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Kern County Library Staff Suggests...: March 2008


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

March Recommendations for Kids

Fiction

Angelina Ice Skates by Katherine Holabird - Angelina, our favorite mouse ballerina, is magic on ice until she encounters hockey players! A fun story to share with the whole family after visiting the Ice Rink or watching a hockey game.

Dragon's Egg by Sarah L. Thompson - Mella has a rare talent, only she can care for the Inn's small herd of domestic dragons. One day, she comes upon a dragon's egg and vows to carry it to the fabled Hatching Grounds. Accompanied by the Defender's Squire, Roger, they embark on a dangerous journey through wild fire-breathing dragon territory.

Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques, adapted by Stuart Moore - Redwall, translated into graphic novel format, about Matthias a young mouse who seeks the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior to help him repel the enemy hordes led by the evil rat Cluny.


Nonfiction

Albert Pujols: MVP On and Off the Field by Tom Needham - Pujols grew up poor in the Dominican Republic and his family struggled to put food on the table. Named MVP in 2005, today he is one of most feared hitters in baseball, helping lead the Cardinals to a World Series Championship in 2006. His story will inspire you.

Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney - An old-fashioned version richly imagined by Caldecott Honor winner Pinkney, the story proceeds in much the same way with Little Red disobediently chatting with a sly, cunning yet charming wolf. The highlight of these delightful illustrations features the wolf sneaking in the door, resplendent in Grandma's nightgown and cap.

Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe by Terence Dickinson - The revised and updated 4th edition is user friendly and cited as the best introduction to stargazing. The guide includes star charts, equipment reviews, astrophotography, tables and references that will remain current until 2018.

Mazeways: A to Z by Roxie Munroe - Search through 26 alphabet mazes hunting for more than 700 hidden objects. This colorful large format book will fascinate the younger set.

Karate for Kids by Robin L. Reilly - Everything you need to know to start training: the history of karate, how to wear the uniform, what to expect on your first day of class, warm-up-exercises, and all the basic moves.

Penguins of the World by Wayne Lynch - Penguins are birds, but cannot fly, and they spend 75% of their lives in water. Penguin chicks beg for food from any passing adult, rather like human teens! Filled with great photos, check out the fairy penguins which are 16" tall.

The Everglades by Wayne Lynch - Perfect for homework assignments or armchair travelers, this close-up look at the flora and fauna is like a trip to the Everglades without the mosquitoes. Meet the amazing Thorn Bugs who carry their defense system, a thorn, on their back, very discouraging to hungry birds.

March Recommendations for Teens

Fiction

Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel - A Printz Honor author follows up his bestselling Skybreaker with a prequel to the Silverwing trilogy, in this powerfully imaginative look at life as it might once have been--an adventure story with Oppel's trademark action and keenly honed sense of character.

Shadow Falling (Avatars, Book 2) by Tui T. Sutherland - Set in post-apocalyptic New York, a group of teens learns they are avatars of immortal gods chosen from their own ranks to be raised as humans on Earth for one purpose. Now they are bound to fight one another, do they resist the forces controlling them or fight until only one survives, the survivor gaining immortality?

Undercover by Beth Kephart - Elisa's talent for ghostwriting love letters for the boys at her school brings her to the attention of Theo Moses who employs her to woo the popular beauty Lila. The problem is Elisa has fallen for Theo. Elisa's dad likes to say that they like were undercover operatives who see the world better than the world sees them, though her courageous realism does not keep her from hoping. Undercover was nominated for the National Book Award last year.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron - Alienated from his family and social group, 18 year old Manhattanite James Sveck fantasizes about moving to a farmhouse in the middle of Kansas and spending his days lazing about on the wraparound porch (sound familiar?) rather than contemplating the reality of attending Brown University in the fall. Readers of all ages will appreciate James' sardonic humor and compassionate insight into life in a world on the brink of catastrophe.

Leftovers by Laura Wiess - Following her stunning and critically acclaimed debut Such a Pretty Girl, Wiess crafts an emotionally compelling tale of the circumstances that lead two young women to commit a desperate and regrettable act in the name of justice.

Princess Mia by Meg Cabot - Now that Michael has broken things off, Mia can barely get out of bed, and her parents are making her see a therapist. Just when things cannot get any worse, Mia uncovers an old family secret that could change the fate of the Renaldos forever.

Snitch (Occupational Hazards) by Rene Gutteridge - Convinced that he's going to die of boredom, Las Vegas police sergeant Ron Yeager comes out of retirement to head an auto theft undercover team filled with inexperienced egos and eccentrics who couldn't sneak up on a statue. Will Yeager's force be transformed in time to stop a bigger crime than any of them expected?

Something Rotten: A Horatio Wilkes Mystery by Alan Gratz - Something is rotten in Denmark, Tennessee. Hamilton Prince's father has been murdered, according to a video message. Horatio Wilkes, Hamilton's best friend, is visiting the Prince mansion when the video turns up. The guys need to find the killer before he strikes again. Gratz delivers a smart, hip, and funny twist on the tale of Hamlet.


Nonfiction

I’ll Ask You Three Times, Are You OK? Tales of Driving and Being Driven by Naomi Shihab Nye - This anecdotal collection of stories will change your perspective on chance encounters. Nye, a four-time winner of the Pushcart Prize, writes with a lively, fast-paced, and poetic prose.

Tweak: (Growing Up On Methamphetamines) by Nic Sheff - Nic's addictions to pot, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy, and crystal meth left him no time for college, for family, for friends, for anything except getting high. Even so, he felt like he could quit anytime he wanted to, which he does for eighteen months. Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. Consider also reading A Beautiful Boy, his father's story about how his son's addiction affected their family.

March Recommendations for Adults

Fiction

A Lady Raised High: A Novel of Anne Boleyn by Laurien Gardner - Anne's story told from the point of view of Frances Pierce, a simple country girl who becomes Anne's favorite after rescuing her from an angry mob.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - The wives of Henry VIII have provided material for countless books and movies, the most recent based on this novel is due out this year. Gregory, a past master at combining accurate period detail with a dramatically plotted storyline, tells the tale of sibling rivalry for the greatest prize in their world, the throne of England that put the Boleyn siblings at the center of court intrigues. The story continues in the next novel, The Boleyn Inheritance, with Henry's subsequent wives.

Daughter of York by Annie Easter Smith - Fans of War of the Roses historical fiction will enjoy the well researched and dramatically recreated story of Margaret of York, sister to Edward IV. Forced to marry Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, she comes to oversee one of the greatest estates of France but never returned to England, or her lover, again.

The Dying Crapshooter’s Blues by David Fulmer - Winner of the Shamus Award for Best First P.I. Novel, the Storyville saga continues introducing Joe Rose--rambler, gambler, and professional thief--who finds himself caught between a black-hearted police officer, the pimp and crapshooter Little Jesse Williams, and a wicked beauty named Pearl. Set in the 1920s when Atlanta was the richest, busiest metropolis in the South.

Four Wives by Wendy Walker - In Walker's brilliant debut, the lives of four wives and mothers intertwine and collide in a tale of suburban angst among outrageous wealth. The women must face the most difficult and heartbreaking challenge of their lives--to reconcile their innermost desires with the lives that each of them has chosen.


Nonfiction

Why Women Should Rule the World: A Memoir by Dee Dee Myers - In her first book, the former Clinton White House Press Secretary offers a provocative and inspiring look at women and leadership, interweaving her own experiences working in the highest echelons of power.

Chasing Kangaroos: A Continent, a Scientist, and a Search for the World's Most Extraordinary Creature by Tim Flannery - Part natural history, part travelogue, paleontologist Flannery searches for the "first" kangaroo. Filled with fascinating facts about the species, Bill Bryson calls the book "absorbing, funny, and wonderously learned."

The Christian World: A Global History by Martin Marty - Renowned Christian historian Martin Marty delivers concise account of Christianity and how it spread from a few believers two thousand years ago to become the world's largest religion. While giving a broad overview, Marty also focuses on specific issues, such as how Christianity struggles with the polar tensions inherent to many of the faith's denominations, and how it attempts to reconcile some of its stances on armed conflict, justice, and dominion with the teachings of Christ.

Dinner at Mr. Jefferson's: Three Men, Five Great Wines and the Evening that Changed America by Charles Cerami - President George Washington faces his first serious challenge to the future of the new nation when Jefferson and Hamilton cross swords. Employing all the diplomatic and culinary skills he learned as Ambassador to France, Jefferson throws an elegant dinner party during which a compromise is reached. Recipes and wine list are included in this fascinating tale of a little known event in American history.

Green Babies, Sage Moms: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby by Lynda Fassa - Need help figuring out which baby gear, food, shampoo, cleaning products, and other baby-related household items are "green"? Lynda reviews the best organic products for your home and baby.
 
   
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