Nonfiction Monday: Jimi Sounds Like A Rainbow: a story of the Young Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Sounds Like A Rainbow: a story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe. Clarion, 2010.  (review copy provided by the publisher)

When I mentioned there was a children's book about Hendrix to the teacher dressed like Jimi Hendrix for our "dress like a rock star" day at school a few weeks ago, everyone within earshot was stunned.
"A book for kids?"
The story of Hendrix's death has overshadowed his music. When one of the children asked the teacher if he was dressed as Michael Jackson, I wondered if any children at the school had even heard of Hendrix. 

Golio tells Hendrix's story with poetic language and imagery. 

With every sound, a color
glowed in Jimmy's mind
Blue was the whoosh of cool water splashing over rocks.
Orange and red, the crackling of a campfire.
Green, the rustle of a thousand leaves.

Did Jimmy really see the world in this way or is this poetic license?  This feels researched and informed  thanks to the extensive list of research sources,  the discography of music and videos, and website list included at the end.

Golio imparts a great deal of information about Hendrix's life without resorting to a dry narration of facts. We understand there is no mother in the boy's life through the descriptions of his relationship with his father.

At night, he'd listen to Dad croon along with
gospel, jazz or blues reconrds on the old
phonograph. A song by Muddy Waters--with
its wailing guitar and harmonica--set off
fireworks in his mind.

Jimmy was fascinated with all kinds of sound and his imagination saw colors in the noises and rhythms of the city and nature. The boy was also an artist, often sketching and painting.  A self-taught guitarist, his music took off in a whole new direction when he acquired an electric guitar and discovered how amps and guitar strings could be used to create a unique sounds.

Javaka Steptoe's artwork startles and compels the reader to look deeper into the pictures.  His illustrator's note describes his process of delving into the music and the neighborhood of Jimmy's childhood. For his canvas, he used plywood from the Seattle (Hendrix's childhood home) RE Store, an emporium of salvaged and reclaimed building materials.  These pictures are vibrant collages of plywood and paint and photo prints.  The rough texture and grain of the plywood plays under paint that is a translucent wash in some areas and a thick layer in others. On the last, two-page, vertical spread, Steptoe's boyish Jimmy evolves into Jimi and the final iconic image of Hendrix from posters and album covers,  He renders the musician in purple (Purple Haze?)

The author addresses Hendrix's death honestly and in a straight forward manner in the author's note. He focuses on substance abuse and addiction as a disease that people can recover from with help.  He draws on his own years as a counselor in the discussion and points to several websites that help families and children understand the issue and find assistance.  His comments would be a comfort and useful to young people who are facing similar problems themselves or in their family.

48 Hour Book Challenge: Wrap-up

Well, despite a foul illness, (that is receding somewhat as I write) I was able to read a few books and listen to part of another.  I also spent time reading blogs of other participants and writing some quick reviews. I have more hours left in my 48 hour block but have to be at work early tomorrow to start closing down the library for the school year.  Yawn.

Books read:
Calli Be Gold by Michele Weber Hurwitz. Wendy Lamb Books, 2011
Rocky Road by Rose Kent. Knopf, 2010
Liar, Liar: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Deception by Gary Paulsen. Wendy Lamb Books, 2011

Time Reading:  6.5 hours
Reading blogs:  1.5 hours
Writing reivews: 4 hours.

Time Listening to audiobook of The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey:  4 hours

Total for the challenge:  16 hours

48 Hour Book Challenge: Rocky Road

Rocky Road by Rose Kent. Knopf, 2010
(review copy from the publisher)
Genre:  realistic fiction
Terrific story of  a family moving to upstate New York in the middle of winter to start an ice cream parlor.  Tess is in seventh grade and her little brother, Noah, is eight years old.  He is also deaf.  Their dad is out of the picture.  Their ma is a dreamer and hard to stop when she gets an idea in her head.  She also suffers from what she calls Shooting Stars.  Tess learns the condition has another name, bipolar disorder.   Their new home is in a senior community which at first seems bizarre but turns out to be a blessing as the community takes the children into their hearts as surrogate grandparents.  Ma works nonstop, dreaming up new flavors of ice cream and renovating the space that will become their store. Through her efforts, the downtown business district begins to dust itself off and shine.  Tess begins to make friends and things are looking up on the eve of the store's grand opening when the Shooting Stars return and Ma crashes into despair and depression.  It is up to Tess and her friends and new family from the senior community to make the business a success.

Full of admiration for Kent's storytelling.

Time reading: 3 hours, 295 pages
Time coughing:  less than yesterday
Time spent whining about being sick:  everyone is bored with me so I gave it up

Odes to Reading

As a librarian I am naturally inclined to love books where people come to appreciate the joys of reading.  

How Rocket learned to Read  by Tad Hills  Schwartz&Wade, 2010.

I don't think there is a Tad Hills book that I don't love. Rocket is an action dog. He just wants to run and play but, while taking a nap one afternoon, he finds himself drafted as the first student of a little yellow bird who wants to be a reading teacher.  Starting with the alphabet she hooks him with the power of a story by reading aloud.  Soon Rocket is recognizing letters and words all around him.  When the little yellow bird has to fly south for the winter, what will Rocket do?   His teacher's words, "Don't forget! Words are built, one letter at a time!"  are a comfort to Rocket and any child just learning to read. 

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates.  Knopf, 2010

"Dog loves books.  He loved the smell of them, and he loved the fell of them.  He loved everything about them..."

Finding a way to share his love is more difficult though when he decides to open a bookstore and no one comes.  Dispirited, he remembers that as long as you love books you are never really alone.  Creatures and characters from the stories keep him company until a real customer comes in one day. Then he really has someone to share his love with. 

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don't) by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Michael Emberley.  Knopf, 2010
The truth and brilliance of this book take my breath away.  This is a not a sentimental testimonial to the joys of reading but a realistic and oh-so-humorous tribute to those kids who challenge librarians every day by declaring,  "I don't like to read."

This declaration is often a plea as they really DO want to find the right book to read but they are afraid it will never happen. The young girl in this story is one of those kids.  Reading does not interest her. The librarian, Miss Brooks, never gives up though.  She is relentless in her efforts to make the match between book and reader. When it does not happen she is non-judgmental and just keeps trying.  

The crisis arises during Book Week as each student must share a book they love.  What happens if you do not love a book?  

Emberley's Miss Brooks is a zany, costumed, book loving, cheerleader who is not offended at the child's lack of interest. Her demented "Hungry Caterpillar" costume is worth the price of the book.  The child's slouchy, short stature and pulled down hat/hands in her pockets demeanor, tell us a great deal about her expectations for reading success.  Later, her jubilant face tells the rest of the story when she does find the right book at the right time that is worthy of her attention. The book she loves is a perfect match full of warts and snorts.


Calvin Can't Fly: the Story of a Bookworm Birdie by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Keith Bendis.  Sterling, 2010

The European Starling has an interesting history in North America. Since the birds were purposely introduced here in 1890 their numbers have increased to levels that put them in the "pest" category, just ask any purple martin lover.  A nearby road near my home that is swarmed by starlings at certain times of the year and resembling a  scene from Hitchcock's The Birds. It is very freaky.

Calvin is a thoughtful and quite endearing starling though. Calvin loves to read. While the rest of his large family is learning how to fly, he is at the library.  He does not learn to fly and his relatives mock him, calling him a "nerdy birdie" "geeky beaky" and "bookworm.  He reads everything. "His books took him to places wings  never could. And his heart fluttered with excitement."  Calvin's book learning pays off when he saves the lives of all the birds in the flock. 

Illustrator Keith Bendis's cartoon starlings are comical and expressive. The flock swirls and swoops in formation just like the ones near my house. His Calvin is pensive, comical, hurt and triumphant.  This book is a keeper.  

Halloween: Annie Was Warned

Annie Was Warned by Jarrett J. Krosoczka.  Knopf, 2003

In all his books, Jarrett Krosoczka conveys a playful insight into children that is a rare and fine thing.  Anyone who has shared his books as read-alouds can attest to the response to them from young listeners.

His children look out from the page into the eyes of the child holding the book and recognition sparks there.  Krosoczka's "serious" bio on his website mentions that he worked summers at camps, including the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp,  for children dealing with illnesses and other serious life issues.  I understand something about that kind of work as a parent whose child has benefited from similar summer experiences.  Krosoczka has looked into the eyes of children who are facing challenging and profound hurdles in their lives. I think he saw something very elemental at the core of childhood there.  That understanding shines through his work.


His work touches on many aspects of the every day lives of children. A bad, self-inflicted haircut is the reason for Baghead. Class elections in Max for President and dreams of rock stardom echo in the Punk Farm tales.  Lunchtime, the heart and hub of every school day (for better or worse) is acknowledged in the exploits of The Lunch Lady who defends the cafeteria, the school and the students in the graphic novel series.

In Annie Was Warned, Annie's birthday is on Halloween.  She tests her nerve and courage by going to a creepy, haunted? house, on a dare, on Halloween night.  On the book cover, Annie peers around a door.  Her eyes are wide. Her face registers apprehension and fear but she IS moving forward, shining her flashlight into the eyes of the reader, dazzling us with the light and her bravery. Krosoczka's artistic technique, composition, color palette evoke the eeriness of the night and solitude of the child in the book's paintings.  There is a fun and happily-ever-after to reward her courage. 

Halloween clearly inspires his storytelling.  Admire his pumpkins photos on his blog, The JJK Blog.  Each photo could be the jumping off point for a tale or two.

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld bravely shakes hands with one of his fans.

BookMoot was extremely lucky to visit a junior high school today where the estimable Scott Westerfeld spoke to more than one hundred students.

The group of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders were quiet and attentive as he described the history of illustration in novels.  The illustrations in Leviathan and Behemoth hearken back to the heyday of the illustrated novel.  

His presentation was extremely well done and had some great laugh moments in the auditorium where he spoke. Regular readers of his blog may recognize some of the visuals.  Westerfeld describes illustrator, Keith Thompson's artwork as "“Victorian manga” style, part steampunk and part old-fashioned biotech." His images of war machines and characters grabbed the kids' attention today and they loved it. 

The absolute best part of any author visit for me is watching the kids, the fans. After the presentation was over, a small group ran forward to talk with him.  As they stood around him, listening and asking questions, I nudged a friend nearby and pointed at the group. "Look at their faces," I whispered.  Hmmm, which adjective to choose, "shining," "radiant," "amazed," "rapt"?  Several kids had stacks of his books filing their arms.  Later while he was signing, a boy asked him what had he wanted to be when grew up. "Rock star," Westerfeld threw out. I think he can tick that one off his "to do" list now.

So, if you, dear reader, are near any of the cities on his tour, hasten, run, sprint to your nearest walking tank or wheeled conveyance and attend.   I was so grateful that Blue Willow Bookshop and the school administration were able to make this happen for these students.  (Also, thank you  former student who took the picture of Scott and Dragon. I had to hover nearby in case of death or injury.)

For audobook fans:

The audiobooks are brilliantly read by Alan Cumming (yes, that guy that introduces Masterpiece Mystery on PBS.)  You must see Thompson's illustrations though.  Westerfeld says there are plans to do a "field guide" style volume of Thompson's reference and background illustrations of this world.

 

Nonfiction Monday: A Journey Through Literary America

A Journey Through Literary America by Thomas R. Hummel, photography by Tamra L. Dempsey. Val De Grace Books, Napa, Calif., 2009.

This is a book I keep coming back to again and again.  Thomas R.Hummel and photographer Tamra Dempsey place twenty six American writers on the map, drawing portraits of their homes and lives and the landscape that shaped them. The writers are grouped  in seven, interesting, literary regions:   

Beginnings: (Washington Irving, and James Fenimore Cooper)  
New England: (Emerson, Hawthorne, Melville, Frost) 
Reeling Westward: (Willa Cather, Wallace Stegner, John Steinbeck, Robinson Jeffers)  
Not Forgotten: (William Faulkner and Thomas Wolfe)  
Main Streets:  (Sinclair Lewis, Sherwood Anderson) 
The Inner Migration:   (Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, Rita Dove) 
Twentieth Century Excursions: (Henry Miller, Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O'Connor, John Updike, Philip Roth, Raymond Carver, E. Annie Proulx, Richard Ford)

 
He draws on the writers' own words in his sketches of their lives.  Washington Irving describes the area known as Sleepy Hollow and poet Rita Dove pens a tribute to Akron's Goodyear zeppelin plant.

His words and  Dempsey's photographs light up this literary landscape. The Great Smoky Mountains in Asheville, NC stretch across two pages as a backdrop to the life of Thomas Wolfe.  The camera captures the Harlem brownstones of Langston Hughes as well as the frontier of James Fenimore Cooper. The featured photo of Flannery O'Connor's Andalusia is not of the house itself but of its porch with white rockers that appears in her story "The Enduring Chill."  Dempsey also captures the view, through the screen, which O'Connor would have looked upon after being diagnosed with lupus.

The reader visits Carmel and Big Sur which figure in the writing life of Robinson Jeffers and Leadville Colorado's Main Street which was home to Wallace Stegner. We see interiors such as William Faulkner's study and Robert Frost's cabin in Vermont. 

The book itself is oversized enough to appreciate the full color photographs but not so tall (27 cm.)  that it does not fit in your lap.  You will not need a coffee table to enjoy it.  

The book serves as a resource to the places that formed some of America's best known writers. This is not a detailed field guide but it provides an armchair traveler with a virtual visit that might spur a real trip to Walden or Sleepy Hollow, Cannery Row or John Updike's Reading, Pennsylvannia.   Locales in the book can be found at the book's website, www.literaryamerica.net -- and specifically at LiteraryDestinations.com

It would be an excellent addition to a high school library but please, do not restrict it to the Reference shelf.  This is a book that needs to be taken home where it can picked up again and again and enjoyed.  I am looking forward to sharing this book with my book group. 


 

Interview: Rockstar Rick Riordan

Ahem, for the record, I believe I was one of the first to dub him a rockstar in December of 2006, I'm just sayin'.

Nice interview with RRR on NPR, 'Percy Jackson' Author Takes On The Pyramids' about his new series. I loved his pitch about families reading together and this bit of advice to parents:

Strike up a good relationship with your children's librarian. They are a wealth of information for good books. Find a good independent bookseller in your community. They're another great source of information.

UPDATE:  AND Hokey Smokes Bullwinkle, look at the crowd at the last stop on the Pyramid tour! 

Kids, excited to see an author whose imagination and writing has thrilled them.  No matter which author it is, that is a grand thing!

The Tooth Fairy Meets El Ratón Pérez

The Tooth Fairy Meets El Ratón Pérez by René Colato Laínez, illustrated by Tom Lintern. Tricycle Press, 2010.

René Colato Laínez shares the story that inspired this book on his website.  In his native El Salvador, when a child loses a tooth, "El Ratón Pérez, the Hispanic tooth collector" takes the tooth and leaves a small present in exchange.

So what would happen if El Ratón Pérez ran into the Tooth Fairy while both were about to lay claim to a little boy's first lost tooth?  El Ratón Pérez declares, "I collected his papá's, mamá's and his abuielito's." Miguelito, sleeps, unawares, while the two  struggle over his tooth.  When their arguing causes the tooth to almost be lost forever,  they decide to form an alliance to retrieve it.

I have known the Tooth Fairy all my life and never suspected there was another character in the tooth collecting canon. The legend of a a mouse in the biz is extends beyond Central and South America to Europe according to the notes at the end. A list of Spanish terms is also included to aid English speakers with some of the Spanish expressions and terms.

Tom Lintern's El Ratón Pérez is a robust rodent sporting a gaucho look while the Tooth Fairy hovers in a delicate pink frock.  Lintern uses a dreamy color palette and includes nice details like English and Spanish language books on Miguelito's bookshelf.  The boy's tooth goes missing on that bookshelf, next to the book Tooth Fairy Lore. 

 

The loss of a tooth is an important milestone in a child's life and Colato Laínez and Lintern honor the cultures that celebrate it. 

This book will be an outstanding addition to a any school library and librarians at bilingual schools should definitely consider this title for their collections.

René Colato Laínez's website

www.renecolatolainez.com

Tom Lintern's website
www.tomlintern.com

Teen BookCon in Houston!

TeenBookCon
The Greater Houston Teen Book Convention
Event location: Alief Taylor High School

Keynote speaker: Sharon Draper

I've heard Draper speak. She is a dynamic and impassioned presenter! Don't miss her!

And LOOK who else will be there!

These are the REAL RockStars, folks!

• Cynthia Leitich Smith (Tantalize and Eternal. Check her out on Twitter)
• Beth Fantaskey (Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and Jekel Loves Hyde)
• Marjetta Geerling (Fancy White Trash)
• Jon Skovron (Struts and Frets. Check him out on Twitter)
• Judson Roberts (The Strongbow Saga)
• Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules. Check him out on Twitter)
• George O'Connor (Olympians Rule. Check him out on Twitter)
• Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, Echo, Runaways)
• Gayle Forman (If I Stay, Sisters in Sanity and You Can't Get There from Here)
• The Fillbach brothers (Maxwell Strangewell, Road Kill, Clone Wars)
• Elizabeth Eulberg (The Lonely Hearts Club. Check her out on Twitter)
• Paula Morris (Ruined. Check her out on Twitter)

Admission to the event is free!
(You will need money to purchase books and food!)

DOOR PRIZES!!!

keep up with the latest updates on twitter: www.twitter.com/teenbookcon
and become a fan on facebook: www.facebook.com/teenbookcon

Author Visits

Now THIS is the way to welcome authors into your school for an author visit! School librarians in Humble, Texas, YOU ROCK!


Authors running the gauntlet that I recognize include: Phil Bildner, Susan Stevens Crummel, Matt Holm, and H.J. Ralles.



Phil Bildner arrives.

The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear

The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear by David Bruins; illustrated by Hilary Leung, Kids Can Press, 2009 (review copy supplied by publisher)

As I approached the school where I was to do a storytelling gig last week, I noted that the school's marquee was featuring the character program trait for October, Individuality. This book came to mind and it occurred to me that this is a perfect book to share that message.

The Ninja, the Cowboy and the Bear are good friends but they argue and face off against each other in a series of contests. Each one has a strength or ability, unique to them. Bear can build the tallest pile of rocks. Cowboy is sharp eyed and can gather the most berries, Ninja's quickness allows him to herd the most rabbits. They come to appreciate each other's abilities which are unique to them. A game of Ninja, Cowboy, Bear, which is played like Rock, Paper, Scissors, is described at the back of the book. This game is a whole body workout.

The illustrations distinguish this story. Hilary Leung's simple but winsome characters bring Japanese chibi designs to mind. The books is also sized to rest comfortably in a child's lap.

Lots of nice subject headings can be tagged to this book, Friendship--Fiction, Individuality--Fiction, Competition--Fiction.

Ninja Cowboy Bear Website

Airborn in Space

How very appropriate! Hoorah for Kenneth Oppel!

Oppel's take is at his blog, Kenneth Oppel!


From the Quill & Quire:

According to a press release from the Canada Council for the Arts, astronaut Robert Thirsk, currently aboard the International Space Station with fellow Canadian Julie Payette, has brought with him two books by Canadian authors – Airborn by Kenneth Oppel and Deux pas vers les étoiles by Jean-Rock Gaudreault.

From CBC:

Oppel, who is probably best known for his Silverwing trilogy, was thrilled to learn that his novel was chosen for this journey. "I'm so honoured that Robert Thirsk chose to take my novel Airborn with him on his six-month mission," he said.

Airborn is the story of a 15-year-old cabin boy who sets out to find a mysterious flying creature.

"It's completely thrilling to think of it in orbit aboard the International Space Station," Oppel said in a release from the Canada Council for the Arts.

"I'm very proud of Canada's involvement in the ISS and the astronauts really do exemplify the best of human co-operation, learning and enterprise. I'm delighted that my book is in such stellar company."

Author: Rick Riordan

Back in June or July of 2005 the youngest entling and I made our way over to Blue Willow Bookshop to hear this guy named Rick Riordan talk about his new book, The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1).

The entling finished it before night fell and the book became my carry-along book anytime I was subbing in a library.

The rest is history.

In the years that have passed, I have had moving conversations with parents who tell me how much they owe to Riordan because his books were the ones that turned their child (and usually it is a son) into a reader.

I have only missed one Percy Jackson signing. That was last year and I really did have to attend entling no. 2's college graduation. They were the same weekend. It was hard. I had to really, really think about it.

In about fifteen minutes, my youngest and I will saddle up to see RRR one more time and have him sign The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book 5)..

There were less than 30 people in the store that first time we saw him. Today, they are using the campus of my old high school because they expect so many people.

It has been a grand ride.

Thank you, Rick.
You are a rockstar.

Operation Teen Book Drop 2009

Are you ready to Rock the Drop?

Movie: The Lightning Thief

Rockstar Rick Riordan must be giddy!

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman, Sean Bean, Kevin McKidd and Melina Kanakaredes are heading to Mount Olympus.

The quintet has been cast in Fox 2000's fantasy-adventure adaptation "Percy Jackson" as classical Greek gods Chiron (Brosnan), Medusa (Thurman), Zeus (Bean), Poseidon (McKidd) and Athena (Kanakaredes). Aries, Hades and Persephone have not yet been cast.

Movie: The Lightning Thief

Rockstar Rick Riordan announces the casting choices for the Lightning Thief movie.

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo, Random House, 2008.

Klimo's story, is the first in a series. This is a lighthearted, middle grade fantasy. The design is nicely formatted with one inch margins and a readable typeface. Illustrator John Shroades has decorated the first page of each chapter with an illustrated preview in a dragon scale frame. The cover art of the bright green baby dragon was one of the first things that drew me to this book (that and the dragon subject matter.)

The story follows the tradition of boy-finds-rock-that-turns-out-to-be-a-dragon-egg and the-egg-hatches. A bad guy named Dr. St. George is after the dragon so the two children, Jesse and Daisy must hide and protect the baby.

I applaud Klimo for the ending of the story. Ponder most children's book where a young person has care of a wild or fantasy creature. The bird with the damaged wing is set free to return to its flock, the baby mermaid goes home to its mother, THE DOG DIES...
As the sun sets on these tales, the children are left older and wiser, having learned a life lesson from their experience.

Here, Klimo has given Jesse and Daisy a happy ending, helpful to a sequel, no doubt.

Still, SALUTE!

I was very happy with the allusion to St. George. Hopefully this will send the young'un to Margaret Hodges and Trina Schart Hyman's elegant, award-winning Saint George and the Dragon.

NonFiction Monday: Extreme Animals

Dewey: 590









Extreme animals: the toughest creatures on Earth by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Neal Layton, 2006

Extreme makeovers, extreme sports, extreme heat, extreme music: the word extreme conjures up images of rocketing skateboarders or freerunning athletes. Nicola Davies shares a sense of wonder and fascination with the living organisms that thrive and survive in seemingly inhospitable environments, dubbing them, extreme animals.

Tiny bacteria, camels, penguins, frogs and polar bears are just some of the living things that make a who's who list of these animals. Davies describes "how" they do it. She details the penguin's internal heating system and illustrator, Neal Layton, provides a drawing of how it works. Reptiles store water, camels have an internal brain cooler. Star fish and sponges can survive being cut apart. Extreme temperatures and extreme ocean depth would crush some creatures but others have adapted to these environments.

Neal Layton's drawings and cartoons illustrate and clarify the subject. His irreverent humor underscores the information. According to Davies, a sponge can be whirled in a blender and reassemble itself. Layton shows us a scientist quaffing a drink from the blender while a horrified co-worker murmers, "That's not a smoothie."

Other cartoon character offer commentary as a polar bear holds a sign, "Live Naked" or a camel gasps "hot" or "cold" as the day/night cycle. Even the index and glossary are embellished with small drawings which clarify and illustrate ideas and terms. The hardy tardigrade holds a sign, "Tardigrades Rule OK!"

If you've ever wondered why polar bears and penguins don't turn into popsicles, this book is for you.
I found it utterly irresistible!

Author: Rick Riordan

OK, I am working in school libraries and talking to Rock Star Rick Riordan fans who DO NOT KNOW about The 39 Clues! Interesting.

Interview from Barnes & Noble.