Devil

The Devil in Ohio was a book that I liked less the next day.   The author, Daria Polatin is an accomplished writer.  But the thing is, she claims that the book is "based on a true story" but won't reveal any of the details.  At all.  Sooooo not to say I don't believe her, but you know me, I don't even think we walked on the moon.  There was a lot of mixed up religion as well.  Wiccan vs. Satanism, etc.  I don't know.  It just wasn't a good one for me. 

Not the Book's Fault

I have heard such good things about Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. It was published during my year of hardly reading at all and so I am just getting around to it.  Thing is, I wasn't all that blown away by the fun of it.  But I think that is because I listened to it instead of reading it.  I just couldn't get into the puzzle part of it.  I did feel bad, because I ended up reading the last few chapters and it did seem like a much more enjoyable way to experience the book!  So I think I will read the second one instead of listening!

The Boring Room

So I have known about this book for a long time.  My first boss told me that The Borning Room was one of her most favorite books.  But I was sure, because of the cover (and admittedly, back then I wasn't open to any kind of book that didn't seem super interesting or exactly what I knew I already liked) I just thought The Boring Room would be a better title.  Shockingly, I was wrong!  This book, written by Paul Fleischman (the son!  I remembered!) was quite good.  The story of a family, told from an old woman's POV, beginning when she was a young girl.  The borning room was the room in which she was born.  Most of the book takes place in the borning room, life and death.
This is a beautiful story and I would have given it 5 of 5 stars but I think I was comparing it to the Alida trilogy from Gary Paulsen, which really isn't fair.
I had never heard of borning rooms before, I am embarrassed to say.  But here is some info!  The book takes place in Ohio, and part of it is set during the American Civil War.  

Scary Dolls, Again!

The Doll Bones is another scary doll book! But I am not sure if this doll is haunted or not.  I just don't know if the magic was real magic-magic, I do think it might be.  This is a growing up story.  A death of childhood kinda thing...but it is hopeful.  And just magical.  This is a possible Newbery, too.  Three kids, on the verge of beings teens.  Two girls and guy and a journey to put a dead girl's soul to rest.  It made me wonder if the legends in the book are true.  But I can't find anything about it when I google!

First Book of the New Year!

And it was underwhelming.   Sworn to Silence was recommended to me by many.  I love the detective fiction.  But this was way too much about the detective and way too little about the people involved in the crime.  I like books about people!  It's just that I like my police novels to be a very certain way.  This was not the way.  Kate is a formerly Amish woman in the town of Painters Mill, Ohio where she is now Chief of Police.  There's a serial killer, come to this sleepy little town and he is a vicious sick dude.  He reminds Kate of someone from her past.  Someone she thought was dead.  How can she chase a dead man?  While her past keeps chasing her?  All that back story was just not my kind of thing for a book like this.  Won't read another, but if you like that kind of thing, you'll enjoy.  Everyone else in the world seems to!  

Oh yeah, OHIO!  Round on the ends and HI in the middle!  

She Took the Moon Over Georgia

The Moon Over High Street's story is a lot like this song.  Great song, I haven't thought about it for years, not until reading the latest by the incredible Natalie Babbitt.  In this story though, it is twelve-year-old Joe who has to choose between money and the moon.  This is wonderful little story.  Man.  I wish I could write like this.