So you want to be a wizard by Diane Duane

For those of you who loved A Wrinkle in Time and can't find anything like it, this is for you. Two outcast find copies of the a book called So you Want to Be a Wizard and learn they can be. Thinking magic would be a way to get back at those who bully them, they quickly learn that if you try, bad things could happen. With a little guidance from older wizards, they set out to correct their mistake. They have to or our world will be changed forever. You will never look at a car the same way again. I made the mistake of starting this about 8:00 p.m. and didn't get to bed until I finished it. Don't let the number of pages get to you, every page is need to tell this adventure story. First book of a series that seem to get added to every few years.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede

First book of a series, a princess wants more than just marry a handsome prince and living a boring life in a castle. When her parents tire of her trying to learn sword play, cooking, and magic, they try to marry her off to a prince. When she runs into a garden and yells, "I would rather be eaten by a dragon", a talking frog tells her that could be arranged. Listening to frog, she runs away to the dragons. If you know your fairy tales and legends, you will get the "inside jokes" , but don't worry many other joke are included for those who don't. Everyone I have given this to loved it and read the other 3 books. My step daughter read all 4 while riding up north in Michigan and back so she wouldn't have to talk to me.

When the Tripods Came by John Christopher

Presequel to my favorite book in sixth grade, The White Mountains, this will scare any of you that can't get enough of Sponge Bob or other mind numbing cartoons. Aliens are trying to invade the earth. Of course the world's military blew them up, so they have to try another way. This was written to show the doubters who read The White Mountains (which is set many years after the tripods take over the earth) that what we thought was science fiction could really happen. Lots of action and main characters running across Europe to get to safety, but not everyone makes it. Can be read before or after The White Mountains. The 2 sequels of The White Mountains must be read after it in order.

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

While the beginning is confusing, the story will pull you in and will not let you go. Written years before Harry Potter, this is a story of an 11 year old boy learning he is not "human" and must find 6 signs to keep the dark from rising and freezing the earth. Time and space is crossed in the search for the signs. Half of the Potter fans come back to me to say I am right. This is better than Harry Potter. It is the second book in the series, but you don't have to read the first. If you loved this, you have 4 others in the series. It was to be made into a movie, but I haven't seen anything about the release. Newbery Honor book.

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck

EML two greatest loves have always been libraries and race cars. Only Richard Peck could bring the two together in turn of the century Indiana. Pee Wee's world is turned up side down when 4 young librarians come to town in search of the job of replacing the dead librarian (who was found under the card catalog). If you think one crazy librarian is bad enough, 4 can really cause an uproar. Pee Wee's brother is building a race car that gets mixed up with those librarians and on race day, it will be Pee Wee that learns the most. If you have read any other of Peck books, you will want to try this one. Aimed more at girls than other books by Peck, it still can be enjoyed by boys who likes a little craziness.

The Teacher's Funeral; A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck

With a title like this, only those teachers who don't think like students will hate this book. Set in rural Indiana in 1904, the only teacher at school dies in August. Like that answer to Russell's prayers, school can't open unless they can find a teacher on short notice. When a new teacher is found, she is Russell's worst nightmare. She is tough and you would not believe how she got the pointer she uses in the school. Even EML would not have reached in there. Russell tries everything to get ride of her but will snakes really work? Maybe the rich guy in one of those new automobiles who takes a fancy to the new teacher will work. If you want to really enjoy this book, let your teacher see you read it and smile sweetly.

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

One of the few times that the sequel is better than the first book. Sequel to A Long Way from Chicago can be read alone. The Great Depression had forced Mary Alice to move in with her grandmother since her parents have no money. Granny in the summer is just a warm up for rest of the year. From getting even with those who tip outhouses to a snake mixed with an out-of-town artist, you never know what grandma will do next. But you never know that going somewhere you think will ruin your life brings you to a place that you meet a person that will change your life. Quick read for those who need one.

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck

I rarely can read more than 1 or 2 books by an author, but Richard Peck is a must read. If you think you have a weird grandma, just meet Joey's. Joey lives in Chicago during the Al Capone days but sees his 1st dead body in his grandma's living room. Each summer brings a new adventure for Joey and his sister Mary Alice. Summer with grandma is never dull especially when she thinks not all laws apply to her. This runner-up for the Newbery is a fun read even if you don't really like historical fiction.

Why and how books will change your life and I bet my life everyday on this

Everyone who has personal contact with EML knows that I believe that everyone has one or two books that will change your life. I have had two in my life that was there when I needed something that will give me the anchor I needed at a time of my life when I didn't know where to turn. Both times I was not looking for an anchor or even knew I needed one. I just read a book that was either required or just looked interesting. But once I read it, it applied to my life and gave me insight to the problems I was having. In one case, I didn't even know I had the problem and when it was discovered, I thought about what I had read the year before and how it now helped me understand the problem. What I got from those books was life changing because I learned life lessons without having to go through the pain.

Some books just make you feel good. They make you feel safe when the world doesn't. You will relate to a character, sometimes not even a human character, and learn that you will make it through because that character did. Books can take your mind away from the real world and let you control how you use them. If you want to keep rereading a few pages, you don't have to keep reloading or waiting for a page to load.

You may be 5 or 95 when you find your first. You may only have one book or you may have a dozen. The only way you can find them is to read. The more books you read the better your chances to find that special book that will change your life.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is my nephew's favorite author and now I see why. This 2009 Newbery winner lets the reader know that sometimes it is the humans that must be feared, not the so called monsters. Nobody Owens loses his first family to a murder and now lives in a graveyard. It does take a graveyard to raise a Nobody. A vampire, a werewolf, a witch, and too many ghosts to keep straight will keep you guessing who is who while enjoying the ride. If you like this book, you will have to go to the public library to get the rest of his books since they are aimed at the post YA audience.

Alcatraz verus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson was a great read. I made the following wordle about it. I feel kinda bad about letting you know about this book since it will put you in danger from my buddies, but it is a risk you will have to take. The book is worth our lives. Just image finding out everything you thought you knew about the world is wrong and have to out smart a bunch of evil librarians that would kill to keep the "correct" knowledge from the people they rule. That means you, dear reader. There are 3 sequels before we got to the author.

Why I am doing this?

Some of you think if it is on the computer, it must be better. So I am now going to start putting my book talks on this blog so you will maybe read the books I talk about when I see you in the library. If you can't remember the title I talked about a few months ago, you would be able to find it here. (At least if I can get it on here in a timely matter.) If you have read the book and want to add a comment about you can.