Dede writes:
I have just finished reading the new novel by Claire Cook SUMMER BLOWOUT (1401322417) and she is one funny lady. She lives in Scituate, and her novels are set in a fictional town on Boston’s South Shore. In SUMMER BLOWOUT, we meet a large extended family of hairstylists, headed by the colorful Lucky Shaunessey. He’s Irish-American but likes to think that he is really Italian ( more chic and creative), and lives as he imagines an Italian father would live, head of his small empire of salons, complete with the need to wear leather pants, the need to enjoy Grappa and the need to have the last and final word. The mix of ditzy stylists, feuding daughters, mixed-up siblings and real estate shenanigans is hilarious. Seems to me that Cook always has an eccentric father in her novels, and this is no exception. This is a breezy, fun book to read when the world is too much with you. ...More

Another novel for the lighthearted is Monica McInerney’s UPSIDE DOWN INSIDE OUT (0345506243) just out in paperback. As her readers know, the author is Australian and the settings in “oz”, (as the Australians call it) are suitably exotic. Her new tale of star-crossed lovers Eva Kennedy and Joseph Wheeler, who are not quite what they seem to be, is full of warm and funny moments and plenty of romantic tension as they meet in Australia on holiday and return to Dublin and London. The Irish Tatler called the book “the perfect holiday romp” and I agree....More

I am tempted by a long novel which has been getting lots of positive attention from the critics: THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE by David Wroblewski (0061374229). Janet Maslin the New York Times called it “the most enchanting debut novel of the summer...a great big mesmerizing read". Stephen King said:" I flat-out loved it." This novel will be with me at the beach. ...More

Another first-time author, defense attorney Raffi Yessayan, received praise from Robert Parker who called EIGHT IN THE BOX (0345502612) “A powerful story gracefully told by one who knows." The phase “eight in the box" refers to a jury by those in the know. This novel of suspense looks like a spine-chilling read. We hope to have Raffi Yessayan at Book Ends later this year to speak and sign copies of his book ...More

Gretchen writes:
Tasha Tudor, artist, writer and a completely original person, died June 18, 2008 at her home in Marlboro, Vermont. Perhaps best remembered for a charming tale about her Welsh Corgi dogs CORGIVILLE FAIR (her favorite) and her drawings for THE SECRET GARDEN (039732165), Ms. Tudor illustrated nearly one hundred books of which two were named Caldecott Honor Books. These were MOTHER GOOSE and 1 IS ONE (0689828438). She was also known for her immersion in life as lived in the 19th century- she raised farm animals, grew flax and made clothing from it, and (for awhile) lived with her four children without electricity or running water. When she traveled to Concord, Massachusetts in the 1970’s, she always wore a bonnet and long-skirted dresses. Ms.Tudor stood no sentimental nonsense about her books. I’m a commercial artist” she said, “and I’ve done my books because I needed to earn my living.” ...More

Gretchen writes:
Tasha Tudor, artist, writer and a completely original person, died June 18, 2008 at her home in Marlboro, Vermont. Perhaps best remembered for a charming tale about her Welsh Corgi dogs CORGIVILLE FAIR (her favorite) and her drawings for THE SECRET GARDEN (039732165), Ms. Tudor illustrated nearly one hundred books of which two were named Caldecott Honor Books. These were MOTHER GOOSE and 1 IS ONE (0689828438). She was also known for her immersion in life as lived in the 19th century- she raised farm animals, grew flax and made clothing from it, and (for awhile) lived with her four children without electricity or running water. When she traveled to Concord, Massachusetts in the 1970’s, she always wore a bonnet and long-skirted dresses. Ms.Tudor stood no sentimental nonsense about her books. I’m a commercial artist” she said, “and I’ve done my books because I needed to earn my living.”...More

Judy H. writes:
Dan Gutman has written another funny and entertaining book, NIGHTMARE AT THE BOOK FAIR (1416924388). The main character is Trip Dinkleman, a fifth grader at the local middle school who really hates to read. Trip is on his way to lacrosse try-outs when he is asked to help set up the school’s book fair in the library. While moving boxes of books, Trip is struck in the head by falling boxes. This starts Trip’s adventure. While unconscious, Trip finds himself in the middle of different plots of various kinds of books. He becomes a character in a sci-fi, a sports adventure, a murder mystery, a dictionary!!!!!, a historical fiction, a narrative poem, and more. Does Trip learn that books maybe aren’t so bad!!!??? This is a good summer read for an elementary reader. ...More

ALIVE AND WELL IN PRAGUE, NEW YORK (0061256706) by Daphne Grab is a realistic portrayal of teenage life in a small town. Grab writes sensitively about a teenager, Matisse Osgood, whose life has been turned upside down by her parents’ decision to leave New York City and move to a small community in upper state New York. Matisse has problems fitting in and making friends at her new school and has problems accepting her father’s deteriorating condition due to Parkinson’s disease. Grab expertly writes about many themes that are relevant to teenagers. ...More

Emily, age 13, reviewed THE MAGICIAN (0385733585), the second book of Michael Scott’s best-selling series, THE SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL. She writes, “This story is filled with all sorts of magic. It is the story of two teenaged twins, Sophie and Josh Newman, whose lives got turned around when they found themselves half-way around the world, in Paris. They needed to flee California because of the dangerous magician, Dr. Dee, who needs the twins’ power to return the ‘Dark Elders’ to the world. This story is filled with exciting and unexpected events. I would recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 10 and 16 who has an interest in magical fiction.” The first book in this series, THE ALCHEMYST (0385736002) has just come out in paperback. ...More

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Marilyn writes:
It’s hard work, being a kid. So Brian decides to retire. No more school, no more soccer practice, violin lessons, or babysitting his little sister. He moves to the Happy Sunset Retirement Community in Florida, and at first things are pretty cool. He goes fishing, swimming, sees movies, takes naps. But after awhile he decides that maybe his ‘job’ being a kid wasn’t so bad after all. Jon Agee’s THE RETIRED KID (1423103149) takes a seriously funny look at the challenges (and rewards) of being a kid. ...More