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Friday, May 17, 2013

Patch Reads: 2013 Summer Reading List For Ages 4 to 12-plus

Great reads for kids of all ages.

[Editor's note: Author James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead Foundation provided this list of great summer books for kids.] (For tweens and teens, ages 12 and up) The Diviners By Libba Bray For ages 12 and up A series of occult-based murders in 1920s New York City put Evie O’Neill and her uncle, curator of what’s known as “The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies,” center stage in investigating the crimes. The tightly woven plot and palpable setting combine with supernatural elements, rich themes, and terrific storytelling to make for a compelling read.   On the Day I Died By Candace Fleming For ages 11 and up Scary is always in season, and summer is an especially good time to welcome a shivery chill. On appropriately dark and moonless nights, kids …

Monday, April 8, 2013

Book Clubs: We Want Your Recommendations

Tell us what you're reading right now using this nifty form on Patch!

As part of our ongoing Patch Reads program, we are actively seeking input from you on what you are reading right now. Fill out this form and tell us what you and your book clubs are reading and why. Then we'll share it with others so that we can all benefit from your book club recommendations. 

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Jane

3:46 pm on Monday, April 8, 2013

just read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and 1,000 White Women   more ›

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Narrative Nonfiction: Five Must-Read Books

Harrowing plane crashes, a true Bronx tale and more.

  Nothing is as satisfying to me as reading a well-written, compelling true story. Which is why I love narrative nonfiction.  The genre reads like fiction — it has plot, character development, scene-setting, conflict — but it's all true. Sometimes the best stories are not the ones we make up, but the ones that make up our lives. Below, in no particular order, is a list of five favorite narrative nonfiction books — old and new. If you're looking for a good read, I encourage you to check out any of these. You just may have a hard time putting these titles down.    1. Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand At times, the tale of Olympic runner and World War II prisoner of war Louis Zamperini seems ripped from the set of an adventure or war movie. But …

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

What's On Your 'Must Read' List?

Here are some of the hottest books flying off bookstore shelves this month.

  What's on your "must read" list in Marblehead? For all you voracious readers out there, here's a look at some of the hottest books of February, according Barnes & Noble.  "Inferno," by Dan Brown: This book doesn't hit the shelves for three more months, but pre-orders make it one of the hottest books right now. Brown, of "Da Vinci Code" fame, will likely have another movie deal on his hands: About the book: In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces…Dante’s Inferno. Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of …

Friday, December 28, 2012

The 12 Best Children's Books of 2012

A list of the best children's books of 2012, from James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead Foundation.

[Courtesy of the ReadKiddoRead Foundation] Maurice Sendak once said that one of the best thing about being a writer of children's books was that his audience kept being born. It’s true, of course: The great books from years past are brand new to today’s children and teens. But let’s take a moment at year’s end to recognize the books being published now for our young people. Here’s a quick roundup of a dozen highlights of 2012. (For more, visit ReadKiddoRead.com and check out our reviews.) Great Illustrated Books (Ages 2-5) Llama Llama Time to Share By Anna Dewdney For ages 2-5 When the doorbell rings, Mama Llama welcomes the neighbors – the Gnus. While Mama and Nelly have tea, their two toddlers are left with a boxful of toys to play with …

Sunday, December 23, 2012

The Best Gift I Ever Got Was a Book, and That Book Was _____

ReadKiddoRead asked authors, athletes and celebrities to share their favorite books.

Courtesy of the ReadKiddoRead Foundation Are you giving any books to your kids as gifts? Which ones are you picking out for friends and family? ReadKiddoRead asked authors, athletes and celebrities to finish this sentence: The Best Gift I Ever Got Was a Book, and That Book Was _____. Pick up some of these favorites for the kids in your life, or browse through ReadKiddoRead.com for books that are sure to please any young person this holiday season. Mark Teixeira The best gift I ever got was a book; it was The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. The book is The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, given to me by my friend and high school principal, Barry Fitzpatrick. While I can't single out any book as my favorite, this book stands out …

Sunday, November 25, 2012

The 2012 Holiday Book List

Books make great holiday gifts. Give your loved ones these books as stocking stuffers this holiday season.

  When you give a child or a teen a book, you are creating a memory that will last a lifetime. What’s more, reading offers so many options. Are you trying to find a book for an early reader? Choose a picture book or a Great Beginner Read from the list below. Does your grandchild love nonfiction? Take a look at the Great Family Reads section. Has your niece read every book known to man? There are some brand new books on this list that she may not have seen yet. Do you struggle to find just the right book to entice your child to read? These selections are sure kid-pleasers that will meet any interest. The ReadKiddoRead holiday gift list has something for everyone: realistic fiction, science fiction, and nonfiction; animal stories, mythology …

Thursday, November 15, 2012

'10 Fat Turkeys' And More Thanksgiving Reads

Celebrate next week's holiday by reading some of these Thanksgiving-themed books.

Although it's not as famous as Halloween or Christmas, the Thanksgiving holiday does have it's fair share of literature dedicated to it. Whether you're young and still reading picture books, or an adult, we have a little something for everyone in our Patch Reads book list. So grab your turkey and enjoy some books as side dishes. Younger readers: 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving—In a switch on the classic Clement Moore poem, some boys and girls have an eventful Thanksgiving eve. If You Lived In Colonial Times—This book outlines what the lives were like for the Pilgrims and Colonists from 1565 to 1776. The First Thanksgiving—Geared toward beginner readers, this book tells the story of the first Thanksgiving with lots of illustrations.  …

Monday, October 15, 2012

Scare Your Kids Into Reading with These Books for Halloween

Check out ReadKiddoRead's list of the best Halloween books for kids.

All of us — adults, teens and children — enjoy a scary chill.  What better time of year than Halloween to indulge in stories that make our spines tingle?  It's the perfect time for your family to share some spooky stories each evening. To get you started, here are some Halloween books filled with ghosts and ghouls, wizards and witches, haunted houses and black magic that everyone can enjoy together.  So, consider stopping by Abbot Public Library this Halloweeen season.  PICTURE BOOKS for ages 2-6 The youngest children love the fun of Halloween: costumes, trick-or-treating and gentle tales of ghosts and goblins. Here are some books for this age group: GHOSTS IN THE HOUSE By Kazuno Kohara For ages 1-6 There are fuzzy pumpkin costumes in …

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