White Cat review

White Cat 
by Holly Black
Margaret K. McElderry
May 2010



My only regret about this book was not reading it sooner.

17 year-old Cassel Sharpe is the black sheep of his mafia crime family. While they're mostly small-time con artists, they all have a special talent - they have the power to curse - meaning they can change your memories, kill someone, manipulate memories, or gain unusual strength by touching their target, or "mark" with their hands. Only Cassel seems to lack any special abilities. Because of the danger, it's a commonly accepted practice for everyone to wear gloves at all time. Such power doesn't come without a price, however. Curseworkers suffer from "blowback" directly related to their ability. The more the power is used, the more one suffers. Deathworkers suffer from rotting limbs, and nearly all accomplished hitmen are missing fingers, toes or maybe an ear. Emotion workers like Cassel's mom suffer from wild mood swings, and so on. For reasons that even he doesn't fully understand, Cassel is harboring an awful secret. Three years ago, in a fit of jealous rage, he murdered his long-time crush, Lila, the daughter of a powerful mob family. His older brothers Philip and Barron helped him cover it up, and have enrolled him in an exclusive private boarding school to keep him out of the way while his mother serves out a prison term for bilking lonely widowers out of their money.

Cassel is such an interesting character. He desperately wants to fit in, to be normal and liked, and yet, he's filled with so much self-loathing, he's always uncomfortable in his own skin and awkward around people. He spends half his time wishing he could cut himself free from all of his family ties and resents being drawn in to their schemes and crimes, but half the time he wishes that he would prove to be a late-bloomer and fantasizes about developing paranormal powers of his own so that he could be included with his brothers in their illicit activities. Cassel is surrounded by family who pride themselves on fooling others, and he's been taught since he was in his cradle to guard his true feelings and how to be an effective liar. Things really get rolling when Cassel sets up a small-time betting operation at his school, his mother is released from prison, he begins sleepwalking, and having intense dreams about a white cat that follows him everywhere.

There are some stunning twists and turns, and some major plot reversals at the end of the book that I never saw coming. I highly recommend this book.



I borrowed this book from the library.

Top Ten Authors I'd Like to Meet

Who are the top ten authors that you'd DIE to meet?

Wow, what a tough question. In part, this question is tough for me, because I've been lucky enough to meet so very many of my favorite authors already. Working in a bookstore, and now in libraries, plus attending book-related conferences every chance I get, the list of famous authors I've met briefly, or had dinner with, or heard speak is ridiculously long. I worked a book signing with J.K. Rowling - a total madhouse, that she handled with complete class. I hosted a book signing and accordion sing-a-long with Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, before he was well-known, that had parents angrily storming out when they completely didn't get his awesomely twisted sense of humor. I have been delighted and charmed at book talks by Brian Jacques, Ray Bradbury, and Jeff Kinney.  That having been said, I'm sure there are more authors that I'd love the chance to hang out with.

The only other quibble I have with this question, is that honestly, authors ARE my rockstars, but I value my life pretty darn highly. I can't think of a single one that I'd literally die for. No, not even her. Not him, either. Nope. No way. Sorry. Can't have one of my kidneys, either. I'm keeping those for myself.

So, if I assume the dying question is merely a figure of speech, who'd make the top ten? I wasn't going to go with authors who are dead - but there are a few I guess I have to mention.

Isaac Asimov! The undisputed king of science-fiction, raconteur and all-around charmer. This is the guy who invented The Laws of Robotics. He died while I was in high school and I felt like I "just missed him" - if I'd been just a bit older, or had my own car, I'm sure I could have managed to run into him at a sci-fi convention of some sort.

James Oliver Rigney, Jr., better known as Robert Jordan. Never met him! I love his Wheel of Time books so much, but at the time I was reading them, I was working putting together some author events and book signings and met some other authors of my favorite books - and sad to say, I had a few pretty negative experiences with authors who shall remain nameless. It's not always a good thing to meet your heroes. I had several opportunities to see Robert Jordan at various book events, but I always passed it up, because I loved his books so much - what if our meeting didn't go well? It would totally take the shine off of those books for me. And then, very suddenly it seemed, he was diagnosed with a rare disease, and he was gone. Darn it. Now I really wish I had met him and I'll never get the chance.

Okay, if we're talking dead authors, I'll have to throw this one in there: William Shakespeare. I actually kind of don't want to meet him. I'm picturing him, in genuine Renaissance-period wear, this filthy, flea-bitten, harried poet. I don't know why I think of Shakespeare as being an incredibly grumpy person, but I feel certain that he was. He was a genius beyond compare, he worked insanely long hours in the theatre, he was separated from his family for long periods of time so he could work in London. All of those things must add up to a foul temperament, right? Plus, as I mentioned earlier, the smell. I'm sure that would not be good. But, if time traveling was magically possible and I could meet him, I would, because I've spent so many years working onstage and backstage at Shakespearean theatres, it would be great bragging rights to meet The Bard himself.


All right, enough of that! Let's move on to living authors.
The next two are easy. Technically, I suppose you could say that I've "met" them already - if you count being within arm's reach in the same room. Last June at the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans, I attended the YA Authors Coffee Klatch, an awesome event where you get to sit down for coffee and spend 10 minutes or so with a random, rotating set of authors. Every 10 minutes a bell is rung, and your author gets up and heads to a new table. Just as the event was ending, both Cassandra Clare and Cheryl Rainfield were heading towards my table. Aaargh! So close! Yet so far away.

I want to meet Cassandra Clare because I hate her books so much! I want to understand the person who wrote them a bit better. I'm sorry Team Jace, I just don't understand you. Incest isn't romantic - it's yucky!

I want to meet Cheryl Rainfield because she seems like such a survivor - a strong, amazing woman. I don't think she looks like her photo at all, but I still recognized her right away. Is that weird?

One author who I'd like to meet is Maggie Stiefvater. I loved her Wolves of Mercy Falls books. She did a local book signing recently, but I didn't find out about it until the date had already passed. I can't believe I haven't met her yet!

I would love to meet Brenna Yovanoff. I really liked The Replacement even if it was just a hair too scary for me, and I have some kind of vague idea that she has a great sense of style.

I'd love to meet Paranormalcy author Kiersten White. At least from her Twitter feed, she seems as bubbly and funny as her characters.

Wouldn't it be great to meet Stephenie Meyer? I am not a Twi-hard, by any stretch of the imagination, but I did really enjoy Twilight. Let's just pretend Breaking Dawn never happened. And I loved, loved, loved The Host. I can't believe that The Host hasn't gotten more attention - that was a great book.

I have a terrible confession to make. I do not particularly care for Neil Gaiman's books. I don't hate them, I just kind of feel "meh" about most everything of his that I've tried to read. But, I love his blog. Reading it is like reading a letter from a friend. And he seems like such an interesting person. He keeps bees! He owns a Narnia lamp out in the middle of the woods! I like his accent. Even though I'm not his superfan #1, I'd still like to meet Neil Gaiman.










Wow, that's 10 already. I'm sure I could think of more. Who would you like to meet?

Instant Bestseller comic

Grant Snider of Incidental Comics simply kills me. Here's another hilarious comic... the future of YA publishing, if you will. It's funny, because it's true.

Fireplace Bookshelves

I found this picture online. Gorgeous bookshelves and such a striking room. The open flames so close to all those books leaves me feeling a bit nervous though! I'm pretty sure the fire must be artificial... it doesn't appear that there's a chimney attached. Do you like the books? All those matching spines make me think there must be a lot of encyclopedia sets in there, but on the whole I love the look of a "wall of books."

The Revelations of Alvin Tolliver review

The Revelations of Alvin Tolliver
by David Kherdian
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
December 2004

David Kherdian, winner of the Newberry Honor award for his book Road From Home, takes us into the life of Alvin Tolliver, a sixth-grade loner with a keen appreciation for nature. Alvin dreams of becoming a tracker and spends his free time exploring the local Wisconsin woods. The book is divided into four portions, one for each of the influential adults who help to change Alvin's outlook.

While on a nature walk, Alvin falls into a pit and injures his leg. Although Crazy Eli, a disabled man who is unable to speak, has been the object of Alvin and his schoolmates' scorn, he teaches Alvin the value of compassion by rescuing him and tending him with herbs before returning him home.

While fishing for muskie, Alvin is taken under the wing of Joe Kerensky, who reveals the secrets of the lake. Alvin is awed and mystified by the beauty of the lake and the creatures that live in and around it, and begins to see the difference between wanting something and truly needing it. Next, Alvin meets Hannah the Bird Lady. When Alvin finds a great horned owl accidentally caught in a hunter's trap with an injured wing, he brings the bird to Hannah, hoping she can nurse the owl to health. Finally, he is honored to meet the legendary Native American outdoorsman, Philip Sunbear, who agrees to include Alvin at his next sweat lodge. The intense experience of the sweat lodge cements the importance of the revelations that Alvin has received on his journey to spiritual maturity. The division of the story into quadrants lends a choppy feel to the book, and some might question how genuine the pre-teen voice of Alvin feels.

Though this book is intended for third to sixth grade readers, adults may find the unhurried pace of this coming of age story interesting. Consider this an additional title for libraries with Native American collections.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Cover Trend: Curled Up in a Ball

Here's something that I've noticed. Books that feature a main character curled up in a ball.

Juliet Immortal 

by Stacey Jay 

Delacorte Books for Young Readers 

August 2011

Romeo and Juliet with a vampire twist. Juliet is a vampire-hunter, Romeo, a vampire. I've heard this compared to Dracula in Love by Karen Essex. I really enjoyed Jay's irreverant, Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-inspired You Are So Undead to Me series, so I think this one will be fun.

Ash 

by Malinda Lo 

Little, Brown Young Readers 

January 2009

A lesbian re-telling of the Cinderella story. I loved the society of Huntresses and I'm looking forward to reading the prequel Huntress.

Haunted 

by Joy Preble 

Sourcebooks Fire 

February 2011

This is the sequel to Dreaming Anastasia. Historical fiction/paranormal, sounds kind of awesome.

Crave 

by Melissa Darnell 

HarlequinTeen 

October 2011

Savannah Colbert is half-vampire, half-wizard and struggles with forbidden romance! Sounds like my kind of book.

Can you think of any that I've missed? Let me know in the comments.

Decatur Book Festival 2011

It's Labor Day Weekend, and that means it's a double-threat for awesome, huge, overwhelming, magical, cool activities to do in Atlanta, GA. On the one-hand, we have the venerable Dragon*Con, a mega-convention for science-fiction, fantasy, costuming and gaming of all kinds, and on the other hand there's The Decatur Book Festival, a monster collection of authors, illustrators, librarians, booksellers and book-lovers of every stripe. They've put forth claims to be the "biggest" book festival in the country (The L.A. Festival of Books, and the Texas Book Festival in Austin might have a bone to pick with that) but they certainly do rank in the top 10, if not the top 5 largest. Their line-up of authors is impressive, to say the least.


I'll be storytelling at the Decatur Book Festival at Booth 127, on Saturday at 10:00 am!


Come on by and say, "hello" if you can. I'm bringing some of my favorite puppets, my wackiest (badly sung) songs and funniest picture books to read-aloud. It should be a good time! Expect a full-report on all the goings-on later this week.