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February 12
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Sharon
gave
 
to:
Way Down Deep (Hardcover)
by Ruth White
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Sharon said:
"This was probably my least favorite of the books I read for our mock Newbery discussion at the Chicago Public Library. The story of the town of Way Deep, whose citizens can't even spurn a bank robber, is sweet to the point of eating sugar, even if it...more
This was probably my least favorite of the books I read for our mock Newbery discussion at the Chicago Public Library. The story of the town of Way Deep, whose citizens can't even spurn a bank robber, is sweet to the point of eating sugar, even if it is a tall tale. I liked some of the quirky citizens, but not enough to truly care for them, and the mystical elements White introduces toward the end seem a little half-baked. ...less
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February 09
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Sharon
gave
to:
The Wednesday Wars (Hardcover)
by Gary D. Schmidt
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my rating:
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Sharon said:
"This was my favorite of the mock Newbery titles we discussed for the Chicago Public Library. Holling Hoodhood is doomed to stay after school with just his teacher, Mrs. Baker--whom he is convinced hates him. However, Mrs. Baker assigning the lone stu...more
This was my favorite of the mock Newbery titles we discussed for the Chicago Public Library. Holling Hoodhood is doomed to stay after school with just his teacher, Mrs. Baker--whom he is convinced hates him. However, Mrs. Baker assigning the lone student Shakespeare evolves--from Holling acting out stabbing and swearing scenes, to acting in a play, to thoughtfully noticing how some of the plays mirror his life. Ultimately, this was a funny, intelligent, and thought-provoking story. ...less
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Sharon
gave
to:
Rebel Angels (Readers Circle)
by Libba Bray
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Sharon said:
"It may just be my frame of mind, but I thought this sequel was twice as good as the first book. I think it has something to do with the fact that there are a lot of twists and turns I was surprised by, and also something to do with the fact that it s...more
It may just be my frame of mind, but I thought this sequel was twice as good as the first book. I think it has something to do with the fact that there are a lot of twists and turns I was surprised by, and also something to do with the fact that it seems more magical as it takes place around Christmas. The characters are explored a little more deeply as Ann gets a glimpse of the good life through staying with Felicity, Felicity reveals a dark secret, and Gemma learns more about the history of the Order. The realms reveal interesting new surprises, like the water nymphs and the gorgon, and new tests are overcome. It's all still compulsively readable, too....less
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Sharon
gave
to:
A Great and Terrible Beauty (Hardcover)
by Libba Bray
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my rating:
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Sharon said:
"It is so easy to write a fantasy like this---bout a teen who escapes into a magical world instead of facing a life full of repression and disappointment. It is to Libba Bray's great credit that she doesnt make this fantasy world easy; it is full of m...more
It is so easy to write a fantasy like this---bout a teen who escapes into a magical world instead of facing a life full of repression and disappointment. It is to Libba Bray's great credit that she doesnt make this fantasy world easy; it is full of monsters and dark secrets, and intersects with reality in terrifying ways.
This is a top-notch fantasy about four girls who found they could escape their repressive Victorian era and culture, and become what they wanted to without restraint. However, it is also perfectly balanced---it clearly shows what happens when power creates more hunger and instability. And it's really entertaining....less
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Sharon
gave
to:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Hardcover)
by Brian Selznick
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Sharon said:
"What is there not to love about this book? It's a beautiful silent movie about a young orphan who keeps the clocks running in a train station in Paris, who attempts to restore an automaton to life in the hope of receiving a secret message from his fa...more
What is there not to love about this book? It's a beautiful silent movie about a young orphan who keeps the clocks running in a train station in Paris, who attempts to restore an automaton to life in the hope of receiving a secret message from his father, and who instead ends up cavorting around with a young girl who is the estranged relative of Georges Melies. And the best part is, it's all just as awesome as it sounds....less
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Sharon
gave
to:
Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)
by Stephenie Meyer
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Sharon said:
"I think this series gets progressively better as it goes along, and this one was my favorite yet because Bella finally admitted to herself that she was in love with Jacob. It also brought the tension between Edward and Jacob to a head in a really int...more
I think this series gets progressively better as it goes along, and this one was my favorite yet because Bella finally admitted to herself that she was in love with Jacob. It also brought the tension between Edward and Jacob to a head in a really interesting way....less
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Sharon
gave
to:
New Moon (Book 2)
by Stephenie Meyer
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Sharon said:
"I liked this book better than "Twilight" because it introduces the relationship between Bella and Jacob, my favorite relationship in the series. Bella doesn't obsess over Jacob, even though he's sweet, fun, and a werewolf. Werewolves get no
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Sharon
gave
to:
Twilight (Book 1)
by Stephenie Meyer
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Sharon said:
"I guess I liked it, or at least formed an addiction to it, because I blew through the trilogy over the course of a week or two. Still, I felt unprepared for just how much silly melodrama there is in these books. There's the classic horror-romance dil...more
I guess I liked it, or at least formed an addiction to it, because I blew through the trilogy over the course of a week or two. Still, I felt unprepared for just how much silly melodrama there is in these books. There's the classic horror-romance dilemma of "I love you so much, Bella, so much that I should leave you, because I'm a monster and will hurt you someday" with Bella's response, "No you're not a monster, I love you, make me a monster too." There's only so many times you can hear about how amber a person's eyes are, or how muscular and perfect they are, before you start getting sick of it. I found a complete lack of chemistry between Edward and Bella; being cold and mysterious isn't necessarily interesting, and neithe ris being clumsy to the point of death. Yet, there's still something relentlessly alluring and charming about this novel. I think it's the whole obvious fantasy and escapism of it. ...less
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Sharon
gave
to:
I Am the Messenger (Paperback)
by Markus Zusak
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Sharon said:
"Zusak's terse, poetic style really works for this story of an ordinary cabdriver who suddenly becomes a hero when he begins receiving cryptic messages on playing cards in the mail. I sympathized with Ed Kennedy for his feelings of perfect morality, a...more
Zusak's terse, poetic style really works for this story of an ordinary cabdriver who suddenly becomes a hero when he begins receiving cryptic messages on playing cards in the mail. I sympathized with Ed Kennedy for his feelings of perfect morality, and I found each mission he completed---from giving Christmas lights to a family unable to afford them to giving a runner confidence to saving an abused wife---more magical than the last. Maybe a little sappy at times, but still a really entertaining read....less
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