the happiness she chose for her daughter." -- from the publisher


Swimming at Night, by Lucy Clarke
"Starred review. In the same vein as Rosamund Lupton's Sister, Clarke takes the reader on an exciting and mysterious trail. . . . [She] does a nice job of creating characters who make us care about them and situations that are exciting and believable. A great read for fans of smart contemporary women’s fiction as well as thriller and mystery readers." --Library Journal


Unnatural Creatures: Stories (selected by Neil Gaiman)
"The sixteen stories gathered by Gaiman, winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards, range from the whimsical to the terrifying. The magical creatures range from werewolves to sunbirds to beings never before classified. E. Nesbit, Diana Wynne Jones, Gahan Wilson, and other literary luminaries contribute to the anthology.

Sales of Unnatural Creatures benefit 826DC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students in their creative and expository writing, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write." -- from the publisher


One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd, by Jim Fergus
"An American western with a most unusual twist, this is an imaginative fictional account of the participation of May Dodd and others in the controversial 'Brides for Indians' program, a clandestine U.S. government-sponsored program intended to instruct 'savages' in the ways of civilization and to assimilate the Indians into white culture through the offspring of these unions. May's personal journals, loaded with humor and intelligent reflection, describe the adventures of some very colorful white brides (including one black one), their marriages to Cheyenne warriors, and the natural abundance of life on the prairie before the final press of the white man's civilization. Fergus is gifted in his ability to portray the perceptions and emotions of women. He writes with tremendous insight and sensitivity about the individual community and the political and religious issues of the time, many of which are still relevant today. This book is artistically rendered with meticulous attention to small details that bring to life the daily concerns of a group of hardy souls at a pivotal time in U.S. history. -- Booklist"