New Offerings

It feels more like November 1st than May Day here, but the rhubarb leaves have not noticed, thank goodness! Seeing their leaves uncurl and the pinkish stalks soar toward the light is always a sign of spring - and a reminder of strawberry rhubarb pie and rhubarb bread.

A few new books have been relocated from my "to read" pile and shared with other readers: Katherine Hannigan's True...Sort Of (released on April 26th) and Sheila O'Connor's Sparrow Road (to be released May 12th).

In Delly (Delaware) Pattison, a tiny girl with a raspy voice who finds trouble and fun times easily, Katherine Hannigan has created a friend anyone would be glad to have. Even though Officer Verena Tibbetts knows her well (for skipping school and eating chocolate doughnuts, for instance), Delly also loves making up words (mysturiosity, surpresent, holiDelly, refreezerated) and words to represent swear words (shikes, chizzle, bawlgrammit). When her anticipated surpresent arrives in town, Delly is determined to know this new person named Ferris Boyd (along with her sometimes annoying little brother RB) even though the oddities that surround her. Meanwhile, Brud Kinney plays basketball every weekend with a phenomenal new kid, unaware that he is really she - Ferris Boyd. As their lives become intertwined, Delly learns to tell the truth (sort of) and appreciate the struggles each person has in life. The difficulties in Ferris Boyd's life come to light through Delly's persistence, and despite the sadness, there is hope for positive change for all involved. I look forward to welcoming Katherine to our school in a few weeks to talk about the book with fourth graders.

Raine O'Rourke is definitely not looking for trouble, but she finds herself one summer at Sparrow Road, an old mansion that houses artists during the summer months. Raine's mother accepted a position as the cook at Sparrow Road and suddenly, the two depart their familiar Milwaukee home for this strange place where talking is not allowed (except on Sundays) and where there is no newspaper, no TV, no radio, and no music at anytime. Why has her mother come here? Raine wonders. More importantly, how do people get through days without any speaking? On a tour from Diego, one of the friendly artists-in-residence, Raine discovers the attic and learns the place was once a home for orphans. She begins to write questions to and answers from an orphan named Lyman Chase, and their relationship in words and imaginings help her to deal with the real reason she has been relocated to this place: to meet the father she never knew. Sheila O'Connor has created a place I can see in my mind and surrounded Raine with loving people (like Diego, the vibrant Josie, sweet Lillian, and her own Grandpa Mac) who guide her to accept the person she comes to know as her dad.