Some catching up...

Its been a little while since I posted titles on here so now we will catch up on what I have been reading.


Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

This is the first "adult" book I have read in awhile. It was a collaboration between Mary and carol, a mother daughter set. I usually read most of MHC's titles. In this story some familiar characters are seen. They have have been invited to join the Santa Cruise, a free charity supporting cruise for those people who have worked in charitable work, or gave a large donation to a charity. The cruise line is a new one trying to get off the ground and has come up with this cruise in an attempt to build up publicity. However this is a mystery book, so of course there are a few shady characters on board, including two escaped convicts trying to get out of the country. The story is a short one but quickly solves this predictable mystery.


How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot

Stephanie Landry has a secret desire, she wants to be popular. After and incident with a red cherry big gulp in the third grade she has been a social outcast. However over the summer while in her neighbors attic she finds a book called "How to be popular". This seems to be the solution to her popularity problem. She follows the books clothing, etiquette and style. Come the first day of school Steph is transformed, much to the dismay of her current friends. Her plan seems to be working though as she eats at the popular table at lunch, attracts the attention of the star quarterback and going to the cool parties. Steph has become popular, but it takes a lot of work to try and stay there. Over the course of a week the book reveals Steph's journey into popularity and ultimately to the place she really belongs.


Eldest by Christopher Paolini

Eldest is the sequel to Paolini's Eragon. Although I prefer the first book to this one it does continue to tell a good story. Eragon heads to Ellesmera to continue is training with the elves. Meanwhile his cousin Roran is the target of the Ra'zac and ends up leading the townspeople away to safety. There are many characters and story lines occurring in this book, but it ends in a massive battle with all the characters uniting and some information is revealed about Eragon's family.





What Would Dewey Do? and Library Mascot Cage Match by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum

These two books continue the comic tales of the the library staff at the Mallville Public Library. They are very funny and reflect many actual library situations that most people would never believe actually happen...but they do.





Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

This book begins with a family who lives a normal life. One day on the news they hear about a meteor which is set to hit the moon. Everyone is excited about it and people gather outside to watch the impact. However something goes wrong, suddenly the moon is getting bigger. It turns out that the meteor has knocked the moon out of its orbit and put it much closer to earth. Soon there are massive tidal waves and the gravitational pull of the moon is affecting things on earth. Pennsylvania teenager Miranda is documenting everything in her journal, which is how we read the story. As her mother freaks out and has the family fill the family car with tons of groceries and supplies, Miranda thinks she is over reacting but is still a little scared. Over the next days reports of deaths are mounting and people are really starting to freak out, the price of oil rises since the oil platforms have been destroyed, the power begins to be off more than on, school is cancelled because they no longer have the food supplies or staff to keep it going. The story develops as things continue to get worse and the family must fight to try and survive winter that comes in August. Over the course of the story the mental and physical toll of the tragedy are played out in what I found was an inspirational story.


Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles

Ruby Lavender lives in the small town of Halleluia, Mississippi. Ruby and her Grandmother Miss Eula are very close but when Mrs Eula leaves for Hawaii to see her new granddaughter, Ruby is not happy. She spends her summer learning to raise baby chicks, make new friends and handle her own problems, including the lingering affects of last summers tragic car accident which killed Rubys Grandfather and Uncle. This is a sweet story about a young southern girl coming to terms with her life. Deborah Wiles once again creates what I consider just a good story.