![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
book roundup
Nov. 3rd, 2009 09:59 amUp and down the Scratchy Mountains, or, The search for a suitable princess. Laurel Snyder
Grade-school book with a playful reverse take on the princess theme, and massive riffing on responsibility, the perils of not talking about things, and the problems of rigid adherence to 'rules'. Admittedly, 12-year-olds are getting engaged, but it's smart and funny. When her timid friend Prince Wynstan is dragged off by his royal father to get ready to select a princess, Lucy the milkmaid sets off into the Scratchy mountains in search of her mother. She's been told her mother is gone, but nothing about her or what happened to her. Along with her she takes her rebellious young cow, and she picks up a companion in a lost prairie dog. Miss B. loved it. Certain echos of Suzanne Hayden Elgin's Ozark trilogy are detectable, either because of the scene-setting or because of the themes. Great illustrations
Peace, love, and baby ducks. by Lauren Myracle
At first offputting because of it's rarified setting (richest of the rich in Atlanta Georgia) this YA novel about finding one's own voice and maintaining sisterly relations is actually a decent read. Sophmore Carly's all peace and love and retro-60s, but her little sister, Anna, now a freshman, has suddenly blossomed into a Girl With A Figure. Carly wants to help Anna with the hassles her new looks produce, but she also admits to feeling kind of jealous and having a bit of don't-I-always-help. Carly is also trying to find out what, in the rarefied atmosphere of high-achieving Christian high school Holy Redeemer, she believes and wants-- and she's also searching for her 'ironic love boodle'. I first thought "oh lord, who lives like this?" but it's well written, and apparently Ms. Myracle DID grow up like this.
McDuff and the baby Rosemary Wells ; pictures by Susan Jeffers.
In this picture book, 1920s terrier McDuff has his comfortable life taken over by his owners' new baby. He tries various ways to discourage the baby, who is oblivious, and finally resorts to not eating, whereupon his owners realize what is wrong and take steps to restart his favorite activities with the family. Cute illustrations.
Bunny party Rosemary Wells.
Bossy Big Sister Ruby is giving Grandma a birthday party and has invited 10 guests, including 7 of her stuffed toys-- and none of Max's. Little brother Max, with his trademark silent subtlety, slips in his three favorite toys in disguise. Very cute, of course, with repeated counting. I was Ruby once; I still love Max & Ruby.
Grade-school book with a playful reverse take on the princess theme, and massive riffing on responsibility, the perils of not talking about things, and the problems of rigid adherence to 'rules'. Admittedly, 12-year-olds are getting engaged, but it's smart and funny. When her timid friend Prince Wynstan is dragged off by his royal father to get ready to select a princess, Lucy the milkmaid sets off into the Scratchy mountains in search of her mother. She's been told her mother is gone, but nothing about her or what happened to her. Along with her she takes her rebellious young cow, and she picks up a companion in a lost prairie dog. Miss B. loved it. Certain echos of Suzanne Hayden Elgin's Ozark trilogy are detectable, either because of the scene-setting or because of the themes. Great illustrations
Peace, love, and baby ducks. by Lauren Myracle
At first offputting because of it's rarified setting (richest of the rich in Atlanta Georgia) this YA novel about finding one's own voice and maintaining sisterly relations is actually a decent read. Sophmore Carly's all peace and love and retro-60s, but her little sister, Anna, now a freshman, has suddenly blossomed into a Girl With A Figure. Carly wants to help Anna with the hassles her new looks produce, but she also admits to feeling kind of jealous and having a bit of don't-I-always-help. Carly is also trying to find out what, in the rarefied atmosphere of high-achieving Christian high school Holy Redeemer, she believes and wants-- and she's also searching for her 'ironic love boodle'. I first thought "oh lord, who lives like this?" but it's well written, and apparently Ms. Myracle DID grow up like this.
McDuff and the baby Rosemary Wells ; pictures by Susan Jeffers.
In this picture book, 1920s terrier McDuff has his comfortable life taken over by his owners' new baby. He tries various ways to discourage the baby, who is oblivious, and finally resorts to not eating, whereupon his owners realize what is wrong and take steps to restart his favorite activities with the family. Cute illustrations.
Bunny party Rosemary Wells.
Bossy Big Sister Ruby is giving Grandma a birthday party and has invited 10 guests, including 7 of her stuffed toys-- and none of Max's. Little brother Max, with his trademark silent subtlety, slips in his three favorite toys in disguise. Very cute, of course, with repeated counting. I was Ruby once; I still love Max & Ruby.
