Novels Now

Two Generals by Scott Chantler
Pages: 243
Ages: Adult (but easily a YA crossover)
First Published: Oct. 26, 2010
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
“I-is that you, Lieutenant?”
Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.
Reason for Reading: I love reading journals,memoirs and books based on them.
Wow! That one word could some up my complete review. Wow to the [...]

A Sickness in the Family by Denise Mina. Art by Antonio Fuso
Vertigo Crime series
Pages: 180
First Published: Oct. 19, 2010
Publisher: Vertigo
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:

So she’s finally dead?
Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.
Reason for Reading: I love that the pure mystery/thriller/crime genre is so much more easily found in the graphic novel format [...]

Lola, A Ghost Story by J. Torres. Illustrated by Elbert Or
Pages: 102
Ages: 12+
First Published: Jan. 13, 2010
Publisher: Oni Press
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
The Tagalog word for grandmother is “Lola”.
Acquired: Borrowed a copy through Interlibrary Loan.
Reason for Reading: This was a Cybils ‘10 nominee and as a panelist for Graphic Novels was required reading for [...]

Luna Park by Kevin Baker. Art by Danijel Zezelj (Canada) - (US)
Pages: 157
First Published: Nov. 30, 2010
Publisher: Vertigo
Genre: magical realism, crime, historical fiction
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
Every day, he tries to escape the nightmare.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.
Reason for Reading: The Russian historical aspects and the publisher’s summary had me intrigued.
This is a [...]

The Zabime Sisters by Aristophane. Translated from the French & Afterward by Matt Madden
Pages: 85
Ages: 14+
First Published: Oct. 26, 2010
Publisher: First Second
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
What, are you still snoozing?
Acquired: Received a Review Copy from First Second Books.
Reason for Reading: The plot. I enjoy stories of childhood and the setting of Guadeloupe certainly piqued my interest.
This is [...]

Birth of a Killer by Darren Shan
The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Book One
Pages: 253
Ages: 12+
First Published: Oct. 5, 2010 US (Oct. 19, 2010 CAN)
Publisher: Harper Trophy Canada
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:
When Larten Crepsley awoke and yawned one grey Tuesday morning, he had no idea that by midday he would have become a killer.
Acquired: Received a review copy [...]

Free Country by Jeremy Duns
Paul Dark Trilogy, #2
Pages: 324
First Published: Oct. 19 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
“Sir Colin Templeton was the most courageous, patriotic and decent public servant I have had the privilege of knowing.”
Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Canada.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
Jeremy Duns follow up to [...]

The Boy Who Conquered Everest: The Jordan Romero Story by Katherine Blanc with Jordan Romero
Pages: 72
Ages: 9+
First Published: July 30, 2010
Publisher: Balboa Press
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
Jordan Romero was a regular 9 year old boy.
Acquired: Received a review copy from the book’s publicist.
Reason for Reading: The book sounded inspiring and like something my son would enjoy.
This [...]

Thunder from the Sea: Adventure on board the HMS Defender by Jeff Weigl
Pages: 47
Ages: 8+
First Published: May 13, 2010
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:
Gentlemen, this is Jack Hoynton - the new crewman assigned to us.
Acquired: Borrowed a copy through Inter Library Loan.
Reason for Reading: This is a Cybils ‘10 nominee and required reading for me [...]

Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri
The Second of Another Series
Pages: 393
Ages: 14+
First Published: Sept. 14, 2010
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
All nights come to an end — that is to say, all nights see the break of day.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Candlewick Press.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
I loved this book [...]

On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Pages: 329
Ages: 9+
First Published: Sept. 28, 2010
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

We lived at the end of Lucifer Street, on the Mississippi River side of Cairo, Illinois.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Candlewick Press.
Reason for Reading: I’ve read a few of the author’s books [...]

Arthur of Albion by John Matthews. Paintings by Pavel Tartarnikov
Pages: 136
Ages: 9+
First Published: 2008 (Oct. 1, 2010 Chapter book edition)
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
Long ago, in the time before now, when the world was stilled filled with marvels, a fair green island lay beyond the Pillars of Hercules.
Acquired: Received a review copy [...]

Tales of Mystery and Magic retold by Hugh Lupton. Illustrated by Agnese Baruzzi
with Storytime CD
Pages: 64
Ages: 5+ (ALL AGES)
First Published: Sept. 1, 2010
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Rating: 4/5
First sentence:
Once upon a time there lived a blackbird and his wife and they sang so sweetly together that everyone who passed beneath the tree where they lived would stop [...]

The Arabian Nights by Wafa’ Tarnowska. Illustrated by Carole Henaff
Pages: 127
Ages: 9+
First Published: Oct. 1, 2010
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
Long ago, when tales traveled along the Silk Road from China to Persia, crossing wind-blown sand dunes and busy oases, bleak mountain passes and fertile valleys, there lived two Persian kings of the [...]

Bookweirder by Paul Glennon
Bookweird Trilogy, book 2
Pages: 246
Ages: 9+
First Published: Sept. 28, 2010
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
It could have been a forest back home.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.
Reason for Reading: next in the series.
When I read Bookweird back in 2008, I had no idea there would be a sequel, and I’d [...]

Wishin’ and Hopin’: A Christmas Story by Wally Lamb
Pages: 273
First Published: Nov. 10, 2009
Publisher: Harper Collins
Rating: 3.5/5
First sentence:
The year I was a fifth-grade student at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial School, our teacher, Sister Dymphna, had a nervous breakdown in front of the class.
Acquired: Borrowed a copy from my local library.
Reason for Reading: Every December I [...]

Call Me Russell by Russell Peters with Clayton Peters & Dannis Koromilas
Pages: 229
First Published: Oct. 26, 2010
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Rating: 3.5/5
First sentence:
When I was growing up, I hung out with mostly black kids, but every now and then, some white kid would come and hang out with us, and we’d be like, “Wow! [...]

Torment by Lauren Kate
A Fallen Novel, Book 2
Pages: 452
Ages: 14+
First Published: Sep. 28, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Rating: 3.5/5
First sentence:
Daniel stared out at the bay.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.
Reason for Reading: next in the series.
First I’ll mention that this is one of the most stunning covers I’ve ever seen. I [...]

The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds
Pages: 251
Ages: 13+
First Published: Oct. 12, 2010
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
Sing to me, O Muse, of that man of many troubles, Odysseus, skilled in all ways of contending, who wandered far after he helped sack the great city of Troy.
Acquired: Received a review copy from Candlewick Press.
Reason for [...]

The Smoky Corridor by Chris Grabenstein
The Haunted Mysteries, #3
Pages: 326
Ages: 10-14
First Published: Aug. 24, 2010
Publisher: Random House
Rating: 5/5
First sentence:
The night before he officially started at his new school, Zack Jennings already had a feeling the place was haunted.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Random House Canada.
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
Ahh, it was such [...]