The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu

The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu, 193 pages

From the publisher: "In this charming, fable-like book from Japan, a fox spirit sells magical confections to troubled humans, only for them to get a little more than they bargained." 

Fable-like is an apt description. This novel weaves several threads of stories into a glorious tapestry. Unlike some other books in this genre, we get to spend some time with the spirit itself, and not just the affected humans. A delightful read and a credit to its genre. 

 

Cranky Right Now by Julie Berry

Cranky Right Now by Julie Berry "A hilarious ride through the ups and downs of being grumpy, helping kids deal with cranky feelings, frustrating relationships, and things that just make them mad"-- Sometimes we just need a nap to make us less cranky! Funny book with jokes that are more for parents, but kids enjoy them too.

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas - 266 pages
The Ravenels #6

Lady Cassandra Ravenel has always wanted to marry -- to find love and have a little family of her own.  However, she's starting to think it will never happen.  She can't find someone to love that loves her in return.  Tom Severin wants to marry Cassandra but he agrees that he is not capable of love.  Then Cassandra is maligned in a scandal and Tom hurries to rescue her . . .

This is the final book in the Ravenels historical romance series.  It is also probably my favorite in the series so far.  I really liked the character of Tom and have from the beginning of the series.  Cassandra was also much more interesting in this book than in the previous ones.  I'm looking forward to see what family and historical period Lisa Kleypas focuses on next.

Spirits That Walk in Shadow by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Spirits That Walk in Shadow by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - 306 pages

Jaime is attending college and interacting with the outside world for the first time in her life.  She knows she is going to have to hide her magic from her fellow students.  Little does she know that her roommate is the victim of a viri, a vampire-like creature that feeds on the emotions of people. 

I really enjoyed this book.  I didn't realize that it is a sequel to a previous book.  I'll have to try to find it to read.

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare - 891 pages
The Dark Artifices #3

This is the conclusion to The Dark Artifices trilogy.  Julian and Emma must solve the parabatai curse all while saving their family and friends from The Cohort which is trying to take over the Shadowhunter Clave.  This was a great ending to the series. 

Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio

Dragon Was Terrible
by  Kelly DiPucchio
39 pages









We all know dragons are terrible, but this one is especially terrible. He scribbles in books. He steals candy from baby unicorns. He even burps in church. Seriously, who does that? Dragon, that's who. The king, the knights, and the villagers are desperate to take down this beast once and for all. But sometimes it's up to the unlikeliest of heroes to tame a dragon this terrible.

Spirits That Walk in Shadow by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Spirits That Walk in Shadow by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - 306 pages

Jaimie's first real experience with the "outside" world is when her father drops her off at college.  It's her attempt to live in the non-magical world she grew up in.  Unfortunately, her roommate seems to have attracted the attention of a creature that is feeding off of her depression.  Now Jaimie must work with her cousins to help her roommate escape from the creature's clutches.

I love Nina Kiriki Hoffman's books.  They are so delightfully weird.  They never go in the direction you think they are going to.  This book is the teen sequel to a couple of adult novels she had previously written.  I have not read those books yet but look forward to doing so.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry - 180 pages

Jonas has been given the high honor of being the next Receiver.  He will receive all the memories of the past to help the elders make important decisions for his community.  But is it right for only one person to remember colors, emotions, and music?

This is one of those books that I think people should reread over and over again.  Each time you read it you get a little more out of the story.  Since the movie version came out this summer, I decided it was the perfect time to read it again.  This time I chose to listen to the audio.  I really enjoyed the audio version of the book.  It was interesting how the voice of Jonas changed as he received more and more memories of the past.

Walter Was Worried, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

 Walter Was Worried, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, 40 pages

This is a cute book explaining different emotions, and as usual, interactive for the kids to find all of the letters in the illustrations.