logo

July 2006

Hi folks!

I hope you are all doing well. Besides the wonderful short books I have been tearing through, I’d like to recommend a few other great books I enjoyed recently. I cannot rave enough about Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson, a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat as Swanson superbly details the nation’s greatest manhunt (his writing is stellar, and the book is filled with alluring details about Lincoln’s assassin). As I am one of the world’s most eclectic readers, another one of my favorite books this past month was I Do But I Don’t: Walking Down the Aisle Without Losing Your Mind by Kamy Wicoff, a must-read for women AND men who are planning to get married. Wicoff’s book is funny and informative, and I agree with its primary point: people should spend more time planning their marriage and less time planning the ceremony. Sebastian Junger’s A Death in Belmont is a pretty good examination of the author’s childhood experiences with the Boston Strangler (he details how an innocent man died in prison for the death of one of his neighbors). I prefer Junger’s incredible debut, The Perfect Storm. 

I just returned from speaking in Gulfport, Mississippi, and I was greatly moved by what those poor people have gone through these past ten months since Hurricane Katrina. Strangers and new friends told me horrifying stories of how they survived the ordeal, but what amazed me was how the area looks like a bomb just detonated yesterday. Debris still litters the coastline, and most folks (well, the lucky ones, who FEMA has not ignored) live in trailers on the lots that their homes used to occupy. I could go on about the inexcusable conditions, but I’d rather focus on all of the wonderful volunteers I witnessed in tents around the region. While I may not have seen any government officials lending a hand, my spirits were lifted to see so many church Samaritans eager to help. I saw people who had driven from as far away as Michigan to do what they could, and I was reminded that it always seems like Americans shine during times of crisis. If I lived in Mississippi, though, I would refuse to pay my taxes, as I saw a lot of good people getting the run around from a bureaucracy that failed them (I try to focus on the positive, but I was appalled by what I witnessed firsthand). I am one of those folks that has seen the images on television of Katrina’s effect on New Orleans, but I had no idea how hard a blow Mississippi took. Its citizens stuck around, and they are living a nightmare that can be relieved with your assistance. Please contact your church, temple or synagogue and find out how you can assist the Katrina survivors of Mississippi.

Anyhow, enjoy this month’s book selections below. I hope you are all reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me all about them. If you're an author or a publisher and would like to send me review copies of your book(s), please send them to the address listed for authors and publishers.

I hope you are reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me about them by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Have a wonderful July, and enjoy your books!

Danny ;-)
Choke

Choke

By Darnella Ford 215 pages Adult

Danny Says

At the insistence of my teaching credential students at the university, I have begun reading more African-American literature. It may seem silly for a white guy to be reading a book about a divorced black woman trying to start a new life for her talented daughter, but I could identify with this story based on my teaching experiences in Compton. Darnella Ford is a gifted writer, and you do not have to be black to appreciate this moving tale of the lengths a mother will go to ensure a brighter future for her daughter. Touching and powerful. Click here to read this month’s blog, a monologue I wrote inspired by one of my past second graders. 
Buy on Amazon
The Man Who Ran the Moon

The Man Who Ran the Moon

By Piers Bizony 272 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have decided to stop including subtitles to books, as too many books nowadays seem to include overly long subtitles like this one, “James E. Webb, NASA, and the Secret History of Project Apollo.” For goodness sake, folks: read the book, as it chronicles how James Webb ran NASA in the 1960s, for better or worse, by brokering all sorts of backroom, good ole boy deals. Bizony’s book is fascinating, as it reveals the realistic side of inspirational programs like our country’s space program. I loved the book and commend the author for presenting the facts without shattering the dream. If you have not guessed, I am a space nut who admires the one program that seems to rally the world around America (in a positive way, that is): NASA.
Buy on Amazon
The Franklin Affair

The Franklin Affair

By Jim Lehrer 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

Bet you did not know that the host of “Newshour” on PBS and the moderator of several Presidential debates is also a novelist. This is actually Lehrer’s 15th book, but it is quite different from his previous works. Too many people get their history from the mass media, and I got a kick out of this mystery/thriller that examines the fine lines of plagiarism with great comic effect. It made me want to become a Benjamin Franklin groupie.
Buy on Amazon
The Secret School

The Secret School

By Avi 176 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

How I’ve managed not to recommend an Avi book yet is beyond me, as I believe Avi is one of the greatest storytellers in America today (and he is great to listen to in person, if you ever get the chance). He is a master with historical fiction, and this story takes us to poor rural Colorado just before the Great Depression. An eighth grader needs to pass her exams if she is to move on to high school and fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher, and when her teacher leaves she takes on the role of preparing her classmates and herself for the exams. Token Avi as he portrays kids as able (if not more so) than adults. A great story about the importance of education.
Buy on Amazon
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

By Carolyn Mackler 256 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

A favorite of the high school girls I read with, this book is not quite as funny as the title suggests. Yes, Mackler is hilarious, but she manages to touch a lot of major teen issues, from date rape to eating disorders. I do not come across as many reluctant girl readers, but when I do I always pull out a copy of this book. Not appropriate for younger kids, though.
Buy on Amazon
Ugly

Ugly

By Donna Jo Napoli 192 pages Young Adult

Danny Says

Napoli takes the well-known story of the ugly duckling and creates a full-length novel that takes place Down Under. Not only does this book provide great morals; it also proves useful as a science text. Great book for kids wondering how they will ever fit in.
Buy on Amazon
The Seven Silly Eaters

The Seven Silly Eaters

By Mary Ann Hoberman 40 pages Children

Danny Says

A wonderful rhyming tale about a poor mother who has to prepare food that meets the specific, picky tastes of each of her seven children. Like any great children’s story, this one has beautiful illustrations and a lot of heart, besides all the laughs. I enjoyed the book when it first came out nearly ten years ago, and I can relate to the poor mother even more now that I have my own children. This one will please parents just as much as children when they read it together before bedtime.
Buy on Amazon
When I Was Young in the Mountains

When I Was Young in the Mountains

By Cynthia Rylant 32 pages Children

Danny Says

I meant to recommend Rylant’s wonderful book The Relatives Came when I realized I had never mentioned a Cynthia Rylant book on any of my previous lists. I guess sometimes I overlook the best authors when formulating my monthly lists of picks. This Caldecott Honor book is probably one of my favorite pieces of poetry of all time, as Rylant writes with such love and affection for her childhood in the Appalachians that I think it would affect anyone prone to reflect on his/her own childhood. Cynthia Rylant is simply a brilliant author with extraordinary ability. 
Buy on Amazon
Jose! Born to Dance

Jose! Born to Dance

By Susanna Reich 32 pages Children

Danny Says

A beautifully illustrated biography of the dancer José Limon, this book has proven to be quite timely in light of recent events surrounding immigration. It chronicles how young José fled Mexico for America and endured ridicule in elementary school for his poor English. Regardless, José’s determination to succeed prevailed, and his story always receives cheers when I read it to various elementary classes.
Buy on Amazon
Tadpole's Promise

Tadpole's Promise

By Jeanne Willis 32 pages Children

Danny Says

I absolutely love this book and cannot recommend it highly enough for all ages, as it tells the amusing tale of a caterpillar and tadpole who fall in love and promise one another to never change. The caterpillar becomes annoyed when her beloved tadpole develops into a frog, but she goes through some changes of her own. One of the most gratifying endings of any children’s book I’ve read recently, and a useful book for those of us who still try to incorporate a little science into school. A MUST READ!
Buy on Amazon

Explore

Act

About

Connect With Us

Join Now