Bloodletting, by Victoria Leathan

isbn: 1572244577

I don't typically read non-fiction, but spotted this at work. I work with youth who sometimes have serious mental health issues. This book, about cutting, depression and the innadequate medical system made me think and reflect how everyone feels this way sometimes, but with mental health issues, it is not so easy to control the inner images and voices. A quick read, but well paced.

3/5

Fly by Night, by Francis Hardinge

ISBN: 978-0060876296

Reading this book, you feel that you are in a fantasy world where boat ship coffee houses hide refugees and crocodiles guard towers. But once everything settles, you realise that it is based loosely on real history and that ridiculous adventures like this took place over the silly topic of religion and wether you should or should not believe in Saints (which they call The Beloved, which amuses me, for some reason).

It also has one of the best lines ever: You are caught between the frying pan and the fire; you will sizzle and like it.

4/5

Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City, by Kirsten Miller

ISBN: 978-1582349602

This book is fantastic for any girl of any age, but it will be high on my list to recommend for the 9-12 range. Especially for those who don't necessarily like magic or shopping. It is rare nowadays to find a good mystery/spy/science novel for girls. I love the little non fiction bits at the end of the chapters where she teaches you how to be a spy.

4/5

Sharp Teeth, by Toby Barlow

ISBN: 978-0061430220

This may be one of the best books I have ever read and I am pleased to have bought it instead of having taken it out at the library. It is a story about werewolves. It is a poem about werewolves. In LA. Who pick up strays. And destroy meth labs, if someone will pay them to do it.

Because it is a poem, the sex is not romance novel sex, and the gore is not horror novel gore. In a poem you can describe dogs sleeping in a pile, chasing after something in their dreams. You can explain hunger. You can write about cute moments where someone does dishes and is hugged from behind, without it seeming dumb.

5/5

Fup, by Jim Dodge

ISBN: 0671509101

This book was lent to me by Mike from work, after in made the rounds to a few other people around the store. It is a quick little thing, about a 40 minute read, and is more of a short story than a book. Still, it is immensely funny and sad all at once, a very enjoyable read, especially since it has apparently gone out of print.

The duck is called Fup, because it is a F'ed up Duck. This sums up the book quite well.

4/5

Shelf Monkey, by Corey Redekop

ISBN: 1550227661

I think my friend Sophie said it best: it is good, but I won't read it again. This isn't because of bad writing, or lack of suspense or anything. This is a book's book, a bit like The Eyre Affair, a book that knows how elitist it is and revels in it. IT hits too close to home, too much like the job I have right now, dealing with people who eat up books written by women with a mental age of 13 but who have sex. Ugh.

4/5

Portugese Irregular Verbs, by Alexander McCall Smith

ISBN: 978-0676976809

Now this guy usually writes murder mysteries for 50+ women, so when I was told that this short little book was hilarious, I doubted it. But it is. It stars a grumpy old professor who worries about who has a "Von" in front of his name and whose nose is more unfortunate than his. He studies languages and is one of the silliest, most boring men in the world, and it is fantastic. I will be reading the other two in the series when I get the time (which is never, most likely).

4/5