A thoughtful book...good for the soul

If you've had enough of crazy action-packed stories and would like something a bit more thoughtful, a bit more lyrical, try Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor. Raine is 12, and she can't figure out why her mom decided to move the two of them to an artists' colony for a summer job, leaving her Grampa Mac back in Milwaukee.  And there are more mysteries and secrets to figure out: what happened to the orphans who lived in the main house of the colony, years ago?  Why is Viktor, the owner, so cold, and why does Raine's mom seem to know him?  What is the connection between Viktor and Lillian, the sweet, frail, elderly artist who keeps calling Raine an orphan?  And will Raine finally found out who her father is?  The importance of art, dreaming, and forgiveness all play a role in this quiet, contemplative story.

Advice to artists: learn from the best!

If you're in the mood for something a little different, take a look at Drawing from Memory by Allen Say. Part graphic novel and part biography, Mr. Say tells his story of growing up in Japan and his desire to be a cartoonist, despite objections from his father.  At the age of 12, the author sought out Noro Shinpei, a famous Japanese cartoonist, with hopes of working for him and learning the art of cartooning.  Through a combination of drawings and sketches from the past and the present, the reader learns how Shinpei became Mr. Say's sensei, or teacher.  The format of the book takes getting used to, with the styles of drawings and the page lay-outs varying quite a bit, but the story is intriguing and gives good insight into the hard work required to excel as an artist.