Royal Reads = Fantasy

Q: What are "Royal Reads?"
A: Books that I have read and recommend to you! Enjoy!

Today's 1st Royal Read:

The Phantom Isles by Stephen Alter

When Courtney, Ming, and Orion break into the library late one night to sneak a closer peek at a book that is supposed to conjure the dead when certain passages are read, they find themselves in the middle of a ghostly adventure that began long ago. At first glance it appears that their recitations from The Compleat Necromancer are ineffective. However, when Alma Parker, local librarian opens the doors of the library the next day, she knows right away that things are not right.

The three friends soon realize that the passages they read aloud did indeed work and they can clearly see several ghostly spirits trapped within the pages of many library books once owned by Professor Hezekiah T. Osgood. With Alma's help (along with some ghostly intervention), the three friends work to release the ghosts who were trapped by the experiments of Professor Osgood many years ago. However, the race to free the spirits hits a frenzied pace as members of the community began to suspect that something is not right in the library.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy mystery and suspense with a ghostly connection. As this story is told in alternating viewpoints and contains footnotes explaining elements of the story, it is most suitable for intermediate readers and older.

KEYWORDS: ghosts, library, friends, mystery


Today's 2nd Royal Read:

Punished by David Lubar

"Just when you thought it was safe to go to the library..."

When Logan and Benedict head to the library to get a head start on the reports they have been assigned, Logan finds himself in trouble when his horseplay causes him to run into a gentleman using the reference section of the library. The gentleman decides Logan must be punished for his rude behavior and Logan soon finds himself sneezing through a thick cloud of dust. When the dust settles, Logan finds himself unable to speak using anything except puns, a different kind of "punishment" then he has ever experienced!

After a day of speaking strictly in puns and unable to bear his punishment, Logan tracks down the gentleman and learns that what he must do to lift his punishment. Determined to succeed, Logan sets off to work. With his best friend Benedict irritated at him, and his family tired of his "punny" talk, Logan is on his own. However, the task is difficult and Logan soon finds himself running out of time.

A fun read filled with lots of "punny" situations, this book can be enjoyed by readers who enjoy and understand word play and literary elements.

KEYWORDS: library, puns, school

Royal Reads = Historical Fiction

Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle

Set in the days of Prohibition, Janet Taylor Lisle's fictional account of a rum-running boat known as The Black Duck pulls the reader into a time and place not only filled with shady characters and mafia lords, but with "law-abiding citizens" who will walk a tad bit on the wrong side of the law in order imbibe on occasion.

The story is told in flashbacks as David Peterson, a high school boy seeks the truth behind a rumor that a notorious rumrunner lived in town. In his persistence to know the story behind this rumor, David finds himself on the doorstop of an elderly gentleman who just might know the truth, but the problem is that Ruben Hart isn't talking. As David does his research and consistently comes around to visit, the story about Ruben's involvement in those days of rumrunning begins to unfold one piece at a time and along with David, the reader is drawn into a tale filled with history, mystery, murder and suspense, as well as an ending that is unexpected.

A great read, especially for those who love historical fiction and suspense! Created from historical fact, the author does a tremendous job of weaving fact with fiction to create a compelling and intriguing story aimed at intermediate to upper-grade readers.

Visit the following link for an interview with the author about this book:

http://janettaylorlisle.com/author/BTinterview.html

KEYWORDS: Prohibition, friends, family

What happened to time?

Forgive me for letting so much time go since my last postings to the treasury of the kingdom! With wrapping up a busy summer semester teaching online classes, and starting up a new year at a new school, who knew time would fly by so fast! But now the Queen has returned with a Royal Read to share!

Today's Royal Read:

Sleeping Freshman Never Lie by David Lubar

Freshman year... the excitement, the anticipation, the gut-wrenching nervousness that comes with finding classes and mingling with Seniors... welcome to high school!

Scott Hudson knows first-hand how hard it can be to start high school. As he tries to make his way through his freshman year, Scott finds that life has suddenly become complicated: hanging out with his best friends isn't as easy as it used to be, girls he has known his entire life have become gorgeous and unattainable, he overcommits to practically every known school activity, homework is harder, and oh yeah, his mom is pregnant. Scott's only refuge from the insanity that has become his life is the survival guide he is writing for his soon-to-be-born sibling.

Lubar does an amazing job of capturing the voice, the emotion, the personality of a teenage boy and presenting the reader with a realistic look into the angst that comes with entry into high school. The world presented by the main character is one that is familiar to a variety of readers and Lubar captures the essence of how life is in constant motion, changing from one day to the next.

I loved this book and found myself sympathizing with Scott and reflecting on my own life in high school as he makes his way through the ups and downs of his freshman year. A definite read for anyone who has "been there, done that" or is currently "doing this same thing!"

Enjoy listening to an excerpt from this book at the following site:

http://www.davidlubar.com/sfnl.mp3

KEYWORDS: High school, friends, family, siblings

Picture Books

Picture books have so much to offer! Great storylines and fantastic illustrations work together to create a literary experience that is a feast for the eyes as well as an enjoyable reading experience. Here are a couple of fun ones that recently made their way home with me from the library!

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

Warning! This book contains a dangerous kitty-turned-criminal! The cause of this event... no cat food in the house! Augh, the horror! The misery! The mess that occurs when kitty finds out that the only available food options are healthy foods.! Thus begins a 4-part alphabetical adventure that is often more naughty than nice!

This cleverly concocted alphabet book comes to life through the brightly colored illustrations that clearly show the menacing meanderings of this rampaging kitty. Kitty, who is less than pleased with her owners wrecks havoc around the house, but returns to her loving "good kitty" self when the right kinds of food are reintroduced into the household.

Nick Bruel creatively romps through the alphabet on four separate occasions and his alphabetical choices such as: "Plotted against us" for the letter P and "was Violent with the vet" for the letter V, twist and turn this book into an entertaining and over-the-top exploration of alphabetical fun that children from kindergarten through 2nd grade are bound to enjoy.

KEYWORDS: picture book, alphabet, cats, pets, mischief, humor

One Dark and Dreadful Night by Randy Cecil

At the Wayward Orphans Theatre, the melancholy Maestro Von Haughty stands ready to present "three tales of terror and misfortune." However, the "talented tots" who live in the orphanage have their own idea of how the evening's entertainment should unfold and humorously and happily set their plans in motion, much to the dismay of the Maestro.

The mood of this book is double-sided, with the Maestro Von Haughty trying diligently to create a feeling of gloominess and dismay, and the orphans working hard to change each production into something more light-hearted and enjoyable for the audience. With cleverly placed asides as part of the dialogue and illustrations that not only extend the text, but clue the reader into what's happening behind-the-scenes, the reader enjoys the unfolding of a happier tale.

I enjoyed the conversational dialogue of the orphans that occurs as an undercurrent to the more polished and severe dialogue of the Maestro. I found myself laughing at the antics of the orphan performers as they work to undo the terrible tales of the Maestro and would recommend this book to be shared with children ages 8 and up, as they will appreciate the underlying tones of humor and wit that are based on some popular fairy tale stories and that lead up to a quite satisfying ending.

KEYWORDS: picture books, theater, fairy tales, orphans, humor