Fiction is a powerful tool.

I just finished Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. It's the final part of her Hunger Games Trilogy. It has been a long time since a book has grabbed me this hard and been unwilling to let go. (I won't spoil anything for anyone, because every time I try to talk about this series I can't do it justice.) Suzanne Collins has crafted a journey so raw and real and powerful that it's sure to set a new standard in the world of young adult fiction.

Fiction has the power to influence us in ways we can hardly imagine. How many of us cried when Dumbledore died? Didn't we feel as exhausted as Sam and Frodo when they were finally rescued on the side of Mount Doom? And who hasn't felt the emptiness of coming back to reality when we've turned the final page?

But fiction makes us think too. And I'm not just talking about the ways our English teachers wanted us to think (although I've found that most of them were right). When we absorb ourselves in a world that's not our own, we can see things that we're otherwise blind to. Maybe some part of this other society works better, maybe it's worse, or maybe we see haunting images of the direction we're going. For me, the most powerful moments of reflection are in those surreal, in-between sections of time after I close the book, but before I rejoin the world.

Literature is not endangered. Television, movies, video games, and even Facebook can never hold the same power as the printed word.

That is why I sit here with my fingers on the keyboard.

"The pen is mightier than the sword."

Picks From the Newspaper

So, its summer now and the other day I was working at good old B&N, when a reporter for the Fargo-Moorhead newspaper, The Forum, called the store. He was looking for recommendations for summer reading. So here are the titles that I gave him. (Several of which we sold out of since the publication of this article, thank you very much!)

Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman and Jacky Davis

Lily, or Ladybug Girl as she prefers to be called, is one of my favorite characters in the world of picture books. She's a normal little girl most of the time, but when she puts on her ladybug wings, she can do anything. On her trip to the beach, she's a little overwhelmed by the size of the waves, but she soon overcomes her fears and ends up having a great time.

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

This story has been one of my favorites for years. It was originally published almost 75 years ago, but has recently been very popular because Sandra Bullock's character reads it aloud in the movie The Blind Side. We read it the other day for storytime and the kids loved it.



Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald

Stink is another great character. He's the younger brother of Judy Moody (who has her own series of books). But when Judy measures Stink every morning, he's not getting taller, but instead he's shrinking. Stink is a hit with fans of Captain Underpants and Junie B. Jones.






The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan is best known for creating Percy Jackson and the Olympians. But in this latest series, instead of Greek mythology, the characters Carter and Sadie discover that the Egyptian gods are still alive and well, and wreaking havoc. Riordan's stories are built around realistic characters that are easy to relate to. I recommend picking up any of his books and skimming the chapter titles; you'll definitely be intrigued.









Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

I've recommended this one on this blog before. One of my very favorites. (Also, a sequel recently came out: The Rules of Attraction. It's just as good.)











Beastly by Alex Flinn

This story is a beautiful, modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Driven by well-written characters who feel real emotions, Beastly would be a great story for someone looking to get out of the vampire obsessed world created by the Twilight-craze. This book has been made into a movie which is slated to release this summer.

Coworkers are just as fun as customers

As many of you may know, Barnes & Noble has recently launched our own e-reader called nook. I own one and have been very pleased with it. As the only bookseller at our location to own one, I've been doing some of the hourly announcements to entice our customers to purchase one. In one of these announcements, I say, "I love my nook." After I finished, one of my coworkers burst into laughter that he'd apparently been trying to contain. He found it hilarious and inappropriate that I love my "nook." He then declared, "I'm unable to take you seriously anymore." And proceeded to laugh every time he saw me for the rest of the day.
I must be doing something right, because up until that point he had been taking me seriously. I guess I can pull it off.

Picks This Week

In the Upside-Downside-Inside-Outside Department:

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer
This cute picture book is built on a rather intriguing concept. The author has created poems called "reversos" for a number of fairy tales. These poems are meaningful whether you read them top to bottom or bottom to top. The only things that are changed in the reverse version are punctuation and capitalization. My favorite pair are the ones about Cinderella. One version has her spending the evening shining shoes and missing a chance to dance with the prince, while the other version has her wearing shining shoes while the other guests miss their chances. Very fun. This book would be especially fun to use during April which is National Poetry Month.



In the Waiting for the Next Eragon Department:

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn
This novel is a wonderful merging of two worlds. In this alternate reality, dragons exist alongside modern humans, occupying they're own territories. Since the end of WWII there has been a shaky truce between humans and dragons. Kay Wyatt knows she's on shaky legal ground by rock climbing near the border of the dragon side. When she falls into a river on the dragon side and is rescued by a dragon named Artegal, the two strike an unusual friendship. But when acts of war cause the truce to all but dissolve, Kay and Artegal are the only ones who can protect the lives of humans and dragons alike. I loved this book. The relationship between Kay and Artegal is real and believable. The adventure is breathtaking and the ending left me hungry for a sequel.

Tips For Getting Along with Friendly and Helpful Booksellers

1) If you dial the phone number for the Fargo Barnes & Noble, do not ask the person who answers the phone if she is in Fargo. We are.

2) If you need a specific book and no other will do, it helps us if you know which book it is.

3) Just because your friend got it here, doesn't mean we don't need more information than that. I do not know which knitting book your friend bought here yesterday, I'm sorry.

4) Do not try to see how fast you can spin the racks of picture books. Although the resulting explosion of books looks impressive, we are not impressed.

5) We do not have room for all the books in the world, so please do not take your frustration out on us when we have none of the obscure books on your list.

6) If we offer to order you a book and you don't live here, tell us so kindly. We cannot tell where you live just by looking at you.

7) Just because you remember a book from when you were a child, that does not mean it is a Little Golden Book. And just because we have some Little Golden Books, that does not mean that we can find the one you remember. Especially when you give us nothing more to go on than "it had a blue truck in it."

8) It may be cheaper on Amazon. If you're going to fuss about it, buy it from them.

9) We prefer that you not try to put the books back yourself. But we also prefer that you not look at every book on Interior Design and then leave them piled on the table.

10) If I spend more than ten minutes tracking down a book for you, buy it. I don't want to find it sitting on a table somewhere.

And as with any human being, treat us with a smile and we'll do the same for you.

Patricia's Picks

Hello again everyone! Here are this week's recommendations.

In the Tear Jerker Picture Book Department:

The Lemonade Club by Patricia Polacco
I recently picked up this picture book and fell in love with it. Best friends Traci and Marilyn love being in Miss Wichelman's fifth grade class. Miss Wichelman always encourages her students to turn lemons into lemonade. But when Marilyn states losing weight and feeling tired all the time, things change. Marilyn has leukemia. Traci and the whole fifth grade class rally around their friend, even shaving their heads to show support. When the girls discover that Miss Wichelman is also fighting cancer, they start the Lemonade Club to encourage one another.
Based on a true story of Polacco's daughter Trace, her best friend, Marilyn, and their teacher Cynthia Wichelman, this story is heartwarming and encouraging.



In the Step Up to the Plate Department:

The Batboy by Mike Lupica
I'm not usually a huge baseball fan, but Mike Lupica is usually a big seller. So when his new novel came out, I decided to give it a shot.
Brian Dudley feels like he's living the dream in his summer job as a batboy for his hometown Major League team. Even though his mom doesn't understand it, especially after his dad left them for the sport; baseball is what makes Brian feel alive. But when his baseball hero, Hank Bishop, seems to be nothing like Brian imagined, and his own hitting sinks into a slump, Brian starts to wonder if baseball's really what it's all about. Brian and Hank soon discover that sometimes you just have to step up to the plate and swing for the fences, even if the only one rooting for you is yourself.



In the Sucked Me In, But Freaked Me Out Department:

The Body Finder by Kimberly Dertling
I started this book this morning and could barely put it down all day. Generally, I don't enjoy intentionally scaring myself, which is why you'll almost never see me watching a horror movie. But the love story hooked me in, and the scary parts made me read faster.
Violet has always been able to sense when a living creature has been killed, and been able to sense the signature on the being that killed it. Usually this is just an annoyance, like when her cat kills a mouse. But when teenage girls start turning up murdered, the local police start hunting a serial killer. To make matters worse, Violet has been the one to find several of the bodies.
In the midst of all this tension, the boy who has always been her best friend, has suddenly become the only thing she can think about. Watching Jay and Violet grow from just friends to something more was the best part of this book. Jay clearly cares for her more than anything, and that devotion only grows deeper as they get closer to the serial killer.
I enjoyed this book, but I felt like there were a few holes in the plot. Maybe I watch too many shows like Law & Order and Bones, but I wanted to hear a little more about the investigation. All in all, the combination of romance and suspense was definitely a hit with this reader.

Picks of the Week

I know, it's been awhile, but in honor of Read Across America Month (and the birthday of Dr. Seuss), I have decided to really get into this. So every Thursday, I'll be bringing you my picks of the week. Here goes the first installment.

In the Picture Book Department:

Roly Poly Pangolin by Anna Dewdney
What is a pangolin, you ask? Well, pangolins are an endangered species rather like a hedgehog. They have no teeth & curl into tight balls using their scales to protect themselves. Check them out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin
The author of the Llama Llama books introduces us to Roly Poly, a very shy pangolin, who is overwhelmed by all the new things in the world around him. Dewdney uses her signature rhyme scheme and soothing iambic rhythm to encourage children to explore the world and make new friends with Roly Poly. Sure to be a hit in preschool circles.


In the Young (and Young at Heart) Department:

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Tommy and his friends don't know what to think when the weirdest loser in the 6th grade starts carrying around an origami Yoda on his finger. But even though Dwight seems to be completely clueless, Origami Yoda is incredibly wise. He can predict pop quizzes, show a classmate how to get rid of the annoying nickname Cheeto Hog, and give boys the courage to talk to girls. A great book for any fan of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and those who like a little Star Wars in their every day life. Somedays I think having an Origami Yoda to give me advice sounds like a pretty good idea.





In the Life After Twilight Department

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
When the captain of the cheerleading squad and a tough-as-nails Latino gang member get paired as chemistry partners, sparks fly (and not necessarily the good kind). But they soon discover that their preconceptions of each other are far from true. Brittany works so hard to portray a mask of perfection, while she's falling apart on the inside. Alex has joined the gang that cost his father his life, all to guarantee that his younger brothers will have a chance at a better life. Can this new relationship survive the challenges of racism and violence?
Told in alternating chapters from both characters, Elkeles weaves a love story with more power and heart than Twilight.




Those are my picks this week. All of them I've read. I'll never recommend something that I haven't. Let me know what you think.