The power company goofed today and we lost power from 9:30am-5pm. It’s hot. It’s Florida. With my 15 month in tote, we did what us gals do best – shopped. So you know what I bought? (You probably would NEVER guess!) .. or maybe you would? Well.. either way, you’re probably right. Books. Lots of them.

Hit the “Half-Off” book store (which is used books, by the way) and scored a bunch. Then headed out to Books-a-Million, and scored some more. You can make me feel guilty all you want – but every single book was on sale. EVERY ONE OF THEM! (Almost). Okay only TWO I bought full price, and that was Club Dead and Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris. But as those were my Books-a-Million finds, you’ll find out about those in the second entry.

Half-Off Book Finds

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio (Was $13.95) Got it for $6.99!

Synopsis: (Taken from back of book)

Rural Kentucky in the 1950s is not an easy place to grow up, and it’s especially hard for ten-year-old Icy Sparks, an orphan who lives with her grandparents. Life becomes even more difficult for Icy when violent tics and uncontrollable cursing begin – symptoms brought on by a troubling affliction that goes undiagnosed until her adulthood. Icy’s adolescence is marred by the  humiliation of her illness, and its all-too-visible signs are the source of endless mystery and hilarity as everyone around her offers an opinion about what’s troubling the girl. Eventually, Icy finds solace in the company of Miss Emily, an obese woman who knows what it’s like to be an outcast in this tightly knit community. Narrated by a now-grown Icy, this novel shimmers with warmth and humor as it recounts a young girl’s painful and poignant journey to womanhood – and the many lives she touches and enriches along the way.

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli (Was $8.95) Got it for $4.49

Synopsis: (Taken from back of book)

He’s a boy called Jew. Gypsy. Stoptheif. Runt. Happy. Fast. Filthy son of Abraham.

He’s a boy who lives in the streets of Warsaw. He’s a boy who steals food for himself and the orphans. he’s a boy who believes in bread, and mothers, and angels.

He’s a boy who wants to be a Nazi someday, with tall, shiny jackboots and a gleaming eagle hat of his own.

Until the day that suddenly makes him change his mind.

And when the trains come to empty the Jews from the ghetto of the damned, he’s a boy who realizes it’s safest of all to be nobody.

Newberry Medalist Jerry Spinelli takes us to one of the most devastating settings imaginable – Nazi-occupied Warsaw – and tells a tale of heartbreak, hope, and survival through the bright eyes of a young orphan.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (Got it for $2.49)

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com)

Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech’s Love That Dog, a funny, sweet, original short novel written in free verse, introduces us to an endearingly unassuming, straight-talking boy who discovers the powers and pleasures of poetry. Against his will. After all, “boys don’t write poetry. Girls do.” What does he say of the famous poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”? “I think Mr. Robert Frost / has a little / too / much / time / on his / hands.”

As his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, introduces the canon to the class, however, he starts to see the light. Poetry is not so bad, it’s not just for girls, and it’s not even that hard to write. Take William Carlos Williams, for example: “If that is a poem / about the red wheelbarrow / and the white chickens / then any words / can be a poem. / You’ve just got to / make / short / lines.” He becomes more and more discerning as the days go by, and readers’ spirits will rise with Jack’s as he begins to find his own voice through his own poetry and through that of others. His favorite poem of all is a short, rhythmic one by Walter Dean Myers called “Love That Boy” (included at the end of the book with all the rest of Ms. Stretchberry’s assignments). The words completely captivate him, reminding him of the loving way his dad calls him in the morning and of the way he used to call his yellow dog, Sky. Jack’s reverence for the poem ultimately leads to meeting the poet himself, an experience he will never forget.

This winning, accessible book is truly remarkable in that Creech lets us witness firsthand how words can open doors to the soul. And this from a boy who asks, “Why doesn’t the person just / keep going if he’s got / so many miles to go / before he sleeps?” (Ages 8 to 12) –Karin Snelson

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech (Got it for $3.99)

Synopsis: (Taken from back of book)

Bailey, who is usually so nice, Bailey my neighbor, my friend, my buddy, my pal for my whole life, knowing me better than anybody, that Bailey, that Bailey I am so mad at right now, that Bailey, I hate him today.

Twelve-year-old Rosie and he rbest friend, Bailey, don’t always get along, that’s true. But Granny Torelli seems to know just how to make things right again with her warm words and family recipes. She understands from experience that life’s twists and turns can’t rattle the unique bond between two lifelong pals.

Newberry Medal winner Sharon Creech cooks up a delightfully tender novel, filled with homemade dishes and secret recipes. It’s easy to remember what’s important about love, life, and friendship while Granny Torelli makes soup.

Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture by Kio Shimoku (Was $10.95) Got it for $5.49

Synopsis: (Taken from back of book)

It’s the spring of freshman year, and Kanji Sasahara is in a quandary. Should he fulfil his long-cherished dream of joining an otaku club? Saki Kasukabe also faces a dilemma. Can she ever turn her boyfriend, anime fanboy Makoto, into a normal guy? Kanji triumphs where Saki fails when both Kanji and Makoto sign up for Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture.

Undeterred, Saki chases Makoto through various activities of the club, from cos-play and comic conventions to video gaming and collecting anime figures – all the while discovering more than she ever wanted to know about the humorous world of Japanese otaku!

Negimia! Magister Negi Magi by Ken Akamatsu (Creator of Love Hina, which I love!) Got this for $5.49!

Synopsis: (Taken from back of book)

Ten-year-old prodigy Negi Springfield has just graduated form magic academy. He dreams of becoming a master wizard. Instead he’s sent to Japan to teach English .. at an all-girls high school! All the students are delighted with their cute new teacher – except for Asuna, who resents Negi for replacing the teacher she secretly has a crush on.

Although he is forbidden to display his magical powers, sometimes Negi can’t resist. And when Asuna discovers Negi’s secret, she vows to make his life as difficult as possible – just the thing to prepare Megi for the challenges of life as a master wizard!

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Some good “Half-Off” finds, eh?