The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

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Mark Twain Nominee

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

391 pages

So far, out of all of the award books I have read, this by far is my favorite! Giuseppe, Frederick, and Hannah, are three very determined kiddos, ready to get out of there present lives, and move on to better things. Hannah is a determined hotel maid, who has given up her childhood to help care for her sick father, her mother, and two little sisters. Giuseppe is a young busker, who plays violin for coins on the street, hoping to make enough to avoid the violent wrath of his padrone...he secretly hoards his few precious extra coins to buy passage back to his Italian homeland. Frederick is an orphan who is apprenticed out to a clockmaker...secretly in the basement of the clock shop he quietly builds his own clockwork man, an automaton that will award him journeyman in his field so that he may one day open his own shop.

I think what I loved about this book is that everyone makes huge mistakes constantly. They are constantly doing the wrong thing, and having to make things right. Nothing is smooth for these kids, but they keep trying. There stories weave themselves together, until finally they meet and work together to make all of their dreams a reality. Loved this book! Will definitely be recommending this to the library kids.



Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

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Gateway Nominee

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

355 pages

This was hard to get into for a bit. Amber talks a lot to herself, and is ALWAYS saying 'True? True.' and 'Word.' I found it grating on my nerves quite a bit. But then, surprisingly, I fell in love with Amber Appleton and her quirky sidekicks. Amber and her mother live in a school bus at night that her mother drives by day. Mom is always drinking heavily at night, 'fishing for men,' leaving Amber alone in a dark scary school bus to fend for herself in the night. But Amber has hope...that by helping others that Jesus will help her get into a good school on a scholarship, just like her hero, Donna. She visits the old folks home and creates the Korean Divas for Christ at the Korean Catholic Church. But when an unexpected death occurs, Amber's hope is seriously rocked. Can she burst back into life, or will she become like so many of the people she tries to help? My favorite quote from the book come from Friedrich Nietzshe: "We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh." Beautiful. Definitely a must read book.

Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

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Truman Award Nominee

Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

263 pages

Very impressed with this book. I was a huge Grisham fan before I became addicted to juvenile and teen reads. This did not let me down at all. Theo is a likeable character who seeminly handles everything in stride. But when he has too much on his plate, he has equally likeable characters to back him up.

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

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Truman Award Nominee

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

328 pages

Tenny is a bully. He is always getting in fights to prove a point, is an aggressive athlete. When Brontë, his twin sister, starts dating 'Bruiser' Tenny flips out. But as he is around Bruiser, and gets to know him better, he realizes that all of the rumors surrounding the school's bad boy are completely unfounded. But something is different when Bruiser, now known by his actual name, Brewster, is around. Pain doesn't hurt as bad...sadness lessens. When Brontë gets a cut on a car door, the wound disappears very quickly. When the lacrosse team plays, Tenny can go forever without feeling the strain and hurt from being slammed into. But only when Brew is there to watch the game. He can take away the pain of those he cares about...but at what cost to him?

I was astounded by Bruiser. Such an intense emotional read, told in four parts, Tenny, Brontë, Brew, and Brew's little brother, Cody. A fantasy novel that is subtle, not overdone. I thought i knew where this boo was heading, but was blindsided at the end. Loved it.



Half Upon a Time by James Riley

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Mark Twain Nominee

Half Upon a Time by James Riley

385 pages

Jack wants nothing much to do with the adventuring that ends with rescuing a princess and living happily ever after. But a princess literally falls from the sky and lands in his lap. Except she's not really a princess, her shirt just reads 'punk princess.' Except she really is a princess, she is the grandaughter of Snow White.  Whatever. I found this story chaotic and hectic and inconsistent. Hard to get through, and the end was very hard to swallow.

drawing for December participants

Congratulations, Sashary!  You won the stunning prize for December.  I will make sure it is in your cubbie.

Year In Review

I want to thank each and every team member!  You have made this competition a success merely by participating. 

I look forward to getting the final results from the statewide challenge soon. I think we have a good chance at being in the top 5!

Please let me know if you plan on participating again in 2012.  We could improve on our record.  Let's start reading!