Interesting Reads

Check out the NEW books on the library tables, both fiction and non-fiction. Here are three for you to consider:

• The Seance by Iain Lawrence (author of The Convicts, Cannibals, and Castaways, among others) This novel takes place in the Roaring Twenties, an interesting era. Scooter King’s mother conducts seances and he is her trusted assistant working behind the scenes to ensure that his mother’s contact with the spirit world is successful. Considering all of the fraud behind those that conduct seances, Harry Houdini is in town to expose the phonies. Harry Houdini will also be performing his magical act of escaping the Burmese Torture Tank. However, before Scooter even has the opportunity to see the act, he discovers a dead body in the water tank. No one is persumed innocent, no one is entirely honest, and Scooter needs to act quickly or he may be the next dead body.
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (author of Coraline) - OK, this one is strange, but oh so good. The story starts with the murder of a family - mother, father, daughter. The murderer is looking for the toddler son, except the son has wandered off to the graveyard. The spirits in the graveyard agree to take care of the boy and name him “Nobody”, with ghostly parents, Mr. and Mrs. Owens, and a guardian who belongs to neither the living or spirit world. This book is filled with exciting adventure, dangerous situations, and even fantastically humorous moments.

NEWS! The Graveyard Book has been awarded the Newbery Medal.

• Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve - This is the story of Camelot told by Gwyna, who is rescued by Myrddin (usually known as Merlin the Magician). Myrddin uses Gwyna’s excellent swimming skills to have her present to Arthur the sword from the Lady in the Lake. Myrddin then spins his tales about Arthur’s greatness to all. Gwyna is transformed into a boy warrior, Myrddin’s servant, and she is present as she witnesses what really occured in the time of Arthur. Intrigue. Murder. Deceit.