How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinks

I loved many things about this tone perfect book, the characters, smart but human, the action, always exciting, the dialog and narration, but maybe it was the actual setting which gave me the element which launched this book into must-read status for me.  Set in a slightly parallel late nineteenth century slum, the city itself, with its poverty, sewers, and human villains, took on the character of the ultimate dystopia, all the more so because it could have been real.  The bogles themselves, dangerous though they are, are taken care of with an exciting but almost reassuring certainty by Alfred, the bogle slayer; it's the humans you have to watch out for, but there are also plenty of human helpers in this community at every turn.  This is a very rich and a very rewarding read. Certainly recommended for fantasy lovers; even young historians and realistic readers might be beguiled by the strong history behind Jinks' work.

The Mystery of the Missing Lion: A Precious Ramotswe Mystery for Young Readers

 Travis Ann Sherman says: A big yes to the next in this charming mystery series set in McCall Smith's Botswana. As a fantasy lover, I usually steer clear of anything that smacks of the real world, but this was a lovely outing.  Perfect for the young mystery lovers among us; perfect for the young world citizens among us; and, perfect for reluctant readers too, because though they lexile in the 700s, these are real page turners.  Oh, and did I mention the illustrations by Iain McIntosh made me stop and stare in pleasure at the pages? It's been a long time since that happened.  This is a series I'll be happy to push at my library.

Jeannette Atwater says: First off, as charming as Precious Ramotswe (who in the future will become Botswana's best private detective) is, I was not enraptured with the mystery of the lion Teddy gone missing as I would have liked. The mystery seemed to me to be more of an adventure through the Botswana landscape. However, the setting, characters and easy vocabulary make this a great suggestion for young readers who enjoy stories about the flora and fauna of the world. The illustrations are captivating, the depictions of lions throughout really make for a fun book!