Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don’t Work by Dan Roam: Adult Nonfiction

For a book about finding and ending useless speech, Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don’t Work by Dan Roam does a lot of talking.  The book started out interestingly enough, but became less so as it continued, until finally I was just glad when it was over.  Recommendation: Stick with Roam’s first book The Back of the Napkin and skip this one.

Nutshell: The world is full of blah, blah, blah.  Use the FOREST acronym to keep the ideas but throw out all the verbiage.

C         [Information C; Flow/Organization B-; Usefulness C]

Genre/Subject: Nonfiction/Speech; Pictures

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George: Teen Fiction

I could have sworn I read another book just like Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George.  The characters and story are wonderfully orchestrated, but it seems so similar to a book I’ve previously read (I can’t remember what it’s called, so if you know which book I’m talking about, please let me know.)  Otherwise, it’s a wonderful read.

Nutshell: The twelve princesses’ shoes are mysteriously worn through each morning and yet they don’t seem to leave the castle.  At his wits' end, the king offers a prize to the man who can discover why this happens and where they go each night.

B         [Story/Plot B; Characters A; Content A; Setting A]

Genre/Subject: Fiction/Fantasy

Additional Note: AR Level 5.6

The Silver Crown by Robert C. O’Brien: Child Fiction

The Silver Crown by Robert C. O’Brien is quite a bit more violent than I was expecting.  Wonderful story idea, great pace, but disturbing and darker than I thought it would be.

Nutshell: Ellen finds a silver crown on her pillow the morning of her 10^th birthday.  She heads off to the park, only to turn back to discover her house has been burned to the ground, with her family inside.  The next days and weeks are a quest to find her only living relative while mysterious people try to capture Ellen and the crown.

C         [Story/Plot B; Pace B; Characters A; Content C-; Setting A]

Genre/Subject: Fiction/SciFi; Fantasy; Children

Additional Note: AR Level 5.2

Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo: Adult Nonfiction

What a wonderful account!  Heaven is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo is an encouraging, and Bible-backed story.  Sure to encourage those with faith, and for those without, it’s still a great story.

Nutshell: What will heaven really look like?  Who will you meet?  Do you get to see God?  Are there angels?  These questions, along with others, are answered through a little boy’s three-minute trip to heaven and back.

A         [Story A; Information A: Flow/Organization B; Content A; Usefulness A;]

Genre/Subject: Nonfiction/Christianity; Heaven

The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures; Expanded Edition by Dan Roam: Adult Nonfiction

Wow.  The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures; Expanded Edition by Dan Roam is fantastic.  Roam explains his ideas excellently and walks through each step of using pictures to solve problems.  Everyone should read this book.

Nutshell:  (click to enlarge image)

A+       [Information A+; Flow/Organization A+; Usefulness A+]

Genre/Subject: Nonfiction/Business; Solving Problems

Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray: The Uproar at the Front Door by Nick Bruel: Child Fiction + Nonfiction Excerpts

A slow beginning, but Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray: the Uproar at the Front Door by Nick Bruel picks up speed quickly.  This book is bizarre and random, but in a good and humorous way.

Nutshell:  Kitty and Puppy are left at home with Uncle Murray while the adults leave for a week, promising to bring home a surprise when they get back. 

A         [Story/Plot B; Characters A; Content A; Humor B+; Setting A]

Genre/Subject: Fiction; Nonfiction/Pets; Cats

Additional Note: Picture/Chapter Book; Bad Kitty: Book 5; AR Level 2.9

Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots by Debbie Dadey: Child Fiction

A decent book and with lots of excitement, Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots by Debbie Dadey is a fun read.  Less name calling by the characters would be nice, but otherwise it’s a good book.

Nutshell:  The third graders at Baily Elementary School are in for a surprise.  After their atrocious behavior leads their teacher to quit, someone new comes to teach the class.  Her strange accent and behavior leads the kids to believe that she must be a vampire.  But vampires don’t wear polka dots, do they?

B         [Story/Plot A-; Characters B; Content C+; Setting B]

Genre/Subject: Fiction/Fantasy; Classroom; Children

Additional Note: The Adventures of the Baily School Kids: Book 1; AR Level 3.8