Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

I listened to this book in the car and I really enjoyed the narrator. I loved the way the author made connections among characters.

From Amazon:
When twelve-year-old Jamie Dexter's brother joins the Army and is sent to Vietnam, Jamie is thrilled. She can't wait to get letters from the front lines describing the excitement of real-life combat. After all, they've both dreamed of following in the footsteps of their father, the Colonel.
But TJ's first letter isn't a letter at all. It's a roll of undeveloped film, the first of many. What Jamie sees when she develops TJ's photographs reveals a whole new side of the war. Slowly the shine begins to fade off of Army life - and the Colonel. How can someone she's worshipped her entire life be just as helpless to save her brother as she is?

Happy reading! If you read Shooting the Moon, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury

Once I started reading this book, I found it hard to put it down. It is based on a true story about a group of Boy Scouts who go camping and hiking in a remote area of Hawaii. While they are camping, an earthquake strikes ... and the quickly followed by a tsunami. The books follows the boys and their leaders as they attempt to survive after the natural disasters.

From Barnes and Noble:
Dylan's Scout troop goes camping in Halape, a remote spot below the volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. The only thing wrong with the weekend on a beautiful, peaceful beach is Louie, a tough older boy. Louie and Dylan just can't get along.
That night an earthquake rocks the camp, and then a wave rushes in, sweeping everyone and everything before it. Dylan and Louie must team up on a dangerous rescue mission. The next hours are an amazing story of survival and the true meaning of leadership.

Happy reading! If you read Night of the Howling Dogs, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick

I loved this book. I loved the main characters and how they grew. I loved the titles of the chapters. I loved the humor. I loved the funny references to librarians. :)
We are reading this book for 7th grade lunch bunch book club - I can't wait to discuss it!

From Barnes and Noble:
When eighth-grader San Lee moves to a new town and a new school for the umpteenth time, he doesn't try to make new friends or be a loner or play cool. Instead he sits back and devises a plan to be totally different. When he accidentally answers too many questions in World History on Zen (only because he just had Ancient Religions two schools ago) all heads turn and San has his answer: he's a Zen Master. And just when he thinks everyone (including the cute girl he can't stop thinking about) is on to him, everyone believes him . . . in a major Zen way.

Happy reading! If you read Zen and the Art of Faking It, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

The Wedding Planner's Daughter by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

I thought the plot of this book was a little predictable, but it was quick listen - I listened to this book in the car. I think my favorite thing about this book was that each chapter started with a quote from a book.

from Barnes and Noble:
Twelve-year-old Willa Havisham is a classics reader, a cherry-cordial eater, and quite possibly the world's worst wisher. But when she and her glamorous single mother, Stella, move to Bramble, Cape Cod, Willa's wishes begin to come true: She makes her first-ever best friend, Tina. She bonds with her hip, candy-making Nana. And best of all, steely Stella is falling for Willa's English teacher, Sam -- he's perfect dad material! But before Willa can marry off her mother, or dance with her adorable crush, Joseph, a pit gets stuck in the wishing well....
Can Willa undo the damage before Stella misses her chance to say "I do"?

Happy reading! If you read The Wedding Planner's Daughter, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)

LMC wiki

I have added a link on the right hand side of the blog, but also wanted to share the news in a post! I have started a LMC wiki. One thing I added to the wiki is an online form to submit book requests. If there is a book you would like to be added to the library collection, all you need to do is fill out the form located on the "Book Requests" section of the wiki. Also located on the wiki is a section for Book Suggestions and also a Screencast section. A screencast is an online tutorial that can help you see how to do something on the computer. I hope to continue to add to the wiki ... so stop by often. :)

The Rising Star of Rusty Nail by Lesley M.M. Blume

It took me a while to get into this book, and but I thought it was an interesting story.

From Amazon:
Franny Hansen is a 10-year-old piano prodigy living in Rusty Nail, Minnesota. Once the Coot Capitol of the world, in 1953 it's just a run-of-the-mill town with one traffic light and a bizarre cast of characters. She's long exhausted the talents of the town's only piano teacher and seems destined to perform at church events and school assemblies, until a mysterious Russian woman arrives in Rusty Nail. Franny's neighbors are convinced the "Commie" is a threat to their American way of life, but Franny's not so sure. Could this stranger be her ticket out of Rusty Nail?

Happy reading! If you read The Rising Star of Rusty Nail, comment on this post and let me know how you liked it. :)