Click here for more archived reviews

 

Reviews from 2007:

 

 

December 2007 Reviews

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron, review by Sarah Bagby

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, review by Sarah Bagby

The Rug Merchant by Meg Mullins, review by Beth Golay

 

Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley, review by Bruce Jacobs

A Perfect Mess by Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freidman, review by Carolyn Kretzer

The Uncommon Reader: A Novella by Alan Bennett, review by Mark David Bradshaw

The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life by Kathy L. Patrick, review by Beth Golay

 

Our Dumb World from The Onion, review by Rebekah Rine

 

Boomsday by Christopher Buckley, review by Rebekah Rine

 

I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert, review by Rebekah Rine

 

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin, review by Sarah Bagby

 

Run by Ann Patchett, review by Beth Golay

 

Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm & Rich Tommaso, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Gimme Cracked Corn and I Will Share by Kevin O'Malley, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

An Orange in January by Dianna Hutts Aston & Julie Maren, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo, review by Joni Lee

 

 

November 2007 Reviews

 

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan, review by Sarah Bagby

 

Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday by Megan McDonald, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Violet Bing and the Grand House by Jennifer Paros, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story of the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illus. by Kadir Nelson, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones by Judy Schachner, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson, review by Sarah Bagby

 

The Longest Christmas List Ever by Gregg & Evan Spiridellis, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Russell's Christmas Magic by Rob Scotton, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Olivia Helps With Christmas by Ian Falconer, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Under Hope's Roof compiled and written by Myrne Roe

 

One City, Two Brothers by Chris Smith & Aurelia Fronty, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman, review by Joni Lee

 

What's Eating You?, Extreme Animals, and Poop by Nicola Davies & Neal Layton, reviews by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Earthlight 1 and Earthlight 2 by Stuart Moore & Christopher Schors, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Shug by Jenny Han, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Jabberwocky by Christopher Myers, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson, a book conversation between Sarah Bagby, Todd Robins, and Bruce Jacobs

 

 

October 2007 Reviews

 

The Farther Shore: A Novel by Matthew Eck, review by Sarah Bagby

 

Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson, review by Laura Flaugher

 

Drama! Everyone's a Critic by Paul Ruditis, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Main Street: Needle & Thread by Ann M. Martin, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Sardine in Outer Space 4 by Emmanuel Guibert & Joann Sfar, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World by Craig, Juliana, & Isabella Hatkoff, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Owen & Mzee: Best Friends by Craig & Isabella Hatkoff, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Mind Your Manners, B. B. Wolf by Judy Sierra, review by Carolyn Kretzer

 

Slam by Nick Hornby, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Away by Amy Bloom, review by Sarah Bagby

 

Taken by Edward Bloor, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

The God Box by Alex Sanchez, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Oscar and the Moth: A Book About Light and Dark and

Oscar and the Frog: A Book About Growing by Geoff Waring, reviews by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Please, Louise! by Frieda Wishinsky, illus. by Marie-Louise Gay, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

London Calling by Edward Bloor, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

Tangerine by Edward Bloor, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

 

September 2007 Reviews

 

"The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court" by Jeffrey Toobin, review by Sarah Bagby

 

“The Three Snow Bears” by Jan Brett, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You” by Peter Cameron, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World” by E. L. Konigsburg, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree” by Lauren Tarshis, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Bear Feels Sick” by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity” by Mo Willems, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Maytrees" by Annie Dillard, review by Sarah Bagby

 

"Interred with Their Bones" by Jennifer Lee Carrell, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Exit Ghost" by Philip Roth, review by Todd Robins

 

"Girls of Riyadh" by Rajaa Alsenea, review by Laura Flaugher

 

“From Emporia: The Story of William Allen White” by Beverly Olson Buller, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Cowboy and Octopus” by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Guyaholic” by Carolyn Mackler, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Piper Reed, Navy Brat” by Kimberly Willis Holt, illus. by Christine Davenier, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One” by Judy Blume, illus. by James Stevenson, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“The Only Boy in Ballet Class” by Denise Gruska, illus. by Amy Wummer, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Pssst!” by Adam Rex review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

 

August 2007 Reviews

 

"Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan, review by Sarah Bagby

 

"The Undomestic Goddess" by Sophie Kinsella, review by Laura Flaugher

 

"Darkly Dreaming Dexter" and "Dearly Devoted Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Beach Road" by James Patterson & Peter de Jonge, review by Missy Abbott

 

"Drama! The Four Dorothys" by Paul Ruditis, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Fairy Haven & the Quest for the Wand” by Gail Carson Levine, illus. by David Christiana, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg” by Gail Carson Levine, illus. by David Christiana, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Naomi & Ely’s No-Kiss List” by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature” by Robin Brande, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Clementine” by Sara Pennypacker, pictures by Marla Frazee, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Elephant & Piggie: I Am Invited to a Party!”  by Mo Willems, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Rest of Her Life" by Laura Moriarty, review by Sarah Bagby

 

"First Among Sequels: A Thursday Next Novel" by Jasper Fforde review by Kristie Schmidt

 

"The Street of a Thousand Blossoms" by Gail Tsukiyama, review by Laura Flaugher

 

The "Twilight" novels by Stephenie Meyer, trend-spotting by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Bone #6: Old Man’s Cave” by Jeff Smith, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Baby-Sitters Club #3: Mary Anne Saves the Day” by Ann M. Martin & Raina Telgemeier, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Goosebumps Graphix #3: Scary Summer” by R.L. Stine, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Love, Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Middle School is Worse Than Meat Loaf” by Jennifer L. Holm, illus. by Elicia Castaldi, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Houndsley and Catina” and “Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise” by James Howe,

illus. by Marie-Louise Gay, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Elephant & Piggie: There is a Bird on Your Head” by Mo Willems, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq" by Thomas E. Ricks, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

 

July 2007 Reviews

 

"After Dark" by Haruki Murakami, review by Sarah Bagby

 

“Here If You Need Me: A True Story” by Kate Braestrup, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Tin Roof Blowdown: A Dave Robicheaux Novel" by James Lee Burke, review by Kathy Sexton

 

"Dead Connection" by Alafair Burke, review by Shelly Walston

 

“Tested: One American School Struggles to Make the Grade” by Linda Perlstein, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Story of a Girl” by Sara Zarr, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Cave of the Dark Wind: A Never Land Book” by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?” by Margaret McNamara & G. Brian Karas, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie” by Joel Stewart, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"All-Star Superman Vol. 1" by Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely, review by Omar Ramos

 

"Falling Man" by Don DeLillo, review Sarah Bagby

 

“Runaways, vol. 3” by Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona, & Mike Norton, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Woe is I Jr.: The Younger Grammarphobe’s Guide” by Patricia O’Conner, illus. by Tom Stiglich, review Mark David Bradshaw

 

“The Girl's Like Spaghetti: Why, You Can't Manage without Apostrophes!” by Lynne Truss, illus. by Bonnie Timmons, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Saints of Augustine” by P. E. Ryan, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Dreamquest: Tales from Slumberia” by Brent Hartinger, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Where I Live” by Eileen Spinelli, illus. by Matt Phelan, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Dogku” by Andrew Clements, illus. by Tim Bowers, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Bad Dog, Marley” by John Grogan, illus. by Richard Cowdrey, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"On Chesil Beach" by Ian McEwan, review by Sarah Bagby

 

 

June 2007 Reviews

 

"Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver, review by Jeanine Hathaway

 

"Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea" by Guy Delisle, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56” by Rafe Esquith, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Houdini: The Handcuff King” by Jason Lutes & Nick Bertozzi, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little” by Peggy Gifford, pictures by Valorie Fisher, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Main Street: Welcome to Camden Falls" by Ann M. Martin, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"A Man, A Can, A Plan: A Second Helping" by David Joachim and the editors of Men's Health, review by Beth Golay

 

“Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers” by Megan McDonald, pictures by Peter H. Reynolds, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“The Talented Clementine” by Sara Pennypacker, pictures by Marla Frazee, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“The P.L.A.I.N. Janes” by Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Peony in Love" by Lisa See, review by Laura Flaugher

 

"Tiny Tyrant" by Lewis Trondheim & Fabrice Parme, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

 

May 2007 Reviews

 

 

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini, review by Sarah Bagby

 

"Boy Girl Boy" and "Arizona Kid" by Ron Koertge, reviews by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Dangerous Book for Boys" by Conn Iggulden & Hal Iggulden, review by Beth Golay

 

"The Nature of Monsters" by Clare Clark, review by Sarah Bagby, Carolyn Kretzer, and Judy Burris

 

"The New Girl: The English Roses" by Madonna, review by Liz Golay

 

“Mars Needs Moms!” by Berkeley Breathed, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Chocolat" by Joanne Harris, review by Anne Frey

 

"Hick" by Andrea Portes, review by Beth Golay

 

"Writing in an Age of Silence" by Sara Paretsky, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Incredible Book-Eating Boy" by Oliver Jeffers, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean" by Kevin Sherry, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Divisadero" by Michael Ondaatje, review by Jason Malott

 

"Bad Luck and Trouble" by Lee Child, review by Judy Burris

 

"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See, review by Shelly Walston

 

"The One and Only Shrek! Plus 5 Other Stories" by William Steig, review by Omar Ramos

 

"Karma and Other Stories" by Rishi Reddi, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History"

by Cait Murphy, review by Jason Malott

 

"Curly Girl" by Lorraine Massey, review by Joyce Suellentrop

 

“An Egg Is Quiet” and “A Seed is Sleepy” by Dianna Aston & Sylvia Long, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Love Walked In" by Marisa de los Santos, review by Anne Frey

 

"Finn" by Jon Clinch, review by Judy Burris

 

"Fly Me to the Moon" by Alyson Noel, review by Shelly Walston

 

"Bossy Bear" by David Horvath, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

 

April 2007 Reviews

 

"Rise & Shine" by Anna Quindlen, review by Sarah Bagby

 

"True Talents" and "Hidden Talents" by David Lubar, reviews by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Christopher's Ghosts" by Charles McCarry, review by Laura Flaugher

 

"Pronouncing Shakespeare: The Globe Experiment" by David Crystal, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Feminine Mistake: Are We Giving Up Too Much?" by Leslie Bennetts, review by Sarah Bagby

 

Elephant & Piggie books: “Today I Will Fly” and “My Friend is Sad” by Mo Willems, reviews by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Beowulf” graphic novel, adapted by Gareth Hinds, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Water: See for Yourself” and “Energy: See for Yourself” by DK Publishing, reviews by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"District and Circle: Poems" by Seamus Heaney, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The God of Animals" by Aryn Kyle, review by Beth Golay

 

“The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future” by Vali Nasr, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Astronauts of the Future” by Lewis Trondheim & Manu Larcenet, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Sardine in Outer Space 3” by Emmanuel Guibert & Joann Sfar, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

 

March 2007 Reviews

 

“Don’t Panic—Dinner’s in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead” by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell & Bonnie Garcia, review by Beth Golay

 

“Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith” by Anne Lamott, review by Sarah Bagby

 

“Twisted” by Laurie Halse Anderson, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Shanghai Shadows" by Lois Ruby, review by Carolyn Kretzer

 

“That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown” by Cressida Cowell, illus. by Neal Layton, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization" by Daniel Pinkwater, review by Jeff Hibbert

 

"Lighting Up: How I Stopped Smoking, Drinking and Everything Else I Loved in Life Except Sex" by Susan Shapiro, review by Anne Frey

 

“Charlotte in Giverny” and “Charlotte in Paris” by Joan McPhail Knight, illus. by Melissa Sweet, reviews by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Wolf! Wolf!” by John Rocco, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“All the Numbers” by Judy Merrill Larsen, Anne Frey

 

"Rules" by Cynthia Lord, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Last Templar" by Raymond Khoury, review by Shelly Walston

 

"Magic Time" by Doug Marlette, review by Bruce Jacobs

 

"The Hedge Knight" by George R. R. Martin, Ben Avery, & Mike S. Miller, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

 

February 2007 Reviews

 

“Goosebumps Graphix 1: Creepy Creatures” and “Goosebumps Graphix 2: Terror Trips,” both by R. L. Stine, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Who's Got Game?: The Ant or the Grasshopper?, The Lion or the Mouse?, Poppy or the Snake”

by Toni Morrison & Slade Morrison, illus. by Pascal Lemaitre, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Higher Power of Lucky" by Susan Patron, illus. by Matt Phelan, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Taste of Home Cookbook" by Taste of Home Magazine, review by Shelly Walston

 

"Runaways, volume 2" by written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Adrian Alphona, Takeshi Miyazawa, and Scottie Young,

review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name" by Vendela Vida, review by Jeff Hibbert

 

“Bone 5: Rock Jaw” by Jeff Smith, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Jazz” by Walter Dean Myers, illus. by Christopher Myers, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom” by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Kadir Nelson, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies"

by Brent Hartinger, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Keep" by Jennifer Egan, review by Shelly Walston

 

"The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey" by Louise Borden, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Winterwood" by Patrick McCabe, review by Jeff Hibbert

 

 

January 2007 Reviews

 

“The Learning Tree” by Gordon Parks, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Gordon Parks: No Excuses” by Ann Parr, illus. by Gordon Parks & Kathryn Breidenthal, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Cold War: A New History" by John Lewis Gaddis, review by Jeff Hibbert

 

“Breaking Up: A Fashion High Graphic Novel” by Aimee Friedman & Christine Norrie, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Alia’s Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq” by Mark Alan Stamaty, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

“Library Lion” by Michelle Knudsen, illus. by Kevin Hawkes, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Sweet Potato Queens' First Big-Ass Novel" by Jill Connor Browne, with Karin Gillespie, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Half Life" by Shelley Jackson, review by Jeff Hibbert

 

"The Racketty-Packetty House: 100th Anniversary Edition" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"The Children's Hospital" by Chris Adrian, review by Jeff Hibbert

 

"The Echo Maker" by Richard Powers, review by Jeff Hibbert

 

"47" by Walter Mosley, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

"Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship" told by Isabella & Craig Hatkoff, review by Mark David Bradshaw

 

 

Click here for more archived reviews