Frankenstein Takes the Cake or Why I Think Adam Rex is a Genius

A few years ago, Adam Rex wrote a book called Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, a perfectly fine set of poems perfect for Halloween. Now he's taken the gag one step further and it is genius. Frankenstein Takes the Cake starts out with a comic strip on the end papers in the front and a "list of poems that do not appear in this volume in the back." In between there are poems, comic strips about Frankenstein meeting his bride's parents, the Headless Horseman's blog (entitled "Off the Top of My Head" and my favorite of all the bits), fake advertisements, sight gags and a nice little bit about Dracula accidentally getting some garlic bread from the buffet at the Frankenstein wedding. I laughed and laughed. Take a look yourself. It's available now.

Heart of a Shepherd

Rosanne Parry's book, Heart of a Shepherd, made me laugh and cry. Brother (and you might choose to be called Brother too if your given name was Ignatius) is the youngest of five boys in a ranching family in eastern Oregon. He is the only one still living at home and when his father's reserve unit is called up to go to Iraq, he's left in charge along with his grandfather. When the unit goes, it impacts the whole community--ranchers, the school bus driver, teachers and many other important members of the community go too. Heart of a Shepherd looks at the way military service affects family and community as well what service, duty, community and faith mean and how many different ways there are to serve. Brother, his Quaker grandfather and everyone in their community will find a place in your heart by the end of this book.