Publisher: Smithsonian Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2/1/2007
ISBN: 9780061170911
ISBN-10: 0061170917

This re-examination of the role of women in the development of the human family urges you to forget pretty much everything you’ve learned about prehistory, especially as portrayed in the male dominated hardscape of the typical museum diorama. New methods of analyzing and dating historical evidence as well as more women in the field of archaeology bring us a very different view of the roles of the sexes in human cultural development. Engaging, fascinating, and highly readable.

First Chapter  Table of Contents  

Publisher: Free Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2/6/2007
ISBN: 9780743289689
ISBN-10: 0743289684

For a post-feminist Westerner like myself, it is very difficult to understand a culture in which self-determination is a woman’s greatest sin. In telling her extraordinary story, Ali does an excellent job of portraying this world, her own struggles within it, and her ultimate escape from it.

First Chapter  Table of Contents  

Publisher: W. Morrow
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/1/2002
ISBN: 9780380976492
ISBN-10: 0380976498

Who knew single women were such a big problem that men, society, and the popular media have spent so much time and effort fretting over what to do about them? This book, on the other hand, celebrates them in all their glory and gives an engaging and entertaining popular history of a quickly growing segment of American society.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 6/13/2006
ISBN: 9780812976380
ISBN-10: 081297638X

"The Nation" columnist Pollitt’s wit, insight and stimulating writing make her a master at turning the political into the personal. This collection of essays on contemporary life display current feminist thought in a most intimate and engaging manner.

First Chapter  Table of Contents  

Publisher: Scholastic
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 8/1/2004
ISBN: 9780439456951
ISBN-10: 0439456959

Firedrake, a silver dragon, sets out to help save the dragons from encroaching humans by seeking out the legendary Rim of Heaven.  With the help of a boy and a brownie, the dragon travels to the lands of humans braving dangers and evading an old enemy.  Brendan Fraser’s reading adds to the enjoyment of this adventure.

Publisher: Jane Yolen Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/1/1990
ISBN: 9780152229009
ISBN-10: 0152229000

Princess Cimorene isn’t interested in leading the traditional life of a princess.  She enjoys taking sword fighting lessons and learning to cook things like cherries jubilee.  In order to avoid marrying a prince she dislikes Cimorene sneaks out of the castle and ends up volunteering to be a dragon’s princess.  This is the first in The Enchanted Forest Chronicles.  The story is performed by a full cast which adds liveliness to the performance.

Publisher: Philomel Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2/16/2006
ISBN: 9780399243042
ISBN-10: 0399243046

Enola Holmes is the famous Sherlock Holmes’ much younger sister.  When Enola’s mother disappears under mysterious circumstances everyone overlooks Enola and disregarding her wishes they plan to send her off to school.  Enola takes matters into her own hands and slips away to search for her mother on her own.  Along the way Enola finds herself embroiled in a new mystery.  Is Sherlock Holmes’ sister up to the task of solving a mystery worthy of the famous Sherlock Holmes himself?  This is the first in the Enola Holmes mystery series.   The story is beautifully read by Katherine Kellgren.

Publisher: Miramax Books/Hyperion Paperbacks for Children
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 5/1/2004
ISBN: 9780786852550
ISBN-10: 0786852550

After being publicly humiliated, Nathaniel, a magician apprentice, vows to get revenge.  He focuses on studying magic until he is finally able to summon the 5,000 year old djinn Bartimaeus.  However Nathaniel’s plans for vengeance put him in grave danger.  This is the first in The Bartimaeus Trilogy.  Simon Jones’ reads the parts of both Nathaniel and the djinn Bartimaeus.  His interpretation of Bartimaeus will bring a smile to your lips.

Publisher: Miramax Books/Hyperion Paperbacks for Children
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 4/1/2006
ISBN: 9780786838653
ISBN-10: 0786838655

Percy might seem like a boy with ordinary 21st century problems but in fact he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon and a mortal woman.  When Percy discovers his heritage, he is plunged into an adventure searching for one of Zeus’ lightning bolts.  If he can’t retrieve the lightning bolt and clear his father’s name mankind is doomed.  This is the first in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.  The audiobook is read with flair by Jesse Bernstein.

Publisher: Henry Holt
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 4/29/2008
ISBN: 9780805076684
ISBN-10: 0805076689

Jenna has woken up from a coma and can barely remember what her life was like before. No one will tell her what happened, why her family is in hiding, and where all of her friends went. This science fiction teen novel is suspenseful and engaging, taking you on twists and turns throughout. You may think you know how it ends, but I guarantee you don’t. This is a great audiobook selection as well.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 4/8/2008
ISBN: 9780375845703
ISBN-10: 0375845704

Rachel is so excited about her last year of high school, but it all comes crashing down when Nick McGowan, the most popular and good looking bad guy at her school, moves in with her family. This is truly a hilarious look at teenage life in the late 1980’s, packed full with references to Phil Collins, the Ramones and various fashion disasters.

Publisher: HarperTeen
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 6/1/2008
ISBN: 9780061122804
ISBN-10: 0061122807

Daniel and her mom are con artists, moving from one town to another in hopes of never getting caught. This town is different; here Daniel is making friends and even finding a boyfriend…who happens to be a cop. The struggle between Daniel and her mom, her old life and the one she has always yearned for is genuine and sincere. The ending is gratifying and overall this is a great read. Some other books by Elizabeth Scott are Perfect You and Bloom.

Publisher: Super D / Phantom Sound & Visi
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 7/29/2008
UPC: 05033197511894

The much anticipated, at least by me, newest album by an always popular dark and dreary band. As usual, the lyrics stand out and the music is just a bonus. Tracks that are already getting local airplay include “Calling all Skeletons” and “In Vein”.

Publisher: HarperEntertainment
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 7/1/2007
ISBN: 9780061240485
ISBN-10: 0061240486

Even if you’ve seen the movie, it is well worth your while to read this modern fairy tale about a young man who crosses the wall separating his English village from the land of Faerie in order to bring back a fallen star for the girl he thinks he’s in love with. The author himself reads the audio version, which is also a delight.

Publisher: HarperTeen
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/1/2007
ISBN: 9780060874162
ISBN-10: 0060874163

This modern re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast story takes place in Manhattan, where Kyle Kingsbury is definitely at the top of the heap at his private school. That is, until he is unkind to a goth girl who has recently showed up at school. Unfortunately for Kyle, she is a witch, and she turns him into a beast until he can find someone to look beyond his appearance, love him, and accept love in return. Kyle’s chat-room support group, comprised of others who are going through transformations (the Little Mermaid, the frog prince, etc.) adds a light touch.

First Chapter  

Publisher: HarperTempest
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 4/1/2005
ISBN: 9780060761646
ISBN-10: 0060761644

Lump is an unattractive boy child, abandoned at birth and raised by a witch, with the help of a bear as nanny, a djinni as tutor, and a cat/human as advisor. As a teenager, Lump develops a crush on a miller’s daughter, who subsequently marries the king. When the king demands that his new wife spin straw into gold, Lump is able to come to the rescue. This backstory to the Rumplestiltskin tale also incorporates slightly skewed versions of other fairy tales, including Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 8/8/2003
ISBN: 9781582348438
ISBN-10: 158234843X

In this retelling of one of Grimm’s stories, a princess is betrayed by her lady-in-waiting and forced to become a goose girl. Naturally, her good nature and special skills help her overcome all adversity and find love. Hale expands on the world created here in Enna Burning and River Secrets.

First Chapter  

Publisher: Tor
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2/1/2002
ISBN: 9780765343437
ISBN-10: 0765343436

Although this is also a story about Celtic Britain, at its heart, this is a retelling of one of my favorite tales, that of the six swans. Sorcha’s six brothers are turned into swans, and to turn them back into human men, she must live in silence and create magical shirts by picking prickly starwort, weaving it into cloth, and making a shirt for each of her brothers. Of course, there are many obstacles along the way. Marillier is a wonderful storyteller who also writes beautifully. This is the first of the Sevenwaters Trilogy, and is followed by Son of the Shadows and Child of the Prophecy, but this is the one that is most deeply rooted in a specific fairy tale.

First Chapter  

Publisher: HarperCollins
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2/1/2008
ISBN: 9780061372957
ISBN-10: 0061372951

Marjorie the cow is feeling sad because she can’t do handstands and ride bicycles like the other cows.  One night, the chickens gather for a secret meeting to help Marjorie.  Can you guess what happens next?

Publisher: Children's Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 3/1/2007
ISBN: 9780531175484
ISBN-10: 0531175480

A boy loves eating hot dogs so much, he turns into one!  Find out how he escapes from other creatures who also love hot dogs!

Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 7/5/2007
ISBN: 9780525477945
ISBN-10: 0525477942

Addy has a big problem.  She’s stuck for the school year with the Bad Luck Chair.  This is the same chair that made a boy flunk his qualifying exam for a math contest, and a girl break her leg before her big dance recital.  The chair is also making Addy, a terrific speller, flunk two spelling quizzes in a row!  Read how Addy tries to reverse the curse in this thirteen chapter book.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 5/6/2008
ISBN: 9780689876882
ISBN-10: 0689876882

Finally, here is the third book in the Fog Mound series.  Thelonious the chipmunk and his friends must try to stop the evil Dragon Lady and her ratmink followers from taking over the Olive’s home, the Fog Mound.  In the meantime, Bill the scientist starts to talk again, and the friends must escape from a hungry wolfman!

Publisher: Top Shelf
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 9/15/2004
ISBN: 9781891830624
ISBN-10: 1891830627

This is the first book in the Owly series.  The main character, Owly, is a kind creature who rescues a worm and helps him find his parents in these two adventure stories.  There are not very many words, just pictures that tell the story.  If you like this comic book, be sure to read the next ones in the Owly series: Just a little blue, where Owly and Worm make friends with a pair of hummingbirds, Flying Lessons, in which Owly must learn to fly in order to save his friend Worm, and the latest in the series, A time to be brave, when Owly and Worm meet a very unfriendly animal that’s new to the forest.