Talk about the kidlit you're reading!

Kitty Pryde · Jun 14, 2010

I love Fables. LOVE! But I couldn't get into Sister's Grimm. I kept wanting the big sister to do anything, but she didn't.

For more crazy criminal fairy tales, definitely check out "Mermaid's Madness" and "The Stepsister Scheme" and "Red Hood's Revenge" by Jim C. Hines. They take place in fantasyland, but with a very modern worldview. Jasper Fforde also has some, his Nursery Crimes novels that are set in the real world.

Kitty Pryde · Jun 14, 2010

After people reccing it in this thread, and my library FINALLY ordering a copy, I am reading "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place". It's a lot of fun to read. I have a suspicion about the ending, but we'll see if i got it right! I love anything that's old timey and funny. The children are adorable and hilarious. I love their poetry! ROFL!

SheilaJG · Jun 16, 2010

I am such a dolt. I wanted to download something for my ipod (that's - ipOd, not ipAd), something to read while waiting for kids, etc. I downloaded Stephen King's The Stand. In fact, I unknowingly downloaded the Expanded Version, which clocks in at 1200 pages or so (as a book, on my ipod, I'm on page 17,223 and I haven't even made it to Part 3.)

So I learned a couple things - I don't mind reading on my ipod for short amounts of time (waiting times), but I do not like it for extended reading (at night, in bed). And, secondly, I don't think Mr. King needed to expand the book.

To recover, I rushed to the library and picked up Laura Amy Schlitz's latest - The Night Fairy, and read it in one sitting (not hard - it's 118 pages with some pictures). What a well crafted little book! She is an amazing writer. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

My son and I are now reading Cosmic by the hilarious Frank Cottrell Boyce and we are both really enjoying it.

Smish · Jun 19, 2010

I'm reading the first book in Rick Riordan's new series The Kane Chronicles, and I'm not loving it. I'm only 1/3 through the book, and I could walk away. I won't, because I always finish books, and I LOVED the Percy Jackson series, so I'm hoping it gets better.

The thing is, there are lots of exciting scenes and events, but the way the story is being told isn't working for me. The very first page alerts readers to the fact that Carter and Sadie (the main characters and narrators) are alive and well and together, and they're telling the readers everything that happened.

Well, for me, that's boring. There's no sense of urgency, really. Why should I be invested in the battle scenes when I already know all is (mostly) well in the end?

Also, Sadie's voice is far more interesting than Carter's, so alternating between the two is kind of annoying. That's not such a big deal, but it does make me wonder if having two narrators is really necessary.

Meh. Not impressed so far. I'll report back when I finish this novel, which I'm in no real hurry to do.

adktd2bks · Jun 19, 2010

Smish said:
I'm reading the first book in Rick Riordan's new series The Kane Chronicles, and I'm not loving it. I'm only 1/3 through the book, and I could walk away. I won't, because I always finish books, and I LOVED the Percy Jackson series, so I'm hoping it gets better.

The thing is, there are lots of exciting scenes and events, but the way the story is being told isn't working for me. The very first page alerts readers to the fact that Carter and Sadie (the main characters and narrators) are alive and well and together, and they're telling the readers everything that happened.

Well, for me, that's boring. There's no sense of urgency, really. Why should I be invested in the battle scenes when I already know all is (mostly) well in the end?

Also, Sadie's voice is far more interesting than Carter's, so alternating between the two is kind of annoying. That's not such a big deal, but it does make me wonder if having two narrators is really necessary.

Meh. Not impressed so far. I'll report back when I finish this novel, which I'm in no real hurry to do.

I'm reading it too. I'm about halfway through and I'm having the same impression as you. For me, I keep forgetting who's doing the narrating. They sound different at the beginning of each chapter, but they both have this sarcasm that kind of gets lost and you easily forget which of them is speaking until something particular to each character is said. The beginning moved painfully slow to me too.

It's kind of a disappointment after Percy Jackson, which I loved. Ah well. I'll finish it too in a day or so.

Smish · Jun 19, 2010

adktd2bks said:
I'm reading it too. I'm about halfway through and I'm having the same impression as you. For me, I keep forgetting who's doing the narrating. They sound different at the beginning of each chapter, but they both have this sarcasm that kind of gets lost and you easily forget which of them is speaking until something particular to each character is said. The beginning moved painfully slow to me too.

It's kind of a disappointment after Percy Jackson, which I loved. Ah well. I'll finish it too in a day or so.

It is a disappointment. I read the first four Percy Jackson books back-to-back in three days. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next one.

I was really looking forward to the release of the Kane Chronicles. Maybe my expectations were just too high.

EagerReader · Jun 19, 2010

I've just read THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, and loved the first half then for some reason skimmed the second half. Perhaps it's just a long book and I'm always short on time.

After reading some of these posts I also felt the need to revisit Ramona and...still love her.

My kids were reading SNAKEHEAD by Anthony Horowitz, so I commandeered it and am trying to keep an open mind.

I think I'm just a sucker for those old-timey type books.

Maybe because I'm so old-timey myself.

MsJudy · Jun 21, 2010

It being summer vacation and all, I'm alternating my reading between adult and MG. So after I finished OLIVE KITTERIDGE, which I enjoyed if you can "enjoy" anything so heartbreakingly bleak and honest...

I had to cleanse the palette with a little British fantasy.

First up: THE BEASTS OF CLAWSTONE CASTLE by Eva Ibbotson. It's only the second of her books that I've read, and I think she's going on my list of favorite authors. The perfect blend of humor, adventure and likable characters. When agents/editors talk about "the MG voice," I think they mean something like hers.

Now I'm reading Diana Wynne Jones' newest book, HOUSE OF MANY WAYS. It's the sequel to HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, which i enjoyed but not as much as the Miyazaki movie based on it. One thing I notice... DWJ's stories are becoming more charming and easy to read as she goes along. Some of her early books are a bit dense and full of mythology. Good, but a bit daunting to finish. But this one just zips along. wonderful pacing. I predict I'll be up late tonight...

timp67 · Jun 21, 2010

Just finished The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. Fun adventure, great rapport between the kids, but so violent. The Society truly suffers at the hands of the malevolent Mr. Curtain.

EagerReader · Jun 21, 2010

Bad guys just get badder, don't they? I always have a hard time reading about torturing children, even in novels. The worst I can manage in my writing is plain old death by sword and it never happens to the children.

SheilaJG · Jun 22, 2010

JudScotKev said:
First up: THE BEASTS OF CLAWSTONE CASTLE by Eva Ibbotson. It's only the second of her books that I've read, and I think she's going on my list of favorite authors. The perfect blend of humor, adventure and likable characters. When agents/editors talk about "the MG voice," I think they mean something like hers.

I love Eva Ibbotson. And it's so true, that blend of elements you mentioned. Take the opening of Island of the Aunts: "Kidnapping children is not a good idea. All the same, sometimes it has to be done."

Which other one have you read?

On a side note, I watched Ella Enchanted with my son last night and, wow, did the screenwriters even read the book, or just the back copy?

sissybaby · Jun 22, 2010

Is Clawstone Castle the one about the gargoyles? Or am I thinking of something else?

I have this horrible tendency to read really fast - but I don't skim - but then I end up reading eight or nine books a week, and then a few months later I've forgotten the finer details of the story.

of course, it also allows me to read the same books over and over and enjoy them each time.

On a side note - I just read my very first graphic novel. Just grabbed several new books at the library without reading the jacket flaps - I was in a bit of a hurry. Anyway, I read the first book and grabbed the second. When I opened it and saw what it was I thought, "Oh, man, I don't read these things." But it was all I had left other than The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Children's Books, so I decided to read it anyway.

Surprised to find it wasn't bad. Very light reading, obviously, but I could see where it would appeal to a kid who wasn't big into reading.

Now I have to go check out some more Eva Ibbotson stuff. You guys keep me busy.

MsJudy · Jun 22, 2010

Clawstone Castle is about the wild white cows. And ghosts.

I've also read Ibbotson's WHICH WITCH? Thought it was very charming and proof that your MC doesn't actually need to be a child, as long as all the adults in the story ACT like children!

Yeah, Ella Enchanted the Movie was...something pretty unrelated to the book. I never will understand why they do that. Don't they think people will notice???

Although I will say that I loved how Miyazaki changed HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. In that case, the changes were actually improvements and made it a richer, deeper story about bigger themes. But Miyazaki is no ordinary filmmaker.

I haven't read the second Benedict Society, and now I'm not sure I want to. I feel the same way about the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Did it really have to get so violent? It takes some of the joy out the story, in my opinion.

SheilaJG · Jun 22, 2010

Miyazaki is brilliant. I think the Pixar guys paid him homage by including one of his characters (from My Neighbor Tortoro?) in Toy Story 3. Not a big character, but noticeable in the background. I haven't read Howl's Moving Castle, but I loved the movie.

I thought the first Skulldugery Pleasant was really violent, especially the scene where he is tied to the chair and tortured. Not just violent, but psychologically scary.

MsJudy · Jun 23, 2010

SheilaJG said:
I thought the first Skulldugery Pleasant was really violent, especially the scene where he is tied to the chair and tortured. Not just violent, but psychologically scary.

The third book is much worse. (Spoiler alert) Important characters are killed, but what seems to cross the line for me is that our sweet young MC does some of the killing. I have a hard time with that.

My son loved it though. So it's not a problem at all for the target audience. Only for their parents.

Still, it's made me realize that I'll be staying on the other side of that line with my writing.

EagerReader · Jun 23, 2010

sissybaby said:
Now I have to go check out some more Eva Ibbotson stuff. You guys keep me busy.

Me too.

adktd2bks · Jun 25, 2010

Just finished The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, might write a review of it on my blog. It was ok - maybe a 4 on a scale of 5. I think that I'd probably read the next in the series just because of my darn curiosity, but it's not written as well as Percy Jackson was so I'm a little disappointed.

Smish · Jun 25, 2010

adktd2bks said:
Just finished The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, might write a review of it on my blog. It was ok - maybe a 4 on a scale of 5. I think that I'd probably read the next in the series just because of my darn curiosity, but it's not written as well as Percy Jackson was so I'm a little disappointed.

I'm still forcing myself to read it. I'm 3/4 through now. I normally read very quickly, but I just can't get into this book at all. I doubt I'll read any more in this series.

I can't wait for the new Olympians series to begin, though.

MsJudy · Jun 26, 2010

Interesting about Riordan's new series. I just wonder if he isn't rushing to get the books in print, and not taking the time to find something new and fresh. That's such a risk when authors settle into a series. How do you follow your own formula without getting stuck in the formula? How do you make sure you keep growing and getting better, when the people who should be helping you do that (agent/editor) need you to hurry up so they can get rich?

You guys are making me glad I didn't splurge on the full-price hardback. Neither of my boys is as excited about Egypt as they were about Greek mythology, so they aren't nagging me to buy it. Maybe when it comes out in paperback, or we'll get it from the library.

My younger son has been plowing along through Paolini's ELDEST for the past month... Talk about someone who needed a better editor...

Smish · Jun 26, 2010

JudScotKev said:
Interesting about Riordan's new series. I just wonder if he isn't rushing to get the books in print, and not taking the time to find something new and fresh. That's such a risk when authors settle into a series. How do you follow your own formula without getting stuck in the formula? How do you make sure you keep growing and getting better, when the people who should be helping you do that (agent/editor) need you to hurry up so they can get rich?

You guys are making me glad I didn't splurge on the full-price hardback. Neither of my boys is as excited about Egypt as they were about Greek mythology, so they aren't nagging me to buy it. Maybe when it comes out in paperback, or we'll get it from the library.

My younger son has been plowing along through Paolini's ELDEST for the past month... Talk about someone who needed a better editor...

I'll mail you mine when I'm finished with it. You can have it.

Kitty Pryde · Jun 28, 2010

I finally read "Kid Vs. Squid". It was moderately entertaining, though the MCs were not drawn in very much detail. My biggest disappointment was that the squid in question didn't show up until page 169, and she was dispatched without any trouble a scant 5 pages later. I call that false advertising! Also, she was not really a squid. Sigh. Quality squid literature is sooooo hard to find

vnNichols · Jun 28, 2010

SheilaJG said:
I haven't read Howl's Moving Castle, but I loved the movie.

The book is better. Sophie is far less passive. The movie is still ridiculously beautiful, though.

timp67 · Jun 28, 2010

Just ordered Clawstone Castle. And just finished Madame Pamplemouse's Incredible Edibles. Too slight for my tastes, really. The story was wafer thin. (Monty Python reference, naturally.)

vnNichols · Jun 28, 2010

Oh! And, I'm currently reading The Moorchild.

sissybaby · Jun 29, 2010

I'm just into Chapter 7 of the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, and I think it's one I'm going to have to buy. I don't do that too often any more because we have so many books and money is tight.

But I can't put it down. Kitty is right about the kids' poetry. And Agatha Swanburne's sayings sage advice slays me, too.

I keep getting a visual of Walk Like a Man.

Can't wait to finish this one. I interrupted an Eva Ibbotson to read it, but it isn't going to take long.

Talk about the kidlit you're reading!

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Reads more than she writes.

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Reads more than she writes.

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commaholic and adverb junkie

commaholic and adverb junkie

addicted to books

Reads more than she writes.

Reads more than she writes.

i luv you giant bear statue

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Guinea pig in the laboratory of God

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