How to use this Page

Beardsley, Dulac and their Contemporaries 1890-1930 A telegraph.co.uk Slide Show
(Watercolor by Edmund Dulac, from Cinderella in The Sleeping Beauty and other Tales, 1910)

In Nov. of 2007, the Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibited a survey of the Golden Age of Book Illustration. THE AGE OF ENCHANTMENT is also a gorgeous book by the curator of this exhibition, Rodney Engen. Beginning with work of Aubrey Beardsley, it includes 165 color illustrations by Beardsley, Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, Kay Nielsen, and the Detmold Twins, to name just a few. Examining a time when the "beautiful decadence" of Beardsley "softened to delight rather than to shock," Mr. Engen supplies the details. He describes a time when trade with Japan and China influenced Western artists, and he provides a context for understanding a cultural shift of spirit and style.

This is the kind of luxurious book that should be read slowly. The historical perspective can be sampled a little at a time. (The biographical information is fascinating and often sad.) And the pictures, without any words at all, can pull you into their fantastic stories.

Back in December I reviewed Siobhan Dowd's middle grade novel The London Eye Mystery. The book was previously published in the UK, and is now available in the US. In my review I called it: "... a locked room mystery for kids, one with a more intriguing setting than most". In addition to an intriguing setting (a boy disappears from the London Eye, a huge ferris wheel), The London Eye also features a narrator with (apparently) Asperger's Syndrome. I concluded:

"I recommend The London Eye Mystery for elementary school age mystery buffs, boys and girls, as well as for kids who have any kind of learning difference. The message that Siobhan Dowd conveys, with a very light hand, is that being different isn't necessarily bad. Differences in thinking can even turn into assets, depending upon the circumstances. Being able to get this across while keeping kids engrossed in the mystery took real talent on Dowd's part."

You can read my full review here.

About two months ago I reviewed Justina Chen Headley's book: Girl Overboard, which is due to be released today. Girl Overboard is the story of Syrah, Chinese-American daughter of a billionaire, in recovery from both a snowboarding accident and a broken heart and trying to figure out her true strengths. I said:

Justina Chen Headley, through Syrah, is showing teenage girls that they have a right to define themselves on their own strengths and to be amazing on their own terms. This message, delivered with a fast-paced and complex plot, multi-dimensional characters, and a humorous yet sympathetic tone, is a sure winner.

You can read the full review here. It's well worth checking out.

Crissa Jean Chappell's young adult novel Total Constant Order is scheduled for publication today. I reviewed it from ARC back on May 9th, saying:

Total Constant Order is about coming of age, coming to terms with mental disorders, coping with a life-altering medication, and building newer, more adult relationships with parents and step-parents.

It's well worth checking out, especially for anyone (14 and up) who has coped with any sort of mental illness or depression.

I expect today to be a day of much rejoicing over at The Disco Mermaids. Jay Asher's book, Thirteen Reasons Why, is due to be released. And I, for one, predict that it's going to be a huge success. When I reviewed it last month I said:

"Read it because the characters are so strong that they positively breathe from the page. Read it because by the time you finish, you'll care about Hannah and Clay as though they were your friends. Read it because the narrative structure is utterly engaging (as well as technically impressive). I also confidently predict that once you start this book, you'll read it because you can't not read it."

Still true. Go, buy it, read it. Oh, and this post by Jay, about being the first person to return a copy, is also funny. People celebrate things in their own unique ways, I guess.

Lessons from a Dead Girl, by Jo Knowles, is scheduled for publication today. I reviewed it about a month ago, and called it "a powerful book that doesn't shy away from difficult topics." Having thought about it more since then, I would add that it's a brave and brilliant book, well worth your time (though not for the faint of heart). Highly recommended.

About a month ago I reviewed Fearless, by Tim Lott. While I was a bit skeptical about the kid appeal of the book, I thought that it was well-written, too. I said:

"Lott uses a dystopian setting to explore intriguing ideas about order vs. chaos, individuality, bravery, and justice. Fearless is beautifully written, with spare and moving prose. It was long-listed for the 2007 Guardian prize, and I can see why."

Fearless is scheduled for publication today. Fans of dystopian novels should give it a look.

I reviewed The Social Experiments of Dorie Dilts: Dumped by Popular Demand, by P. G. Kain a couple of weeks ago, and wanted to let you know that it's scheduled for publication on Tuesday (but apparently already available from Amazon). Here's what I said about it:

"This book is adorable. It's sweet and funny and quirky, and I want it to be made into a movie as soon as possible (maybe preferably by Disney Pictures and/or John Hughes)."

This is a great read for tween girls, especially right now, early in the school year, when middle school social structures may be more fluid than usual.

Eric Berlin's middle grade novel The Puzzling World of Winston Breen, which I reviewed from ARC, is now available. The story is a mystery, and the book is filled to the brim with all sorts of puzzles. I said in my review:

I know that I would have absolutely adored this book when I was 11 years old, in the midst of my own puzzle phase. Even as an adult reader, I found myself spending a lot more time on this book that I initially anticipated, because I was compelled to stop and work out most of the puzzles.

To learn more, and see more puzzles, check out Winston's puzzle blog.

Last week I reviewed Heather Brewer's middle school novel The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites. I'm posting now to let you know that today is the planned release date for the book. I think this one will be a hit with middle schoolers, so now is your chance to pick it up.

Book: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites
Author: Heather Brewer (see also a character blog featuring Vladimir Tod)
Pages: 182
Age Range: 10-14
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: August 16, 2007

Judy Gregerson's teen novel Bad Girls Club, which I reviewed from ARC on June 5th, is scheduled for publication today. I called this book "a dark and disturbing story of the havoc that mental illness can wreak on a family, and the bond that children maintain with abusive parents." I should have added compelling to that sentence - it's a fascinating book. I'll be interested to hear what people think, now that it's published.

Greg Fishbone's first novel, The Penguins of Doom is scheduled for release today. I reviewed it from an ARC on June 10th. Here was the conclusion of my review of this middle grade novel:

The sketches are highly entertaining, and give the book a hint of a graphic novel feel. Although the main character is a girl, the sketches and diagrams, not to mention many of the events, feel boy-friendly, too. I think that Penguins of Doom will please boys and girls or all ages, nine and up.

Incidentally, it's no coincidence that the release date is 7/7/7. Sevens feature prominently in this book about a seventh child.

Two books that I reviewed from ARC have just been released today.

• Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst. (My review). Sarah's excited thoughts on the release of her first novel can be found here. She says that publication day "is the day that I have been waiting for and working toward for literally my entire life." She also recounts the moment when she decided to become a writer. It's a lovely, giddy, window into one writer's long-time dream fulfilled. 
• A Girl, A Boy, and a Monster Cat by Gail Gauthier. (My review). Today only, you can win a free copy of the book. Details are available at Gail's website. And, for a different perspective on release day, read about what Gail is doing today. She says "by the time a book is actually published, a writer ought to have moved on to something else. This one ought to, anyway." Oh, the difference between first book and seventh.

Hat tip to Liz B. from Tea Cozy for inspiring me to do a better job of notifying people when the books that I've reviewed are released.