From the book jacket: Every child knows about Santa Claus, the jolly man who brings gifts to all on Christmas Eve. There are many stories that tell of his life, but the delightful version related in The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is by far the most charming and original. Only L. Frank Baum, the man who created the wonderful land of Oz, could have told Santa's tale in … [Read more...] about The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: B-
Monster 4 by Naoki Urasawa: B+
From the back cover: Johan is a cold and calculating killer with a mysterious past, and brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him! Conspiracy and serial murder open the door to a compelling, intricately woven plot in this masterpiece manga thriller. As Tenma uncovers more about the infamous 511 Kinderheim orphanage, Johan's twin sister Anna sets out on her own … [Read more...] about Monster 4 by Naoki Urasawa: B+
Monster 3 by Naoki Urasawa: B+
From the back cover: Tenma's on the run! A wanted man, he's the prime suspect for the serial killings he's trying to stop. But he still manages to edge closer to the truth about Johan's mysterious past, and everything seems to point to a now defunct institution of East Berlin—an infamous "experimental" orphanage called 511 Kinderheim! Review: The pace is pretty slow in this … [Read more...] about Monster 3 by Naoki Urasawa: B+
Sixpence House by Paul Collins: B+
From the book jacket: Paul Collins and his family abandoned the hills of San Francisco to move to the Welsh countryside—to move, in fact, to the little cobblestone village of Hay-on-Wye, the "Town of Books," boasting 1,500 inhabitants... and forty bookstores. Antiquarian bookstores, no less. Inviting readers into a sanctuary for book lovers, and guiding us through the … [Read more...] about Sixpence House by Paul Collins: B+
Bleach 25 by Tite Kubo: C+
From the back cover: Ichigo's recent battles with the Arrancars have proven that if he wants to protect his friends he must get stronger, and the only way to do that is to control his inner Hollow. Ichigo turns to the Visoreds*, ex-Soul Reapers who have been Hollowfied, to teach him. But before his training begins, Ichigo must do battle against his Hollow self—winner takes his … [Read more...] about Bleach 25 by Tite Kubo: C+