Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

Historical Fiction - 3.5 stars

We picked this book up while in Cherokee, NC this summer, and because it was from the author of Cold Mountain, I was excited to read this tale of southerners, mountain folk, and Cherokees before, during, and after the removal to the West. I was not disappointed with the descriptions of life in North Carolina in the early 1800s, and I thoroughly enjoyed Frazier's delving into the politics involved from Jackson's reign and beyond (what can I say, I'm a nerd!). I would have given the book 4 stars had it not been for Frazier opining about the ways of men and women, and the philosophies of life that he offers so freely. He shows his age and generation in these opinions, and I am not sure they reflect the time period accurately. What is accurate to the time period is the completely male-centric point of view of the book. In all, I enjoyed the history, and it is definitely worth the read if you have any interest in the time period or in the Cherokee story.   

Doing Time Online by Jan Siebold

Youth Fiction - 3.5 stars

Megan's visit to the media center on Wednesday produced a book that I wouldn't have expected. She read it in 2 nights and said that I should really read it, so we kept it for the weekend. I am so glad she talked me into reading it. Definitely for the 4th-5th grade crowd, Doing Time Online is the story of Mitch, a good kid who has made the bad choice of hanging out with the wrong person. As a result, he gets caught up in some questionable behavior, and his dad signs him up for a program at the police department in which juveniles communicate online with nursing home residents. This book takes a strong moral stance, and its main point, facing your problems and then moving on, is exemplified throughout. Megan thoroughly enjoyed the book, mainly because of its humor, but also because the main character shows two very important characteristics, kindness and mercy. It sparked some interesting dinner-table discussions that day. Megan and I highly recommend it.

Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Youth Fiction - 4 stars
Megan and I read this for our book club, and we both really enjoyed it. It is the story of the Baudelaire children and all of the bad things that happen to them in this first book of the Series. The thing I am most impressed about is the author's use of vocabulary, and incorporating meaning of the words in the context of the story. Brilliant, and very helpful for younger readers. Megan wants to read all of them, but unfortunately we only have the first one (came in a set with the movie). I think I hear the library calling...

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Fiction - 3 stars
#8 in the Sookie Stackhouse series, From Dead to Worse introduces more of Sookie's background and family members, and can I just say Season 3 of True Blood is really frustrating me because it is incorporating elements from this 8th book? Although it is another easy and enjoyable read, this book was not my favorite, but was still good. More of Alcide, more of Eric, more of Pam (who you can't help but like in these books), and more of Sam are all good, BUT more of the vampire and Were politics is too much "more" for me.   I don't have the last two in paperback, so I'm hoping that my hubby will be nice enough to purchase them for my Nook.  I can't wait to read more.