April Selection

[Beth, Moderator]

I seem to be developing a pattern of new book, old book (well, book from my youth, and I am now of an age where books taking place after I was born win the Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award).

So I'm remembering a favorite from my childhood, The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key, the guy who wrote Escape to Witch Mountain. Or we could read the Witch Mountain one, because my elementary kids like books with movies attached.

I've also had a suggestion for Star Wars books, but I think I need to press my informants for more exact titles.

Also The Saddest Little Robot.

Anyway, I'm leaning towards declaring the April book to be The Forgotten Door, but I'm open to enthusiastic alternatives or ideas.

[Cliff, Moderator]

I had never read any of Alexander Key when I was younger, so I wouldn't mind those selections. Although, speaking somewhat selfishly...I've already placed a hold on this book from my local library. But they really didn't have too many copies available, which made me wonder at the availability of this book.

[Beth, Moderator]

My local libraries (King County and Seattle) both have copies; King had both paper and ebook copies, so I think we are OK on that end. Of course, King County is the 2nd best library system in the country... (I'm not sure why New York City is supposed to be better!)

I think Forgotten Door is a better read-aloud, although Escape to Witch Mountain is more of a tie-in with the recentish movie, so if I was picking for my elementary school book club I'd do that.

[library_jim, Creator & Organizer]

I don't have it my school library, but that's no big deal. There are 50 or 60 copies floating around in the school district, though so I could always borrow it from a fellow school librarian. There are none in my county's public library system but it's on Kindle for under $6 so I'd say that counts as widely available enough. For my face to face book club we prefer to make sure it's at least widely available in a new paperback edition which this one isn't, but since it is available in more than one format (kindle and many libraries) and there's only the three of us regular commentors we can decide whatever we want.