New Books - 10/20/14

Bigfoot and Yeti

by Jennifer Joline Anderson

Series: Creatures of Legend

North Mankato, MN: Core Library, 2014.

48 p.

Describes the legendary characters of the Yeti and Sasquatch, covering the history of sightings, separating fact from fiction, and more.

The Labors of Heracles

by Johanna Ehrmann

Series: Jr. Graphic Myths: Greek Heroes

New York: Powerkids Press, 2014.

24 p.

In graphic novel format, relates the Greek myth about Heracles and the labors of extreme strength he performed in order to atone for killing his family in a fit of madness.

Theseus and the Minotaur

by Johanna Ehrmann

Series: Jr. Graphic Myths: Greek Heroes

New York: Powerkids Press, 2014

24 p.

In graphic novel format, relates the Greek myth of Theseus and the minotaur.

A Home for Mr. Emerson

by Barbara Kerley; illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

New York: Scholastic Press, 2014

46 p.

A biography of American author Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire

by Chros McDougall

Series: History's Greatest Disasters

Minneapolis, MN: Core Library, 2014

48 p.

Provides an account of the devastating earthquake that struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906, and the resulting fires that left the city in ruins.

Most Popular Books - 10/20/14

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo was the most popular book last week. It's had a resurgence in popularity at AMS, based mainly on word of mouth. Fans of dark fantasy will most certainly want to read this one!

Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.




Rick Riordan's The Lost Hero came in at number two. It looks like many are wanting to do a re-read of the Heroes of Olympus series as The Blood of Olympus was just released. Any fan of the the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series needs to also read these.

Jason, Piper, and Leo, three students from a school for "bad kids," find themselves at Camp Half-Blood, where they learn that they are demigods and begin a quest to free Hera, who has been imprisoned by Mother Earth herself.

Next up is The Mark of Athena, the third book in the Heroes of Olympus series, by Rick Riordan. All in this series are super popular at the moment, especially with The Blood of Olympus' release earlier this month.

The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land--Greece itself--to find the Doors of Death.

One of my favorite books of a couple of years ago, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, is in fourth place. Just when I think almost everyone has read it, I find a few more who haven't. 

Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunts and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.

It wouldn't seem right without a Diary of a Wimpy Kid on the most popular list. This week's entry is the first one, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney. The Wimpy Kid books are always a favorite here at AMS and I've said many times that I doubt we could ever have too many copies of these books on the shelves.

Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.



Honorable Mentions:

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really enjoyed reading this, but I'm not sure how many kids would stick with it. It takes a while for the story to set up and yes, Early is different. Would that intrigue a kid or just make him think the story was weird? I'm not really sure. I for one found Early adorable and see characteristics of a couple of the autistic kids I know in him.

I'm a bit disappointed that the surprise at the ending actually occurred. No, I won't go into more detail than that, but I remember thinking of the surprise as a possibility while I was reading. I immediately discarded the idea because I was sure that it was too predictable and something too commonly done in children's books. It did make for a better story of course, but it was the easy way out. (If you've read NE, you know what I'm talking about.)

I rate this story a solid B. It had the potential of being an A book, but my disappointment in the predictability at the ending lowered my rating.