| YA book about going back in time in the Pacfic Northwest |
[Jul. 20th, 2008|01:56 pm] |
This is a book I read in the mid-90's. It was about a girl living with her grandmother (or great-aunt) in the Pacfic NW (probably Washington state). Her grandmother wants loggers to not log in a crater. In the crater is a forest. There is also a pond which smells so sweet and inviting the girl grabs at the water, but finds that the water contains worms that bite her. Her grandmother rubs away the worms. Afterward the girl is immune to the effects of the worm water. I remember at the beginning of the book the girl has to run with and fight a boy because he wants some package for her grandmother. I never read beyond the first few chapters, but I remember on the back cover it said that the girl goes back in time.
FOUND: The Ancient One by T. A. Barron |
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| YA book, newspaper...twins? |
[May. 25th, 2008|10:01 am] |
I have the memory of a book stuck in my head, but it might be two books.
About teenagers, set in a high school, from the 1980s or the very very early 1990s. The main characters worked on the school paper--in fact, the book may have revolved around that. There was one couple that was serious about one another, I think, and one girl who was single but had a thing for the new guy?/new guy on the paper? But she thinks he's dating--or he is initially dating--one of the other girls on the paper, who is either a twin or else is so close with another girl that everyone thinks of them as twins or mistakenly believes they are twins. I want to say one is named Bunny, except that that's the nickname they give her, not her actual name.
Thanks! |
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| YA series - boarding school in Canada FOUND! |
[May. 20th, 2008|10:06 pm] |
This was a series of YA books I read in the mid to late 80s, I think. It was a series of four and I believe I got them at one of those Scholastic book fairs at school that we all lived for.
It revolved around two boys (roommates) at a boarding school in Canada. One had dark hair and one was blonde, one was a trouble maker and one was studious. There was a girls finishing school (run by a little old lady) across the highway and the boys would frequently sneak over to visit their female counterparts. (They were also roommates, of course.)
I honestly don’t remember much about the specific plots to any of the four books. It was the usual making-trouble-for-the-headmaster shenanigans. I think one might have involved a school election? So, basically, every YA school-focused stereotype you can imagine!
I believe each book was a different color. For some reason I remember that one of the covers was a mustardy yellow. And the cover illustration was always of the two boys. And it’s possible that all the titles involved the name of the school? Or the two boys names? Or something else that brought all the titles together...but I’m not 100% certain about that.
I realize I’m not giving you much to go on but I remembered them a few years ago and it has been driving me insane since.
Thank you so much!
Found!! It’s the Bruno and Boots series by Gordon Korman! You all are amazing and I can’t thank you enough for allowing my brain to finally shut the hell up over this! |
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[Mar. 17th, 2008|03:37 pm] |
Hello all
I'm looking for a book that i read when i was young, its probably a book that would suit to kids about 12 - 14 years of age.
Things i remember about it:
The main character is a young boy that lives in a utopian like society
All the people are assigned jobs in society.
They can't see in colour.
There are outcasts that live beyond their city that can see colour.
In one scene the little boy throws an apple and he sees it flash "red"
Theres also some issue to do with what happens to old people.
If any one know what this is called it would be much appreciated.
Thanks
FOUND: The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Thanks for all your help, I havent read the sequels so im extra excited! |
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| Lost: Childrens' Cookbook, YA Horsey Book, Short stories |
[Mar. 6th, 2008|02:55 pm] |
I'm looking for a couple of books from my childhood.
The first I had when I was 3-5ish, so 1989-1991. It was a children's cookbook with a peach cover and may or may not have had doodleish illustrations. The last recipe/project in the book was for "sprouting beans" - they were sprouted in a jar, possibly with paper towel?
One of the characters/illustrations may have been based on this painting, but in the same style as the illustrations in the rest of the book? This illustration was, I believe, attached to a recipe for salad but I'm not 100%.
There was a list of Safety Rules for the Kitchen close to the beginning,
Status: lost
The other book I read in fifth grade, 1996 or 1997. I checked it out from the Boerne, tx public library and it had that Old Book Smell even then, so it was probably 10-15 years older. The dustjacket definitely had a picture of a bay(or chestnut) and white paint horse and may have had a picture of a young Native American girl. It might have been YA - protag was 14? - but I think the book was (mis?) shelved outside the childrens/YA section.
I remember the protagonist (girl on the cover?), named Kit Fox taming an untamable horse and participating in an annual (?) buffalo hunt, where she did very well for herself. Kit Fox's sister was much more beautiful than her?
There was also an annoying warrior-type character named Raven Tail Feathers who tried courting Kit Fox, but she spurned him because he was obnoxious and made her uncomfortable? Kit Fox eventually entered a romantic relationship with the best friend character (who helped her get access to the horse she tamed?).
I might be mushing this book with Maroo of the Winter Caves, but I also vaguely recall at least one death of someone close to Kit Fox (the best friend character?)
I also think (but I'm not sure) that the book may have centered around a Plains tribe?
Status: FOUND - Dawn Rider by Janis Hudson
The short story I remember markedly less about - A boy (12ish?) finds a gun in an empty lot and goes out to shoot at the railroad tracks, accidently killing a woman on the train.
It was in my ninth grade literature book. (Southern California, 2000/2001 school year, before they switched to the new books.)
Status: lost
The other short story was actually an excerpt from a book, published in American Girl sometime between 1996 and 1999, called "The I Hate Lottie Club". Does anyone know what the title of the book is?
I remember Lottie's brother smoked (pot? cigarettes?) and had stolen a Mercer St sign which he hung on his wall.
Status: lost |
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| FOUND: Silent Stalker by Richie Tankersley Cusick |
[Mar. 4th, 2008|06:41 pm] |
I believe this book was released sometime in the very late 80's through the early 90's. It was was a young adult novel of the horror/suspense genre. The setting was a castle or mansion of a wealthy family. The protagonist was a girl in her late teens. Much of her interaction was with the two twin brothers who live in the castle/mansion. I think one of them was named Malcolm for some reason. The girl's life is in danger, and she suspects one of the twins. Really, the villain is their triplet who is a bit mad. This is a big shocker in the book because she didn't know there was a third brother who was the family's big secret.
Does anyone know what this novel is? Around that time, I was really big into Christopher Pike and R.L. Stein (not his Goosebumps stuff), and I suspect it may be a novel by one of them. Just can't seem to track down the title, though. Thanks in advance for any help or leads you can send my way. |
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| Vague Impression of YA Urban Fantasy Book |
[Feb. 24th, 2008|11:39 am] |
I've been looking for this book, but my memory of it is so vague that it's been nearly impossible to find!
I can't remember its title or author. I remember vague impressions of its plot and characters -- but nothing concrete enough to turn anything up in a Google search. I remember checking it out at a library in the United States about ten years ago. It was a young adult urban fantasy with a male protagonist. The protagonist met some paranormal/supernatural/celestial (?) girl (from some other fantasy dimension?) and fell in love with her. This was only a side plot, however. I can't seem to remember the rest of the plot. The most distinct thing I remember about the book was the girl finally returned his affections, but the protagonist really messed up when he got jealous over some other male character who hailed from the same magical-mystery-dimension the girl came from. It was a HUGE faux pas to get jealous of this guy since he was actually some family relation to the girl (her brother?) and not a love interest in the least. And I remember somehow the jealousy -- the actual feeling -- was really taboo to the girl and her world.
I'm so sorry; that's all I can remember. The details are so vague that I don't really expect anyone to know this book. But I can try, right? Thank you in advance! |
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| Young Adult fantasy book about a wizard |
[Feb. 7th, 2008|02:43 pm] |
Hi,
I've read this book in Germany in the eighties. I don't know if the book is German or not, but I think not, so I'll just try my luck here!
The story is set in some magical country. The main character is a boy with a limp. He uses a walking stick with a star symbol on the bottom, leaving those star patterns wherever he goes. He has lost his memories and a woman claiming to be his aunt/grandmother accompanies him on a journey through the country. They are on the run from these frightening evil archers.
This is what I remember most vividly: the evil archers have thick shawls wrapped around the lower half of their faces, because there is no skin on the lower half of their skulls. Their breath is black smoke. Their eyes are hypnotic and they seem to be able to read the boy's mind.
( how I think the ending went )
Found: 'Master of the Grove' by Victor Kelleher
Wow, that was fast. You guys are amazing! |
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| Twins with a magic arm? |
[Jan. 30th, 2008|09:11 am] |
I had this book in the late '80s or early '90s, but it may have been published earlier. There were two brothers in England, and they were poor, and they wanted to have a Guy Fawkes bonfire like the richer, cooler kids, but couldn't afford to? Then, and this is the distinctive part, they started to have this magical connection where when one brother thought about something, the other brother's arm turned into it. The kid's arm turned into sausages, and balloons, and a stamp at various points in the book. Anyone? I cannot find anyone else who has ever heard of or read this book, but I know I am not making it up. |
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| YA(?) book from the late 80s/early 90s |
[Sep. 20th, 2007|09:54 am] |
Okay, this is a long shot. But if anyone can help, you guys can!
I read this book between 15-20 years ago. I don't remember any of the plot. What I do remember was an episode where the characters (teens?) were talking about weird murders. Two of the murders mentioned:
--The old "stab someone with an icicle and the murder weapon melts away" story
--A man who chokes to death on a goat hair floated on the surface of his wine (or maybe milk)
I think it was a children's or YA novel, as I was reading a lot of Babysitter's Club stuff at the time.
Any help finding this book would be greatly appreciated.
[EDIT]: Found! The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Thanks to everyone, especially ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) terrylj! |
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| Horse & Girl |
[Aug. 25th, 2007|12:58 pm] |
Yes, out of the millions books about a girl and her horse... I am looking for one in which the main character was previously in an accident with another horse, on a street, where the horse got spooked and hit by a car. The horse was put down and the girl had leg problems, never walk or ride again, that kind of thing, but she did walk, [cue sappy music] and with the love of a special horse learned to ride again...[/sappy music] This may have been one book in a series but it may have just been a single novel. Young adult, and published before 1980 or there abouts, most likely... Much thanks! |
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| Elementary school + evil teachers + cannibalism = ? |
[May. 16th, 2007|06:31 pm] |
FOUND!!! Stanley Kiesel's "The War Between the Pitiful Teachers and the Splendid Kids." Thank you!!
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I have no idea whether this book is well-known or totally obscure. I read it a lot as a kid and I can't believe that I forgot the title!
The protagonist is a young boy who goes to this run-down elementary school. I seem to remember they didn't have enough desks, or books, or something like that. The kid gets in trouble and has to stay after class to do some sort of punishment, and he ends up befriending the janitor who cleans the blackboards after school. She teaches him that spit cleans blackboards really well, and she tells him not to hate his freckles.
Some of the teachers at this school are evil (or maybe just the principal?) and they scheme to put all the kids in a machine (the "Status Quo" machine or something) that will turn them into well behaved Young Adults (in caps, IIRC) that will wear uniforms.
The boy (and friends?) resist this plot, and there's some sort of underground Resistance. Oh, also, there is a student who is sort of beast-like -- she doesn't speak or seem to understand things, and she drools and walks on all fours, and ( spoilers )
Here are some other random details:
- At one point, one evil teacher (?) speaks the longest sentence ever spoken, to another teacher, who's really impressed.
- I'm pretty sure you never see the principal and there's some weird secret, like he's really a rat or something? (Not sure if this is from the same book.)
Again, I can't believe I can't find this book somewhere. Googling didn't work, though admittedly, I wasn't sure what keywords to put in! Hopefully someone has read this. Thanks! |
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[Mar. 18th, 2007|06:59 pm] |
Ok, So I randomly thought of a book I read a long time ago, probably around 5th or 6th grade..9 or 10 years ago, maybe more..but it was about a girl who gets in an accident (i think) and the only way to save her is to put her brain in a monkey's body. I know this sounds really weird but thats all I can remember about the book! It's probably in the sci-fi genre..but yea, if anyone can help! |
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[Jan. 11th, 2007|03:21 am] |
I'm trying to remember a book I read as a kid, probably around fifth grade. It may have been a Nancy Drew, but I only read a few of those so I'm not sure. There was the main character and he or she was trying to figure out the mystery surrounding a little girl. The girl had been at her father's office under the desk, drawing I think, and his business partner? came in and shot and killed her father. She was traumatized and could not speak or tell anyone what had happened. I THINK that she eventually went to some kind of aquarium and swam with dolphins as a sort of therapy, but I could be mixing that up with something else.
Thanks for any help!
FOUND! Silent Witness by Patricia Rushford |
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| FOUND |
[Jan. 9th, 2007|08:26 am] |
FOUND: EXPENDABLE by JAMES ALAN GARDNER
I assume this was a Y.A Sci-fi/fantasy book.
I remember very little about it, there is a young woman. (probably late teens early twenties) that is a member of a military group of "special" humans. All of these troops have what was considered a deformity. Hers, was a huge port wine birthmark on her face.
I remember her going on some type of mission and doing some rather foolish. Then she befriends/meets a woman made of glass (although beautiful she seemed quite dense)
I am not sure how it even ends, although I do remember Glass Girl and Port Wine Girl moving other glass people around for a while.
I remember a few references to "Henry V" although I could be getting books mixed up now.
Any help? |
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[Dec. 17th, 2006|11:08 pm] |
Found! "Whispers From The Grave" by Leslie Rule
The book I'm wondering about was one I read in the mid 90's - it started off in the future when a teenage girl volunteers at a lab for other people with psychokinetic powers. She finds out that she is a twin, saved from an in vitro experiment, and her twin sister lived back in the 1970's. She goes back in time to try and save her sister from being murdered (its somewhat of a mystery). If anyone can help me out, I'd really appreciate it! |
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| Egypt |
[Nov. 13th, 2006|08:08 pm] |
Okay, first post here although I've had lots of fun reading everyone elses!
I read this book in middle school, so 1999-2001 but I think it was older then. Definitely YA. I don't remember everything but somehow or other a teenageish girl wakes a mummy of a teenagish Egyptian guy. Or maybe he just wakes up and they meet. Not sure. I think her father is a museum curator. Anyway, they try to figure out what happened to him. I think he can't remember at first? Maybe? A fairly large part of the story is his telling his past. He was the rightful Pharoah and his twin brother who everyone thought was the oldest kills him? Or he kills his brother. I do remember vividly that when he learns that he is actually older he thinks that it now makes sense that he felt such sorrow when his father died and his brother didn't. Anyway, I don't remember exactly what happens in the end but I believe he stays in the present and I'm pretty sure he and the mc girl end up falling in love. It's possible the author's last name was L or M. The cover may have had a sarcophagus (spelling, obviously) on it.
Anyone?
Found!! The Reluctant God by Pamela Service |
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| YA , sci-fi-ish |
[Nov. 13th, 2006|09:34 pm] |
I'm looking a YA book about a boy who goes to live with (who I believe is) his grandmother. In the backyard he finds these creatures. I don't think these creatures are nice and I think that they live underground and lurk in the dark. I seem to remember that they didn't have eyes or their eyes were sewn shut or something along those lines. I know that eventually the little boy goes down into their underground tunnel, but that's about it. I've tried everything to find this book, even contacting my old junior high library, so if anyone as any inclination as to what the title might be, I'd be oh-so happy!
Book Found! The Beasties by William Sleator |
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[Nov. 1st, 2006|07:12 am] |
Hi, I have a few mystery books for you!
1)I read this in late elementary or middle school, mid 90's. The main character was a young girl, 10-12 maybe, who had long red hair. It was set in pioneer times, I think, and the girl was around the Indians a good bit. She was a tomboy and maybe had several brothers. I keep thinking that the title of the book was her name and my mind keeps coming up with something along the lines of Cassie, but I could be waaaayyy off.
BOOK FOUND: Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
2) I remember checking this one out of the school library in 4th or 5th grade. I think it was a mystery and involved a dollhouse that was an exact replica of the home it was in. There were a couple children who were trying to solve the mystery, I think. I recall that a book in the library of the house(and dollhouse) kept falling off the shelf that was a clue and there was a secret cubby space behind a brick in the fireplace.
BOOK FOUND: The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
3)I read this one in middle school. It's about 3 girls that were best friends; I think one was named Rachel. They were 13-ish and were starting to discover boys and such. One of the girls started becoming part of the popular crowd and rejecting the others. I remember that she was a gifted flute player and had an older sister that had bad acne. At Halloween when they were still friends they dressed as witches and recited MacBeth-Bubble, bubble toil and trouble, etc. I think I may actually have this book packed up in my mom's attic or possibly the sequel to it if it had one.
BOOK FOUND: Just As Long As We're Together by Judy Blume
Thanks in advance! |
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[Nov. 1st, 2006|05:48 am] |
I remember reading this YA book in the mid-80s to early 90s, though that may not be the publication date. As I remember it had a cover that was majority yellow.
There were two sisters (or maybe cousins??) with the good old one plain, pretty dichotomy. I believe the pretty girl had a name that started with a D and may have been a dancer or actress whose mom was a real stage-mother type. In the end the plain girl gets to be an actress and she's really the one with talent.
There has been a book requested here a few times recently about ballerinas with a sort of similar storyline, but it is not that book.
Thanks for any help! |
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uncomfortable
anxious
curious