Bob, by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead

Bob is the latest release by two authors who have many good and known books for young adults and teens between them. Mass wrote one of my all-time favorite books, A Mango-Shaped Space, and Stead will be known to anyone who has enjoyed OBOB in recent years as the author of Liar & Spy as well as the Newbery Award-winning When You Reach Me. Two very capable authors creating a magical book together!

Bob is a creature from a book of fairy and folk tales read by Livy when she was very little. In this story she returns to her grandmothers house in Australia 5 years after her last visit, and subsequently finds Bob, her childhood friend - who happens to be short and green and dressed in a chicken suit - still waiting for her in her bedroom closet. Livy finds out that not everyone can see Bob, and as the story progresses we wonder if Bob is real, or the presence of something serious that Livy is afraid or unable to face from her past. We don't really know until the end, when happily we discover that Bob is not a way for Livy to cope with a trauma, but a way for both Livy and Bob to build on an imagination that children often have but seem to lose as they get older.

Perhaps the most wonderful part of the story is how Bob finds his home and family, Livy loses but then finds Bob again, and all of the magic is then passed on to another child, a neighbor of Livy's whom is also drawn into the same story from the book. This is a pretty quick book to read, and reminds me a lot of DiCamillo's Tale of Despereaux of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.  This is a light, fun story that will bring a little warmth to that child within you, no matter who or how old you are! 4 paws!

Short & Skinny, by Mark Tatulli

A really fun graphic novel that came out last year, but I had a second copy added to the library collection so I took the time to read it before putting it out on the shelves! I'm not sure who would enjoy this more - kids or adults!  Author Tatulli basically tells us what his life was like in 1977, when he was a kid in school, one of the shortest kids in his class and skinny. This led to a lot of teasing by his family and bullying from other kids at school. As he tried to avoid the bullies and get taller and less skinny, the first Star Wars movie was released in theaters, and his life changed forever!

Adults will appreciate all of the references to the late 70's, those that were growing up then, and kids will appreciate all the elements of being a kid...ugh!  This is a quick read and a lot of laughs...recommended! 4 paws! 

Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana's Way Home, and Beverly, Right Here, by Kate DiCamillo

This series is not necessarily a trilogy, although they are three books that fit together, in order listed above. The newest release, Beverly, came into the library, and reminded me that I had always meant to read Raymie, so I requested that my human bring both home. After finishing them in a short period of time, my human went and bought the middle book, Louisiana, which I finished as quickly.  DiCamilo is the author of some classics, such as Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux. She is one of only a few writers who have ever won more than one Newbery Award.  In other words, she is really good at what she does!

These three books are no exception. Imagine something you REALLY like...food, art, a sport, music...and then imagine some "good" examples of whatever you imagined...for example, being a pug, I like to eat. The kibble I get for breakfast and dinner is good.

Now imagine something that is really good. The treats I get for being extra cute are really good.

Now think of something that makes your mouth sing! When my human gives me a piece of swiss cheese out of the fridge, it is EXCELLENT!!!  My curly tail wags and I spin in circles until I wan to fall down!

These three books are cheese out of the fridge! Sometimes I think about putting my own dog thoughts on paper, and as I read these quick stories, I only hope that I can write as good as this someday. Realistic fiction, and I don't know if I've read anything more real. Read these...all three of them. Your life will be changed. 5 paws (and a piece of cheese)!

The Perfect Horse, by Elizabeth Letts

The full title of this book is The Perfect Horse: The Daring Rescue of Horses Kidnapped During World War II.  It tells the story of how, during WWII, the German Nazi's purposely traveled the world collecting (in many cases, stealing) the best horses they could find. The goal was to begin breeding the best horses in the world to support the Nazi war effort. This occurred alongside the horrific killing of what turned into millions of people to create a "master race" of Aryans (White-skinned people with other specific characteristics that they determined made them better than all others).  In some sense, the holocaust played out not just for human beings but for horses as well. Who knew?

This book is intense, informative, and pretty hard to follow, as it contains a lot of characters spread across the globe, and a lot of war history and events that were changing rapidly as well. If you really love horses, and/or want to read something about World War II that you probably didn't know, pushing through this title will be worthwhile for you. It is very good. If your interest in either of those things is only slight, this may be too much to trudge through. A really well done book, but you decide if it's right for you! 4 paws!

Guts, by Raina Telgemeier

The newest graphic novel by perhaps the most well-known graphic artists for kids and teens creating today! No doubt you already know about this book, at least that it has been released! In fact, many of you told ME it was out before I even knew it! So, if you haven't read it yet, you will, if only because you've read Smile, Sisters, Drama and Ghosts already, and loved them all! Guts will not disappoint you, which you probably could have guessed. What I loved most about this book is that at the end Telgemeier explains how this book, and in fact all of her books, are really just stories about her, with her wonderful artwork added! She just keeps writing what she knows - her own life and experiences - and paired with her artwork they become...well, books we all love!

Guts is about guts - facing our fears as well as how our digestive system can sometimes control us, or at least act as a gauge for how we are really doing and feeling. This is a great book for anyone who has ever been afraid - which is everyone! - of anything. If you haven't read this yet, you will....and you should...and you'll love it and wonder when her next book is coming out! 4 paws!

It Ain't So Awful, Falafel, by Firoozeh Dumas

Another OBOB book for the season, and a book I wouldn't have come across otherwise...another reason to love OBOB! Falafel takes place in the late 1970s and tells the story of an Iranian-born family who have relocated - again - to California. The narrator is Zomorod, who changes her name to Cindy (unofficially) to make it easier for Americans to be able to pronounce. She describes life as an Iranian (pronounced ee-ron-ian) teen living in the United States before, during and after the Iranian Revolution takes place, including the capturing of Americans who happened to be in Iran at the time, and who became hostages for over a year. In essence, the book follows these historic events through the eyes of someone deeply tied to the situation, but not from the American side of things. This perspective is eye-opening, and really is the center of this story.

A few times it seemed as though author Dumas was forcing a situation in order to show what was really happening during the months and years that this story takes place. But because Zomorod is such a likable character, and "normal" in all the ways any teen would be, except for the fact that she was born in a country that is now at terrible odds with the United States, this story will stay with you long after you finish reading it. I have never seen another book written for teens with this historical event in mind, which I love. Dumas does a decent job of writing a story that seems very non-historical-fiction-like, but one that really is historical fiction.  I know HF is not a super-common genre for many teens, so if you have ever thought about dipping into this genre but didn't think you'd find a book you would like, I recommend this one! I don't think you'll realize that this is historical fiction, but you'll really come to like Zomorod! 4 paws (and a tail wag)!

The List, by Patricia Forde

Back to a good OBOB book, and The List does not disappoint! This is author Forde's first book for young people (and pugs, I presume), and I mostly loved it! Mosty, I add, because the very end of the story left me a little disappointed - not in the storyline itself, but just that the book seemed to fizzle out at the end, like a dud firework in the middle of a really good firework display!

This story takes place in a futuristic society where words are being eliminated from human language to help people live more peacefully together, and to make society easier to control.  As an avid pug reader, I love anything that builds a story around words, or books, or stories....like The Reader by Traci Chee or Inkheart by Cornelia Funke!  At the same time the futuristic aspects of this book reminded me a lot of The Giver by Lois Lowry...not bad company at all, right?

Anyway, I loved this story, the fizzling ending notwithstanding, and I think you might, too! Forde gives you a lot to think about, and the strong girl protagonist rocks! 4 paws!

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes, by Atia Abawi

Another historical fiction book, my second in a row, and I don't really know what to say about this book. The story follows a teen and his family as they try to escape modern-day Syria, which is a mess - a word that doesn't begin to do the situation justice. This book tells the story of being a refugee in today's world, and there are many. The terror, pain, heartache, hope, and several near-death experiences are nothing any of us would wish on anyone. But it is happening, now, in many places in the world. This book is important and difficult, and not for everyone. The details are at times explicit. I'm not sure what middle school student I would recommend this to. Maybe a high school student? Maybe? A few of the mainstream reviewers claim this book is for middle school and above...I agree the message and story are those young people should hear and think hard about, but I'm not sure the details are appropriate for the students I know.

If you like historical fiction, if you follow current events - here in the United States or abroad - and you want a exceptional first-hand feel for what being a refugee is like, read this. Otherwise, wait a few years for this one. 4 paws (not 5, only because it is very harsh in places).

The Button War, by Avi

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed an Avi book, but this one came out late last year, I believe, and a few kids have checked it out and liked it, and the reviews for it have been good, so I thought I'd take a break from reading OBOB books and dive back into a good Avi story. Avi has been writing books for teens and young adults for a very long time. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak once at an event in Portland, and although he was perhaps the least engaging author I have ever listened to, it was clear that he is incredibly smart, and if you've ever read his books, talented as well.

The Button War takes place in Poland at the start of World War 1. A small group of small village boys decide they are going to compete against one another collecting buttons from the uniforms of the occupying officers in their village. The soldiers change throughout the story, from German to Russian to English to French. This contest is the surface of the story. The depth of this story comes from the deep, and I'll say dark, undercurrent of the realities of war on everyday people, kids and adults, and how brutal is really is, how destructive and painful. I know this all sounds very heavy, and this book, even though it's short and quick to read, is one of the darkest and heaviest books I've ever read. One back cover review compares it to Slaughterhouse Five, an adult book by author Kurt Vonnegut, and to Lord of the Flies, a teen book but equally dark and disturbing.

Avi is an exceptional writer, and The Button War is really, really good. But not in the way other good books are good...this one is deep, heavy, and will stay in your heart and brain for a long time after you've finished reading. You've been warned. 4.5 paws!

York, Book 1: The Shadow Cipher, by Paura Ruby

Today's lesson (for me, as much as for you) is that life is too short to read a bad book! The Shadow Cipher isn't a bad book, but as a dog, my life is even shorter than yours, and this book, while being okay, just never got going. It made me want to do two things; One, re-read Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet, a really good, smart mystery with an art element! And two, read any of a number of books from my growing book list, including some of the other OBOB books! I can count on one paw the number of books I have started and not finished in my life, and now I have not finished two in a row...it feels weird, but I just can't keep going with this one.

Not a bad story, taking place in a futuristic New York City. A brother and sister and friend trying to solve a family mystery that people have been trying to solve for many decades. But they manage to find a new strand of clues and are racing against time to solve the puzzle before their building is taken over by greedy businessmen, who seem to have an alternate motive...although we don't really know what that is.

I can't quite put my tail on it, but this story just never flows...some good books I simply can't put down, but this one, 300 pages in, never makes me care - about the storyline or the characters. Maybe the cold weather is starting to make me cranky...hopefully you will like this book much more than I did! Let me know if you do...I'd love to love it more!