Coming Soon… #ala12

I have a friend who will not read any book that she has purchased, she is saving them for retirement. (Hi BW!) I am kind of the same way, but about galleys. I don’t know why. Maybe because there is no due date, I don’t know my reasons, but I always REALLY want to read them. So upon returning from ALA a few weeks ago I promised myself that I would read MOST of the galleys that I brought back with me. So far, I have been doing pretty well. Here are some of the highlights:

• Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers by Dav Pilkey (August 28, 2012)
• Drama by Raina Telgemeier (September 1, 2012)
• Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead (August 7, 2012)
• Bartholemew Biddle and the Very Big Wind by Gary Ross (November 13, 2012)
• Mr. Terupt Falls Again by Rob Buyea (October 9, 2012)
• Will Sparrow’s Road by Karen Cushman (November 6, 2012)
• The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Let the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente (October 2012)
• The Giant and How He Humbugged America by Jim Murphy (October 2012)

I shouldn’t admit this in public, but I am among friends here and I know you won’t tell anyone, but when I read the ninth epic Captain Underpants novel, it was my first. <GASP!> I know. I have no excuse. The verdict: I loved (most of) it. Why only most of it? Well, I was a little disturbed that George and Harold handled the bully by bullying him right  back. The scoop: George and Harold make it seem like the lead bully is making friendship bracelets, asking boys for kisses and wearing dresses – and well, as you can imagine, the rest of the bullies make a lot of “fun”. Besides the bullying the bully behavior, how will this make a boy who likes to make friendship bracelets, kiss boys or wear dresses feel? I imagine pretty bad. So there it is. Mostly the book was hilarious, but it bothered me too. The end.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier is fantastic. It is beautiful. It is perfectly wonderful. I also shouldn’t admit this, but since reading (and loving) Maus in college, I haven’t read many graphic novels. I usually find them too visual or too all-over-the-place or too something for my poor brain, but after reading Drama, I am in love with a new format. Telgemeier manages to convey the awkwardness of relationships and the realities of middle school, but not in a horrifying way. It is gentle and feels true.

Liar & Spy is a must read. As a homeschooling parent I loved Stead’s presentation of a homeschooling family. As a human I loved her presentation of relationships and fears. Brilliant.

I had the honor while at ALA (thanks Candlewick!) of meeting Gary Ross, author of Bartholemew Biddle and the Very Big Wind as well as *big time* movie director. He has so many  excellent stories and insights; positively fun to listen to. His first ever children’s book is written entirely in verse and is overflowing with adventure.

Jim Murphy has successfully written another page turning non-fiction book. I had never heard of the Cardiff Giant before and I have to admit, even though the subtitle gives it away, I completely believed (along with most of America) that the Cardiff Giant was a real and true ancient artifact. It was not.

I haven’t had time to tackle Mr. Terupt Falls Again, but I know that it will be the subject of many a conversation in our workroom. The first Mr. Terupt book knocked people off of their feet. It is next on my list, I had better get to it!