Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

I love books, but they rob me of sleep. I've been trying to read a chapter or two each night before I go to bed, but last night I just HAD to finish Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt. I read the last five chapters in one sitting.

This book is based on the true account of the disposal of a group of people living on Malaga Island, off the coast of Phippsburg, Maine. Many of the islanders were poor, black or mixed race. They didn't have jobs, didn't have nice homes, and really didn't own the land upon which they lived.

Phippsburg was a ship-building community, but their business days were running out. They figured the only way they could keep the town going was by becoming part of the tourism trade - building a big hotel that overlooked the granite cliffs, enticing big city folks to come and rest a spell and enjoy their magnificent vistas - which only extended to the coastline of Malaga Island with its eyesores.

The story follows that of fictional character Turner Buckminster, only son of the preacher Phippsburg brought to town. Rev. Buckminster soon finds out that the majority of the people in the church want him to support them in their efforts to "clean out" Malaga Island. Turner, meanwhile, innocently meets Lizzie Bright, a black girl who lives with her preacher grandfather on the Island. Turner visits their home, but the residents of Phippsburg disapprove of the preacher's son cavorting around with a negro girl. The Reverend forbids Turner from seeing her again. But that's not what happens.

What I love most about this book is Schmidt's masterful description. He uses the most interesting phrases to describe the different seasons as they come to Phippsburg. The story is worthwhile, too, but I think it falls into the same category (no pun intended) as One-Eyed Cat which I recently reviewed. They are both books I would recommend, but I'm not sure my students would see the value in them.

There are some shocker moments in this book, but for the most part it moves more slowly than I would tend to prefer. Still, that doesn't stop me from recommending it for your own reading. (But if you're going to read the last 5 chapters all at once, start earlier than 10:30pm!)

A Small Snail and an Even Smaller Ant x 2

I really like the author Avi. I've read several of his books and have enjoyed them thoroughly. And so when these two little books came along - The End of the Beginning and A Beginning, A Muddle, and An End - I snatched them up. While on vacation this week, I eagerly sucked them up in a couple of hours.

And then I spit them back out.

Oh, Avi! What happened?

Back in college, I was forced to read Waiting for Godot. I say "forced" because it was an assignment. And I assure you that is the only reason I read it. For me, it could have been more appropriately named I'm Waiting to Go Die. A slow painful death it would be. Granted, this is only my opinion. But sadly, it's the same opinion I have of these books.

What we have with these two little books is two little characters (nice enough) who go essentially nowhere, do essentially nothing, and grow essentially not at all. They are the literary version of Seinfeld, the show about nothing. They are full of philosophical musings, puns, and plays on words - enough to choke a horse. You could almost hear the drum's "ba-dum, ba-dum, bum...chhhh" in the background.

Avi, where are the interesting characters, the surprise twists, the rich description? Where is the stinkin' plot, for crying out loud?

Booklist, Parenting Magazine, and School Library Journal all had nice things to say on the back cover. Are these people in touch with kids at all? I think my students would hate these. I'd ask some of the kids to read them, but I think they'd expect some kind of payoff at the end.

I give these books two thumbs down. I'd give them worse...but I've only got two thumbs.

The Thief Lord

My husband is irritated regularly by the things I don't remember. What he doesn't realize is that I do remember a lot of things. Some things you just don't forget - and many of them are inconsequential bits of memories.

For example, I remember which student recommended that I read The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. It was Rachel. That was 7 or 8 years ago - she's a junior in college now. She really liked it - and I must agree. Although the book was nothing like I expected.

As a general rule, I tend not to have expectations of books I've never read. That way, I either avoid a great deal of disappointment or gain a great deal of enjoyment in my reading. With that in mind, I'm going to give you the briefest overview of this book, so as not to spoil it for you.

Brothers Prosper and Bo were sent to live with their aunt after their mother died. But Aunt Esther only wants blond-haired 5-year-old Bo, not his 12-year-old brother. Prosper decides that the only way for them to stay together is by running away. Their mother always spoke longingly of Venice, Italy, so that is where they go. The boys are befriended by a small group of orphans/runaways who make their home in an abandoned theater and make their living by pickpocketing. But the children are led by another child - the elusive Thief Lord - who brings them the valuable items he has stolen from some of the wealthiest homes in Venice. The kids take these items and sell them to Barbarossa, the antique store owner.

Barbarossa surprises the children with a job for the Thief Lord. As the group heads through the city to meet with the unknown Conte, unbeknownst to them, the detective Aunt Esther hired to look for Bo is following them. Victor Getz, in spite of his many disguises, is found out by the children. And yet, in trying to discover where the gang is living, he makes an even greater discovery. Among the thieves, there is a liar!

Go ahead and read this one - see if I'm a liar in my opinion, or a thief of your time.