Waywordaughter

Rapunzel’s Revenge; Suite Scarlett

waywordaughter — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:48:16 +0000

Finished a couple more books last evening. Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale, illus by Nathan Hale, is a fun graphic novel take on the Rapunzel story set in the old west. Love interest (or should I say moving toward love interest) comes to Rapunzel as Jack…yup Jack of the Beanstalk fame. the graphics are colorful and fun, Rapunzel’s hair as a weapon/lasso is a stitch, the evil witch and her army, the horrible colorless life of those oppressed by the witch… all adds up to a great quick read/view. Interesting to note that Nathan Hale is no relation to Shannon or Dean.

Maureen Johnson’s new title Suite Scarlett is also a fun read and I think deceptively simple. Often it seems that books written about everyday matters with a bit of humor are not considered as well-written as overwhelmingly depressing or serious titles. This is well-written and fun at the same time. I enjoyed Scarlett’s character who lives in a run-down hotel in Manhattan with her family, all of whom care for the hotel and each other. Each character seems so developed except the parents which made me a bit sad as they could have added even more to this family. Mrs. Amberson, who comes to stay the whole summer in the hotel, brings newness to Scarlett’s life and vice versa. This character is terrific. Would be a good title to add to booklists about theater, the city, families, sibling relationships, romance.

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale, Bloomsbury, Sept 08, 144p
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson, Point/Scholastic, May 08, 350p

The Hunger Games

waywordaughter — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:33:30 +0000

Finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins while on vacation this last week. (Brief side trip to sigh over the greatness of vacation, the wonder of Colorado, and the joys of reading by a rushing mountain stream…ahhh relaxation.) Okay back to this great book which I have already marketed to my nephews.

I enjoyed Suzanne’s first book Gregor the Overlander but this one moves her much further into excellence. The plot captured me from the first and did not let me go. Set in a time when districts suffer from having rebelled against The Capitol and losing, each year one girl and one boy from each district selected through lottery travel to The Capitol to compete in The Hunger Games. The object of the game is to kill or be killed; only one wins and that district has more food in the coming year. This year, District 12 sends Katniss who volunteered in place of her younger sister and Peeta, the son of the baker. I felt immediate identification with Kat and admired Peeta greatly. Kat’s strength and Peeta’s character combine to achieve a first in the games and leaves me totally ready for the next installment in this to-be trilogy.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Scholastic, Oct 08, 384p

Getting started again

waywordaughter — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:07:49 +0000

Once upon a time I started a blog for the KCPL Staff Association mini learning 2.0. Along comes SLJ & Michael Stephens doing the whole learning 2.0 thing again only more and updated. Time to begin again, fully participate, and keep it up. I’m loving facebook so let’s get going on the other stuff.