Harry Potter Book 7 Title Revealed

For those familiar with J.K. Rowling's website, you'll know that there is a "port key" that takes you to a door that is usually locked. However, fans were treated the other day when they found the door unlocked. After playing a game of hangman, they were able to discover the title of Harry Potter book 7: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (though MSN reported it was "the Deathy Hollows"- both titles make sense, particularly in view of Godric's Hollow). Early speculation has the book being released on 7-7-07, which would be AWESOME. But that is, as of yet, unconfirmed.

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Odd Thomas: Dean Koontz

I am a huge Dean Koontz fan. Ever since I discovered "Lightning" in our local A & P (yes...it was back many a year). "Lightning" is not without its flaws, mostly due to the time travelling issue, but it has a happy ending. In fact most of Koontz's books have happy endings, at least in the sense that the main characters we expect to make it, do.

And so that brings me to "Odd Thomas". I really loved the character of Odd. He's a sweetheart with an unusual talent- he can see the dead. They don't talk...or at least he can't hear them, but he's able to figure out what they want. The only other people who know his secret are the police chief and his girlfriend Stormy. Odd also sees strange shadow creatures he calls Bodachs. They swarm around those in pain and are a harbinger of violence. When he sees the bodachs swarming around this one individual in particular, Odd can't ignore the feeling that something terrible is about to happen.

Odd struggles to figure out what that is and prevent it from happening. But, as it turns out, there are some things in life that are meant to be. The ending of "Odd Thomas" is heartwrenching, and I was NOT happy with Kootnz for the longest time. I felt betrayed by the securty in his endings I had come to know over 30 plus novels. I did read the follow up novel, "Forever Odd", because I cared that much about the character. Now, a third Odd Thomas novel is out on the "newsstands" so to speak. "Brother Odd" came out in hardcover on Nov. 28th. And I can't wait :).

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"Being of Two Minds" by Pamela F. Service

Connie and Rudy have shared an unusual secret since they were babies.

Connie is an average young teen who lives in Illinois with her family. But every now and then she has a "spell". Sometimes they happen while she's sleeping and other times, she just simply collapses, and find herself (or her mind anyway) tagging along with Crown Prince Rudolph, who lives across the world in tiny Thulgaria. Occasionally the same thing happens to Rudy, who sometimes finds himself tagging along in Connie's mind. While they can't speak directly to her, over the years, they've worked out a communications system. If one poses a question, the other will answer it when the switch happens. They don't know why, but they do know they were born on exactly the same day at the exact same time, and theorize that has something to do with it.

Connie and Rudy don't tell anyone what really happens to them during their "spells" but they know they aren't crazy. Connie can speak perfect German (though she's never been taught) and knows everything there is to know about Thulgaria. She's thrilled when she learns that Rudy and his family will be coming to Chicago on a tour of the states (thanks to Rudy, who insists on seeing something of middle America) and the two are finally able to meet...only they realize that being in close proximity makes the spells worse. But they don't care.

All is well and good until Connie wakes up in Rudy's mind one night and realizes the prince is being kidnapped and taken somewhere by gunpoint. The only person she trusts is Rudy's tutor, Wolfgang, but she's never met him. Will she be able to convince Wolfgang that Rudy is in danger and that she might be able to help find him because of her special connection with him?

"Being of Two Minds"is a great book (albeit a little short...I wanted to know more about what happens to them) and an enjoyable read. Follow the link to get your copy over at Amazon.com.
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Garth Nix: Mister Monday, Keys to the Kingdom, Book One

Arthur is just an average kid, with not a lot going on in his life. His first day of school doesn't go well. He suffers an asthma attack that nearly kills him, but when a stranger gives him a key shaped like an old clock hand and a small book, his life suddenly changes and becomes much more dangerous. A mysterious illness falls over his town (and his family), and a strange house appears out of nowhere. Arthur soon learns that he has inherited part of a will, though it is actually the Will of the Architect, broken up into seven pieces and given to the Trustees named for each day of the week. But the Architect is missing, her will has been separated into 7 pieces, and now Arthur's got one, and to make matters worse (or better) the Will has a mind of its own, and its own agenda as do the Trustees. He must enter the House and figure out what to do with the Will and how he can save his family.

Now Arthur, who has become the Rightful Heir of the Will, with help from a denizen of the mysterious House, must keep Mister Monday from obtaining Arthur's part of the Will and find the other pieces of the Will to join them together.

"The Keys to the Kingdom" series, of which there are 4 books so far, is a great series. It is fast paced, smart and contains a mystery that's held my attention over four books (book 5, "Lady Friday", is due out in March...ack!) and even has me buying hardcovers because I'm too impatient to wait for softcovers. I'd recommend this for ages 10 and up, and while it certainly does a have a religious theme to it (the Architect is obviously God, and her nemesis, the Old One is not), it is not overtly so and doesn't distract from the book if you aren't the religious sort.

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