My son and I finished reading, "Of Mice and Men." It was required reading for his literature class. I'd forgotten how intense a story it is. Hemmingway captured the dispare and hopelessness American's endured during the depression, like black and white photos of a time I'd heard about from grandparents. Hard times they'd called it.

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I started a YA book called MORIBITO-GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT by Mahoko Uehashi. I like the female character, Balsa, who is a body guard with fantastic abilities. The story starts off right away with Balsa saving a young prince. Her heroic action is rewarded, and there begins the intrigue. The author writes with the right amount of detail., creating a world that reminds me of Japan. The MORIBITO series, ten books in all, takes the reader through a mythical land filled with adventures.

It is already August and I'm finishing up reading the Maud Hart Love Lace Picks for this fall. If you liked the Egypt Game, by Zilphan Keattey Snyder, you will enjoy The Headless Cupid. I did! The characters are realistic, but not predictable. I liked the author's humor. She allows the children in the story to use their own understanding of magic to respond to their new sister's preoccupation with the occult. I recommend this book as a good read-a-loud.

I read the Princess Academy, last spring and did not enjoy it. I liked the beginning, but the story seemed weighed down with repetition. It was predictable and because of that a disapointment.