October's Here and That Means---

---Sports!!!!

Yes, indeed, this is a great time of year because it's the month when the big three of sports converge--football, basketball and baseball. Football has been going on already; in fact, it's one-quarter of the way through the season. We in Charlotte have been watching our beloved Panthers struggle (pleeeaasseee don't get me started on last Sunday's game) but you'll find most of us glued to our sets every time they play. The Charlotte Bobcats start playing this month. OK--if you want to get technical, those are preseason games, but still, it's basketball! And it's hard to believe that, in this month of cool weather and falling leaves, there's still baseball. The World Series will be upon us in about three weeks. Now it seems to me that baseball is always associated with summer and should stop when things turn cold. But, doesn't matter--baseball is still the great iconic American sport. I just love reading about its colorful history and its larger-than-life characters.  Here are a couple of really good books about the early days the official sport of summer.

Ball Park: The Story of America's Baseball Fields
Written and illustrated by Lynn Curlee


You can watch baseball on TV but there's nothing like actually seeing a game in a real ballpark. This fascinating and beautifully-illustrated book gives a history of baseball parks from their very beginning. Find out why each ballpark is unique and why there is no standard way to build them. There's also a lot of interesting things to learn--the history of baseball, when New York was the "capital of baseball," how baseball invented Astroturf, and which pre-WWI ballparks are still around. This is  a very interesting read.


Heroes of Baseball: The Men Who Made It America's Favorite Game by Robert Lipstye

Here's another great book about the history of baseball, full of stories of the giants of the game. And what stories they are! The chapters on Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson Mickey Mantle are terrific in themselves but there's a lot more. Find out why Ty Cobb was one the greatest players ever and why no one liked him,who was A. G. Spalding (and why we still see that name on sports equipment), who was "The Clown Prince of Baseball," which records will never be broken, and what Yogi Berra's real name is! This is one terrific book, guaranteed to keep you turning page after page. If you're a rabid fan or if you've never been to a game, this is one you should NOT pass up! In fact, this book gets--

  The Iron Guy Seal of Approval as One Terrific Book!

That's some of the nonfiction about baseball. I'll write a post soon on baseball fiction and then some books on football and basketball. Stay tuned, sports and reading fans!

A Big Three from Michael!

Life has been busy again for the Iron Guy and the last post I made was before Labor Day!  Wow. Hard to believe it's been that long. I'm busily working on new stuff but, in the meantime, our old friend Michael has come through again with three top-notch reviews. Let's hear him out:

My Wierder School, book 6
Mayor Hubble is in Trouble!
by Dan Gutman
    Mayor Hubble, after the incident in Mr. Burke is Berserk!, has been released from jail and is running for mayor again, believe it or not. Meanwhile, A.J. decides to run against Andrea for president of the third grade at Ella Mentry School. But when Mayor Hubble offers to rig the competition in exchange for A.J.'s promotion of him as next mayor, A.J.'s unsure about the whole thing. Will he accept the mayor's tempting offer, or will he submit to an inevitable loss? This series is definitely getting better, but it could be even better than it is now! I wish it was just a little funnier, and nearly every paragraph has a running gag in it. It's still worth reading though.

The Infinity Ring, book 1
A Mutiny in Time
by James Dashner
    Dak and his friend Sera live in a future America where a force called the SQ rules everything, and the world is going downhill fast. But when the two meet a secret society called the Hystorians, everything changes. Using an infinity-shaped time machine that Dak's parents made, the two, along with a young Hystorian named Riq, go back in time. Their goal is to fix things in history that never should have happened. In this case, it's saving Christopher Columbus from being thrown overboard in a mutiny. But the mutineers don't give up easily... and neither does the SQ. Now, although this book is original, it could be a lot more exciting, and it's obviously a copy of The 39 Clues. There's a blue bar on the front cover that says, "Read the book, follow the guide, play the game". The first page has a quote from the book on it. Book two will be written by a different author. And it's put out by Scholastic! The thing is, now that Cahills Vs. Vespers is declining in popularity, The Infinity Ring will surely take over as the most popular kids' series out there by the time Cahills Vs. Vespers is over. Now, which do I think is better? Personally, I'd stick with Cahills Vs. Vespers. But I'll still keep up with The Infinity Ring.

Reviews coming soon: Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 4: Shatterproof, by Roland Smith---- N.E.R.D.S., book 4: The Villain Virus, by Michael Buckley ----------- Amulet, book 4: Prince of the Elves, by Kazu Kibuishi

Cahills Vs. Vespers, book 4
Shatterproof
by Roland Smith
    Amy, Dan, Jake, and Atticus are at it again when Vesper One tells them to steal the Jubilee Diamond right out of the Pergamon museum. But when things go wrong, the team finds out that the whole thing was a setup. What now? Milos Vanek is hot on their trail. And by hot I mean that he's never more than a few miles away from them. How will they shake him loose? Jonah, Hamilton, and Erasmus are still on Luna Amato's trail. Will she lead them to something valuable? Plus, the hostages attempt an escape. Will it work this time? This is definitely better than book 3 and is worth reading! Look for book 5, Trust No One by Linda Sue Park in November, and the movie series starts in 2014!

Michael Lanier

Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist, jaw harpist, Ukeist


Thanks, Michael!! I always look forward to seeing your reviews. Yeah, I agree that The Infinity Ring is definitely a copy of The 39 Clues, so I haven't picked it up. How about YOU--have you checked it out or bought it? Did you like it? Is Michael right and will this be the next 39 Clues? Speaking of which, don't pass up the Cahills vs. Vespers series!! They're every bit as good as the first and possibly better. I  REALLY liked Operation Trinity and hope to review it soon. I checked out Shatterproff last week and can't wait to start it.
Anyway, let us all hear what you're reading and enjoying. If you need any help in figuring out how to send a review, just check the instructions on the left-hand side of the page. So what are you waiting for??? Get those fingers on those keyboards and tell us!!

Fun Stuff for the Labor Day Weekend (More Blasts from the Past)

Hey everyone, it's Iron Guy Carl, blogging at you from the end of summer. Yes, summer's over. It's always a little tough getting back to the grindstone, but, mercifully, the grownups created something to make  reentry less painful.  And that is the Labor Day weekend!! A big three-day weekend to kick up some fun before settling back into the routine. Some guys like to go to the beach over this weekend, some play or watch sports and some like to hang out. But all the readers of this blog like READING. With that in mind, let me give you a few favorite reads from the past. These will be good for those car trips or the times spent chilling out around the homestead. These books are picked randomly but every one of them is great fun for a Labor Day weekend and all of them are guy-proven great reads. (If you want to find out any more about them, click on the tab under this post--for instance, click on the "Alvin Ho" tab if you want to learn more or read reviews)

Any of the Alvin Ho books

Funny, funny, funny!!! The tales of a second-grader who's afraid of everything. Guaranteed to make you hold your sides--because, if you don't, you'll split them laughing!



The Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

Walking war machines vs fabricated animals in an alternative history of World War I. Lots of adventure, action and things that blow up.Great reads!

The 39 Clues series

Most of you probably know about these books, but if not---go get one right away!! They pull you in and won't let go!

 How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

One of the great guy books of all time that asks the question, "Could you eat 15 worms in 15 days?"



The Brixton Brothers mysteries

Mystery, fun, and excitement as Steve Brixton (he has no brother--he just thinks it sounds cool) unravels criminal plots. Besides, where will you find out that all librarians know 9 forms of martial arts?



All right, guys, go out there and have a great weekend. And be sure to tell us what you read (or listened to, if you love audiobooks) when you get back!

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan

Hey and how-de-do to all you fans of reading! The Iron Guy has been extremely busy lately. Life at the library gears up for summer and, after the big season hit, I went into hyperdrive.You've probably noticed that I haven't posted any of my own reviews for a while and that's because I've been so busy--which is good because that means so many kids are out there reading! (And I really appreciate reader guys like Michael and Sammer and mphuff who have taken up the slack) But, no matter how busy things getI always make time for a Rick Riordan book. I'm a HUGE fan of his stuff and was very excited when The Serpent's Shadow, the third and final volume of The Kane Chronicles series, fell into my eager hands. I finished it during the summer and enjoyed it. A lot of you have probably already read it, but some of you haven't. If you haven't, then pay attention. If you have, write and tell us how YOU liked it.
In case you don't know what these books are about, here's the lowdown--Carter and Sadie Kane are the son and daughter of a famous Egyptologist, who just also happens to be a powerful magician. Through a series of adventures too complicated to relate briefly, Carter and Sadie find themselves as the only two humans to stop Apophhis, the giant Chaos Serpent from rising from his ancient prison and swallow the sun. In this book, they finally discover a way to banish Apophis, but it's a tremendous risky task--they must find his shadow and cast an execration spell right to his face!
This book has all the Rick Riordan trademarks that we guys love so much--the action, the humor, and the vivid and believable otherworldly settings. This story moves right along, keeps your attention, and makes you laugh often along the way. I enjoyed it but, to tell the complete truth, I didn't feel the incredible suspense that I found in all the other Rick Riordan books. This is not a criticism because I enjoyed this book very much; it's just that I knew somehow that the characters would come out all right, even when the had to go face-to-face with Apophis. Maybe it's because I've read so many RR books that I just knew Carter and Sadie would make it.I didn't get that feeling in, for instance, The Last Olympian. There you really felt that Kronos might actually destroy the world and Percy along with it.But don't let me stop you from reading this book--like all of Rick Riordan's books, this is a good read. Maybe some of you have read it and disagree with me. If so, write in and tell me!
I have one mild criticism, though. I love his humor, but there may have been a little too much here. That sounds weird, I know. I enjoyed the insults and the quick quips all through the book but it seemed that Sadie and Carter were always hurling witty insults at each other, even in the most dangerous moments. it got a bit annoying. BUT--criticizing Rick Riordan is like critiqueing Michael Jordan. Or Babe Ruth. Or the Beatles. Rick Riordan is still one of the giants of guy writing and I cannot wait until The Mark of Athena, the final book in the Heroes of Olympus trilogy. (PS--you can read the first chapter here!)

Old Friends and a New Friend

Hey all you summer-living, vacation-enjoying, terrific-book-reading guys! Iron Guy Carl here. Summer is a great time of year--lots of fun things to do and time time to read some truly cool books. We have two reader guys who have taken time to tell us about stuff they've read and liked. The first is our old friend Sammer. Let's see what he's read:

I'm here to tell you about Chasing Vermeer. It is a story about two kids who live in Chicago where a Vermeer painting has been stolen so they try to find it where the Government failed. It is a great book and guys out there should read it.

Thanks, Sammer! A lot of guys have written in the past and told us about that book--check out the "Chasing Vermeer" tab under this post and see.

Then another faithful friend, Michael, has sent us a good review of an interesting book:

Bridge of Time
by Lewis Buzbee
    Joan and Lee are best friends in eighth grade. When the last field trip of the year is a tour of ultra-boring Fort Point, the two sneak into the lighthouse and take a nap. They wake up in 1864, with a man named Sam. Sam holds some secrets as to why they're there, what's going on, and who he is. I think the book was pretty average: could've been better, could've been worse. I'm not a fan of Joan and Lee hating their parents, and I also don't like their names: Joan Lee and Lee Jones. A little lazy on the author's part. This book supports the theory that a few people can become unstuck in time, floating around from one time to another, and that they can control it somewhat, until they become restuck in their own time. A bit unrealistic, but legitimate enough. All in all? It's worth reading.


And thank you too, Michael! You have always found good stuff and tell us exactly what you think. Guys appreciate your manly honesty!

 

Then we have a new friend, mphuff, who has written to us about some books that guys like:

 

I really like the Alex Rider books. I like them because there's a lot of action. There are a lot of cool gadgets. I also like IQ because it's about a bunch of spies that have to stop terrorists.

Thanks to you also, mphuff! We used to hear a lot about the Alex Rider books, but you're the first to tell us about the IQ series. I have to say, with a shame-faced expression, that I've never read any of the books in either series. They sound good, though, and I may have to check out some. And I want to remind you, mphuff, that you can come to the Myers Park library and claim a free book for writing your first review for us. And that goes for all reader guys! So if you've never sent us a review, go ahead and do it now! We LOVE hearing about great reads!

So keep reading and writing and enjoying summer!

(PS--Summer is a great time, but it's also very busy for us library guys. So if you send a review and don't see it posted right away, don't worry--I'll put it up here for as soon as I can)

Michael's Last Word on The Shadow Children

Our good friend Michael has given us the lowdown on the last two Shadow Children books by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Did he like them or not? Let's see:

The Shadow Children Sequence, book 6
Among the Enemy
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
    You may remember Matthias, all the way back from Among the Betrayed. Well, he's the main character in this book. After his friends Percy and Alia are hurt and then go missing, Matthias absentmindedly saves the life of a Population Police officer, landing himself a job in the Population Police! But when he discovers that he has friends there, he takes part in a plot to completely ruin the Population Police's plan for destroying third children. This is most definitely the most exciting book in the series. Two shootouts (one in a speeding car), a poisoning, and an explosion! This book is the best one, even though I'm still not a big fan of switching main characters.

The Shadow Children Sequence, book 7
Among the Free
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
    Luke, working undercover for the Population Police, is ordered to shoot an old lady in front of a village. When he drops the gun and runs away, his action is misunderstood as rebellion, and the villagers fight back. This sets off a chain of events that eventually overthrows the Population Police! The country is free! But Luke never suspects that people might hate third children after all, not to mention: how long can a country stand without a government? For an additional problem, Luke has to overcome a kind-of friend, and you're not going to like who it is. I must say, this book is pretty good, if not predictable. It has its boring spots, but overall, it's good for reading. And that wraps up my reviews on the Shadow Children Sequence. A new book review is to come soon!

Michael Lanier
Pianist, guitarist, banjoist, autoharpist, jaw harpist, Ukeist

Thanks, Michael! We always like your honest reviews. Sometimes you have to wait a while before a series gets good. How about you, all you reading fans? Have you read these books? Do you agree with Michael? Or not? Write in and let us know!
Well, I hope you are enjoying the summer and have a great Fourth!!!

Once Again, It's Sammer!!

We haven't heard from our old friend Sammer in quite a while and so I was REALLY excited to get a new message from him. Like our other friend Michael, Sammer always tells us about good reads. Let's hear about what Sammer has liked lately:

This is Sammer. I haven't given a report on anything in a long time, but here all of the great books I have read.
1. The Chronicles of Narnia. A seven-book thrill ride. The series kicks off when Digory and Polly sneak into Digory's Uncle office and he gives them rings that send them to a place full of pools that send them places. The second book is the after-story of what happens after Digory and Polly. It is about 4 kids who are sent to stay at a professor's place; their names are Lucy, Edmond, Susan, and peter. Lucy finds a place called Narnia. And that is where the rest of the Adventures begin. Later in the sixth book Eustance comes along.
2.The Mysterious Benedict Society. A great trilogy just waiting to be read by people all over the world about Constance Contraire, Sticky Washington, Kate Weatheral, And Reynie Muldoon--all Names that fit their personalities.
3.The Beyonders. About-to-be trilogy with only two books out right now. It is about two kids from earth who go to a different world where things go wrong and they have to help.
4.The Westing Game. One day sixteen people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. The will turns out to be a contest, challenging the heirs to find out who among them is Westing's murderer.
5.The Secret Zoo is about animals that have a secret zoo where they act like humans except for talking. They have animals from Polar bears to extinct Dodo birds.
6.The Candy Shop War is about four kids who are given magic candy, but they get into a bigger problem then they think.
6.Surviving the Applewhites. About a family of different talents who are joined by a teen juvenile deliquint-- will he survive? Will the applewhites survive?
7.Applewhites at Wit's End. The Applewhites are trying to raise money so they open a camp called Eureka! But things go wrong and they go crazy.

Well, that is all I have.

Thanks, Sammer! Yes, I really enjoyed the Narnia books too. I also listened to most of the Mysterious Benedict Society books on cd and thought they were exciting, but I have not read the other books you mentioned, although I've heard other guys talk about how much they like the Beyonders books. So here you go, all you reader guys--here are a bunch of great reads for the summer that have been endorsed by another reader guy like you and not some boring old grownup. This could be fun reading during these hot summer days. Thanks again, Sammer, and let us hear from you soon!