September 2010 Staff Book Reviews

Last Updated on Friday, 01 October 2010 13:07

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Whether you were ready or not, September has come upon us and so has a new set of book reviews. The Pioneer Library System staff would like to share some books that they have enjoyed. By coincidence, the theme for this month is mysteries and elephants as both are included more than once this month. So if either are of interest to you, check out these books (and the other books too):

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Staff Reviewer: Susan Gregory, Pioneer Development Office

This book is a lovely gem.  It’s the kind of story that sweeps you up in the first few pages on a wave of excitement and doesn’t let you down until the last page is read. It’s the completely original story of a traveling circus on its last legs during the Depression and the performers, freaks, clowns and worker bees who brought a few hours of make-believe magic to a different town every night, despite the squalor of their days.

At the height of the Great Depression, Jacob Jankowski suddenly found himself alone as a result of a horrible tragedy.  Unable to finish his exams in veterinary school at Cornell, without a home or a cent to his name, he jumped the first train that came by.  Without warning, Jacob found himself a stowaway on the Flying Squadron of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth and was allowed to remain only because of his sorely-needed veterinary skills.  Surrounded by salty characters, with a dwarf as his roommate, Jacob quickly came to love not only the tigers and lions entrusted to his care but to fall desperately in love with the very beautiful and very married Marlena.  He also fell in love with Rosie, the wise old elephant who not only endured the brutality of her trainer but became Jacob’s unlikely savior.

Published in 2006, the book is currently being made into a movie, starring Reese Witherspoon as Marlena and Robert Pattinson as Jacob, that will be released next year.  Do yourself a favor and read Water for Elephants this summer—it boasts one of the happiest endings ever written.  This train ride is worth it.

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Staff Reviewer: Mark Heisey, Noble Public Library

Kate DiCamillo has had a number of big books, most recently, The Tale of Despereaux; however, it is one of her lesser known works that really won me over.   After loving the first part of Despereaux only to have it run out of steam for us toward the end, my daughter and I decided to give DiCamillo another try. We like to read these books aloud together, alternating pages. If the book drags, or she is getting too sleepy, I’ll end up reading most of it aloud to her.  The Magician’s Elephant rarely fell to that plight.  She wanted to read as much as I did. The opening chapter had us hooked. The basic premise involves a young orphan, Peter, who lives with an old soldier.  A fortuneteller informs the boy that he has a sister and she is alive, although the soldier has told the boy that she is dead. When he asks her how to find her, a great little exchange takes place:

“’The elephant,’ said the fortuneteller.
‘What.’ Peter said.  He opened his eyes certain that he had misunderstood.
‘You must follow the elephant’ said the fortuneteller.  ‘She will lead you there.’”

At this point Peter believes she is having fun with him.  There are no elephants where he lives.  He feels rather dejected and wonders if it is the old soldier or the fortuneteller who is being dishonest with him. The story’s setting, a fictional town named Baltese, has a feel that might best be described as old world charm.  During the tale, Peter interacts with a number of colorful characters including a bumbling magician and a thoughtful policeman named Leo Matienne.  The book has a wonderful take on the impossible, or at least, the belief in the implausible.  To be completely cliché, this is one of those warm, milk and cookies children’s tale about following your heart that will enchant the young and, well, older alike.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Staff Reviewer: Mary Lea Wallace, Norman Public Library

This 2010 Newbery Award winner is an absorbing school story-turned mystery with a touch of the "Twilight Zone." Readers will enjoy Miranda, her hard-working single mom, and Miranda's changing cast of friends as she finds her place in sixth grade. The intriguing little notes that come to Miranda in unlikely ways, accurately predicting future events - including a friends possible death - relentlessly build tension through the short vivid chapters. The story's dramatic conclusion is a surprise that encourages re-reading for the clues that add to the story's beauty. When You reach Me proves the author's quote from Albert Einstein" "The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious."

One Magical Sunday (But Winning Isn’t Everything) by Phil Mickelson with Donald T. Phillips
Staff Reviewer: Christian Potts, Pioneer Public Information Office

By the time Phil Mickelson won his third title at golf’s Masters tournament this past spring, it was becoming old hat to see the left-hander as one of golf’s major champions. But for more than a decade, he was stuck with the title as “best golfer never to win a major” as he piled up second-place finishes and nerve-racking near-misses in golf’s biggest tournaments.

But in April 2004, Phil thrilled the golf world and even many outside of it with his dramatic win at the Masters for his first major title. He chronicles every shot, plus all the ups and downs of his childhood, parents, marriage, children and a grandfather who predicted his win in One Magical Sunday (But Winning Isn’t Everything).

The way it’s written, you literally can close your eyes and randomly open the book to any page and find a good story or quote from someone in Phil’s life. Even a non-golfer can appreciate the struggles of a family with a lot of the challenges many of us face.

Though published five years ago, it gives a great look into the life of one of today’s golf superstars finally breaking through. And it’s a great way to bide your time while you’re waiting for the rest of this year's big golf tournaments to get started.

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Mark Heisey, Noble Public Library

“Once upon a time—for that is how all stories should begin—there was a boy who lost his mother,” opens this intriguing book by John Connolly.  It is an interesting opening sentence especially due to how much it reveals about the book.  David, the protagonist of the book, is a pre-teen who is the “boy who lost his mother.”  He is a quiet kid who loves his mother and the stories they read together.  When he loses her and his family life is dramatically changed, it is to the stories that David looks for comfort.

Stories are at the heart of this book; more specifically, as the first four words indicate, fairy tales are at its center.  David, who is prone to seizures and exhibits obsessive-compulsive behavior, finds that he can hear books whispering to each other and speaking to him.  As the story progresses, he literally steps from his World War II home in the English county-side into a world of fairy tales.  However, these are not the brightly colored fairy tales you plaster cheerful pictures of on the walls of your baby’s nursery; these are the tales from the dark woods behind your grandmother’s house that you were afraid to enter.  As in most fairy tales, David has to undergo a journey and learn a few things about his self and his place in his now altered family picture.  David is confronted by real dangers and faces decisions that could mean life or death not only in the world he finds himself in, but also in the world he left behind.  This book should be considered a fairytale for adults.  It isn’t a perfect book, or even a great book, but if you delight in story itself and are looking for something a bit unexpected, then this book is a very good read.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth
Staff Reviewer: Diane Wallace, Moore Public Library.

A down on his luck Japanese artist is furious when his maid brings home a cat from the market instead of food for dinner. He believes the cat to be a little devil (as all cats are in his experience) until observing the cat and realizing how humble and devout the cat really is. When a priest comes and requests a painting of the death of Buddha for the temple the artist realizes that his luck has changed due to this special little pet. Legend says that originally the cat refused to pay homage to Buddha and for that was denied the Buddha’s blessing and was never accepted into heaven. The poor artist feels such affection for this cat that he knows to be nothing but the best example of devotion, decides to include the cat in the painting knowing that the priest will reject the entire work for this. When the painting is shunned and destined to burn a miracle happens and everything is set right.

This Newbery Medal winner from 1931 is still culturally accurate with references to food and style and with this attention to detail it gives the story great credibility. The mixture of poetry and fiction make for a quick and enjoyable read. The character development is so beautiful that the reader is able to feel their emotions. We feel joy at their fortune and feel hunger when they cannot eat. The text that I read also had pictures to help the story progress. Now, this is not considered a picture book, but this children’s fiction offers more than what is expected.  There are subtle messages in the story about how in the smallest and most unlikely places we are reminded of how we should live our lives to the fullest, small requests of dedicated friends give us pleasure to grant, and it is not our right to judge.

The cat that seems supportive and reverent towards all that her master paints expresses her opinions through her facial expressions but can only be supportive to a certain point without feeling unappreciated herself. The artist and his little cat are true to each other and find balance that brings them both happiness. This book is a great read aloud for children of all ages.