12 - Kira-kira, by Cynthia Kadohata

I picked this Newbery award winner up when I took my students to the library this morning, and I finished it by the end of the day! It was very sweet. As Americans, we are very attuned to the misfortunes of African Americans at various points in our history, but we do not often stop to think about what life has been like for other groups of people. Although this book makes no effort towards blanket statements, it does paint a compelling picture of the hardships a Japanese family MIGHT have encountered in the first half of the twentieth century, especially in the rural south, where the outsider is always treated with suspicion at best and downright hostility at worst.

11 - The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was definitely the best I've read so far this year. Perhaps even the best I've read in quite a while. I really enjoyed the layers upon layers of information and meaning. I love codes and puzzles, so it was fascinating to read as the characters solved all of the devious riddles laid before them.

There was a great deal of controversy surrounding this book and movie. I don't know exactly how I feel about the claims of the Priory de Sion. I don't think they are as earth-shattering or faith-altering as many would have me believer they are. That said, I prefer to read this as a NOVEL. You know, FICTION? Make-believe grounded in amazingly detailed reality. Because obviously it is just that.

I think my favorite layers are those that connect Christianity to earlier pagan rites of worship. It is a source of boundless interest to me that various rulers, both secular and religious, both Christian and pagan, have endeavored to blend the holy ceremonies and celebrations of Christ with the more ancient rituals of pagan worship. The level of success is mind-boggling and accounts convincingly for the rise of Christianity in the British Isles and Western Europe. By overlaying the pagan rites with Christian significance, the Church (with a little help from a few Roman Emperors) effectively converted the masses without them even realizing it. It's sort of a sneaky way to secure a person's immortal soul, but undeniably effective. :)

I want desperately to visit these places. What an amazing vacation it would be simply to trace Robert and Princess Sophie's path across France and Great Britain. I love to imagine the sights I would see. I am particularly intrigued by Rosslyn Chapel, which I have not encountered in other things I've read. I'll have to do some more investigation.

Speaking of making connections: Nicholas Flamel was listed as one of the Grand Masters of the Priory de Sion. Yes, Nicholas Flamel of the Sorcerer's Stone. Yes, Nicholas Flamel, Albus Dumbledore's dear friend from Harry Potter. Too cool! :)

I think I might have to add Angels and Demons to my list now. And maybe anything else Dan Brown has written. I might have a new author to add to my list. :)

9, 10 - Star Wars

Allegiance, Timothy Zahn
I liked this one. I am fond of this era in SW fiction. I like Luke, Leia, and Han younger. I usually miss them in the newer books, which focus on their kids. I also REALLY liked how the Stormtroopers decided that they couldn't condone the civilian kill orders coming from the Emperor and Vader. It brings up some excellent moral issues, which are admittedly often absent or at least vague in SW fiction. Even Mara Jade, Emperor's Hand, showed more mercy and independence than I expected. Excellent, but then Zahn always is.

Revelation, Karen Traviss
Another good one in the Legacy of the Force series. I am sort of sad that it has to be Jacen. I always liked him in the Young Jedi Knights books. Where is his affinity for the natural world? Shouldn't that be addressed, like maybe when he burned Kashyyyk? Anyway, I sort of wish it could be another Jedi. But then again, I love them all, so I guess that's the point. I REALLY like Boba Fett's predicament and increasing levels of humanity. It's fun to get to know an old face with such a new twist! Just a thought: Han, Leia, and Luke are getting old. I think I might have to stop reading if someone kills one of them off. Especially Luke.

5, 6, 7, 8 - YA Lit Rocks!

The Lightning Theif, Rick Riordan
In this fantasy, a teenager named Percy is surprised to learn that all the weird stuff that has been happening his whole life, from faces in the waves at the beach to his smelly stepfather, is all due to the fact that his is a Hero - the son of a mortal woman and a Greek god. His quest: find something that was stolen from Zeus and stop World War III. It's an interestingly modern take on Greek mythology. I am looking forward to the next two books in the series.

Al Capone Does My Shirts, Gennifer Choldenko
This sweet story chronicles a boy's year at Alcatraz, where his dad is part electrician, part guard. It deals touchingly with his relationship with his sister, who has autism before autism is a real diagnosis. It's a really poignant story and I loved it.

Esperanza Rising, Pam Muñoz Ryan
I picked this up in the library the other day and fell in love! It is a heart-wrenching story of a young Mexican girl from a wealthy family whose world falls apart. She is forced to flee Mexico and immigrate to the United States, where she works in the fields, picking crops for a pittance. It is set in the 1920's or 1930's, when times were very hard, especially for immigrants. Esperanze is very brave and works hard to hold what is left of her family together, even though she is only 13.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
In Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a seventh grade boy tells his story of the tortures of middle school through humorous reflection and stick-figure comics. I flew through this book in about an hour and the boys in my class are fighting over it (cue music: "Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles...").