Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables

by L. M. Montgomery

(YP AD FIC MONTGOMERY)

I read somewhere that July marked the 100th anniversary of the original publication of Anne of Green Gables, so I decided to listen to this dramatization. What makes this audio a dramatization rather than an audiobook is that the script has been re-worked from the original text, so that instead of an oral reading the audio is like a verbal play with different actors and actresses playing each of the different characters.

While I was listening to this audio, I found myself laughing everywhere I drove. The actress who voiced Anne, portrayed her character as full of enthusiasm and dramatics while still sincere and conscientious. The supporting cast were equally talented, and I found that I enjoyed listening to the Canadian accents. The audio is short, only 2 hours and 30 minutes making this a sweet treat.

Dairy Queen: A Novel by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

This is actually a book about football...but don't let that scare you off. D.J. is utterly (ha! ha!) satisfied with her life- milking cows, baling hay and shoveling cow poo until hot guy Brian (from rival Holley High School) comes to help out on the farm per his football coach's orders. Brian points out to D.J. that she is just like a cow...always doing what everyone tells her to do. She decides he's right and does something about it ...meaning joining her high school football team and facing Brian on the field (who she has fallen for and kissed-BTW). Great story about family, friendships and being good to yourself. YP FIC MURDOCK or listen to it AD YP FIC MURDOCK

Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

Better than the second and third but still not as good as the first. Carmen finds and reclaims herself at a drama summer camp and Tibby flakes out on Brian but will he come back to her? Lena finally gets the whole Kostos thing resolved (which I thought was resolved in a previous book, but I guess not). B still struggles with her need for guy attention. Overall I recommend it. YP FIC BRASHARES or the audio book AD YP FIC BRASHARES

Jinx by Meg Cabot

Could also be titled Witches and...well...something that rhymes with witches. Jean (Jinx) moves from Iowa to New York City to live with her aunt. Upon arrival she learns that her once nice plain, but beautiful cousin has turned into a super-annoying mean goth girl preoccupied with witchcraft. Can Jinx save herself and her friends from suffering her cousin's wrath? Why did Jinx move to New York? Who (or what)exactly is Jinx anyway? Read (or listen AD YP CABOT) to find out. Great new novel from Meg Cabot of the Princess Diaries fame.

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

This story in written as a journal by Catherine, an interesting and entertaining character living during the Crusades. Catherine is kind of a sour-puss...but in a likable way. She does not want to be forced into marriage to nasty, sexist old guys but have adventures instead. This book shows you what life would be like living as a teenage girl in the 1290s...yuck! Moore library also has the audio version of this title and the narrator is awesome! Listen to it...AD YP FIC CUSHMAN

Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie by Holly Black

Fast moving story about a teen who gets angry at her mom and runs away. Living in the sewers of the New York subway with new freinds who shoot up a strange powder and associate with even stranger 'people.' This dark, gritty, gross, dirty and raw tale is well written and includes several objects found in other legdens and tales such as a sword and an apple. I love Holly Black (she's the one on the left). She also wrote The Spiderwick Chronicles that you may have read as a kid. YP FIC BLACK or AD YP FIC BLACK
Be sure to visit Holly Black's website to and click on the Resources tab to find out what her suggested reading is to you!

London Calling by Edward Bloor

Okay... story about a boy who inherits a WWII era radio from his grandmother and is taken back in time to the London Blitz by a ghost his own age named Jimmy. Not exactly a happy ending bit not a terrible ending either. Secrets are revealed and stuff gets resolved. End of story.