The Tattooed Patato and Other Clues

Author: Ellen Raskin
Back-of-the-Book Description: Answering an advertisement for an artist's assistant involves seventeen-year-old Dickory Dock in several mysteries and their ultimate solutions.
My Description: Dickory is the name of the main character, and at first I didn't like it, but as the book went on, it grew on me. The story starts where you don't know anything about anyone, but as you read on, you learn more and more about the mysterious Garson, his tenants, and even our heroine herself.
The way The Tattooed Potato and other Clues is written, it somehow just keeps drawing you in. The writing is humorous, and the story is touching, a little sad, but it ends happily all the same.

At first I wasn't sure what to think of Garson... should I like him? Should I not? And I think I was supposed to feel that way. I think I was supposed to develop an opinion of him as Dickory does, and if that is the case, than Ms. Raskin did an excellent job. By the end of the book, my feelings for all the characters were very clear.
There are so many wonderful books out there that you read once, say "Boy, that was great!" and then go looking for another. This isn't one of those. This is a book you can read again, and again, and again, and still love it, even if you know all that happens.

And what is my final note on this book? It's sweet, and sad, and funny, and fun, and mysterious, and kept me guessing the whole way... In the end, it pulls everything together, and the whole story is amazing. I really, really loved this book, and I think it's one of my favorites. READ IT.
Recommendations: To anyone who likes mysteries, though The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues is much, much more than that.
Pages: 176
Writing Rating: 8 1/2
Story Rating: 8
Overall Rating: 8 1/2


Book #17 of '09, Book #67 of all

A Curse Dark As Gold

Author: Elizabeth C. Bunce

Back-of-the-Book Description: "If you'll allow me to demonstrate, I do think I could be of some help to you here."
I smiled tightly. "You'd have to be able to make gold appear from thin air to be much help to us now, I'm afraid."
"Gold, you say?" he said quietly. "Well, not out of the air, maybe, but--" He reached toward Rosie and drew a length of straw free from her hat. From out of a pocket in his jacket appeared an old-fashioned handheld drop spindle, the kind no one uses anymore, and he sent it spinning with a turn of his hand. Slowly, as we watched, he drew out the straw and spun it--spun it! (CONT.)
As if it were a roving of wool! Rosie and I stood there and watched him, moment by moment, as the spindle bobbed and twirled. Something pulled out from the brown straw and through his knobby fingers, and where it should have gone onto the spindle, the finest strands of gleaming gold threads appeared. Round and round the spindle went, and the gleaming of gold turned with it. I don't know how long we watched it, turning and turning, flashing gold with every revolution. I could not take my eyes away.

My Description: A Curse Dark As Gold is very, very well written. I felt the awe of the golden straw, I felt the excitement of running the Mill, I felt the horror at every setback, I felt the grief of Charlotte's (our heroine) lost father... It was amazing. The story was interesting too, and I cared for Charlotte from the start. It took a while before the whole 'Rumpelstiltskin' part came into play, and the bits when he came back were very far apart. A beginning and introduction was necessary (and it was interesting, don't get me wrong), but it could have been a little shorter.

As Randall (who represented the 'King' from Rumpelstiltskin) and Charlotte fall in love, it's sweet and romantic, but I would have liked a little more time. Also, the troubles in their relationship were very well done and written, but that whole part made me stop liking Charlotte as much as I used to, and the way she could save the mill if only she let Randall help her... Also, at the part when Jack Spinner ('Rumpelstiltskin') tells her it's her son or the mill, she should have not have had to think. She should have taken her son and ran (even though it actually turned out better when she didn't). It made me like her even less when she said 'Give me time to think'.

The climax was good--it ended happily and everything came together--but I was still a little confused. It would have been nice if there had been a scene when they'd gone over everything.

All in all, I liked the book when I liked Charlotte. There were some things here and there that annoyed me, or upset me, and it's a dark book. The beginning is interesting and the whole book is very well written. At the climax I couldn't put it down, but Charlotte's over aversion to superstition was believable for a person, but a person I wouldn't like that much after everything Charlotte has seen. In the end it was also a little confusing... I liked this book, and I didn't like it. I'm not sure what to think.

Pages: 400

Recommendations: To people who like retellings of fairytales or those who enjoy dark mysteries/fantasies. Mainly 13 and up.

Writing Rating: 8 1/2

Story Rating: 7 1/2

Overall Rating: ? (it's really hard to rate this since I both liked and didn't like it... it is a good book, just not perfect for me)

Book #16 of '09, Book #66 of all

Hogfather

Author: Terry Pratchett
Back-of-the-Book Description: (I edited this description a little because I felt like it--so be warned!) This year the Auditors, who want people to stop believing in things that aren't real, have hired an assassin to eliminate the Hogfather. (You know him: red robe, white beard, says, "Ho, ho, ho!") Their evil plot will destroy the Discworld unless someone covers for him. So someone does. Well, at least Death tries. He wears the costume and rides the sleigh drawn by four jolly pigs: Gouger, Tusker, Rooter, and Snouter. He even comes down chimneys. But as fans of other Pratchett stories about Death know, he takes things literally, and just posing for the Hogfather isn't quite enough... it'll take a bit of help from his clever granddaughter, Susan, and a few other characters to get everything together in time for a pleasant Hogswatch.
My Description: Hogfather is really, really funny. Hogfather also is really, really, really, really confusing, but I think it's supposed to be... it zips from one character to another without a second glance (because of which there's practically no timeline and that makes it super hard to find your spot once you've lost it), and things in the Unseen University and other spots in the book are just plain whacked. It would be nice if there had been a bit more clarity with the story... it could still be confusing and crazy, but if it had made just a little more sense I would have enjoyed the book more.
Some of the random people on the side they brought up were a little mean. I would have liked to like them, because I like liking characters, but I couldn't. Also, there's quite a bit of profanity in this story... the S-word for certain and quite a few others I can't remember. I just thought I'd let you know.
Mr. Teatime (pronounced teh-ah-tim-eh) is really scary. Sometimes I walk down the halls at night and have to look over my shoulder... He made a cool villain, if more than a little quirky; there just isn't anything quite like him. He's a little annoying in the movie, but in the book he's better. My favorite part of the book was when he and a guard he's going to kill have this short conversation; I don't want to give it away, but that one part was cut short in the movie, and in the book it's just hysterical to me.
My favorite character is Death... he's good and kind and has more funny moments than I can count. I loved Death.

Anyways, all in all, a quirky and near hysterical book. I really enjoyed it.
Pages:
Recommendations: There's a lot of death and fowl language, so definitely for older readers. I suppose there are a few families that might be able to read it together, but be warned.
Book Or Movie?: It's kind of hard to choose since the movie is just like the book--I mean word for word. Teatime was a little annoying in the movie, but that weird way he way at one place and then you look away and then he's at another was cool and made up for that. I liked the character of Bilious (the oh god of hangovers) a little better in the book, but he was fine in the movie. All in all, I can't decide. They're both great.
Writing Rating: 8 1/2
Story Rating: 7 1/2
Overall Rating: 8

Book #15 of '09, Book #65 of all

Ranger's Apprentice: The Battle For Skandia

Author: John Flanagan
Back-of-the-Book Description: Still far from their homeland after escaping slavery in the icebound land of Skandia, Will and Evanlyn's plans to return to Araluen are spoiled when Evanlyn is taken captive by a Temujai warrior. Though still weakened by the warmweed's toxic effects, Will employs his Ranger training to locate his friend, but an enemy scouting party has him fatally outnumbered. Will is certain death is close at hand, until Halt and Horace make a daring, last-minute rescue. The reunion is cut short, however, when Halt makes a horrifying discovery: Skandia's borders have been breached by the entire Temujai army. And Araluen is next in their sights. If two kingdoms are to be saved, an unlikely union must be made. Will it hold long enough to vanquish a ruthless new enemy? Or will past tensions spell doom for all?
My Description: Honestly, I still don't know why that one Temujai guy kidnapped Evanlyn. I spent a good part of the book thinking about that before I finally was able to brush it off. Also, I didn't like the tension that ensued between Evanlyn and Will... I liked their relationship, and when the problems came between them--which I didn't even understand--I was looking forwards to a resolution of sorts... but no, they still are--...I don't know what they are, but the book just ends without them making up or anything, and I looked up the next book, and it doesn't look like Evanlyn is going to be in it much if at all... As a matter of fact, it looks like in the next book Mr. Flanagan is going to have more with Alyss. I wish if he was going to do that he would have built Alyss' s character more and Evanlyn less, because I hardly know Alyss and to lose Evanlyn will be hard for me. Maybe I'm wrong and she is in it... I hope I am.
I had a hard time believing an entire year had gone by since Halt had been banished (okay, shy of two weeks, but about a year). I just couldn't, and it made me feel a little sad to think so. I mean an entire year of that horribleness for Will and Evanlyn... an entire year of banishment from the Ranger Corps for Halt...
It was nice to see Will and Halt together again. I've been waiting for them to reunite and it was nice when that happened fairly early in the book.
Erik is a cool and interesting character, and I loved how things worked out for him.
This book has a lot more action than the last... a huge battle, arrows everywhere... It was all well-written and exciting--I had such a ride!

All in all, humorous, adventurous, funny and fun, but the ending wasn't for me.
Pages: 272
Recommendations: To those who have enjoyed the Ranger's Apprentice books (including The Ruins of Gorlan, The Burning Bridge, and The Icebound Land), more for boys than girls, though both genders can enjoy.
Writing Rating: 8
Story Rating: 8
Overall Rating: 8


Book #14 of '09, Book #64 of all

Ranger's Apprentice: The Icebound Land

Author: John Flanagan

Back-of-the-Book Description: Kidnapped and taken to a frozen land after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue his young apprentice, and he will do anything to keep his promise— even defy his King. Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is joined by Will’s friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia.

My Description: Another wonderful Ranger's Apprentice book (the others being The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge)! The characters still have their silly moments together, and I really enjoyed it.

We got a good amount of Will (our hero), I suppose, but near the end something comes up that basically writes him out for that last quarter of the book until the very, very end. It was a little sad, since Will is such a wonderfully vibrant character.

The whole Halt bit at the beginning felt odd for me, but once I figured out what the Ranger was trying to do I got it; so DON'T WORRY when you reach that point--Halt is still Halt and will be returning to normal shortly.

Speaking of Halt, I had been looking forwards to seeing the Ranger and his Apprentice together, but the two never cross in this book and I was a little disappointed.

I have to keep reminding myself that Will is sixteen, going on seventeen... or Evanlyn, for that matter--whose character I am thoroughly am enjoying, by the way. I just keep thinking of them as 13 or 14... I know I'm off, and they don't seem immature or anything, but somehow I just think of them as my age.

You might like to note that Halt and Horace travel through a Kingdom on their way to rescue Will and Evanlyn where times are very, very ruff, and things that are said and done there can get a little uncomfortable... thankfully, most of that passes quickly.

Anyways, it's a great book.. Fun, funny, adventurous... I loved it!

Pages: 288

Recommendations: More to boys than girls, but good for both genders. Probably mostly a series for preteens and early teens.

Writing Rating: 8

Story Rating: 8

Overall Rating: 8

Book #13 of '09, Book #63 of all

Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger

Author: Louis Sachar
Back-of-the-Book Description: Revolving around the substitute teachers that the students of this zany school must endure, the 30 stories here will delight devotees of the Wayside School; according to PW, Sachar's supply of plot twists and plays on words are "inexhaustible."
My Description: Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger was just as silly as the others in this series, (Sideways Stories From Wayside School and Wayside School is Falling Down) and Mr. Sachar's writing was as wonderful as ever. My favorite of the stories in the book was the last one, with the teacher who had an ear on top of her head and could read minds.
This collection of short stories is not the best of books for older readers, but oh my it is fantabulous for little ones, and anyone can enjoy it, if not as fully as peoples like my baby brothers. I really loved these cute little stories both when I was little and now that I'm not quite so... Someday, I'm not sure when, but someday I'll read these again... and AGAIN...
Pages:. 160
Recommendations: Mostly to younger children or a family reading together, but anyone could enjoy this series.
Writing Rating: 9
Story Rating: Again, it's hard to rate the story of this book since there are so many different ones.
Overall: 8

Book #12 of '09, Book #62 of all

The Burning Bridge

Author: John Flanagan
Back-of-the-Book Description: Apprentice ranger Will and his friend Horace, a Battleschool apprentice, plunge into a desperate situation... While traveling on the frontier as their kingdom prepares for war, they discover a nearly completed bridge that will make possible a devastating sneak attack by the enemy. With the help of a young woman in disguise, they attempt to thwart the enemy's plans.
My Description: In the last book of Ranger's Apprentice--The Ruins of Gorlan--I loved how the characters joked with each other and made silly comments that added comedy to the book. But in the beginning of The Burning Bridge those silly moments ran a little too thick. Near the middle, however, the jokes became more dispersed and therefore more enjoyable.
In the last book Alyss and Will get together, and I was looking forwards to learning more about Alyss--as I hardly know her character--and finding out more about her and Will's relationship. Yes, we do have a bit of Alyss, (along with another wonderful display of the justice that makes me love this series and giggle with glee) but mostly her character is off in the side and we never see the two together. I was a little disappointed about that.
My wish for more Alyss wasn't granted, but at least I got more Horace. The former ward bully has grown a lot and his character is interesting and fun to have along in the story. I'm glad Mr. Flanagan brought him into a large roll in this book.
Most of the story Will and Halt are separate, and I was a little sad for that. I kept hoping the two would get together again and I'd have some good times with apprentice and mentor.... but it wasn't too be.

Anyways, I really enjoyed The Burning Bridge... Good humor, fun characters, suspense... Definitely a well written ending(with a great big cliff hanger so don't read it until you have the third book on hand!)!
Pages: 288
Recommendations: Probably to preteens and early teens, more on the boy side, but girls can enjoy also... of course, anyone who loved the first will love this.
Writing Rating: 8
Story Rating: 8
Overall Rating: 8

Book #11 of '09, Book #61 of all