Red Dog by Louis de Bernieres

This is a wonderful little book! It is an account of a real dog's life, as well as can be pieced together for this dog without boundaries. He lived in the undeveloped outback of Australia, my guess is the 60's or the 70's? And he was a dog with a reddish coat, yellow eyes, and tons of personality. He made friends with everyone, traveled the trains, buses and cars of the area for years, crisscrossing from the sea shore to the mines. Known by most folks as "Red Dog". The one man he came closest to claiming, died unexpectedly in a motor cycle accident, and Red Dog was then claimed by all and owned by none. The little drawings in the book are charming, and Red Dog is an amazing critter. This is not a tear jerking "Marley ad Me" type story. This is better. Great read for you and your kids.

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Okay, this is a ROMANCE author who does not write children's books. If you are purely looking for suggestions of what to pick up for your kid's bedside table. Skip this book. Skip this author. But, these are deliciously fun reads for the adult who is looking for a "beach read". I bought this book for the plane ride to Bejing, or Newark, or Kunming, or where ever I was when I began to feel stir crazy. I wasn't a chapter in before I realized I'd read it before. I'm pretty sure anyway, even though it was a recent copywright. But, it didn't matter. It was still ridiculously fun and swarmy. The author sets her books in the area in which I live- even more fun to be in on the secret. I swear she takes parts of the fictional town of "Temptation" from my own town. In the very first chapter, in which the flesh pink water tower is described in detail- I said "That's my town!"
So, not for the kids, but a must for the lover of a frippery romance set in their own backyard!

The Crow- Third book in the Pellinor Series, by Alison Croggan

The first two books in this series written for young adults were told from the point of view of the heroine, Maerad. The Crow is a complete switch to a book about her brother, Hem. I was a bit disappointed at first, as I was itching to know how Maerad was faring, but you get attached to young Hem, and after a while, don't mind at all. Hem and Maerad are up against some evil characters, you know, all things dark and destructive types, and face the end of the world as they know it. Of course, they have the key to changing all that and saving the world- if they can only figure it out in time. The book is somewhat violent. Battles and such mostly are, and some bad kids- but they're kind of possessed. For the child reader who likes fantasy, I think they are a decent choice, and the main characters find strength in making selfless and kind decisions, as well as digging deep to be brave and true. Next book in the series? Not sure, but will get it on my request queue at the library soon!

In the Woods by Tara French

My oh my! I've some catching up to do! I read this book on the flight home from Bejing. It is a mystery, and does suck you in, a "who dunnit" that you merely guess at until the end. It takes place in Ireland( way closer than Bejing!) which is one of my favorite settings for a book. But it is not a romantic vision of the country. It is a murder, of a young girl, which doesn't make me happy. And there is an interwoven intriguing backstory of the disappearance of two other young children some years before. The main character completely loses his marbles in the course of the story, eventually solving the murder mystery, but leaving the older mystery unsolved, which left me a-hangin'. It is not a book for kids. NOPE. Not even close. But, for adults who love a mystery (or who are trapped on a 14 hour flight) it's a well written, decent choice.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Another book recommendation by my 'tween and seconded by my teen. I finally got to the top of the library loan list and picked up my copy. Within 24 hours of starting it, I was done. It's a page turner, big time. Talk about disturbing and violent! It is a Lord of the Flies mash up with 1984. And I think "Wow, my kids read this? And liked it?" But, I suppose they are the age when they get Golding and Orwell put in their hands, too. And, the book is riveting.
In a future country on the land of what is currently the USA, the citizens are repressed, enslaved and impoverished. The government has an annual Game for the whole country that pits children against one another in a fight to the death. So, really creepy. But, what may be the most creepy of all is that when you read the book, you forget how abysmal the premise really is, and just go with it. YIKES! It really sucks you in, and makes you accept. The hopeful thing is perhaps after you are done, you will think about the awfulness of the whole deal. And, perhaps chores aren't quite as bad when this alternative is considered.... I am chomping at the bit to go after book number 2, Catching Fire. And will keep you posted!

The Riddle; Book 2 in the Pellinor Series by Alison Croggan

I enjoyed the first installment enough to try the second... and now looking forward to the third! These are fantasy books, and have violence. NOT for younger kids, but I think okay for the 'tween and teens. In The Riddle, our heroine is searching for answers, as well as her identity. She spends a lot of time in the extreme cold, so plan to read under covers, by the fire, or in a hot bath to combat the feeling of frostbite. Names are sometimes hard to follow in this series, and the author has created elaborate backstory and history that are presented as appendices. But the books are engaging enough that I plan to read the third book; The Crow, on the flight to China this weekend. Hopefully it will keep my mind off of being in a cramped seat for WAY TOOOOO long!