In the Name of Like Book Suggestions Needed

I spoke to one of my nephews today. H.D. is in the fourth grade. We talked about all the important stuff. Like how good Iron Man was, what's on his IPOD, what books he wants and will I get him the third Wimpy Kid book. It was a nice conversation, towards the end H.D. sneaks in that he has a crush on someone in his class. I resisted the urge to say awww. I believed doing so garnered me more answers. The girl is a dancer like my nephew. They both won a dance competition but not together. My nephew is too shy to approach her. Plus he's already in the hole because of fourth grade rumors. I have no idea what they are. He didn't want to tell me and I didn't want to push. It doesn't really matter because the rumors are lies. My nephew is the quiet artistic type. For God's sake someone stole his scooter. A kid who gets their scooter stolen in fourth grade is not the type to do a girl wrong. H.D. said the girl doesn't like him because of the rumors. Also she has a protective mom and five sisters.
So I am trying to get my nephew out of the hole. If nothing else it will help his confidence . Since they both dance, I was thinking he could give the girl a book, where the main character is a dancer. A thoughtful, personalized gift with a card can always score a man, no matter how old, some points.
So I need some suggestions. I am having trouble finding books about or starring a dancer for middle school girls. I am open to non fiction as well. So if you have any suggestions please share. Leave a comment or send me an email. Thanks.

Where's the Milk?

I saw a sign when leaving my complex, Dessert Night 6-8pm. I paid rent a few days ago, I wasn't missing this dessert night. I missed the last one to go to a book signing. Today I had a good lazy day off. Even did a little clothes shopping. When I was coming home my stomach hurt a little but that wasn't going to stop me, I was getting my free dessert. You may be thinking happynappy why you trippin over dessert. Its not the dessert, its the principality of the thing. (Hopefully everyone got that Friday's reference. If you haven't seen Friday, you should. Its a black cinema classic. Chris Tucker pre Rush Hour, very funny.) I just paid rent, so if someone is giving out ice cream cones and fresh baked cookies in the leasing office I am getting some. Apparently I am not the only one to feel this way, I've never seen so many tenants in leasing office before. I heard the there were a lot of people at the last dessert night as well. The people hosting seemed so nice. I was the the third one to take dessert and run. I did feel a little bit bad about that but not bad enough to stay. Though I only took two cookies to ease my guilt.
Where's the Milk or how I made my escape
I am eating my ice cream in the corner and praying the co host doesn't come over to talk. He seems like the type to engage strangers in conversations so they won't be all alone. Thankfully he doesn't. I am wondering how I can get cookies and get out before they start talking. Once they start talking I'd have to stay. The person who left before me was kind of rude to Mr Nice co host guy. I feel bad for him, but again not bad enough to stay or leave my email address. It was looking bad there for a moment, I thought I was going to have to leave with no cookies. Then I saw my chance. Mr. nice co host guy asked Miss nice co host lady, Where's the milk? It was in the fridge. As soon as he made his way to the fridge I grabbed the cookies and dipped. The cookies were good, they had a hint of coconut.

Kids Kick is Over

One April 24 I posted about beginning a kids kick. Today it officially ended. I started reading John Connolly's new mystery The Reapers. As much as I enjoy children's literature, I am happy to get a little balance back in my reading. I was tempted to stop earlier but now I know its time. I started a book today and it seemed juvenile. I knew it wasn't the books fault, I just needed a break. Though this was my best kid kick ever. I didn't over do it, so I won't have to give myself a month to recover. I will go back to alternating between adult and children's fiction. See Toni I can read big peoples books.

Leonardo's Shadow Christopher Grey

Leonardo's Shadow by Christopher Grey is now out in paperback. I missed it the first time around. I did pick it up several times with interest, though I never opened the book. Last week I was looking for something new to read. Everything was quickly vetoed. Leonardo's Shadow was once again in my hands. I said to myself enough of this, either read the book or don't, commit already. So I read the first page of Leonardo's Shadow. I must say my subconscious has very good, awarding winning taste.

The story begins with an eight year old boy, running from a mob. He is a suspected thief, his feet carry him quickly through the streets of Milan for fear of death. The boy jumps from the top of a Cathedral. He would of died, if not for Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci and three other men where replacing a stained glass window on the Cathedral. The boy, fell on top of the work canopy, Da Vinci pulled him in. Thanks to the fever and the fall, the boy forgot his name. Da Vinci gave him a new one, Giacomo. He would become Leonardo Da Vinci's servant. Giacomo was cunning, smart and witty.

"We settle down to drink and laugh and forget that tomorrow, sore heads or not, we will be up at dawn to work. That's the servant's life. A few moments of merriment followed by days of drab duty. In Milan you are what you are. And I am a servant."

At the time of Giacomo's arrival into Da Vinci life, he was working on the Last Supper. I've always enjoyed art, so I found what I learned about Da Vinci and the Last Supper very interesting. Like why Da Vinci didn't paint on the wall for two years, who Da Vinci used has his models, or the reason for the Last Supper.
Giacomo has dreams of becoming an artist himself but right now he must keep Da Vinci on track. The Last Supper must be completed before the Pope's arrival.
There is a lot to like about Leonardo's Shadow. The language for one. I enjoyed the give and take between the characters especially Giacomo and Da Vinci

"Time?"
"Past midday, Master. Father Vicenzo is here again."
"Then send him away again."
" I tried that, Master."
"And failed, I see."
How easily he forgets all the times I succeeded.

The novel has great pace as well. Its 390 pages but it read like a novel half its size. Since the story begins quickly with a foot chase down a busy city street, reluctant readers will enjoy Leonardo's Shadow as well.

Separate but Equal, Guys do read

We have a YA table with bestsellers and new releases. A few months ago, I noticed it was all geared towards girls. Of course when I saw this error I kept on seeing guys pass by the table. One side of the YA table now features male protagonists. At first I was wary of doing the whole separate but equal, gender split thing. Thinking maybe I should just add guy titles and mix it. I didn't think guys would want to be seen browsing around Gossip Girls or the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. So I split the table and it works very well. An extra bonus, the parents love it.
I love Jay Asher's novel Thirteen Reasons Why. It's great for guys and girls. Though if its next to more teen girl books, guys aren't going to give it a second chance. When Thirteen Reasons Why first came out I blurbed it towards girls. When I redid the table I did another blurb for guys. It sold as well, actually better, since girls aren't put off by the guy side of the table.
To say guys don't read is crap. I work at a bookstore with guys, ergo they read.
A new blog went active today the guys lit wire. I am very excited about it because its going to up my boys book game. Its for guys reading needs. News and reviews of books guys would want to read. So if you're in search of a book for a son, nephew or anyone with Y chromosome, you should check out guys lit wire.