Witch and Wizard

I love James Patterson books. Specifically, I love them on the beach, in the car, and on my ipod while walking. A lot of my literary-type friends criticize Patterson that his characters are shallow, chapters too short, and he's all about the plot. This is becasue writers-types like "character-driven" stories where everyone grows and changes. There are characters I really like, care about and return to time and time again: Amelia Bedilia, Harry Bosch, Stephanie Plum, Junie B Jones. But, often for me, (especially in the car, on the beach and while walking) it's all about page turning. That's what Patterson is awesome at.
This is the first of his teen projects that I've read. And in Patterson fashion, it didn’t disappoint.

The 411 From JamesPatterson.com: This is the astonishing testimonial of Wisty and Whit Allgood, a sister and brother who were torn from their family in the middle of the night, slammed into prison, and accused of being a witch and a wizard. Thousands of young people have been kidnapped; some have been accused; many others remain missing. Their fate is unknown, and the worst is feared—for the ruling regime will stop at nothing to suppress life and liberty, music and books, art and magic...and the pursuit of being a normal teenager.

The Recommendation: Holy page-turner, Batman. I read this in four days on my Kindle. I think it's best suited for high school age teens because of the mild violence. This story is great fodder to discuss “what ifs.” -- The "what-ifs" that are possible, and have been demonstrated in history, ie: The Holocaust, the Salem Witch Executions, and prosecution that sadly takes place around the world today. It's entertaining, but I found it to elicit some deep thoughts. I think this would be a great discussion/study piece for high school classes. It's also a great adult read.

Prada and Prejudice

This was my first Kindle read. IT WAS SO SUPER CUTE! Very clever too.

The 411 from School Library Journal: Fifteen-year-old Callie's class trip to England is, like most things in her life, remarkably unremarkable. Ever since she was overheard making a derogatory remark about cheerleaders by one of the most popular girls in school, Callie has been permanently on the D list. To her misery and embarrassment, she has been ditched by her class-trip buddy, leaving her stranded at their London hotel. A scheme to join fellow classmates on a surreptitious trip to a hot club leads to her tripping spectacularly over her new Prada heels. Upon waking from her blackout, Callie discovers that she has been transported to Regency England and is now the long-lost American friend of Emily, a well-to-do teenager. True to her character, she makes a series of faux pas with the titled gentry, earning her the disapproval of a matriarch and a dashing 19-year-old duke. Although her adjustment to an 1815 lifestyle is rough, she begins to appreciate her friendship with Emily and her surprising budding romance with the duke...

Recommendation According to Moi: Even though Callie is 15, this book is very appropriate for younger ages, I'd say 9 and up. The description is great - - transports you to 19th century England. This was a very satisfying read. I encourage you to find out what else Mandy Hubbard has up her designer sleeve at www.mandyhubbard.com

Shadowed Summer

I told you about my nightstand. Well, I've been racing through it at an amazing pace. I can't wait to tell you about Shadowed Summer which takes place in the heat of the deep south. Interestingly, I read it in the freezing, snowy Pennsylvania Mountains.

The 411:
Iris is ready for another hot, routine summer in her small Louisiana town, hanging around the Red Stripe grocery with her best friend, Collette, and traipsing through the cemetery telling each other spooky stories and pretending to cast spells. Except this summer, Iris doesn't have to make up a story. This summer, one falls right in her lap.

Years ago, before Iris was born, a local boy named Elijah Landry disappeared. All that remained of him were whispers and hushed gossip in the church pews. Until this summer.

A ghost begins to haunt Iris, and she's certain it's the ghost of Elijah. What really happened to him? And why, of all people, has he chosen Iris to come back to?

The recommendation: Being a north-easterner, the southern references and dialogue took me a few pages to get used to, but once I did, I loved that it was true to the South. I flew through this and I couldn't put it down because I just had to know what happened to Iris.

You can visit the author at http://www.saundramitchell.com/

What's on my Nightstand

I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions....who really needs all that pressure?

So, I am vowing to diligently work my way through my reading list this winter (what better time to curl up with a good read?) not because of any resolution, but out of fear -- I'm a little afraid of the girth of the pile.

My tower is not only huge, but diverse, both in terms of genre and medium. We Type-As like lists., so here's what I got going:
Adult Mysteries:
Look Again, Lisa Scottoline (autographed)
Pirate Lattitudes, Michael Crichton (1942-2008) - released in 2009
The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown
Smoke Screen, Sandra Brown

Middle-Grade and YA
Eleven, Lauren Myracle - Just finished
The Year the Swollows Came Early, Kathryn Fitzmaurice - In-progress
Models Don't Eat Chocolate, Erin Dionne - DONE, highly recommend
The Hollow, Jessica Verday - On-deck
The Espressologist, Kristin Springer - On-deck
Shadowed Summer, Saundra Mitchell - Just finished
Prophecy of the Sisters, Michelle Zink - On-deck
The Wedding Planners Daughter, Coleen Murtagh Paratore - In-progress
You are So Undead to Me, Stacey Jay - In-progress
Dorie Dilts: School for Cool, P.G. Kain - On-deck - (Aladdin M!X sibling)
Just Another Day in my Insanely Real Life, Barbara Dee - In-progress - (Aladdin M!X sibling)
Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick - DONE, highly recommend
Devil's Kiss, Sarwat Chadda - DONE, highly recommend - (Greenhouse Literary sibling)

I also have books on my Kindle (which I LOVE):
Witch and Wizard, James Patterson
Prada and Prejudice, Mandy Hubbard - In-progress

In my car I have audio books:
9 Dragons, Michael Connelly .....the man, the legend...let's face it, he's my fav. - In-Progress
Thriller, Short stories edited by James Patterson - Just completed. Okay, so maybe I didn't listen to the whole thing, but it was like 16 CDs
And I I'm on the library waiting list at the library for: The Murder of King Tut, James Patterson

This doesn't include my newsletters and various local history pieces that are strewn around the coffee tables, and while I don't read them cover to cover, I do read them.

In fact, I'm off right now because I can't get Callie of Prada and Prejudice out of my mind.