Girl Genius: Agatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank by Phil & Kaja Foglio and illustrated by Phil Foglio, Brian Snoddy & Laurie Smith
Agatha Clay is a lowly lab assistant at the local university, but what she doesn't know is that she's much more than that. The theft of her special locket and the death of her mentor and protector set into motion a chain of events that will brings Agatha to the attention of the ruthless yet brilliant Baron who rules over the city. A robot (or "clank," in this world's vernacular) runs about the city looking for someone.

Interesting story. I felt somewhat lost as it felt like we jumped into the middle of the story and are trying to catch up. But I'm hoping with future volumes I'll start figuring it out. It's refreshing to see a female be the lead but not be this beautiful object as Agatha seems like a real person, flaws and all.

Misfits by James Howe
Four best friends, Bobby Goodspeed (who tells the story), Joe Bunch, Addie Carle, and Skeezie Tookis who are seventh graders at Paintbrush Falls Middle School in upstate New York. The four are the usual outcasts found in most schools, and Addie has decided to take a stand against what she sees as the hypocrisy in her school. At first she wants to bring forth issues of minorities discrimination and hypocrisy in the democratic system. But it is really much more simple than that.

Through her determination to put forward her beliefs, she forces her friends to step back and take a look at themselves and each other. All who change and come to realize their own potential. Bobby, who works as a tie salesman at a local department store, learns that adults have problems too and that everyone has their own names for themselves. That even his dad needs encouragement and support. Bobby challenges everyone to list all the names (or labels) they have ever been called and to reflect how it has made them feel. They decide to become the No-Name party and ask everyone at the school to stop calling each other names for at least one day.

I love James Howe's books, but have only read his mysteries for kids. This is my first YA novel that he has written. He has done a good job at capturing the personalities of kids who could be from anywhere and anyone. I like that he doesn't use lots of slang and dialog that will become dated in a few years. It made me think about names I've called people and have been called. We're all guilty of that.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Their mothers were in the same aeorbic classes when they were pregnant. They've been best friends ever since.

Carmen got the jeans at a thrift shop. They didn’t look all that great: they were worn, dirty, and speckled with bleach. On the night before she and her friends part for the summer, Carmen decides to toss them. But Tibby says they’re great. She'd love to have them. Lena and Bridget also think they’re fabulous. Lena decides that they should all try them on. Whoever they fit best will get them. Nobody knows why, but the pants fit everyone perfectly. Even Carmen (who never thinks she looks good in anything) thinks she looks good in the pants. Over a few bags of cheese puffs, they decide to form a sisterhood and take the vow of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants . . . the next morning, they say good-bye. And then the journey of the pants — and the most memorable summer of their lives — begins.

A fun and real life look at four friends who are as different as they are alike. They bring out the worst and best in each other as they are on their own for the summer. We see the pants travel from one place to another giving each girl the strength and courage to do what they should. I wish I had these pants when I was their age. Perhaps I would have been more bold and brave.

Now it's been made into a movie. I hope it stay true to the book.

Second summer of the sisterhood
Like the summer before, Carmen, Bridget, Tibby, and Lena share their individual adventures with the Pants collective, creating an engaging, kaleidoscopic narrative of four voices. This summer, Tibby attends a film program in Virginia and Bridget (Bee), whose mother has died, impulsively jets off to Alabama to get reacquainted with her estranged grandmother. Lovely Lena tries to protect herself from the heartbreak of loving her long-distance Greek god boyfriend Kostos, and Carmen deals (poorly) with her mother dating again and having the nerve to borrow the Pants!

Fun to be had by all, as we live a 2nd summer of the pants!

Oracle Prophecies by Catherine Fisher

Oracle Betrayed
In the distant land of deserts and islands, the servants of the god rule the land. His wishes are conveyed through the Oracle, and interpreted by the High Priestess. Mirany is the new Bearer, afraid of her perilous duties for the god in the rituals of the Oracle, and fearful of her secret questioning... Does the god truly exist? The priestess is corrupt and in secret partnership with the General, ruler since the God-on-Earth, the Archon, has no real power. The Archon is always chosen as a child, his face always masked, never seen by outsiders. He is ruler, but should any national tragedy occur, he is also the sacrifice.

When the old Archon dies, his spirit migrates into a child, and there are several candidates for succession. But Mirany begins to experience the real visions of the god, discovers which child is the rightful heir, and that the General and High Priestess intend to choose another child and seize power. With only a tomb-robbing scribe and a mad musician for allies, Mirany begins her quest - knowing that, if she is betrayed, her fate will be to be walled up alive in the Archon's tomb...

This book is incredibly difficult to describe as it is very complicated and has so many different people's points of views.

Wow, this is an incredible read. The main person is, Mirany. We see her emerge from the stuttering girl to a leader as she becomes one of the NINE who follow the Archon. Only Mirany can help the true God come to light. But will she be right or is she the traitor?

Book 2 The Sphere of Secrets

Book 3 - Scarab
is out in the U.K. but not yet in the U.S.

Miss Marple

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
The murder of Colonel Protheroe is a shock to everyone in St. Mary Mead, though hardly an unpleasant one. Now the vicar, who had declared that killing the detested Protheroe would be a service to the world, as well as his young and flirtatious wife, could be considered suspects. And what about the faithless Mrs. Protheroe, or her lover, the young artist Lawrence Redding? Jane Marple is at her shrewdest in this delightfully intricate mystery. I read all of these as a teenager but am enjoying the re-reads.

I enjoyed the new version showing on PBS Mystery.

Moving Finger
This story is told by Jerry Burton, an RAF flyer recovering from a crash. He has been sent to the village of Lymstock to get rest and quiet. Accompanied by his sister Joanna, Jerry soon finds that all is not as peaceful as he might have hoped. A series of poison pen letters detailing the explicit and often illicit facts of the residents' lives is causing quite a stir. The fear escalates when an apparent suicide is followed by a murder. With so much wickedness abounding, the vicar's wife calls in her old friend Jane Marple, whom she considers an expert on wickedness in village life. Miss Marple yet agains sees the wickedness beneath the surface to uncover the truth behind the poison pen letters and the deaths that result.

Christie examination the evil underneath the pristine surface. This "wickedness" lies not only beneath the beautiful exteriors of the sleepy village, but also beneath the shiny faces of its inhabitants. She once again manages to make all my guesses wrong. Plus this has more of a romantic overtone than her other novels, which is refreshing. Truly brilliant.

At Bertram's Hotel
When Jane Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's Hotel: a restored London hotel with traditional decor, impeccable service and an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly polished veneer. Miss Marple's suspicions are aroused by some of the guests. Her worst fears are confirmed when the doorman is murdered in strange circumstances. With the help of clever Chief Inspector Davey, who is occupied with the investigation of a series of robberies. With her help all is revealed. A fun cozy look at Miss Marple outside of her home.

Murder is Announced
When an ad appears in the gazette announcing a murder to take place on Friday at Little Paddocks at 6:30 p.m., the locals show up, assuming it's a murder mystery party, only to get shot at and then become witnesses to the real murder of a boy no one knows. The police are convienced that someone wants to kill Ms. Blacklock but when her best friend and a local woman are killed it appears that the murderer is becoming a serial killer. Fortunately, Miss Marple arrives and unravels this tangled skein. As with other Agatha Christie novels nothing is as it appears and you never know until the end who the murder really is.

Nancy Drew Graphic Novels from Papercutz

#1 Demon of River Heights
A movie is being filmed in River Heights supposedly about a real life demon. Nancy becomes involved when the film directors go missing. Is there really a demon or just a way to promote the movie or something even more sinister.

I've read most of the various versions of Nancy Drew and enjoyed this. It will be interesting to see how it developes. The Hardy Boys have a graphic novel as well from Papercutz.

It is an interesting modern version of the classic mystery. George & Bess are a lot more promident as well. But I never really get why she wears a skirt.

Unhinged by Sarah Graves
Jacobia Tiptree, or Jake to her friends, owns a big, old house that needs lots of repairs and fixing up. A onetime financial advisor to the Mob she now lives the peaceful life in Eastport, Maine. After falling from the roof many other accidents start happening to her friends and family. But it seems to start with the mysterious disappearence of Harriet Hollingworth, known asa busybody and not liked by anyone. While Jake and her best friend Ellie search for clues, a series of lethal mishaps occur. Ellie's son and husband are imperiled and a visitor to Eastport is killed. But why is all this happening and will they all survive.

Not the first in the series, I believe #7. I got rather annoyed how the answers seemed to just come and no one seemed very concerned for Jake's health as she managed to detour from the hospital several times. Perhaps since I haven't read the other books I don't have all of her quirks down. I might try to read the first book just to see if I can stand it.

Valley of Bones
by Michael Gruber
Rookie cop Tito Morales arrives at the Trianon Hotel in time to see a wealthy oilman plunge ten stories and impale himself on a nearby fence. Soon Morales is joined by detective Jimmy Paz. Together Paz and Morales enter the hotel and discover, in the dead man's room, a most unusual suspect, an otherworldly woman by the name of Emmylou Dideroff. She emerges from a rapturous, prayerlike state and admits that she had a motive for killing the oilman. Psychologist Lorna Wise is enlisted in an effort to make sense of things that go beyond Emmylou's explanation of the murder.

This book is very intense as it describes extremely graphic sexual abuse. Plus it is almost impossible to tell if Emmylou is possessed by the devil or by god. Or is there really a difference between the two? Book two in the series. Tropic of Night is book 1 and is refered to several times in this mystery.

Gruber is the ghostwriter behind Robert K. Tanenbaum popular novels.

Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman? by Eleanor Updale In Victorian London, after his life is saved by a young physician, a thief utilizes the knowledge he gains in prison and from the scientific lectures he attends as the physician's case study exhibit to create a new, highly successful, double life for himself. He soon becomes the most elusive burglar in Victorian London, adopting a dual existence as both a respectable, wealthy gentleman named Montmorency, and his degenerate servant Scarper. Excellent read. Plus there are sequels already in the works. Hurray!

Honeymoon
By James Patterson
Nora Sinclair has a gorgeous Connecticut fiance, Connor. She had an equally sexy Boston husband, Jeffrey. But bad things happen to the men Nora gets involved with--her first husband died of a heart attack, and before long Connor meets a similar fate. The FBI is suspicious and sends agent John O’Hara to pose as an insurance investigator who dangles a tantalizing prize in front of Nora: a $1.9 million life-insurance policy on Connor’s life, payable to Nora. She is suspicious, but she goes along with John’s investigation into Connor’s death. John isn’t able to dig up much on Nora, but he does find himself in an awkward predicament when he realizes he’s attracted to her.

Collected Alison Dare Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres & J. Bone
Alison Dare is not your typical 12-year-old. The daughter of an archeologist/adventurer and the masked hero known as the Blue Scarab (and the niece of an international super-spy), Alison's life has always been different from other girls her age. A craving for danger is in her blood. Unfortunately, her parents have locked her away at the prestigious St. Joan of Arc Academy for Girls, hoping that this would lead to a more "normal" life for their daughter. But despite all the strict rules at the school, Alison and her best pals –– Wendy and Dot –– somehow manage to get into adventures that rival those of Alison's globetrotting, planet-saving relatives.

Fun, fun, fun...

Emily & the intergalactic lemonade stand : a story of ponies, robots...and world domination by Iam SmithTen-year-old Emily wants nothing more than to own a pony. So she starts selling lemonade to raise money, aided by Juicer, her indestructible combat robot. Her only real customer is Jace, who's only really interested in hanging out with Juicer, because robots are just so cool. This doesn't sit well with Daisy, the spoiled rich girl who's got a crush on Jace, so she has her daddy give her her own robot. That's when the alien invaders show up.

Another graphic novel but more for the younger set. It is a quick read but not really much substance as I couldn't figure out how Daisy, the rich girl, kept getting all these robots. Plus how did Emily get hers? But

Sidekicks: the transfer student, Volume 1 by J. Torres
Terry Highland’s dad was once a superhero sidekick, and Terry has powers of her own. So how do kids with super-powers learn to use them? By enrolling in Shuster Academy, a state-of-the-art high school that trains future heroes. Life at Shuster isn’t all costumes and kicking butt, though; use your powers between classes and you’ll have to deal with the strict Ms. Sternin. As Terry adjusts to her new environment, she has to deal with exams, demerits, and cliques like any other high school student. Her greatest challenge, however, will be overcoming her own fears; although Terry’s power is super-strength, she can’t face returning to the virtual reality fight-training room where an accident threatened her life.

I like this series. I find it interesting how people become super heros and this series shows us how!

What's Michael? by Makoto Kobayashi
Michael is a rotund tabby cat who is often likened by Americans to the comic strip character Garfield. In some stories, Michael is shown as a creature of nature, and Kobayashi expounds on the virtues of cats in the wild, often with surprising conclusions. Michael is also shown in a number of stories with different owners. It is apparent that these stories are not connected, with each one having a completely different set of supporting characters. After all, one aspect of the domesticated cat is the cat owner. The owners are occasionally more interesting than the cat.

A hard day's life - Vol.6

Ideal Cat - Vol. 9

This is a very fun and interesting series as it focuses on the cat and how he observes things around him. I've read the two above volumes and enjoyed both. Nice to have a japanese series that isn't all fighting.

Marvel Age Emma Frost Volume 1: Higher Learning
Introduces us to Emma Frost as a senior in high school and her disfuctional family who manipulate each other to get their own way. Emma means well but often her best intentions go wrong. When she finally realizes that in order to have some kind of life she needs to leave her family and go out on her own. But will it be good for her? We'll see in the next 2 volumes.

Emma Frost Volume 2: Mind Games
Finally free from her overbearing father, Emma Frost is on her own for the very first time. She's found love - but she's also found trouble, as her new boyfriend is in deep with the Boston mob! As Emma learns more "creative" ways of using her newfound telepathic abilities, will it be enough to help her escape the grasp of the criminal underworld?

Emma Frost Volume 3: Bloom
After fighting the Boston mob, her family, and her own boyfriend, Emma heads to university in New York. There she discovers that the teacher she had a crush on in high school is now teaching at the college and secretly dating her rommie. But the biggest discovery is that she discovers she is not alone in her telepathic talent and she develops a risky relationship with another telepath who is not what she appears to be. Emma discovers that there is a fine line between reading people's minds and actually controlling them.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Vol. 1: The Story of a Childhood
Her autobiographical graphic novel shows us Marjane's life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

We see this unique view of daily life in Iran: of the contradictions between home life and public life and of the enormous toll repressive regimes exact on the individual spirit. Marjane's child's-eye-view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. At the end of this volume she is sent to Austria to get a more balanced education.

Vol. 2 - Story of the Return
Four years later we see how she has tried to change herself to not stand out as someone different. Finding that she misses her home more than she can stand, Marjane returns to Iran after graduation. Her difficult homecoming forces her to confront the changes both she and her country have undergone in her absence and her shame at what she perceives as her failure in Austria. Marjane allows her past to weigh heavily on her until she finds some like-minded friends, falls in love, and begins studying art at a university. However, the repression and state-sanctioned chauvinism eventually lead her to question whether she can have a future in Iran. Interestly enough in Austria she tried very hard to fit in and in Iran where is forced to fit in she has to discover how to keep her unique perspective.

These two volumes were facinating and I wish there is another volume to bring us uptodate on what her life is like now. Read it!

Comics by Alan Moore

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1 - a comic that is set in Victoria England in which some of our favorite literary characters are real. Mr. Griffin "the Invisible Man", Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Alan Quatermain, Captain Nemo and the mysterious Ms Murray (recently divorced, hints at a horrible scandle and wears a long scarf tied around her neck at all time hmmmm....)

Recrutied by Campion Bond and the mysterious "M" could it be Mycroft Holmes but ends up being Sherlock Holmes nemephis, Professor Moriarty. Who is secretly controlling England and wants to go to war with a Chinese warlord who controls the East. He has discovered a cavorite that allows anything it resides in to fly.

Will the League be able to discover the truth in time and save England and possibly the world? Of course they will! Very exciting and graphic collection. I am still curious as to what is Ms Murray's special gift and what about Mr. Quatermain? Perhaps Vol. 2 will help me out.

Top 10 Vol 1 & 2
The city of Neopolis is populated by science-heroes and villains, and even the general population have weird powers and traits; there are also aliens, gods and other dimensional beings. Policing the city is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it, so the citizens accept the jurisdiction of a multi-dimensional force of peacekeepers, spread over several alternate Earths. In Neopolis Precinct 10 (Top 10) is the hub and Robyn Slinger (Toybox) is the rookie with a lot to learn, who carries around a crate full of intelligent supertoys who do her bidding. Her new partner is a hulking, sullen, blue dude named Smax who shoots energy beams out of his chest..

Robyn's coworkers include Girl One (whose bioengineered skin constantly changes), Jack Phantom (a lesbian who can phase through solid matter, Hyperdog (a sentient Doberman in a cyborg skeleton), Irma Geddon (a middle-aged housewife with a nuclear battlesuit), King Peacock (worships Satan; punches through solid stone), Synaesthesia (listens to smells, feels colors, sees sounds -- believe it or not, this is a real condition), Janus (a switchboard operator with two faces and two personalities), Alexei (a Communist telepath with a chimanzee for a wife), and a number of others. From giant saurians to weird aliens, from deicides to shark-headed lawyers, not to mention internal affairs, Robyn has her work cut out for her.

Vol. 1 was more fun for me as we got to learn much about the various characters. Especially the relationship between Robyn and her new partner Smax as we see how she deals with her father's decline into Alzheimer's. Vol. 2 started out well then the last section just got weird and preachy. Oh, well.

Leave it to Chance Series by James Robinson
Bk 1: Shaman's Rain
Chance Falconer is a 14-year-old only child born into a family of municipal sorcerers that has protected the city of Devil's Echo for centuries. Chance can't wait to start training in the family business, but her father decides he doesn't want a girl joining the family's dangerous profession. Predictably, it's not long before she stumbles onto a dead body and a kidnapping in progress, and soon enough she's got a full-fledged mystery on her hands. Reminds us of the Nancy Drew mysteries that inspired it but mixed with a Buffy the Vampire Slayer tomboy.

This jumps around a lot. Very fun reading. Can't wait to read more of this series.

Bk 2: Trick or treat and other stories will be available soon.

Ruse: Enter the Detective
Volume 1: Introduces us to detective Simon Archard and his girl-Friday, Emma Bishop. But it is from Emma's point of view that we experience the story and get to know Simon. Plus we discover that Emma has special powers to stop time and yet interact in it. Set in an alternative reality, in a city called Partington, similiar to a Victorian-era-style Sherlock Holmes detective story. There are mysterious gargouls who fly above the sky. But there are many mysteries unanswered. But this is very fun to read and as I'm a big Sherlock Holmes fan I did truely enjoy this book.

Ruse: The Silent Partner
Volume 2: Takes up where volume 1 leaves off with discovering that Simon's dead partner, Malcolm Lightbourne, his former mentor and present nemesis. This master detective has become a master criminal under the influence of the Enigmatic Prism, a mystifying gem that focuses (and corrupts) its possessor's personality, which, of course, makes it insanely desirable. But we do not know why Emma does not use her powers again and much of this volume takes place outside of the city so a whole new cast of characters are introduced.

Ruse Traveler: Criminal Intent
Volumen 3: Is out of print as the company went out of business. So I may never see a conclusion to this fun series.

Marvel Age Mary Jane Volume 1: Circle of Friends
MJ's story is about being a high school teen, sorting out who she wants to be and, equally important, who she wants to be with. MJ's best friend, Liz, has her sights set on becoming Homecoming queen. Her boyfriend, Flash, the star quarterback, has been dragging his feet on getting his application for king handed in. MJ doesn't have a date for the dance, but Liz has that sewn up: the perfect guy, Harry Osborn, is up for grabs, and has his eye on our Mary Jane. She likes him, but does she really "like" him? He's no Spidey, but he sure is nice, and he pays for everything. MJ's efforts to raise money for a new dress and the identity of Flash's secret crush add even more complications.

Interesting to see life from MJ's point of view. We see Peter very occassionally but more often as Spiderman. More interesting things to come.