Blood and Chocolate

Blood and Chocolate is by Annette Curtis Klause. Vivian is a werewolf. Her pack has moved to a populated area after her father and several other packs members were burned to death when a member of their pack began killing humans. Now they are leaderless and fractured. Vivian tries to stay out of pack politics and falls in love with a human boy. She decides to tell him her secret and finds she has endangered her own life and that of her pack when humans begin to die again. A harsh, but tender, tale of coming of age and learning how to accept what you are.

Ratings: 8th grade - 9 out of 10 - MP (mild profanity) - V (violence).

Greek Myths and Legends

Greek Myths and Legends is by Jilly Hunt. A great introduction for young readers to Greek mythology. The pictures and artwork are entertaining and colorful. There is even a glossary and list of names of primary gods/goddesses, monsters, and other creatures.

Ratings: 5th grade - 8 out of 10.

Chinese Myths and Legends

Chinese Myths and Legends is by Anita Ganeri. A great introduction for young readers to Chinese mythology. The pictures and artwork are entertaining and colorful. There is even a glossary and list of names of primary gods/goddesses, monsters, and other creatures.

Ratings: 5th grade - 8 out of 10.

Norse Myths and Legends

Norse Myths and Legends is by Anita Ganeri. A great introduction for young readers to Norse mythology. The pictures and artwork are entertaining and colorful. There is even a glossary and list of names of primary gods/goddesses, monsters, and other creatures.

Ratings: 5th grade - 8 out of 10.

American Indian Stories and Legends

American Indian Stories and Legends is by Catherine Chambers. A great introduction for young readers to American Indian stories and legends. The pictures and artwork are entertaining and colorful. There is even a glossary and list of names of primary gods/goddesses, monsters, and other creatures.

Ratings: 5th grade - 8 out of 10.

The Prince of Mist

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Max and Alicia Carver, and their family move to a home in a seaside village to escape the city during the war. There they befriend the grandson of the lighthouse keeper, Roland. The three children find themselves haunted by a mysterious figure called the "Prince of Mists." As they try to decipher the mystery of the strange happenings at Max's house, they discover Roland's grandfather knows more about what's happening than he's letting on. An incredibly spooky story, Stephen King for young adults.

Ratings: 7th grade - 9 out of 10.

Sean Connery: The Measure of a Man

Sean Connery: The Measure of a Man is by Christopher Bray. This is more a book about Connery's filmography than a book about his life. If you are looking for a biography, this is not your book. Bray, like most "film critics", hates the movies Connery fans love and love the ones most fans don't care for. I learned a lot about Bray's opinions of Connery's performances, but little about Connery himself.

Ratings: Adult - 4 out of 10 - AC (some adult thematic content).