Shelly's Book Blog

Nobody's Princess/Dead End in Norvelt

2012-01-30T06:16:00.000-08:00

I finished Nobody's Princess, by Esther Friesner, a few days ago. It was very similar to Sphinx's Princess, but this one is about Helen of Sparta ("the girl who became Helen of Troy"). Helen has no talent for, and no interest in, traditional women's activities. She disguises herself as a boy and secretly shares her brothers' combat training. She also befriends the huntress Atalanta, who helps her learn to ride a horse and encourages her independent, adventurous spirit. Another enjoyable story!

I also read the 2012 Newbery winner, Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos. This one is a little strange, what with all the blood spewing out of Jack's nose, and all the old people dying. There was one scene near the beginning of the book where Jack goes hunting with his dad, though, that was just hilarious. I read it aloud to my boys and they seemed to appreciate the humor, but not as much as I. Maybe it's just funnier in context. Anyway, my favorite character is Miss Volker, the woman Jack helps throughout the novel by typing up her obituaries for the local newspaper and chauffeuring (even though he does not have a driver's license). She is smart, energetic, fearless, and funny, and I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes between her and Jack.

I read on Elizabeth Bird's blog, A Fuse #8 Production, that the British version of this book has a different cover, and is just called Dead End. I like this cover a lot better. It seems to capture the book's funny/creepy tone a lot better.

Finally, Jack Gantos was a guest on NPR's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" show last Saturday. He tells the story of how, when he was young, he was arrested for drug smuggling and went to prison for a year and a half. It's worth a listen -- very funny!

Sphinx's Princess

2012-01-19T08:04:00.000-08:00

Sphinx's Princess, by Esther Friesner, drew me in right away and kept me hooked. Set in ancient Egypt (14th century, B.C.), the book follows Nefertiti, a young, beautiful woman, who is forced to leave her home and family in Akhmin to live at at Pharaoh Amenhotep's court in Thebes. Her father's sister, Amenhotep's Great Royal Wife, Queen Tiye, is terrified of losing her privledged position and wants Nefertiti to marry her son, Thutmose, as a means of securing her son's and her own future. Unfortunately, Thutmose isn't at all the type of man Nefertiti could love. He is cold and seems to care about no one but his pet cat.

Nefertiti is strong and smart, though, and she finds ways of making the best of her life in Thebes. She befriends Thutmose's brother and one of his sisters, and she is able to secretly continue the writing lessons she had enjoyed back home. Friesner weaves much historical detail into the story, such as the names of many Egyptian gods and the ways in which the people worshipped them, the customs of the royals, the means of transportation, and the clothing, jewelry and make-up styles of the time. It never feels like a history lesson, though. The characters are well developed and the story is fast paced and engrossing. I look forward to reading the sequel, Sphinx's Queen.

Oliver Twist

2012-01-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

Oliver Twist is one of many English classics that I have always been meaning to read. I bought myself a Nook for Christmas (Merry Christmas to me!), but I'm too cheap, so far, to pay for content for it. What better opportunity is there, then, to read classics such as Oliver Twist, which are available to download as ebooks for free? I went to the Project Gutenberg web site and dowloaded a copy of the ebook, and then transferred it to my Nook. This was all pretty easy, but I did need to email for help from Adobe when my Nook could not read the file I had transferred. Turns out I had to use the Adobe Digital Editions software to complete the transfer (thus enabling the digital rights management, I presume), so I had to delete the file and start again. No worries, though, as it worked fine once I got this procedure figured out.

I love reading on the Nook! It's great to be able to change the font size to whatever is comfortable, and the Nook is light and easy to hold. Page turning is as easy as a light tap with my finger on the touch screen. I'm thinking of reading Wuthering Heights next.

Anyway, I really enjoyed Oliver Twist. I hadn't realized before, but much of it is really funny. The humor arises from Dickens' biting sarcasm when describing the dreadful treatment Oliver receives at the hands of such self-serving, hypocritical characters as Mrs. Mann and Mr. Bumble. Mrs. Mann is the woman in charge of caring for the orphans at the workhouse where Oliver lives when he is a child. Dickens writes of her:

"The elderly female was a woman of wisdom and experience; she knew what was good for children; and she had a very accurate perception of what was good for herself" (p. 6).

Dickens spares none of the adults in poor Oliver's young life: the members of the Board who were supposed to oversee Mrs. Mann's activities, as well as the Beadle, Mr. Bumble, are mercilessly skewered by Dickens' eloquent descriptions. Dickens write of the board:

"So they established the rule, that all poor people should have the alternative (for they would compel nobody, not they), of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by a quick one out of it" (p. 12).

Also, even though I knew that Fagin and Sikes were villainous thieves, I never realized how horrifying it would be to read the passages in this book where Oliver is at their mercy. Oliver's goodness and purity contrast almost too starkly with these two men's total depravity. As I read, I thought that no human could possibly be that good or that evil. In the end, though, the extremes make the ending that much more satisfying. Evil gets its just punishment, and Good gets its just reward. The End!

Mister Creecher

2012-01-04T05:07:00.000-08:00

In Mister Creecher, by Chris Priestley, a fifteen-year-old boy named Billy meets Victor Frankenstein's creature late at night on New Year's Day, 1818. At the time, Billy is not only very ill but also in imminent danger of receiving a sound beating courtesy of several neighborhood thugs who have taken a servere dislike to him. The creature, whom Billy soon starts to call Creecher, as though that were his last name, saves Billy from the bullies and nurses him back to health, and thereafter the two form a bond. At its heart, this book is the story of Billy and Creecher's complex, changing relationship.

It turns out that Creecher does not care for Billy simply out of the goodness of his heart; he wants Billy to spy on Victor Frankenstein for him. Billy, who is a thief by trade, is happy to comply because his profession becomes considerably easier and more successful once he has the terrifying Mr. Creecher to scare his marks into submission. For a while, they are both content with what they are getting out of their relationship. As the story progresses, however, Billy learns more of the back story behind Creecher's actions. Readers familiar with Mary Shelley's story will understand why Billy's enthusiasm for continuing his relationship with Creecher may begin to wane.

What I like best about this novel is Priestley's deliciously descriptive voice. He captures the gothic mood perfectly in passages such as this one from the first paragraph:

"Billy pulled his clammy coat collar tightly to his throat. It was damp with the fog and felt like the tongue of a dead animal lolling against his neck."

There is also a wonderful surprise at the end regarding Billy's true identity. This is an engrossing story about loyalty, trust, and heartache. As I read, I felt absolutely enveloped in the time and place, and when I was finished reading I was reminded of the horrifying, lasting consequences of betrayal.

Calico Captive

2011-12-26T07:15:00.000-08:00

I have never read a novel by Elizabeth George Speare that I didn't like, and Calico Captive is no exception. Like Katherine Paterson's Bread and Roses, Too, this book is based on a true story. The main character is Miriam Willard, a young woman who, along with her family, is captured by Indians, forced to travel on foot to Montreal, and held for ransom there for months. This all takes place in 1754, during the French and Inidian War.

At first I thought this story was going to be pretty grim, because it starts out that way. Miriam and her family are kidnapped in a terrifying raid of their home. Poor Suzanna, Miriam's pregnant older sister, is forced first to try to keep up with the group and then to give birth to her child in the wilderness with only Miriam to help her. However, when they reach Montreal, the Indians sell them, and even though the family members are separated, they are at least provided with food and a decent place to live. In fact, Miriam ends up living in the house of a very wealthy family.

It was interesting to explore with Miriam the nature of imprisonment and slavery, because in this book readers witness shades of gray emerge. Although Miriam is not free to leave, she begins to enjoy her new life. She is seduced by a lifestyle that is wildly different from anything she, a woman from a pioneering family, has ever known. I was also fascinated by the history in the book -- the conflict between the English and French, the role the Indians played, and just the idea that holding human beings for ransom seemed to be accepted and supported by the government in Montreal -- it all made for very interesting, if disturbing, reading.

This story might be enjoyed by a slightly older audience than Bread and Roses, Too, though, because there really is a pretty heavy emphasis on Miriam's love life. I really enjoy historical romance, but I can imagine that it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Bread and Roses, Too

2011-12-26T06:41:00.000-08:00

Bread and Roses, Too, by Katherine Paterson, transports readers to Lawrence, Massachusetts during the 1912 mill workers' strike. Rosa Serutti lives with her family in a tenement near the mill where her mother and sister work. Like all the mill workers, they are extremely poor and often do not have enough to eat. Rosa is lucky enough to be able to attend school, yet her mother cannot afford to buy all the books and other supplies Rosa needs.

At the beginning of the story, Rosa meets Jake Beale, a boy who is even worse off than she. Jake's father is pretty much good for nothing, and Jake often is afraid to go home, so he sleeps wherever he can. When Rosa allows him to sleep in her family's home one night, the two kids do not exactly become friends, but they renew their acquaintance later in the story when they meet on a train bound for Vermont. Rosa, along with many other children of the striking mill workers, is sent to live temporarily in Barre, Vermont, where union sympathizers take them in until the end of the strike. Jake was not supposed to be on the train, so he asks Rosa to help him by saying he is her brother. Rosa reluctantly agrees, and of course her first small lie is only the first in a series of lies that become necessary to explain Jake's presence.

With Bread and Roses, Too Katherine Paterson makes this moment in history both accessible and interesting for a young audience. The appalling conditions people like Rosa and her family had to endure are well balanced by the solidarity and hope of the union and the caring people who support the strikers. This one is well worth reading.

Okay for Now

2011-12-19T15:11:00.000-08:00

As a big fan of Gary Schmidt's books, I was happy to finally get a copy of his latest, Okay for Now. The story is narrated by Doug Swieteck, an 8th grader with many problems, including an abusive father and an older brother who bullies him. At the beginning of the story, Doug's father loses his job and they have to move to Marysville, New York, a town Doug henceforth refers to as "stupid Marysville" because he has such a difficult time adjusting to his life there. Doug has many complaints, but I was never annoyed reading about his troubles because underneath the whining, buried deep under his cynicism, I always sensed a nugget of hope. This small ray of goodness shines through when he describes the positive things in his life, such as his time spent in the library learning to draw, his relationship with his mother, and his relationship with his father's boss, Mr. Ballard. In fact, I think Doug's distinctive voice is one of the things I like best about this book. He tells his story honestly, only holding back when what he wants to describe is just too painful to put into words. He quite often asks his reader, "Do you know how that feels?" Invariably, I had to answer "no" when he asked this question, but I also knew that I had a much better idea after having read what he had to say.

One thing I had to laugh about was particular to my copy of the book. On page 184, when Doug says, "Reader, I kissed her", the word kissed has been covered with white-out! I guess at least one reader disliked mention of romance in his/her stories. This sub-plot is handled with a very light touch, though, so I hope the white-out wielding reader did not give up the book because of it.

Mushy stuff aside, I really loved this book. I will not be at all surprised if this book wins the Newbery Medal this year. It's that good.

Emily's Fortune

2011-12-12T06:17:00.000-08:00

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is one of my favorite children's authors, so I decided to read Emily's Fortune, which was published last year. The book features a quiet 8-year-old named Emily Wiggins, who at the beginning of the story finds herself suddenly orphaned when her mother is killed in a carriage accident. Emily's Uncle Victor is her closest blood relation, but she does not want to live with him because she knows he is unkind. Emily's Aunt Hildy offers to become her guardian, so Emily boards a stagecoach to travel to Aunt Hildy's home. It is during this journey that Emily's adventures ensue.

Despite its tragic beginning, the book is really very funny. For example, Emily's neighbors are named Mrs. Ready, Mrs. Aim, and Mrs. Fire. Emily's fellow passengers on the stagecoach are a riot. I especially enjoyed Petunia and Marigold's shameless flirting with Uncle Victor, and Jock's tendency to get the names of things wrong.

At 146 pages, with plenty of illustrations and large type, this is a short, easy-to-read story that would be a good one to recommend to middle grade students looking for a quick read for a book report due tomorrow.

A Northern Light

2011-12-08T05:30:00.001-08:00

A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly, is based on a true story. In an author's note, Donnelly explains:

"On July 12, 1906, the body of a young woman named Grace Brown was pulled from the waters of Big Moose Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. The boat she'd been in had been found capsized and floating in a secluded bay. There was no sign of her companion, a young man who'd rented the boat under the name of Carl Grahm. It was feared that he, too, had drowned. Grace Brown's death appeared to be an accident, and neither the men who dragged the lake nor the staff at the hotel where the couple had registered could have forseen that they would soon be embroiled in one of the most sensational murder trials in New York's history." (p. 381)

Donnelly's book is narrated by Mathilda (Mattie) Gokey, a fictional 16-year-old young woman who lives with her family on their farm near the lake where the real Grace Brown died. When the story begins, Mattie's mother has recently died, and as the eldest girl Mattie is forced to take over much of her mother's household and farm responsibilities. Meanwhile, the family is short on cash because Mattie's father has not been able to leave his children to earn money as a logger, as he used to do when his wife was alive.

Mattie has big dreams, though, that do not include staying on the farm. She is a writer and has been accepted to Barnard College in New York City. When the story begins, Mattie is busy making breakfast for her family, but she is also trying to find the courage to ask her father about going to college the following fall. She needs to earn money, so she also wants his permission to take a summer job at one of the local hotels -- the same hotel where Grace Brown and Carl Grahm were staying.

So what will be Mattie's ultimate fate: will she stay on the farm, helping her family? Will she get married and become a farm wife? Or will she be able to follow her dreams, attending Barnard and becoming a writer? And how is her fate tied to that of poor Grace Brown, whose dreams -- and life -- were tragically cut short? Mattie's narrative, which alternates between two time periods, develops themes related to these questions as Mattie struggles to find her place and her voice. Her interactions with the rich and varied cast of characters Donnelly created, including family, friends, neighbors, employers, criminals, and a very special teacher, work together to create a meaningful, compelling story. I loved spending time in Mattie's world, and I loved what her story says about women, about being different, and about accepting and valuing people for who they really are.

Another Video Booktalk

2011-12-04T19:06:00.001-08:00

OK, I'm really having fun now! Here is another video booktalk. This one is about The Adventures of Nanny Piggins, by R. A. Spratt.

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/mekrueper/2195900

Here is a link to my original review from January 2011.

If the power doesn't come back on at the library tomorrow, I might work on another!

Video booktalk on Scratch

2011-12-04T09:00:00.001-08:00

I recently finished taking an Infopeople class called "Reel in Readers." We were introduced to many tools, such as Animoto, Scratch, and Camtasia, which are available for creating and editing videos. Here is a link to a booktalk I just finished on Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat, by Lynne Jonell:

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/mekrueper/2194013

This is a book I first reviewed in June 2010.

Enjoy!

V is for Vengeance

2011-12-01T10:28:00.001-08:00

V is for Vengeance, Sue Grafton's latest entry into her alphabet-themed mystery series starring private detective Kinsey Millhone, roped me in immediately, as usual. I haven't read many novels written for an adult audience in the last several years, but Grafton's novels are always an exception to that rule. I dug out my paperback copy of A is for Alibi and discovered that book was copyrighted in 1982. The paperback edition that I have was printed in1987, so that probably means that I have been enjoying Grafton's series for over 24 years. Since she still has four more letters to go, I hope the streak will continue for some time to come.

Aside from the nostalgia factor, what keeps me coming back is that Grafton is simply a superb writer. Her novels are cleverly plotted, her characters fresh and original, and her stories both funny and exciting. Also, despite the crime-related theme to her series, I don't feel as though I have rolled around in blood and gore after finishing one of her books. I reviwed U is for Undertow in January 2010.

V is for Vengeance pits Kinsey against an organized crime ring that shoplifts from retail stores. Although the time differential that contributed so much to U is for Undertow (one story set in 1967, another in 1988) is missing here, the story follows a similar pattern, alternating chapters about Kinsey and her righteous quest to bring shoplifters to justice with sections detailing the marriage difficulties and social hypocrisies of a wealthy couple. I really enjoyed the shades of gray Grafton uses to paint her characters. Even the mob boss, Dante, comes across as sympathetic, in his own way. I can't wait for W!

This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein

2011-11-21T13:54:00.001-08:00

In This Dark Endeavor: the Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, by Kenneth Oppel, Victor is 16 and his twin brother, Konrad, has fallen ill and may die. Desperate to save his brother, Victor contacts a shady alchemist named Dr. Polidori, who sends Victor, his cousin Elizabeth, and his friend Henry on a creepy search for the ingredients to create the Elixir of Life. Victor is convinced that if all the doctors his wealthy father calls to Konrad's bedside fail, then he will be able to save his brother with this magic potion. The three teens' adventures make exciting -- nay, breathless -- reading, and the whole story sits just this side of horror. I enjoy reading tales like this one that re-imagine the worlds of classic literature, and Oppel has done an excellent job of imagining Frankenstein's youth and setting the stage for Mary Shelley's classic story. The love triangle here to adds to the tension and provides rich, meaningful character development. I really enjoyed this spine-tingling, darkly romantic story.

Ivy and the Meanstalk

2011-11-21T13:30:00.001-08:00

Ivy and the Meanstalk, by Dawn Lairamore, is the sequel to Ivy's Ever After, which I loved. This time, Ardendale is threatened by Largessa, a female giant who has not been able to sleep ever since Jack (of beanstalk fame) stole her magic harp. Since this happened hundreds of years ago, she is in a very nasty mood and tells Ivy she will start throwing large boulders to rain down on Ardendale if the harp is not returned.
Ivy consults Drusilla, her fairy godmother, and discovers that the harp is probably in Jackopia, so Ivy and Elridge fly to Jackopia to retrieve it. Of course, the present king of Jackopia flatly refuses to give up the harp, not caring that his stubborness will result in the total destruction of an entire kingdom and all its people. This is a fairy tale, so it should end with a happily ever after ending, but you'll have to read the book to find out!

Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?

2011-10-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

The only child character in Eleanor Updale's Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman is Cissie Longman, the rather obnoxious hotel manager’s daughter. The main character, Montmorency, doesn’t even interact with her very much. Nevertheless, I can see kids really enjoying this book because Montmorency is such an engaging character. He is a scofflaw, but one whose history generates sympathy. He is clever, but also a bit vulnerable, so his success does not always seem predetermined. And he manages to live a double life, always on the cusp of discovery and ruin, and that gives his story enough suspense and adventure to keep the pages turning.

Readers first meet Montmorency when he is in prison. He had enjoyed quite a career as a thief before having an unfortunate run-in with a wicked piece of machinery during one of his raids. He would most certainly have died if not for the ministrations of Doctor Farcett, who eagerly tested some of his latest medical theories as he saved Montmorency’s life. The patient is given the name “Prisoner 493,” and Doctor Farcett is allowed to transport him periodically to meetings of the Scientific Society so that he can use him as a display. Prisoner 493’s scars are bared for all to see, poke at and prod during these sessions.

When Prisoner 493 is released from prison a few months later, he uses the newly built sewer system, which he learned about during one of the Scientific Society meetings, as an escape route and returns to his thieving ways. This time, though, he creates not just one but two new identities for himself. Scarper is his lower class persona, and it is he who robs the city’s wealthy and scurries into the sewer to escape. His second persona takes the name Montmorency, and he is a gentleman who lives in a high-class hotel, enjoying the high life. It’s interesting to see how the former Prisoner 493 juggles his two personalities, claiming that Scarper is Montmorency’s servant.

The book is set in Victorian England, one of my favorite historical periods, and this certainly added to my enjoyment of this imaginative and well-written tale. Updale has written three sequels, and I look forward to reading them.

Princess of the Midnight Ball

2011-10-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

I had not read anything by Jessica Day George before reading Princess of the Midnight Ball. This surprised me because her books seem to fit in well among my favorite “fairy tale” books such as Once Upon a Marigold, Ella Enchanted, and Hatching Magic. This story adapts the traditional tale of the twelve dancing princesses into a full-length novel with great success.

The twelve daughters of King Gregor of Westfalin find themselves cursed, forced to attend a midnight ball in the underground kingdom of the King Under Stone. The frequency of these forced trips to Under Stone’s kingdom increases over time, until finally the princesses have to go every night, even when they are ill. Under Stone’s magic prevents the girls from talking about their nightly forays, so they fear that they are stuck. Evidently their mother made an ill-advised deal with Under Stone, and when she died her obligation transferred to her daughters.

Enter Galen, a young soldier who finds work as a gardener for the palace grounds. He soon falls in love with the eldest daughter, Rose, and decides to try to break the curse, even though many men of nobler rank have failed. Galen is likeable and fun to root for, and I enjoyed reading about these characters and their quest for freedom and independence.

Ivy's Ever After

2011-09-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

Dawn Lairamore’s Ivy’sEver After delighted me from beginning to end, and I’m looking forward toreading the sequel, Ivy and the Meanstalk,which is due out in a few days. The main character’s name is really PrincessIvory, but she likes to go by Ivy instead because she has little use for thestiff formalities normally expected of a young woman of her royal rank. Shelearns shortly before her fourteenth birthday that, in order to satisfy theterms of a generations-old peace treaty with the local dragons, she must staylocked in a tower until a prince comes along and slays the dragon guarding her. As a practical, no-nonsense kind of gal, she naturally questionsthe wisdom of a practice that will leave her alone, locked away in a tower,possibly for years. Her father, the king, refuses to budge, however, and sheeventually agrees to go.

The adventure begins when she befriends the dragon (his nameis Elridge) when he saves her life and helps her escape the tower. Before she was imprisoned, Ivyhad discovered that the prince who plans to slay Elridge is bad news. He hasplans to murder both Ivy and her father. Ivy thinks that her long-lostgodmother may be able to help, so Elridge agrees to provide transportation tothe Craggies, the nearby mountains , to look for her.

This story struck me as original and very well told. Thereading level is 6.9 according to Renaissance Learning, and I reallyappreciated the relatively sophisticated vocabulary and the way the author’swords seem to flow smoothly and effortlessly. Lairamore strikes me as atalented, creative author, and I hope she keeps writing for a long time tocome!

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

2011-09-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

In Josh Berk's The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin, Hamburger Halpin is actually the screen name used by Wil Halpin, an overweight, deaf high school boy who has recently left his special school for the deaf to attend Carbon High School. On a field trip to a coal mine, one of his classmates, a popular jock named Pat Chambers, is murdered. Wil teams up, Hardy Boys style, with his friend Devon Smiley, to solve the case. I enjoyed learning more about deaf culture, hearing the many deaf-themed jokes that Wil and his friend share, and following the pair on their adventures. This is a solid mystery with an unusual protagonist, and I liked it a lot.

There is one thing that bothers me about this book, though. The plain, dark blue cover features cartoon drawings of some of the characters from the book, suggesting a book appropriate for a younger audience. And the story is well suited for elementary or middle school kids. However, the sexual references/innuendo sprinkled throughout the book give me pause, enough that I would be more comfortable recommending this book to older teens.

I felt the same way about I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President, by Josh Lieb. I remember noticing a considerable amout of sex talk when I read this book, too. I appreciated the humor in both of these stories very much, but I wonder if these authors' choice to write for a more mature audience has shrunk what may have been a robust market for their books?

Skulduggery Pleasant/Scepter of the Ancients

2011-09-21T13:31:00.000-07:00

Add Derek Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant (also published as Scepter of the Ancients) to your read-alike list for the Percy Jackson books, not because it has anything to do with Greek mythology, but because it's very funny, features a great cast of characters, and tells an exciting and imaginative tale of magical adventure and derring-do. Stephanie Edgley's uncle dies at the beginning of the book, and she discovers that her famous-author uncle left her his house and most of his fortune. She makes the aquaintance of one of her uncle's good friends, a living skeleton detective named Skulduggery Pleasant. Stephanie is soon swept into Skulduggery's magical world as she helps him investigate her uncle's murder. She finds the danger she encounters there both terrifying and exhilarating. Cool villains with clever names, lots of witty wordplay, combined with a buddy cop story set in a magical world make this one a winner! There have been three books published in the U.S. so far. Books 4, 5, & 6 are available in the U.K.

Alex and the Ironic Gentleman

2011-09-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

Alex and the Ironic Gentleman, by Adrienne Kress, shares its brand of humor with the Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket. Example: the beginning of chapter 11:

"What is a bad sign? Perhaps one that has mud all over it so you can't read how far it is until the next highway service center. Or perhaps one that is so rebellious that, no matter how many times you write 'Danger: Falling rocks ahead,' it insists on saying 'Do Come Over Here and Stand Under this Precariously Teetering Boulder.' " (p. 71)

This story both surprised and delighted me. Once she figured out that she needed to go there, I expected Alex to quickly make her way to sea. However, her journey to the ship took a meandering route, and she had the opportunity to meet and interact with several characters who would not have been out of place in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Extremely Ginormous Octopus, with Alex's help, discovers his call to the stage; the three Daughters of the Founding Fathers' Preservation Society pursue Alex relentlessly, all because Alex dares to cross the sacred rope restricting access in the Steele manor house; and Lord Poppipnjay, owner of a guest-free hotel in the middle of a forest, hires Alex as his assistant because he is convinced she can read his mind. There a many more wonderfully imagined and realized characters to savor as one makes her way through this story. I will recommend it to fantasy fans who are looking for something that will make them laugh but that is also a little off the beaten path. I enjoyed this book!

Flying Feet

2011-09-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

I have recently created a pathfinder for second grade series, and I decided to read a book from Patricia Reilly Giff's Zigzag Kids series. I chose Flying Feet, not realizing that it is the third in the series until after I had finished it. No matter, it was cute. The series seems to feature a different child at the school for each book, and for this story we read about Charlie, who is an inventor. Whenever he gets an idea for another invention, her feels a buzz in his head. Charlie's Flying Feet invention is a pair of sticky tennis shoes that are supposed to allow the wearer to easily climb up a wall. Unfortunately, this invention, like his last idea for a Breathe-Underwater Box, falls flat. Fortunately, Charlie find success elsewhere when he is able to help the school janitor clean up a big pile of junk, as well as help the kids enjoy "come as a character" day.

It had been a long time since I had read any books written for this young audience, but I do remember the Magic Tree House and Bailey School Kids books well. I cannot say that I liked this book as well as those, but I would certaily recommend it. Kids should probably try to start the series with the first book, though!

Knightley Academy

2011-09-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

Over the Labor Day weekend I read Knightley Academy, by Violet Haberdasher. Comparisons to Harry Potter are inevitable with this book, as there are so many parallels between the two series. The main character is Henry Grim and, like Harry, he is a mistreated orphan who is surprised to be accepted to a special school. Henry is to learn to be a knight, and when he gets to school he finds Ron- and Hermione-like friends, as well as a Draco-like enemy. There is, of course, evil afoot, which Henry and his friends discover when they travel to a Durmstrang-like school for an inter-school, Triwizard-like tournament. I hope I'm not overdoing the Potterisms, but they are really obvious in this story. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this book very much. Haberdasher has created an interesting world here with a likeable hero. I'm not sure whether I should label this a fantasy, since there so far have been no references to magic or time travel or made-up creatures. One of the subject headings listed in our catalog is "Alternative Histories," and this seems to sum it up well. The story is set in Victorian England, but, of course, Knightley Academy is fictional. I'll be interested to read the next book and see where this series goes.

Nancy and Plum

2011-09-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

Nancy and Plum, by Betty MacDonald, surprised me because it is so different from her Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books. This is the story of two girls named Nancy and Pamela (Plum) Remson who are left in the care of their childless, clueless uncle when their parents are killed in a train wreck. His new responsibility evidently overwhelms Uncle John to the point that he leaves them at the first place he can find: Mrs. Monday's boardinghouse. It turns out Mrs. Monday is simply ghastly: greedy, cold-hearted, and cruel. She takes Uncle John's money but feeds the girls horrible food, clothes them in worn-out rags, and forces them to work like slaves. Fortunately, her brother, Tom, also lives on the property. Although he is just as afraid of his sister as are the girls in her care, he does help Nancy and Plum on the sly whenever he can.

Nancy and Plum's fortunes begin to change when they run away and sleep in a haystack belonging to a kind, generous couple named Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. The Campbells are Mrs. Monday's polar opposite, and they eventually give Nancy and Plum a chance to live a happy, normal life. This sweet, happy ending was not unexpected. However, I was startled several times by the girls' unforgiving nature. For example, Plum openly mocks Mrs. Monday in front of Miss Appleby, the librarian, and says she would like to drop a heavy dictionary on Mrs. Monday's toes (p. 86-88). Plum's feelings toward Mrs. Monday are certainly understandable, but I was still shocked that such a sweet little girl would be portrayed as having a dark side.

The Emerald Atlas

2011-08-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens, channels The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe into a confusing and overly long mishmash fantasy adventure for three children named Kate, Michael, and Emma. Instead of a wardrobe, the magic conduit is a book known as "the Atlas," and instead of bringing them to a different world it brings them to a different time. I had difficulty keeping track of which characters were doing what, where, and when. Also, the story seemed to be drawing to a close several times but then it was extended by some crisis or another.

It wasn't all bad -- not at all. There are likeable characters here. My favorite was Emma, the spunky youngest child. She is described as a fighter, fiercely loyal to those she cares about. She also is not shy about telling people (and fantasy creatures such as dwarves and monsters) exactly what she thinks of them (stupid seems to be her preferred adjective). I enjoyed reading about her relationship with Gabriel, the strong, quiet man who helps the children when they are about to be killed by the Countess's (this book's White Witch) army of Screechers. I also liked Miss Sallow, the cook/housekeeper at the orphanage near Cambridge Falls. She sarcastically calls the children "Yer Majesties," upbraids them about expecting "chocolates and cake to eat," and tells them that if her cooking is not up to their standards they may chop off her head. She really made me laugh! I'm afraid that many of the other characters seemed just a tad too familiar, though. I know that authors borrow, but I think readers are always hoping for something new and fresh, and I, for one, did not find that here.

I am very fond of time travel adventures as a rule, and this story certainly fits that bill, but the time travel genre is frought with built-in perils. There are so many conflicts to resolve, such as what happens when characters move through time and see their other selves. The author must plausibly explain how traveling to the past affects the present, which is the future of that past. See what I mean? It can get really complicated! I was just not quite able to suspend my disbelief while reading this story. Almost, but not quite.

It seemed as though the author's editors had told him he needed to make the book at least 400 pages, so he was forced to keep coming up with ways to further complicate the plot to keep it alive. Readers are also subjected to the obligatory sequel set-up information, but I think the ending would have been more satisfying without the "here's what's coming so stay tuned" information. Not every story needs to be told in installments, but I suppose publishers and authors make more money that way. Sigh.

The Dark Frigate

2011-08-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

Perusing people's comments about Charles Boardman Hawes' Newbery Medal winner, The Dark Frigate, posted on Goodreads, I was gratified to learn that I was not alone in having difficulty finishing this book. The arcane language, which is full of "thee's" and "thou's" and "quoth he's," made me feel as though I was reading Melville instead of a children's book. The story was actually quite interesting for me, as I enjoy reading about seafaring adventures and pirates. I also relished the quiet menace with which Hawes so subtly infuses his villain, the pirate captain Tom Jordan. Jordan is usually referred to as "the Old One" in the book, and he does seem to exude both the wisdom and cynicism that old age can bring. He is truly terrifying. I doubt if I will be recommending this book to kids, though, unless they are intent on challenging themselves with something completely different than they've read before.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette

2011-08-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

I loved the first two Penderwicks books, so I picked up The Penderwicks at Point Mouette expecting a great read. I was not disappointed. Jeanne Birdsall's third book in this warmhearted series finds the family on vacation again, but this time they are not all together. Mr. Penderwick and his new wife, Iantha, are out of the picture in England, and Rosalind, the OAP (oldest available Penderwick) is in New Jersey vacationing with a friend. The story centers, then, on the younger three sisters, Skye, Jane and Batty, as well as the girls' very good friend, Jeffrey Tifton, who joins them for the two-week stay at a small cottage in Point Mouette, Maine. Rosalind's absence necessitates Skye's appointment as acting OAP, a role she feels herself ill-equipped to handle. It turns out that Skye does still need some practice being in charge, but her mistakes are harmless and quite funny. Jane, the budding author of the family, suffers from writer's block while she attempts to write a new Sabrina Starr book. She also develops a very dramatic crush on a local boy named Dominic, who inspires her to write (pretty bad) poetry instead. The man who lives next door to the Penderwick's rented cottage, Alec, becomes a good friend, and there is a surprise twist at the end of the story which involves him. This book is full of interesting, well-developed characters and humor. I loved it!

Everything on a Waffle

2011-01-24T10:04:00.000-08:00

In Everything on a Waffle, by Polly Horvath, 11-year-old Primrose Squarp is orphaned when her parents are lost at sea during a storm. At least, that's what most inhabitants of her Canadian town, Coal Harbour, believe. Primrose "just knows" that her parents are still alive and will return to her someday soon. In the meantime, she goes to live with her Uncle Jack, who cares for her the best he knows how. Since her uncle is away from home much of the time, Primrose finds a second home at a local restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing, where the owner, Miss Bowzer, serves all her dishes on a waffle, so that her customers will have "a little something extra" with their meal. Miss Bowzer teaches Primrose to cook several dishes, and Primrose includes the recipies in the book.

This is a sweet, slice-of-life story about a smart, observant little girl who seems to easily roll with whatever life serves up for her. I found the characters original and charming, and the story Horvath builds around them pulled me in from the first page. I loved it!

Lunchbox and the Aliens

2011-01-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

Lunchbox and the Aliens, by Bryan W. Fields, caught my eye because of the cover art. That dog is just so cute. In the story, though, Lunchbox would probably not like being called "that dog," because he was abducted by aliens and came back to Earth as a very smart hound. Lunchbox and his boy, Nate, build a froonga-making machine using parts from Nate's father's inventions. Froonga is a food the aliens who educated Lunchbox just love, and it just so happens that it can be made from garbage (which is, of course, plentiful on Earth). It's a good thing the aliens, Grunfloz and Frazz, have Lunchbox to help them, because they have run out of food and are a long way from home.

The best parts of this story for me were hearing what Lunchbox was thinking when he observed human behavior. For example, at a park one day, Lunchbox watches a young man play frisbee fetch with his dog. Lunchbox wonders why the dog keeps bringing the frisby back to the man, when the man keeps throwing the frisbee away and it seems clear he doesn't want it (lol!).

Although I stumbled on just a few too many "alien" words while reading this story, I thought it was a light, fun read. Kids who like books about heroic pets will probably enjoy it, too.

Don't You Know There's a War On?

2011-01-15T06:09:00.000-08:00

In Don't You Know There's a War On?, by Avi, 11-year-old Howie Crispers lives in Brooklyn, New York, in 1943. It seems to him that everyone uses that phrase, "Don't you know there's a war on?" to explain away anything unpleasant or inconvenient that he has to suffer through or cope with. His father is away at the war, and his mother spends most days doing her part in the war effort by working in an airplane factory. Then Howie learns that his favorite teacher, Miss Gossim, is going to be fired, and he simply cannot accept that wartime necessity explains away this injustice. He therefore decides to try to help her by convincing the principal that she should be allowed to stay. Eventually, he gets most of the kids in his class to help.

This story, narrated by 16-year-old Howie, gives kids a great feel for what WW II daily life was like. He talks about collecting scrap "for the war effort," blackouts, dads and brothers off at war, and censored mail (his family receives a "swiss cheese letter" from his dad). It's also a touching coming of age tale. I suspect there are many kids who harbor secret crushes on their teachers, and they will most likely enjoy reading about Howie's experience. This is one I listened to, and the narration is terrific, complete with different voices for each character. Kids looking for a good book for that historical fiction assignment will probably be happy they chose this one.

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins

2011-01-15T05:43:00.000-08:00

I suppose the humor in R. A. Spratt's The Adventures of Nanny Piggins is not for everyone, but I loved it. Nanny Piggins is (surprise!) a pig whose former job was being shot out of a cannon at a circus. She applies for the job of nanny to Derrick, Samantha, and Michael Green, whose father, Mr. Green, is so miserly he won't even pay for a proper advertisement in the newspaper when he finds himself in need of child care. He therefore hammers a sign on his front lawn that says, "Nanny Wanted: Enquire Within" and waits for someone to show up and take his children off his hands so he can spend more time at the office. Nanny Piggins is the only one who applies, and although Mr. Green would prefer a human, he hires her because she is willing to work for only ten cents per hour.

Nanny Piggins is no Mary Poppins. She allows the children to eat junk food, stay home from school, and generally do anything else traditional, human nannies would find appalling. The children, therefore, love her and greatly enjoy the adventures they experience with her.

I was reminded of Roald Dahl's books as I read Nanny Piggins, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Despite the cartoonish cover art, this book is written at a 6th grade reading level, and since the irony may be lost on younger readers, I would recommend it to middle grade readers and older.

One Crazy Summer

2011-01-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia, has had some buzz about a possible Newbery Medal in its future, and now that I have read this book I agree that it is a strong contender. Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern live with their father and grandmother in Brooklyn, N.Y., but in 1968 they fly to Oakland, Ca. to spend the summer with their mother, who abandoned them several years before. When they arrive, their mother, Cecile, makes it clear they are not wanted. She shows them no affection, forbids them from entering her kitchen, where she spends time writing poetry and printing flyers for the local Black Panthers, and feeds them only take-out food. During the day, Cecile sends the girls to a day camp run by the Black Panthers, where they eat free breakfast and participate in organized activities to learn about their rights and do their part for the cause. From the start of this visit, 11-year-old Delphine, as the eldest, is forced to take charge of caring for her sisters, but her responsibilities grow when Cecile is arrested, along with two men who are Black Panthers.

Delphine narrates, and her voice is absolutely delightful. She is 11 going on 30, and her attempts to cope with and explain to herself her mother's bizarre behavior seem perfectly suited to a smart, responsible 11-year-old girl who yearns for a mother. This book is both touching and immensely entertaining. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

Found

2011-01-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

Book 1 of The Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Found is a quick, exciting read. The story involves Jonah Skidmore, his sister, Katherine, and Jonah's friend, Chip, in solving the mystery of some mysterious letters mailed to Jonah and Chip. The first letter says, "You are one of the missing," and the second leter says, "Beware! They're coming back to get you." Neither letter gives a return address or any other indication of where it came from or who sent it. As the kids learn more, they become more and more convinced that they are in real danger. I wanted to immediately start book 2, Sent, because Found ends in a serious cliffhanger!

The 100-Year-Old Secret

2011-01-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

I have been reading books about Sherlock Holmes recently, so I decided to try Tracy Barrett's The 100-Year-Old Secret, which is Book 1 of a series called The Sherlock Files. This is a shorter book than others I have read recently, such as Shane Peacock's Eye of the Crow, or Nancy Springer's The Case of the Missing Marquess, and it is meant for a younger audiece. Whereas Eye of the Crow is about Sherlock Holmes as a young boy, and The Case of the Missing Marquess is about Holmes's younger sister, The 100-Year-Old Secret is about twins Xena and Xander Holmes, who are modern day decendants of Sherlock Holmes. The twins are given their famous relative's unsolved casebook, and they decide to try solving the mystery of a missing painting called Girl in a Purple Hat. The twins are likeable, resourceful sleuths, and they solve the mystery without too much danger to themselves, so I think this is a good mystery series to recommend to 3rd and 4th graders.

Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism

2011-01-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism, by Georgia Byng. This is the first book in a series about an orphan named Molly Moon who has an incredible gift for hypnosis. She discovers this gift when she reads a book she finds in the library. Her first subject is the dog who lives in the orphanage (this is the dog on the cover), and she ends up flying from her home in England to New York, where she uses her ability to become rich and famous. In the beginning of her adventure she is pretty selfish and manipulative. However, in the end she realizes this and makes good by helping many people, including the children in her orphanage. You really need to suspend disbelief when reading this book, because she truly does live out a fantasy life of being able to make just about everyone around her cater to her every whim. Also, some of the plot twists that get her out of trouble are pretty far fetched. Still, it's a fun story with a happy ending, and I would like to read more about this little girl and her dog.

The Tiger Rising

2011-01-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

The Tiger Rising, by Kate DiCamillo was one I listened to in the car on the way to work and back. This is a short, sad book. The main character, Rob Horton, and his dad have moved to Florida after Rob's mother's death. Rob is plagued with a perisitent rash on his legs, and he is bullied at school. Both Rob and his dad are still grieving over their recent loss, and Rob's dad refuses to talk about it. He goes so far as to not allow Rob to say his mother's name. One day Rob discovers a caged tiger behind the hotel where he and his dad are living. Rob and his new friend, Sistine, decide they want to free the tiger from its cage. The caged tiger clearly represents the unexpressed emotions that are eating away at Rob and his father. I wonder whether the 4th graders for whom this book was written will understand this, though.

I understand that this book takes on a difficult subject, and I think it does so beautifully. Some kids will relate and appreciate being able to read about characters who have problems similar to their own. However, it was not one of my favorites.

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

2010-12-28T06:44:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed Zen and the Art of Faking It so much, I decided to read another book by Jordan Sonnenblick. In Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, 13-year-old Steven Alper's 5-year-old brother, Jeffrey, is diagnosed with leukemia. Steven is a drummer, and one day before the diagnosis Jeffrey used his favorite drum sticks to stir his made-up concoction in the kitchen called "dangerous pie." Of course, Steven was very angry with Jeffrey then, but the difficult process the whole family goes through while Jeffrey undergoes treatment gives Steven a new perspective on just about everything, but especially on the value of having a younger brother. This is an excellent school/family story. I laughed and cried, and had a great time reading this book. Another winner!

The True Adventures of Charley Darwin

2010-12-27T04:42:00.000-08:00

In The True Adventures of Charley Darwin, by Carolyn Meyer, readers hear the story of Charles Darwin's early years, told in novel form from his own perspective. This book is part seafaring adventure, because much of the story is devoted to describing his adventures aboard the HMS Beagle, circumnavigating the globe and gathering the animal and plant specimens that would help him develop his theory of natural selection, and later write his books. We also hear of the horrible school he attended as a boy in Shrewsbury, England, and a little about how he got together with his wife, Emma, a girl he had known all his life before they married. I found this book interesting and educational, but I think the audience for it among younger readers might be limited. It's a serious book, and only a small portion is devoted to Charley as a boy. Still, I would recommend it to middle schoolers who are avid, serious readers.

Zen and the Art of Faking It

2010-12-23T05:53:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed listening to Zen and the Art of Faking It, by Jordan Sonnenblick. The main character, San Lee, moves to a new city and new school for 8th grade. He has moved many times, and each time he seems to find a new identity for himself. This time he pretends to be a Zen master, even though he has to go to the library to research Zen Buddhism in order to pull it off. He really likes a girl named Woodie at his new school. She plays her guitar during lunchtime and donates the change kids give her to a soup kitchen where she volunteers. The story is in some ways a typical school story, complete with bullies, nerds, etc. But, happily, the characters in this story turn out to be complex and interesting and fun to read (listen) about. I recommend this one, and I will definitely want to read more by this author.

Shark Girl

2010-12-21T04:38:00.000-08:00

Shark Girl, by Kelly Bingham, is a novel told in verse and letters, and I think this format works very well for the subject. 15-yer-old Jane Arrowood goes for a swim in the ocean on a summer day and is attacked by a shark. Her right arm is so badly mangled that she has to have it amputated above the elbow. The novel is told from her perspective, detailing the immediate aftermath in the hospital, and later her slow recovery at home. I really could not put this book down. Jane's voice is remarkably real, her story very moving. A friend recommended this book to me a few months ago, and now I wish I had not waited so long to get around to it. I highly recommend this one!

Wings: A Fairy Tale

2010-12-20T05:58:00.000-08:00

15-year-old Tamisin, the main character of Wings: A Fairy Tale, by E. D. Baker, has always been different, but she finds out that she is half fairy when she grows wings and travels to the land of the fey with friend and half goblin Jak.What she does not know, at first, is that Jak was actually sent to the human world to kidnap her. Jak's uncle, Targin, is a powerful figure among the goblins, and he is tired of being ruled by the fairy queen, Titania. Targin has heard a rumor and thinks that holding Tamisin will help him to bargain with the fairy queen.

I enjoyed this story. Baker's writing is sometimes a bit awkward, espeically his dialog, which often seems clunky and unrealistic. However, I did think the characters and story were interesting -- certainly enough so to finish the book and wish I could read more.

Elijah of Buxton

2010-12-20T05:38:00.000-08:00

I listened to Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis. The story is based on real historical events. The Elgin settlement, also known as Buxton, Candada, was founded in 1849 by a white reverend named William King. It was a place where people who had escaped from slavery in America lived. In Curtis's wonderful book, 11-year-old Elijah, who was the first free-born child born in Buxton, narrates. The beginning of the book is lighthearted and humorous, as we hear Elijah describe life in his community. Later, things become more serious, and Elijah travels to America to track down a thief. Elijah does a lot of growing up during the story, as he successfully handles this terrifying situation by himself.

The story is read by Mirron E. Willis. Wow! He did such a great job! He uses distinct voices for all the characters and really brings the story to life. I highly recommend experiencing Curtis' book by listening to Willis' superb performance.

Wicked Will

2010-12-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

The Will in Wicked Will, by Bailey MacDonald, is 12-year-old William Shakespeare. He and Tom Pryne (who is really a girl named Viola, disguised as a boy) must solve a murder in order to free Viola's uncle, who is in jail, falsely accused. Reading this book, I was highly entertained by MacDonald's colorful, well-developed characters. I also thought the mystery was clever, if a tad bit predictable. Young readers may not pick up on the Shakespearean references but no matter. I enjoyed this who-done-it very much. At about 200 pages long, this book is a good one to recommend to middle graders who want something fun but not too demanding.

Eye of the Crow

2010-12-06T05:18:00.000-08:00

According to the cover flap for Eye of the Crow, the first book in The Boy Sherlock Holmes series, author Shane Peacock is fascinated with Sherlock Holmes and wanted to create a background story about Holmes' childhood.
This is just my type of book: a mystery/detective story set in the London of Sherlock Holmes and Charles Dickens. In this story, Sherlock is 13 years old, and he becomes involved in solving a murder because he believes the man the police have arrested is innocent. He is soon in over his head, because his contact with the condemned man causes the police to suspect him as well. He is arrested but escapes. Then he must solve the crime not only to save the innocent man still in jail but also to save himself. In this story, Peacock has created complex, colorful characters. I especially like Malefactor, the leader of a gang of homeless boys. There is also plenty of excitement to keep the pages turning, such as when Sherlock breaks into the homes of suspected murderers by sliding down their chimneys. I look forward to reading more about young Sherlock!

The Lost Hero

2010-12-03T06:44:00.000-08:00

The Lost Hero is the first book in Rick Riordan's new series about Camp Half-Blood. Although Percy Jackson is mentioned (he's gone missing), and Annabeth makes an appearance, this book focuses on three new heroes named Jason, Piper, and Leo. When these three demigods arrive at Camp Half-Blood, they discover that there is a new (well, very, very old) and very powerful enemy to be dealt with -- someone even worse than the Titans. Zeus has closed Olympus, and Hera has been captured and imprisoned. When Chiron finds out who Jason is he tells him he was "supposed to be dead." Fans of this series (like me!) will love this new book.

Forge

2010-12-03T06:23:00.000-08:00

Forge, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is the sequel to Chains, and both are excellent books set in the time of the American Revolutionary War. Forge continues the story of Isabel and Curzon, two slaves who escaped their masters at the end of Chains. The focus this time is on Curzon. He ends up serving in George Washington's army and is part of the force enduring that horrible winter at Valley Forge. Curzon does meet Isabel later in the book when he is recaptured by his old master and finds her working for him. Anderson does a terrific job, again, of using history as a basis for an exciting story about likeable characters. I don't think reading Chains first is absolutely necessary, but I would recommend it

Artemis Fowl

2010-12-03T06:04:00.000-08:00

Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer, is one of those series I have been meaning to read for a while. I actually started reading the first book a few years ago, but for some reason it didn't hold my interest and I never finished it. I'm glad I gave the book another chance, though, because I really liked it.
Colfer describes his 12-year-old main character, Artemis Fowl, as a "pale adolescent speaking with the authority and vocabulary of a powerful adult." Artemis seems like a combination Sherlock Holmes/James Bond, and the first book is fast-paced and very clever. I will certainly recommend this series to kids who enjoy the spy/thriller genre.

The Wish Giver

2010-11-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

The Wish Giver, by Bill Brittain, is one of those books that I had known about and seen over and over again but never read. It was a very quick read (I read it in just a few hours) but a good story. Four people go to the Coven Tree Church Social, which is an annual carnival-like event. They all agree to pay 50 cents for a chance to have one wish come true. Each is convinced that the promise was false and that he/she had been cheated, but soon after the Social the first three people want something so badly they decide to try making the wish anyway. All three wishes come true, just not in the way the wishers had intended. Whatever mysterious force that is in charge of granting the wishes seems to be very literal-minded. The results are sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always entertaining.

The Bronze Bow

2010-11-15T04:13:00.000-08:00

Two of Elizabeth George Speare's books won the Newbery Medal. Since I had already read The Witch of Blackbird Pond, I decided to read The Bronze Bow as well. Speare really is an incredible storyteller. The Bronze Bow is set in the time of Jesus, and the main character is an 18-year-old Galilean man named Daniel bar Jamin. As the story opens, we learn that he has seen his father crucified to death, and he is nursing an all-consuming hatred for the Romans who were responsible. He had run away from the blacksmith to whom he had been apprenticed five years previously, and in that time has been living in the mountains near his village with a band of outlaws. Throughout the novel, Daniel's hatred for the Romans consumes him and seems to direct almost everything he does.

Daniel's grandmother dies, leaving him to care for his younger sister, Leah, who appears to be suffering from some sort of mental illness and has not left the house for years. Daniel is forced to delay his plans for taking revenge against the Romans. Meanwhile, Jesus is developing a tremendous following, but his preaching does not sit well with Daniel's plans. The question of whether Daniel can ever overcome the hatred that has ruled his life for so many years drives the narrative to a most satisfying conclusion. I really liked this book!

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

2010-11-12T06:27:00.001-08:00

After reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I wanted to re-read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain is such a great humorist! I especially enjoyed the last part, with Tom Sawyer insisting that Jim and Huck go along with his elaborate plans for making an adventure out of freeing Jim. Oh, and the king and the duke are just too funny!

It's such a shame that this book has been so controversial. It seems to me that Twain, speaking through Huck's wise beyond his years, no-nonsense point of view, could not have made it clearer that Jim is a much better human being than just about anyone else in the book. Huck, too, sees beyond people's false fronts to their true character -- he quickly and easily sees the "king" and the "duke" for the frauds they really are. I think this is one of the best stories ever written.

Monkey Town

2010-11-08T05:40:00.000-08:00

Monkey Town: the Summer of the Scopes Trial, by Ronald Kidd, took me by surprise in how good it was. It is a fictional account of the famous Scopes Trial held in Dayton, Tennessee in 1925. At this time, Tennessee had recently passed legislation making it illegal to teach the theory of evolution in public schools. High school teacher John Scopes was put on trial for breaking this law. Dayton earned the name "Monkey Town" because people thought evolution was the idea that humans descended from monkeys.

Kidd researched the book in part by talking with people who were involved with the real trial, and he used Frances Robinson, who was 8 years old at the time and knew John Scopes, as the narrator for his story (she is 15 years old in the book). Other famous people who are characters in this story include H. L. Mencken, Clarence Darrow, and William Jennings Bryan. This is a fast moving yet thoughtful and challenging story about a topic that is every bit as controversial today as in 1925, and I highly recommend it!

The Hideout

2010-11-08T05:17:00.000-08:00

In The Hideout, by Peg Kehret, 13-year-old Jeremy Holland's parents have recently died, and his grandmother sends him to live with his rich uncle in Chicago. Understandably, Jeremy is in a pretty rough emotional state. Before he reaches his new home, his train crashes and he is left alone in the wilderness. Instead of waiting for help to arrive at the crash site, Jeremy decides to try living on his own in an abandoned cabin he finds. Jeremy has some money with him, so he goes to a small store near the cabin to buy supplies. At the store he meets and befriends Bonnie, a girl his age who lives nearby. One night when he is alone at the cabin, Jeremy hears gunshots, and later he discovers the body of a bear that was killed by poachers. Jeremy is afraid that if he reports the crime, his planned summer alone at the cabin will be ruined, so he asks Bonnie to help him. The two kids are soon over their heads trying to deal with the poachers on their own. Although the story's lessons could have been more subtly conveyed, I enjoyed this fast moving and exciting story.

The Hidden Boy

2010-10-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

The Hidden Boy, by Jon Berkeley, is a fantasy story about a family who wins a "Blue Moon Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure Holiday" to a strange land called Bell Hoot. When they arrive, however, they find that their 7-year-old son, Theo, is missing, and that they can never return to their previous home. Bea, the missing boy's older sister, seems to be the only one who has a chance of locating Theo and setting things right. Evidently, Bea is gifted in the use of Mumbo Jumbo. I'm not sure if Mumbo Jumbo is a language, or a magic, or what, but for Bea it has something to do with an ability to communicate with bees by humming.

The story includes many interesting characters, but I had a difficult time understanding all the rules of this strange world. There is a rule that only groups of seven are allowed on the transport vehicle, which is a cross between a bus and a boat, but after finishing the book I'm still not sure why. Also, Granny Delphine owns a pair of glasses that allow her to see things that others can't, but I'm not sure why she is so special in the family. I guess I felt as though I were reading book two of a series and had not read book one yet. Consequently, I thought the book was interesting, but it didn't grab me as others have.

What I liked best about the story was Bea's ability to communicate with bees. She has the ability to communicate with them and influence their actions, but more importantly, she understands their culture and the important role they play in nature.

The Last Treasure

2010-10-04T05:17:00.000-07:00

I think I will add The Last Treasure, by Janet S. Anderson, to my recommended list for middle grade mysteries. This story's main character, 13-year-old Ellsworth (Zee) Smith, gets a letter asking him to come home to the Square in Smiths Mills, NY, because his family needs him. Ellsworth and his dad, Ben Robert, left the Square many years ago, right after Ellsworth's mother and baby brother died. Since then they have lived many places but have never returned home. However, now the family needs Ellsworth's help finding the last of three treasures that the family patriarch, John Matthew Smith, left. Ellsworth's father does not want him to go but finally allows it. When he gets to Smiths Mills, Ellsworth meets his cousin, Jess, and together they work to solve the puzzle of where the treasure is and how to get to it.

This is not a murder mystery, then, but a puzzle to solve, and the ending is quite satisfying. The story revolves around family and the importance of resolving conflict among family members, even if -- or especially if -- those conflicts have been festering for many years. There is a lot of family history to explain, going back to the 1800's, so the book starts out a little slow, but it picks up quickly. I enjoyed this story very much.

Savvy

2010-07-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

I finally read Savvy, by Ingrid Law. This one was on my "to read" list for quite some time, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it because I enjoyed it very much. The story is about a family who all find out what their special ability is on their 13th birthday. The main character is Mibs, and of course the story begins right around her 13th birthday and we wonder what her savvy will be. Complicating this, though, is the fact that her father is seriously hurt in an accident just before her birthday. Mibs is not allowed to visit him, but she thinks her new power is one that can help her dad recover, so she stows away on a salesman's bus. She thinks the salesman is heading close to the hospital but it turns out he's actually going in the opposite direction. I found that I was happy to accompany Mibs as she tried to get her family, and her life, back on track.

The Cardturner

2010-07-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

The Cardturner, as author Louis Sachar puts it, is a book about bridge. He says he loves the game, and it is clear from the detail in his book that he knows it very well. I enjoyed this story about a young man who helps his blind uncle play tournament bridge. Who knew a card game could be so complicated? I'm afraid the passages which describe the details of how to play, strategies and such, were completely beyond me. This didn't spoil the book, though. It's hard to go wrong with Louis Sachar (Wayside School, Holes ...)

The Shadow Thieves

2010-06-01T14:16:00.001-07:00

The Shadow Thieves, by Anne Ursu, is book 1 of The Cronus Chronicles. Book 2 is The Siren Song. I came across this title when I was creating a Percy Jackson read-alike list.
I really enjoyed this story, and I think it's an excellent book to recommend to kids, both boys and girls, who are Percy Jackson fans looking for more of the same. The two main characters are cousins Charlotte Mielswetzski (pronounced meals-wet-ski) and Zachary Miller (Zee). Zee is sent from London to live with his cousin and her family in America because there seems to be some sort of epidemic in London. It's just kids who are getting sick, though. Charlotte and Zee discover the reason for all the illness is that Philonecron, an evil genius from the Underworld, is stealing the kids' shadows. He plans to animate the shadows to create an army and then overthrow Hades and become King of the Dead. Charlotte and Zee end up having to visit the underworld in order to put a stop to Philonecron's plan and save their friends. Plenty of both adventure and Greek mythology here.

I also really like how Ursu uses language. I found her writing clever and funny. For example, Charlotte's family serves Chicken Cacciatore for dinner the first night after Zee comes to stay with them. Here is part of the description of that evening: "Two hours later the cake was decorated, the dining room cleaned, the tablecloth laid, the table set, the chicken cacciatored, and the Mielswetzski family car was pulling into the garage" (p. 38). Ursu made me laugh by making a verb out of the name of the main course. This is a small nuance, but it's a good example of the author's subtle humor.

Miss Daisy is Crazy!

2010-05-28T12:54:00.001-07:00

I read an interesting article in School Library Journal recently about Dan Gutman. He talked about how an adult had written him a letter complaining about one of his My Weird School books. The letter writer didn't like that Gutman's main character said he hated school. Gutman actually reprinted the whole letter so readers would know exactly what the complaints were. I decided to read Miss Daisy is Crazy!, which is the first book in the series, to see for myself. I certainly agree with Gutman that it seems silly to make such a fuss about these lighthearted books.

Miss Daisy is a second grade teacher, and she pretends that she doesn't know how to read, write, or do math. The narrator, A.J., gets totally taken in by Miss Daisy's act, but he decides he doesn't want to tell the principal how "dumb" his teacher is because then she would be replaced by someone who would make them work harder. A.J. and the other kids actually seem to learn a lot from Miss Daisy, and it seems clear that the learning process is actually pretty fun. I enjoyed this clever and funny book very much!

Going Bovine

2010-05-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Libba Bray's Going Bovine received YALSA's 2010 Printz award. The description of the book on the YALSA web site reads, "Cameron, a sixteen-year-old slacker, sets off on a madcap road trip along with a punk angel, a dwarf sidekick, a yard gnome and a mad scientist to save the world and perhaps his own life." I found the book to be even more weird than this description suggests. Cameron is dying from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, also known as mad cow disease, so while Cameron's adventures really occur only in his imagination, his narration makes everything seem very real. Cameron begins the book by describing a traumatic experience he had at the Disneyland Small World ride when he was a child. Throughout most of the book he seems brooding and negative. For example, on page 1 he says his life from age 5 to 16 has been filled with "major suckage." However, Cameron's very strange journey leads to some positive moments and profound self-disovery.

I struggled reading this book and can't say I truly enjoyed it. However, I do look back on the story and appreciate that it is very imaginative, and that it tackles important life issues in a creative and interesting way.

Pandora Gets Vain

2010-05-10T05:45:00.000-07:00

Pandora Gets Vain, the second in Carolyn Hennesy's series about the young woman from Greek mythology who allowed all the evils of the world to escape, was entertaining. In each book in the series, Pandora (her friends call her Pandy) has to track down one of seven evils and put it back in her jar. In this adventure Pandy and her friends meet Homer, a big, strong young man who likes to write poetry (yes, I suspect he is THE Homer). He helps them to overcome the various dangers that are part of finding Vanity. I really like that Pandy's friend Alcie curses using the names of fruits: "Pom-OH-granates! Great Apollo!" she exclaims at one point.

This series may be a read-alike for the Percy Jackson series, but probably more for girls. I think that, because I started with book 2 instead of book 1, I may not have enjoyed it as much as I could have.

The World According to Humphrey

2010-05-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm just into cute furry animals right now, because I just finished The World According to Humphrey, by Betty Birney. Humphrey the hamster stars in and narrates this middle grade novel about his adventures as the class pet in an elementary school classroom. Mrs. Brisbane, the teacher, doesn't seem happy when she returns from an extended leave to find that the substitute teacher, Ms. Mac, brought Humphrey to class and that the children want very much for him to stay. She thinks of him as a nuisance and does not want to take him home with her each weekend as Ms. Mac had done, so the children get to take turns taking Humphrey home. These visits to the kids' various homes, as well as Humphrey's weekday talks with the school janitor, Aldo, provide Humphrey and his readers with fodder for many pleasant adventures. I think both boys and girls will enjoy tagging along with Humphrey and hearing about his life in Room 26!

A Bear Called Paddington

2010-04-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

I found A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond, to be a short but charming little story. Paddington gets his name because Mr. and Mrs. Brown, who adopted him, found him at Paddington Station. The Browns do not know what they're getting themselves into when they decide to take the poor, homeless bear home. Paddington wastes no time in making a mess by spreading jam from his sticky bun all over the house. When he tries to bathe, he almost drowns himself because he does not think to pull the plug in the bathtub. Despite all the trouble he causes, he is soon accepted as a permanent part of the family. I certainly would not mind reading more about this endearing little bear.

The Thief

2010-04-23T05:12:00.000-07:00

The Thief, a Newbery Honor book by Megan Whalen Turner, begins the Queen's Thief series which also includes The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia, and the just published A Conspiracy of Kings. The series has garnered high praise, and I agree that The Thief is well written and engaging. This fantasy story provides readers with plenty of adventure, as it chronicles Eugenides' (or Gen for short) quest to steal a valuable, mystical stone called Hamiathes's Gift. Legend dictates that if the stone is freely given, the recipient not only gains immortality, but also becomes the rightful ruler of the book's imaginary country. Gen, who has been imprisoned for bragging about his skills as a thief, has been released so that he can accompany the King of Sounis's magus on a quest to find and steal the stone. However Gen, as readers discover at the end, has other plans that he only reveals once his mission is complete.

I was a little confused by the revelations at the end of this story, perhaps because I wasn't paying enough attention as I read. The writing is sublte, though, and I think younger readers would share my confusion. I might recommend this series to middle schoolers who enjoyed the Percy Jackson books, because Turner based her imaginary world on ancient Greek civilization. However, this first book, at least, seems to demand a bit more work from the reader.

Just As Long As We're Together

2010-04-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

Just As Long As We're Together, by Judy Blume, targets a specific audience (middle school girls), giving them a story about girls their own age who experience typical problems and life events. I was aware that some of Judy Blume's books have been banned but had never read anything of hers except Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and the Fudge books. Just As Long As We're Together is quite different from that series! It was written in the 1980's, as the references to VCRs and jazzercise videos show, but adolescent girls have long been swooning over cute boys and worrying about getting their period for the first time, so I think most girls will still be able to relate to Stephanie, Rachel, and Alison's dramas. I doubt if I'll read many more of this type of story because it's just not my cup of tea, but I can certainly see why Judy Blume's books have remained on the shelves for so long, despite so many protests from well-meaning adults who think young girls should be shielded from any and all references to sex. I did not have Judy Blume books to read when I was 13, but I think I would have liked them very much if I had.

Big Nate in a Class By Himself

2010-04-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

I read a new book this weekend called Big Nate: In a Class By Himself, by Lincoln Peirce. This is the first in a planned series, and I'm pretty sure the series is going to be just as popular as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Big Nate is funny and clever, and the book is filled with simple drawings just like the Wimpy Kid books. Highly recommended!

The Year of the Hangman

2010-04-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

Gary Blackwell's The Year of the Hangman easily kept my interest, so much so that I was rather disappointed with the ending because I wanted to hear more of the story. This book, as the author explains in a note, is an alternate history, set in the Revolutionary War-era United States. In this version, George Washington is captured by the British. The main character is Creighton Brown, a young British man who is sent by his mother to live in the United States with his uncle, who is a cold, heartless British officer. Crieghton meets and interacts with Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold as he at first struggles to find a way home to England at any cost, but then gradually finds himself siding with the American rebels against his countrymen. Blackwell encourages his readers to check out a web site called uchronia.net, which offers an extensive list of alternate history novels.

Return to Sender

2010-03-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

Julia Alvarez won the 2010 Pura Belpré award for her novel, Return to Sender, in which an Americian boy named Tyler develops a close friendship with an undocumented girl named Mari who lives and works with her family on Tyler's family's farm. Alvarez explains in a note to her readers that the title of her book comes from the name of a real-life national sweep conducted in 2006 by the U.S. immigration authorities to round up undocumented immigrants who had criminal records. "Return to sender" is stamped on mail that has been incorrectly addressed or has insufficient postage, so the implication was that these people were also misdirected or insufficient.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this story, but I think Alvarez could have been more subtle in delivering her message. Most of the story is told through letters that Mari writes, and quite often I found myself thinking that Alvarez's voice overpowered Mari's, and the writing became more didactic than I was comfortable with. Still, Mari writes eloquently of the heartache she feels because she is separated from her mother, who has not returned from a trip to Mexico and is missing. She also expresses the joy of her friendship with Tyler, as well as the terrible anxiety she feels when her uncle is arrested and eventually deported. This story takes on an important issue, and I think Alvarez does an admirable job in illustating for a young audience its complexity.

The Looking Glass Wars

2010-03-07T05:29:00.000-08:00

Yeah! I've found another awesome series to read aloud with my boys: The Looking Glass Wars, by Frank Beddor. I just finished the first book and am looking forward to reading the second, Seeing Redd. I found an interesting interview with the author here. Also check out The Lookin Glass Wars website, where you can listen to music and play games created for the series.

When I chose this book to read next, I had no idea the series was such a phenomenon. Novels, graphic novels (the Hatter M series), music, games, a movie in the works, fan clubs -- wow! I actually started the series by listening to the audio CD on my way to work. Gerard Doyle is amazing. He seems to have a distinctive voice for almost every character. My favorites are Jack of Diamonds, General Doppelganger (whose voice is really doubled -- as in Doyle's voice X2 whenever this character speaks -- cool!), and Redd. He really makes the characters come alive. I found that I was missing out on some of the story, though, because I sometimes was distracted during the ride to work (what a pain, to have to actually pay attention to my driving! :) ), so I checked out the book and started reading from the beginning again.

I was quickly taken in with Beddor's tale, which is both funny and horrifying at the same time. Alyss, on her 7th birthday, finds herself lost in Victorian London, alone, after her evil Aunt Redd stages a coup, kills her sister Genevieve (Alyss's mother) and proclaims herself Queen of Wonderland. Hatter Madigan, who is head of the Millinery (the military of Wonderland) and is also the royal bodyguard, has come with Alyss through the portal between Wonderland and London, which is known as the Pool of Tears. They became separated en route, though, and he is searching for Alyss. Meanwhile, back in Wonderland, the cowardly, despicable Jack of Diamonds is getting very rich pretending loyalty to both sides of the conflict, and ordinary Wonderlanders live in fear of Queen Redd and her henchman, The Cat. There is plenty of adventure here, as the forces of black and white imagination battle over control of the queendom.

Masterpiece

2010-03-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

I was happy when I found out that one of the main characters of Masterpiece, by Elise Broach, is an insect. I like books about talking animals, especially those where the animals are not the traditionally cute and fuzzy kind. The rats in Elizabeth Winthrop's The Red-Hot Rattoons made rats kid-friendly long before Hollywood did the same thing with Ratatouille, and Lynne Jonell's Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat skates right along with that same idea. From there, how far is it, really, to an artistically gifted beetle?

Yes, in Masterpiece, Marvin the beetle in an artistic genius who surprises 11-year-old James with his exceptional drawing ability. Marvin and his family live in the cupboard beneath the kitchen sink in James's family's apartment. One night, Marvin uses the new pen and ink drawing supplies James received for a birthday present to draw a picture of the scene outside James's window. In the morning, James's mother thinks James is the artist, and things kind of spiral a little bit out of control from there to involve an art museum and the mysterious theft of a very old and valuable drawing.

This is a clever but not too complex little story and I liked it a lot. It was actually refreshing after reading Pepper Roux, which was so complicated it made my head spin.

The Death-Defying Pepper Roux

2010-02-28T13:27:00.001-08:00

I had a difficult time getting into The Death-Defying Pepper Roux, by Geraldine McCaughrean, but about half way through I finally caught on. The narrative keeps up a dizzying pace from that point on, and I had to work to keep all the characters and events straight. The main theme is that Pepper's aunt declared when he was a baby that he would not live past his 14th birthday. Supposedly, she had several dreams where a saint told her so. Pepper and his family believed all his life that his doom was sealed. The book begins, then, on his 14th birthday, and Pepper, understandably, does not want to die, so he is running away from his fate throughout the whole story. Pepper sees angels coming to take him to heaven in the most commonplace sights. I really enjoyed the way the author made this idea of people seeing what they want, or expect to see, rather than what is really there, come alive in her story.

I was also amazed that she was able to come up with such a complex and imaginative plot. McCaughrean is a gifted writer, adept at poetic description. All in all a good read, but not, I think, for the reluctant reader. This author demands attention.

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President

2010-02-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President was written by Josh Lieb, who is executive producer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. You don't have to be a fan of, or even know about, The Daily Show to appreciate the humor in this story, though. As far as the plot, the title pretty much sums it up: Oliver is an 8th grader who lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Most people, including his parents, think he's just a fat, stupid kid who will never amount to much. Actually, though, he is a genius who has already built a business empire which he runs from a secret underground bunker that he had built under his parents' house when they were on a Hawaiian vacation (that he arranged and paid for). Oliver is, of course, still a child, so he has a front man, Mr. Sheldrake, who the world thinks is a billionair but who is really Oliver's lackey. It's all very silly and improbable, but that seems to be kind of the point. It's fun to fantasize about ruling the world as a twelve-year-old.

When Oliver decides to run for class president of his eighth grade class, his father tells him he must have a credible opponent for victory to mean anything. To make a long story short, Oliver has some serious daddy issues, and this election becomes more important to him than perhaps it should, considering he has a billion-dollar business empire to run.

The humor is mature and, I think, more appropriate for teens than for elementary aged kids, despite the picture of a little boy's face on the book's cover. This is a book that I can see becoming very popular through word of mouth among middle grade kids. Lieb doesn't hold much back, considering he's writing a children's book; readers will find references to sex, swear words, and descriptions of some pretty cruel behavior scattered throughout the story. For those who appreciate dark humor, though, this is a winner.

Science Fair

2010-02-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

Science Fair: a Story of Mystery, Danger, International Suspense, and a Very Nervous Frog was written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the same duo who wrote the Peter and the Starcatchers series. This is a very fast-paced story, full of adventure and suspense. It is certainly not very politicially correct, though, because many of the laughs come from making fun of the bumbling characters who hail from a made-up and, presumably, developing nation called Kprshtskan.

Here is an example of the type of humor in this book: When the authors introduce this country, we learn that the citizens there "speak Kprsht (pronounced kprsht)." Also, one of the secret agents stores a very stinky brick of cheese in his pants and seems blissfully unaware of the offending odor. Barry and Pearson pander to negative stereotypes for laughs, and I really do think it's sad when people feel it's OK to laugh at and look down on others because they are different.

Still, I am ashamed to say, that I laughed a lot while I read this book. Maybe if you are talking about fictional characters then it's not so mean? Nah, that's just a rationalization. Still, I really enjoyed the story of these ordinary middle school students saving the world from the machinations of a deranged strongman and the power hungry nerds he manipulates into helping him, and I think a lot of kids will, too.

U is for Undertow

2010-01-09T04:11:00.000-08:00

I don't read adult fiction much any more, but I never miss a Sue Grafton novel, and her latest, U is for Undertow, doesn't disappoint. In fact, I had forgotten what a really, really good writer she is. This story is told in alternating chapters, part set in 1988, with Kinsey investigating, and the other part set in 1967, when the crime took place. A man named Michael Sutton hires Kinsey to investigate because he has a kind of fuzzy memory of seeing two guys digging a hole and burying something when he was six years old. He thinks the incident may be connected to the kidnapping, and presumed death, of a little girl back in 1967. A subplot involving Kinsey's estranged family adds to the nostalgia, and both storylines come to what I thought were satisfying conclusions. I wonder what the title of her next book will be?

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

2010-01-02T06:28:00.000-08:00

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma is book 3 in Trenton Lee Stewart's series about four exceptional children and their benefactor, Mr. Benedict. I liked the first two in the series, The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, very much. I don't think this third book is quite as good, but I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans of the series.
What I liked best about this book is that the characters go to such lengths to support and help one another. The title sets out this theme nicely. The book begins with the four children, as an educational exercise, grappling with the prisoner's dilemma. Because they are exceptionally resourceful, of course, they manage to find an option C that pretty much turns the exercise on its head. Throughout the rest of the story, though, it is their concern for each other, Mr. Benedict, their parents, and all the other people they love, that drives the children's actions. In fact, all of the "good" characters seem quite willing to sacrifice their own well-being when it means helping someone they love. The bad guys, such as Mr. Curtain and the Ten Men, seem to lack this moral compass.
My favorite character is Constance Contraire, the insufferable four-year-old genius. I think that her character grows and changes the most in this story, and I have always delighted in her cantankerous, stubborn nature. So although I had expected a bit more from this book, I found I still enjoyed it and found the ending satisfying.

Marcelo in the Real World

2009-12-22T04:47:00.000-08:00

I found Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork, to be an especially engaging and well-written story. Marcelo, a 17-year-old young man with Asperger's, is forced to spend the summer working at his father's law firm. He has been attending a private school for kids with disabilities for most of his life and has been very happy there, but his father thinks he is "better" than that and pushes Marcelo out of his comfortable, sheltered life into the messy, confusing, and very ugly "real world" so that he can learn to be more independent. Marcelo is assigned to work for Jasmine, a young woman who at first is very unhappy to have the boss's son thrust upon her rather than the assistant she had chosen herself. Then, just when Jasmine and Marcelo have learned to like one another and enjoy working together, Marcelo's father reassigns him to work for Wendell, who is a spoiled, self-centered, and manipulative creep. As the story progresses, Marcelo is faced with some terrible choices and learns some ugly truths about his father and how he has made his money. At times I was really afraid for Marcelo, thinking that he would not be able to cope, but watching him deal with the difficult situations he is placed in was inspiring. I think the world would be a much better place if there were many more people like Marcelo in it. In this story he loses some of his innocence and has to grow up, but his soul remains pure. I loved this book.

Scat

2009-12-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

I finally decided to read Scat, by Carl Hiaasen, and I enjoyed it. It was actually very similar to Hoot and Flush, with the kids fighting to save wildlife against a big, carless, and evil corporation. This time they are trying to save a panther cub by reuniting it with its mother -- no easy task with the bumbling Drake McBride, spoiled rich guy and president of the Red Diamond Energy Corporation, shooting off his rifle and scaring the mother away. McBride hatches a scheme to steal oil from one land parcel (which he does not own) and pipe it to another (which he does own) in order to make lots of money. As in the previous two books, the kids save the day and McBride goes to jail.

The Runaway Princess

2009-11-29T06:28:00.001-08:00

The Runaway Princess, by Kate Coombs, reminded me of Jean Ferris's Once Upon a Marigold and Twice Upon a Marigold -- light, easy-going, and lots of fun to read. The runaway princess is Meg, a feisty young heroine (yes, another one -- yeah!) whose father, the king, locks in a tower for the length of a contest. The winner of this contest will get half the kingdom and her hand in marriage, but he has to slay a dragon and rid the kingdom of a witch and a group of bandits first. Kate decides that she will win the contest herself. With the help of her friends, she breaks out of the tower, finds and befriends both the dragon and the witch, but is pursued by the evil prince Vantor, who will stop at nothing to win the contest. This is a funny, lighthearted story filled with adventure and fun, and I enjoyed it very much.

The Diamond of Drury Lane

2009-11-22T07:02:00.001-08:00

The Diamond of Drury Lane, by Julia Golding, is the first of (so far) four books about Catherine (Cat) Royal, an orphan who lives in England in the late 1700's. She was taken in by a theater owner, Mr Sheridan, and has lived at the theater for many years. Cat is a smart, resourceful, and very appealing heroine, and I very much enjoyed reading about her adventures helping her friends and outsmarting her enemies. The mystery of the diamond of the title has a clever and surprising conclusion. I look forward to reading the other three books!

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

2009-11-16T04:35:00.000-08:00

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly, takes place in Texas in 1899. Eleven-year-old Calpurnia, who goes by Callie Vee, would much prefer to spend her time with her naturalist grandfather, collecting specimens, investigating the natural world, and learning about science. Her mother wants her to grow up to be a proper lady, though, so she often has to practice the piano or learn domestic skills such as knitting and cooking. Callie's attempts to avoid these odious tasks are the source of much humor in the story. Callie Vee is a funny, smart, and spunky young heroine, and I quickly grew to care very much about her and her family. I will recommend this book often to both boys and girls.

Strawberry Girl

2009-11-08T06:44:00.001-08:00

Strawberry Girl, by Lois Lenski, has been on my bookshelf for years, but I had never read it. Since it won the Newbery Medal in 1946, I decided to give it a try. I found the story mildly interesting. Birdie Boyer, the main character, lives in a small back-woods type of community in Florida in the early 20th century. Her family is new to the area. Much of the plot involves conflict between the Boyer family and their neighbors, the Slaters, who have lived there a long time. The Slaters own cattle and allow them to roam free; the Boyers are farmers and need to protect their crops. The Slaters do not feed their cows, relying instead on the cows' ability to find their own food. Predictably, the cows end up taking a fancy to the Boyers' crops, and Mr. Boyer fences in his property, cutting off the cows' access to their main water source.

In the book's foreword, Lensky explains that Strawberry Girl is part of a series of books she has written about little-known regions of the U.S., and that she has written the characters' conversation in their dialect. Readers see, for example:

"Did your Pa git paid for the steer?" asked Birdie.
"Not yet. He done tole Ma and Gus and Joe and me what he's gonna git for it and he tole us what we might could buy." (p. 59)

I didn't find the dialect difficult or distracting, and I agree with Lenski that it helped me to better understand the world these characters inhabit. Still, I think some people might see it as condescending, just as people object to dialect in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I think both Lenski and Twain saw their use of dialect as descriptive, though, rather than judgmental.

Lenski writes that her purpose was to promote understanding and acceptance of these local habits and differences. She also says that she used real stories from the region but had to soften them so they would still be appropriate for a young audience. The conflicts that arose between the Boyers' and Slaters' real-life counterparts may very well have resulted in much violence and heartache. Strawberry Girl succeeds in presenting the stress and anxiety the conflict causes both adults and children, as well as the unfortunate, even tragic, consequences of trying to settle the argument with violence. I think this is the novel's greatest strength.

Despite the unrealistic ending, where Mr. Slater reforms from a drunken, angry trouble-maker into a good Christian man, I liked the story overall. I probably will not recommend this book to young readers often, but I appreciate the historical perspective in the book, as well as the positve example of the creative problem-solving abilities of Mrs. Boyer and Mrs. Slater.

Time Quake

2009-11-06T04:23:00.001-08:00

Time Quake, by Linda Buckley-Archer, is the last book in the Time Travelers trilogy. While reading what others have said about this book on goodreads.com, I noticed that many of them thought the ending was not very satisfying. I agree that the ending felt rushed and a little too convenient. However, overall I thought this book was exciting and fun to read. The idea in this story was that time travel was creating alternate time splinters, or alternate versions of history, to exist at the same time. The stress from this was resulting in "time quakes," which were kind of like storms where various time realities intermingled. It's kind of confusing, because how can anyone really make sense of the consequences of going back in time and changing history? I really like reading stories with a time travel element, though, and this one does not disappoint.

The Twilight Prisoner

2009-09-19T04:26:00.000-07:00

The Twilight Prisoner, by Katherine Marsh, is the sequel to The Night Tourist. In this story, Jack revisits the underworld, this time bringing a girl from his school, Cora, with him. They meet Euri, who is the ghost Jack befriended in The Night Tourist , but soon discover that getting back to the living world is not going to be easy, because the ghosts have increased their security. Their one lead is to find a ghost engineer named Viele, who may know of a way back that is not on any maps of the area. Jack, Euri, and Cora discover that Viele's haunt has been classified, however, so they must figure out how to find him. This story touched on some pretty serious themes -- death, self-acceptance, suicide, and unrequited love. However, I found the story engaging and even funny at times. This sequel nicely compliments the original story, and I enjoyed it. The ending brought closure to many story threads, but I would not be surprised by a third book, as Jack's future is still full of possibilities.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

2009-09-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare, won the Newbery Medal in 1959. The story is set in Connecticut in 1687. When her grandfather and guardian dies, 16-yer-old Kit sails from her home in Barbados to New England to live with her aunt and her family in a Puritan community. Kit was brought up in a very different environment, one where she was free to read a variety of good books, swim in the warm ocean, and enjoy the services of slaves. In her new home, she finds that she must help her new family with difficult, menial work, leaving little time for leisure. She meets a woman who lives on the outskirts of the settlement with whom she finds a kindred spirit. This woman, however, is shunned by the rest of the community and suspected of being a witch. Her association with "the witch of Blackbird Pond" soon lands Kit in deep trouble.
There is a touch of the romance novel here, with quite a bit of time spent on figuring out which young lady will marry which eligible bachelor, so it might be one girls will enjoy more than boys. There is also much period detail, such as talk of the "water trial" in which suspected witches are put in water to see if they float or sink (witches float, while the innocent sink like a stone). I enjoyed reading this book very much.

The Prince of Underwhere

2009-09-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Prince of Underwhere, by Bruce Hale (of Chet Gecko fame), is the first half novel, half graphic novel I have seen. Twins Zeke and Stephanie, along with their neighbor Hector and Hector's cat, venture to the world of Underwhere, a place where people wear their underwear on the outside of their clothes. Potty humor abounds, including plenty of bad puns (starting with the title). Whenever the kids are in the real world, the book is written like a traditional novel, but the parts that take place in Underwhere are in graphic novel form. I read this book in one sitting and did laugh a few times, but it was not really my cup of tea. This is not to say that I object to this kind of silly humor -- I'm a huge Captain Underpants fan. It's just that this series has not yet shown the kind of originality of Dav Pilky's series. I think I'll read the other two in the series and decided how much I like the world of Underwhere then.

Things Hoped For

2009-08-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Things Hoped For, by Andrew Clements, is a sequel to Things Not Seen, which I read a few years back and really liked. In Things Not Seen, Robert wakes up one morning and realizes that he is totally invisible. Clements explores the fantasy of invisibility thoroughly, really delving into detail in answering the question most people have asked at some time in their lives: what would it really be like to be invisible?

Things Hoped For focuses on a new character, Gwen, who plays the violin and is living in New York City with her grandfather while she prepares for auditions to Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music. She meets Robert (of Things Not Seen) in a coffee shop one day and they realize that they met each other at the Tanglewood music festival the previous summer. Eventually, Gwen and Robert share important secrets with each other: she that her grandfather has disappeared, and he that he was once invisible. I enjoyed the adventure these two characters shared, and my only complaint is that the book was rather short (167 pages). The story continues, though, with Robert's girlfriend's story in the next book, Things That Are.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

2009-08-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

In Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things, by Lenore Look, Alvin tells readers about his life at home and at school. He is starting second grade this year, and his brother, Calvin, is starting fourth. He also has a younger sister named Anibelly. Alvin writes about many familiar topics, such as climbing trees, playing games outside with other kids, dealing with school bullies, taking piano lessons, and getting the chicken pox. Alvin is a little different from other kids, though, because his fear affects him so much at school that he cannot speak. He tries to cope by carrying with him at all times his PDK (personal disaster kit), but his inability to speak often creates difficulties. It's a good thing he has his good friend, a girl nick-named Flea, to help him out of the tough spots.
I enjoyed this story and will recomemend it to younger kids (about grades 2-4) who like light, funny stories. Alvin has a second book out this year: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters.

The case of the missing marquess : an Enola Holmes mystery

2009-08-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Case of the Missing Marquess, by Nancy Springer, is the first in the Enola Holmes mystery series. Enola is the much younger sister of the famous Sherlock Holmes, but it turns out they hardly know each other, because for the last ten of her fourteen years she has been living in the country with her mother, while he has been in London. Enola is a wonderfully smart, energetic, and irreverent heroine whom many young girls will like and admire. Also, the writing is top-notch: well paced and laced with wonderfully descriptive language.
I was intrigued with the story from the first chapter, and the ending satisfies by providing just enough suspense and excitement. I really like to read about strong, smart female characters who refuse to be outdone by their male counterparts. All the more fun, then to read about Enola in 1800's England, where her disregard for the strict gener/social rules of the time shocks and dismays her oh-so-proper older brothers. I will recommend this to middle schoolers who like a good mystery, but especially to young women who enjoy a story where "girl power" rules.

Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians

2009-07-27T05:10:00.000-07:00

Brandon Sanderson gently spoofs the Harry Potter books with his very funny fantasy, Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians. This book tells the story of an orphan named Alcatraz Smedry who discovers that he has a special "talent" for breaking things. Really -- his family and the others who know about the lies evil librarians have been telling for so long consider Alcatraz's habit of breaking things to be a special talent. His grandfather has a "talent" for arriving late. In fact, all the Smedry family members are revered as powerful oculators and are leaders in the effort to fight against the evil librarians' dastardly control of the world's information. What is an oculator, you ask? Evil librarians? Don't worry, all is explained, but readers will need to learn quite a bit of new vocabulary in order to follow the plot.

The story is fast-moving and exciting, but Alcatraz, who is the story teller, often interrupts the narrative with thoughts about the writing or reading process, or comments about himself. Most of these interruptions are pretty funny, but I did get annoyed with a few of them. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book, and my 12-year-old son read it very quickly, too, which tells me he must have really liked it. I look forward to reading more of this series.

The Underneath

2009-07-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

I had difficulty getting started with The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt, perhaps because I knew it was going to be a sad book, filled with pain and heartache.
It is that, but it is also quite suspenseful toward the end, and really a very good story. The main characters are three cats (a mother and her two babies) and a dog named Ranger. The four animals become a family when the cats come to live under a house in the woods that is owned by the dog's owner, Gar Face, who is a truly evil man and mistreats Ranger. Another story involves magical characters who lived in the same woods about one thousand years before, giving the reader a sense of the forest's rich history and power. The writing is poetic and beautiful -- very different from other books I have read. I would probably not recommend this books to every child because the story unfolds slowly and the reader must be very patient -- just like the 1000-year-old snake who bides her time for that many years while buried in a jar under a giant tree. For those readers willing to stay with it, though, this book pays off well in the end.

Anything But Typical

2009-07-07T05:19:00.001-07:00

Anything But Typical, by Nora Raleigh Baskin, caught my eye as I was perusing the new books shelf at the library because I saw the word neurotypicals on the back cover. It reads, "Neurotypicals like it when you look them in the eye. Just because you are not looking at someone does not mean you are not listening." Jason Blake is a 12-year-old boy who wants to be a writer. As he tells us about his own life, we get a good sense of what it is like to live on the autism spectrum. Jason realizes that his behavior often causes people to think he is strange. The thing is, he always has as good reason for behaving the way he does; it's just that other people are not always able to see or understand those reasons.

In the story, Jason's mother takes him to Dallas, Texas to attend a Storyboard convention. Storyboard is an online social networking site for aspiring writers, and Jason has been a member of the site for about three years. He is terrified that he will have to meet one of his online friends in person there, and that she will not like him anymore once she sees him.

I really loved this book. The author seems to really understand how autism can affect a person's world view. It's great to see a well-written, engaging story about a talented, caring boy who is not only learning to cope with his difference but is also teaching others about the value of his unique way of seeing the world.

The Beasties

2009-07-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

I ran across The Beasties, by William Sleator, when I was helping a patron at the library to find books about ecology. In this story, loggers' clearcutting a forest has the unintended effect of harming a strange human-like animal family knows as "the beasties," who live underground. The beasties are missing body parts -- an eye here, a nose there, and they have taken to abducting loggers and those who work with them in order to get replacement parts. It's rather grisly and more of a horror story than I expected. The writing is simple and, to my ear anyway, uninspired. I read one of Darren Shan's Cirque du Freak books a long time ago, and I was reminded of that story while reading The Beasties. Horror fans will probably love this book, but it simply was not the type of book I enjoy. I do appreciate the pro-enviromental message of the story, however. The idea that cutting down trees is akin to mutilating the members of a secret family of "beasties" may be far-fetched, but the visceral images this story invokes are still powerful.

The Declaration

2009-07-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

The Declaration, by Gemma Malley, describes a dystopian civilization where most people take "longevity" drugs that allow them to live forever. In this sci-fi society of the year 2140, only people who "opt out" of taking the drugs are allowed to have children. Any child born to someone taking the drugs is deemed illegal and is sent to live at an orphanage-type institution called a surplus house. Surplus children are taught that they are totally worthless and that their very existence is a sin. Their best hope is to learn to be a "valuable asset" and work as a servant to a "legal." The main character, Anna Covey, lives in a surplus house headed by a bitter, cruel woman named Mrs. Pincent. In the beginning, Anna prides herself on following the rules and wants very much to become a valuable asset. However, things change when Peter arrives. Anna begins to see that she deserves better, and she and Peter plan to escape. From then on the story becomes very exciting. This is one I read aloud to my boys, and we are looking forward to starting the sequel, The Resistance.

Olivia Kidney

2009-06-28T06:53:00.000-07:00

Ellen Potter's Olivia Kidney is a fantasy filled with odd but wonderful characters. Reading this book, I was reminded of the Series of Unfortunate Events books, because Olivia meets many strange characters. It is also quite scary at times. For example, she faces the evil pirate Master Clive, a man known to enjoy torturing and murdering people. " 'If your daddy is lying, my sweet, I will slice off all your fingers and toes and feed them to the gulls,'" he tells one little girl in the story. Despite the cartoonish illustrations on the cover, then, this story is probably not meant for really young kids.
Olivia's dad works as a superintendent in a big apartment building, but he is not very good at his job and has been fired many times. This means, of course, that Olivia and her dad have moved often. Although being the new kid has become routine for her, it has not become any easier with practice, and Olivia is lonely. Over the course of this story, however, she discovers that she has an unusual talent that helps to alleviate some of her misery. This book is the first in a series, so I will looke forward to reading more about Olivia and her weirdly wonderful world.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy

2009-06-25T10:17:00.001-07:00

I have found another gem: William Boniface's series, The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy. I have finished Book 1: The Hero Revealed, and have also read parts of Books 2 and 3 in this series with my boys, and we have thoroughly enjoyed every minute. This is a fantasy/adventure series about a world in which everyone has some kind of superpower.
The hero of the tale is the only one who has no superpower, and thus his name, Ordinary Boy. His friends include Halogen Boy, who can glow brightly when he drinks enough apple juice; Plasma Girl, who can transform herself into goo; Stench, who is remarkably strong but must tolerate the unfortunate side effect of emitting a horrible smell when he uses his powers or gets too excited; and Melonhead, whose head is shaped like ... well, a melon, and who spits seeds whenever he talks. I really like that the author uses a rich and varied vocabulary, but kids will probably just like that the stories are very clever and extremely funny. I cannot praise these books enough -- put them up there with Harry Potter and Series of Unfortunate Events. They're that good!

The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization

2009-06-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization, by Daniel Pinkwater, but it's a pretty strange book. The main character is a boy named Neddie Wentworthstein, whose father made a fortune selling shoelaces during WWII. A rather mysterious shaman named Melvin (only one of his names) gives Neddie a sacred stone turtle, which is supposed to help Neddie save the world. Before he has to be a hero, though, Neddie travels by train from Chicago to Los Angeles with his family, makes new friends, and lives a pretty normal life, except for making friends with a ghost and seeing a live mammoth at the circus where his friend's father works. Pinkwater slips in quite a bit of historical information about Los Angeles in the 1940s, and about turtles and tortoises. I think quirky is a good word to describe this book. I don't think it will be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who look for stories that are warm and funny but also a little bit strange, this is a perfect choice.

Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls

2009-06-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls, by Lynne Jonell, continues the story begun in Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat. The evil nanny, Miss Barmy, was transformed into a rat at the end of the last story, but she is not about to let that stop her from taking what she believes is rightfully hers. This sequel is every bit as delightful as its predecessor!

Emily and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

2009-06-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Emily and the Incredible Shrinking Rat, by Lynne Jonell is a light, humorous fantasy for middle graders about 10-year-old Emmy Addison, who is very rich and lives in a house that looks like a castle. The problem is that she cannot seem to make any friends at her new school. People just don't seem to even see her, and if they do they don't remember her. She soon discovers that the class pet, a rat named Raston, can speak, but only she can understand him. She also finds out that speaking English is not the only thing that makes him extraordinary.
Emmy does manage to make friends with Joe, a boy in her class, and the two kids team up with Raston and a few other friendly rodents to rid Emmy of her evil nanny, Miss Barmy. I love the names in this story, such as Mr. Herbifore, Emmy's teacher, and Mrs. Brecksniff, the housekeeper. I enjoyed the story as well, and look forward to reading Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls next.

Where the Red Fern Grows

2009-06-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

My boys red Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls, for their high school English class this semester, so I decided to read it, too. The book is about ten-year-old Billy, who lives in the Ozark mountains with his family. He works very hard for two years to raise enough money to buy two hounds. Once they are trained, he enters them in a hunting contest. The story is filled with adventure and excitement but also with sadness. I was reminded of Rascal, by Sterling North, because it is about a boy who enjoys woodland adventures with his pets. Unlike North's memoir, however, Rawl's story includes a heavy healping of religious didacticism. Rawls uses Billy and Billy's parents as vehicles for these moral lessons, which I found rather distracting and unnecessary. I also felt that the book would have been better if Rawls had somehow lost the last two chapters before he sent the manuscript to his publisher. The end of the hunting contest seemed to me a satisfying ending to the story, and I felt that the tragedy of the last two chapters was just too over-the-top. Still, I would recommend the book. It is an exciting adventure and I admired Billy's determination and independent spirit.

Neptune's Children

2009-05-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

Since I liked Unwind, Hunger Games, and Little Brother so much, I was intrigued when Booklist created a list of Dystopian Fiction for Youth. Neptune's Children, by Bonnie Dobkin, is not on this list but it could be. The story: a terrorist group plans and carries out an act of biological terrorism which kills all the adults on earth, leaving only those younger than about 14 alive. The children who were enjoying a day at Isles of Wonder, a fabulous theme park, get organized and manage to create a decent life for themselves. However, trouble soon surfaces when the main character, Josh, begins to suspect that the leaders of this new society can no longer be trusted. The premise seems simple enough, but Dobkin digs a little deeper to explore how these children deal with the inevitable conflicts that arise in a society with no authority figures. I've put this on my list to recommend to YA reluctant readers.

The Last Olympian

2009-05-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

The Last Olympian is the final book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. My boys and I have enjoyed this series tremendously, and this last action-packed installment did not disappoint. In fact, reading it left me a little breathless, because there is so little down time. It's one battle after another in an all-out war between the titan Kronos, god of time, and the Olymians. Riordan provides closure to the many storylines of the series, as well. I think it's time for a Percy Jackson party at the library!

The Book Without Words: a Fable of Medieval Magic

2009-05-16T05:51:00.000-07:00

Odo, the talking raven in Avi's The Book Without Words: a Fable of Medieval Magic, often preaches to the other characters in the book by quoting proverbs such as "Live long enough, and all become orphans." These pithy sayings give the characters in the book -- and Avi's readers -- something to think about which usually serves to expand their vision of their situation and see it from a new perspective. The main character is Sybil, whom the alchemist Thorston took in off the streets. Sybil is at first just grateful to have a roof over her head and something to eat, but when Thorston dies, she and Odo find that they must discover Thorston's secrets if they are to escape the ire of the town's reeve (or Sheriff), Bashcroft, who has his own favorite saying: "The law is hard, but it is the law."

The book's epigraph, "A life unlived is like a book without words," provides the principal theme, and Avi's gothic setting and fast-moving, fantastical plot develop this idea. Readers must ponder issues such as the value and even the definition of life, loyalty, and friendship. I think this would make a great read-aloud.