msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

I have wanted to read Lowboy since it arrived at the library; the Adrian Tomine cover art (I'm an ardent fan of Mr. Tomine) drew me in immediately and the buzz surrounding the book was intriguing. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop - thankfully it's a quick read. Whiting award-winner John Wray tells the story of 16 year-old paranoid schizophrenic Will Heller's (Lowboy) 24 hour off-meds quest: to save the world from a fiery ending (due to global warming). His method? Finding ex-girlfriend hipster beauty Emily Wallace and having sex with her, or, in other words, 'cooling off his insides.'The truth of Lowboy's dark history slowly reveals itself through the eyes of his mother Violet, Special Category Missing detective Ali Lateef, and Lowboy himself. A disturbing read told in poetic prose that makes me want to read Wray's other work. Click here for the NY Times review and don't miss this video featuring John Wray interviewing Zack Galafianakis a

Harvey award-winning Matt Kindt tells the Giant Man Craig Pressgang's story through the eyes of the three women in his life: his mother, his wife, and his daughter. Each story sees Craig grow farther away from a normal life and all of its trappings, both positive and negative. Kindt's art is haunting and give what could be a just a tall tale gravity. Click here for Powell Book's synposes and reviews. Give this one to fans of Craig Thompson and Nate Powell. Grade 8 - Adult

This critically-acclaimed bestselling graphic novel uses philosopher Bertrand Russell's quest for absolute truth as the basis for an exploration of the foundations of logic, math, and philosophy. Logicomix provides excellent background knowledge and a thorough overview of the subjects while managing to entertain. Don't miss the excellent notebook at the end; if you don't have a background in logic, math, or philosophy, skimming the notebook first will allow for a more meaningful reading. Don't miss the Logicomix website - you'll find links to a youtube preview trailer, reviews, and more. Grade 9 - Adult

Lips Touch Three Times is one of the strangest collection of stories I have ever read. Taylor has a vivid imagination: her stories combine myth and fairy tale, and, strangely, a bit of Avestan (a dead language). The result is captivating and bizarre. A mix of romance, fantasy, and horror. Give this one to fans of supernatural romance and fantasy. Grade 8+

Canadian graphic novelist Jeff Lemire (Essex County, Sweet Tooth) has written an adaptation of H.G. Well's The Invisible Man set in a small town in Canada. Well-drawn and enjoyable to read but not as moving as Essex County or as fun as Sweet Tooth. Check out Lemire's blog and watch the trailer . Grade 8+

I put this book on a shelf with Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, and Chris Cleave's Little Bee. A must read for everyone who loves beautiful writing. Check out the NYT review and McCann's website .

If you haven't read any of Jason's work, this collection of five stories is the best place to start. The title story, Low Moon , was originally serialized in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. Click here for a review. Adult.

Gabrielle's collection of short stories range from surreal to realistic. She captures twenty-something angst much like Adrian Tomine. Hit Me, a story about a girl who gets bullied at school, aptly portrays the pain of being tortured by girls you wish would like you and the pain of being an outsider. It also realistically paints the fickleness of teenage girls: she gleefully joins her former antagonists for lunch after they change their mind about her overnight. Another story, Year of the Arowana, highlights the disappointment one can experience when meeting an author you've worshiped in the past. Grade 9+

Winter has set in and the Mouse Guard are on a mission: to retrieve medical supplies from nearby Sprucetuck, a village that is the home of mouse science and libraries (don't miss the extras at the end of the book with details on both Sprucetuck and Darkheather). Rand is inexplicably ill and near death. Gwendolyn sends the usual suspects, Saxon, Kenzie, Lieam, Sadie, and Celanawe to Sprucetuck. On the way, they are separated, encounter bats and owls, and, sadly, not all of them survive. Another volume of mouse adventure and fantasy not to be missed. David Petersen won the Eisner award for Best Graphic Novel - Reprint and Best Publication for Kids for his Mouse Guard series in 2008. Coming soon: Mouse Guard: The Black Axe! Grade 6 - Adult