The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King

Stephen King's seven-part Dark Tower series has a very special place in my heart. In those seven volumes, King tells a complete, balanced story that would be unbalanced and diminished by additional material--or so I thought. So when I first heard that King was writing an eighth Dark Tower book, I was opposed to it. But The Wind Through the Keyhole isn't at all what I expected, and I because of that, I love it.

The Wind Through the Keyhole is to The Dark Tower series what The Tales of Beedle the Bard is to the Harry Potter series. It doesn't continue the story of Roland the Gunslinger where the series left off. Instead, it gives the reader a taste of Roland's world by telling a bedtime story from his childhood. As any book lover will tell you, stories are powerful. The stories we hear as children can shape us, and this story was an important part of Roland's life.

The Wind Through the Keyhole is an utterly original, frightening, and fantastic piece of fictional folklore. It tells the story of a young woodcutter's son who is tricked by a malevolent warlock into going on a journey to save his widowed mother. On the way, he finds a nasty green fairy, a dragon, a tribe of people devolving into trees, "ancient" 20th century technology, and Merlin. Yeah, that Merlin.

But the book actually tells three stories, which nest seamlessly within each other. It begins with Roland and his friends hunkering down in a sad ghost town to wait out a powerful storm--frame story number one! To pass the time, Roland tells his friends a story: When Roland was still a teenager, he and another novice Gunslinger were sent to take down a bloodthirsty skinchanger that was terrorizing a small town--frame story number two! While on this mission, Roland comforts a grieving boy by telling him the story of The Wind Through the Keyhole. The folktale takes up the bulk of the book.

Some readers may not like the made-up words and dialect, but my favorite thing about the series is the distinct manner of speech King creates for his fictional world. He blends courtly manners with cowboy slang, and it rings true and feels right. All at once, the language conveys the speaker's social class and relationship with the person being spoken to, as well as the values of the society itself. The bulk of the series takes place in a Wild West world with Camelot manners; the Gunslingers are cowboy kings that govern and protect the realm. And they're the descendants of Arthur. Yeah, that Arthur. Except the world is moving on, and the people no longer want to pay fealty.

If you haven't read the Dark Tower series yet, start here! Even though I loved the series, I wasn't crazy about the first volume, The Gunslinger. King wrote it when he was just a novice writer, and it shows. Worse, it doesn't even hint at the best, most lovable and memorable things about the Dark Tower world. For readers who are new to the series, I think The Wind Through the Keyhole is a much better way to begin. It introduces the reader to Roland and his ka-tet, shows the culture of Roland's youth, and gives the reader a taste of what it's all about without revealing too much. If you like this, you'll love the rest of the series, so I think this is the perfect way to enter the Dark Tower.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Tim Recommends

Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 by Ian W. Toll

Pacific Crucible covers the events of America’s entry into war with Japan from Pearl Harbor through the Battle of Midway. I was unable to put it down, staying up late to finish it as if it were a mystery, even though I knew the outcome at Midway. Ian W. Toll writes eloquently, and his prose flows effortlessly through both the dramatic and the prosaic details. He presents the events of 1941-1942 from both sides. Not a dry recounting of events, this book vividly paints combat as a human, and terrifying, experience.

Tim Recommends

On Conan Doyle: Or, The Whole Art of Storytelling
Michael Dirda

Must reading for Holmes fans, with a good dose of Professor Challenger thrown in. Michael Dirda reminds us of why we keep returning to Sherlock Holmes.

Starting no later than seventh grade, every student should be thoroughly schooled in the Sherlock Holmes canon. The results? Students with markedly better thinking, planning, and observational skills. Conan Doyle’s detective would be a worthy role model for young people—sans the cocaine use and the indoor marksmanship.

Adam's Journey to 100 books in 1 year, No. 4 - Lafcadio

Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back
By Shel Silverstein

Before I get into this review, I'd like to apologize for going MIA for the past few months or so. While I still read a lot during that period, it was mostly a lot of non-fiction and none of it was anything worth making a post about as I have a personal policy on never reviewing anything I haven't finished. That said, while I have been forcing myself to read more fiction, when something doesn't immediately grab my attention, I rarely bother going back to it. There are so many books out there waiting to be read and enjoyed that it simply doesn't make sense to plow through something you just aren't invested in. Required reading in school taught me that lesson.
However, for all the time I spent trying to find something I wanted to read, I'm glad I waited to write about this book, Shel Silverstein's “Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back”. Not only is it his first book for children, but it is virtually unknown by most people who are familiar with Silverstein’s other works.
On the surface, there is not much to this simple children's book. Written in 1963 (and predating his first book of poetry “Where The Sidewalk Ends” by roughly 10 years), Lafcadio is the story of an aloof lion who leaves his innocent life in the jungle to join the circus and become the world's best sharpshooter. Through this journey, his adventures become more complex, but Silverstein never sacrifices humor or whimsy to get this point across.
Children will most definitely enjoy the wonderful illustrations, not to mention absolute absurdity of a clueless lion who is seemingly oblivious to many mundane parts of human life which we all take for granted, for instance, getting a haircut or riding on an elevator. And did I mention, Lafcadio is obsessed with marshmallows?
On a children's level, this is a wonderful little story with plenty of laughs for everyone. And that's why I recommend this one as the perfect read-a-loud for you and your kids. The chapters are short enough to read as installments for the nightly bedtime story, but long enough for younger audiences to read themselves without getting bogged down with lengthy details and story developments. Reading this book when I was younger gave me a sense of accomplishment when I finally finished it, but there were still some parts of the book I didn't fully understand.
Which brings me to my next point.
From an adult perspective, this book is large. And by that, I mean that some of the themes within the story will astound you being stuck in a book like this so subtly. Rest assured, the kids won't even notice, but there is a true philosophy of “self” going on here. What defines you? What represents you? What details of life do you tend to take for granted? These are some of the questions you might think about after you finish Lafcadio.
And that's why I truly love this book. It's one of the few children's books I've read that, to this day, remains incredibly deep and deliciously shallow all at the same time. I sincerely hope you will check this one out. It's one of my favorites.
We have one copy of this book and you can find it under the heading “J SIL”. Check it out today!

Jen Recommends

A library volunteer recommended Juliet by Anne Fortier, and I'm so glad she did. Initially I wasn't so sure about it because Publisher's Weekly called it "The Da Vinci Code for the smart modern women." I didn't like The DaVinci Code, and I generally shy away from romances. But I was pleasantly surprised by Juliet. It turns Shakespeare's classic love story around and makes it feel new.

Here's a synopsis: Julie Jacobs and her twin sister Janice were orphaned at a young age and raised by their Aunt Rose. When Rose passes away, she leaves Julie the key to Julie's mother's safe deposit box in Italy. Julie travels overseas and unravels her mother's oblique clues to discover that she is descended from Giulietta Tolomei, the "real" Juliet who inspired Shakespeare. Because she is a Tolomei, Julie has unknown enemies in Italy. As long as she remains there, she is in danger. But if she can stay alive long enough to locate Romeo and Giulietta's hidden tomb, she will find a priceless treasure. Meanwhile, Julie is falling for a man who belongs to an enemy family... Oh, those Tolomei girls!

It's improbable and melodramatic, but it's also lots of fun. I can't help but like it, because it belongs to my favorite mini-genre: Woman goes to the library to solve a family mystery. There are many of these stories (really!), and I love them all. If you also like such stories, you may enjoy The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton or The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff.

Juliet is available at the Brentwood Library as a book or audiobook on CD.

Tim Recommends

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern
by Stephen Greenblatt
In 1417, Poggio Bracciolini, in between appointments as papal secretary, discovered perhaps the last surviving manuscript of an ancient Roman philosophical epic, “On the Nature of Things” (De Rerum Natura), by Lucretius. That poem contained the heretical ideas that everything was made up of very small particles, that religious fear was detrimental to humanity, and that the cosmos existed and functioned without the aid of any gods. It argues, Stephen Greenblatt writes, that “there is no master plan, no divine architect, no intelligent design.”
Greenblatt tells the story of not only Bracciolini’s finding, copying, and recirculating of Lucretius’ poem but of the incendiary effect it had, fanning the fires of the Renaissance and influencing writers and thinkers since such as Galileo, Freud, Darwin, Santayana, Einstein, Montaigne, and Jefferson.

Adam's Journey to 100 books in 1 year, No. 3 - High Fidelity

In my room, I have two book shelves. Both book-cases are full to capacity, with books spilling over the sides, piled on top, leaking out and underneath. If you haven't figured out that I have a bit of a problem with reading by now, then to say I have issues would be putting it subtly. However, with all that to go through, there are some books that will never, ever leave the shelves, no matter how much weeding I do. “High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby is one of those books.

“High Fidelity” is the story of Rob, full-time owner of Champion Vinyl Record Shop and part-time seeker of relationship justice. His partner, Laura, has just left him and Rob is wondering where it will leave him, what will happen next, and what his top five all-time desert island records should be.

This is a book that has a real charm about it. I read it awhile back and liked it then, but reading it again, for some reason I feel like I can readily identify with it more this time. Insecurity is a major theme here as is the politics that come with relationships and break-ups. This novel was an early one for Hornby, whose writing feels seasoned, like he had been already published several times over. There is a character for just about anyone to identify with; Rob with his self-loathing and insecurity, Laura, dissatisfied with the pace of life, even Barry, the jerk and music snob. Hornby weaves these characters into a mesmerizing story that never really gets dull even though setting and action are minimal . Music fans will appreciate the name-dropping of recording artists and the dedication of what makes a top five list, not to mention how to make the perfect mix-tape. In any case, I found myself using my breaks at work to read the next chapter when I usually just play some game on my ipod. That, in and of itself, is a major feat.

Most people will recognize this title from the movie based on it, starring John Cusack and Jack Black (in his break-out performance). If you've seen this one and knew it was a book first, good on you. As for me, I only discovered the book shortly after I'd seen the flick, but was pleasantly surprised with the screenplay's faithfulness to the original manuscript. I would be remiss not to suggest the novel before the film, but in this case, starting with either first is forgivable. The movie was wonderful, albeit with a few things changed, but managed to stay true to its source material.

I love Nick Hornby's writing style – it's so very sincere and genuine and really puts you right there with the story. It's hard to describe but it's like when you read a novel or see a film you all of sudden feel like the material is speaking directly towards you. As if the story is trying to make you realize something important about your own life and its characters are some sort of vessel for that.

If you consider yourself a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to your preferences in music or if you can appreciate the intricacies of what makes and breaks a relationship, I would recommend checking out “High Fidelity”.

We have one copy of this title, filed under “F HORNB” in the adult fiction section!

Tim Recommends

Hemingway’s Boat: Everything He Loved in Life and Lost, 1934-1961
by Paul Hendrickson

If you’ve read Hemingway biographies before, this one’s different. If you haven’t and are unfamiliar with Hemingway’s life, Paul Hendrickson’s book will tell you a decidedly more human story about a gifted, difficult, and troubled person. The book is powerful and moving because it is unsparing in how it reveals not just Hemingway’s demons and flaws but how he somehow endured to create literature that, at its best, is still crystalline and alive.

More Non-Fiction from Tim

Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970 by David Browne
If you were in college in 1970, then you know and you remember what that year was like, the headlines relentlessly pounding you with bad news, and more importantly, the music pouring out of the radio and off the vinyl albums on the stereo. David Browne’s book sharpens those memories so much that it’s almost painful to relive that time—the Beatles’ caustic break-up, Simon and Garfunkel’s relentless drifting apart, CSNY’s chaotic incarnation and tour, and James Taylor’s game-changing arrival. Dust off the LPs (or the mp3’s).

Adam's Second Book in 2012

God's Debris
By Scott Adams
“...Remember my first question to you, about the coin toss?”
“Yes, you asked why a coin comes up heads half the time.”
“Probability is omnipotent and omnipresent. It influences any coin at any time in any place, instantly. It cannot be shielded or altered. We might see randomness in the outcome of an individual coin toss, but as the number of toss increases, probability has firm control of the outcome. And probability is not limited to coins and dice and slot machines. Probability is the guiding force of everything in the universe, living or nonliving, near or far, big or small, now or anytime.” (pg. 46)


Before I really get into what is happening in this book, I should tell you this: the literature is not for everyone. I say that because many of the ideas discussed in the story attempt to denounce popular and religious beliefs, or at the very least, cause one to question the belief in the first place.
Let me preface by saying that I am not a student of philosophy. I took a few courses dealing with it in college and my grades were less than stellar. I am often bothered by questions that don't have answers and I get increasingly annoyed when someone tries to answer a question with another question.
That said though, I did enjoy reading this book. There were many questions raised in it that caused me to simply think without actually being annoyed.
God's Debris has an uncomplicated storyline. A delivery guy brings a package to an unsuspecting old man known only as “Avatar”. What he doesn't realize is that the old man has a higher purpose for him as he begins with the question, “did you deliver this package or did the package deliver you?”.
The narrative deals most with ideas about God, free will, probability, and the nature of omnipotence, but it does so without become preachy. Readers will easily identify with the delivery man as he comes to represent a lay person who is seemingly ignorant of the ideas Avatar introduces.
Interestingly enough, this book was written by Scott Adams, whom many of you will recognize as the author of the Dilbert comic strip. Yet, God's Debris is not a comedy, nor does it have any sex or violence. As a self-described thought experiment, Mr. Adams states in his introduction that this story is for mature audiences only, adding that the devoutly religious and older generations will probably not approve of the material. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a good brain teaser and have an open mind, this book may be just the cure you are seeking...and you'll never look at a coin toss the same way ever again.
If you like this story, or literature about philosophy in general, you might also enjoy “Sophie’s World” by Jostein Gaardner, a narrative about a girl who gets mysterious letters in the mail about philosophical ideas from the likes of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. This book is also safe for children to read, unlike God’s Debris.
You can find God’s Debris in the adult non-fiction section of the library under the heading
“110 ADA”. We have only one copy of this so put a hold on it while you can!

Adam Reads 100 books in 2012!

Brentwood Library employee, Adam Dickson, has resolved to read 100 books in 2012 and he's offered to share his thoughts about the books with you. Book #1 - The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman:

There’s always a part of you that wonders whether there isn’t a grain of truth to some of the stories you read. I’m not going to spoil it for you now though; you’ll have to read this to find out for yourself.
The last time I read “The Whipping Boy”, I was probably in the 4th grade, around nine years old, if I had to hazard a guess. I remembered liking this story then and you might be interested to know that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Whipping Boy is a tale about two children, a prince and his whipping boy. The prince runs away from his castle and drags Jemmy, his servant, along. Among their adventures, the boys run into trouble with soldiers, thieves, and even a dancing bear. However, by the end of the story, they learn a lot about themselves and each other.

It’s funny that once we grow into “adults” we somehow find excuses not to revisit the books we loved as children. Whether we may feel too old for the literature or convince ourselves that we won’t enjoy kids’ stuff anymore, there is always some reason we refuse to go back to the stories that once captured our imaginations growing up.
This book is an excellent read for children. The chapters are divided such that even the most reluctant of readers will be satisfied with the pace of action and dialogue that, while colorful, will draw them into the story rather than leaving them behind. Short enough for small attention spans, but long enough to encourage just one more chapter. Even though this book is most definitely geared towards a younger audience, I would encourage adults to pick this one up too. Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from what’s expected and try something you never thought to read. At only 90 pages, you’d probably never suspect that this little book won the Newberry Award in 1987. Peppered with wonderful illustrations by Peter Sis, this is a great and quick little read for both children and adults.
You can find this book under the heading “J FLE” in the Children’s Library. We have 10 copies of this one so please check it out and give it a try!

Staff Recommendations

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson
Released in 1961, Breakfast at Tiffany’s starred Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a role she was reluctant to take and that Truman Capote wanted to go to Marilyn Monroe. Sam Wasson tells how Capote’s novella became the Hollywood film, with stories about Hepburn, about fashion and the advent of the “little black dress,” and about “Moon River.”
Tim Kotora can frequently be found at the circulation desk, and is always willing to recommend a title for your reading pleasure. He will be sharing some non-fiction titles that peaked his interest last year.

Fairy Tales for Grown Ups

What's better than romance? Fairy tales of course! Eloisa James tells a great version of Cinderella in A Kiss at Midnight. Miss Kate Daltry is our Cinderella in this fun tale of triumph over unjust family circumstances. Her evil stepmother orders her to pose as her stepsister, which results in a stay at a castle with a single prince. She's supposed to act like her betrothed sister, but when she encounters the handsome Prince Gabriel, she has a little trouble sticking with her part. The prince is supposed to marry a princess, but there's nothing romantic about societal rules. So, do you think Kate gets her prince? Eloisa James was clearly inspired when she wrote this story. If you're not hooked on Ms. James after reading this book (or her other twist on a fairy tale classic, When Beauty Tamed the Beast), then you may want to switch to science ficiton instead. This is a truly fun read for grown-up girls.

Romance Awareness Month

I've gotten a lot of questions about the validity of this month's reading theme, which I'm promoting at the Reference Desk. Yes, August IS Romance Awareness Month. To get into the spirit, I read Anna Campbell's Midnight's Wild Passion. This is one of our newest romance arrivals, and talk about a fun read. I tore through this historical romance with a fierceness, finishing it in two evenings. The heroine, Antonia Smith, appears to be a homely, spinster governess with no sense of adventure. But all is not as it seems. The rakish Marquess of Ranelaw has his sights set on Antonia's charge, but after meeting Antonia, his world is turned upside down. It's romance fiction, so there's a happy ending for all. This is a fantastic example of the genre and exactly the kind of quick-paced, heart-pumping read that will make you glad you've got a library card.

Book Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepatys

I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, which is scheduled to be available in book stores in March 2011. I highly recommend this fascinating work of fiction that sheds light on a piece of history surrounding WWII that seems to be much less familiar than the stories of the terrors inflicted by Hitler and the Nazis during that time.

The author’s father was the son of a Lithuanian military officer. Members of his family were deported and imprisoned during WWII by Josef Stalin’s regime. It is estimated that Stalin killed more than twenty million people, and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were most affected by the genocide. As part of her research, Ms. Sepatys met with family members, survivors, historians, and government officials to help craft a work of fiction that depicts the horrors her family and so many other people experienced during that time.

The story is told from the perspective of a fifteen year old Lithuanian girl named Lina. She, her mother, and younger brother Jonas were suddenly and violently deported from their comfortable home shortly after her father had been separated from the family. Lina’s father was sentenced to death in a prison camp, however his family did not know his whereabouts. Throughout her imprisonment, Lina takes the risk of using her artistic talent to attempt to convey a message to her father, exposing their location. The story is told in a captivating way, drawing the reader into the lives of the main and supporting characters and the extreme, life threatening hardships they endured at the hands of the Soviets. Through this book, Ms. Sepetys is successful in telling a largely untold story that many people will find enlightening. I know I did!

Review submitted by Margaret Strecker

book review "Cold Dish"

Cold Dish by Craig Johnson

In Cold Dish Craig Johnson introduces us to Walt Longmire, the sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Longmire is a 50 something Viet Nam vet, a gruff and grieving widower who drinks too much, lives (or sort of camps out) in the house he has barely finished and waits eagerly for his daughter “back east” to call. Walt cares deeply for his quirky staff, the residents of his small community, the wide open country and mountains of Wyoming, his lawyer daughter, and his life-long best friend Henry Standing Bear.

Two years before, four local boys were convicted of the rape of Melissa Little Bird from the local reservation. The rape, trial, and suspended sentences have caused tensions between the white and native communities and continue to haunt Walt. The mundane duties of a rural county sheriff department barely keep Walt and his staff busy until one of the rapists is found shot in the back. The investigation is progressing with too many suspects (including Henry) and too many motives (he’s Melissa’s uncle) when a second boy is found also shot in the back. From this point the book races to an explosive, unexpected ending. Revenge, we learn, is not a dish best served cold but a dish best not served at all.

Johnson’s dialogue can be clunky in spots and his writing can use more polish, but he writes with obvious love for his home state and its people. There are passages in the text that are laugh out loud funny, scenes of tender compassion and deep friendship that bring tears, mystical encounters with “the old Cheyenne”, along with vivid descriptions of the always beautiful and sometimes dangerous landscape. Johnson may or may not be the next big thing but readers who miss the culture melds and clashes of Tony Hillerman or the wit and pacing of Robert Parker would do well to introduce themselves to Craig Johnson and the Walt Longmire series.

~submitted by Mary Barksdale

Book Review: Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

In his introduction to Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card explains that most fictional protagonists are adolescents, or in an adolescent stage of social development, because adolescent characters are unfettered by the responsibilities that would prevent more mature characters from going on novel-worthy adventures. But in this story, Card chronicles Ender's transition from unencumbered, transient loner to responsible family man. As a reader who is often frustrated by a lack of mature adults (both in literature and in real life!), I like seeing Ender grow up.

But because Ender is so emotionally armored in Ender's Game, the first book in this series, the empathy he exhibits in Speaker for the Dead is often confounding. A few times I had to stop reading in order to rant about the implausibility! But as I became more invested in Novinha's family and the alien species they study, Ender's unlikely aptitude for connecting with others became less important. Speaker for the Dead is emotionally engaging, the twist concerning the pequinos is delightfully inventive, and even those who don't like science fiction will probably like this book. For maximum enjoyment, read Ender's Game first.

The Brentwood Library has two copies of Speaker for the Dead and nine copies of Ender's Game. Place a hold on one of these today!

Book Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Imagine this: Dominick Dunne and Bret Easton Ellis team up to rewrite the Harry Potter series, culminating in an existentialist crisis which takes place in Narnia. Fortunately, Lev Grossman's The Magicians pays homage without becoming too derivative. Brakebills is no Hogwart's; its students are deeply flawed and the school itself is ominous.

Unresolved questions abound: Who is the beautiful paramedic? Why do the fourth-year students disappear for half a year (and why are they so emaciated when they return)? How was the fabric of our dimension punctured, allowing The Beast to enter? Will Quentin ever feel fulfilled?

Grossman's characters are brilliant and bored. Instead of exploring the clash between good and evil, Grossman asks how one can find satisfaction when success and fortune come too easily. The theme is not as grand as Tolkein or Lewis, but the taut narrative and magical settings will still resonate with many readers.

The Brentwood Library has one copy of The Magicians. Place a hold on it today!

Book Review: The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart

A hurricane in a skirt named Miss Acacia, a pet hamster with a very naughty name, and a cameo appearance by Jack the Ripper make this a memorable book. In Mathias Malzieu's "The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart," Jack's damaged heart functions with the aid of a cuckoo-clock installed in his chest. But Jack must be careful, because anger or love will break this fragile mechanism. In spite of the risk to his life, he journeys from Edinburgh to Andalusia in search of his beloved Miss Acacia.

Malzieu paints delightfully gorgeous and grotesque pictures with words. His lush, fruity, sugar-adorned imagery leaves me hungry for more of his pretty prose. Jack's unwavering adoration of Miss Acacia is so fairy-tale perfect that it is uninteresting, but Malzieu's lustrous images and amusing supporting characters make up for the dull romance. I love journeying with Jack through laboratories filled with small mysterious bottles, a twinkling 19th century Andalusian circus, and a ghost train decorated with bones dragged up from the catacombs.

Tim Burton fans will especially love the balance of eerie and romantic imagery. "The Mechanics of the Heart," an animated film based on the book, comes out in October 2011 (and no, Burton wasn't involved). The Brentwood Library has one copy of this book. Place a hold on it today!

Book Review: Beautiful Creatures

"Beautiful Creatures" by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is a beautiful hybrid of the following: "Twilight" series, "Romeo and Juliet," "Harry Potter," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Carrie" by Steven King, "The Help," and Fannie Flagg's ("Fried Green Tomatoes") Southern humor.

- This review was written by Loyce Hooker


Just a reminder, if you want to have a teen-written review posted on the blog, please click here. There will also be prizes for the most reviews submitted, most creative review subject, best book review, best movie review, best video game review, best CD review, best review written in haiku or limerick format and best comparison review (reviewing two titles together in one post). The first contest period will wrap up at the end of the present school year, at the end of May.

Keep them coming!