My Latest Books

I'm reading two books. Both were reviewed in the May issue of The Horn Book magazine.
The first one is by Mary Downing Hahn called All the Lovely Bad Ones. This is catalogued as a Y but could easily be given a J designation. The two main characters are in their early teens - perhaps that is why it is given the "Y". It is a good recommend for 6th graders - even a 5th grader who reads alot. Nice haunted house book to recommend to those summer readers. It is written in the gothic style but very updated - taking pokes at people who chase spooks -modern ghost-busters. The ghosts themselves were once a bunch of naughty children caught in a terrible situation. Our two teen protaganists figure out ways to help them find peace.

The second book is one I've just begun reading. It is written by Kate Thompson and is the first in a series. The second book is the one reviewed in The Horn Book. I'm reading the first in order to catch up. This one is called The New Policeman. So far the story begins with a farming family in modern-day Ireland. It is a family of poets and musicians. The lead character is a teenager named JJ. There is no indication in the first 50 pages or so that this book will have a fantasy element. JJ uses his mother's maiden name of Liddy. It is her family's farm and she wants her son to carry on the name. Every Saturday the family hosts an Irish music event. JJ is beginning to feel like a nerd at school because his friends don't stay at home on Saturday nights and they don't play traditional Irish music. From the review in Horn Book I know that JJ will be involved somehow with the Irish fairy world. The New Policeman is catalogued as a J title. It could easily be catalogued as a Y. I would definitely recommend this book to teens. It is quite thick with over 300 pages. More later when I've finished it....