The Good Luck Cat by Joy Harjo is this year’s Children’s companion book to the Adult and Teen selections for One Book, One Philadelphia. Like the Sherman Alexie novels picked for Teens and Adults, Harjo’s story features contemporary Native American life. In this book, a little girl tells the reader about the many harrowing close-calls her cat, Woogie, has had. Woogie does what cats do: she runs away and gets lost; she climbs too high hunting for birds; she fights another cat. But Harjo’s people are just as human as her cat is feline: a group of violent kids chase Woogie and a careless driver nearly hits her. Even the narrator makes a mistake that could have harmed her beloved cat near the end of the story.

Use this book to show children that cats don’t really have nine lives, and instead need loving care and attention. Harjo’s book offers plenty of moments for challenging questions about animal welfare and pet care. Woogie’s story is a reminder that there are plenty of dangers in the world, for cats and for people. This book is a great way to launch a discussion with even the most sensitive children that will help open up the world for them, and may end up keeping them (and their pets!) safer.

As a proponent of responisible pet ownership I find this book very disturbing. Cats DO NOT have nine lives and to continuously place a "beloved" family pet meet in danger is highly disturbing. I feel this book promotes irresponsible pet care. While I was reading the book I just wanted to tell the child to keep her "beloved" cat indoors where it would be safe. Reading about a "lucky" cat being shot with a BB gun, attacked by a vicious dog, being almost run over by a car, and other near misses is not enjoyable. I can't see families sitting down for a cuddly storytime with this book. Sensitive children will be upset by the seemingly endless fear felt by the cat as it runs into danger after danger. It would, perhaps, be useful to discuss better ways to care for family pets, but is not a book to be enjoyed on any level.

Percy Jackson has been kicked out of just about every school he's ever attended. He can't seem to stay out of trouble, and his ADHD means he can't keep still for two seconds. But he’s really trying hard in his new school...until his math teacher morphs into a hideous monster and tries to kill him. His best friend Grover saves him, revealing that he is a satyr – half-goat, half-human. And that’s when Percy discovers that he is a Half-Blood - the son of a Greek god and a mortal woman. What exactly does that mean, you wonder? Well, it means you get killed in painful, nasty ways, but also (luckily) that you have special powers. Percy escapes to Camp Half-Blood to learn how to be a Greek hero, and then, before he’s even figured out what his powers are or how to use them, he gets sent on his first official mission. Can Percy figure out who stole Zeus’ lightning bolt before a full-fledged war breaks out among the gods? If you like fantasy and mystery, you'll enjoy this fast-paced adventure!

Jeannette Walls and her brothers and sisters learned to take care of themselves from a very young age. When sober, their brilliant father captured their imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Their mother was a free spirit who didn't want the responsibility of raising a family. So the siblings fed, clothed, and protected one another. Jeannette knew empty fridges and growling stomachs, thrift store clothes and a falling-apart house, and always the contempt of others. Eventually she found her way to New York, supported by and then supporting her siblings. Her parents followed, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered. This memoir will shatter your preconceptions of what it means to be homeless, and what it means to be a family. Jeannette Walls tells her story with unflinching honesty, but without self-pity, and you will be captivated by her resourcefulness and determination to make a good life for herself.

Kathy H. relates the story of her childhood at a special boarding school called Hailsham, and of her close friendship with two fellow students, Ruth and Tommy. As the novel goes on, the shocking truth about the Hailsham students’ lives is revealed – a truth that is wholly unremarkable to them. They are clones, created with the sole purpose of providing organs for the real humans in their society, which is a not-so-distant future Britain. After a fairly pleasant childhood at Hailsham, the students become “carers” for a few years, tending for those giving the donations, and then move on to become “donors” themselves. When their bodies are no longer able to contribute, they are calmly “completed.” Kathy H. has lived a protected life, knowing only vaguely that she is looked down on as not fully human. And it is through her serene acceptance of this life that the book’s true tragedy is illuminated, because as she explores the nuances of her relationships with Tommy and Ruth, it becomes clear that she is painfully, and beautifully, human. This thought-provoking novel tackles big issues—cloning and medical advancement—and is a truly lovely book.

Dexter is not your typical serial killer. He is a man with a conscience. Before I read this book, I wouldn’t have imagined I could grow to sympathize with a character like this either. But I kind of did. And I kind of didn’t. It’s complicated. See, Dexter Morgan only kills serial killers. He uses his skills as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami police department, and the inside information this job gives him, to track down serial killers and stop them from killing people. Only he does this by murdering them. Dexter knows he’s not like normal people—he’s known that his whole life. There is something inside him, driving him to kill. It all started when he was a little child, and something happened. We don’t find out what it was until the end of the book, but we know it must have been horrible if it drove him to this. Dexter’s adoptive father, a Miami cop, recognized what Dexter was becoming and tried to help him find an outlet for his destructive urges. He even took him to the woods to let him carve up animals. But just before his father dies, when they both know animals aren’t going to be enough, he gives Dexter permission to go after other killers. And that is what Dexter has been doing ever since. He is very careful to hide all evidence of what he does at night, to maintain the outward appearance of a perfectly normal man. But when another serial killer appears on the Miami crime scene, replicating Dexter’s homicide style to a T, Dexter wonders who is on to him, and what that person’s intentions are. All will be revealed in a nail-biting finish that puts Dexter’s adoptive sister Deb in grave danger. Can he save Deb from the killer, and from himself? Darkly Dreaming Dexter is an interesting twist on the serial killer thriller. All the gory details are described in Dexter’s funny and disturbingly winning voice.

Isabella Swan is certain of only three things. First, Edward is a vampire. Second, there is a part of him – and she doesn’t know how dominant that part is – that thirsts for her blood. And third, she is absolutely in love with him. Bella has just moved to the tiny town of Forks in Washington State, where it rains practically every day, for her senior year of high school. Forks is a dreary, almost unbearably boring place, until Bella meets the mysterious Edward Cullen. He sits next to her in biology class – when he’s there, anyway. He seems to skip school whenever the sun is shining. When they first meet, Edward is downright hostile to her, so Bella tries to stay away from him. But something keeps drawing her back. And apparently Edward feels the same way. Soon they start talking and Bella discovers how much she and Edward have in common. They quickly become close friends, close enough for Bella to discover Edward’s deepest secret. Can a regular girl and a vampire be friends? Can they fall in love, and stay in love? Read Twilight, a love story with bite, to find out.

Have you ever thought your life would be perfect if you were just a little better looking? Well, after reading this book, you might reconsider. The time is the future, and in this society, everyone is transformed from Ugly to Pretty on their sixteenth birthday. Tally Youngblood is almost 16, and she can't wait for her turn. As an Ugly, she's been biding her time, sneaking out at night to hoverboard around town, and dreaming about what her life as a Pretty will be like. Pretties have it made. Their only job is to have a good time, to enjoy all the benefits money and technology can buy. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be Pretty, and she tells Tally about the Smoke, a place where people are free to make their own decisions. Tally isn’t sure what to believe until Shay runs away and Tally is told she won’t be able to turn Pretty unless she turns Shay in to the authorities. As much as Tally hates the idea of being a spy, she doesn’t know what else to do – she can’t stay Ugly her whole life. So she sets off to find Shay, leaving her safe home and venturing out into unfamiliar and dangerous territory. Will Tally survive long enough to find the Smoke, and if she does, will she betray her friend? What—and who—she discovers in the wilderness shatters everything she has always believed about her life and future.

Consider this. What would your life be like if you were a girl in a cage, strangled, if you were a girl trapped in a boy’s body? What would your life be like if that girl inside you was you, no matter how much you wished or prayed that she wasn’t? Would you have to be her? Would you want to be her? What would your life be like if this were your brother—your sister—, if you felt yourself disappearing under the pressure, under all the sadness and violence that was this secret you shared with the one person you loved most in the world? What if this secret that was supposed to protect you both was about to burst, to split your family apart? What would you do? These questions will haunt you long after you finish this compelling story of a girl with a family secret.

This is a light and airy introduction to one of the lightest and airiest Western decorative styles. With lots of yummy pictures the brief text takes you through the the major developments and uses of the style. Like others in this series from Parkstone Press, it makes for an enjoyable afternoon of perusing and learning.

This large, spiffy, intriguing cocktail of a picture-book is mostly set in Hollywood, giving a very contemporary take on old Hollywood. There is an underlying visual theme here that comes from the 20's and 30's so that one almost expects Syrie Maugham or Elsie de Wolfe to appear in the corner of a picture, cigarette holder or lorgnette in hand. The color schemes range from charming to courageous (any decorator this bold with chrome yellow is a champion,) the proportions pleasing, the blending of old and new done with knowledge, skill and enough innovation to dispel boredom. This is a good book for browsing, for ideas, for inspiration, for the education of the eye. My only quibble ... the lack of a proper title page and verso, which means the sacrifice of important information to the visuals.

This is a superb account of Hitler's last few years of life, including a detailed description of his last days in the bunker by those who were present. It can probably be considered the ultimate primary source for this information.

The best (IMO) historical fiction writer of the 20th century presents an account of the life of the famous Mrs Jordan, the long time mistress of the future King William IV, and the mother of his numerous illegitimate children. Life is not all roses when you are a royal mistress... In fact, it's quite the opposite.

GodsHome... Mina's dreams of her fostermother leads her to seek out the mysterious Home of the Gods. To solve the riddle of her powers, her identity and so much more, she must set aside all she as gained to walk a road no mortal may travel. Book 3 of the War of Souls leaves room for another volume or the start of another series.

Book Two of the War of Souls, The Ghost of Goldmoon leads Mina to question her devotion to the Queen of Darkness. Mina escapes to seek answers. Meanwhile Tasselhoff Berrfoot talks to lost souls.

Following the crushing defeat of Queen Tekhesis, Mina and her loyal follower seek to bring her back. Along the way Mina makes a startling discovery about herself and the origin of her mysterious powers. A book in the DragonLance War of Souls series.

A wry, distanced voice, neither unsympathetic nor naive, describing the events that delineate a life -- if you have met this voice before while you were reading fiction, and if you enjoyed it there, you will enjoy it here as well. For Louis Auchincloss, scoin of authentic American gentry (a rare, secretive and often camaflouged breed,)has written his autobiography. What is interesting is how it comes most alive when describing others, most especially his remarkable mother. So, for a feel for old New York as a very small town indeed, and an understated nostalgia for a lost, inexplicable world as only a child can experience it--perhaps you will enjoy reading this meditative book with a wry, distanced, and not unsympathetic, nor naive, eye.

Vampires come in a few flavors. You have the warm and fuzzy (almost human)White Court types, then you have the not-so-nasty (in your face)Red Court types and finally, you have the (eat your face off)Black Court types. Harry has run into or run over them all. He usually just plays it by ear, but when his ex-sweety calls to drop a nuke in his softest spot, Harry can't take it laying down. In fact, it's something he'll really have to stand up for - his daughter.

Are you a card-carrying Dresden files fan? Ever wonder how Harry met Murphy? Want to read Butcher's Dresden file short stories all in one place? This is your chance. The author offers bits on insights into each piece and places them in time between each of his major Dresden titles. Bonus: See what happens to Harry after the end of "Changes".

An interesting story written in 1929 about two women. One black but passing as a white woman, the other black but choosing not to pass even though her skin color and features would allow her to. These two women reconnect after years apart and the story depicts their lives and the choices these two woman made.