April Guys Read/Girls Read Book Clubs

Did you know that we have two parent/child book clubs every month at the Provo Library? They are for children 9-12 and a parent/guardian and this month they will meet on April 24 (girls) and April 26 (guys). These will be the last book club events until the fall so be sure to preregister under the Kids Corner/Program Registration tab on the library website. We have two great books to discuss:

Guys

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook
by Leslie Connor
HarperCollins, 2016. Fiction. 381 p.
Perry was born at the Blue River Minimum Security Correctional Facility when his inmate mother was still a teenager. He has been allowed to live at the facility ever since because the warden is his official foster parent. Then, one day, a new district attorney discovers that he has been living at the facility and goes on a crusade to try to "free" him. Perry loves being able to live with his mother, and has close friends among both the staff and the residents of the facility, so he is not happy when he gets taken away from them. With determination and the help of some friends, Perry searches for a way to be reunited with his mother again.

Girls

Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine
HarperCollins, 1997. Fiction. 232 p.
On the day of Ella's birth, the fairy Lucinda gave her the gift of obedience. Ever since she has to do whatever anyone asks her to do. Her mother has always protected Ella from those who might take advantage of her "gift" but when her mother dies, Ella goes on a quest to find Lucinda and break the spell. With the help of her fairy god mother, Ella faces ogres, giants, and her evil step sisters to try to find her own "happily ever after."

Comments

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

Review: Super Boba Cafe

Super Boba Café By Nidhi Chanani New York: Amulet Books, 2023. Comics. 215 pages. 14-year-old Aria is excited to spend her summer in San Francisco getting quality time with her Nainai. She loves helping at her grandmother's Super Boba Café. But she can't help but notice that her grandmother is acting strange and secretive. She refuses to let Aria into the kitchen at all and she disappears at the same time each night without telling Aria where she goes. Meanwhile, Aria is eager to drum up more business for Super Boba Café. She gets a major windfall when the shop cat, Bao, surprises them by having kittens, and Aria realizes this is a major social media opportunity. She knows this will help Nainai's shop, but she is apprehensive to get back on social media after a terrible cyberbullying experience she had back home. As the shop starts to get busier, Nainai is more and more anxious about her secret project. This prompts Aria to investigate with help from her Nainai's neighb...

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

J Fiction 328 pages I almost didn't finish this book. I got to Chapter 4, and was just about ready to quit (a kind of slow story about a girl, name of Piper McCloud, who discovers she can fly, parents freak out, she becomes a social outcast, yadda, yadda) but suddenly, right there in Chapter 4, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes really interesting . Piper finds herself in the company of others like her, but not "fliers", and under the care and authority of Dr. Hellion. I won't even tell you any more. Read this book. Forester does a great job of keeping you wondering who's the good guy and who's the bad? Piper is a likeable, strong, endearing character that girl readers will enjoy. But don't NOT give it to boys! The main male character is an extremely intelligent young man who is one of the ones you wonder about . . . good or bad? This is a good one, well worth your time.

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