Audio Book: Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman

"Vince Luca, 17, has always been concerned, embarrassed, and fearful about his crime-family background, though he has sworn never to become involved or to let it keep him from upstanding behavior. During his senior year, all he wants is romance, friendship, and to get through school, just like any normal guy, but things don't go as planned. His new girlfriend turns out to be the daughter of the FBI agent who is bugging his house; his older brother has figured out how to use his New Media class Web-page project for a bookmaking scheme; and he decides to save two lowlifes who owe big bucks to his father from the pains of mob revenge." Review from School Lirary Journal
Reader Max Casella spits Korman's words out at a rapid fire pace, and the speed is perfect for this delightfully humorous story that spoofs organized crime. "Uncle Pampers" and "Uncle N0-nose" will have you laughing out loud. He successfully conveys Vince's determination, frustration and acceptance of the absurd as the high schooler tries explaining to his family that he is "not goin' inta da bizness." Vince desires may be pure and authentic, but sometimes life just gets in the way of our deepest desires.

Audio Book: Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne

Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new home out-side of a Nazi concentration camp, where his father will be incharge. At the camp a tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the people on the other side. People in stripped pajamas. While exploring his new environment, he meets a boy his own age, who lives on the other side of the fence and whose life and circumstances are very different to his own. Their meeting slowly turns into a friendship that has devastating consequences.
Reader, Michael Maloney, digs deep, calling on all of his training as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company to successfully convey the confusion, delight, and then outrage of our central character, nine-year old Bruno. He is particularly convicing, and heartbreaking, as he relates the terrible abuse and torment inflicted by the controlling soldier on the "people in the striped pajamas."

Audio Book: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When Clary Fray witnesses three tattoo-covered teenagers murder another teen, she is unable to prove the crime because the victim disappears right in front of her eyes, and no one else can see the killers. She learns that the teens are Shadowhunters (humans who hunt and kill demons), and Clary, a mundie (i.e., mundane human), should not be able to see them either. Shortly after this discovery, her mother, Jocelyn, an erstwhile Shadowhunter, is kidnapped. Jocelyn is the only person who knows the whereabouts of The Mortal Cup, a dangerous magical item that turns humans into Shadowhunters. Clary must find the cup and keep it from a renegade sector of Shadowhunters bent on eliminating all nonhumans, including benevolent werewolves and friendly vampires. Review from the School Library Journal
Narrator, Ari Graynor, does a good job keeping the story moving along, but fails to differentiate the voices of the various teens or successfully convey their emotions. In spite of these short comings, it is still easy to tell the characters apart and the story is steller making the emotions obvious.

Artichoke's Heart - a booktrailer

Boot Camp!

Todd Strasser has a way of just pulling you into his books and Boot Camp has grabbed my attetion! Can't put it down. Have you started reading it yet?

Anyone reading Artichoke's Heart?

Her Aunt Mary is driving me nuts! I can't believe her nerve and nag about "Artichoke's" weight. Can you believe it---she bought her a talking scale?

Audio Book: 3 Willows by Ann Brashares

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows [Audiobook]
Ann Brashares (Author) / Kimberly Farr (Reader)

Incoming freshmen at the same high school that the original sisterhood attended, Ama, Jo, and Polly are learning that falling out of friendship is an unfortunate part of growing up. They're spending the summer apart—uprooted—dealing with divorce, unmet expectations, and, of course, boys. Listeners will become involved with the girls as they grow their separate ways, ultimately realizing that the roots of their friendship have never really come undone. Review from School Library Journal

Kimbery Farr does a fantastic job giving each girl a unique voice and pulling the listener along.