What We’re Reading

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3: The Titan’s Curse | Rick Riordan

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The action is non-stop in this installment of the series, right from the get-go. Percy, Annabeth and Thalia are on their way to Maine to answer Grover’s call for help. Unsure of what they’re walking into, they don’t have much of a plan, which leaves them without much to go on when the first people they encounter are a couple of the school administrators.

After managing to squeak by that sticky situation, the kids are undone again as the monster-in-residence at the school makes off with the half-breeds Grover found. Percy goes after them alone, unable to find any of his friends, and lands himself in yet another bad spot. The gang arrives to help him out just in time to realize it’s all a trap. Only some completely unforeseen assistance gets them out of the jam, but not without losses.

The group arrives back at camp only to prepare to leave again on a mission, ultimately, to save the world. Their friend-turned enemy Luke has gotten himself in with the wrong crowd, and a plot to overthrow the Olympians is under way. Three Hunters and two campers are chosen to go after the goddess Artemis, who needs to be at the meeting on the solstice or all hell will break loose. Percy, unwilling to be left behind, follows along unbeknown to the rest, unwilling to sit idle while he has a friend in trouble.

As foretold by as prophecy before the group departed, they suffer loss along the way, and obstacles at every turn. Will they succeed in their quest, or will Kronos awake and the Titans be restored?

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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Kate DiCamillo

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Edward Tulane lived the life of a spoiled rabbit–but he didn’t know it. He knew he was gorgeous, that he had fine clothes and his own pocket watch, set by him every day when his owner, Abilene, left for school. Pellegrina, her grandmother, spoke to Edward as an equal, as did Abilene, but her parents, he felt, were condescending. He didn’t like being thought of as a mere toy, regardless of whether it was true or not.

One night, not long before they’re to leave on an ocean voyage, Pellegrina tells Edward and Abilene a story. It’s a story of a princess who loves no one, and ends up turned into a boar and eaten. Edward doesn’t get it. He also doesn’t understand why Pellegrina, when she tucks him in, tells him “you disappoint me.”

When, during their ocean voyage, Edward finds himself thrown overboard, he has plenty of time at the bottom of the ocean to think things through.

After finally making it out of the ocean, Edward passes from home to home, family to family, spending time as a girl rabbit, a hobo, a scarecrow, and a puppet. Eventually, he finds himself in a shop on a shelf with dolls, after major repair-work. It’s enough to make him unlearn everything his adventures had taught him. But thanks to the words of an ancient, cracked doll, on her way out the door to another new life, Edward rebounds.

This was a really great book, with excellent lessons on love, friendship, family, and perhaps a little humility. I expect to be buying it for my own collection.

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