by Christopher Paolini

Eragon was one of the best young adult books I have read this year. Eragon had just enough courage and caring to be likeable and seem realistic, too. I loved the personality and pet style behaviors of Saphira, the dragon. You have probably already heard that Paolini started writing Eragon when he was 15. The book shows a lot of insight into emotions and behavior for an author of his age. I got to hear Christopher Paolini speak of his love of books and writing in Seattle. He told us that the third dragon will be emerald green! If you want to read more about Christopher Paolini and his books, here is a link to his website:

http://www.alagaesia.com/

He also wrote about his love of books and early writing in the book Guys Write for Guys Read. He signed both of these books for our library.

Look for Eldest in our library now!

by Anthony Doerr

I love short story collections and Anthony Doerr’s The Shell Collector ranks among one of the best I’ve read. The settings range from Africa to Ohio and the subjects are equally varied. If you love nature, his attention to scientific detail and the wonders of the natural world is top notch. If you are a photographer, you will find wonderful descriptions of your art in the last story. If you are an aspiring writer, I had the chance to meet Anthony Doerr last night at an author reading and his advice was to write about something that truly interests you and then research the details you need to include. Look for our signed copy in the library!

by Audrey Niffenegger

Audrey Niffenegger’s book The Time Traveler’s Wife has been nominated for the Young Reader’s Choice Award, an award we can vote on here at GHHS. Clare, the wife, must travel through time in chronological order, but her husband, Henry bounces back and forth in time. The book is about love that survives even under these strange conditions. At a reading on October 2^nd, Audrey Niffenegger said that she has always had an interest in the paranormal, and the book grew out of that interest. This book was originally written for adults so it does include adult content. Look for our signed copy!

By Neil Gaiman

It’s been a couple of years since I read this book, and I still remember the “spooky” feelings it had throughout. It’s an “Alice in Wonderland” tale where Coraline finds herself in a parallel universe, where her parents have acquired button eyes and want to change her and keep her with them against her will. Neil Gaiman is well known for his Sandman series of graphic novels and his newest book, Anansi Boys, currently tops the best seller lists. I got to hear him read from the new book and speak about his books in Seattle last week at a very popular event. I’m enjoying Anansi Boys right now. It is a modern day retelling of the African Anansi the Spider legends. Coraline and Stardust are two books of Neil Gaiman’s that are in our library now and

is coming soon.

By Louise Erdrich

On Friday night, October 7, Louise Erdrich performed an emotional reading from her new book, The Painted Drum. A masterful writer of many books based on her Chippewa heritage, she also promotes books and reading in her own book store. I have not read The Painted Drum yet, but I look forward to the reading experience. We will have the book in the library soon and, in the meantime, other books by Louise Erdrich we have available are a signed copy of her first novel Love Medicine, The Beet Queen and Four Souls.

By Terence Blacker

It’s difficult to describe this book without giving too many details away. Sam has recently had to move to England from the US to live with his cousin and his family. On a dare, he dresses up as a girl for the first week of school. Things become more complicated as time goes on and Sam becomes somewhat stuck in his new life for various reasons. If you like funny and unusual stories that take place in a school setting, then this is a book to try.