On Thursday, September 8th, the fun begins with Maggie and the Story Pirates as we host “Theodore Boone & the Thrill of Rights,” an interactive traveling bus tour based on John Grisham’s Theodore Boone series.

At this point, you may be asking yourself, “Who are the Story Pirates? Who is Theodore Boone? What is the Thrill of Rights? Huh?” I know, it can get pretty confusing.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer is the first in the series, released in June 2010.

Let me start at the beginning: John Grisham has written two books for kids in his Theodore Boone series. A Hardy Boys- esque series, Theo’s parents are both lawyers and he has been in love with law since he can remember. Theo is a lovable character for kids and parents alike.

John Grisham is not touring with his new book, but the Story Pirates, an arts and literacy activist acting troupe, have taken the characters from Grisham’s well loved books and create the play “Theodore Boone and the Thrill of Rights.” It is this play that they will be performing for five different audiences while they are in Jackson, MS.

This tour kicked-off with a performance at Jackson Elementary, one of Atlanta’s top-ranked public schools, and the tour will wrap up with three days of performances for the Sarasota County school system in Florida, while making stops in seventeen different cities and over five different states.

In Jackson, Maggie and the Story Pirates will visit First Presbytyrian Day School and St. Andrew’s on Thursday with a public show that afternoon at the Eudora Welty Library at 4:00. Then I will be taking the Story Pirates to Madison-Ridgeland Academy and Power APAC Friday, September 9th.

Theodore Boone: The Abduction is the second in the series, released in June 2011.

During the show, the audience will learn basic concepts of the American justice system while being introduced to the world and characters of Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. The performance will include sound effects, interactive skits and games, and audience members will act as a jury. The Story Pirates performers, who have proved popular among teachers, students, parents, and education advocates, will be on hand after the show to sign posters.

And although Grisham won’t be joining the tour to sign books, Lemuria will be on hand at every stop in Jackson with books for sale, as well as hardback copies of both Kid Lawyer and The Abduction signed by John Grisham himself.

It’s going to be a fun time and if the play isn’t coming to your school, be sure to be at the Eudora Welty Library Thursday, September 8th at 4:00!

These are the books available at the events and at Lemuria:

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, 2010, signed hardback 1st edition, $16.99

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, paperback, not signed, $7.99

Theodore Boone: The Abduction, 2011, signed hardback 1st edition, $16.99

Our kids book clubs have been pretty sporadic this summer, but starting in August, we returned to our once a month scheduling. A couple of months ago, our middle school girls book club read Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Gracie, one of the girls in the book club, read the book for the book club and has written a review for those of you interested in what kinds of books this book club reads:

Raised by Wolves is the first book in the new series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Bryn, the main character in the first book, was raised by wolves, literally! Bryn is a stubborn and smart girl who throughout the story is trying to figure out her complex past while at the same time keeping up the shroud of being a normal human girl. Easy as all this might sound, Bryn’s life is a constant battle of what she thinks is best as opposed to what her adoptive mother Ali and her guardian Callum think. Her course of life never seems to change until the presence of a new wolf is sensed by the pack. Naturally told to keep away, Bryn goes to Callum arguing and pleading with him to see the new wolf. After the arrival of the new wolf Chase, the story is set into overdrive as Bryn separates from the pack with Chase, her new love. Together they conquer demons from their pasts and form a new family of young wolves. This book is a wonderful and thrilling ride with words that ride with you through the betrayal, romance, and adventurous scenes of being raised by wolves.

Bryn lives with a pack of wolves. That might sound fun but when you have all of them breathing down your neck to be perfect… not so much. Even though her friends are always there for her when she meets Chase its a bond like no other in their eyes, but the pack thinks otherwise. And so of course as all good and great books do, our Bryn goes out on an adventure to find her parents killer, the truth to her past, and most importantly her reason for being saved as a child. Once our epic story comes to an end after a battle against Wilson the rogue were. All seems well for now with Bryn, her new rescued pack of adolescent werewolves, and of course her soul mate Chase. But will it last?

Remember, if you are wanting to be a part of the book club, email emily@lemuriabooks.com. Members get 10% off of the monthly book and we are always looking for new members.

You know those childhood vacations, the ones where in hindsight, everything seems perfect and wonderful? The epitome of all good in the world?

For Alice, the main character in Kevin Henkes’ new book Junonia, those vacations with her family are the highlight of her year. Everything is exactly as she left it the year before and she cherishes the sameness. Henkes’ words and illustrations tell the beautiful story of Alice Rice and her broadening horizons. Alice always looks forward to her trip to the beach in Florida. The same people arrive each year and are almost like a family.

This year, however, many of the regulars can’t make it, and Alice feels like the vacation is ruined. When her “Aunt” Kate arrives with her new boyfriend and his six-year-old daughter, who is adjusting to a few changes herself, Alice realizes that maybe her problems are worth putting aside to help out someone else.

As I was reading Kevin’s Henkes’ new chapter book, I kept asking myself “What is it about the sea that makes so may things clear?” I recently went on vacation with my family to a beach in Florida and I found myself thinking about this book and my past childhood vacations. I also looked for the elusive junonia shell, the shell that Alice searches for the entire time she is at the beach and the book’s namesake; needless to say, I didn’t find one.

What I did find was the same thing Henkes captures in his book–the clarity felt when you stand in the surf and look out at the expansive horizon. He paints as much description with his words as with ;his illustrations. And with the publication of Junonia, a child can grow all the way from board books to chapter books with Kevin Henkes’ work and I have to say, that’s not a bad thing at all; Junonia is a beautiful, pitch-perfect story.

A few months ago, I found myself (thanks to Emily) in possession of an advanced reader copy of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente.  Little did I know that it was soon to be become one of my favorite children’s books—and there are a great many children’s books that are near and dear to my heart, so that’s saying something.  I adored it so much that the advanced reader was simply not enough, and as soon as I’d finished reading it, I promptly bought a hardcover copy for my shelf.

The girl who does all of the circumnavigating in this novel is September.  In the beginning of the novel, you find out that September has grown “very tired indeed of her parents’ house , where she washed the same pink-and-yellow teacups and matching gravy boats every day, slept on the same embroidered pillow, and played with the same small and amiable dog.” So what better time to be swept off on the back of a flying leopard with the Green Wind and into Fairyland where she can make friends with a wyvern (a winged reptilian creature with a dragon’s head, the hindquarters of a snake or lizard, two legs or none, and a barbed tail—yes, I had to look that up. I wasn’t aware of the folklore creature that is the wyvern) and a Marid (in Arabic folkore, a jinn associated with open waters–yes, I had to look that up, too) named Saturday.  Among the adventures that September has in Fairyland are an encounter with a wild herd of flying bicycles, a land in which autumn is everlasting and there are great feasts of many pumpkin flavored baked goods (where can I sign up for that?), and a few run-ins with an evil Marquess and the flying lions who do her bidding.

This book really reminded me of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland tales in its writing style and its characters.  I love Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, so I’m thrilled to find another author who brings Carroll-esque elements to children’s literature.  Valente’s book is certainly written in such a way that it qualifies in the realm of children’s classics, and I sincerely hope that it becomes one.

And here is a little treat for those of you who are intrigued.  Below I’ve posted a book trailer for The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making that I found on the delightful children’s literature blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

P.S. If you can’t see the video that I’ve embedded, you can also watch the book trailer here.  -Kaycie

Kate, Michael, and Emma P. have lived in an orphanage for as long as they can remember. They don’t even know what their last initial, P., stands for. These siblings stick together through every orphanage, and every failed adoption attempt. In fact, they work very hard not to get adopted. They believe that their parents are still out there and that people who have a mother and a father should not be adopted.

It’s been ten years since Kate, the oldest, remembers her mother telling her goodbye with the promise that they will be together again someday, and this faith gives all of the children hope. After ruining their chances to get adopted again, the P. children end up on an island that isn’t on any map, at a old house that resembles no orphanage they have inhabited, with a grouchy cook, a frightened groundskeeper, and quite possibly a wizard. Upon exploring the large, musty rooms of the old house, the children stumble across a book with a green cover. Michael is sure that it is an empty photo album, but when he slips a picture inside the books pages, all three kids are immediately transported somewhere else in time and space.

And thus begins The Emerald Atlas, the first book in The Books of the Beginning trilogy. First time author John Stephens has created an authentic and colorful world where, much like the history of the Lord of the Rings world, beings with magical powers have hidden themselves from the race of man as humankind became more powerful and thirsted for the power that magic could give an ordinary man.

Many of us at Lemuria have been devouring The Emerald Atlas, and I haven’t heard so much excitement about a fantasy series since the rise of Harry Potter. When I first heard of this book last fall, I fell in love with the siblings witty banter and the time travel aspects of the book (yes time travel!).

I got to meet John Stephens when Candlewick so graciously sent me to the Winter Institute in Washington D.C. in January. You could tell he was just blown over by all the praise and attention his book was getting.

He was so humble and really just a lover of children’s literature. All this to say that when Random House offered us a chance to host a signing with John, I was ecstatic, and I knew it would be a part of our budding Oz First Editions Club. I have no doubt that as this series grows in popularity, signed firsts of this book will be treasured by those of us here at Lemuria.

The Emerald Atlas is our Oz First Editions May pick, and John will be here signing on Thursday, April 21st at 4:30, the Thursday before Easter. I really hope you will come talk to John about his new book and become a part of something that will no doubt be great.

Matched by Ally Condie is just one of those books that you want to give to everyone you know. This dystopian novel has really struck a cord with me and with Maggie and even my 6th/7th book club. We can’t get enough! Part Hunger Games, part Fahrenheit 451, and completely amazing! It is set in a future world where everything from what you eat to who you marry and when you die is chosen for you. This story will resonate with young adults and adults alike.

All that aside, you can image my elation when I found out Ally would be coming to a school in the area. She will be visiting St. Andrew’s during the day and will be signing our stock here at the store. Although we do not have first editions, I am so excited to offer this book to our customers and to just get it out there to more people. This is one of those life changing kind of books. You can order a signed copy of Matched through our website or by getting on the signing list here at the store. I hope all you non-young adult readers will give this book a chance and snatch you up a signed copy.

A high school student named Elizabeth takes a job at the New York Circulating Materials Repository in hopes of making a little money and perhaps new friends. This is no ordinary library, it lends out objects rather than books. The basement of the Repository houses a very magical collection—the Grimm Collection.

Not long after Elizabeth begins working here she realizes that items from the Grimm’s Collection are disappearing. She quickly realizes that she and her new friends must find the thief before the authorities lay the blame on them. Come along for an intriguing and magical world of romance and adventure.

The Grim Legacy: Borrow the Magic . . . If You Dare!

by Polly Shulman (Putnam, 2010)

Ages 10-13

Ever since I became the “Oz lady” a year and a half ago, one of my goals has been to have Lemuria book clubs for kids. This time last year, I was all pumped up about a book club for 5th graders, wrote a blog about it and everything, and no one ever contacted me. I figured that it just wasn’t meant to be and had given up on it for the time being when a few parents came to me requesting that we host a book club. Of course I answered “Yes!” and began planning right away. I was still a little leery that my boy and girls book clubs wouldn’t stick, so we just met every month with 4 or 5 kids in each group. However, it’s now January and we are still meeting!

With the girls we have read our way through Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder,  The Pharaoh’s Secret by Marissa Moss, Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild,and Bird’s Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin. The boys have been busy reading too with books like Nine Pound Hammer by John Claude Bemis, Whales on Stilts by M. T. Anderson, and Alabama Moon by Watt Key.

Since our book clubs have weathered the initial storm, I would like to open these book clubs to any 5th or 6th grade boys or girls who are interested.

Our 5th/6th grade boys book club meets the second Friday of every month from 3:30-4:45. This month that means we will be meeting this Friday. We will be discussing The Jaguar Stones #1 Middleworld by J&P Voelkel. Jon and Pamela were here last year for the paperback release of this book and they were such a hoot. They will be back this March to sign the next book in The Jaguar Stones series, The End of the World Club.

Our 5th/6th grade girls book club meets the last Friday of every month from 3:00-4:15. This month, that means that we will be meeting Friday, January 28th. We will be discussing Up and Down the Scratchy Mountain by Laurel Snyder. Laurel was here this fall to sign her newest book (and Lemuria’s absolute favorite) Penny Dreadful. We began this book club with Laurel’s book Any Which Wall, and we are excited to be doing another of her adorable books.

And starting in February, we will host the first ever meeting of our 7th/8th grade girl’s book club. The first meeting of this book club will be Saturday, February 19th from 1:00-2:00. We will be discussing Matched by Ally Condie, the start of a dystopian trilogy that is one of my favorite books right now. This book has a great range of characters, references to poetry, and is perfect for Hunger Games fans. I am so excited that we will be starting this book club with this book!

And as an added bonus, you get a 10% discount on any book that you buy from us specifically for one of our book clubs. Each of these book clubs meets just right outside the front of Lemuria and is led by me. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at emily@lemuriabooks.com, call the store (601.366.7619) and talk to me, or just stop on by. I hope we will have some new members in the upcoming months. Keep reading and thanks to all of you who make this possible.