Posts Tagged ‘Children’s Books

03
Jul
08

Life of Pi: Deluxe Illustrated Edition

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[Yann Martel]

Product Description

Life of Pi, first published in 2002, became an international bestseller and remains one of the most extraordinary and popular works of contemporary fiction.

In 2005 an international competition was held to find the perfect artist to illustrate Yann Martel s Man Booker Prize winning novel. From thousands of entrants, Croatian artist Tomislav Torjanac was chosen. This lavishly produced edition features forty of Torjanac s beautiful four-color illustrations, bringing Life of Pi to splendid, eye-popping life.

Tomislav Torjanac says of his illustrations: My vision of the illustrated edition of Life of Pi is based on paintings from a first person s perspective Pi s perspective. The interpretation of what Pi sees is intermeshed with what he feels and it is shown through [the] use of colors, perspective, symbols, hand gestures, etc.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #302 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-10-07
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 336 pages

 

 

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Yann Martel’s imaginative and unforgettable Life of Pi is a magical reading experience, an endless blue expanse of storytelling about adventure, survival, and ultimately, faith. The precocious son of a zookeeper, 16-year-old Pi Patel is raised in Pondicherry, India, where he tries on various faiths for size, attracting “religions the way a dog attracts fleas.” Planning a move to Canada, his father packs up the family and their menagerie and they hitch a ride on an enormous freighter. After a harrowing shipwreck, Pi finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean, trapped on a 26-foot lifeboat with a wounded zebra, a spotted hyena, a seasick orangutan, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker (“His head was the size and color of the lifebuoy, with teeth”). It sounds like a colorful setup, but these wild beasts don’t burst into song as if co-starring in an anthropomorphized Disney feature. After much gore and infighting, Pi and Richard Parker remain the boat’s sole passengers, drifting for 227 days through shark-infested waters while fighting hunger, the elements, and an overactive imagination. In rich, hallucinatory passages, Pi recounts the harrowing journey as the days blur together, elegantly cataloging the endless passage of time and his struggles to survive: “It is pointless to say that this or that night was the worst of my life. I have so many bad nights to choose from that I’ve made none the champion.” At one point in his journey, Pi recounts, “My greatest wish–other than salvation–was to have a book. A long book with a never-ending story. One that I could read again and again, with new eyes and fresh understanding each time.” It’s safe to say that the fabulous, fablelike Life of Pi is such a book.

First published in 2002, Martel’s breathtaking breakout novel became an international bestseller and went on to win the Man Booker Prize, and was also named Amazon.com’s Best Book of 2002. In 2005, after an international competition, Croatian artist Tomislav Torjanac was selected to illustrate a special edition of Life of Pi that features 40 stunning illustrations that present a new perspective on this modern classic. –Brad Thomas Parsons

 

Amazon.com Exclusive: Outtakes from Tomislav Torjanac’s Early Illustrations for Life of Pi 

Tomislav Torjanac’s Artist Statement

Island Study		 Lifeboat Study
“I quite deliberately dressed wild animals in tame costumes of my imagination.”
“Only when they threw me overboard did I begin to have doubts…” “And what a thump it was.”
“I threw the mako towards the stern.”
 About the Author

 Yann Martel was born in Spain in 1963 and lives in the Canadian prairie province of Saskatchewan. Life of Pi, his second novel, was published to international acclaim in more than forty countries and won the 2002 Man Booker Prize. He is currently working on a new novel.

Tomislav Torjanac was born in 1972 in Croatia, where he lives and works as a freelance illustrator. In 2006, he won the international competition to find an illustrator for this new edition of Life of Pi. Amongst other things, he’s done many book covers and illustrated a few children’s books, including James Joyce’s The Cat and the Devil. 

Customer Reviews

Tiger Dreams
Modern fable that seems absolutely true, written in saffron-colored words and paired, here, with illustrations in the same mood. Unforgettable.

Life of Pi
Very nice edition of a great book. The illustrations are nicely done. Highly recommended.

Beautiful collectors copy
I wanted this HC illustrated version for Christmas, but the local dealer sold out. I was soooo excited to see it discounted on Amazon.
I bought several copies for friends too!
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Life of Pi: Deluxe Illustrated Edition

03
Jul
08

The Catcher in the Rye

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The Catcher in the Rye

[J.D. Salinger]

Product Description

Since his debut in 1951 as The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has been synonymous with “cynical adolescent.” Holden narrates the story of a couple of days in his sixteen-year-old life, just after he’s been expelled from prep school, in a slang that sounds edgy even today and keeps this novel on banned book lists. It begins, “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them.” His constant wry observations about what he encounters, from teachers to phonies (the two of course are not mutually exclusive) capture the essence of the eternal teenage experience of alienation.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #147 in Books
  • Published on: 2001-01-30
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 288 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Since his debut in 1951 as The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has been synonymous with “cynical adolescent.” Holden narrates the story of a couple of days in his sixteen-year-old life, just after he’s been expelled from prep school, in a slang that sounds edgy even today and keeps this novel on banned book lists. It begins,

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them.”

His constant wry observations about what he encounters, from teachers to phonies (the two of course are not mutually exclusive) capture the essence of the eternal teenage experience of alienation.

Novel by J.D. Salinger, published in 1951. The influential and widely acclaimed story details the two days in the life of 16-year-old Holden Caulfield after he has been expelled from prep school. Confused and disillusioned, he searches for truth and rails against the “phoniness” of the adult world. He ends up exhausted and emotionally ill, in a psychiatrist’s office. After he recovers from his breakdown, Holden relates his experiences to the reader.

Customer Reviews

Dull, whinny, and phony
I first read this book in the 9th grade. Hated the character so much I only got half way through the book and just BSed my way through the class. However, since it was a “classic” I decided I should pick it up and finish it. It turns out the character is just as annoying now as it was when I was 14. So of the reviewers have sad this novel shows “universal” problems, that some how I didn’t experience. The character is really probably clinically depressed and lacks social skills. The character also rants about phonies, but he comes across as the phoniest person in the book. The character is neither endearing nor insightful into the human condition. Pretty much this book amounts to the most annoying, depressed, dull and whinny person you can imagine ranting for 200 pages. I came to hate the character so much I only continued reading hoping the character would commit die. The only reason to read this book is so you can say you read a “classic” no matter how undeserving of that title it is.

What the . .
Like another reviewer said, I finally read this book because it’s referred to often in other literature and movies. It really started to get on my nerves around chapter 3. I only kept reading because I wanted to give the book a chance and kept waiting for the part that (supposedly) makes this book so great. I was disappointed. This kid is so annoying! I did wonder if some of the people he was describing were simply parts of himself, such as the “digression” kid, and the “flits” he hated so much. Then I wondered if it would turn out to be a “Sunset Boulevard” type of story and he might actually be the kid that jumped out the window.

There were a couple of “aha” moments that helped me understand poor old Holden Caulfield a little better and where he was coming from, but nothing earth shattering. I just felt like shaking him and yelling, “Welcome to the real world!” At least at the end he ends up where he really needs to be. His sequel could be “One flew over the cuckoos nest”.

At least I’m glad to finally check it off my “classics to read” list. Also, I’m glad I picked this book up at the library’s basement sale for only 50cents. However, I still wonder what makes this a “classic”. I can only attribute it to the timing of when the book was first published; teenage angst was not a popular subject in the 1940-50’s. It was probably quite a novel point of view at the time.

Now I’m going to rent “Six degrees of separation” again and try to remember why it made me so curious about this book.

Deserves the honor of “a classic”
I first read this novel in 6th grade. I was enthralled then, and I’ve read it three times since, all at different periods of my life. I still love it. Holden is a character who faces a conflict that many of us do: how do we preserve innocence and purity in a world that seems to far removed from both? The answer is, of course, that we can’t. Innocence and purity are transitory. They cannot last in the corrupted world in which we live.

Yes, the slang and the situations in the novel may be dated, but the overall human situation is one that will never be dated.

I usually don’t say this, but I am hard pressed to understand how anyone cannot love this novel. I’m really surprised by some of the one-star reviews. I can’t find one aspect of this novel that isn’t great. To me, it is Salinger’s masterpiece. Even if you read this book on a purely superficial level, you’ll still be glad you did. Beyond some of the weighty issues it deals with, it is super entertaining

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03
Jul
08

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)

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The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)

[Rick Riordan]

Product Description

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he cant seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worsePercy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. Percys mom decides its time that he knew the truth about where he came from. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friendsone a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of AthenaPercy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #181 in Books
  • Published on: 2006-04-01
  • Released on: 2006-03-21
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 392 pages

Customer Reviews

AMAZING!
I was amazed at the author’s ideas in this book. Interesting details that really fit in the book not like some other books that have boring details that don’t matter and don’t mean anything. I am at a loss of how to express how great this book was. No words that come to mind seem to be good enough. READ THIS BOOK! I started the 2nd book “The Sea of Monsters” the next day. Can’t wait to see the exciting twists and turns Percy goes through next.

Great
The book is great. If you like greek mythology you’ll like this. It’s all about the sons and daughters of the gods and humans. Percy has his life changed completely. The ending has a real twist that you wont believe and leaves you hanging.

Greek Mythology Made Fun!
The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is a favorite of most of my 6th grade students. They are so involved in enjoying the realism of the characters that they do not even realize that they are learning about Greek mythology at the same time! I, too, have thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel (and the 3 that follow) as well as using it with my Literature classes.

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03
Jul
08

The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, Book 6)

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The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, Book 6)

  

[Eoin Colfer]

Product Description

Artemis’s mother has contracted a deadly disease — and the only cure lies in the brain fluid of African lemurs. Unfortunately, Artemis himself was responsible for making the lemurs extinct five years ago. Now he must enlist the aid of his fairy friends to travel back in time and save them. Not only that, but he must face his deadliest foe yet…his younger self.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #32 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-07-15
  • Released on: 2008-07-15
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 432 pages

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Reader Reviews

Genius vs. genius, July 15, 2008
By  Julie Neal
         
I couldn’t put The Time Paradox down. Like the previous Fowl books, this one is brimming with sly humor, re-imagining fairies that pack heat and have super-cool gadgets. What kept the pages turning for me, however, was the idea of traveling back in time to interact with yourself.

In The Time Paradox, instead of plotting the perfect crime as in earlier installments, this time Artemis Fowl races to undo one of his previous criminal acts. This sets in motion a showdown between the teenage genius and his younger, more heartless self.

My favorite Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, dealt with the same intriguing situation. Harry and Hermione went back in time to right a terrible wrong, and had to save the day while occupying the same time and space as their earlier, clueless selves. They were successful in part because they never directly faced themselves. In The Time Paradox, Artemis Fowl doesn’t have that good fortune.

Fans of the Fowl series will recognize many of the memorable characters here. Antihero Artemis Fowl himself, an autocratic teenage genius. Plucky elf Captain Holly Short of the elite LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance). The explosively flatulent dwarf Mulch Diggums. Evil pixie Opal Koboi.

This book has something for everyone. It’s a fairy tale with high-tech James Bond gadgetry. The action is nonstop. Author Colfer handles the fledgling love story between elf Holly and human Artemis with delicacy. It’s a bit of a tearjerker, with Artemis’s beloved mom near death. It’s a morality play, about the extinction of a sweet and curious lemur species.

It may be a bit hard to follow if you haven’t read the previous books, but it’s still plenty diverting. It will make you want to pick up the earlier installments.

Other Eoin Colfer books include Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code, Artemis Fowl (The Opal Deception), The Lost Colony, Airman, Half Moon Investigations, The Supernaturalist and The Wish List.  
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03
Jul
08

The Book Thief (Readers Circle)

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The Book Thief (Readers Circle)
By Markus Zusak

Product Description

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #62 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-09-11
  • Released on: 2007-09-11
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 576 pages

Customer Reviews

brilliant5
definitly have a box of kleenex close, this book is amazing, but a tear jerker…

Take and give5
This was a wonderful book–not only for young adults, but for the general population. Characters were so well developed that you could really understand and connect to them. There was this repeating theme of “guilt” in many of the characters which reminded me of my upbringing in the 50s and early 60s–religion based and children of the “depression” generation. And, stealing–is it OK to steal if it ia for a good cause and you give back in return? Death-as narrator–what an interesting perspective and one that gave us the sense that death has feelings too. Just thought this whole book was great. So many wonderful people who lived in “heaven”.

Brilliant and Unique5
This is a wonderfully written book, told from a unique point-of-view.
I really enjoyed reading it, and could not put it down! 

02
Jul
08

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) (Deluxe Edition)

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) (Deluxe Edition)
By J. K. Rowling

Product Description

 The Deluxe Edition includes an exclusive insert featuring near–scale reproductions of Mary GrandPré’s interior art, as well as never-before-seen full-color frontispiece art on special paper. The custom-designed slipcase is foil-stamped and contains a full-cloth case book that has been blind-stamped on front and back cover with foil stamping on the spine. The book includes full-color endpapers featuring the jacket art from the trade edition and a wraparound jacket featuring art created especially for this edition by Mary GrandPré.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #86 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-07-21
  • Released on: 2007-07-21
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 784 pages

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling’s spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart–such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review–to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling’s fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry–bring plenty of tissues.

The heart of Book 7 is a hero’s mission–not just in Harry’s quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man–and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore’s warning about making the choice between “what is right and what is easy,” and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling’s skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix’s flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience. –Daphne Durham

Deluxe Edition Details
The Deluxe Edition includes an exclusive insert featuring near-scale reproductions of Mary GrandPré’s interior art, as well as never-before-seen full-color frontispiece art on special paper. The custom-designed slipcase is foil-stamped and contains a full-cloth case book that has been blind-stamped on front and back cover with foil stamping on the spine. The book includes full-color endpapers featuring the jacket art from the trade edition and a wraparound jacket featuring art created especially for this edition by Mary GrandPré.

Visit the Harry Potter Store
Our Harry Potter Store features all things Harry, including books, audio CDs and cassettes, DVDs, soundtracks, games, and more.

Begin at the Beginning

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Hardcover
Paperback		 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hardcover
Paperback		 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Hardcover
Paperback		 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Hardcover
Paperback		 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Hardcover
Paperback		 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Hardcover
Paperback

Why We Love Harry
Favorite Moments from the Series
There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling’s wildly popular series–no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favorite moments, characters, and artifacts from the first five books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill ten books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

* Harry’s first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him.
* When the Dursleys’ house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists.
* Harry’s first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry’s first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named. This moment is the reader’s first full introduction to Rowling’s world of witchcraft and wizards.
* Harry’s experience with the Sorting Hat.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

* The de-gnoming of the Weasleys’ garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores–gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests “Gerroff me! Gerroff me!”), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden–this delightful scene highlights Rowling’s clever and witty genius.
* Harry’s first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother.
* The Dueling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Dueling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

* Ron’s attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys’.
* Harry’s first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry’s brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book.
* Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s behavior in Professor Trelawney’s Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling’s books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children.
* The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin’s classroom.
* Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s knock-down confrontation with Snape.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

* Hermione’s disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling’s fourth book addresses issues about growing up–the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them.
* Viktor Krum’s crush on Hermione–and Ron’s objection to it.
* Malfoy’s “Potter Stinks” badge.
* Hermione’s creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling’s fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

* Harry’s outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry’s anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry’s frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming.
* Harry’s detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone.
* Harry and Cho’s painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager.
* Harry’s Occlumency lessons with Snape.
* Dumbledore’s confession to Harry.

 

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

* The introduction of the Horcrux.
* Molly Weasley asking Arthur Weasley about his “dearest ambition.” Rowling has always been great at revealing little intriguing bits about her characters at a time, and Arthur’s answer “to find out how airplanes stay up” reminds us about his obsession with Muggles.
* Harry’s private lessons with Dumbledore, and more time spent with the fascinating and dangerous pensieve, arguably one of Rowling’s most ingenious inventions.
* Fred and George Weasley’s Joke Shop, and the slogan: “Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You Should Be Worrying About U-NO-POO–the Constipation Sensation That’s Gripping the Nation!”
* Luna’s Quidditch commentary. Rowling created scores of Luna Lovegood fans with hilarious and bizarre commentary from the most unlikely Quidditch commentator.
* The effects of Felix Felicis.

 Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: A Conversation with J.K. Rowling

“I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I’m sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers.” –J.K. Rowling

Find out more about Harry’s creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.

Did You Know?

The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling’s favorite book as a child. Jane Austen is Rowling’s favorite author. Roddy Doyle is Rowling’s favorite living writer.

A Few Words from Mary GrandPré

“When I illustrate a cover or a book, I draw upon what the author tells me; that’s how I see my responsibility as an illustrator. J.K. Rowling is very descriptive in her writing–she gives an illustrator a lot to work with. Each story is packed full of rich visual descriptions of the atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and all the different creatures and people. She makes it easy for me. The images just develop as I sketch and retrace until it feels right and matches her vision.” Check out more Harry Potter art from illustrator Mary GrandPré.

Customer Reviews

The End of an Epic 10 Year Series5
What a series. And to cap it off the way J.K. Rowling did – truly unbelievable.

Harry Potter must set out on a mission with his two friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, to find and destroy Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes, the pieces of soul that are keeping Voldemort immortal. Only after the destruction of the Horcruxes can Voldemort be defeated forever. In the story, Harry faces difficult surroundings, adversity, persecution, tragedy, losses, adventure, bravery, and most importantly, love.

J.K. Rowling has gone to new lengths with this incredible series. You can find pieces of the story littered around all seven of the books. I get excited when I find hints, clues, and pieces of foreshadowing that are later discussed and are essential pieces of the puzzle in the other books. J.K. Rowling is a master at the linking of the story, one which she began writing in 1991 on napkins in the local cafe because of her poverty, to other pieces of the story. She has truly opened up the eyes of all of the doubters and all of the people who once said that such an amazing feat was an impossible task. J.K. Rowling started off with nothing, struggling to live a normal life, sometimes having to go hungry in order to feed her baby daughter. She has become a woman who is the highest grossing author in history.

Most importantly, the Harry Potter series has led hundreds of millions of children to start reading and also gave children, and adults as well, a friend and a comfort in the characters of Harry Potter. It is sad that the Harry Potter series cannot continue, but all good things in life must eventually come to an end. We should all praise the work ethic and efforts of J.K. Rowling, a person who has shown that anything is possible with just a little stroke of magic.

Great ending to an awesome series
Picked this book up at midnight on the release date, started reading it the same night, and finished it the next day, couldn’t put it down I had to know what happened next. J.K. Rowling did such a great job as a writer over the entire series, growing into the role of a writer and maturing as her characters matured. I only wish she would have gone into more details in the epilogue of the book with the secondary characters and what happened with them, but that didn’t take away from the 5 stars this book and series deserved. If after a year since the release, and you still haven’t read it you better get out there and get a copy.

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02
Jul
08

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4)

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The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4)

 By Rick Riordan

Product Description

Percy Jackson isnt expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronoss army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrintha sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this latest audiobook promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #60 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-05-06
  • Released on: 2008-05-06
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 368 pages

Customer Reviews

Another fabulous Percy Jackson adventure
Fourth book in the Percy Jackson series.
Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson set out to find the inventor Daedalus in the mysterious labyrinth that seems to have a life of its own. Their task is to find Daedalus and talk him out of helping Kronos. Grover is also given one last chance to find Pan before his searcher’s license is revoked.

Many of the elements I loved in the first book are back in this one: the humor, the mythological references, and the edge-of-your-seat excitement as Percy goes from one dangerous situation to another. The ending is very much a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to reading the last book.

Another great book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series5
This is the 4th book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Although Rick Riordan writes each book so that it can stand alone, I would recommend reading them in order starting with the Lightning Thief. Anyone who is interested in mythology would find this series both entertaining and informative. Our whole family loves this series. Jesse Bernstein does a great job as the reader.

This is one of his best
I was a little disappointed in The Titan’s Curse, but this book ranks up there with the first. The pace is faster and is very exciting. I can’t wait for the next one (and sadly the last). I am a middle school teacher, and this has been one of the few series that my male readers have enjoyed. One even bought his own copy about the time I bought mine. 
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02
Jul
08

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

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New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

By Stephenie Meyer

Product Description

Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won’t be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The “star-crossed” lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy’s reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #36 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-05-31
  • Released on: 2008-05-31
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 608 pages

Customer Reviews

fun read
Well written, easy read and really interesting plot line. If you can handle hours of immature adolescent obsession than this is an excellent book.

Good Read!
Suspenseful page-turner! Yeah, it’s kind of like a soap opera, maybe even a little Jerry Springer; the vampire-werewolf-human love triangle is pretty crazy! But the craziness is what makes this story so good, because you don’t know what to expect. It is truly an adventure! More importantly, what girl doesn’t want to read about being special and adored?!

Every Bit as Enjoyable as Twilight
Stephenie Meyer lit the publishing world on fire with her remarkable debut, Twilight, where we were introduced to Bella Swan and her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen. After reading and loving every minute of Twilight I was anxious to dive into New Moon to see what awaited this unlikely couple.

New Moon shifts gears early on and it doesn’t take long to figure out that this story is all about Bella and Jacob Black. Edward is an integral part of this story, but his character is absent for most of the book. Instead, Meyer focuses the story on the friendship between Bella and Jacob that began in the first book. As Bella spends more time with Jacob she begins to notice that something isn’t quite right with him. When she finally figures out what is going on she is floored by the drastic change of events. Having a vampire for a boyfriend is strange enough, but it seems that Bella Swan’s best friend just happens to be a werewolf.

New Moon is a fun, mesmerizing tale that is every bit as enjoyable as Twilight. This time around we are treated with Meyer’s take on the werewolf genre and her werewolves are just as intriguing as the vamps. The tension slowly builds as we learn that werewolves and vampires are fierce enemies, which only makes Bella’s dilemma even more excruciating.

Stephenie Meyer continues to wow me with her addicting storytelling and her uncanny ability to make me care about these characters. There is something so authentic and engaging about these novels that makes them absolutely impossible to put down. I can see why young adults have devoured them, but I’m also finding out how enjoyable this series is for adults as well. You can label the Twilight series YA fiction, or teen paranormal romance, or even horror love story. I’ll call it what it really is: stellar storytelling on every level.

The stage is wonderfully set for Eclipse and once again I can’t wait to dive in. 

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02
Jul
08

Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3)

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Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3)

By Christopher Paolini

 

Product Description

OATHS SWORN . . . loyalties tested . . . forces collide.

Following the colossal battle against the Empire’s warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still there is more at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.

First is Eragon’s oath to his cousin Roran: to help rescue Roran’s beloved, Katrina, from King Galbatorix’s clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength—as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices— choices that take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.

Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once-simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #17 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-09-20
  • Released on: 2008-09-20
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 784 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Christopher Paolini’s abiding love of fantasy and science fiction inspired him to begin writing his debut novel, Eragon, when he graduated from high school at 15. He lives in Paradise Valley, Montana.
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02
Jul
08

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)

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Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)
By Stephenie Meyer

Product Description

Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer’s riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #16 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-08-07
  • Released on: 2007-08-07
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 640 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Stephenie Meyer graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English Literature, and she lives with her husband and three young sons in Arizona. Stephenie is the author of Twilight and New Moon.

Customer Reviews

Love it!!!
This series is amazing, and “Eclipse” is no different. I had already read the book, I just wanted to get the special edition, and it was well worth it. Included is the first chapter of the fourth book, “Breaking Dawn,” the cover art for “Dawn,” and t-shirt iron-on decals. The series is awesome, so if you haven’t yet, give it a try!!! And see the movie out 12.12.08!!!

Oops – it’s in Spanish.
Uh, yeah. It was my mistake. I got it and was so excited. . .then I realized it was in Spanish. Totally my mistake – it was written in black & white right in the description. My excitement got the best of me. ;c)

Amazing for its flaws and perfection
I have read the whole series several times and I am not a teenage girl. There is something about Meyer’s writing that is entrancing. From reading reviews I see both sides, and agree that Bella leaves something to be desired, but not everyone is perfect. Would the story really have been great if all the characters were perfect in every way? Bella made this fiction real, brought it home to the average person.
I love the whole series, books 1 and 3 are my absolute favorites so far and I can barely stand the wait for the next books.
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