The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother by Elvira Woodruff

Lexile Level: 740, Grade Level: 3-6

“The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother” by Elvira Woodruff, c1990, is a funny book. I really enjoyed it. Nelly Brown is a girl who wants to be a scientist when she grows up. Her parents are also scientists. Nelly is always performing science experiments. However, she sometimes gets into trouble when the experiments don’t go right. It is the summertime and Nelly’s parents are going on a work vacation to New York. Nelly, however, decides not to go with them but to instead join her grandmother, Emma Brown, at a rented cabin on the seashore. While there, Nelly discovers an ancient looking chemistry set called “McFinney’s Powerful Potions”. With this set, the experimenter is granted one powerful wish. Since Nelly’s grandmother is getting so old, Nelly decides that she will make her grandmother younger. She does but unfortunately her grandmother keeps getting younger and younger, so young that Nelly is afraid she may disappear and she won’t have a grandmother anymore! Read this story to find out what happens!

Submitted by Karin

Naked by David Sedaris

Reading Level: Adult Non-Fiction

I took this book on my recent vacation to the Wisconsin Dells, and found myself awake in the middle of the night reading it. Like other books that Sedaris has written, this book is rich in humor and filled with amusing episodes from Sedaris life. Luckily for me as a reader, Sedaris does all kinds of things I would never consider doing, like hitchhiking across the country or working as a migrant worker, so it gives a great perspective on a way of life that is both funny AND foreign.

Sedaris draws hysterical portraits of other family members, like his sister Lisa and his father. The most touching piece in the collection is a story written after his mother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. As always, Sedaris is both touching and amusing, and his writing style and gift for description are nothing short of brilliant. It's always a pleasure to pick up one of his books, and I can't wait till I'm #1 on the wait list of his latest!

Submitted by Gertrude

“The Star Maker” by Lawrence Yep

Grade Level: 3 – 5, Ages 9-12, 112 pages

I just love The Star Maker by Laurence Yep, c 2011. I read one of his other books, Angel Fish, and felt the same way about it. There is something about the way Yep creates his characters and their relationships to one another that leaves me with a good feeling. Through Yep’s stories I have also learned a lot about Chinese customs and what it is like to live in China Town. I have visited the San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago China Towns and along with my family, have always liked Chinese food. So maybe that is why I have an affinity with or interest in China Town. Set in the 1950’s in the San Francisco China Town, “The Star Maker” is based upon Lawrence Yep’s childhood. The story is told from the viewpoint of Artie, an eleven year old boy, who is unpopular with his extended family and who is being bullied by his mean cousin Petey. In order to gain some respect, Artie says he will provide all of the fireworks for the Chinese New Year. Not having any money though, Artie’s Uncle Chester, with whom Artie has a close relationship, saves the day by agreeing to buy them. However, when Uncle Chester falls upon hard times, you wonder how or if he is going to be able to pull this off. Another theme running through the story is how Artie’s Uncle Chester, still single at an older age, meets a woman who becomes special to him. I definitely recommend this book and any of the many other books by Lawrence Yep.

Submitted by Karin

The True Darcy Spirit by Elizabeth Aston

Reading Level: Adult

This is the 3rd Aston book I have read, and once again she takes on the antecedents of the Darcy family, made famous by the Jane Austen novel, "Pride and Prejudice." In this book, cousin Cassandra Darcy, daughter of Anne de Bourgh, finds herself in hot water with her family after she is involved in several scandals involving men. In the first case, it is her cousin Belle who is at fault, but Cassandra is fully culpable in the second case, where she runs away with but does not marry a fortune hunter. Everything turns out well in the end, however, for another cousin, the dashing lawyer Horatio Darcy, falls in love with her and saves her from a life of having to work for a living as an artist by marrying her. her troublesome cousin Belle also finds true love in the arms of another artist, who of course is a European prince in disguise.

This is the weakest of Aston's novels about the Darcy clan, as the action often seems contrived and predictable. However, her writing style is a pleasure to read, and lovers of Jane Austen will also enjoy hearing the name Darcy bandied about.

Submitted by Gertrude

“The Very Little Princess” by Marion Dane Bauer

Ages 9-12, Grades 2-4, 122 pages

“The Very Little Princess” by Marion Dane Bauer, c2010, is about a girl named Zoe who is dropped off by her mother to live with her grandmother because either her mother needs time alone or can’t handle taking care of her. When Zoe’s mother drops her off at her grandmother’s, it is evident that her mother is not close to her grandmother. The communication between her mother and grandmother is tense. Zoe overhears them arguing and suspects it is about her. Only until recently, when she was told she would be going to live with her grandmother, Zoe had never heard of this grandmother or known she had any relatives. It has always been just her and her mom, living in various apartments in Minneapolis. As she is being driven to her grandmother’s, a house in the Minnesota countryside with a green lawn and lilac bushes, she suspects that her current life will possibly come to an end. She doesn’t know for sure though. You don’t know when, if ever, Zoe will go back to live with her mother. While at her grandmother’s, she plays with a dollhouse and a doll named Regina. One day, the doll, a not so very nice princess, comes to life, ordering Zoe around and claiming her as her mother. This takes up most of the story. I didn’t care for this story at all. I didn’t like the tone of voice it was written in. I definitely didn’t like the doll. This doesn’t mean that everyone is going to dislike the story. It is about a topic that perhaps some children have experienced or are experiencing with a parent and may be something they can identify with. It got excellent reviews on Amazon. I have enjoyed other stories by Marion Dane Bauer, such as “The Blue Ghost”.

Submitted by Karin

“Frindle” by Andrew Clements

Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Actual Grade Level: 4.8

Lexile Level: 830L

“Frindle” by Andrew Clements, c1996, is about a boy named Nick Allen, who enjoys making his school “more cool”. In his third grade classroom, Nick creates a tropical party, complete with sand, and in fourth grade, he initiates a bird peeping noise (to emulate his teacher’s beak-shaped nose), that other students join in with. The sound and the fact that she can’t pinpoint a certain student, annoys his teacher to no end.

Now Nick has reached fifth grade. It is time for preparation for middle school and he has a very serious teacher named Mrs. Granger. She is a dictionary fanatic. Nick, however, is the opposite! He likes words, but not dictionaries. Already, at the very beginning of the year, he feels like it is going to be a very long one! You’ll have to read this book to see what happens with Nick during this year in Mrs. Granger's classroom. A clue is that, again, it has to do with something Nick creates. Also, another clue is that Mrs. Granger does not like made-up words, whereas Nick does. At only 105 pages long, the story, a classic, is short, but a lot of fun. I had wanted to read “Frindle” for some time and I’m glad I did!

Submitted by Karin

Virgin River Series by Robin Carr

Reading Level: Adult
(5 out of 5)

My Diana Palmer marathon has come to a halt. One of my co-workers told me I had to read the Virgin River series by Robin Carr. She actually found the first book in the library and physically handed it to me. I figured I should read it. I'm glad I did because I'm in love. First with Jack, now with Preacher, and I'm sure when I start the third book I'll be in love with Mike. The men in these books are fantastic. They are everything you would want in a man, handsome, protective, caring, worship the ground you walk on, and they can even cook. What more could you ask for? Did I mention that so far there are fifteen books in the series. Fifteen men to fall in love with. Yeah!!!

The first book in the series is called Virgin River. Virgin River is a remote mountain town with a population of 600. Recently widowed Melinda Monroe is a midwife/nurse practitioner in LA looking for a change. When she sees a job opening in Virgin River she jumps at the chance to start over. Her hopes are crushed upon arrival. The cabin she is to live in is a dump, the roads are treacherous, and the doctor she will be working with doesn't want her. She decides she was crazy to come and decides to leave the next day. But a tiny abandoned baby changes her departure plans and she decides to stay for a few days to see if the mother shows up. Then there is Jack. Jack is a former marine. He owns the bar across the street from Doc's and his co-worker known as Preacher makes the best food around. Slowly Jack chips away at Mel's resistance to staying in Virgin River and she soon realizes she has found a home.

The second book in the series is called Shelter Mountain. One stormy night as John "Preacher" Middleton is about to close the bar a young woman and her three year old son seek refuge from the rain. Upon seeing Paige Lassiter, covered in bruises and running for her life, Preacher wants nothing more than to protect her and hurt whoever caused her pain. Paige is running from an abusive husband when she happens upon Virgin River and meets the giant of a man, John. At first glance he appears scary with his large frame, bald head, and tattoos but it doesn't take long for Paige to figure out he is a gentle giant. He gives her the courage to stand up to her husband and get her freedom back. And they fall in love along the way.

I'm really excited to read the rest. The best part is they are all published and ready for me to read.