• Apr162009
    A little bit of Magic - A lot of Mystery

    POSTED AT 12:54 PM

    The Seance, by Iain Lawrence
     
    For a book about seances and Houdini, there's really not a whole lot of magic or the supernatural in this one.  Actually, this is mainly a good mystery set back in the 1920's.  Scooter's mom, Madam King, is a medium and holds seances for a living.  Scooter is her assistant.  When Harry Houdini comes to town, he is thrilled, but the master magician's appearance is overshadowed by the death (or is it murder?) of a local comedian in the very theater in which Houdini is to perform.  Scooter has an idea of who might be responsible for the crime, but he has to do a lot of sleuthing before he can get officials to believe him.
     
    I love mysteries, and this one is extra great for me as I am a long-time fan of stories about the world's most famous escape artist.  Some actual events from Houdini's life are woven into this piece of fiction making it all the more realistic. Read it if you like magic or mystery.  You won't be disappointed.
    Currently rated 3.7 by 3 people
    • Currently 3.666667/5 Stars.
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    Apr092009
    Controversy in Library Land

    POSTED AT 02:38 PM

    You're probably familiar with Newbery books.  They are those award-winning books for folks your age.  Each year a new one is chosen by a group of librarians, and lately there's been a bit of controversy about their choices.  Some people think that a few of the recent winners don't have appeal to kids - just to the adults who chose them.
     
    In my opinion, and quite a few others', this year's winner is back on track with being a book that young people will enjoy.  It is called The Graveyard Book, and the title and cover art automatically draw you to it.  It tells the story of a boy who grows up in a graveyard - somewhere between the world of the living and the no longer living.  It is a strange premise, I admit, but it makes for a very satisfying read for those who enjoy a bit of mystery and suspense.
     
    Ghostly figures of various sorts protect Bod (short for Nobody) Owens from those who would do great harm to him.  See if you can figure out who 'The Jacks' are as you read this tale of an orphaned boy being hunted by the people who killed his family when he was just an infant.
     
    As for me, I think the Newbery Committee made a great choice this year.
    Currently rated 3.7 by 3 people
    • Currently 3.666667/5 Stars.
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