Why? Because We Still Like You by Jennifer Armstrong

This is a nice little book about the history of the personalities who were the original Mickey Mouse Club. I remember watching the re-runs as a toddler. The book delves into the kids who made the show so popular and all that they endured and still endure as the original Mouseketeers.


Some stayed in the business, others ventured into other things. Some stayed for all 3 seasons, some never even appeared on camera. You get to know the likes and dislikes of the cast members and the routines that were required to keep the mouse ears.

Definitely well researched and the author was able to get in touch with many of the members of the club. Most of the members stay in touch and gather for anniversaries. Nice piece of history.

Portal by Imogen Rose

This book was sent to me by Romance Junkies for review.
Arizona (Darley/Stevens) awakens to her mother driving a Hummer 2 instead of the Hummer 3 that she is accustomed to. She has just taken her SAT's at Princeton High School in New Jersey and must have fallen asleep on the ride home.
When they pull in to the driveway, a man greets them. This is not the father, Dillard, that she knows. This man's name is Rupert and her younger sister greets him with much affection.
Arizona enters a world that is only vaguely familiar. Her dog Gertrude is there, but she is now in California with a new home and also a new personality. This Arizona is not the tomboy of New Jersey, but a cheerleader on the debate team.
Arizona also discovers that there are certain people from her other side, friends that are somehow here, not back in New Jersey.
This book is very easy to read and interesting. It is a little too young adult for my taste, but I believe that the younger set would like this book. Many references to things teen, right down to Uggs, cell phones, PDA's and fashions that suit that generation.
I believe that I will read the other two books in the series so that I can find out the end of Arizona's story. The ending lent itself to wanting to do so.

http://imogenrose.com/

What The Dickens by Gregory Maguire

There is a poor creature that is born in a tuna can and he is alone. He encounters a cat and wants to be her gift giver. He encounters a grisset and becomes fodder for her newborn babies. He acquires his name by accident. What-the-Dickens accidentally encounters another of his kind who is taking something from under the pillow of a child. She is Pepper and is a tooth fairy. 
He follows her to her home and encounters strange skibberee, of which he is one, who have all kinds of rules and prejudices about maintaining their society. He is abolished, as a loner, but insists on helping, therefore trying to make himself feel as part of the whole.
This story is read as a inner story. There are three children being watched by a cousin of 21 who are in a house that is lacking in running water, electricity and parents during a hurricane or tornado. The young man is reciting the story so the children will not become upset and does a very good job at keeping the children occupied with it.
This was a cute novel. I love the fact that Gregory Maguire wrote it in the present tense. That makes it more vital and the lessons learned by the creatures and the children are prevalent to our times.

http://gregorymaguire.com/