The Tarot Cafe Volume 1 by Sang-Sun Park

It's not difficult to guess what happened to my clients in the past.

Four stories that begin with a Tarot card reading to try to solve a problem.

I am both amazed and disturbed at the images. All the characters look female and somehow that seems wrong. However, the artwork is wonderful! The stories are interesting and capture my attention but too short for my taste.

Park, S. (2005). The tarot cafe volume 1. London, UK: TokyoPop, Inc.
ISBN: 1595325557
184 pages

Midnighters #1: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfield

The halls of Bixby High School were always hideously bright on the first day of school.

Jessica Day moves to Bixby, Oklahoma and discovers she is one of a select group of people that have the ability to fight creatures that live in the midnight hour. The creatures are more determined than ever to harm Jessica and it with the help of her other class mates that she stay unharmed.

The author has created unique characters and abilities for the Midnighters. I loved the idea of a 25th hour when the world is still except for a few select people. The description of the rain when Jessica discovers this hour is lovely.

Westerfield, S. (2004). Midnighters #1: The secret hour. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
ISBN: 9780060519537
297 pages

Twilight: A Novel by Stephanie Meyer

I'd never given much thought to how I would die - though I'd had reason enough in the last few months - but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this.

Seventeen year old Bella moves to Washington and falls in love with her lab partner, Edward, a mysterious boy who turns out to be a vampire. Their courtship is interrupted when a "hunter" vampire goes after Bella and Edward and his family fight back.

I read numerous reviews prior which concluded the book was poorly written and dragged in places. With that in mind, I began reading the book. I would agree the writing is not as good as Chris Crutcher's novels. However, I found the story so compelling that I completely forgot about the writing, slow pacing, etc. I read it in one cold afternoon and closed the book wanting to read more. The author has captured that undefinable characteristic of a best seller.

Meyer, S. (2008). Twilight: A novel. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.
ISBN: 0316038377
498 pages

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Ten year old Winnie Foster runs away one morning and encounters a family who has drunk from a spring giving them everlasting life. Winnie goes with the family willingly and is enchanted by the son, Jesse, who proposes she drink from the spring when she turns sixteen so they can be together forever. Meanwhile, a man approaches the family about the spring and events occur that will change Winnie's plans.

I was surprised by the ending expecting a happily ever after one. It is a magical story and left me wanting to know more about the Tuck family.

Babbitt, N. (2002). Tuck everlasting. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
ISBN: 0374480134

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

Will Stanton finds out that he is special one of the Old Ones. His job is to find the six signs for the Old Ones and with those in place the Dark will be extinguished. In this quest, his family is endangered and Will must protect them while still unsure of how is powers work.

I was immediately drawn into this story and read it in one sitting. I was not surprised to see the copyright date in the early 70's. I found the style, theme and characters reminiscent of JRR Tolkien's. The good versus evil theme and a singular quest to save the world make great reading (in my opinion). The detail the author spent on describing the environment and nature helps set the stage.

Cooper, S. (1999). The dark is rising. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.
ISBN: 0689829833

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace and new friend Calvin are thrust into another world after encountering Mrs Whatsit on a stormy night. They travel through time and space to bring back Mr Murry who has been missing for a long time.

The story is adventurous and opens the mind. I didn't read this when I was younger and I found myself completely enthralled in the story. I look forward to reading the rest of their adventures.

L'Engle, M. (1976). A wrinkle in time. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Books.
ISBN: 0440998050

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Ten year old orphaned Harry Potter is forced to live with his aunt, uncle and horrible cousin. He is treated like a thorn in their side until his 10th birthday when a special message arrives by owl and his life will never be the same again.

I hadn't read this book until now. I loved it so much that I had to read the rest of the books. I am completely in awe of the author. As Harry ages, his language and situations he encounters become more complex just like any child. How did she do that so well? I understand why children and adults lined up for each new book.

Rowling, J.K. (1999). Harry potter and the sorcerer's stone. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 059035342X
Illustrated by Mary Grandpre

Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

Molly wakes up one morning and her parents have disappeared. Once the authorities have been alerted, she is placed in the care of an uncle she has never met. Remembering the Native American tale of the Skeleton Man her father told her, she becomes suspicious of her uncle. Molly soon realizes her suspicions are true and it is up to her to save herself and her parents. Story may be scary for young children.

A scary story!

Bruchac, J. (2003). Skeleton man. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
ISBN: 0064408884
Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport