So today I am featuring a local - sort of - Children's Book Festival - the Lititz Kid Lit Festival.
For people unfamiliar with PA, that's where Lititz is - in Lancaster County, Amish Country. While in Lititz, visit the Wilbur Chocolate factory and the Sturgis pretzel factory. The festival is sponsored by
Aaron's Books on Main Street in Lititz. Stop by and say thank you!
If you decide to attend the whole weekend, I'd like to suggest the
Forgotten Seasons B and B, about a mile out of town. It's so cozy and welcoming.
BTW, for actual book related websites - it is Tuesday, you know - check out
Nick Bruel's website(s) and
Daniel Kirk's website (for the picture book crowd) to say nothing of
Amy's,
A. S.'s and
Michael's websites (for middle grade and YA readers). They all offer something fun and cool.
By Mary Van Akin of Random House Children’s Books
Published: June 29, 2012
Two long-awaited conclusions to bestselling series!
By Lauren Kate
The long-awaited, astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series is here! To stop Lucifer from erasing the past Luce and Daniel must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this–live only to lose Luce again and again. Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen. For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her–and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters. In the fight for Luce, who will win?
Random House Children’s Books | 978-0-385-73918-4 | June 12, 2012 | $17.99 | Ages 12-17 | 464 pages
Check out Fallen Books on Facebook!
By Michael Scott
The sixth and final book in the New York Times bestselling Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series. This internationally known series introduces readers to legendary historical and mythological figures—weaving history, myth, folklore, and magic together seamlessly. The twins of prophecy have been split. Nicholas Flamel is near death. John Dee has the swords of power. And Danu Talis has yet to fall. The future of the human race lies in the balance–how will the legend end?
Delacortes Press | 978-0-385-73535-3 | May 22, 2012 | $18.99 | Ages 12 and up | 528 pages
Check out The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series on Facebook!
Read the book that everyone is buzzing about!
By R.J. Palacio
An emotional and beautiful novel about being the new kid. August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school–until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances? R.J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is ac
For a fun mystery centered in Manhattan, The Red Blazer Girls get my vote. The author, Michael D. Beil, tries to sound like a 12-year-old girl and succeeds fairly well, although having the girls be detectives, go to a private school AND play in a band seems to over do it. But I am not a 12-year-old girl, the demographic he writes for, so the average reader will probably lap this stuff up.
I like the mix of ethnic and economic backgrounds that the four original Blazers come from and in the latest addition to the series The Mistaken Masterpiece, Michael D. Beil throws in a very satisfying subplot about middle school enemies who might someday not hate each other anymore.
The mystery centers around a painting that needs a provenance. The girls investigate with the help of the older friends they made in their first mystery and find out that the painting is a forgery. Then there is another forgery, an odd artist who locks himself in his studio, a bigoted old woman, a mysterious wheelchair and a couple of movie stars, oh, and dogs. Yeah, there is something here for everyone and the whole package is enjoyable and light.
