Joining us on the blog today is Adam Jay Epstein, co-author with Andrew Jacobson of the upcoming middle grade novel, The Familiars. In The Familiars, Aldwyn the orphan cat decides to play along when a young wizard in training named Jack picks him for a magic familiar when he hides in an unusual pet shop.  Now if he could just convince the other animal familiars that he too has magical powers.  When Jack and two other wizards to be are kidnapped by an evil queen, the Familiars realize it is up to them to save the day.

Epstein, Adam Jay, and Jacobson, Andrew. (September 7, 2010).  The Familiars.  New York: HarperCollins.  ISBN: 978-0061961083

When I was 9 years old, I remember the thrill of leaving my classroom and heading down the short hallway to the library. My third grade teacher was uninspiring. She was more concerned with organizing her pencils and sucking on lasengers than engaging with her students. But I knew that three times a week, I would be transported away by the energetic words of Mrs. Schwabe, E.M. Baker’s school librarian.

Now, I wasn’t in love with her — that was reserved for the pig-tailed girl who lived three houses down from me, but the stories she told have stayed with me since those days collected in a circle, on the rug, looking up at her sitting in her big wooden chair. William Steig’s “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” still holds a special place in my heart. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, with its different shaped pages, is as vivid now reading it to my own three year old daughter as it was then. I’m not sure if those morning trips to the book-filled walls of Mrs. Schwabe’s domain turned me into the author I am today, but she certainly inspired my love of reading.

Now, I’m excited to think how school librarian’s across the country, the gatekeepers of imagination, will be sharing The Familiars — yeah, my book! — with third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders — as librarians read the first words: “It all started with Aldwyn’s whiskers beginning to tingle…” I wonder if children will be transported the way I was.

Adam Jay Epstein

ADAM JAY EPSTEIN spent his childhood in Great Neck, New York, while ANDREW JACOBSON grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but the two met in a parking garage out in Los Angeles. They have been writing for film and television together ever since. This is their first book.

One day, Adam asked Andrew, “Are you familiar with what a familiar is?” And from that simple question, Vastia was born, a fantastical world filled with the authors’ shared love of animals and magic. They wrote every word, sentence, and page together, sitting opposite each other.

Adam Jay Epstein lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jane, their daughters, Penny and Olive, and a black-and-white alley cat who hangs out in their backyard. Andrew Jacobson lives with his wife, Ashley, and their dog, Elvis, four traffic lights away.

Check out The Familiars for more about the book.

Lindgren, Astrid.  Pippi Longstocking.  (1950).  New York: Viking Children’s. ISBN: 9780670557455

What is it about Pippi that makes her so universally appealing?  Her house where she lives by herself and does what she pleases?  Her pet monkey?  Her horse?  Her superhuman strength?  Her willingness to do anything, try anything, say anything?  I think it is all of that and more.  Pippi loves life, and she loves all of it, even making cookies and scrubbing the floor.  She loves her friends fiercely, and even the adults that don’t always understand her can see her loyalty and kindness.

I was sitting here thinking about how many times I had read this–too many to count.  And also that for me, unlike other children’s books I read when I was in the target age group, that I didn’t want to be Pippi, but I longed to be Tommy and Annika so that I could be Pippi’s good friend.  I was also remembering the 1988 movie version, The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking. Not a literal exact translation of the book to film, nonetheless, very true to the spirit of the book and the spirit of Pippi.  That has a nice ring to it, the spirit of Pippi.  Would that we all would have a little of her spirit!

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Dahl, Roald. (1983).  The Witches. New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux.  ISBN: 9780374384579 (hc) 9780142410110 (pb)

This was another reread for me.  I remember reading all the Dahl I could get my hands on as a child and even into my teens.  At the time, I recognized how wonderful his storytelling was, but I don’t think I realized until I was an adult how diverse his body of work is.  Just his writing for children alone but add in his autobiographies and short stories for adults and it makes you wish you could meet him just to get a glimpse into how he works.

Upon rereading this story, what impresses me the most is how much world building and plot Dahl manages to put into his just over 200 pages.  We learn all about witches, how they are organized, how to recognize them, ways they have taken children in the past.  Our hero gets caught, changed into a mouse, makes not one but two daring missions where he almost gets caught and saves all of England’s children from an awful fate.  And all with a sense of humor and fun.  Who doesn’t want a granny like this?  What child doesn’t suspect that fairy tale witches aren’t real?

I also have a fond spot in my heart for the movie which I saw in the movie theater and thought was very true to the book.  Last fall I heard this story on NPR and just had to share, as it describes the rigorous process filmmakers must go through into order to get permission to adapt Dahl’s works.  To see what Amber said about The Witches, click here.

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

DiCamillo, Kate.(2006).  The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.  Somerset, MA: Candlewick Press.  ISBN: 9780763625894

This is the first book on the top 100 list that is not a reread for me, and maybe that is the problem.  The entire time I was reading it, I kept going from one extreme to another, I don’t like it, I like it, I don’t like it.  Perhaps that is a sign that I need to read it again?  It is definitely old-fashioned, but that has never been a problem for me before.  Maybe it is the fable-like qualities, in some cases they seem very blunt and obvious to me.  Most of all though, I think it is the fact that it reminds me of other books I loved so much, especially Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field and The Holly and the Ivy by Rumer Godden.  I don’t think this is necessarily bad, but it leaves me wanting to run to the library and check those books out, rather than reading Edward again.

For another point of view, you can read what Amber at The Literary Wife thought about Edward and his journey here.

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Boston, L. M. (1954). The Children of Green Knowe. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 978-0152024680

This is book that started it all–my participation in this informal reading challenge, that is.  You can read about that here, or to see what I said about the book, check out my post on The Literary Wife.

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Banks, Lynne Reid. (1980).  The Indian in the Cupboard.  New York: HarperCollins.  ISBN: 9780385170512 (hc) 9780380600120 (pb)

This was another reread for me, very hard for me to do so.  I found the whole book to be extremely paternalistic and completely disrespectful of Native peoples.  I hadn’t understood this when I read the book as a child.

What changed?  Let me explain…I received two degrees from the University of Oklahoma, a B.A. in English and a Masters in Library and Information Studies.  While a student, I took a class on the portrayal of Native American peoples by non-Native writers.  I recall reading the diaries of Christopher Columbus, The Last of the Mohicans, and I Heard the Owl Call My Name.  Dr. Geary Hobson really impressed upon us how much these writings reflected the culture and society of the times in which they were written.  None of them had much to do with true Native culture and experiences, although of the batch, I Heard the Owl…was the least offensive.

Later in library school, I learned something I hold to be true to this day–what happens outside of class is as important if not more so than what happens in class.  I don’t recall the exact details of the conversation, but one day found myself talking with Dr. Lotsee Patterson about this very book, The Indian in the Cupboard.  I believe that even after all my study of criticism, critique and reading, I was on the side of, oh it is just a story, nothing really harmful there.  What Dr. Patterson said to me changed my understanding instantly and forever.  No one would have written, much less published a book called The China Man in the Cupboard. It might have been around the same time that I heard Native author Joseph Bruchac speak, and he addressed a question that people ask him all the time:  Can they tell his stories?  His answer was yes, but you should consider telling your own stories first.

So what am I saying?  Don’t buy this book for your library, your classroom, your child, grandchild.  Is that a strong statement to make?  Why would I, who stands for access and freedom of ideas suggest this?  Because most children will not live, work, and study with Native Americans.  This book, the portrayal of this Indian could become for them their understanding of Native peoples. Instead, look to sites like Oyate and American Indians in Children’s Literature to help you select the best books that portray Native lives and history honestly and respectfully.

If you must buy this book, or if a child in your life reads this title, then read it with them, encourage critical reading.  Have them read other books, like the ones listed here.  I leave you with this quote from Drs. Lotsee Patterson and Rhonda Harris Taylor:

“There is no way any student can be protected from all stereotypical depictions. These images are too pervasive to be totally avoided – that’s the bad news. The good news… is that a critical thinking skills model of instruction, coupled with resources carrying the authentic voices of Native Americans, can inoculate students against becoming victimized by rhetoric, assumptions or visual images.”*

*Taylor, Rhonda Harris and Lotsee Patterson.  “Getting the ‘Indian’ Out of the Cupboard:  Using Information Literacy to Promote Critical Thinking.”  Teacher Librarian, vol. 28, no. 2, December 2000, pages 9-14.

Reviewed from public library copy.  Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

Snyder, Zilpha Keatley. (1967).  The Egypt Game. New York: Atheneum. ISBN: 978-1416990512 (hardcover) ISBN: 978-1416990512 (paperback)

When April’s Hollywood singer mother sends her to live with her grandmother, April decides it isn’t worth making friends.  Her mother will be sending for her to come home almost any time.  But when she meets Melanie and discovers they share  a love of making up stories, using their imagination for elaborate and complicated games.  In a deserted yard, they create the Egypt Game, and even come to share the game with others.  But when tragedy strikes, can the game continue?

I first read this book, as with many others on this list, when I in the target audience.  The game stuck with me and when I saw Snyder signing books at an ALA annual conference, I made a point to tell her how much I had enjoyed it.  Reading it now as an adult, I am struck by what a perfect story it is, and how there is such contrast between the game and the reality of the murder that happens in the same neighbor.  The murder was not something I remembered from my long ago reading.  I see there is a more recent sequel, The Gypsy Game, but I hesitate to read it, as nothing could be as good as this.

When Amber wrote and asked me if I would write a post, I said sure, and hopped online to reserve a copy from the public library to reread it before I wrote my post.  I really enjoyed rereading it for what was the third or fourth time, although I realized that some details I was recalling were from the second book, Treasure of Green Knowe, which I think just means I will need to read it again as well.

So surf on over to The Literary Wife and read my post and cheer Amber on.  And after having fun reading Amber’s posts and guest blogging for her, I myself am going to try and read all the top 100 children’s books as well.

Final Stats:  4 whole books read, 3 partial books read:  The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, Let the Dead Lie by Malla Nunn, Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George, Sea by Heidi Kling, The Confessor by Daniel Silva, Sisters Read by Jackson Pearce, United Cakes of America by Warren Brown.  1359 pages read.  7 blogs updates, including this one, and a few tweets.  Time spent reading was 17 hours and 45 minutes.  Time spent social networking was 1 hour and 10 minutes.  Total time spent on the challenge was 18 hours and 55 minutes.  Check out other participants’ summary posts on Mother Reader.

Sunday Evening, 9:00 p.m.

Sunday Morning, 7:00 a.m. Decided to read Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George last night.  (I had momentarily forgotten I had it…)  I didn’t realize it was a sort of sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball.  I wonder if she plans a book featuring each sister?  That would be fun, each a different fairy tale.  Unfortunately, I didn’t even make it till 12 a.m. before giving into sleep, but I did finish it this morning, and I still have 14 hours left, although with time out for church and graduation, will be hard pressed to meet my goal.

Saturday Evening 8:55 p.m. Well, not doing the best job of  updating, am I?  Perhaps because I’m not doing the best job of reading…listened to part of The Confessor by Daniel Silva while making breakfast and shopping this morning.  I find this series about Gabriel Allon to be intriguing…so much packed into what could just be a spy thriller.  Then I went back to Malla Nunn’s Let the Dead Lie,  although a nap interrupted my reading.  I did manage a walk while reading this afternoon, and after an excellent dinner with my dh, finally finished it.  Another great book, this one so twisty and complex, but satisfying, especially the very end.  I don’t know what I’ll read next, but I hope I can stay awake for at least a little while!  Coffee anyone?

Friday Evening (Saturday Morning?) 12:00 a.m. Finished Bet, and I did enjoy it, although I was right about the twist at the end.  What can I say?  I’ve read a lot of historical mysteries.  I will have to decide how I feel about the end, right now I am left feeling like it was a little rushed, but then again, it took Bet’s whole lifetime to arrive.  DH says not enough sleep makes me grouchy so perhaps bed is in my near future.

Friday Evening, 11:00 p.m. More than halfway through The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted.  I am enjoying it, although I can see the upcoming plot twist from a hundred miles away.  It makes me think a little of Alanna by Tamora Pierce mixed with Dead Poet’s Society or perhaps A Separate Peace by John Knowles.  Already I am feeling sleepy, the victim of regular schedules and bed times, perhaps a little time on twitter and reading blogs will refresh me.

Friday Evening, 9:00 p.m. I can’t believe that it has been a whole year since my first 48 Hour Book Challenge.  I was newish to the book blogging community, and so excited to connect with other bloggers.  Once again I have gotten all my Friday chores out of the way, even cleaned the shower!

My goal this year is to try and read more than last year, which was 24 hours and 15 minutes.  It might be hard, as I have plans to go out to dinner with my husband tomorrow and will be attending the Hodges graduation Sunday.  Perhaps I will be more successful this year in giving up sleep.

A second goal is to connect with still more blogs and bloggers who read and review books.  The twitter hash tag for the challenge is #48hbc, if anyone else wants to follow along, and should be updates from various readers at the Mother Reader blog.