tales of the MADMAN underground by John Barnes

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the throwback special by chris bachelder

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I'm not a team sports enthusiast. Truly, I'm vehemently anti-athletics of the team variety, since, among more virtuous geopolitical reasons, they remind me of being tortured by jocks as a new wave teen. Still, I relished Bachelder's book, because it isn't really about organized sport. Rather, it's a near-scientific observation of twenty-two men in the throes of middle life who have gathered annually for the last sixteen years to reenact Joe Theismann's 1985 leg-shattering play, known as "The Throwback Special," laced with heavy doses of bittersweet humor - a favorite flavor of mine. Those of you who miss the pleasure of eavesdropping on humans conversing in public spaces* will appreciate the low- and high-brow overheard philosophical gems sprinkled throughout the work as the men, largely begrudgingly, prepare for a ritual many of them are no longer emotionally invested in. Reading it felt like the best kind of being invisible: reader as witness to a c...
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Atherton: The House of Power (Book One) by Patrick Carman

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Patrick Carman has written an action-packed adventure set in Atherton, a world created by mad scientist Dr. Harding, otherwise known as Max. Edgar lives in TableTop, the middle land of the three levels of Atherton, home of the labourer and land of The Grove, The Village of Sheep, and The Village of Rabbits, all of which provide The Highlands with food. The Highlands are run by evil Lord Phineus, who controls the water supply for all of Atherton. When The Highlands begin to sink into TableTop, and TableTop begins to sink into the FlatLands (home of the carnivorous Cleaners), it's up to Edgar and his friend Isabel to save the planet. The cliffhanger ending will leave you wanting more - check out the sequel, Rivers of Fire , and the third book in the series, The Dark Planet. With references to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, Patrick Carmen has written a literary page turner that will appeal to fans of both Christopher Paolini, Cornelia Fun...
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Impossible by Nancy Werlin

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Nancy Werlin's unusual book is a stunning mix of romance, fantasy, and suspense. Lucy Scarborough is a practical, strong, and engaging heroine busy fighting a family curse with the help of her amazing parents and boyfriend. This is essentially a story about the strength of true love in the most impossible of situations. Grade 8+ Don't miss the all the extras for Impossible at Nancy Werlin's website . Recommend this one to fans of Kristin Cashore's Graceling .
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