Alison Recommends...

If ancient Egypt, black magic, and clueless grown-ups are your cup of tea, THIS is the books for you! Theodosia's adventures are engrossing, suspenseful, amusing, and informative -- learn about pharoahs, curses, spells, and street urchins. Great fun!

An engaging mystery from a TRULY talented author, this book is being called The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for a younger crowd. There's a great balance here between light-hearted entertainment and emotional depth. Best for readers age 10 and up.

This thought-provoking novel is a must-read for teens age 14 and up, and for adults. When Marcelo, a 17 year-old with Asperger's, is asked to step outside his comfort zone and work at his father's law firm for the summer, he is forced to see the world, his father, and himself in an entirely different light. In one word, UNFORGETTABLE.

The best romance/adventure story I've read in a loooong time!! Don't be put off by the cover or the fact that this book is "fantasy". It's a rollicking adventure starring a headstrong girl and a fiendishly likeable guy -- sheer delight!

Another new book I can't say enough about is Ashley Bryan: Words to My Life's Song. Now in his 80's, Ashley is a veteran author/illustrator whose passion for storytelling and overwhelming enthusiasm for life have made him a legend in the children's book world and beyond! This account of his life in picture book format pairs bright photos of Ashley and his home with photos of his art, his childhood, and the experiences that have made him the person he is today. The lengthy text tells the truly remarkable story of the life Ashley's led, from a childhood in Harlem to an education in the arts (when few African Americans were considered "worthy" of such a privilege) to the beaches of Normandy to travels throughout the world to a tiny island off the coast of Maine, where I had the joy of visiting him in September of 2007. You can see photos from that visit on my Publishers Weekly blog Shelf Talker, and you can get to know Ashley better by reading this wonderful book, which is probably best-appreciated by those aged 8 and up.

It's 1977, and Matt Pin has just been airlifted out of Vietnam and adopted by an American family. He hasn't talked to anyone about his mother, his brother, or his life before the war. In this BEAUTIFUL, moving, superb novel in verse, we watch Matt turn a corner, open up, and start talking.

I've been a HUGE fan of David Small's illustrations for years now, but I never knew the extent to which his artword truly SAVED him until I read this memoir in graphic novel form. Harrowing, powerful, beautiful are just three of the many ways I'd describe it. Visually, this book is a masterpiece.

Leading the pack of OUTSTANDING new additions to our shelves is Tales from Outer Suburbia by the overwhelmingly talented Shaun Tan, best known for his wordless graphic novel The Arrival. This book for ages 10 to adult (and, seriously, you adults should all be sure to read this!) is an odd, beautiful, thought-provoking, and entertaining assortment of short stories, each illustrated in a different style, showcasing the remarkable range of Tan's artistic talents. For several months now I've been toting around the galley for this book, anxiously awaiting the day when I can get it into the hands of everyone I know. FINALLY the book is out and that day is here! Be sure to come in and thumb through its remarkable pages. I know you're going to be amazed at what you find there!