Canton Public Library

The Warlock, in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott is part of an awesome, intricate fantasy series. You will be shocked and amazed at what unfolds in this book. If you love multi-layered fantasies, and have not yet delved into the worlds, shadow-worlds, and complex characters created by Scott, you must! In this latest installment you will not believe how gullible Josh is. Has Dr. Dee altered his mind somehow? His sister Sophie has no clue whom she can trust anymore. Ancient civilizations and shadowlands, such as Atlantis, are on the brink of chaos and collapse, which would prevent our known world from ever coming into existance. There are so many unexpected shifts in characters you thought you knew and so many plot twists, my head is still reeling. (Hint: If you want to know what a vimana is, check out a book on ancient Indic/Indian mythology, or cheat by reading the author's note at the end of the book, or I suppose you could Google it.) Whatever you do, Don't read the last chapter first! It will totally spoil this action-packed, mind-bending adventure.

Even if you haven't read the prequel, Fly by Night (as I haven't), you will still fly through Fly Trap by Frances Hardinge, staying up far later than you should to find out what happens next. Mosca Mye is one feisty, clever, courageous, endearing super-heroine ready to take on evil and corruption regardless of the danger it puts her in. She has just escaped from the city of Mandelion, where she, her sometimes con-man friend Eponymous Clent, and her goose guard Saracen helped foment a revolution. Now the trio is trapped in the wealthy, but "stinkin', rotten" city of Toll that operates like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Hidden behind the white-washed daytime walls is another entire city of oppressed people who are only allowed to venture out at night; a dark time ruled by an underground syndicate of Locksmiths. While trying to invent a scheme to raise money to pay the high toll to get out of Toll, Mosca and her friends become embroiled in the city's twisting politics, a kidnapping, and plots and counter-plots that leave you guessing and breathless at the end of each chapter. Mosca's world is so vividly created that you feel as if you are right there with her and the characters are people you know.

Destination College Savings is back! Twelve Michigan libraries and families have a chance to win $1,500 towards a child's future college education and $1,000 for their library. Entry forms are available at the library beginning June 20, 2011. Entries must be postmarked by August 12, 2011 and received by August 19, 2011. This summer reading program sweepstakes is sponsored by MESP, MET, and the Library of Michigan Foundation.

The Memory Bank by Carolyn Coman and Rob Shepperson is an enjoyable, but puzzling story. Soft black&white pictures tell some of the story, as with Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It has the dark, mysterious aura of Gaiman's Coraline. Parental figures are rather horrific, as one might find in Roald Dahl's creations. Hope Scroggins becomes entangled in the WWMB (World Wide Memory Bank) and a dream realm in a desperate search for her younger sister whom her parents told her to forget about after dumping Honey out of the car for misbehavior. But the whole book has a very surrealistic quality to it and I am wondering what is real, what is dreamed, what is the intent of the authors. As Keats might say, "Gone is the vision. Do I wake, or do I sleep?" So I am asking all readers to please post your thoughts/feelings/reactions to this awesome, but mysterious story.