The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

Flavia de Luce is back in The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, the sequel to Alan Bradley's first novel, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, solving yet another murder case, charming information from all those involved with wit, gumption and acting skills that are well beyond her acquired eleven years.

When Flavia comes into the acquaintance of Nialla, assistant to Rupert Porson, a famous puppeteer, she immediately notices something is off about the two. Deciding to investigate Rupert's past further, she finds a thin link to the death of young Robin Ingleby, a boy from her village, and she begins to get very suspicious. Soon after finding this information, Rupert's corpse drops with a dramatic flourish that even he would approve of onto the stage during one of his performances in town. And so begins Flavia's hunt for the murderer (or murderess) among the people she's known her whole life. With the inside advantage and uncanny knowledge of chemistry, particularly poisons, she discovers evidence that even the police have yet to come across.

Flavia's bold, perceptive temperament keeps the plot moving along and the reader thoroughly entertained. Although a bit of a longer read, well developed characters like Flavia and the rest of the de Luce family are well worth the time you spend on them.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Any char'cter's d'logue dad has dad m'ch slang 'n' grammatic'l err'rs is not worth strugglin' through.

My Most Excellent Year by Steven Kluger

Knowledge of famous divas, show tunes, and the Red Sox, although not necessary, will probably make this book a lot more enjoyable. Steven Kluger has managed to put together a book that is not only well written, but entertaining as well. The novel swtiches points of view among friends, Ale, Anthony and Augie, who write in their diary for an eleventh grade English project, narrating the events from freshman through junior year.

When conflicts come up, the trio attempts to solve them in this coming-of-age novel with a spunky disposition that keeps you captivated from start to finish. Although all three are confronted with very different issues, such as grieving over a lost parent, parents who are unsupportive of their passion, and revealing that they are gay, with the help of Hucky, a deaf six year old whom they befriend, they learn that they have more people to support them than they realize. With a little faith in Mary Poppins and themselves, Anthony, Ale and Augie learn to face their problems straight on and to go after their dreams; they just may reach them.

From first dates, kisses, and hand holding, many scenes are gauranteed to have you smiling to yourself as you read along. Although a bit idealistic, My Most Excellent Year is an overall uplifting novel.