April's Book

The Neverending Story 
by Michael Ende

April 21st (3rd Thurs)
8pm at Kristin P.'s

Summary
This epic work of the imagination has captured the hearts of millions of readers worldwide since it was first published more than a decade ago.  Its special story within a story is an irresistible invitation for readers to become part of the book itself.  And now this modern classic and bibliophile's dream is available in hardcover again.  

The story begins with a lonely boy named Bastian and the strange book that draws him into the beautiful but doomed world of Fantastica.  Only a human can save this enchanted place--by giving its ruler, the Childlike Empress, a new name.  But the journey to her tower leads through lands of dragons, giants, monster, and magic--and once Bastian begins his quest, he may never return.  As he is drawn deeper into Fantastica, he must find the courage to face unspeakable foes and the mysteries of his own heart.

Readers, too, can travel to the wondrous, unforgettable world of Fantastica if they will just turn the page...

summary from goodreads.com

• Click here to visit the public library website
• Click here to find the book on Amazon
• Click here to find the book at Barnes and Noble
• Click here for interesting facts about the book and movie
• Click here to visit the author's website

May's Book

Michael Vey 
The Prisoner of Cell 25
by Richard Paul Evans

May 14th (2nd Thurs)
8pm at Judy P.'s 

Summary:

To everyone at Meridian High School, fourteen-year-old Michael Vey is nothing special, just the kid who has Tourette's syndrome. But in truth, Michael is extremely special--he has electric powers. Michael thinks he is unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor has the same mysterious powers. With the help of Michael's friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up with their abilities, and their investigation soon brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric teens--and through them, the world.

Summary from the libary website

Click here to visit the book website and see the book trailer 

Click here to visit the library website 

July's Book

The Phantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster

July 19th (3rd Thurs.)
8pm at Janei's home

Summary:
A Journey to the Lands Beyond...
For Milo, everything's a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he's got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it's exciting beyond his wildest dreams...

summary from www.goodreads.com

Click here or on the picture 

to go to the library website

 

October's Book

Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift

Oct. 19th (3rd Wed.)
8pm at Emily's

Pick any edition of the book to read, several are available at the public library.

Summary:
Shipwrecked castaway Lemuel Gulliver's encounters with the petty, diminutive Lilliputians, the crude giants of Brobdingnag, the abstracted scientists of Laputa, the philosophical Houyhnhnms, and the brutish Yahoos give him new, bitter insights into human behavior. Swift's fantastic and subversive book remains supremely relevant in our own age of distortion, hypocrisy, and irony.

summary from www.goodreads.com

Click on the picture to go to the library web site

September's Book

Rowan of Rin
by Emily Rodda

Sept. 1st (1st Wed)
8pm at April Dawn's

Summary:
Because only he can read the magical map, young, weak, and timid Rowan joins six other villagers to climb a mountain and try to restore their water supply, as fears of a dragon and other horrors threaten to drive them back.

Summary from www.library.pima.gov

Click on the picture to go to the library web site

July's Book

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

by Jessica Day George

July 8th

8pm at Shelly's

The library has several copies available, click on the book cover to go directly to the library's web site.

Summary:

"Blessed, or cursed, with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been an oddball. And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants. Only a grueling journey on the backs of the four winds will reveal the truth: the bear is really a prince who's been enchanted by a troll queen, and the Lass must come up with a way to free him before he's forced to marry a troll princess."--Information provided by publisher.

February's Book

The City of Ember

by Jeanne DuPrau

February 11th (Wednesday)

8pm at Judy's

The Library has several copies of the book but several on hold so reserve your copy early! It is also available on compact disc with fewer holds for listening in 7 hours. Click on the bolded words for a link to the library web site.

FYI: There are a few bookclub readers that have the book already, watch your email to see if someone will lend you their book when they are done.

Summary:

In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina finds part of an ancient message that she is sure holds a secret to save her underground city from ruin, but Lina and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever.

January's Book

Book of a Thousand Days
by Shannon Hale

January 14th (Wednesday)
8pm at Jenn's

The Library has several copies of the book. Click on the picture or the word library above to go directly to the library's web site.

Summary:
Fifteen-year-old Dashti, sworn to obey her sixteen-year-old mistress, the Lady Saren, shares Saren's years of punishment locked in a tower, then brings her safely to the lands of her true love, where both must hide who they are as they work as kitchen maids.

Review:
Drawing from a classic Grimm's fairy tale and Mongolian tradition, this is an engaging tale of a resourceful maid and her emotionally fragile mistress. Set in medieval times, Dashti comes to Titor's Garden, one of the Eight Realms, to find work. She becomes maid to Lady Saren just as Saren is confined to a tower for refusing to marry Lord Khasar. They are given food and other items to last for seven years, and then the tower is bricked up except for a hole for emptying waste. When the food begins to run out after three years, Dashti finds a way out of the tower, and the two begin a journey to the realm of Kahn Tegus. After arriving, the two go to work in the kitchen. Dashti, brave and intelligent, helps Saren and the khan, whose realm faces attack. In the end, she marries Khan Tegus. Written as a journal, the book has a historical feel with fantasy elements. Drawings among the entries help the reader visualize unfamiliar elements and give insight into the characters. The book is another solid work from this Newbury Honor Medal winner. Recommended. Betsy Ruffin, Librarian, Irving Elementary, Cleburne, Texas © 2008 Linworth Publishing, Inc

January's Book

Over Sea, Under Stone

The Dark is Rising

by Susan Cooper

January 8, 2008

8pm at Emily's

We actually will be reading a whole series for Jan (I know, wishful thinking, but even if you only start the first book, that's fine too). The series is "The Dark is Rising Sequence" by Susan Cooper. The first book is called "Over Sea, Under Stone" the second is called "The Dark is Rising." These books range in length from about 130 pages to about 275 and are really easy reads as they are youth/teen fiction. Well, there's an element of Arthurian fantasy to them too. The second one especially is fun to read around Christmas time.