The Book of Lost Things

This book was recommended to me by a coworker. It was interesting. By journeying through another land, a young boy finds out what is really important to him. In order to return home, David has to go to the king and find The Book of Lost Things. On his quest, he meets a knight, fights loups (A wolf-man type of thing), runs into seven dwarfs and the grouchy lady that bosses them around, as well as many other characters (including the crooked man). It fuses fairy-tale with coming-of-age. It was pretty clever in that way.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

I know, it's been a while, but I've been in a bit of a reading "slump." Although I really liked this book, it took me a little while to get through it. This is the type of "coming of age" story that I really like. It tells about a period in Francie Nolan's life, but like many "coming of agers" (I just made that word up), it doesn't get weird and Francie accomplishes great things. It's really a sweet and inspiring story.