Wonder Show

by Hannah Barnaby

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step inside Mosco’s Traveling Wonder Show, a menagerie of human curiosities and misfits guaranteed to astound and amaze! 

But perhaps the strangest act of Mosco’s display is Portia Remini, a normal among the freaks, on the run from McGreavy’s Home for Wayward Girls, where Mister watches and waits. He said he would always find Portia, that she could never leave. Free at last, Portia begins a new life on the bally, seeking answers about her father’s disappearance. 

Will she find him before Mister finds her? It’s a story for the ages, and like everyone who enters the Wonder Show, Portia will never be the same.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I'm not entirely sure what's drawn me to stories whose setting is a circus, wonder show, something with a big old tent and folks on the fringe. This story was exactly what I needed for the mood I was in. I loved Portia, she was such a strong character, I even liked her flaws because she really owned them. A good read, also, for anyone looking for character-driven historical fiction.

Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin #3)

by Robin LaFevers

Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

The third book is finally out! I haven't gotten my hands on a copy yet, but I'm excited to the extreme! The first two books are on the short list of books that changed my life. Grave Mercy (#1) introduces the readers to France in the 1480's to the convent of St. Mortain, with main characters Ismae, Sybella, and Annith. Each book in the trilogy (in that order) tells the story from their points of view. Dark Triumph (#2) which is Sybella's story is one of the most powerful stories I've ever read. She is so strong and so unapologetic about her strength. Truly a rare trait that not many female characters share. Completely and utterly worth the 1,398* page journey.
*(total over all three books).

In Honor of Banned Books Week

#3 Challenged Book of 2013

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie, Ellen Forney (Illustrator)

In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

If ever you, jaded humans, need a slap in the face of perspective, this book would be a good place to start. An absolutely beautiful tragic story. Full of love and loss and life and cold hard reality, this is an important book for teens and adults alike. Junior is such a great character and it was great to see his development and how he handled incredibly challenging situations.

This book’s most frequent challenge was because of “Drugs/alcohol/smoking”. Alexie wrote about drugs and drinking. And his book was challenged. Because nobody drinks excessively or does drugs, so teens don’t need to know about their devastating and deadly consequences, right? This isn’t Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, there is no glory bestowed on the consumption of illegal substances. Characters that the main character Junior loves are taken away from him because other characters made incredibly poor choices. Choices teens can learn about in order to avoid repeating themselves.

I Am the Messenger

by Markus Zusak (Goodreads Author)

protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That's when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?

This goes on the shortlist of books that not only will stay with me forever, but had a huge impact on my life. This story fell into my lap when I needed it the most, it should be required reading for humanity. The characters were completely genuine and well-developed. The story was an unbelievable balance of sweet and brutal, kind and ruthless. Zusak is an absolutely masterful storyteller. Read everything he's ever written. Your heart will be torn apart, but you'll thank him for it.

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes

by Kazu Kibuishi  (Editor)

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

Find out in these seven clever stories by eight incredible comics creators!

Under the Floorboards by Emily Carroll
A box, a doll...but it's no ordinary plaything!

Spring Cleaning by Dave Roman & Raina Telgemeier
There really is mystery in the back of a messy closet!

The Keeper's Treasure by Jason Caffoe
A treasure inside a labyrinth inside a temple which way to turn now?

The Butter Thief by Rad Sechrist
There's more than one way to trap a house spirit!

The Soldier's Daughter by Stuart Livingston
There are mysteries of life and death--and beyond.

Whatzit by Johane Matte
Oh no, not that box! Watch out, little alien!

The Escape Option by Kazu Kibuishi
A strange, meteoric box and an otherworldly choice.
(retrieved from goodreads.com)

Creative stories and beautiful illustrations. This is a great collection of tales for all ages.

A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #1)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth.

Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I read this book years ago, but I recently saw the first three of four out on the sidewalk for anyone to take. I quickly scooped them up and shoved them into by dear boyfriend's loving--paper-cut-free!--arms saying "just read 'em!" Few books emphasize so perfectly the power of words and the power we gain from using the right ones at the right times. A tale of magic, mystery, mistakes, development, and friendship, this is a great first story in a captivating series.

The Gates (Samuel Johnson vs. the Devil #1)

by John Connolly

Young Samuel Johnson and his dachshund, Boswell, are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Halloween which is how they come to witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Road. The Abernathys don't mean any harm by their flirtation with the underworld, but when they unknowingly call forth Satan himself, they create a gap in the universe. A gap in which a pair of enormous gates is visible. The gates to Hell. And there are some pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out...

Can one small boy defeat evil? Can he harness the power of science, faith, and love to save the world as we know it?
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I usually have no stomach for anything I even think might be scary, but this book--and it's pair--were incredible. There's a great balance of science and fantasy, funny and scary. Samuel is a wonderfully well-rounded character and the story is very well-developed too. It was also refreshing to see that while there is that child-adult divide that's often present in fantastical literature, there were also times when children and their parents worked together which is pretty rare to see in the genre.

Witch Week (Chrestomanci #3)

by Diana Wynne Jones

SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH.

When the note, written in ordinary blue ballpoint, appears between two of the homework books Mr Crossley is marking, he is very upset. For this is Larwood House, a school for witch-orphans, where witchcraft is utterly forbidden. And yet, suddenly magic is breaking out all over the place - like measles!

The last thing anybody needs is a visit from the Divisional Inquisitor. If only Chrestomanci could come and sort out all the trouble!
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I consumed this story because it was written by Dianna Wynne Jones, but I hadn't realized at the time that it was part of a series. It felt like a book that worked as a stand-alone too. The story was fun and quirky and wonderfully witty.

The Girl with All the Gifts

by M.R. Carey

NOT EVERY GIFT IS A BLESSING

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class.

When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite. But they don't laugh.

Melanie is a very special girl.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Normally anything that even hints of scary I don't give a chance, but this book hooked me from the first line and made me read all of it... just not before bed. Seriously.
It was one of the most thrilling reads of the summer. A wonderful exploration of humanity and what it means to be human. There are no easy answers. I loved this book.

Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen

Orphaned, penniless, Jacob Jankowski jumps a freight train in the dark, and in that instant, transforms his future.

By morning, he's landed a job with the Flying Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. By nightfall, he's in love.

In an America made colourless by prohibition and the Depression, the circus is a refuge of sequins and sensuality. But behind the glamour lies a darker world, where both animals and men are dispensable. Where falling in love is the most dangerous act of all...
(retrieved from goodreads.com)

I was hesitant to read this book because of all the commotion caused by the film, but I really enjoyed it. It was extremely intense, but a fascinating and beautifully told story. It was easy to flinch, laugh, and cry along with the characters. Read it, it was a very compelling book.

Leviathan (Leviathan #1)

by Scott Westerfeld, Keith Thompson (Illustrator)

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

The start of an exciting, thrilling adventure. I loved this whole series. The adventure was captivating and the illustrations were incredibly beautiful. The book touched on really important themes for youths: gender, equality, bravery, friendship, and many more. It's also a work of historical fiction, so anyone fascinated by the World War I era will enjoy this clever new spin on it.

The Shipping News

by Annie Proulx

When Quoyle's two-timing wife meets her just desserts, he retreats with his two daughters to his ancestral home on the starkly beautiful Newfoundland coast, where a rich cast of local characters and family members all play a part in Quoyle's struggle to reclaim his life. As Quoyle confronts his private demons -- and the unpredictable forces of nature and society -- he begins to see the possibility of love without pain or misery.A vigorous, darkly comic, and at times magical portrait of the contemporary North American family, "The Shipping News" shows why Annie Proulx is recognized as one of the most gifted and original writers in America today.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

What a brilliant work of fiction. The narration was exquisite and the story powerful and compelling. The characters were thoroughly believable. I just can't say enough good things about this book. Definitely goes into the category of "Just Read It."

The Book of Lost Things

by John Connolly

High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imagination and soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populated by heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things.

Taking readers on a vivid journey through the loss of innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Times bestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling tale that reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This was the first book by John Connolly that I randomly picked up. the second--and third--were his Samuel Johnson series. I will definitely include them soon, they were great... and a little more fresh in my memory.
I think I saw it at The Strand on one of their tempting rotating islands of books and judged the heck out of it by its cover. What a thoroughly novel novel. This is one of the few books I could see myself easily rereading.

Nation

by Terry Pratchett

Alone on a desert island — everything and everyone he knows and loves has been washed away in a storm — Mau is the last surviving member of his nation. He’s completely alone — or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird, and gives him a stick that can make fire.
Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She’s certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but it seems, for now, that all she has for company is the boy and the foul-mouthed ship’s parrot, until other survivors arrive to take refuge on the island. Together, Mau and Daphne discover some remarkable things (including how to milk a pig, and why spitting in beer is a good thing), and start to forge a new nation.

Encompassing themes of death and nationhood, Terry Pratchett’s new novel is, as can be expected, extremely funny, witty and wise. Mau’s ancestors have something to teach us all. Mau just wishes they would shut up about it and let him get on with saving everyone’s lives!
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I loved this book--obviously. I had so much fun reading it and finding the dramatized version of it on BBC Radio 4 Extra. Mau and Daphne are such great characters and it was great to see them grow and develop because of--and in spite of--quite dire circumstances. Seriously great book.

I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld #38)

by Terry Pratchett

It starts with whispers.
Then someone picks up a stone.
Finally, the fires begin.
When people turn on witches, the innocents suffer. . . .
Tiffany Aching has spent years studying with senior witches, and now she is on her own. As the witch of the Chalk, she performs the bits of witchcraft that aren't sparkly, aren't fun, don't involve any kind of wand, and that people seldom ever hear about: She does the unglamorous work of caring for the needy.

But someone or something is igniting fear, inculcating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Aided by her tiny blue allies, the Wee Free Men, Tiffany must find the source of this unrest and defeat the evil at its root before it takes her life. Because if Tiffany falls, the whole Chalk falls with her.

Chilling drama combines with laughout-loud humor and searing insight as beloved and bestselling author Terry Pratchett tells the high-stakes story of a young witch who stands in the gap between good and evil.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I was lucky enough to have this book with me when I was called for jury duty. Let me tell you, there is nothing better, when stuck in a room for 10 hours with a bunch of other disgruntled New Yorkers, than being kept company by Terry Pratchett. This book was funny, intense, extremely intelligent, and exactly what I needed. Tiffany is easily one of my favorite [fictional] people ever.

The Thief Lord

by Cornelia Funke

Welcome to the magical underworld of Venice, Italy. Here, hidden canals and crumbling rooftops shelter runaways and children with incredible secrets....

After escaping from their cruel aunt and uncle, orphans Prosper and Bo meet a mysterious boy who calls himself the "Thief Lord." Clever and charming, the Thief Lord leads a band of street children who enjoy making mischief. But the Thief Lord also has a dark secret. And suddenly Proper and Bo find themselves on a fantastical journey to a forgotten place. What they discover there will change the course of their destiny.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This was an excellent thriller and it was a delight to get sucked into. The story was compelling, the characters were easy to relate to, and the plot was both comfortably familiar but tense unexpected twists and turns. Adults and youth alike will enjoy this story.

The Good Fairies of New York

by Martin Millar, Neil Gaiman (Introduction)

Dinnie, an overweight enemy of humanity, was the worst violinist in New York, but was practicing gamely when two cute little fairies stumbled through his fourth-floor window and vomited on the carpet. . .

When a pair of fugitive Scottish thistle fairies end up transplanted to Manhattan by mistake, both the Big Apple and the Little People have a lot of adjusting to do. Heather and Morag just want to start the first radical fairy punk rock band, but first they’ll have make a match between two highly unlikely sweethearts, start a street brawl between rival gangs of Italian, Chinese, and African fairies, help the ghost of a dead rocker track down his lost guitar, reclaim a rare triple-bloomed Welsh poppy from a bag lady with delusions of grandeur, disrupt a local community performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and somehow manage to stay sober enough to save all of New York from an invasion of evil Cornish fairies.

If they can stop feuding with each other, that is.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I found this book on one of my stumblings through The Strand bookstore and snatched it up. I like a good fairy story--traditional or not--and this definitely falls into the not category. I had so much fun with this book and enjoyed it on so many levels.

Strange News from Another Star (20th Century Classics)

by Hermann Hesse

In 1919, the same year Demian was published, seven of these stories appeared as a book entitled Märchen (lit. Fairy Tales). This 1st edition in English has followed the arrangement Hesse made for the final collected edition of his works, where he added an 8th story, "Flute Dream".

The new note so clear in Demian was 1st sounded, Hesse believed, in some of these tales written during 1913-18, the period that brought him into conflict with supporters of the war, with his country & its government, with conventional intellectual life, with every form of orthodoxy both in the world & in himself. Unlike his earlier work, from Peter Carmenzind thru Knulp, the stories in Strange News from Another Star don't allow for an essentially realistic interpretaion. They are concerned with dream worlds, the subconscious, magical thinking & the numinous experience of the soul. Their subject is the distilling of wisdom. The stories are "Augustus", "The Poet", "Flute Dream", "Strange News from Another Star", "The Hard Passage", "A Dream Sequence", "Faldum" &--perhaps the masterpiece of the collection--"Iris".
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I've actually only just started this collection, but it kept me wonderful company on my morning commute and is making me immensely happy already. Demian is easily one of the most important books I've ever read, and these short stories are as masterfully told as any. Happy reading y'all.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories

by Salman Rushdie, Paul Birkbeck (Illustrator)

Immediately forget any preconceptions you may have about Salman Rushdie and the controversy that has swirled around his million-dollar head. You should instead know that he is one of the best contemporary writers of fables and parables, from any culture. Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a delightful tale about a storyteller who loses his skill and a struggle against mysterious forces attempting to block the seas of inspiration from which all stories are derived.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I can't get over how hilarious this book was. It was discretely extremely intelligent in a way that if you have a lot of random knowledge in your head, you will appreciate how cleverly funny it is. However, I'm sure there were loads of little tidbits I missed and still found it immensely enjoyable, so dive in!

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

by Fannie Flagg

It's first the story of two women in the 1980s, of gray-headed Mrs. Threadgoode telling her life story to Evelyn, who is in the sad slump of middle age. The tale she tells is also of two women -- of the irrepressibly daredevilish tomboy Idgie and her life partner Ruth, who back in the thirties ran a little place in Whistle Stop, Alabama, a Southern kind of Cafe Wobegon offering good barbecue and good coffee and all kinds of love and laughter, even an occasional murder.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I can't sing the praises of this book enough. It is heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time, which mirrors the dual nature of segregated life in the US. 

My absolutely favorite quotation, from Idgie of course: “Oh it don't make no kind of sense. Big ol' ox like Grady won't sit next to a colored child. But he eats eggs- shoot right outta chicken's ass!”