Aunt Dimity: Snowbound

Christmas is over, and Lori Shepherd is tempted to throttle anyone who so much as mentions tinsel. Her friend suggests she take a hike to relax, and mistakenly curses her. "There's only one turn...you can't miss it."

What was originally an afternoon stroll turns into a camp out in a blizzard. Lori fortunately stumbles upon Ladythorn Abbey, and a chance to right an age-old wrong.

Atherton misses nothing, again, in this excellent book of mystery. Aunt Dimity is sweet, Reginald is cute, and Lori is weak-kneed at the sight of her current crush. The more you read this series, the more you fall in love.

Little by Little, a Writer's Education by Jean Little

Jean Little struggled with feeling different her entire life. She was a Canadian girl growing up in Taiwan. She was born legally blind. She loved to read and write stories, but she could barely see the letters even with her face pressed against the page.

She learned to write, and began to write stories whenever she could. She began to draw from her own experiences with disabilities, and wrote stories and poetry to give others with similar difficulties hope and encouragement.

Her writings are quite different from what I usually post, but I was so taken by her writing style and her liveliness that I just had to share.

Little by Little is more a collection of memories than a traditional autobiography. It's an inviting, heartfelt story of rising above difficulty.

Metapost: Madeleine L'Engle

I don't usually post about sci-fi or fantasy, but Madeleine L'Engle died September 6th at age 88. I loved her books (she wrote the Wrinkle in Time series) and will definitely be missed.

Catch as Cat Can by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown

Everyone loves a good feline mystery, and Catch as Cat Can, by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, is perfect. It's tenth in the Mrs. Murphy series (whoops), but jumping in works perfectly.

Roger O'Bannon collapses at a party after drinking a cup of coffee. His brother Sean refuses an autopsy, causing many people to whisper. The whispers get louder when a man is found murdered, and Mary Minor Haristeen ("Harry") can't help but ask questions and look around. But even before she has an inkling of what happened, her cat, Mrs. Murphy, has figured out what happened, as well as who is next in line to be killed.

This book was a very fun read. Though it is easier to understand if you start from the beginning, the characters were as well developed in this book as in her others. Brown successfully navigates the small town dynamics, as well as exploring the psyche of Harry and her life.

Want to start from the beginning of the series? Read Wish You Were Here.

Evil Star by Anthony Horowitz

The first gate was closed, but there is danger of a second gate being opened. Matt and Richard must travel to Peru, where they will face ambushes, traitors, and many more dangers. The second of the five is found.

This is the second book in the Gatekeepers, and just as excellent as the first. The story progresses quickly and suspensefully. If you haven't read the first one, read it first; however, don't forget to read the entire series. You won't regret it!

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Bethany's perfect life has crashed. Her parents, always loving on her to the point of completely spoiling her, have abandoned her with her Aunt. They disappear without an explanation, without even telling her when they will see her again. Everyone Bethany knows is suddenly holding secrets from her, and all she can discover is through what she hears when she eavesdrops.

Haddix is an extremely imaginative author. Her books are well-written, but even more than that, she never writes a boring novel. Her endings surprise! Double Identity in particular twists at the end. Great summertime (or, end of summertime, now) read.

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz

Matt has gotten himself into serious trouble this time, and is given the choice of being sent to jail or to get one last chance at a fresh start. He chooses to stay with Mrs. Deverill in a town called Lesser Malling in an attempt to get back on his feet.

Once he arrives there, Matt realizes something sinister is starting. A man who attempts to mug Mrs. Deverill is found dead, and several other people die suddenly. Matt's only clue is the phrase Raven's Gate - and the knowledge that, somehow, he is in the center of something big.

Raven's Gate is the first in the Gatekeeper series, and I am excited to read the rest. This first book keeps a unique storyline - part fantasy, part science fiction, part real-life drama, part mystery. It keeps you on your toes until the very end!