Book Giveaway: Starts January 2011

Every month the Hobart Branch Library will give away free books from our book sale room. To receive a free book, simply submit a book review to be published on this blog. If you would like to participate, pick up a book review form at the circulation desk. Or you can email me your review at lklemm@lcplin.org. To get the form off the blog click here: Book Review Form


Three entries per person, per month.

The Secret Life of Samantha Mcgregor series by Melody Carlson

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Bad Connection is the first in a four book series about a girl named Samantha Mcgregor. Samantha is not just an ordinary girl, she gets visions from God. When Samantha's classmate Kayla goes missing she doesn't think anything of it. Kayla liked to party and she kept telling everyone she was going to meet her online boyfriend. Then Samantha starts getting visions about Kayla and Kayla is not okay. With the help from her friend Olivia and Detective Ebony Hamilton Samantha is able to make sense of these visions and hopefully find Kayla before it is too late. This is an inspirational fiction book. Don't forget to check out the rest of the series, Beyond Reach, Playing with Fire, and Payback. Each book just got better and better.

Unraveled by Gena Showalter

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Witches, goblins, werewolves, vampires, fairies, souls, and so much more. Aden Stone finally has everything he has ever wanted, a home, friends, and a girlfriend. Unfortunately for him he still has three souls living in his head, one that has predicted he will die by a knife through his heart very soon, witches and fairies are after him, and oh by the way he is the new vampire king. Did you get all that? Aden isn't the only one with problems. His friend Mary Ann discovers she is a drainer and is a danger to her werewolf boyfriend Riley. There is a lot going on in this book but it's oh so good! I'm not going to tell you more. Just read it, unless you haven't read the first book Intertwined then read that one and then this one. The next book in this series, Twisted, will be out September 2011.

THE VAMPIRATES DEMONS OF THE OCEAN BY JUSTIN SOMPER

Reading Level: Young Adult

RATING 3

This is a young adult novel NOT about pirates and vampires but Vampirates. Vampires that live on the ocean in the year 2505. Twins Connor and Grace never dreamed that there was any truth to the Vampirates shanty their father sang to them. Due to unfortunate events, the twins find themselves shipwrecked and separated from each other. For Connor, who is taken aboard a pirate ship, there’s the chance to learn to sword fight and experience new adventures. However for Grace, who is aboard a mysterious ship of vampires, the danger is great.

If you’re ready for an adventure that will take you into the future, aboard a pirate ship and a ship of vampires, in an unforgettable race against time and the elements, you will enjoy this book.

Helen Duda

November 22, 2010

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Reading Level: Adult
(5 out of 5)


I loved this book. I was actually reading a different book when I came upon this one. After reading the first page I was hooked. I like how each new segment has a heading. For example chapter one starts with the heading After Lunch, then Dinner, Later, Memories, you always know the time frame which is nice. Grace Divine is the daughter of a local pastor. Daniel Kalbi was Grace's next door neighbor and her brother Jude's best friend until one night Jude came home covered in blood and Daniel had disappeared. Now Daniel was back and even though Jude made Grace promise to stay away from him she just can't help herself. Ms. Despain weaves religion, werewolves, and romance into an incredible story. I'm excited that the next book The Lost Saint comes out in January. So I don't have forever to wait. Yeah!!!

Double Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

Mrs. Seinfeld gave us Deceptively Delicious, a cookbook for parents to help their picky eaters to eat healthier by adding vegetable purees to their foods. Now with Double Delicious! she has many more yummy looking recipes that are healthy and fit for the whole family. The chicken and rice soup looks very good and has cauliflower and carrot puree along with other whole veggies. The sesame beef with broccoli has carrot puree in the sauce. It gets a thumbs up from her family. Don't fret because if you have sweet tooth she has great looking desserts as well. I want to try the doughnut cookies. They look delicious and you can have two for only 70 calories and 2.5 grams of fat.

Beautiful Darkness By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

This book was like sinking my teeth into a triple layer fudge cake. So delicious and so rich. In Beautiful Darkness school is out. Ethan is looking forward to the summer with Lena, but Lena isn't the same girl she used to be a few months ago. Somehow she got away without claiming herself on her sixteenth birthday and she is in turmoil: good or bad, light or dark. Which one will she become? In order to protect the people she loves from herself she runs away with her cousin Ridley and the mysterious John Breed. But Ethan isn't going to just move on. He loves Lena and even if their relationship is over he is determined to help her. So with the help of his best friend Link and keeper in training Liv they embark on a dangerous mission: find the fabled great barrier and save Lena.

The Castor world of the tunnels come alive in this book. You only got a taste in Beautiful Creatures, in Beautiful Darkness you get the tour. Things really aren't what they seem. I'm thrilled that it looks like there will at least be two more in the series. One coming out in 2011 and one in 2012.

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

If you can see the white pieces of paper sticking up out of the book in the photo you can tell I have bookmarked a lot of recipes. One recipe is from Cuba: chicken and cheese empanadas, one from Mexico: Pozole, and one from Argentina: grilled chicken and chimichurri. Just to name a few. The chicken tomatillo stew and pork pupusas with spicy coleslaw look good as well. I can't wait to try the Mexican red rice recipe. Looks yummy, I love Mexican rice. If you are a fan of Latin food check out this book.

Classic Southern Desserts by Southern Living

Reading Level: Adult
(5 out of 5)

I think I want to make every recipe out of this book. There are too many to blog about and too many to copy, so I think I'm going to buy my own book. If you like to bake check out this book, you won't be disappointed.

Untited Cakes of AMerica by Warren Brown

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

Did you know that Indiana's official dessert is sugar cream pie? I did not, but I do love sugar cream pie. The author Warren Brown wondered what connects a cake to a state? His research began. Brown owns his own bakery CakeLove and has been featured on Food Network. This book has a dessert recipe for each state and they all look good. I want to try our sugar cream pie, Maryland's Smith Island Cake, Illinois Devil's food cake, and caramel cake which is a favorite in about every state in the Union.

A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)


A Memory Between Us is the second book in the Wings of Glory series. This book revolves around Major Jack Novak and Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. Jack met Ruth in the first book when she was a nurse to Jack's brother Walt. In the start of this book Jack is wounded and winds up in Ruth's hospital. He is smitten with her from the start but he soon finds out that she is dedicated to her work and doesn't date. Jack thinks no problem and feels like he can persuade her into loving him. The historical aspect of this novel is fascinating. She states on her web page in the FAQ's that the places were all real and even some of the people were real people. Most of the dates are real time as well. It was exciting reading about D-Day and about flight nursing. I think I would rather be in a hospital away from the fighting but the nurses who risked their own lives pulling out our soldiers were incredible. The writing is just incredible and I can't wait for book three.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

I would like to start off by saying I hate cliff hangers. Television shows, movies, and books that leave you hanging are very rude. Especially since most television shows leave you like that over the summer, the next movie doesn't usually come out for another year, and neither does a book. Rude I tell you, but usually well worth the wait. Hush, Hush didn't leave you hanging but Crescendo does. The next book doesn't come out until next fall. That's the end of my rant.

Crescendo picks up two months after Hush Hush left off. It's summer time and Nora is really looking forward to quality time with Patch. But instead of things looking up things are looking down. Patch seems to be pulling away from Nora and she keeps having hallucinations of her father. Someone is after her, and not in a good way. I read this book in a day. I couldn't put it down. I didn't like that Patch and Nora's relationship is in turmoil for pretty much the whole book but once you get to the end you understand why. At least it wasn't like New Moon when Edward totally left and Bella only saw him through hallucinations. Patch is still around and trying to protect Nora. There is a new male character Scott but he didn't make me fall in love with him like Jacob did. Sorry Edward I'm on Team Jacob. I'm on Team Patch. I can't help rooting for the fallen angel with a heart of gold. I can't wait for the next book.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

This book was creepy, but in a good way. It's not unheard of for children to be snatched from there beds, but they are usually not replaced. In the Replacement the town of Gentry has a secret that no one talks about. Every seven years a child dies. The people who live under the town snatch a child and replace him/her with one of there own. In most cases the replacement doesn't live. In Mackies case he does survive but he is dying. All the iron in this world is killing him and his sister Emma, who loves him as he is, goes to get him help. The House of Mayhem where Mackie came from offers him a deal. Play in their band and he will receive the medicine he needs to survive. But don't ask questions about the missing children. Natalie Stewart has been taken and her replacement died. Tate, Natalie's sister, goes to Mackie for answers. She knows that the thing they buried was not her sister. Mackie has spent all his life trying to blend in and not call attention to himself but he feels like he needs to do something to get Natalie back.

You can't help but to fall in love with Mackie. He doesn't want to be the hero but he wants to do the right thing. His friends Roswell and the twins are very cool. It's nice having a friend like Roswell that helps you out without question. Mackies sister Emma is his protector. I really enjoyed this book. Ms. Yovanoff's descriptions of the people in the House of Mayhem and the Lady and her followers make you feel like you are walking right along with Mackie. You can picture them with such clarity. They creep you out a bit.

Southern Living Complete Quick & Easy Cookbook

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

Quick and Easy is the key. I don't like making dishes that have 100 ingredients and take hours to prepare. I don't have the time for that. Maybe one day when I'm retired. Some recipes I have flagged are Pecan Chicken, Pecan Squares, Chicken-Vegetable Stir Fry, Thai Noodles, Smothered Chicken, and much more. Be sure to check this one out if you like quick and easy meals.

The Deen Brothers Take It Easy

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

The love the Deen Boys and their mama. They cook such wonderful looking dishes. One of the recipes that caught my eye was Chicken and Rice Salas with Guacamole. Yum! I'm definitely trying that one. Also Buttery Chicken "Scampi" Pasta for those who don't like shrimp. Jamie's son Jack is a fan of this version. Or try the Mini Macaroni Pies. It's all making me hungry. So check out this book.

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

This is book one in a series called Wings of Glory. The second book A Memory Between Us is available at the library. And the third book Blue Skies Tomorrow will come out next August.

A Distant Melody revolves around Allie Miller and Lt. Walter Novak during World War II. Allie is from a wealthy family and she is longing to do more for the war effort. Walt is a B-17 bomber pilot. Allie and Walt meet on a train to a friends wedding. Walt is on leave and Allie has just graduated college. During their week together they become friends and they really understand each other. Walt likes her more than a friend but finds out Allie has a boyfriend her parents intend for her to marry. Despite that Walt asks Allies boyfriend if it is okay that Allie writes him. Baxter agrees. So Walt and Allie start corresponding and their feelings for each other grows. But of course there are many obstacles in their way. I loved this book. It's always nice reading a Faith based book. Love is so pure and the stories are always inspirational. Ms. Sundin has done an excellent job creating such a wonderful story. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and the war story is fascinating. I can't wait to read the next one. It's about Walt's brother Jack.

Eco-Craft: Recycle, Recraft, Restyle by Susan Wasinger

Reading Level: Adult non-fiction
(5 out of 5)

If you are into being green, this is the craft book for you. There are craft ideas in here that uses aluminum pop cans, glass bottles, plastic bags, take out containers, and much more. One neat one that caught my eye are sweater rugs. Hmm is that a rug made out of sweaters you ask? Yes! You use 4 to 12 wool (or mostly wool) sweaters. Quoting the book it says, "This is quite possibly the fuzziest, thickest, squishest, plushest, most huggable rug you will ever set foot on... and you make it yourself in a matter of hours." You use knitting needles. I don't really know how to knit but I think it might be time that I learned.

Another clever idea is making bags using coffee bags and duct tape. You get a functional bag that probably smells good too.

Make lunch bags using plastic shopping bags.

Cool light fixtures out of milk jugs.

The one I cringe at a little bit is using books to make angels and trees. Yes they look really cool but I mourn a little bit for the books. An alternative to books would be magazines. I have seen magazine trees before.

All in all I want to make almost every craft in here. And I'll be helping save the planet while I do it! :)

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

What if I told you Sandmen were real? Every night when you go to bed your personal Sandman comes and seduces you to sleep. I would have to say I need to talk with my Sandman because most nights I toss and turn before I can get comfortable enough to sleep. In Sleepless Eron De Marchelle is a Sandman. Eron was once human and at the age of seventeen he died and was offered to either move on or become a Sandman. After 100 years of service you become human again. I would think that to some that would sound appealing. Eron is in charge of Julia and two others. He has feelings for Julia that a Sandman is forbidden to have. Even after he becomes human he is forbidden from pursuing Julia. But Eron's term of service is almost up. Will he risk everything to try and be with her?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read.

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

Reading Level: Young Adult
(5 out of 5)

Yes, you read that correctly. 5 out of 5. I LOVED this book. Alona Dare is the popular cheerleader everyone loves to hate. Will Killian is the troubled Goth kid. Did I forget to mention that Alona died and is now a ghost and Will can see and communicate with the dead? Once Alona figures out Will can see her and talk to her she wants answers even if that means talking to a total loser. Will doesn't want anything to do with any ghosts because they have been a pain in his butt since he was little and he especially doesn't want to help high and mighty Alona Dare. But they realize they can help each other and along the way sparks fly, sarcasm flows, and this is just a delicious read.

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Reading Level: Juvenile
(4 out of 5)

Bobby Phillips is a normal teenager until one day he steps out of the shower and he can't see himself. What's a boy to do? He tells his parents, who take a little convincing and then they all agree they can't tell anyone else because Bobby would most likely be carted off and experimented on. So that means no school and no contact with the outside world. Which brings trouble from the school and from Bobby when he doesn't listen and decides to go out and explore. This was a fun read. I would only want to be invisible if I had the power to become visible again but in Bobby's case as the days go by it doesn't seem like that's going to happen.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Reading Level: Juvenile
(4 out of 5)

The ballad "Scarborough Fair" was the inspiration behind this book. Lucy Scarborough is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child's birth (taken from the book jacket).

When Lucy was a baby she was taken in by Leo and Soledad. Her birth mother, Miranda, was the crazy homeless lady that walked around with a shopping cart shouting at people. At seventeen Lucy becomes pregnant and she finds out that the women in her family are cursed. Every woman at seventeen has become pregnant and after giving birth all have gone crazy. The only way to save themselves is to complete three impossible tasks. The women before Lucy haven't succeeded but Lucy has a great support system: Leo, Soledad, and Zach. Can Lucy complete the impossible tasks before it's too late?

This book really sucked me in. I really enjoyed it.

Stash by David Klein

Reading Level: Adult
Haven't read it yet so no rating

As you can see from above I haven't had a chance to read this book yet but it looked good. The main character Gwen has it all. She is an attractive, thirtyish stay at home mom living in a very nice neighborhood. Gwen's perfect world is about to get turned upside down. After buying a small bag of marijuana from an old boyfriend she is in a car accident that leaves her bruised but the other driver dead. When the pot is found in her car they throw the book at her. With all the drug problems at the schools the police want to set an example. This book is told from multiple perspectives and is driven by psychological suspense and an escalating plot.

My read pile is pretty large at the moment so I'm going to tuck this one away for when my read pile is smaller.

Reference Book Review: A to Zoo by Carolyn Lima and Rebecca Thomas

How did I not know about this resource when I was a Children's librarian? Awesome resource for finding picture books. In the early 80's John and Carolyn Lima had a vision to create a reference book to provide better subject access to picture books for children. A to Zoo was created. A to Zoo has 13,755 titles cataloged under 1,215 subjects. Start with your ABC's and and end with Zoo's.

Animal books-check
Growing up-check
Flowers-check
Weather-check

and so much more.

There is also a bibliographic guide, title index, and an illustrator index.

Great resource for librarian, teachers, and parents.

Reference Book Review: American Eras

American Eras Early American Civilizations and Exploration to 1600 is a very interesting book. This book consists of eleven chapters. Each chapter is broken down into the following categories: Chronology, Overview, Topics in the News, Headline Makers, and Publications.

Chronology is a time line of important events to 1600, Overview gives you information about the topic, Topics in the News breaks it down by year, Headline Makers highlights a couple prominent people of that era, and then Publications lists related reading material.

Reference Book Review: Encyclopedia of the American Civil War

Encyclopedia of the American Civil War is a five volume set. It consists of more than 1,600 essays that describe and explain a myriad of aspects that cover the coming of the war, its conduct, and its consequences in a political, military, and social context. It also provides biographical essays on major and minor military, political, diplomatic, and cultural figures. These essays describe more than sixty major engagements as well as important skirmishes. They have also tried to cover broad areas such as strategy and tactics, social trends, and technological innovations. Articles are in alphabetical order.

Volume I A-C
Volume II D-I
Volume III J-Q
Volume IV R-Z
Volume V List of Documents, Source Documents, Appendices, Chronology of the American Civil War, Glossary, Bibliography, and Index

You can find a list of entries at the beginning of the book.

Civil War buffs should check this encyclopedia out.

Reference Book Review: The Encyclopedia of the Ancient World

The Encyclopedia of the Ancient World is a three volume set that presents a survey of the cultures and civilizations of the world from prehistory through about 700 C.E. It predominately provides coverage of the ancient Greeks and Romans but also examines the civilizations, cultures, traditions, monuments and artifacts, significant wars and battles, and important personages of Europe (outside Greece and Rome), Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. This three volume set also provides descriptions of important documents of antiquity, definitions, and overviews of general topics that provide cross-cultural views of the ancient world. There are 1, 195 articles that consist of 26 overviews and 1, 169 alphabetically arranged encyclopedic articles that range from 250-word biographies of important figures such as Marc Antony and Xunzi to 2,500 word essays on major subjects such as Imperial Rome and Classical Greece.

The time span covered ranges from prehistory to 700 C. E. There is a Contents, Publisher's Note, list of Contributors, a Key to Pronunciation, Maps index, and a Complete List of Contents for all three volumes. If you are studying ancient civilizations or needing to do a report you might want to take a look at these.

Reference Book Review: Reading Rants by Jennifer Hubert

I was actually inspired to start the Book Nook because of the Reading Rants website. http://www.readingrants.org/ I go there pretty religiously to see what Ms. Hubert has read. Her reviews of the books really make you want to read them. I only get upset when the book sounds really good and it's not been published yet. Her book is pretty cool too.

Reading Rants covers 100 books divided among ten topics, with ten titles for each topic. Bibliographic information is provided for each title followed by six categories: The Story, The Message, Who's it For?, Why it Rocks, Hook it Up With, and Read More about It.

The Story summarizes the full story, including the ending. Expect spoilers!

The Message includes the prominent themes.

Who's It For? tells you grade level recommendations and if there is strong language, sexual situations, or violent scenes.

Why It Rocks explains why Ms. Hubert choose to include the title in her book.

Hook It Up gives similar titles to recommend.

Read More About It lists where the book was reviewed in professional journals.

Make sure you check out her website. It really does rock!

The Grimm Legacy: Borrow the Magic if you Dare! by Polly Shulman

Reading Level: Juvenile
(4 out of 5)

The story revolves around Elizabeth and the New-York Circulating Material Repository. Elizabeth's life is similar to Cinderella's. She lives with her father and stepmother and has two stepsisters. Elizabeth's history teacher tells her about a page position at the repository and she gets the job. Strange things have been going on. A huge bird has been spotted, a page has disappeared, and items have gone missing. Especially items that have magic. Elizabeth, Anajali, Aaron, and Marc take it upon themselves to solve the mystery. This was a fun read.

Speaking as a librarian I think it would be really cool to work at the New-York Circulating Material Repository. The repository lends out objects rather than books. So if you need a fondue pot, a tea set, or Marie Antoinette's everyday wig you can borrow them from the repository. Pretty cool huh! It's also home to the Grimm Collection. Powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales such as seven league boots, a table that produces a fest in the blink of an eye, and Snow White's stepmothers sinister mirror that talks in riddles.

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Over the weekend I read Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead. This is the 5th book in the Vampire Academy series. I really thought this was going to be the last book but it better not be because the ending leaves you hanging. Good News, there is one last book called Last Sacrifice due out in December of 2010.

I'm not going to talk about the book I'm just going to ask a question.

For those of you who have read this series who do you want Rose to end up with:

Dimitri

Or

Adrian

I'm thinking she will end up with Dimitri but I really like Adrian. I'm so torn! Give your answer in the comments and you have a chance to win a free book from our book sale room. Deadline for the contest is August 9, 2010.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)


It seems like during the summer I don't get as much reading done as I do in the winter. It may be due to the fact that its really nice outside and I haven't quite figured out how I can swim and read at the same time without getting my book soggy. I still love to read I just am not reading at the same pace I do in the winter. While on vacation I decided to try and read The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I say try because I tried when it first came out and I couldn't get past Fords Deep Waters putting Wanderer in Melanie's body. At the time it just wasn't doing it for me and I was surprised because I like this type of story. So on the plane ride to Arizona I cracked open this 619 page book and dove in. I can't say that it really gripped me like Twilight did. When I read Twilight I couldn't put it down. I could put The Host down until I got half way through. Then it sucked me in and I sat reading in my chair at home from 9pm until 4am to finish it. When I got to what I thought was the end I was ready to cry because I had read over 594 pages and the ending was not what I wanted at all. I was ready to boycott anything else Ms. Meyer wrote for the rest of my life BUT she redeemed herself because two blank pages later was the actual ending of the book and I really enjoyed it. Ms. Meyer I really would have hated not ever reading another book you wrote because I love your books and I really liked The Host. Everyday that passes I like it a little more and more.

The Host is a love story that just happens to take place during an alien invasion of earth. Souls, which are centipede looking creatures that get inserted into humans, can't live without a host and have already taken over several planets. They set their sights on Earth because it's beautiful and they believed that they could make humanity better. Slowly over time they invade and when the humans eventually wise up to what is happening its too late. The Souls have taken over and they assign Seekers to find the humans that run. Wanderer is a Soul that had lived on seven planets, which is remarkable for a soul. She is picked to be put in Melanie who is a rebel human. The Seekers hope is that Wanderer can find out where the other humans are hiding. What Wanderer didn't anticipate was that Melanie would stick around in her body. Usually when a Soul was implanted the human it takes over goes away. Melanie is a fighter and she doesn't want to leave her body. At first Melanie and Wanderer are at odds with each other. But after time Melanie shows Wanderer the love she has for her brother Jamie and the love she has for Jared. Wanderer starts to love them as well and they set off to find them. For me that is when all the fun began and the story really sucked me in. After almost dying in the desert Melanie's Uncle Jeb finds them and quickly realizes that Melanie has been taken over because of the silver in the eyes but what he also thinks is that Melanie is still in there. Melanie's Uncle Jeb is a great character that you can't help but fall in love with. The rest of the humans are weary and full of hate because who wouldn't be after having your planet invaded. Jared is livid but doesn't want any harm to come to Melanie's body. Ms. Meyer has really spun an incredible tale full of well developed characters and the culture she came up with for the other planets was just fascinating. In all this is a romance. A romance between Melanie and Jared and Wanderer. Wanderer can't help but love Jared because Melanie and her body loves Jared. But to complicate it further the love triangle becomes a square because Ian loves Wanderer, not Melanie but Wanderer. And Wanderer likes Ian as well. Has any of this caught your interest yet? The ending was really good and even though this is a stand alone book I would have been happy to read more about what happens to Earth, the humans, and the Souls.

The Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes

Here is an interesting set of encyclopedias I came across in our reference area. It seems that at least once a year we get school age kids looking for books on Native American tribes and this would be a helpful resource.

This four volume set presents historical, cultural, and current information on nearly 400 Native groups within 13 geographic regions. This is a four volume set organized by tribal groups. Volume I covers the Northeast, Southeast, and Caribbean tribal groups. Volume II covers the Great Basin, Southwest, and Middle America tribal groups. Volume III covers the Arctic, the Subarctic, the Great Plains, and the Plateau tribal groups. Volume IV covers the Pacific Northwest, California, and the Pacific Islands tribal groups.

Each volume includes maps that indicate historical origins of tribal groups as well as locations of contemporary state and federal reservations.

The essays are arranged alphabetically within regional clusters. The essays are broken down into the following information: introduction, history, religion, language, buildings, subsistence, clothing and adornment, healing practices, customs, oral literature, current tribal issues, and bibliography and further reading.

This set was published in 1998. While the current information on a tribe will most likely be different the historical information will be the same. The historical maps are useful as well.

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Rules of Attraction is a sequel of sorts to A Perfect Chemistry. A Perfect Chemistry was about Alex Fuentes and Rules of Attraction is about his brother Carlos. Carlos gets sent to live with Alex in Colorado when his gang ties in Mexico get him in trouble. Carlos is good looking, arrogant, cocky, and has a bad attitude. He doesn't want to be there and he doesn't follow rules. On his first day of his senior year he gets assigned a peer guide. Kiara Westford doesn't realize what shes getting into being Carlos peer guide. They don't instantly click but you know how they say opposites attract. When Carlos gets busted for drugs he gets sent to live with Kiara's family. Her father is a Professor and had Alex as a student and wants to help him out. Kiara isn't the type of girl Carlos usually goes for but he finds himself falling for her and falling deeper in trouble with gang issues. Can he get himself on the straight and narrow? Will he and Kiara find true love?

I thought that Carlos was harder to love than Alex. Alex was arrogant and cocky but I liked him sooner than I did Carlos. Carlos is a wise you know what but he grew on me and you can't help but root for him. What I really like about these two books is that Ms. Elkeles wrote an epilogue for both and you get to glimpse into their future and I really like that.

Exciting News

Caragh O'Brien the author of Birthmarked emailed me. I can't explain to you how thrilled I am. It's always really cool to hear from the authors. She saw the review on the blog and wanted to let me know that there will be a sequel. You can find the information on her website under FAQ. I can't tell you how excited I am that there will be a sequel and that she graciously took the time to let me know. So if you haven't read the book read it so that we can all wait anxiously together until the next one is released.

Birth Marked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Reading Level: Young Adult
(5 out of 5)

I really enjoyed this book. I didn't love the ending but I'm hoping that there will be another book to continue the story. Fingers are crossed because when I went on the authors website it didn't say if there would be a second one.

This story is set in the future. A future that has been baked dry by the harsh sun and there are people who live inside the wall and those who live outside the wall. Gaia Stone is sixteen and a midwife that lives outside the wall. She and her family serve the Enclave (government inside the wall). Every month the first three babies born are advanced to the Enclave. Gaia does her duty loyally until her parents are arrested by those she has served. Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught to believe and she is determined to set her parents free.

Claude and Camille by Stephanie Cowell

CLAUDE & CAMILLE, A NOVEL OF MONET

By Stephanie Cowell

Rated 4

If you are curious about the 19^th century life of famous artists of Impressionism, you will enjoy this book about Claude Monet and his friendships with Renoir and Manet. This historical fiction book begins with Claude Monet and his early life in the seaport town of LeHavre, France. Against his father’s will, and with nothing but a dream and passion to create a new style of art, he set off for Paris. When he met Camille (who was from an upper-class Paris family) she became his inspiration and his future wife who stood by him as they lived in horrible conditions and moved frequently from place to place due to financial problems of artists. Monet’s love of Camille, gardens, and water lilies are evident in his paintings. In the latter part of his life, Monet lived at the now famous Giverny Gardens outside of Paris. I enjoyed the journey of Monet’s life and hope you will too.

“What can be said about a man who is interested in nothing but his painting?”

Claude Monet

Submitted by Helen

Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood

This is Trisha Yearwoods second cookbook. Her first one was Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen. The recipes in both cookbooks are easy and look wonderful. I haven't tested any out yet but I want to try many.

Garth's Breakfast Bowl looks and sounds yummy. Garth Brooks, Trisha's husband, came up with this interesting breakfast bowl. Trisha says that Garth likes to cook breakfast and one morning he wanted something hearty so he put together scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, cheddar cheese, and the special ingredient cheese and roasted garlic tortellini. Who would of thought to put pasta in your breakfast but Trisha says it works and tastes great.

The Apple Dumplings look really good too and they are made with biscuits. Doesn't get any easier than that. I need to stop looking because it's making me hungry. Checkout this book!

Southern Living Comfort Food Cookbook

If you are looking for healthy than don't read this post because this cookbook is full of southern comfort food that is not low fat. I'm sure you can tweak the recipes to shave off calories and fat but why mess with the good stuff.

The Three Cheese Pasta Bake on the front cover looks to die for. I love cheese and pasta so when you throw those two together I'm in heaven. There's a recipe in here for Country Fried Steak that looks wonderful too. I love country fried steak. I really want to try the Pecan Pie Brownies. Ohhhh I think I'm drooling.

If you love cooking and cookbooks then please check this cookbook out. I don't think you would be disappointed.

Beastly the Movie

When I go to the movies I hate to be late because I love the previews. Seeing the previews is a must and I'm glad I caught this one when I went to the show on Sunday. As the preview came on I sat there thinking I know this story. It seems very familiar and then it hit me. I've read the book. The book was Beastly by Alex Flinn. Beastly was actually the first book I blogged about on this blog a little over two years ago. First off I can't believe I've been doing this blog for over two years. Time really does fly. Second I'm so excited that they made this book into a movie. Beastly is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast and if you want to read the review click on the link: http://hobartlibrarybooknook.blogspot.com/2008/02/beastly-by-alex-flinn.html.

In the movie Alex Pettyfer plays Kyle Kinsbury the incredibly good looking self centered boy that gets turned into a beast by a witch.

The witch who's name is Kendra is played by Mary Kate Olsen.

And Lindy, Kyle's love interest and savior, is played by Vanessa Hudgens.

Will, Kyle's tutor, is played by Neil Patrick Harris whom I love.

The movie comes out July 30 and I hope it's as good as the book.

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Hourglass is the third in this series and there better be a fourth the way the author ended it. This novel finds Bianca and Lucas hiding out with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. After the attack on Evernight Academy Black Cross believes Bianca to be human raised by vampires. What they don't know is that Bianca was born to two vampires and is part vampire part human. Lucas is the only one who knows the truth and they have to keep it a secret or Black Cross will kill them both. Soon Bianca and Lucas are on the run from not only Black Cross but the people from Evernight. Can Bianca escape her destiny of becoming a full vampire?

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Reading Level: Adult
(5 out of 5)

I just can't get enough of Patricia Briggs books. I really like her writing style and her stories. This is the fifth book in the Mercedes Thompson series. Mercy is a mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington and she can shift into a coyote at will. She lives in a trailer with Samuel who is a werewolf and her neighbor Adam, also a werewolf, is her mate. Mercy's former boss Zee is fae and she is friends with Stephen, a vampire. Mercy keeps interesting company and trouble seems to follow her around. In this book Mercy has a book from the fae and the fae want it back but Mercy's not sure who to trust. To make matters worse Samuel is struggling with his wolf side and Mercy is trying to cover for him so his father Bran doesn't put him to sleep. The next one comes out sometime next year. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait.

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Have you ever wanted a book that the library doesn't own? I know I have many times. If the item is new you can send in a Purchase Request form to see if the library will purchase it. Titles not yet published or released will only be accepted within one month of availability. We can't always fulfill each request due to reviews or budget restraints but we do look forward to your suggestions. Now for the books that are two years old or older we can Interlibrary Loan them from other libraries around the country. This is a free service to our resident library card holders. If the book is out there and available then we will find it. The Interlibrary Loan staff is awesome.

Leaving Paradise is a book I wanted to read that the library did not own so they were able to get it through Interlibrary Loan for me. I'm glad that they did because this was a really good book. I wasn't thrilled with the ending but got over it when I turned the last page and read that their will be a sequel continuing Caleb and Maggie's story due out sometime this summer. I can't wait.

What happens when the person who damaged you for life becomes the person you trust the most? (off of the back cover). One fateful night Maggie Armstrong is hit by a drunk driver and Caleb Becker confesses to the crime and gets sentenced to juvenile detention. For the past year Maggie has endured several surgeries on her leg and painful physical therapy. Caleb has endured being behind bars and praying for freedom. When Caleb is released he heads back to Paradise and encounters Maggie. Maggie hates Caleb but they seemed to be drawn to each other. Elkeles has written a story that sticks with you and leaves you wanting more. Throw in a few twists and turns and you are so ready for the sequel. And according to Amazon the sequel is called Return to Paradise and will be out September 1, 2010.

Encyclopedia of Extreame Sports by Kelly Boyer Sagert

Extreme sport enthusiasts are fearless. You would have to be to fling yourself off of a cliff, jump out of a perfectly good airplane, water ski barefoot, or do twisted jumps in the air and land on your snow board. I'll stick to watching and let the professionals do the crazy tricks. It's way to extreme for a wuss like me. I applaud those people for what they can do because it is Amazing to watch and a little scary because I hold my breath the whole time until they land safely and I know they haven't broken their necks. This encyclopedia is really cool. It is full of extreme sport information not only about the different sports but also about the people doing them.

Are you a fan of Shaun White? He's in here.
Love Wake Boarding? That's in here too along with Kite Surfing, Adventure Racing, Lava Sledding (I'll pass, Thank You) and those are just to name a few.

How the book is broken down: Alphabetical List of Entries, Guide to Related Topics, Introduction, Acknowledgments, Timeline of Extreme Sports, Body of Information, and Index.

I recommend reading the introduction because it talks about the difference between extreme and traditional sports, it gives a history, reasons for popularity, the future of extreme sports, and gives you an overview of the encyclopedia. Really interesting book.

You can find it on the New Reference Book shelf.

Tasting Fear by Shannon McKenna

Reading Level: Adult
(3 out of 5)

This book was my companion when I waited in line for four hours with my husband at Dark Lord. Would have gone crazy without it. I had never read Shannon McKenna before and I'm glad I read some excerpts in another book because I discovered Tasting Fear. I knew I had to read it and I'm glad I did. Very good.

This book has three stories in one. Nancy, Nell, and Vivi are adopted sisters who come together when their mother dies. What they soon find out is that their mother was murdered and they are determined to find the killer.

In the first book Nancy meets Liam and passion flares between them. Will Nancy let Liam protect her against the man who murdered her mother?

In the second book Nell has had a crush on the steak sandwich guy from the diner for what seems like forever. When Nell goes on a job interview she's very surprised to find the sandwich guy as the interviewer. Duncan is an expert in computers and wants to help Nell find her mothers killer and offer his protection. Will Nell give in to temptation?

The third book is about Vivi. Vivi needed a place to stay to lay low from the maniac killer and is sent to Oregon to stay with Jack. Vivi's not what Jack expected but he finds himself wanting to protect her. Will these two realize in time that all they need is each other?

Romance and mystery with a little action all rolled into one. I'm already looking into her other books.

Instant Series by Jill Shalvis

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

If I ever wanted to go on an adventure (skiing, moonlight hiking, rock climbing, trip to Alaska) I would want it to be lead by on of the Wilder brothers. T.J, Stone, and Cameron are bad boys with hearts of gold. Rugged good looks and smoldering sex appeal I wouldn't mind following them somewhere.

In Wishful, California you can find Wilder Adventures run by T.J., Stone, Cameron, their Aunt Annie and her husband Nick. In the first book Instant Attraction Katie Kramer is looking to find herself and she ends up taking a job as a temp at Wilder Adventures. Cameron, the golden boy of extreme sports, had lost his way for awhile but made it back to his home only to find a beautiful woman in his bed. Can these two help each other heal and realize before it's too late that they are meant for each other?



In Instant Gratification Stone meets Dr. Emma Sinclair and sparks fly. Emma is only in town for a short while taking care of her ailing estranged father's clinic. Once he's able to take back over she is out of here. Stone loves what he does but he's looking for more. Soon they find themselves in a mind blowing affair that shakes them both to the core. Will Emma stay or will it all be over for them?

These books are so good. T.J's story is in Instant Temptation and I'm impatiently waiting for it on my holds list. Check these books out. You won't be disappointed.

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Reading Level: Young Adult
4 out of 5

So my wonderful husband, Will, loves to read like I do and the light bulb went on over my head. I'm like you could write a review for the blog and he so nicely agreed. I didn't get a picture of the first book in the series so here is a picture of the second (Ninth Grade Slays) and the third book (Tenth Grade Bleeds).

I've enjoyed vampire novels for a long time. Every author of vampire novels has a different set of rules for vampires they decide to follow, or in some cases, throw out the window (I'm talking about you Stephenie Meyer and your glittery vampires!). This book has chosen to go sort of the Blade theory that with enough sunblock, any vampire can be in the daylight. Now what i really like about this book is that the pretty boy isn't the vampire. I feel as if she lifted part of the formula of a good middle schooler dork trying to get the pretty girl with a vampire novel, which i think works well. It's not a completely original book in the genre, but i found it very entertaining for the time it took to read, and I'm looking forward to the next books in the series.

Check out her website: http://www.heatherbrewer.com/ The fourth book in the series is Eleventh Grade Burns and Twelfth Grade Kills comes out in September of this year.

Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy

Reading level: Adult
4 out of 5

One morning Jenny sensed something was wrong with her son and she ran to his room. Evan was having a seizure in his crib. 911 was called and Jenny and Evan's medical journey began. Evan was diagnosed with epilepsy even though it didn't run in the family and he hadn't suffered an injury to the head. The seizure medication helped the seizures but Evan wasn't responding. He was in his own world. Jenny was relentless to find out what was really wrong. Finally after going to a different doctor Evan was diagnosed with Autism. Then began Jenny's journey to pull her son out of his world of Autism. She did that by researching, talking to other parents, getting Evan enrolled in a school that helped Autistic children, and just never giving up. Then finally she discovered an intense combination of behavioral therapy, diet, and supplements that became the key to saving Evan from Autism. This book is very inspiring. Jenny didn't just accept that her son had Autism she became a detective and found what would help heal her son.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Reading Level: Young Adult
4 out of 5


What happens when you put together the head cheerleader and a gang member? Love of course. I'm not making fun I really enjoyed this book and I like when opposites attract. At Fairfield High School, in the outskirts of Chicago, the south siders and the north siders don't mix well. So when Brittany Ellis (head cheerleader) and Alex Fuentes (gang member) get paired up in chemistry sparks start to fly and they are not generated from lab experiments. Brittany thinks that she has Alex all figured out and Alex thinks the same of Brittany but in reality they don't know anything.

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Terra Cooper is tall, blond, and has an enviable body but with the turn of her cheek everyone stares at the red birthmark that covers half of her face. Born with a port wine stain all the treatments over the years have not helped so Terra keeps her face hidden under layers of makeup. She's ashamed of her face and her controlling father never lets her forget about her "flaw".

Sometimes when I read a book a character just rubs me the wrong way. Terra's father did just that. He is a map maker that was exiled when he said that China found America first. This has made him mean and bitter and he verbally takes it out on his wife and children. I really wanted to step into the book and slap him. He is a bully and I don't like bullies.

Terra's plan is to graduate high school a year early and go to a college as far away from her father as possible but her father tells her he won't pay for any college but the local one. Terra feels defeated just like her mother who consoles herself with food. One day Terra almost runs over Jacob and her life gets turned around. He challenges her assumptions about herself and her life and she wonders about her true path.

This story really is about finding yourself and learning to love yourself. Very good read.

Hold Still by Nina Lacour

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

How would you feel if one day you are laughing with your friend and the next day she is gone? Gone by suicide. Caitlin and Ingrid are best friends. Ingrid tells Caitlin that she will go wherever she goes and by the next day Ingrid is dead. Caitlin is devastated. How did she not see the signs? Could she have helped her friend? One day Caitlin finds Ingrid's journal under her bed. Ingrid had to have deliberately put it there because Ingrid didn't go anywhere without her journal. Caitlin lets herself read one entry a day so she can keep Ingrid with her as long as possible. The days and months after Ingrid's suicide Caitlin starts to heal with the help of her parents, her new friend Dylan, love interest Taylor, and Ingrid's journal. This is a very heartfelt book and you feel for Ingrid and Caitlin. Suicide is sad and hard to understand, especially for the ones left behind. From the book jacket, "Nina LaCour brings the changing seasons of Caitlin's first year without Ingrid to the page with indelible emotion and honesty."

The Politician by Andrew Young

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

Even though this book may be a “tell all” by Andrew Young, John Edwards’ aid of 10 years, it is a very eye-opening comment on the personal relationships between aspiring presidential candidates, their aids, family members and entourage. In the Politician Andrew Young has exposed the egotism and unacceptable behavior of a man who wanted to be the leader of the free world. Although he was an accomplice in John Edwards’ extramarital affair and abuse of power, you may understand Andrew Young’s motivations even if you do not agree. Look for the illusions and delusions that are inherent in people whose lives revolve around power and money. After you read this book you may become more skeptical and cynical about the political process … which is after all a good thing for a free country.

Submitted by Helen

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garicia and Margaret Stohl

Reading Level: Young Adult
(5 out of 5)

This book is right up there with Twilight for me. If you are a fan of Stephenie Meyer, Cassandra Clare, or Claudia Gray check out Beautiful Creatures. It's sooooooooo good! I loved the characters, the setting, the story, everything.

Ethan Wate has been having dreams about a girl. Then this girl moves into town. Lena Duchannes is the girl he has been dreaming about and he feels a undeniable connection between them and he is determined to figure the connection out. You can't help but fall in love with Ethan and Lena and their families. The characters are well developed and the story just flows. This book is full of romance, danger, and magic. I can't wait for the next one, Beautiful Darkness, that comes out in October.

Immortal by Gillian Shields

Reading Level: Young Adult
(3 out of 5)

Evie Johnson is sent to Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies when her grandmother is put in a nursing home and her father is in the army. Wyldcliffe is housed in a Gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors, is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming.

When Evie gets to the school she finds that the teaching is strict, the students are snobbish, and the oppressive atmosphere leaves her feeling lonely. Her only lifeline is Sebastian who she meets by chance. Soon she is sneaking out to see him every night but something about him doesn't add up. Evie is haunted by a ghostly girl that looks a lot like her. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of the past and present that she cannot control.

What I liked about this book is that the chapters alternate between Evie and the diary of Agnes. Evie is in the present while Agnes lived in the past. Of course I'm pretty sure there will be a second book because everything doesn't get resolved at the end but I couldn't find any information about a second book.

The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen by Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson

Teri and Serena liked to look for treasure and one day they thought why not hold a sale. The Farm Chicks Antique Show was started in the fall of 2002. They started out in a barn and eventually grew into covering two parks and the community center and its grounds. Then Country Living called and did a spread on them in their magazine. And then they did this cookbook. This book is really fun to look at. Not only are there some really good recipes but they have fun craft and organization ideas as well.

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)

Nicholas Sparks was inspired to write this story from an image. The image was of a marine staring at a photograph. Who was in the photograph? Why was he staring?

In The Lucky One Logan Thibault finds a photograph lying in the sand in Iraq. Once Thibault is in possession of the photograph he seems to get out of every deadly situation he gets in. His friend Victor says that the photograph is his lucky charm and that he needs to find the woman in the photograph. When Thibault gets back home he can't get the woman in the photograph out of his mind. When tragedy strikes Thibault decides to find this woman. Along with his German Shepherd Zeus Thibault walks from Colorado to North Carolina. He finds the woman in the photograph and his life will never be the same. This is a Nicholas Sparks book with a sad but happy ending. Mr. Sparks you need more of those.