Fall In Love With Reading & Leaf Through A Good Book

Fall is one of my favorite times of year here in the Pacific Northwest. It's the perfect time to take long walks outside (with hot chocolate) to check out the fall foliage, curl up by a window with a good book... and go pumpkin bowling at the library. More on that later. First, a few books worth cozying up with on a rainy day:

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien
In a post-apocalyptic world plagued by a harsh sun, there are those who live inside the wall and those who live outside the wall. Gaia is an outsider, trained by her mother to be a midwife for the sector she lives in. Gaia is a good midwife and serves the Enclave well- she's skilled at delivering babies and able to comfort the mothers when their infants have been have been selected to be advanced and adopted by elite families living inside the walls. Gaia doesn't question her role in society, until her parents are arrested and she must decide to continue to either serve the Enclave or revolt against it. I couldn't put this one down.

City of Beasts by Isabel Allende
Fifteen year old Alex Cold's parents ship him off into the Amazon with his grandmother on an expedition to find a humanoid Beast that's been on a killing spree. Allende's writing is lush- try this if you want to be taken away on an adventure in a far off place.

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander
Sixth-graders Mac and Vince operate a business charging schoolmates for protection from bullies... from the fourth stall of the boys' bathroom. I thought this book was hilarious. Try it if you liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Look for news on pumpkin bowling later this week.