On the Owl’s Calendar: Mary Elizabeth Nelson’s Catla and the Vikings

When: Thursday, 19 April 2012 at 7:00 pm
Where: Owl’s Nest Books, 815A 49th Avenue SW
Who: Mary Elizabeth Nelson, with her new young-adult historical Catla and the Vikings.

About the Book
In the fall of 1066, a thirteen-year-old Anglo-Saxon girl named Catla watches from afar as Viking raiders burn her village and imprison her family and the other villagers. No one sees her as she flees toward Aigber, the closest village, praying the people there will help. Catla must ignore her terror as she makes her way to the standing stones, a place of refuge, where she meets Sven, an older boy from her village. Together, they continue toward Aigber and are able to alert the village of the coming peril. Catla and Sven rally the villagers of Aigber, and with Catla’s help, a plan is put in place that will save both villages from the Nord-devils.

About the Author
Mary Elizabeth Nelson was born in Calgary, Alberta and spent most of her life there, some of it as a teacher and teacher-librarian at Springbank Junior high and for the Calgary Board of Education. She also has lived in Montreal and Winnipeg. Some years ago, she moved to Duncan, Vancouver Island. She has previously published bits of poetry and a textbook, Medieval Times, used by the Ontario school system. Catla and the Vikings, a novel for juvenile readers, was published by Orca Books, in March 2012. She has four grown children and three grandchildren. She enjoys the natural world, golf, quilting, calligraphy, and writing.

Published in: on April 2, 2012 at 9:35 am  Leave a Comment  

Junior Owlets: Where the Moutain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

For January, the Junior Owlets read Where the Moutain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.

MinLi and her parents live in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, a bare mountain where nothing seems to flourish.  They work hard, but have barely enough to eat.  Every night, MinLi listens eagerly to the stories her father tells about the Jade Dragon, the evil Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man in the Moon.  MinLi’s mother hates the stories.  She says they are useless, and only make MinLi a dreamer.  MinLi decides she will find the Old Man in the Moon to try and change her family’s fortune.

- Really liked how the legends tied into the story.
- Liked the characters, particularly Minli.
- Really kept your interest.
- Liked mystical creatures & magic.
- Liked how the characters evolved and came to udnerstand the true meaning of happiness.
- Very thought provoking.
- Lots of adventure.
- Ended way too soon.
- Good book for all ages.
- Loved the illustrations.
- Liked the multiple storylines and how they tied up. Stories within stories.
- Loved the language.
- Feel good book
- Some parts were slower.
- Liked everything tied up together.

Final score: 9.166661 out of 10.

The next meeting of Junior Owlets will be on Saturday the 4th of Feburary 2012 at 9:00am.   The book up for discussion is Feather Brain and we we have a special guest, the book’s author, Maureen Bush!

From the book’s description:

Lucas has dinosaurs on the brain, but he’s a little short on friends. When he gets a new book on how to make model dinosaurs, he’s inspired to make one immediately. He’s not so inspired by his new dinosaur-making kit: all the box contains is a test tube of clear liquid and a few instructions. But when he mixes the liquid into his papier-maché goop, he gets much more than he bargained for, including the most unlikely friend.

If you’re a kid in grades 3 to 6 and are interested in joining Junior Owlet’s, we’d love to have you.  Membership is free and open all year.  Just give us a call at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 14, 2012 at 5:15 pm  Leave a Comment  

Fledglings: I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

In the hubbub of the holiday season, we’ve fallen a bit behind on posting the reviews from Owlets and Fledglings, but as they say: better late than never.

The December selection for Fledglings was I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.

Ed Kennedy admits he is a screw up.  He drifted in school, didn’t go to university, and now drives a cab because it’s easy.  But all that changes when Ed is hailed a hero after stopping a bank robber.  And now he has received a card in the mail.  It lists times and addresses.  Should he follow them?  Ed is not sure what to do, or what it all means.

Comments from the Fledglings:

Liked the characters.
Characters had depth and reasoning.
Liked interchange between characters.
Found them believeable.
Ending was a bit confusing.
Opening chapters sucked the reader in.
The whole idea was intriguing.
Really liked the characters, the plot, the seting.
Believeable dialogue.
Very funny in places, poignant in others.
Even secondary characters were well done.
Kept interest to very end.
Even the stinky dog was great.
Very deep book, multi-leveled.
Really like the author’s self insertion.

Final score: 8.8928571 out of 10.

The next meeting for Fledglings will be on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.  The book up for discussion is Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly.

From the book’s description:

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

If your a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 3, 2012 at 2:34 pm  Leave a Comment  

Fledglings: The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Fledglings book club met this week to discuss The Luxe by Anna Godbersen. 

1899. Manhatten, New York.  The Holland family is the envy of many.  They are old money.  The daughters, Elizabeth and Diana are everything young debutantes are expected to be.  Society is unaware that the family is struggling financially after Mr. Holland’s death.  It seems Elizabeth may have to marry rich to keep the family afloat.  But Elzabeth’s carriage slips on the icy roads and overturns near the East River.  Her body is never found. 

Comments from the Fledglings:

Well written. 
Typical plot.
Loved the descriptions of settings and clothing. 
Very like novels from the late 1800s. 
Setting was the best part of the book. 
Story itself was quite predictable. 
Descriptions were fabulous.
Characters were very believeable.
All of the characters were well drawn and had both good and bad qualities. 
Definitely better than thought it would be.
Everyone loved the cover — DRESSES!
Not a typical teen roamnce. 

Final rating: 7.625 out of 10

The next Fledglings meeting will be Tuesday, December 13th at 4:30pm.  The book being discussed is I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. 

protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He’s pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That’s when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That’s when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who’s behind Ed’s mission?

If your a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on November 16, 2011 at 4:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The FICTIONistas

The FICTIONistas are coming to Owl’s Nest!

Saturday, November 26th at 2:30pm.

FICTIONistas is Canadian independent publishers bringing together women writers from across Canada for an exciting, vibrant reading series unlike any other.

The discussions are lively, the performances are stellar, the secrets are…revealing! For the 2011 season, we return to our roots, with events at eclectic independent bookstores and coffee spots that provide the perfect vibe for our FICTIONistas’ voices. Find your new favourite author among our impressive lineup.

Hosted by Paul Matwychuk, general manager of NeWest Press.

The Calgary FICTIONistas are:

Sue Sorensen

A Large Harmonium (Coteau Books)

A sharply comical year-in-the-gloriously-unruly-life of English Lit professor Janey Erlicksen, as she struggles to put her academic career on the map while dealing with her despotic toddler, Little Max. Along the way she relies on husband Hector, boy-wonder babysitter Rene, crazy unreliable friend Jam, and on Jake, the understanding minister who helps her pick her way through it all.

Genni Gunn

Solitaria (Signature Editions)

When Vito Santoro’s body is inadvertently unearthed by a demolition crew in Fregene, Italy, his siblings are thrown into turmoil, having been told by their sister Piera that Vito had fled to Argentina fifty years earlier after abandoning his wife and son. Piera, the self-proclaimed matriarch, locks herself in her room, refusing to speak to anyone but her Canadian nephew, David. Now scattered over three continents, the family members regroup in Italy to try to discover the truth.

Alison Preston

The Girl in the Wall (Signature Editions)

After leaving the Winnipeg Police force, former Inspector Frank Foote has gone into home renovations. But his investigative instincts are still strong. When he and his partner come across the skeleton of a small female who had been imprisoned in a building they’re tearing down, Frank finds himself trying to track down her identity.

Judy Schultz

Freddy’s War (Brindle & Glass)

1946: Freddy McKeen returns home to Winnipeg after spending five years as a prisoner-of-war in Hong Kong. Three women — Joanna Keegan, her daughter Hope, and the beautiful and mysterious Su Li — feel the echoes of Freddy’s ordeal in each of their lives. For Freddy, the memory of war is a heavier burden than the weapon he once carried. He must fight to survive in a world that has left him behind.

Wendy McGrath

Santa Rosa (NeWest Press)

What is real when seen through the eyes of a child? When does the harshness of reality transform idyllic memories? The young narrator of Santa Rosa seeks the answers to these questions as she tries to make sense of the disintegration of her parents’ marriage — a process echoed by the slow disintegration of their neighbourhood.

Janice MacDonald

Hang Down Your Head (Turnstone Press)

Randy Craig has a talent for finding trouble. Maybe she should have turned down the job at the Folkways Collection library at the University of Alberta—a dream job that became a nightmare when a rich benefactor’s belligerent heir turned up dead. Randy tried to be good—honest!—but now she’s a prime suspect with a motive and no alibi in sight.

FICTIONistas is a collaboration spearheaded by Coteau Books, with NeWest Press, Signature Editions, Brindle & Glass, and Turnstone Press. Freehand Books is also thier partner in fine fiction.

Meet the FICTIONistas at Owl’s Nest Books on Saturday, November 26th starting at 2:30.

Published in: on November 9, 2011 at 4:44 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Senior Owlets: A Curse Dark as Gold

Curse Dark as Gold, paperback $12.99

This month, Senior Owlets read A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce. 

Comments included:

Really liked the retelling of the Rumpleslitskin story.
Some of the characters were too stagnant
Charlotte was trying too hard.
Randall was a shallow character (undeveloped).  Reader doesn’t really get to know him.
Charlotte was very focussed, very driven.
Loved the language, very realistic and evocative of the period.
Main character (Charlotte) well developed.
Majority of the other characters (save Randall) were also well developed.
In places the pacing was slow. 
Loved the title and cover art.
Depiction of early industrial mill very well done. 

Final score: 7.189333

Test, paperback $10.50

The next Senior Owlets meeting will by May 3rd, 2011 at 4:30pm.  The book up for discussion is Test by William Sleator. 

Pass, and have it made. Fail, and suffer the consequences. A master of teen thrillers tests readers’ courage in an edge-of-your-seat novel that echoes the fears of exam-takers everywhere.
 
Ann, a teenage girl living in the security-obsessed, elitist United States of the very near future, is threatened on her way home from school by a mysterious man on a black motorcycle. Soon she and a new friend are caught up in a vast conspiracy of greed involving the mega-wealthy owner of a school testing company. Students who pass his test have it made; those who don’t, disappear . . . or worse. Will Ann be next?

Senior Owlets is a book club for kids in Grades 7 to 9.  If you’re interested in joining Seniors or one of our other clubs, check out the Book Clubs page on our main site, chat with us at the store, or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on April 11, 2011 at 6:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Fledglings and Sphinx’s Princess by Esther Friesner

Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner, paperback, $10/99

This month’s selection for Fledglings (our teen book club) was Sphinx’s Princess by Esther Friesner. 

Some of the comments offered:

Liked the story.
At times the writing talked down to the reader.
Really like historical fiction.
Liked how Nefertiti developed into a strong young woman.
Female characters were well-developed, but male were more two-dimensional.
Fascinating to read about a culture that was primarily illiterate.
Did not like the overuse of italics.
Liked exploring Ancient Egypt through female eyes.
Liked the character Nava. 
Easy introduction to Ancient Egypt. 

Final score out of ten: 8.3457055

The Broken Thread by Linda Smith, paperback, $12.95

The March selection for Fledglings is The Broken Thread by Linda Smith.  We’ll meet on Tuesday, March 15th to discuss it. 

Fifteen-year-old Alina comes from a long line of women who have gone to serve on the Isle of the Weavers, and she has always dreamed of doing the same. Her older sister is going to inherit the farm. She hasn’t found any boy in the village that she’s attracted to, like her other sister. And she loves her 10-year-old brother, but he’s getting to be a pain to look after all the time. Still, a girl must be chosen to be a weaver, and Alina’s already older than others were when they were called.

Fledglings is a book club for teens in Grades 9 to 12.  If you’re interested in joining Fledglings or one of our other clubs, check out the Book Clubs page on our main site, chat with us at the store, or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on February 25, 2011 at 5:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Junior Owlets and Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan

Listening For Lions by Gloria Whelan, paperback $7.99CAN

This month, Junior Owlets read Listening for Lions by Gloira Whelan. 

Liked the characters: very well developed.
Made the reader love Africa.
Quite depressing in places.
Liked the descriptions of life in Africa.
Enjoyed how the characters were very believeable.
Really enjoyed the historical aspect. 
Liked all the information about birds.
Rached was an amazing character.
Part when Rachel was training to be a doctor felt rather rushed. 
Felt it ended too soon.
Wanted to know more about her life as a doctor in Africa.
Some people found it too sad.
Ended too abruptly.
Enjoyed information about Africa and England and the contrast between them. 

Final score out of ten: 8.6785714

Junior Owlets is a book club for kids in Grades 3 to 6.  If you’re interested in joining Juniors or one of our other clubs, check out the Book Clubs page on our main site, chat with us at the store, or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 8, 2011 at 3:52 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Senior Owlets and Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, paperback $12.99CAN

The January selection for Senior Owlets was Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. 

Here are some of the comments that came up:
Well written.
Interesting characters.
Liked the view of history.
Good introduction to steampunk fiction.
Liked the slang language.
Alek and Deryn were very realistic.
Liked the changing point of view.
Liked the science aspect and how Westerfeld stretched it.
Interesting use of Darwin’s theories. 
Interesting storyline.
Enjoyed how the action moved the story and developed the characters.

Final score out of 10: 8.7082222

Senior Owlets is a book club for kids in Grades 6 to 9.  If you’re interested in joining Seniors or one of our other clubs, check out the Book Clubs page on our main site, chat with us at the store, or just drop in to one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 5, 2011 at 1:08 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Fledglings’ verdict on Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Yesterday, it was the turn of the Fledglings (our high school book club) to have their September meeting.  The book under discussion was Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. 

With an average rating of 7.9333, Sarah’s Key also drew the following comments:

Liked the two story narrators. Thought the “Sarah” sections were better than the “Julia” story. Liked how the partment was the connecting link between two story lines. Well-written, but slow in the “Julia” parts. Liked how the Sarah story ended until Julia discovered the truth.  Quite vivid. Involves the reader, particularly Sarah.  Liked people writing about WWII; we need to remember. 

Are you interested in joining Fledglings or one of our other bookclubs?  We have more information on our main site.

Published in: on September 22, 2010 at 5:43 pm  Leave a Comment  
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