Summer Reading

I have already finished my first book this summer. I hope you are reading and have picked up forms at the Contra Costa Library for their teen reading program. http://guides.ccclib.org/srf
Also, if you are looking for my reading list or for Mrs. Kreiser's reading list visit our school web site and the library section http://www.lcms.srvusd.net/Reading.
Back to the first book I finished this summer. I have seen many students in 7th grade reading Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris. I have wanted to read it for a while. It was a Junior Library Guild pick and had great reviews in School Library Journal. (You can see our collection of Junior Library Guild books in our library catalog, under categories, plus sometimes School Library Journal articles or other review sources are included in Amazon.)
The story is set in a world of fairytales. There is magic, trolls, fairies, and small kingdoms only separated by barriers as simple as a river. The story is told mostly from Christian's perspective, but is written in third person. There are some clever twists and turns that reflect issues we have faced in the 20th century. For example: Christian's foster father, a troll, is trying to break up Queen Mab's (a fairy) monopoly as the tooth fairy. There is also some technology brought in by Christian's interest in inventing. The story begins with "Ed", Christian's soon to be foster father is walking in the woods with his two dogs. The dogs come across Christian in a bush. He, Chris, has decided that he doesn't want to live with his family anymore because they make him wear velvet. So, Ed has no choice, but to take him home to his crystal filled cave.
Well, like any boy, they grow up. Chris begins to use a telescope to watch the goings on at the castle and specifically the youngest princess. They begin p-mailing (pigeon mail) each other and ....
This will make a good quick read to jump start your summer reading, if you like this genre of book. I read it in an afternoon. Enjoy!