Snowy in Chicago!

So as many of you know there is a major winter storm crossing the U.S. so this may be the best time to curl up with a good book and get ready to snuggle up for the best winter storm EVER!!!! ;o)

One of my recent reads is Moon Over Manifest. The story of Abilene who travels to her papa's hometown to spend the summer and uncover some stories about her father. I'm just going to give one-line summaries so I can go over a couple of good books! I would recommend this to the usual group, girls and guys ages 10-12.

Another read is In Search of Mockingbird. This is about  Erin, a sixteen-year-old who decides to travel cross-country to find something, the only thing, that she knows about her long-dead mother. This is recommended for an older age group, because they will have an easier time relating to characters. Ages 12-14.


So cuddle up with a good book and a mug of hot cocoa and get ready to brave the blizzard of the decade!

Top 11 Books for You to Read In 2011

Hey guys! I know I haven't blogged in a long time, but I'm finally having time to post again! I'm in a book club now so you can expect an update every time I finish a book for that!Over the next few weeks I will be cranking out the best 11 books to read in 2011. I will give you the list I'll be reviewing right now! (Not in any particular order)

1. Anything Rick Riordan
2. Scumble by: Ingrid Law (partner to Savvy)
3. The Mailbox by: Audrey Shafer
4. The Hunger Game Trilogy by: Suzanne Collins
5. Palace Beautiful by: Sara DeFord Williams
6. The Other Half of My Heart by: Sundee T. Fraizer
7. Chains by: Laurie Halse Anderson (sequel is Forge... check it out!!)

And more to come as I decide on the last four! There are so many to choose from! ;)

Love It, Love It, Love It!!

Although most of my recent posts may have been books that more feminine readers would like, this time I'm cranking out a review of a book that both girls and guys would like! The Hunger Games trilogy is my most recent read and boy, by the end of the first book, I was HOOKED!! I wouldn't stop reading until the final page of the last book. The Hunger Games is the story of Katniss Everdeen, sixteen-year-old citizen of Panem. After the downfall of North America, Panem rose from the ashes, a country made up of the capitol and what used to be thirteen surrounding districts. But after a rebellion District 13 was demolished by the capitol. Every the Capitol forces a girl and boy, ages twelve to eighteen, to participate in a fight to the death called, The Hunger Games. In the 74th year of the Hunger Games, Katniss, along with Peeta Meelark, is chosen to represent her district, District 12, in the Hunger Games. In this set of three books you will find gore for the guys, and romance for the girls. This truly may be the best book I have EVER read. 

Oh My Goodness

Wow, wow, wow, wow!! I just read, Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson and I am just blown away!! This book not only has an amazing plot, but very developed characters and lots of emotional moments. During this book I found myself becoming very connected to all of the characters and hoping that the book would never end so that I could keep enjoying these people and what they do. Hattie Big Sky is the story of sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks who, after living most of her life with distant relatives, discovers that she is the sole heir to her uncle's estate in Montana. Hattie moves out to Montana, making many new friends, and enemies. Hattie then must "man-up" to make her claim to the land fit all the requirements that she needs to meet to keep it. She braves many hard times and after a while, Hattie begins to have a real family out under the big Montana sky. If you are looking to read a phenomenal book that will have your emotions raging throughout, then Hattie Big Sky is the book for you!

Not Just Your Average Mystery...

I mentioned earlier that I am a sucker for a good mystery and this book proves my point. Until seeing this book on the shelf, I had not heard anything about it, so what came next was a surprise to me. This is the story of Theo Boone, a thirteen-year-old boy who thinks of himself as one of his town's best lawyers and considers himself an expert in the court room. In the small city of Strattenburg there is a major case in the court room - someone has been murdered and the person accused is about to go free... unless Theo can step in and help. Theo knows something that no one else knows, something that could change the outcome of the trial completely. I recommend this book for kids ages 11- 14, but be prepared for a long night - you won't want to put this book down until the last page!

The Sisters Grimm

My oh my how I love this series! This has been one of my all-time favorite books ever since I laid eyes on the first page of the first book. Michael Buckley is on the 8th book in the series and is doing a phenomenal job keeping me hooked. The Sisters Grimm books are about two sisters who are descendants of the Brothers Grimm and are in charge of keeping this town that's full of ever-afters, fairy-tale characters, in line. In all of the Sisters Grimm books Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are fairy-tale detectives, in charge of solving many different mysteries involving the ever-afters. All of the books revolve around one thing, saving Sabrina and Daphne's parents. Michael Buckley has done a great job keeping this series of eight full of action, twists and turns. I would recommend this book to anyone kid, boy or girl ages 9-13.

What's Your Savvy?

What is your Savvy? In the Beaumont family every person gets their "savvy" at age thirteen. This is a very important thing to the Beaumont kids. This very special thirteenth birthday is just around the corner for Mibs Beaumont, a twelve-year-old girl who would do anything, just to get her savvy. But when Poppa gets hurt in a terrible accident, Mibs birthday celebrations get put on hold, but you can't same the same for her savvy. On the day of her thirteenth birthday Mibs' savvy arrives unexpectedly, just as Mibs, her brothers, Fish and Samson, and some new unexpected friends, head out on a journey to save Poppa. Savvy is also a Caudill nominee book in Illinois. The book, Savvy, by Ingrid Law, is the perfect book for 5th-8th graders, so if you're looking for an adventure book that displays true friendship, then Savvy is the book for you.