The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

If I had to pick a genre of literature that I liked best, then historical fiction would be my top choice. However, "The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg" is not your average historical fiction novel. Homer, the main character in the story, escapes a terrible home to try to rescue his older brother who was illegally sold into the Union Army. Now, you would think that would mean that the whole book is pretty serious, however, there is a great deal of humor in this story. Homer is not above "stretching the truth" when it suits his purposes, and it leads to some pretty interesting situations. This book was both an entertaining and fun adventure book. Read the full description below, and come check it out!

From School Library Journal:

When his older brother gets conscripted into the Union Army, Homer runs away from his uncle, "the meanest man in the entire state of Maine." He sets out after Harold but has multiple misadventures along the way. He survives thanks to courage, luck, and his talent for telling lies when needed, since "old Truth ain't nearly as useful as a fib sometimes." Homer relates his own adventures in colorful language as he crosses paths with con men, rogues, and scoundrels of various types. The comic tone is reflected in character names, such as Stink and Smelt, the cold-blooded slave catchers, and the kind but shifty Professor Fleabottom. Things take a more somber tone when Homer sees the horrors of the battlefield up close. The final reunion of the brothers during the Battle of Gettysburg is bittersweet. Homer's escapades introduce some interesting features of the year 1863, including the Underground Railroad, a traveling medicine show, Civil War spies, and an early version of the hydrogen balloon. Homer runs into plenty of danger, but there's more comedy than suspense in most episodes. He also deals with some moral dilemmas as he tries to make sense of the wide world and find people and ideas to believe in. The engaging protagonist and mixture of humor and adventure make this a strong choice for fans of Sid Fleischman's tales.

Shakespeare's Secret

The book that I read this week was actually recommended to me by one of you! I love books that take history that is familiar, and change it, so you are sure what is true and what is fiction (Dan Brown is a master of this). "Shakespeare's Secret" is a great mystery book that has two middle school students hunting for a hidden diamond, and questioning who might have been the real writer of Shakespeare's works (did you know that were a few questions surrounding this?) The character of Hero is well written, as she struggles to fit in at her new school, you really can relate to her challenges. See the summary of the plot below, and come check it out!

From School Library Journal:

Hero has always hated her Shakespearean-based name, for, as her new sixth-grade classmates are quick to tell her, it's better suited to a dog than to a girl. Resigned to their constant teasing, she concentrates instead on her new found friendship with her kindly, if somewhat eccentric, elderly next-door neighbor. Mrs. Roth tells Hero about the missing "Murphy Diamond," a precious jewel that supposedly disappeared from the house where Hero now lives. Mrs. Roth has the necklace that once held the diamond, an heirloom that possibly once belonged to Anne Boleyn, and she is convinced that it is still hidden in the vicinity. She and Hero set out to find what the police could not, and, with help from Danny, a popular yet self-assured eighth grader who befriends them both, they succeed. Only then do the real connections among the three of them come to the surface and change their lives forever.

Erratum

As I look back I realize that it has been a VERY long time since my last entry. I apologize for the delay, but I have a good book for this entry!

I just finished "Erratum" by Walter Sorrells. If you are a fan of the Mysterious Benedict Society books then you are going to like this one. While the characters are not fully developed, you quickly get caught up in this exciting science fiction/suspense novel. Check out the summary below:

Always a reader, seventh-grader Jessica Sternhagen is intrigued by an old bookshop that appears in her small Minnesota town. There, she is given a curious book about herself that keeps changing. Our world, she learns, has alternate histories; her role is to keep it on the one true, correct path. She is, in fact, the guardian of the universe. But before she can save our world from disappearing, she and her best friend, Dale, have to make serious choices about which lives they want to live. This fast-paced science-fiction story involves theories about time, string theory, and dark energy as well as difficult questions about friendship and compassion. It also features the largest public library in the world, a scary dog named Cerberus, and a suspicious vacuum-cleaner salesman who wants to do away with books altogether. From Booklist.