Book Review: Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

The beautiful cover of this book made my DD pick this one up. The alluring title made me start reading it. Once I started I found I couldn't put it down.

It is the story of 17 year old Kelley Winston who is just starting out on her own in New York City.
She finds a job working at a theatre that is preparing to stage "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
Kelly finds herself in the role of Titania after a mishap with one
of the actresses. Shakespeare's play is the perfect backdrop to the Faerie magic that begins happening to Kelley.

Livingston uses Central Park as a portal to the Faerie World. She weaves an enchanting tale between the mortal world and the wonders of the"Otherworld". Sonny Flannery is the mysterious Gatekeeper, or Janus who guards us from all forms of dark magic. His character is very interesting and layered. The settings are realistic and beautifully painted. The fantasy makes this a fun read.


Recommended for grades 7-10

Cassaandra Clare Addict

This morning my 13 yr. old had her alarm clock set (even though it's spring break) to run out and buy "City of Glass" by Cassandra Clare. It is the third book in a series and apparently she's hooked. This is only the second time I've bought a full priced book, besides the entire Harry Potter Series. Boy am I cheap! I tried to get her to put it on hold at the library, but she claimed she couldn't wait the extra couple days.

Who am I to stand in the way of a book crush? I know she will always remember the day her favorite book came out and we went and bought it.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

ages : teen

When I saw this book won the 2009 Newbery Award, I knew I wanted to read it. I read some reviews saying boys would especially love it and I had to read it even more. The problem was I don't like dark , downer story lines. I'm determined to do things out of my usual comfort zone, so I dove in.

For about the first hundred pages I was horrified. A sick feeling came into the pit of my stomach and wouldn't go away. The bleakness of the situation in the first part of the book was too much for me. But I was determined to finish this one and I was rewarded greatly for my perseverance.

A beautiful story about a boy named "Nobody" emerged. It's very touching the way he thrived among the dead spirits of the graveyard. The things that made Nobody happy were the simplest of things; snowflakes, the sound of people breathing. But that's not to say Nobody wasn't bright. His guardian Silas made sure he had a proper home school education.His adventures among the spirits are full of history lessons and touched with humor. Nobody recalls each spirit's name the way it is on their gravestone- "Doctor Trefusis (1870-1936, May He Wake To Glory)." An original, fascinating story that makes you think about blooming where you are planted.