Classic as truly African literature. Classic in a Greek tragedy sense. Classic as a fascinating look into another culture. Classic and yet still accessible.

"But who will ransom me?" O'Brien truly makes me grow as a reader. "Had not every father once been a child, each suffering in turn those blows and absences that chain souls?" The way he layers his protagonist-who climbs down into wells to kill a beast with his grandfather as a child and sees the Madonna in a traincar as an adult- and the manner in which he addresses his struggle is remarkable.

The subject matter could have instigated pity and depression. But instead it fills you with hope, makes you take a moment to consider your blessings and reevaluate how you are living out your dreams.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Chaput is coo. This is the type of book that while not a page turner, you just feel your brain expanding every time you read it. So many excellent points.

An entirely bold and different look at a tragedy: surviving the survivors. Maus is a jarringly honest account of a son's disjointed relationship with his father as he tries to preserve the history of a shadow he grew up in.

A very interesting concept for a book, modern day meets mythology and I am excited to see how my students react to it. Battling monsters keeps the pace going, but is descending to the Underworld a little too much for young readers? I don't mind the selfishness of the gods, but I wish Riordan would take more care to keep his heroes heroic.

Simplistic, somber, spare verse conveys much more than narrative could. My favorite moment is when the adults all circle around to protect the children.

After Burroughs and Frey, it is sad that I approached some of Beah's unprovable claims with skepticism. Still, his life of refugee, soldier and recovering makes 3 very interesting chapters. "Afraid that nightfall would turn over the uncertain pages of our lives." We have no idea how lucky we are in the U.S.

Man, it feels so good just to _finish_ a book. The work as a whole was not quite as satisfying as individual parts. Made me want to build a chicken coop and hunt for mushrooms though.

Is this a work of sheer genius or another example of the dumbing down of children's literature? Possibly both? Whatever it is, it is hilarious, though I worry about kids reading this without guidance. The morals are nuanced enough that I think some kids would be just as oblivious as Greg in how his selfish actions impact others.

Ms. Ripley studiously gathers supporting data, combining real-life drama with the inner workings of your brain. All the psychology and talk of brain evolution gets weary. But the stories of 9/11, the Beverly Hills Supper Fire, stampedes at hajj, and the 1982 Flight 90 crash into the Potomac are so memorable, this book is worth it.

The problem is that I just expect so much from Mr. Weigel. This started off as a decisive look at our Church, but unravelled into a series of admonishments that began to seem harsh and didactic. "This must cease." There was some interesting info about Vatican II aftermath that made me appreciate where our Church is today.

I am a sucker for father-son stories, and this one, where a father literally helps his son's dreams take off, is a winner.

Normally, when a book is so compelling it makes me read 350 pages in one day, staying up til 3 in the morning to finish it, it gets an enthusiastic review from me. But this book is aimed at teens, and has enough gray area to make me question it, including a mercy killing and more than one scene with nudity.

When I finished this one, I thought it was just a mediocre collection of your typical comic-fare. But it was all building up to something...

The most Caldecott potential I've seen in 09 so far. I love the outside of this book a little more than the inside though (the rhymes could have been done by my mom). Still very fun style.

The funny comes back with a return to (relative) innocence. That Rodrick was such a bad influence. And don't even get me started on his little brother...

I thought this one was a little more cruel and more of a bad influence than the first. I think parents and teachers should definitely discuss these with their kids while reading them.

A tad melodramatic at times, but I like how Kehret puts the attention on the people that could have helped but chose not to.

I can not think of a book that I was so let down by. If I can persuade just one person not to waste their time on this shallow, immature, self-indulgent memoir, then I have made a difference in this world.