Outside of a Dog, #57

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

In honor of a family birthday today, we're choosing books about sisters.

Just as Long as We're Together, Judy Blume
Sometimes it's not about the sisters you have, but the ones you make and keep that matter most. Judy Blume is a controversial author with books like "Are You There, God, It's Me, Margaret" and "Wifey," but in this 1987 teen classic, she strikes true with an involving story about old friends, new friends, and the families in between.
YA Fic Blume WCV WAM

Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary
Of course we couldn't forget one of the most famous pairs of literary sisters! Ramona Quimby and her older sister Beatrice fight and get in trouble in turns, like most sisters do, but they're always there for each other when it counts.
Juv Pbk C WDB

My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult
It's almost impossible not to have heard of this book (and its new-in-theaters movie adaptation)! A small-town family must deal with a pair of sisters - one with a devastating disease, and the younger sister, born specifically to be a compatible organ donor. When the younger sister sues for the rights to her own body, will the family be torn apart by the verdict? [Be aware, moviegoers, the book's ending is very different from the movie.]
Fic Pbk Pic WAM
Fic Picoult WCV
BKD Fic Picoult WCV

House of Daughters, Sarah-Kate Lynch
By the author of the witty "Blessed are the Cheesemakers" and "By Bread Alone," comes another tale of the family food business, this time, set in Champagne, France. When vineyard heiress Clementine's father dies, he stipulates in his will that she must share the land with a half-sister she hasn't seen in twenty years. Worse yet, there's a man between the girls. Read this fantastic third novel if you enjoyed the first two, or if you're a fan of Joanne Harris' Chocolat.
Fic Lynch WCV

Outside of a Dog, #38

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Recently, Publisher’s Weekly asked, if you were a literary orphan, which fictional family would you choose as your own? These are just some of the most popular answers:

The Weasleys (J.K. Rowling)

All bearing bright red hair and living in a house quaintly called “The Burrow,” The Weasleys are a pure-blood wizarding family. While they’re not as rich as antagonist family the Malfoys, matriarch Molly Weasley is a powerful protector of her clan, and they all help to teach orphan Harry about what it means to be a family.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

All Harry Potter books are available at all four Warren Libraries – look under JFic Rowling.

The Pevensies (C.S. Lewis)

Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund Pevensie are a family of children sent away from London during World War II. Taken in by the professor who built the wardrobe to Narnia, these four have adventures in many of the Chronicles of Narnia books – all going on to be named Kings and Queens.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe JFic Lewis WCV WDB WAM

Prince Caspian JFic Lewis WCV WMB

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader JFic Lewis WCV WMB WDB

The Silver Chair JFic Lewis WDB WMB/ Juv PBK L WCV

The Horse and His Boy JFic Lewis WDB WMB/ Juv PBK L WCV

The Magician’s Nephew Jfic Lewis WCV WAM

The Last Battle JFic Lewis WDB WMB WAM/ Juv PBK L WCV

The Chronicles of Narnia (all seven books in one volume) YA Fic Lewis WCV / Fic Lewis WAM

The Cullens (Stephenie Meyer)

All supernaturally beautiful and strange to the eyes of the residents of Forks, Washington, the Cullens are as magnetic as they are fearsome. Carlisle, the “father” of the family, is a respected doctor; he and his wife Esmé have taken on five vampire children: Edward, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, and Emmett.

Twilight YA Fic Meyer WCV WMB WAM

New Moon YA Fic Meyer WCV WMB WDB WAM

Eclipse YA Fic Meyer WCV WMB WDB WAM

Breaking Dawn YA Fic Meyer WCV WMB WDB WAM

(All four Twilight books have holds lists; why not try them in audio or e-audio?)

The Murrys (Madeline L’Engle)

Beginning in the Time Quintet and continuing in the Polly O’Keefe series, Meg Murry’s family travels through time, space, and adventures with witches, angels, and mind-controlling alien characters.

The Time Quintet

A Wrinkle in Time JFic L’Engle WCV WMB WDB WAM

A Wind in the Door Juv PBK L WCV/ JFic L’Engle WAM

Many Waters YA PBK L WCV /YA Fic L’Engle WAM

A Swiftly Tilting Planet YA PBK L WCV/ YA Fic L’Engle WDB WAM

The Polly O’Keefe Series

The Arm of the Starfish JFic L’Engle WMB/ YA Fic L’Engle WAM

Dragons in the Waters JFic L’Engle WCV

A House Like a Lotus YF L’Engle TPL/ YA L MPL

An Acceptable Time YA PBK L WCV

The Cassons (Hilary McKay)

Children of artsy parents Bill and Eve Casson, the children are named after colors from a paint chart on the kitchen wall – Saffron, Rose, Cadmium, and Indigo. While the Casson family’s adventures are as mystical as some of the other families listed here, they approach everyday life through artists’ eyes. Author Hilary McKay has won several awards for these books.

Saffy’s Angel JFic McKay WCV WMB WAM

Indigo’s Star JFic McKay WCV WMB WDB

Permanent Rose JFic McKay WCV WMB WAM

Caddy Ever After JFic McKay WDB

Forever Rose JFic McKay CHE HPW SHL

Remember – if your Warren Library branch doesn’t have one of these excellent novels, we can order it from within the county, within the state (MeL), and sometimes, even outside of the state (WorldCat) – Just ask!