The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Dec. 14 Meeting

Nine-year-old Bruno and his family move from Berlin after Hitler puts Bruno's dad in charge of a barb-wired camp in Poland. Bruno doesn't understand why the children in striped pajamas on the other side of the face aren't allowed to play with him. Bruno secretly makes friends with Schmuel; a boy on the "other side." Bruno learns many things from Schmuel but not quite enough.

We Pig Skullers will discuss The Boy in the Striped Pajamas at our December 14 meeting.

The Amulet of Samarkand Nov. 16 Meeting

"Nathaniel is eleven years old and a magician's apprentice learning the traditional arts of magic. All is well until he has a life-changing encounter with Simon Lovelace, a magician of unrivaled ruthlessness and ambition. When Lovelace brutally humiliates Nathaniel in public, Nathaniel decides to speed up his education, teaching himself spells way beyond his years. With revenge on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a five-thousand-year-old djinni, to assist him. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure he find himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder and rebellion." (from The Amulet of Samarkand backcover).

The Amulet of Samarkand is a great blend of adventure, magic and humor. Jonathan Stroud is a wonderful writer. We Pig Skullers will discuss this book November 16.