Random mid October stuff going on

My sister and her kids have gone home, and I sure don't envy her a 5-hour drive! It was a busy day--the kids also had their annual primary program, where all the kids at church put on the meeting. I play the piano for the kids, and therefore this event, so it was fun to do, but whew, I'm also glad it's done. At least this time my kids knew what they were saying. They usually encourage the kids to write their own lines (on a given topic), and the year we got back from Germany, Little Sweetie was still speaking solely German. She got up and said, "I like to play with my family and my puppy." Um, hello, we don't have any pets?? But then we realized she probably said, "Ich spiele gern mit meiner Familie und meiner Puppe." (I like to play with my family and my doll.)

So, that's down, and the next projects are up: playing Tooth Fairy (which involves a full page cartoon), teaching 3rd grade art this week, and creating a series of Halloween costumes. Every 24 hours people change their minds about what they want to be, but so far I think we're narrowing down to 2: a dalmation (we have the costume already, thank you, The Children's Place), 5: Bastet, 8: a bat, 10: Anubis, and 12: undecided, but wants to still go trick or treating. Maybe he can be Osiris. If we're going with an Egyptian god theme, maybe I'll frizz my hair and dress up as Isis. It can't be too hard; she doesn't usually go around with an animal head, unlike Anubis.

What about you? Do you get into Halloween? Do you make costumes, or buy them? And how elaborate do your kids think you can come up with?

Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Starcrossed, by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Arthur A. Levine (Scholastic), 2010
351 pages
YA



Digger doesn't much care about the politics of those around her, as long as her employers pay her well. She's a thief and a messenger, and together with her partner/boyfriend Tegen, has done pretty well in the city of Gerse. But the last bundle of letters ended up costing Tegen's life and her safety. Fleeing from the Greenmen--the Inquisition-style enforcers of the worship of Celys--she joins up with a boatload of rowdy noble youth going home from a night of carousing. Quickly she transforms herself into a ladies' maid and goes off to their mountain fortress, where she expects to enjoy a brief respite from her problems and then continue on her flight. But just after all the houseguests arrive, an avalanche seals off all exits, trapping her inside with a man who knows exactly who she is and who wants her to do a dangerous and duplicitous job for himself. A job that could just spark a civil war.

Recommended for readers who love fantasy and mystery and alternate worlds and plucky heroines and excellent writing and series novels (because two more are coming!). Also readers who enjoyed A Curse Dark as Gold (by the same author), as well as books by Robin McKinley, Juliet Marillier, and Megan Whalen Turner. Read it today!