What the Dickens? The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy- Gregory Maguire

Have you ever wondered what the tooth fairy does with all our teeth?  The answer is one of the following:  a.)  plant them to grow wishing candles they randomly exchange for our birthday candles  b.) give them to astro-gnomes that use them to seed the sky with wishing stars or c.) plant them to grow dandelions which turn into white fluff bearing new fairies, and children blow to get a wish.  You'll have to read the book to find the answer...

What the Dickens? had immense potential.  Not just tooth fairies, but warring TRIBES of tooth fairies??  YES!  Had that actually been what the story was about, I would have been much happier, but while the back of the book does mention impending war, there is only mention of the other tribe.  While the story was okay, I was expecting better.  If you liked Gregory Maguire's other books- Wicked and Son of a Witch (I didn't), you'll probably enjoy this one too.  It's definitely worth the time because the font is a bit big making it a quick read. 

What the book is really about...brand new English teacher is called in to watch his three nieces/nephew while parents are away on a medical emergency.  Hurricane hits!  No power, no food, looting, etc. and he uses the tooth fairy story from his childhood to entertain the kids and maintain their sanity.  I give it 3 caramel lattes- sweet, but there are better options...

The Time Traveler's Wife- Audrey Niffenegger

I waited a month on the holds list, and was super excited when it was my turn to read The Time Traveler's Wife.  The movie trailer convinced me it would be a good read.  Isn't that how everyone decides their next book?

One of my library heroes is Nancy Pearl, because she has my dream job- children's librarian at the Seattle Public Library.  (To be able to pick her brain...)  Anyway, her rule is give a book 50 pages.  If you're not into it by then, give up- it's not getting any better.  I was so desperate for this book to get better that I doubled the rule!  Unfortunately the confusing plot line and somewhat shallow characters never got better, and I gave up.  This may be the one exception to the rule, the movie just may be better than the book.  When I see it, I'll let you know.  I give this one a single black coffee (Ew!)

Kaleidoscope Eyes- Jen Bryant

Kaleidoscope Eyes is the best book I've read in a long time, inspiring this nerdy blog. It's a nice blend of Holes, The Wonder Years, and poetry. If you liked other novels in poetic form like Love That Dog and Out of the Dust, you'll love this gem. Literally. There's treasure involved, and just look at the cover! Yeah, I know, don't judge a book...blah, blah. We all do it.

Set in the 60s, three young teens inherit what they discover to be a treasure map and go to town. There's historical fiction (the fictional captain's log of pirate Captn. Kidd), poetry, making it a potential 1-2 day read, and adventure, who knew a river could shift?? With the main character's Janis Joplin-loving older hippie sister, I couldn't help but read this as if Kevin Arnold, Winnie Cooper, and Paul Pfeiffer were digging for their lives. I give it 5 steamy mochas! (Almost as good as it gets in my caffeinated world...)