The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

Reading Level: Adult
Number of pages: 363
Publisher: W W Norton and company paperback 2007

After their zoo was bombed, Polish zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski managed to save over three hundred people from the Nazis by hiding them in animal cages and other buildings in the Warsaw Zoo during WWII. This is a true story, exuberant and absorbing. By the end of the book I felt that Antonina was someone I would love as a friend and I was so inspired by her efforts to keep a home and normal atmosphere for her children during the atrocities of war. She had a gift for nurturing animals in her role as the zookeeper's wife. Those gifts were magnified as she was thrust into the role of caretaker of hundreds of human souls who took refuge in the home she created, depending on her for survival. The author, a naturalist, beautifully weaves details into the story that capture all the senses and breathe life into the retelling. This book is poignant, and beautifully written. The author reminded me of a modern Gene Stratton Porter. (That is high praise coming from me) This will be on my reread list for years to come.

Unlucky Arithmetic

My children's lit teacher has this poster hanging on the door to his office. It's genius.

Unlucky Arithmetic
Thirteen Ways to Raise a Nonreader
by Dean Schneider and Robin Smith

1. Never read where your children can see you.

2. Put a TV or computer in every room. Don’t neglect the bedrooms and kitchen.

3. Correct your child every time she mispronounces a word.

4. Schedule activities every day after school so your child will never be bored.

5. Once your child can read independently, throw out the picture books. They’re for babies.

6. Don’t play board games together. Too dull.

7. Give little rewards for reading. Stickers and plastic toys are nice. Money is even better.

8. Don’t expect your children to enjoy reading. Kids’ books are for teaching vocabulary, proper study habits, and good morals.

9. Buy only 40-watt bulbs for your lamps.

10. Under no circumstances read your child the same book over and over. She heard it once, she should remember it.

11. Never allow your child to listen to books on tape; that’s cheating.

12. Make sure your kids only read books that are “challenging.” Easy books are a complete waste of time. That goes double for comic books and Mad magazine.

13. Absolutely, positively no reading in bed.

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox

Reading Level: age 10-12
Paperback: 150 pages
Newbery Award Winner

A surprisingly good read. This is a story of a boy who was kidnapped and force to play his pipe on a slaving ship. Well written and an interesting perspective to the cruelties that took place as part of the slave trade.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Reading Level: ages7-10
Paper back: 190 pages

Alexander has a gift with bringing his characters to life. His characters have very unique personalities and Alexander's writing allows you to get to know them. The Book of Three is the first book of the Prydain Chronicles (including the Black Cauldron) and I had to hold myself back from continuing right on to the next book.
The book starts out with Taran, the assistant-pig keeper, who, through events beyond what he could have expected, sets out on an adventure that requires more of him than he thinks he is able to give. Alexander prefaced the book by asking "Aren't there times when we all feel like assistant pig keepers?" Embarking on this journey with Taran, I could relate many times to Taran's feelings of inadequacy, but I, like Taran, often am surprised by what I am able to achieve even if I can still see my flaws.

I'd give this book four stars.

Some of my Re-Reads

Frankly, I re-read almost everything. If I can get through it the first time, I usually want to revisit a second, third, fourth, and on and on. I could post about so many, but I'll just start with one author.

One of my favorite fantasy authors is Robin McKinley. I recommended her to my mom and she doesn't like her writing at all. It's pretty wordy and has some strange sentence structure, but I love it. I was wandering through the library recently wishing that I owned almost all of her books and that she had written more of them.

In order of recommendation, or perhaps the order I was introduced ...

Beauty.

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

It doesn't seem like it could possibly be over 300 pages. It must have really large margins. This is a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Spindle's End.

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 384 pages

A version of Sleeping Beauty. It gets a little strange near the end. Most of her books do, but I love all the rest of it.

The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Mass Market Paperback: 227 pages
• Newberry Medal
  

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 248 pages
• Newberry Honor
  

These two are about the same land, but are set generations apart. I love The Blue Sword more. In fact I don't think I'd use the word love in relation to The Hero and the Crown, but it's fairly interesting and a fun read.

The Outlaws of Sherwood

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 368 pages

I haven't read this one very much, but it seems like I liked it pretty well.

Chalice

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 272 pages

I liked this one a lot, but I think it is pretty weird and I wish it was longer.

Rose Daughter

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 304 pages

I don't think I liked this one until I'd read it a couple of times so I don't know that I can recommend it strongly. It is another telling of Beauty and the Beast and Beauty is much better!

She also has a couple collections of short stories that are fun but not marvelous. DON'T read Deerskin- seems like it is a bit offensive. I didn't care for Dragonhaven- it wasn't bad- just didn't really like it. Her adult book Sunshine is an intriguing vampire tale, but has two pages that I wish I'd never read as they were too graphic for me.

The Doll People

This is a really good read! All about this Doll family trying to find their aunt.
Along the way they meet some new friends. I wont tell any more so you have to read it to find out what happens :)

Ulysses Moore the long lost map

A while ago my mom bought me a book.A good book.
This is a book of mystery,excitement,and suspense.
really good. This girls brothers get trapped in ancient Egypt and go on a
exciting adventure trying to find their way home. Meanwhile the girl has to face
Oblivia Newton a greedy young woman and her chauffeur Manfred. A really
cool read! I rate it 6 stars out of 5 :)