Coconut and I read the first book in the series, The Cabinet of Wonders, last month. She absolutely loved it. (It is a previous Beehive Book Award nominee) She got the second book in the series for Valentines Day, and finished it today. She knows I have the third book (The Jewel of Kalderash) up in my closet (a.k.a. Book Diva Land) and asked how she could earn it.
I have a deal with The Boy that after he reads or listens to a classic if he writes about the book and discusses it with me he can get a book of his choice. I offered the same deal to Coconut, and this was the result. I was amazed. I even asked her if she copied it off the back! (She didn't)
Here is her report: (Three words (surprised, mischievous, intrigued ) was spelled wrong . . . so I fixed it in this version. All other punctuation and asides are hers.)
The Celestial Globe is by Marie Rutkoski. It is the story of Petra Kronos. She is transported to London by John Dee, a witty man who has created a link between their minds. Petra is enrolled in fencing lessons along with a mischievous (but attractive) fencing teacher. When Dee takes her to the palace of Queen Elizabeth, Petra finds herself in a bargain with Dee for her freedom. Meanwhile, her friend Tomik is hunting for her. Intrigued by her disappearance, when he finds himself with Neel, a thieving gypsy and a friend of Petra, it is no surprise that they work together to find Petra and the Globe which Neel's crewmates are rapidly trying to find.
My favorite part is when Kit, the fencing teacher, is to be executed. Petra visits and makes him promise to be good for his next two weeks of life. When he shakes hands on it, she hands him his ticket out.
Picture book recommendation: I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Why: In "I Want My Hat Back" the bear wants his possession or item back. Petra wants her name and happiness back.
(I was so tickled with her first ever chapter book report, I just had to share it.)
By the way, I Want My Hat Back is a hilarious little book, won the Theodore Geisel Award from the ALA, and was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2011.
