More books (it's been a slow day here)
First up, The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan, author extraordinaire and the man who brought us last year's The Lightning Thief. This one continues young Percy Jackson's adventure and it's KILLER. Really awesome. Raps you up and transports you into a parallel universe where demigods run around among us and satyrs and centaurs exist, etc. It is a fabulous story, and you should rush out and get it. Only if you haven't read The Lightning Thief yet, you need to get that first.
In this one, Percy has a new close friend, Tyson, who turns out to be more than a friend. And it turns out he has a new form of bond with Grover, his satyr best friend, too. Plus we learn more about Chiron, the sage centaur who guided Percy last year, including an interesting tidbit about his relatives (both centaur and otherwise).
Once again, there are terrific chapter titles, including the following favorites: We Hail the Taxi of Eternal Torment, We Meet the Sheep of Doom, and The Party Ponies Invade. Good stuff, all. To sum up: rush out and read it. I doubt you'll complain to me about that decision.
Next up, Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman (that's saraclaradara to you!) Don't be misled by the title: this book is a primer on Judaism wrapped in a heartwarming family story featuring a bewitching heroine, Justine "Jussy" Silver, who struggles with her faith. I heard Julie Strauss-Gabel sing the praises of this book at the 2004 Jewish Children's Writers' Conference, and now I know why -- it goes where many books choose not to, which is to the core issues of faith and family. It educates without much didacticism (hopefully I'll be forgiven if I sensed a hint of it here & there), although to be honest, any that I sensed was more in the nature of Jussy's relationship with her mother than with her issues of faith. Which are entertaining, as well as thoughtful and educational. Well done, Sarah
In this one, Percy has a new close friend, Tyson, who turns out to be more than a friend. And it turns out he has a new form of bond with Grover, his satyr best friend, too. Plus we learn more about Chiron, the sage centaur who guided Percy last year, including an interesting tidbit about his relatives (both centaur and otherwise).
Once again, there are terrific chapter titles, including the following favorites: We Hail the Taxi of Eternal Torment, We Meet the Sheep of Doom, and The Party Ponies Invade. Good stuff, all. To sum up: rush out and read it. I doubt you'll complain to me about that decision.
Next up, Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman (that's saraclaradara to you!) Don't be misled by the title: this book is a primer on Judaism wrapped in a heartwarming family story featuring a bewitching heroine, Justine "Jussy" Silver, who struggles with her faith. I heard Julie Strauss-Gabel sing the praises of this book at the 2004 Jewish Children's Writers' Conference, and now I know why -- it goes where many books choose not to, which is to the core issues of faith and family. It educates without much didacticism (hopefully I'll be forgiven if I sensed a hint of it here & there), although to be honest, any that I sensed was more in the nature of Jussy's relationship with her mother than with her issues of faith. Which are entertaining, as well as thoughtful and educational. Well done, Sarah