Holidays Begin

Hi Riverbenders
My teacher friends have reminded me that the September holidays begin today so for them, here are a few holiday reading suggestions.
Our book of the month is Run by Ann Patchett. I thouroughly enjoyed this one. Set in Boston in the depths of winter, it's a story of family. Tip and Teddy are brothers, close in age, both adopted by a well to do politically connected family. As adults they reluctantly accompany their father to an event to hear Jesse Jackson speak. Afterwards on the icy road they are involved in an accident with far reaching ramifications. Read a full synopsis on the homepage of the Riverbend website.

Another good holiday read is Blood Ties by Sam Hayes. This is a compelling mystery - one story with three threads. Beginning with the disappearance of a baby from the back seat of a car and continuing thirteen years later with a mother's reluctance to allow her teenage daughter to accept a scholarship to a prestigious school, this mystery will keep you guessing until the surprising end.

Rose Tremain's new book The Road Home is the story of Lev, a newly arrived immigrant from Eastern Europe. Tremain is well known for her historical fiction but in this book she turns her gaze to the England of here and now as she explores the contemporary migrant experience.

The Last Summer (of you and me) by Ann Brashares has a very "holiday read" cover. Author of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pantsthis is the story of sisters, Riley and Alice and of the summer in which they leave childhood behind. Anita Shreve describes the book as a very adult novel of love, loss and the beauty of intense family bonds.

And last but not least is Patrick Gale's stunning Notes from an Exhibition. The story of a life told from multiple perspectives, this is a tale of enduring love and of a family which weathers tragedy, mental illness and the intolerable strain of living with genius.

For the younger holiday reader, try these.
Spilled Water by Sally Grindley - When her father dies, leaving Lu Si-Yan's family in poverty, her uncle decides to sell her. Lu Si-Yan is eleven, and regarded as 'spilled water' - a waste. From her idyllic home in the Chinese countryside to the smog-wrapped factories of the big city, Lu Si-Yan's journey is a difficult one. But she refuses to spend her life in servitude and is determined to be reunited with her beloved mother and brother.

The Tapestry 1: The Hound of Rowan by Henry H Neff will delight Harry Potter fans. Max McDaniels lives a quiet life in the suburbs of Chicago, until the day he stumbles upon a mysterious Celtic tapestry depicting the mythic Cattle Raid of Cooley. Now many strange people are interested in Max and his tapestry. His discovery will lead him to Rowan Academy, a secret school where great things await: fantastic creatures, rigorous training, and his very own observatory within a mansion by the sea.
But dark things are waiting, too. When Max learns that priceless artworks and gifted children are disappearing from around the globe, he finds himself in the crossfire of an ancient struggle between good and evil. To survive, he'll have to rely on a shadowy network of agents and mystics, the genius of his roommate, and the frightening power awakening within him. This is a great mix of fantasy, mythology and folklore.

Wendy Harmer's Really Really Pearlie is good value holiday reading - three books in one glittering hot pink cover.

On Monday night we enjoyed meeting Agnes Nieuwenhuizen who introduced us to her book Right Book Right Time 500 Great Reads for Teenagers. This is a great reference for teachers, parents and teenagers looking for tried and true recommendations.
I hope you all manage to find the right book for these holiday times.
Enjoy the Spring sunshine.
Happy holiday reading
Jane