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I understand. I bought a new car once because the radio in the one I had didn't work.

Wowie. I think you win.

Oh see, the funny thing is that I READ that article, and the whole Sarah Miller aspect of it didn't even make me blink twice, because I am totally unobservant. I wonder if people ever contact HER asking what she thinks about Helen Keller and braille and Disney World?

I'm not a super!fan of the series, but I liked Breaking Dawn. (And I was totally expecting to dislike it, so I was pleasantly surprised.) There were a lot of twists and turns, things I did NOT expect to happen, but for me that was a good thing. One of the characters has the Most Annoying Name in the History of Names, but other than that... I give it a thumbs up.

The book is incredible. My absolute favorite of the four by far. Unfortunately I cant say the same about the last 30 or so pages. I HATED the ending. Why is everyone so afraid of a little tragedy. the ending was such a cop out. It could have been such a masterpiece; the next Romeo and Juliet. Everything is resolved in a matter of sentences and all the climactic build up just dissolves. Very dissapointing ending in my opinion.

Hey Sarah,
My friend and I started a blog (http://summerofvampires.wordpress.com/) in response to all the vampiric action. I'm certainly a superfan of Vampire Books and I've liked Books 1,2, & 3.
As for Breaking Dawn, there are certainly sections where I find myself rolling my eyes. And considering I was at the midnight release party with a bunch of tweens/teens and haven't yet finished reading the book... well, that says something.

Hello Sarah and all you lovely readers of this blog . . . I'm looking for recommendations for books to purchase for my nieces between 8-12 years old. I usually get my books from the library, but when it comes to purchasing books I go blank on things I've liked in the past. My nieces do read well, but they are not *huge* readers and sometimes need encouragement. I'm the aunt who gives books for gifts! THANK YOU!
Kimberley

8-12 is a pretty wide range for reading levels --can you give us some narrower specifics?

Off the top of my head, CLEMENTINE, by Sara Pennypacker, is one of my favorites for 8- and 9-year olds.

I've read all four books, first as a librarian, then as a girl enjoying the story. I think the reason so many fans are up in arms is that it's no longer YA. The "kid appeal" is gone, replaced by marriage and motherhood. (Though, in my opinion, 6th graders should not have been reading the series in the first place.)

Even as a 21-year-old, Breaking Dawn broke up my enthusiasm for the series. There's a lot of moral elements to deal with in Meyer's saga:

How valuable is an eternal soul? Worth trading in for Edward Cullen?

Be open and accepting of what looks like evil, because once you get to know it, it's not so bad.

Etc.

Duh on me. My one niece is 8 going on 9 and the other just turned 12 and is in 6th grade.
And see, I forgot about CLEMENTINE! I loved those books! Thanks, Sarah! And of course, your book about Annie Sullivan is terrific, too. When I was 11-12 I read everything about Helen Keller and Annie I could get my hands on.

I have no desire to read it. I read the first three. That was more than enough.

Kimberly: The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks. It's a must-have for that age range, especially for mothers and daughters.

Kimberly: I hit "published your comment" too quickly! The Fairy Rebel would be for the younger munchkin, along with Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and, for classics, the Anne of Green Gables series. For the older girl, Sixth Grade Secrets by Louis Sachar, Shug by Jenny Han, and Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli.

Thank you so much for the recommendations, Little Willow! "The Fairy Rebel" sounds great. I can't believe I've never heard of it before.
Off to a bookstore to finish my purchases!
Thanks again,
K.

FAIRY REBEL was one of my favorites at that age, too.

I really disliked it to be honest. As my friends and I were discussing, it felt like major fan fiction. And there wasn't even a real plot until very close to the end. And THEN, as someone pointed out in an earlier comment, all the potential and build up it had just deflated and everyone went on their happy little ways. Blah...I think the second one was my favorite. She had to do something for herself for a change.