This book is one of those rare things, a book I had to read for work that was worth every minute I invested in it. I can read crime fiction till the cows come home, but I never go near true crime, and I'd have steered clear of a book obviously about Myra Hindley (clue's on the cover, though she's never named); but I had to pick something to read from the World Book Day top ten, and they were all about death anyway, so I thought what the hell. Better than the book about the teenager dying of cancer, which made me cry on the train when I tried to read it.

The story centres on the policeman given the unenviable job of guarding Myra Hindley's body the night before her funeral, and the thought processes he goes through during the hours he spends there. He has plenty of time to think about his relationship with his wife, his struggles with being a dad to a downs syndrome daughter, and his own past. He is even visited by Hindley's ghost, and has conversations with her.

I don't remember much of what I learned during my English degree, but I do remember being told that detective novels give comfort to people, because they take evil and embody it in one person; then they catch that person, lock them up, and the reader feels safer. Evil has been explained, contained. None of this happens on a conscious level, but it makes perfect sense to me, and gives me an answer when I'm asked on occasion, how can you read books about murder for relaxation? I bring this up, because this book does the opposite. The author bravely takes on a figure that so many of us, for generations, have associated with the nature of evil, not wanting to think that there's anything remotely human about her, or that she might have anything in common with us. Rupert Thomson does not for a moment lessen the horror of what Hindley did, or dodge any difficult questions, so I don't believe anyone should be offended by his treatment of the subject. He will make you think, but as any good writer should, does not impose his views on you.

Shannon Rumple introduces readers to a feisty frog and his loving mom, in her debut children’s book, entitled, Elwood’s Crown. Important life lessons are cleverly woven into the very fabric of this heartwarming tale of responsibility, accountability and personal character. The first thing I noticed was the unique layout of this book. Designed so that when opened, one page is dedicated to art work, while the opposing page displays the written story. The full page, black canvas illustrations compliment the story, creating a captivating visual to keep wondering eyes interested. On each adjacent page, English occupies the fist half of the page, with the Spanish translation, paragraph in full, underneath. Thus providing an excellent teaching tool for those learning English as a second language. While at the same time, giving parents of English speaking children the opportunity to introduce their children to the Spanish language. Both of which lay the foundation of cultural acceptance and understanding.

Filled with interesting illustrations and engaging text, Elwood’s Crown addresses important questions of behavior and character, for the whole family. Shannon has been busy working on Elwood’s second adventure, “Fly Cake”, tentatively scheduled for release next summer. There’s much to love about Elwood’s Crown, with the seamless bilingual format inside, the overall dimensions, thick pages, and slick coat, easy to clean cover, this is a well constructed, family friendly book, that will undoubtedly spend very little time on the shelf.

NOTE: All autographed copies of Elwood’s Crown, include a collector’s edition, post card size, puzzle. This is a special offer and only available through the author’s website.

Happy Reading!RJ  

Inkheart is a great children's novel. It centers around Meggie, an avid book reader, and her father Mo, a book binder (and obviously an enabler to his daughter's reading). The adventure starts with the arrival mysterious stranger named Dustfinger, obviously from Mo's past. Because of the stranger, Mo is captured by Capricorn, a heartless tyrant, along with a special book, Inkheart. What Meggie doesn't know is that her father's nickname is Silvertongue because he has the wonderful (and terrible) ability to read the characters right out of the books. The events that follow are full of chases, villains, supernatural creatures, treasure, and, of course, books.

Meggie is an immediately likeable character. She's smart, clever, brave, and loves books. I completely relate to her, Mo, and her Aunt Elinor in their love and respect for books. All of the characters, good and bad, are complete and are as close to real people as fiction can get. They all have their own fears, flaws, and motivations.

I really liked the quotes that opened each of the chapters. The quotes were from good classics from the science fiction and fantasy genres, such as The Princess Bride, Peter Pan, Fahrenheit 451, and The Sword in the Stone. These quotes succeeded in captured the mood and the very essence of the chapter to come. It takes a very dedicated author to find just the right quotes out of many, many books to head her chapters.

The only flaw I can really see in this novel is the fact that the characters in it only seemed to like books with happy endings. When books are coming to life around you, it's understandable, but a great many of the really good books out there don't end happily. To want all happy endings is to be guaranteed to be disappointed, both in reality and literature.

Inkheart had me guessing up until the end. Some parts made me cringe, tear up, or left me breathless with anticipation. I recommend this book to any bibliophile out there.

To honor her Mom, eleven year old Mildred is determined to win the Circleville, Ohio, Pumpkin Show and fulfill a dream left undone by her mother’s untimely death. However, with each passing season something goes inherently wrong and her dreams are dashed again and again. Aunt Arlene is more than a bit concerned about Mildred’s apparent obsession with pumpkins and tries, in her overtly pushy way, to persuade her niece to pursue more feminine interests, such as make up and fancy clothing. Thankfully, Mildred’s dad doesn’t agree with Auntie Arlene and continues to support his daughter and her individual dreams. Knowing and understanding his only daughter in ways that only a father can, he is able to challenge Mildred to take her future into her own hands and follow her heart with unbridled passion. Thus allowing herself to grow into the incredible young woman her mother always knew she would one day become.Kennedy’s attention to detail proves this to be a well researched novel that introduces readers to the relatively unknown competitions that require much more than good seeds and luck to produce a thousand pound champion. Well crafted and heartwarming, the characters could easily be members of your own family or next door neighbors. The narrative reads like a family tale told over a huge dinner, with lots of laughs, a few tears and the busy body aunt that always means well but just can’t quite find the right way to express herself without appearing… well, pushy. This is a coming of age tale that will be enjoyed by all, despite their age. A magical journey that is more about Mildred’s inner growth than that of her pumpkins. Chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection, Marlane Kennedy’s solo debut, Me and the Pumpkin Queen is a first place read.

Happy Reading!RJ xx3Rs-Real Reader Reviews©

*Marlane Kennedy’s solo debut, “Me & the Pumpkin Queen” was a sweet read - that addressesemotional issues (i.e. loss of a parent, being an individual, pursuing your dream despite setbacks, etc) in age appropriate ways.  Great to share as a bed time story or as a gift for the mid-level reader

As a lover of the book "The Neverending Story" as a child I found this book by the same author and loved it just as much. I have just read it to my 7 year old daughter who enjoyed it as well.

The book is an exciting rollercoaster of an adventure packed with likeable characters and a very real enemy. It is the story of a girl called Momo who is very gifted at listening. She can help people figure problems out just by listening to them. It is also the story of the men in gray and their quest to steal something very precious from mankind which they smoke to stay alive. Will Momo be able to save herself and the world from the evil machinations of the grey men? She is accompanied through the book by a number of friends and a tortoise that has special powers. Each character has certain character traits that, if you so desire, can help the reader think about how they live their own life. And I suppose that this is the great charm of the book for me. It is a great story – yes. But it affects the reader on many levels and can help them discover more about themselves and their relationships. Do you spend time with your family and friends? Are you always rushing to finish all that you feel you have to achieve? Do you or your children know how to play? Do you enjoy life one day at a time? If you want to think about these questions then Momo is the book for you.

This children's book was read to my third-grade class by our school librarian. I remember absolutely loving the book and being completely enthralled with what was going to happen to Emily Luccock next. It is full of suspense, mystery, and adventure, and I have never forgotten the book.

Recently I re-discovered this book at my library, and because I remembered loving it so much, I was afraid that I would be disappointed in it now - but that wasn't the case. I read this book in just a few hours, and it brought back so many memories. There were so many characters and events that I had forgotten about, and as I was reading, they kept coming back to me. This book, in third grade, was probably one of my first experiences reading a mystery, and it has obviously had a profound effect on me. I know that I am not alone, because my sister, who is five years younger than I, also had this book read to her when she was in third grade, and she holds the book in high regards as well.

First we are introduced to Emily Luccock, a young girl who has recently lost her parents in a tragic accident. She is off to live with her much beloved Aunt and Uncle Twice, and she spends her train ride remembering the wonders of Sugar Hill Hall, her aunt and uncle's mansion. However, when she arrives, she discovers that Sugar Hill Hall has become a home for "unwanted" elderly people who seem to be no more than shadows along the parlor wall. The mansion has fallen into the hands of Mrs. Meeching, a sinister snake-like woman, and Mrs. Plumly, who seems as though she may be sympathetic to Emily's plight. While Uncle Twice is nowhere to be found, Aunt Twice still resides in the Hall. However, she is now one of the housekeepers, along with Tilly, a rough teenage "orphing". We also meet Kipper, a fishmonger's son who befriends Emily. Sugar Hill Hall has become a house of unanswered questions - why are the peppermints put out to tempt everyone? What happens in the Remembrance Room, where people - young and old alike - are locked in if they dare to steal a peppermint? And does fish syrup really taste all that great?

This book was just as wonderful as I remember it to have been 16 years ago, and I highly recommend it. With the influx of movies based on children's books that we have had in recent years, I think Peppermints in the Parlor would be an excellent choice. Flashy special effects are not required, and the story is appealing for all ages. As I was reading, I couldn't help but picture Frances McDormand as Aunt Twice, Freddie Highmore as Kipper, and Dakota Fanning (although someone new would also be nice) as Emily.

I ended wondering why this book had been written. The main character (a teacher) is your typical Camus style nihilist, but he has friends and fancies his sister. It's a move away from Houellebecq, which it is also similar to. The booked seemed to lack structure (a bit like this review), and I was left wondering if this was a postmodern technique, or a lack of style. I also couldn't work out what the book was about - the youth of today? A breakdown in society? Lack of cohesion? It makes for fairly quick, painless reading, but lacks the meat it alludes to in its off-hand referencing of philosophical texts, etc.

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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas takes you on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno.

The blurb on the back cover tells you “this isn’t a book for nine-year-olds” but having read the book, I think the target audience should be that age and a little older.

The story is told through Bruno’s eyes – he is naive and can be selfish and is only interested in events that affect his small world. However, he is capable of kindness and finds friendship in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

I did find this book to be a reasonably good read, despite some of the childish language and ideas. The author encourages readers to start reading the book without knowing what it is about. But one look at the cover – which show the blue, striped pyjamas from the title – and I had images from a concentration camp in my head.

I could accept that Bruno could mispronounce/mishear ‘Out-With’ and ‘the Fury’, but I found it hard to believe that a nine-year-old living in Germany and the son of a camp commandant had not been indoctrinated in the ways of the Hitler Youth.

I would recommend this book for teenagers – as it is set during a time that young people should be made aware of. Perhaps it would be appropriate for the high school curriculum.

What I like about this book is that it is immediately accessible for anyone with an interest in the field. It's written for people who want to work with children, thinking of moving into the profession or considering starting a childminding business. Whatever group you fall into, this book provides the groundwork, from factors that affect children's behaviour to considering the types of observation and assessments you should use.

The Childminder's Companion is a culmination of Alison Lee's personal experiences as a childminder. Her passion for the field is apparent from the first page and from the chapters covered in the book. She begins with keeping customers happy, which she quite rightly says is no different to any other business. She goes on to explore safety matters at childminders, dealing with parents, encouraging positive behaviour and also considers child development and activities. All of this written with a selfless undertone, epitomising her clear passion in the field.

However, the strengths of the book lie in it’s detail whilst remaining diverse. For instance, Allison explores factors that could influence children’s behaviour. Now, there aren’t just a few topics here covered, Allison goes into great detail on what to consider, such as parental divorce, culture, religion, child abuse and bullying. The book also considers how to handle children at different ages by factoring in their stage of growth and development. No stone goes unturned here.

Allison Lee tackles the potential minefield that is childminding by providing a passionate, in-depth, detailed book. If you are considering moving into the childcare profession or simply have a passion for childcare, I can highly recommend this excellent book.

This is a witty and perceptive book about a woman, Eliza, who is so unhappy that she begins to go mad. But the whole story is told from her perspective, so the reader is never clear whether or not the events are real or imaginary. As she is an intelligent, funny person, and we, as readers get inside her head, it is never a gloomy read. When we first meet her she is a rather irritating lady, trying to do good by her neighbours, but really annoying them in the process. When her neighbour, Joan apparently leaves her family to go travelling, Eliza writes to her asking her to come back. The letters continue, but become the narrative in journal form, and we learn all about Eliza's monotonous life in the Road, as we witness her descent into mental uncertainty. As this happens, and we get to know her, she becomes funny and loveable, i.e. the person that she really is. But there is one person who sees the true Eliza, and loves her for it. To give any more away would ruin the book. But the plot keeps you reading on, and there are surprises on the way.

I enjoyed this book. I don't like love stories - this isn't one. And, as I said, it's not miserable. I laughed quite a lot while reading it. It's tender, understanding, and clever, as well as being easy to read. Jane Gardam is a good writer. I recommend this book.