Serafina and the Black Cloak, by Robert Beatty

Black Cloak is the first book in a 4-book series, released in 2015. So it isn't super new, but since adding the other two books in the series to the library earlier this year, I've been wanting to read at least book one. And now I have!

There is a lot to love about this book; it is truly one of the scarier books I have ever read, as scary as Famous Last Words or The Night Gardener! It's main protagonist, or main character in the story, is a very strong, smart girl. There are several places throughout the book where I couldn't read fast enough - if that isn't the definition of a page-turner, I don't know what is! It took place at a real location, the Biltmore, in North Carolina, which I have actually visited...cool! There is something about Sera, the main character, that becomes clearer as the book moves forward - something you probably won't guess until at least half-way through! And, it's book one in a series, so there is plenty more to read!

A few things that made me think, "Darn!" about this book, too. About midway through the book author Beatty pretty much explains everything that he's been wanting you, the reader, to figure out about Serafina so far. Why did he suddenly decide to treat us like we were too stupid to figure it out on our own? I'm not sure, but it was disappointing. Secondly, the ending of the book was page-turning but also too "easy", in my opinion.  What I mean is the author ties together a few main parts of the story in a way that was much too easy and convenient. The rest of the book didn't do that (except that middle part I mentioned), so why at the end?

The edition of this book that I have has the first two chapters of book two in it, and I admit I read them as if they were a continuation of book one. I skipped a lot, because it was setting you up for the second book as if you hadn't read the first one (but who does that?). And it sounds good, too. 

Sooo...Black Cloak was good enough to read, and to recommend to you, especially you fans of true murder mysteries/horror books! It had some flaws, pretty big ones, but otherwise you will enjoy this, I think, if the above-named genres interest you at all. Not sure if I will get to the rest of the series - I rarely do, only because there are so many other books I want to read right now! However, if I had book two here with me, I admit I'd probably keep going...a strong recommendation from a picky pug! 4 paws!

Hello, Universe, by Erin Entrada Kelly

Hello, Universe was the Newbery Award winner for 2018, but somehow I didn't read it when it came out or when it got the award, something I try to do, as the Newbery books are always good! The Newbery Award is an award given to the best children's book of the year, and often there are one or two honorable mention books as well (that receive a silver Newbery medal - but only one book per year gets the gold!).  It is also Kelly's third book, but the first of hers I have read.

That said, there are some Newbery books that I think are as good as any book I've read...Holes, by Louis Sachar, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, and Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata are some of my favorites!  At the same time, there have been books awarded that I've read and sort of scratched my head about, not sure why they won the gold award. Good books, but not the best of the year, in my opinion. Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins was one. Hello, Universe is another. It's a decent book, a quick read, meant for older elementary or young middle school readers, in general. It tells the story of five middle school-aged kids, all with their own quirks that they are trying to sort out while trying to live each day in an adult world, and a world with various dangers (snakes, bullies, parents, etc.). Their lives intersect in funny and mysterious ways, and as a whole, the story is good and flows along nicely. But it's not amazing, I don't think - worth reading but not worthy of the best-book-of-the-year honor.  Perhaps I'm wrong, and you read it and find the depth I missed. If so, please let me know - I'm happy to be wrong about things like this! 3 paws.

The End and Other Beginnings, by Veronica Roth

From Divergent author Roth comes this book of six short stories, all science fiction-based stories that bring elements of her writing style into "Stories from the Future".  What I like about Roth's writing is her ability to create good characters with some depth to them as well as very realistic situations between them. She brings real-world troubles and ideas into her futuristic, sometimes dystopian stories.  What I don't like about Roth's writing is she doesn't quite get far enough beneath the surface of her characters to make her writing as strong as, say, Marie Lu.  So while I enjoyed Divergent, I didn't love it. While I liked four out of the six stories in this book, I didn't love them. And I'll add that the two I didn't like I really didn't like...they were pretty boring and pointless, I thought. One of those two I read in two separate sittings, which may have affected my reading of the story, so there's that.

In all, this is okay work by Roth. If you love her writing give this a try. If you are kind of "meh" about her writing, go read Marie Lu or Neal Shusterman instead. They do what Roth is doing only better! 3 paws.

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster, by Jonathan Auxier

From the author of The Night Gardener, one of the creepiest books ever!  Sweep is an oddly engaging but...different tale of a chimney sweep, Nan, in 1800s England and her golem (explained as the story goes along). This book is historical fiction, but you won't really know it when reading - really only the author's notes at the end of the book give away the historical facts that are included along the way. Included isn't the right word...perhaps embedded is better.

I loved the Night Gardener for it's very unique twist on the mystery genre. It is a truly scary book - kind of like a Stephen King book for teens. Sweep isn't good in the same way, although Auxier is a wonderful storyteller. I didn't love this book while reading it, but it was hard not to think about and come back to it whenever I wasn't reading it. I know, it's very hard to explain, but a good read, and worth it, if you are okay reading a story that you might have a hard time explaining to a friend. The premise is based on history, even the monster part, but try convincing someone that a book with a monster as a main character is historical fiction and you'll see exactly why I have a hard time describing this story. In the end, it is a good book, though, one I recommend, although it may not be for everyone.  Let me know if you read it and what you think - I'd love some other perspectives!
4 paws!

Drum Roll, Please, by Lisa Jenn Bigelow

This is author Bigelow's second book, according to the notes in Drum Roll, Please, but this is the first time I have read her work. Drum Roll follows Melly in her first foray into summer band camp - not just any band camp, but rock n roll band camp! Some usual teen story lines show themselves, such as friendship, romance, family struggles and the emotions that often come with all of that. But Bigelow also winds in a fair amount of musical reference - most of which seems to be catered to the older crowd (like your parents, for example) - that I enjoyed (being a more mature pug, of course), but might slip past many readers.  It won't matter much. Drum Roll is a cute, pretty easy read, and good. The main romantic story line was pretty good and made me keep turning the pages. Some other parts of the book were a little predictable, especially for those of you who are more experienced readers. But overall this is a good read! It won't take up a lot of your brainpower, but is more of a light, vacation-type book. Decent, but not jaw-dropping. 3 paws!

Reading in the time of Coronavirus

Hello, pug lovers and readers everywhere! It's time to add a little something to my regular dog blog as we find ourselves in these odd times - trying to understand something we can't physically see, wondering about how to best take care of ourselves and the humans we love, and at the same time trying not to be bored or fall behind with all the skills we have learned in school, both from the adults around us as well as the friends and peers we share a school life with!

With libraries being closed for the time being, school libraries and public libraries, too, there are a few ways to keep reading, which you know keeps your brain active and growing - a beautiful and beneficial thing to do!  On the Briggs Middle School web page (which you can find by Googling Briggs Middle School Springfield Oregon), there is a Library/Media Center drop-down. In that drop-down, the first link is the Library Web Site. See the red heading for Quick Links? Click on BMS Online Catalog.  Near the top of that page is a link to Audio Books: Click to Listen. Continue on by clicking the green box for Sign in using Springfield School District 19.  That link will take you to Sora, which is free to all Springfield students using your Google account info to sign on. In Sora you have access to thousands of eBooks and audiobooks...so you can keep reading!!!   In addition, there will be a place to add your local public library to your Sora site, so by adding Springfield Public Library you will also gain access to all of the public library's online books...literally thousands of titles to choose from!

I am not a huge fan of electronic reading, but sometimes we have to do things to keep our minds and brains sharp. Please, continue to carve out time from every day to read, and give these electronic books a try. I know I have about 3 books left in print form before I also head to audiobooks, so I'll be on this journey with you!

If these links give you trouble, email my human at kevin.odea@springfield.k12.or.us    He checks his email every day at least once, and will work to get you connnected with more reading. In the meantime, keep checking back here for my awesome paw-rated reviews!

I Lived on Butterfly Hill, by Marjorie Agosin

This is the story of 11-year-old Celeste, a writer, dreamer, creator - a 6th grader! Her life is upended when she is sent to Maine in the United States to live with her aunt because her country has been taken over by the military under a dictator's rule. Before she leaves for Maine, her friends start to disappear, and finally her parents go away to an unknown place to escape the harsh rules that the new government is implementing. Life on Butterfly Hill is changing very rapidly, and Celeste is doing her best to navigate a very fluid and dangerous situation.

Agosin writes in a way that draws you in very easily. Her chapters are short but so full of life that I don't remember feeling more a part of a story than I did when reading this one. Celeste is such a realistic character - I couldn't help but root for her all the way. Her situations were real, meaning not everything ended happily, but enough did to make her your, the reader's, hero! You will love the characters in this story, and perhaps, like me, wonder why our society and our culture isn't more like the one described here in Chile. This book makes me want to travel, and to be nicer to those around me. Who doesn't want to read a book like that? 5 paws!

Swing, by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

Alexander is one of my favorite authors, yet I have only read one of his books - The Crossover (but I've read it several times, one of the very few books I have read more than once). Swing happened to be on the shelf last week so I asked my human (your librarian) to being it home. I don't remember a book that has made me snort (laugh) out loud - literally - on more than once occasion while reading it. At the same time, it broke my heart - twice - along the way. This book is such a joy to read...cool, funny, clever, romantic, real, and sad...I highly recommend this, and vow not to wait so long to read another Alexander book! 5 paws!

The Fountains of Silence, by Ruta Sepetys

I grabbed this from the public library just before it closed for the next few weeks. I wasn't sure it would appeal to many middle school readers, but I read another book by Sepetys, Salt to the Sea, and loved it! The Fountains of Silence didn't start as quickly as Salt did, but once it got going, it was a page turner extraordinaire! Sepetys is a master historical fiction writer, equal to Steve Sheinkin, if not better. Where Sheinkin writes totally engaging and fact-filled books, Sepetys adds romance, and what pug doesn't like a little romance now and again? None that I know...

Fountains has a strong romantic story line, set in Spain during the last half of the 20th century. Franco was the fascist dictator who ruled for nearly 40 years, supported by Hitler and Mussolini (both of whom are more widely known) but also supported in many ways by the United States. During Franco's regime, 300,000 babies were stolen from their families and adopted out to wealthier, Catholic families all over the world. Sepetys weaves all of these elements into a totally readable tale...a page turner! If you will allow yourself to dive into some historical fiction, and are ready for a slightly more sophisticated story than most middle school reads, get this! Be sure to carve out a few uninterrupted hours...you won't be able to put this down! 5 paws!

The Wonderling, by Mira Bartok

I can't recall how The Wonderling made it on to my purchase list, but it did, and I'm assuming someone gave it a rave review along the way, which always catches my attention. This book, about a one-eared groundling (part animal, part human) making his way in a very cruel, unforgiving world soon to be devoid of music, is a good one. It blends a little Oliver Twist, a little Edward Tulane, a bit steampunk,  and even a little Lemony Snicket. It is a unique story, in some ways, and well written and illustrated, but it isn't amazing. The protagonist, Number 13, soon to be named Arthur, is a likable character, along with the other minor main characters and protagonists. The story flows pretty well, and kept me reading, although a few times I found my mind wandering just a bit. I don't know...I like this book, but I didn't love it. If you like any of the characters or authors I listed above, you might find a place in your heart for this story. It's worth a read, but it made me want to revisit Edward Tulane again (which isn't bad, as that book is wonderful, but still...). 3 paws.