mystery, if you like that sort of thing. Below is my booktalk for this one, also from library school.
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
On Daniel Sepere’s 10th birthday, his father takes him to a cemetery. Instead of holding people, however, this cemetery is an underground library, and it is the final resting place of books. It is the Cemetery of Forgotten books, and it houses books that have been abandoned by their owners. Daniel’s father says “According to tradition, the first time someone visits this place, he must chose a book, whichever he wants, and adopt it, making sure that it will never disappear, that it will always stay alive. It’s a very important promise. For life. Today it’s your turn.”
Daniel’s chosen book is called the Shadow of the Wind, by Julian Caráx. He reads it, and he just loves it. He asks his father for more like it, but there are none. Oh, Julian Caráx wrote many books, but there are none to be found. And why not? Because someone has been systematically burning them all.
Who is the strange man burning these books? Why does he do it? And why does he call himself by the name of one of Caráx fictional characters? Where is the mysterious author now? Was he, as some believe, killed nearly 20 years ago in a duel on the morning of his wedding? What is it his past that everyone who knew him is so desperate to hide? Daniel has to find out. Not because he’s curious, but because if he doesn’t, the same terrible secret that so tortured Caráx may come for him. The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.