Book+of+the+Month+Archive

// Colin Fischer //
By Ashley Edward Miller & Zack Stentz (Penguin, 2013)

Authors Miller and Stentz, who have collaborated on many popular television and movie scripts, introduce an irresistible new detective hero. Colin narrates the crime of the gun that went off in the cafeteria in his own distinctive voice. In the process of solving the mystery, Colin begins to adjust to high school despite the challenges that his Asperger’s Syndrome presents for him, his family, teachers and friends. Colin’s preoccupation with factual research adds an entertaining series of notes to his story, and helps the reader to get to know and admire how his mind works.

For reviews of this novel, go to: [] [] [] August 2012

Seeds of America series

Laurie Halse Anderson’s award winning novel, //Chains//, is set at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Isabel is a slave whose involvement in the colonial rebellion against Great Britain is coloured by her own quest for freedom. This is a “compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.” – //Googlebooks.com//

Anderson’s sequel to //Chains// tells the story of Isabel’s friend, Curzon, a slave who searches for his freedom amid the desperate struggle of the rebel armies at Valley Forge. //Forge// is “amazingly well-written and meticulously researched.” – (Kris Sauer, goodreads.com)

= //A single shard// = by Linda Sue Park Linda Sue Park won the 2002 Newbery Award for this novel, which tells the story of Tree-ear, an orphaned child in a 13th century Korean village. Tree-ear, named for a mushroom that grows "without benefit of parent-seed," wants to become a master potter, creating the beautiful ceramics for which his village is famous. Meet Mir, the grumpy perfectionist, his kind wife, and wise Crane-Man, inhabitants of an unfamiliar world which is delicately and simply created, and find out how Tree-ear fulfils his dream in this simple and evocative historical tale.

View a book trailer of //A single shard// at: [|www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QjGvDPZ__g] // " There's trouble on the Aching farm: monsters in the river, headless horsemen in the lane - and Tiffany Aching's little brother has been stolen by the Queen of Fairies. Getting himn back will requrie all of Tiffany's strength and determination (as well as a sturdy skillet) and the help of the rowdy clan of fightin', stealin', tiny blue-skinned pictsies know as the Wee Free Men!" //
 * February 2011 **

// This month's book is **The Wee Free Men**, the first book of a series of four by Terry Pratchett, creator of the Discworld. The TIffany Aching adventures are funny and thought-provoking fantasies written by one of the greatest modern writers of fantasy and satire. Follow Tiffany's story through the series as she learns her craft and develops into the witch she knows she can be. //

// The sequels are **A Hatful of Sky**, W**intersmith** and **I Shall Wear Midnight**. This series is a great introduction to the works of a great comic writer. //

__ Terry Pratchett websites __ Have a look at these links -

[] This is Terry Pratchett's website with lots of details about the author, his life and his creations.

[] This a a great collections of quotable quotes from Terry Pratchett's work which will make you laugh and make you think. Here is an example:

"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." //(Diggers}//

"I was there on the quayside to see Allie take her out for the first time, saw her dancing throught the waves, and I knew I'd never built a finer boat."
 * July 2011**
 * [[image:http://www.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/medium/7/9780007230587.jpg caption="Alone On A Wide Wide Sea By Michael Morpurgo" link="http://browseinside.harpercollins.com.au/index.aspx?isbn13=9780007230587"]] ||
 * Alone On A Wide Wide Sea By Michael Morpurgo ||

In the first half of //Alone on a Wide Wide Sea,// award-winning author Michael Morpurgo tells the story of Arthur Hobhouse, a six-year-old orphan shipped to Australia and separated from his sister and his home. After overcoming mistreatment and hardships, he is saved by Aunty Megs and Mr. Dodds, who teaches him to build boats and finds a home for himself in an immigrant family. The second part of the novel is told by Arthur's daughter Allie as she undertakes a solo voyage on the //Kitty IV//, the boat her father built for her. Through their stories, Morpurgo illuminates the plight of child migrants to Australia after World War II as well as the unbreakable family bonds that transcend distance and separation.

Follow this links for a review of //Alone on a Wide Wide Sea:// []

Go to Michael Morpurgo's websites to find out more about this author and his work: [|www.michaelmorpurgo.com/]