Also Known as Harper: Review Haiku

Hard-luck kids with hearts
of gold, saved by harder-luck
grownups. Affecting.

Also Known As Harper by Ann Haywood Leal. Holt, 2009, 246 pages.

Sweet Home Chicago: ALA Bound

I'm off this morning avec bebes to Chicago, for the 2009 ALA Annual Convention. If you're at McCormick, too, I'll be in Booth #1627.* Please stop by and say hello!

*Assuming, of course, that I have not murdered the children and/or spontaneously combusted after flying with them, alone, again.

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love: Review Haiku

Stellar example
of message without message-
heavy. Loved, loved, loved.

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love by Lauren Tarshis. Dial, 2009, 169 pages.

The Red Blazer Girls: Review Haiku

Dizzy, breezy, easy
mystery: a good beach
read for preteen girls.

The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour by Michael D. Beil. Knopf, 2009, 300 pages.

Why We Make Mistakes: Review Haiku

Eye-opening and
ultimately depressing:
You suck -- and can't change!

Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average by Joseph T. Hallinan. Broadway, 2009, 283 pages.

The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet: Review Haiku

Truly original,
truly bizarre -- and wormholes
in my hometown!

The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet by Reif Larson. Penguin, 2009, 375 pages.

Piper Reed, the Great Gypsy: Review Haiku

Spunky Navy brat
tries to teach her dog new tricks
while waiting for Dad.

Piper Reed, the Great Gypsy by Kimberly Willis Holt. Holt, 2008, 152 pages.