My Reading Frenzy

3 Cybils Books I REALLY Liked

These are three books I have read as a panelist for the middle grade science fiction and fantasy committee for this year's Cybils Awards. 

1.  Floors by Patrick Carman

Reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Floors is the story of Leo's quest for the four boxes left behind by the Whippet Hotel's inventor (yes, the inventor) Merganzer Whippit when he mysteriously disappears.  If Leo can find all the boxes before the hotel manager Ms. Sparks can stop him and take over the hotel herself. 

2.  The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky

Louise loves vintage clothes.  So much that when she receives an invitation to a special vintage sale she does not hesitate to go.  Marla and Glenda the shop's proprietors help her into a beautiful early 1900s gown which whirls her away to a voyage on the seas.  Louise returns to her life happy to be herself, but with a new appreciation for the lives lived in vintage clothes.  The illustrations add a wonderful layer to the story.  I also appreciate the light fantasy element after having read so many stories layered with magic and science fiction. 

3.  Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Of all the members of the royal family, only Princess Celie truly understands the castle and in return it cares for her when her parents disappear, leaving her, her sister Princess Lilah, and her brother Crown Prince Rolf alone to deal with the usurping Prince Khelsh.

Flavorwire » A Peek Inside the Libraries of Famous Writers

There’s nothing like a well-stocked library to enhance a home. Especially when that library has been outfitted with books chosen by some of the choosiest readers of all — the authors themselves. We recently caught a peek at the literary collections of a few contemporary novelists in Leah Price’s excellent and newly released Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books, but we admit that our library-lust wasn’t quite sated, and we had to go hunting for more. We’ve already shown you a choice selection of the libraries of the rich and famous, but here, inspired by Price’s book, we’re focusing on the libraries, studies, and carefully organized bookshelves of the authors themselves. Click through to see a few snapshots of the libraries of famous authors, and let us know which ones inspire you to curl up and read in the comments.

via flavorwire.com