Ranger's Apprentice Series written by John Flanagan

Book 1 The Ruins of Gorlan
Rangers have the power to become invisible at will. Will's heart had been set on Battleschool, on becoming a hero. Will is small for 15 years old. But he does possess other skills, A Ranger's skills. He can move quietly as a shadow, climb and he is brave.


Will is an orphan raised in the household of Baron Arald. It is Choosing Day, when each ward is apprenticed to a Craftmaster to learn a trade. Will wants to be accepted in Battleschool where the fief's knights are trained. Instead, he is chosen to become a Ranger's apprentice. Will is deeply disappointed, and a little scared. Rangers are shadowy characters, believed to practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. His master, Halt, is cranky and makes Will do all the housework.

What Will doesn't know is that Rangers are protectors of the kingdom. They are highly trained spies and agile fighters who warn the country of coming danger. With the exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, gathering his forces for an attack, Will's growing skills will be tested, immersing him in unexpected adventures.

The Lost Flower Children written by Janet Taylor Lisle

Olivia and Nellie are taken to a great aunt to stay for the summer while their dad is on a businees trip. The girls find tea cups and other tiems in the aunts garden. Olivia finds an old story about a party of children transformed into flowers by a fairy spell.

Its a slow read, at times a stand still. It is a fantasy an enchanting story.

My Cup Runneth Over written by Cherry Whytock

The life of Angelica Potts. The setting is United Kingdom, possibly London or just outside London. This poor girl is the daughter of a ex model, busy with all her own charity work. The mother is constantly reminding the daughter to lose weight, the father is out in lala land. The housekeeper is raising the girl. The entire book is Angel trying to lose weight, trying to gain the mother's respect and understanding. Angel in the end discovers that her size might not be such a bad thing after all, her cup 'runneth' over.

An okay read, I was surprised to find this book on the shelf in the library. The book cover might attract a look see but not certain if it would lead to be read.

advance reader's copy

These are also called book proofs, galleys etc. I definitely have a dilemma with these books. I know these are printed by the publisher to be distributed at book conferences to anyone who really wants to read the book before making purchases for their businesses or for schools. I really do understand that issue. To give away a book might help sell the book.
My dilemma is this: my colleague acquired a few ARC s from Barnes and Noble, the book store. I didn't know this, its was not brought to my attention when the books came into the library. She sent the books to be catalogued into the collection. No problem yet! The books came back placed in circulation for the students to read. Still no problem, yet. We held our annual book fair and low and behold a couple of the ARCs are now a published book in the book fair to be sold to the students. I began to pull the ARCs from the collection. I placed the ARCs in what we call Honor Book collection. Now the issue is from my colleague why would I do that? I tried to explain that possibly there is a copyright issue with having the ARCs in the collection to be circulated when we have the purchased book on the shelves. The books are proofs, not paid for by anyone, so the author, publisher or even BN didn't get paid for the books and lastly it is a proof of the book which could have errors from simply spelling to who knows what kind of errorsor changes to the book.

So what is it, should these ARCs remain on the book shelves along with the purchased book? Is it a copyright infringement? I do know since BN gave the books away, the ARCs aren't on their book shelves to be sold! Need advice, it just doesn't seem fair to the author or publisher to have the ARCs on the shelf next to the purchased book. I would like to have authors or publishers add to this entry.

The Cardturner written by Louis Sachar

This author also wrote Holes. I read only bits and pieces of Holes, I think the movie ruined the book for me so I never really completed reading the book. I do try to read the book before the movie comes out. it seems to the movie version of a book ruins the book. The best example recently was Riordan's Lightning Thief. The movie was nothing like the book, what a disaster for so many middle school students.

Anyway I read the entire book The Cardturner, actually I read the advance reader's copy. That is another entry on this blog. I am not certain what the book cover has to do with the story line. The entire book is about a boy who needs a job for the summer, Alton's great uncle is wealthy, Alton's parents want to remain in the Uncles good graces, so Alton becomes the Uncle's card turner. The uncle plays Bridge (the card game) since the uncle is blind Alton assists the uncle playing the game. At first Alton has no clue how to play Bridge, over time Alton picks up how to play the game. Uncle Lester Trapp is very sick and old. Towards the end of the book Lester passes on but Alton wants his Uncle's dream to become real. Alton takes on Lester's role as a Bridge player along with Toni and together they win the Grand National Tournament.

I am reading the book cover if there is a deeper meaning to this book 'perception and reality' it has gotten lost on me. Try the book, maybe you will pick up the game Bridge along the way, the way Alton did, I am just not certain if my students will.

if i stay written by Gayle Forman

The title alone may give you an idea what the book is about. On the cover there is a phrase 'what would you do if you had to choose?'. Reading the book it begins with a snow day for the children. The family decides to use the snow day to visit friends. Then a tragedy occurs, this is where the phrase from the cover 'what would you do...' becomes a real question. When the tragedy occurred I was shocked and had to put the book down. Then I went back to the book and read it.

I needed tissues several times as I read the book. I am not certain what my answer would be to the question, it does give you as the reader to think about, does she stay?

touching and a good read, from the Virginia Readers Choice books list

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

What can i say about Inkheart, it was a tough book for me to read. I really had to push myself through it, to read the entire book. I guess it can be considered a fantasy because of the characters in the book are read out of a book, titled Inkheart. Actually some real mean and nasty characters are read out of Inkheart. Inkheart is the name of the book in this book that the characters are read out of. Does that make sense? It isn't confusing just the characters read out of the book are mean ruthless and hurt many others.

Inkheart is a trilogy, there is Inkspell and Inkdeath. I am not certain I will read these books but its on the pile of books that I have at home. Being a librarian I have other books I want to read.

Don't let my opinion stop you from reading Inkheart, read the book and let me know your opinion.