Okay, so forget about Gregor numbers 4 and 5 for right now.  I have to tell you about an incredible book that is the start of a new series by the author of Peeps and the Uglies series Scott Westerfeld and is illustrated by Keith Thompson.  It’s coming out late next week or early the following week.  It’s called Leviathan. Where to begin…well, at the beginning, I guess.  Our story takes place in 1914, in Europe, both continental in the Austrio-Hungarian empire and in Britain, so if you know your history, people and agendas and incidences are primed for the start of World War I.  Enter the prince of the aforementioned Austrio-Hungarian Empire, Aleksander Ferdinand and his being secreted away in the middle of the night by a band of faithful men…meanwhile, enter Deryn Sharp, a girl who wants only to be an airman in the Royal Navy and of course, she is an exceptional one to boot, but well, as in Eon: Dragon Reborn (another must-read that came out last December), the Navy at this time only accepts male cadets.  Disguise is the name of the game for Deryn, who cuts her hair and walks with a swagger (or tries to at least).  She ends up as one of the crew of the Leviathan as they charter a renowned scientist to her destination in Constantinople.  Alek and his men are making their way for neutral ground, as his own people, the Austro-Hungarians and the Germans are after him.  But for both parties, unexpected incidences and choices occur to throw them into the same dire and chaotic mess together.  Secrets abound, political agendas are ingeniously wielded by the author, and the two are on an adventure that will change them, and Europe, and the world forever.  But did I forget to mention the main character?

Let me explain.  The Axes powers put philosophy, faith, and military ingenuity in their Clankers, steam-chugging, iron machines that funny enough look like creatures.  Meanwhile, the Allies put their faith in fabricated animals.  Known as Darwinists, the Allied powers such as Britain have engineered creatures for man-made purposes such as war and combat.  Enter the Leviathan, a whale-like living ecosystem that functions militarily as an airship.  Its function as a catalyst for much of the plot of the story cannot be understated. There are just so many interesting, fascinating creatures and clankers in the book, you’ll just have to read it to get a feel and a sense for how imaginatively real, complex, and alive these weapons of war are.  Speaking of life or narrative vibrancy if you will, the writing by Westerfeld is just so lively in its combat descriptions, matter-of-fact, but lively at the same time, especially when the opponents have weapons like nothing on this earth!  Each character, and maybe it’s because of the crucible of war, is rich with his or her own agenda, his or her own fears and acts of bravery to combat those fears that it makes for highly compelling reading.   Moreover, Keith Thompson’s illustrations that accompany the narrative enrich it so and are, to me at least, quite sleek and expressive, capturing, magnifying the scene in my head that I found them to be an asset rather than a liability as sometimes pictures can be (e.g., movie characters who don’t look like the person we have envisioned and come to love in our own heads).

Published by Simon & Schuster, they are giving a book summary and trailer (using Thompson’s illustrations) on their website.

POP by Gordon Korman, September 1, 2009

This one is for the guys—girls might like it too.  Marcus is a high school football player who has moved to a new town and must attend the football team tryouts. While practicing for tryouts in a park, Marcus forms a friendship with an older guy, Charlie, who knows a lot about football. Marcus soon learns that Charlie Popovich was once an NFL Linebacker. When practice begins, Marcus meets Troy Popovich, you guessed it, son of Charlie. Troy and Marcus disagree on practically everything. Marcus soon realized that there is a secret about Charlie that the family is desperate to keep. Marcus is very fond of his new friend and is willing to go to great lengths to do what he thinks is best for Charlie in spite of what the family wishes. This is a good read for you guys. Young adult: ages 12 and up

The Doll Shop Downstairs by Yona Zeldis McDonough, September 1, 2009
This is a story about three sisters who live with their parents in a dwelling above the doll repair shop. The war threatens to put the doll shop out of business, but nine year old Anna dreams of saving the shop and finding a way to keep her favorite doll. Every age will find this story warm and very endearing. Young Adult Middle: ages 7 and up

The Underland Chronicles (5-book) series by Suzanne Collins

Want to be fancy? Come join the book parade of Jane O’Connor. O’Connor has written the following books:
Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly
Fancy Nancy’s Favorite Words from Accessories to Zany
Fancy Nancy Explorer Extraordinaire
Fancy Nancy Party Planner Tea Parties

The latest—Fancy Nancy Party Planner Tea Parties–is great fun for little girls and might provide helpful tips for Moms having their own tea party.

If your wallet is feeling a little pinched, you might try the beginner readers at a sweet price of $3.99. The titles are Fancy Nancy Sees Stars, Fancy Nancy the Dazzling Book Report, Fancy Nancy at the Museum, Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris, Fancy Nancy Poison Ivy Expert, Fancy Nancy the Show Must Go On, and Fancy Nancy Pajama Day. There are also several sticker books. (All picture books, ages 4-8)

Mortimer’s First Garden by Karma Wilson, Children’s Picture Book, Ages 4-8
From the best selling author of Bear Snores On comes Mortimer’s First Garden. Would you like to plant a seed and watch it grow? This story lends itself to being able to do that with your child. Mortimer has a seed and he is also hungry. He has heard that in the spring seeds can be planted, they will grow and produce more seeds. He has a choice, eat the seed in hand or risk planting that one seed. What does Mortimer do?

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The Devil’s Paintbox by Victoria McKernan (Young Adult Fiction, 12 and up)
In the winter of 1865, circumstances find Aiden and Maddy Lynch (brother and sister) stranded on a piece of dried up farmland in Kansas. The last of the food has been eaten when Jefferson J. Jackson arrives on the farm. Jackson is looking for strong men to join his wagon train which is headed for Seattle, not two half-starved teenagers. The children convince Jackson to take them on the 2,000 mile journey. Jackson tells them bluntly, “Aside from disease, there’s storms, Indian stampedes, and pure awful accidents. Anyway you can think up to die is out there waiting.” In spite of the warning of hardship, the children gather courage and spirit to make the long journey. As the wagon train moves along the trail, you can easily visualize the beautiful and sometimes harsh western frontier. Aiden’s honesty, loyalty, courage and keen wit for survival will be the force that will bring him through until the end. The novel will being warmth, sadness and hope to you the reader and will provide a sense of appreciation of how tough early America must have been. Just think, no cell phones, no television, no running water2009 is looking pretty good.

Paula Morris has set this exciting ghost story in the city of New Orleans several years after Katrina. Rebecca Brown is from New York City visiting her Aunt Claudia who lives in a creepy house across the street from the Lafayette Cemetery. Rebecca makes a friend with Lisette, a ghost , who has a score to settle. If you like ghost stories and mysteries you will love this one. (Ages 12 and up)