"Shades of Grey" by Jasper Fforde

For those who were enthralled by Lois Lowry's The Giver, Jasper Fforde has produced a new dystopia novel sure to get you thinking! This Indie Next List book from the author of Thursday Next kept me hooked to the very last page.
Welcome to Chromotacia, where society is ruled by a Colortocracy and you are what you can see. Eddie Russett has no real ambition to be anything other than a loyal drone of the Collective. His above-average red perception would allow him to marry well, inherit the string works, maybe even make prefect. Eddie's life looks colorful until he moves with his father to East Carmince. There, he falls for a Grey named Jane who reveals the painful truth about his seemingly perfect society. Curiosity grabs hold of Eddie, who begins to question the Collective. Black-and-white certainties are reduced to shades of grey as Eddie, along with Jane, begins to dig up answers. Dystopia junkies (myself included) will most definitely enjoy this thought-provoking novel to the very last page!
Keep on the lookout for the second book in this series coming in April 2010!

Grace gives this book five out of five carrots!

Click here to buy this book at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop and Guest House!

"The Best Ever Casserole Cookbook" by Beatrice Ojakangas

I was once a foolish novice chef who thought casseroles were campy concoctions that grandmas and soccer moms whipped up using the staple ingredients: cream of mushroom soup, chicken breasts, etc. Nothing against those recipes--I love the convenience of canned soup as much as the next person--but Beatrice Ojakanga's Best Casserole Cookbook Ever blows them right out of the water. Who would have ever thought that a succulent Havarti-Stuffed Chicken Breast, breaded and doused in white wine, would be in a casserole cookbook? Or Beer-Baked Irish Beef? Or Hot Ricotta Dip with Garlic and Herbs? Granted, Beatrice includes the classics--even helpful hints and quick recipes to make your own cream of mushroom soup. The difference is that this cookbook contains innovative, almost gourmet-quality new ideas that, for the most part, can be assembled ahead of time and popped into the oven. It's great for entertaining and contains everything from appetizers to brunch to dinner to dessert--each recipe more delicious than the last. Quite honestly, this is the most delicious, best, and most unique cookbook I own. Don't let the relative lack of pictures fool you; each of the 500+ dishes turns out beautifully. What can I say but buy this cookbook--your family and your stomach will both thank you.

Beth gives this five out of five carrots!
Click here to buy this cookbook at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Have a Little Faith: A True Story" by Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom's latest is an inspiring true story of the power of faith. Nearly every paragraph has pearls of wisdom and different ideas to think about, making it a great book for reading groups or for people to discuss. I could read this profound, meaningful book again and again--it really touched my heart.

Marie gives this book five out of five carrots!
Click here to buy this book at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop and Guest House!

Cowboys and Wills: A Love Story by Monica Holloway

Anybody who has ever owned a dog knows that they possess a certain, magical ability to know what we require of them. If you're sick, a dog knows to nuzzle you sweetly and serve as the world's best heat source. If you're sad, a dog knows that a quick lick on the face will usually do the trick. In this heartwarming book, the author discovers that her loveable son, Wills, has autism spectrum disorder. Wills begs and begs for a puppy and finally, on his sixth birthday, Cowboy Carol Lawrence becomes a part of their family.

Cowboy, a rambunctious golden retriever, opens Wills' world and his heart. Wills moves from being shy and overly cautious to sharing stories about his new "sister", Cowboy. This is a touching story of family and unconditional love that everyone, especially pet lovers, will enjoy.

Joanne gives this five out of five carrots!

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World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie Apocalypse by Max Brooks

Zombies may not be as in vogue as the ever-so-popular vampires are at the moment, but that doesn't make this book any less awesome. Fans of horror will be intrigued by this unique way of describing a crisis--through hundreds of brief, vastly unique oral interviews. Dallas Morning News compared this novel to Orson Welle's War of the Worlds--and rightly so! It's unique to see how people in all walks of life--from the politicians dealing with the zombie outbreak, to the families of newly infected, to farmers living in the remote jungles of South America--cope with the looming apocalypse. This book never fails to be interesting and thrilling, with just the right amount of gore that horror fans just eat up (bad zombie pun intended). If you're a zombie extremist, you can try Brooks' other book, The Zombie Survival Guide, or the abundance of other undead-related tomes this author has concocted in recent years. But World War Z is a compelling, if not improbable, account that is enjoyable through and through. It would also be a great book for any guy who seemingly prefers his Xbox 360 over reading, because Brooks' nonintimidating, yet sometimes horrifying, writing style is just about as "awesome!!!" as your son's zombie shooting game.
Beth gives it four out of five carrots!
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"Made In America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States" by Bill Bryson

This is my first Bill Bryson book, and I'm as excited and giddy as a little girl discovering ice cream for the first time. His writing style is a series of wonderful contradictions: light and funny while still thought-provoking, intelligent while still completely comprehendable, irrevelant but yet...so not. I picked up Made in America because of my interest in linguistics, and found a fascinating history of America drastically different (and much, much more interesting!) than any history textbook. Those interested in language will be in complete heaven as they read through the origins of some words, as well as the rejects (among my favorites: hot-dogatorium and bounceberries, the original name for cranberries). Those who love history will be delighted to see a different side of it as Bryson debunks some common myths. Anyone who loves a good writer will become obsessed with Bryson's voice. It's hard to think of anyone who won't love this trivia-filled, anecdotal history of the United States--but maybe that's because I enjoyed it so thoroughly.

By the way--this would make an excellent gift!

Beth gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to buy this book at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me?" by Louise Rennison

I've loved the Georgia Nicholson series since they first came out nine years ago, but it was hard to be sad while reading this latest (and final!) book. In fact, it was hard to do anything but laugh hysterically. Rennison has once again shown her finesse at diving into the confused minds of teen girls, who are--in English-speak--quite mad. This final chapter in the Georgia Nicholson saga finds our protagonist choosing between Masimo, the English-impaired Italian heartthrob, or Dave the Laugh (who is, of course, a laugh). I savored every moment of Georgia and her friends' chaotic, laugh-out-loud funny lives.

A note to parents: don't be thrown off by the...err, unique titles of the books in this series. The Georgia Nicholson books are among the cleanest, most appropiate young adult books I've read. There is no drinking, no drugs, no sex...just great hilariousness that your daughter (and you, probably!) will love. This book is recommended for seventh grade and up. (Also...adults love it too! There have even been editions of this book published just for grown-ups.)

Start off with Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging and you won't be able to stop reading this fabulous series!

Beth gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to order this book at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop and Guest House!