Bestselling author of 'Holes' has a new hit novel!

I recommended a new book by Louis Sachar to a Grade 10 student last week. 'The Cardturner' which is intriguingly subtitled 'A novel about a King, a Queen and a Joker'. "Fantastic - you must read this book" is Jesse's review of this story about a young man who does not know the difference between a king and a jack, yet ends up working for a world-class bridge champion who is nearly blind.  As he begins to understand the intricacies of bridge, Alton Richards learns too about life and its complications.  A 'must read' for those who think that 'The Messenger' by Marcus Zusak is the best book ever.

Junior BookBlasters Hot Reads

We just met for the first time this year, and our younger readers surprised me with their voracious appetite for great reads.  They are into everything from Edgar Allan Poe(Collected Works) to Ned Vizzini (Be More Chill), with a little bit of Haruki Murakami (Kafka on the Shore) thrown in for good measure.  I came prepared to suggest Sue Monk Kidd's 'The Secret Life of Bees' or Marcus Zusak's 'The Messenger', but they have already read these.  So we moved onto John Green's 'Waiting for Alaska', Jonathan Safran Foer's 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' and Alice Sebold's 'The Lovely Bones'.  Those who haven't already done so, want to read Michael Chabon's 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay', but I am not certain that we can settle on a one book policy for this very eclectic group. I encouraged them to write or respond to this blog.  I mean it is really about them, about their taste in music, movies, etc.  They teach me a lot each time we come together, and I am a willing learner.

More recommendations from the Junior BookBlasters:

Colin McAdam.  'Fall.'
Dave Eggers.  'What Is The What.'
Jon Krakauer. 'Into the Wild.'
Ned Vizzini.  'It's Kind of a Funny Story'
Jonathan Safran Foer.  'Everything Is Illuminated.'