Ann's Reading bLog

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: a novel in pictures by Caroline Preston. New York: Ecco/Haper Collins, 2011

2012-02-02T07:05:00.007-05:00

A coming of age story. A decade in the life of Frankie Pratt told with pictures and ticket stubs and newpaper clippings and captions from her scrapbook. 1920s, Cornish NH, high school graduation, inappropriate relationship, looking for love, Vassar, love, NY, Paris, NH. Clever and tender and very readable-- and rereadable. so much to see on everypage and i love non linear reading and journal books. Adult book but great for teens-- Alex Award winner. Loved it. Buying it for YA.

Ain't Nothing But A Man: my quest to find the real John Henry by Scott Reynolds Nelson. Washington DC: National Geographic Society, 2008

2012-01-30T07:12:00.004-05:00

The youth version of Nelson's highly acclaimed work Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry: the untold story of an american legend, Ain't Nothing BUT A MAN is fascinating, well written and very accessible to upper elementary and middle school students. Nelson follows clues in the John Henry folksongs to separate legend from history and uncover the real man. John Henry's story is the story of african american men in the mid nineteenth century--the civil war, reconstruction, railroads, and prison labor. Highly recommended for kids who love history and for those that think they don't. Includes Aronson's excellent overview of the research process, Nelson's appendices and suggestions for further research and multimedia sources. Summer Reading List, myths and legends, middleschool. Loved it.

Reckless by Cornelia Funke. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2010.

2012-01-30T07:06:00.003-05:00

Princess at the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. New York: Bloomsbury. 280 Pages.

2012-01-18T10:47:00.004-05:00

Rich retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, George deftly weaves a fresh tale of Romance, of FairyTale, of Fantasy. A modern twist on an old classic, this well done fairytale will appeal to older middle school girls who may well insist they do not like fairytales. Especially well done. Look for several sequels. 2012 Summer reading list, myths and legends, 6-8.

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. New York: Dutton. 256 pages.

2012-01-18T10:40:00.004-05:00

Deliciously Creepy and right on point- fairy-tale wise, Gidwitz takes Hansel and Gretel to places we never even dreamed. Clever and rich. Summer Reading list, 2012. middle school legends and myths. 5th grade+.

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri. Lee and Low Books, 2010. 85 Pages.

2011-10-09T08:36:00.003-04:00

Fictionalized account of the true story of the short life and death of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, a young gangbanger whose death at the age of 11 came to symbolize the crises of poverty and violence overtaking US cities in the 1990s. 11 year old Roger, the fictionalized narrator, tells a documented and factual story of Yummy. Roger is also dealing with the fact that his older brother is also deep into the street life. While this end badly for Yummy, the additon of the fictionalized Roger allows for a hopeful note -- important for middle school students-- the main audience for this book. Recommended.

Captain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2005. 253 pages.

2011-10-09T08:17:00.005-04:00

Romantic and swashbuckling, the first in a series, Captain Alatriste was recommended to me by a homeless man in the library--and he was right. Set in 17th century Spain, Diego Alatriste, veteren of the 30 years war, is hired by the Grand Inquisitor to kill a traveler who turns out to be the Prince of Wales...and the plot thickens! Pérez-Reverte is a master storyteller-- weaving a tale of intrigue and adventure and romance-- with Alatriste he creates a hero who every man wants to be and every woman wants to be with. Pérez-Reverte deftly adds plenty of historic detail that enhances the tale, but never overwhelms. I haven't loved an adult series like this in a long time. A great book from a phenomenal writer. Read it.

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. Vintage Books, 2009. 337 pages.

2011-09-12T07:57:00.002-04:00

What Work Is-Poems by Philip Levine. Alfred A. Knopf, 1997. 77 pages

2011-09-12T07:53:00.002-04:00

Carmen: an urban adaptation of the opera by Walter Dean Myers. Egmont, NY, 2011. 140 pages

2011-08-17T17:44:00.009-04:00

I love the opera Carmen and I love Walter Dean Myers and I wanted to love this but I could not. It is set up exactly as a play-- the settings, the stage instructions, the music. Set in El Barrio (Spanish Harlem) the characters are modern reincarnations of the original novela, pre-Bizet, infact-- modeled after West Side Story. Factory workers, cops instead of soldiers, a Hip Hop Star instead of a Toreador, but the story remains basically the same. I still love the idea, but i thought the dialog was stilted and unnatural ("We'll do the caper..."?) and many of the characters and settings were dangerously close to stereotyping. Please-- i still love Walter Dean Myers and he added an author's note explaining why he wanted to work with Carmen, he spoke about the very public music in the Harlem of his youth, about the stereotyping he had encountered in different versions of the novella-- in fact i enjoyed the author's note very much-- much more than the novela.
Unfortunately, I can see adults liking this a lot, but i do not see it speaking to kids-- only to an adult idea of what speaks to kids. Myers does not usually write about Latinos, and Carmen, unfortunately, is not what he does best. Sorry. it was very well reviewed but I was so disappointed.

The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Scholastic Press, 2010. 334 Pages

2011-08-06T07:51:00.005-04:00

Fictionalized account of the sad childhood of the Great Latin American Poet, Pablo Neruda. Young Pablo is a sickly frail boy growing up with a loving but subservient grandmother and an overbearing, bully father in early 20th century Chile. Young Pablo's gift with words was noted early and often, but his father considered the field of "letters" feminine and unsuitable for a son of his.

Alvin Ho: allergic to girls, school and other scary things by Lenore Look. Schwartz & Wade, 2008. 170 pages

2011-07-25T07:19:00.003-04:00

Meet Alvin Ho-lives in Concord Massachusetts, obsessed with Henry David Thoreau and all things local history, middle child in an average Chinese American household, smart and funny and scared of everything- so much so that he is unable to speak in school at all. A great story for early chapter readers- say second through 4th grade--Alvin is funny and clever and full of interesting fact (glossary at the end!) but also serious and thoughtful with the continuing theme of finding your voice running through. Few book at this reading level with boys as main characters-- I love introducing kids to this series.

Araminta Spookie: My Haunted House as told to Angie Sage. Katherine Tegen Books, 2006. 133 pages.

2011-07-22T13:59:00.001-04:00

The Help: a novel by Kathryn Stockett. Berkely Books, NY, 2009. 535 pages.

2011-07-18T07:16:00.002-04:00

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Little, Brown and Company, 2007. 230 pages.

2011-07-18T07:12:00.002-04:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Scholastic, 2008. 375 Pages

2011-06-23T18:43:00.002-04:00

A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park. Clarion Books, 2010. 121 pages.

2011-06-09T13:18:00.004-04:00

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. Atria Books, 1999. 530 pages

2011-06-06T11:17:00.002-04:00

Big Mouth & Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates. HarperTempest, 2002. 266 pages.

2011-05-28T06:55:00.002-04:00

A wonderful tale of two unlikely friends told in two voices: Big Mouth-- a fairly popular boy, good student, make-em laugh type boy who impulsively jokes about a bombing his high school and finds himself in serious trouble and Ugly Girl-- the sharp witted, plain faced, big boned and friendless loner who stands up for a boy she barely knows because it is the right thing to do. Matt and Ursula become friends-not quickly or easily-- but when the entire town turns on Matt and his whole world collapses, Ursula, who is used to being ostracized and is very strong-- but not happy-- about it, becomes his only and his true friend. Two teens who struggle with friendships and family issues and social pressures and real danger. Oates is a master storyteller and her characters are well thought out and nuanced. we care about every imperfect one. i really liked the book, a quick read with lots of place for conversation about society, rumors, true friends, schools, police, families, and feelings. i will say that the end seemed a little rushed and too neatly tied up, but this is still a great book and a good choice for middle and high school aged.

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman. GP Putnam's Sons, 2010. 325 pages.

2011-05-14T13:20:00.002-04:00

Lonely teenager and avid Grimm Fairy Tale enthusiast, Elizabeth, finds herself working at a special object repository-- library-- along with several other teens, including one of the coolest kids at school. The library has a mysterious and magical collection of Grimm Fairy Tale items that are being stolen and may be used for dark purposes. For me, the book started well and Schulman definitely paints a great physical setting -- NYC, the library and the different rooms, the gothic feel, etc. but the characters are the usual teen things-- and the story does not have enough to do with Grimm fairy tales to hold my interest-- while i thought Elizabeth had promise, the others were typical teen types-- and as for elizabeth, i found my self wondering how she went from hating to loving one teen and why she was attracted to him in the first place. started with promise but i lost intersest-- still, i am an adult and i will see if i have a 5th grader who might like it-- and , perhaps, give me a better perspective of what is appealing about it. Althought the premise was clever and the beginning had promise, i found myself disappointed and fought to finish it. Ah well -- you can't llike everything.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. Amistad, 2010. 218 Pages

2011-04-25T16:16:00.002-04:00

Hunger (Riders of the Apocalypse) by Jackie Morse Kessler. Graphia, 2010. 180 pages.

2011-04-22T13:09:00.002-04:00

Doodlebug; A Novel in Doodles by Karen Romano Young. Feiwel and Friends, NY, 2010.

2011-04-22T13:06:00.006-04:00

Doreen and her family are relocating from LA to San Fransciso--and Doreen is nervous and blames herself. She had big problems in her last school--didn't want to take her ADHD meds, made some bad decisions and got expelled--and wants to reinvent her self for a fresh start in SF. Doreen decides to journal in DOODLES to help her cope with these big changes for herself and her entire family. Written entirely in DOODLES--Doodlebug is fast paced- frenetic even- and full of fun and drama and all things wonderful and compelling-- I loved it so did every girl i offered it to. Romano clearly remembers what it is like to be a kid, to make mistakes, to want a clean slate, to reinvent yourself as the person you want to be-- all her characters and observations are spot on. The Art is the story--they are inseparable- Fresh and fun-- a great journal/diary book that will lead to many future Doodlebugs. YES!

Big Nate: In A Class By Himself by Lincoln Peirce. Harper, 2010. 224 pages.

2011-04-10T09:02:00.003-04:00

Nate is a funny and over confident middle schooler who manages to break the school record by receiving a detention for every period in one school day. Along the way we meet different school characters-- teachers and principals, friends and enemies-- who keep the story moving quickly and the mood funny and light. Some very funny words and cartoons-- Big Nate and all the other books in the series are sure to be very popular with kids 8 and up. Very Diary of a Wimpy Kid-ish, but this is a lesser product in terms of writing and style --no subtly here--and i agree with the reviewer who observed that adults and kids both love Diary of a Wimpy Kid but Big Nate is only for kids. And the kids will LOVE him.

NIght Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger. Abrams. 2010

2011-04-05T06:56:00.003-04:00

While walking alone, late one night, Alexandra comes across a bookmobile, manned by a weird little librarian and full of all the books and ephemera that she, herself, has ever read. She is fascinated and forgets the time as she revisits her past-- books and journals, magazines and cereal boxes. When the sun rises the librarian tells her she must leave. She is now fascinated, even consumed with the bookmobile--it changes her life. She seeks and finds the bookmoble several more times in her life-- her life forever changed, as she reads to build her collection. Night Bookmobile, which always has a Twilight Zonish quality to it, takes a very dark- though not unanticipated-turn that is still very disturbing. A thought provoking story.

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman. Clarion Books, 2010. 176 pages.

2011-03-20T10:40:00.004-04:00

"Ye toads and vipers," the girl said, as her granny often had, "ye toads and vipers," and she snuffled a great snuffle that echoed in the empty room."
It is 16th Century Elizabethan London and 13 year old Meggy Swann, with her deformed legs and walking sticks, has just arrived from the country to live with the cold and distant father she has never met. But once this father, the odd and unfriendly Alchemist, realizes she is both deformed and female, Meggy is left to fend for herself-- virtually and then literally abandoned-- her only friend the equally bad tempered goose named Louise. But Karen Cushman's hallmark is the strong female character and Meggy is at the top of the list. She makes her way-- finding friends and allies and creating a life for herself that is both positive and believable within her historic context. I love Cushman-- for her strong female characters, clever and likable as well as for the beautiful and luscious language she employs to carry us away. Great for girls and anglophiles and lovers of Shakespearean insults.

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel. Scholastic Press, 2010. 375 pages.

2011-02-21T11:16:00.002-05:00

It is the mid 1970s and 13 year old Ben has just relocated from Toronto to Victoria-- new school, new friends, new...brother? Ben's parents are scientists embarking on a new project: can our closest living relatives, chimpanzees, learn true language? Zan, a baby chimpanzee, joins the family to be raised as a human within the family. Initially reluctant, Ben gets more and more attached to Zan at the same time he must negotiate the minefields of middle school, social class, love, friendship, and family relationships. off to a somewhat slow start, Half Brother feels predictable and pleasant without being anything special-- at first. But the story and the characters slowly deepen and grow drawing us in with action and drama as well as the deeper philosophical questions of what it means to be human. The ending seems a little rushed. Still--thoughtful and provocative--lots to discuss here. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

Tinkers by Paul Harding.Bellevue Literary Press (2009), 192 pages.

2011-02-01T06:37:00.003-05:00

Family gathers around an old man dying---he is taking stock of his life and remembering his own father's life, as he comes in and out of consciousness. A clock theme runs through story as the old mans life ticks away. Beautifully written-- luscious, really--a poetic quality to it -- the art of a few well chosen words. Introspective and beautifully sad. not for everyone.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Candlewick Press, 2006. 156 pages.

2011-01-30T15:48:00.003-05:00

Seen every version of the movie possible, but i had never read the book before-- i loved it. Rich in detail and language and setting-- I now have some idea what it felt like to be in one of those crooked streets in London in 1843-- the smells and the dirt and soot and the closeness-- to put a hand out the window and almost touch the dirty window next door...The special foods and the games and the feel of it. i loved it and i am amazed at how true so many of the movies remained to the book. Dickens at his best, i think-- full of imagery and descriptive language and good and evil and redemption...at less than 200 pages. The illustrations help convey the mid 19th century feel. Brilliant.

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Little, Brown and Company, 2010. 217 pages

2011-01-05T06:47:00.003-05:00

12 year old Lanesha lives in New Orlean's Ninth Ward. Her mother died in childbirth and she is being raised by Mama YaYA-- an 82 yr. old midwife and healer who keeps to the old ways. Lanesha is a powerful seer-- she sees ghosts everywhere-- her house, her school, her neighborhood--the other kids are afraid of her and so, always different-- Lanesha keeps to herself. When Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans, Lanesha needs to stay strong and focused and trust in all she has learned in order to save herself and her family.
Beautifully written and well paced ---a coming of age story (of sorts) in the eye of Katrina. For Middle School and up-- reads like an adult novel. wonderful-- indie hit of the year.

Dinosaurs?! by Lila Prap. (NorthSouth) 2010.

2010-11-21T09:00:00.013-05:00

Informational book --a great one--for the youngest dinosaur fans-- lots of color with warm illustrations and a child friendly layout-- sidebars filled with information can be read -- for older kids or just ignored in favor of the fabulous illustrations that take center stage. An international children's book, translated from the Danish.

Old Black Fly by Jim Alylesworth. (Henry Holt) 1999.

2010-11-21T08:52:00.003-05:00

we follow the an old black fly as he buzzes through the alphabet, -in verse no less--until he finally meets his end SPLATT!!
Lots of repetition and a great refrain-- fun to read and fun to play - this is a great auditory read a loud. A big hit with the preschool crowd -- after they got over the initial shock of old black flies untimely demise-- they loved it.
Steve Gammell's illustrations are, as always, bright and powerful.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier. (GRAPHIX) 2010, 224 pages.

2010-11-21T08:38:00.003-05:00

I love a graphic memoir! Raina Telgemeier's (graphic artist of The Babysitter's Club fame) memoir of her middleschool years-- memories forever intertwined with braces and other dental issues-- that the dental stuff becomes a metaphor for the middle school period itself. Telgemeier clearly remembers what it is like to be in a teenager--family, acne, friends, hormones, boys, friends, teeth, appearance, friends, shyness, mean girls, friends-- add in lots of pain and surgery--and in the end, of couse, Raina overcomes it -- as we all do. A perfect choice of a positive "it gets better" coming of age story--and we always need more of these! SMILE was a pleasant surprise-- a quiet little graphic memoir about a girl i never heard of before but who i liked and felt for. the story pulled me in and will resonate with girls 11+-- and their mothers.
highly recommend

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary. HarperCollins, 1990. 176 pages

2010-10-16T05:50:00.004-04:00

Nine year old Beezus has a four year old sister named Ramona who drives her crazy. Beezus cannot enjoy anything on her own because Ramona wants to tag along and always ruins everything. She throws temper tantrums, doesn't listen or do what she is told and-- worst of all-- is cute and clever and full of imagination. It seems to Beezus that in the end, Ramona always gets her way. It is so unfair! AAAAh-- an older but goodie--the original was written in 1955 and some details are a little dated-- the theme sounds like something from shakespeare! Cleary is the master once again with this classic tale of sibling rivalry and the subtlety of family relations. This is the only Huggins/Quimby story told from big sister Beezus' point of view and as a big sister myself, i can sympathize. The littler ones are always cuter and there's no glory in keeping an eye on your little sister. (of course, Ramona thinks her sister gets to do everything!) This is a quiet tale the unwraps slowley-- Beezus takes her sister to the library where Ramona insists that the book she borrowed is hers. Ramona writes her name on every page to prove it is hers and Ramona has to pay for it. The sisters are very different-- Beezus the thoughtful and responsible older sister while Ramona is the carefree one full of bad behavior and imagination-- personality traits that are mirrored in the mother and aunt---something the reader does not fully realize until the birthday party at the end. A classic, gentle tale from a master storyteller.

Crash by Jerry Spinelli. Random House Children's Books, 1996. 162 pages.

2010-10-12T08:47:00.004-04:00

Newbery Medalist author Jerry Spinelli's love of sports come through again with this entertaining and thought provoking, realistic, hopeful and very readable book for middle readers. When we first meet Crash Coogan he is sports crazy and obsessed with living up to his questionable reputation-- he crashing into everyone he comes across-- his friends, his sister, his family, his problems. When you have no feelings, nothing can bother you. But as the years and the story progress, Crash has some choices to make-- about strength and courage and bullying and pain and family and friends. A great coming of age novel especially, but not exclusively for boys. Think Blubber for boys. upper elementary/early middle school reading lists.

Babe Ruth (Before They Were Famous) by Vito Delsante. Andres Vera Martinez, illustrator. Aladdin, 2009. 128 pages

2010-08-27T04:45:00.003-04:00

Very basic graphic story of Babe Ruth's early life. Tough neighborhood, Babe ran wild in the streets with other boys-- truant, petty crime, etc. Parents sent him away to catholic priest run reform school where he learned to play baseball. No Borstal Boy though. Very basic, not a lot here. Even the illustrations are mediocre. I would not read another.

Dark Tide; The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo. Beacon Press, 2003. 273 pages.

2010-08-27T04:35:00.004-04:00

How to Read Literature Like a Professor; A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines by Thomas C. Foster. Harper, 2003. 296 pages.

2010-08-27T04:17:00.005-04:00

Literary Criticism for the rest of us! Every journey is a quest. Every meal is communion. Vampires are highly sexual. Fairy Tales still rule---Cinderella story anyone? And who know so many storylines are adaptations from either the Bible or Shakespeare. Or both. I especially liked the well annotated recommended reading list for adults at the back.

Mississippi Bridge by Mildred D. Taylor. Puffin Books, 1990, 62 pages.

2010-05-12T07:10:00.004-04:00

Taylor states she got the idea for this short story from a story her father told of an event from his own childhood. 1930s-segregated south at the Mississippi River. Casual small town racism as seen through the eyes of a 10 year old white boy--a child afraid of and bullied by his own father--Taylor tells the facts mostly, without editorializing. She does not say how the young black girl felt being told she could not try on a hat in the store or why the black townsfolk spoke easily to each other but clammed up when the little white boy started hanging around. She leaves it to us to decide what to think. A well written and powerful short story.

Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2). Disney-Hyperion, 2006. 288 pages.

2010-05-12T07:05:00.002-04:00

Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes. Chronicle Books, 2010. 224 pages.

2010-05-12T06:58:00.005-04:00

With her mom working in Costa Rica for the summer and her father dead, 12 year old Izzy is visiting her nana and her mom's home village in New Mexico for the first time. Izzy hopes to find out more about her father----(her mom is secretive) and in the process she learns about herself-- her family and her heritage. Full of el sabor de la south west, Izzy visits her ancestral village, hears the folklore and sees the old ways, learns to cook, meets her nana- a seer and curandera, visits with her father's ghost, improves her relationship with her mom, and finds friendship and love. yes, the storyline is somewhat predictable but this is a sweet and gentle story appropriate for the 10-13 year olds-- a time when we all tried to figure out who we were, where we came from and how we would fit in. i really enjoyed this book and recommended it to two 6th grade girls (neither of whom are latino) who like to read and are curious about the world around them. They loved it too. **includes a glossary of common spanish words and an easy tortilla recipe.

What Can You Do With a Paleta? / ¿Qué puedes hacer con una paleta? by Carmen Tafolla. Tricycle Press, Bilingual Edition, 2009. 32 pages

2010-05-05T09:28:00.002-04:00

Me Llamo Celia: the life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown. Luna Rising-Bilingual Edition. 2004. 32 pages

2010-05-05T09:21:00.002-04:00

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Ballentine Books, 1995.

2010-05-05T09:17:00.002-04:00

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by Jarrett J Krosoczka. Alfred A Knopf, 2009. 100 pages

2010-04-13T06:20:00.005-04:00

Welcome the new superheros--- Lunch Lady-- serving justice AND lunch-- this time she is fighting the evil librarians who are trying to rid the library of video games--AAAARRRGGGH!!! A new graphic for the elementary set-- clean lines and simple, humorous drawings with unsaturated light color create a lighter, simpler juvenile graphic than Secret Science Alliance-- while several of the themes remain the same-- set in a school with friends who must solve a mystery only they can see--in the end, the kids- and the Lunch Lady--overcome! The spare and uncluttered pages will appeal to both younger students as well as reluctant readers. And, of course, Lunch Ladies and Librarians.

Lone Wolf (Wolves of the Beyond) by Kathryn Laskey. Scholastic Press, 2009. 250 pages.

2010-04-06T07:35:00.003-04:00

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riodan. Disney-Hyperion, 2006. 400 pages

2010-04-06T07:29:00.005-04:00

Very Harry Potteresque-- Young Percy Jackson learns at the age of 12 that he is really a demi-god-- his absent father is really Neptune, God of the Sea. For his own safety he must leave his mortal mother and his home in Manhattan and travel to Camp Half-Blood with his best friend who, it turns out, is not a boy at all, but a Satyr (goat feet). He learns the skills needed to survive the greek monsters and must go one a quest with Grover and new friend Annabeth. They must find who has stolen lightning from Zeus-- but before they do, lots of adventures and humor and learning about Greek mythology
Very Harry Potter-- if for a younger set who like the US setting, the fresh and sassy and smart alecky Percy and a lot more action-- less pages but still a healthy read. i enjoyed it. An 11 year old i am very friendly with Loved it and cannot wait to read them all--fancies himself a young Percy i have no doubt-- just waiting to be rescued and sent to live with his exciting new family...
A very good series-- i recommend it absolutely-- kids love it. it will not have the adult followers that HP did, but it is not as deep as HP-- still
i do not hesitate to recommend it and even put it on the city of boston's myths and legends summer book list for middle school grades 6-8.

The Three Stooges scrapbook by Jeff Lenburg. Citadel press, NJ. (1982)

2010-01-25T07:11:00.002-05:00

Written by Moe's daughter, Joan Howard Maurer, The Three Stooges ScrapBook is a personal and very loving memoir of the iconic comedy team. While there is nothing new in the bio and filmography sections-- done quite a bit and found in many places, actually, because The Three Stooges Scapbook is written by Moe's daughter (and Shemp and Curley's niece) it is filled with personal photos and family memories and stories not available elsewhere. It is full of stories and personal remembrances that read like what they are-- old timers reminiscing about the old days. On the face of it, the work is nothing special, but to stooge fans and old timers and folks who like this sort of thing--(that would be folks like me)--the Scrapbook is an enjoyable trip down memory lane. It is the only Early Reviewer's book I ever recieved from LT where EVERYONE who saw it at my house said "Three Stooges" and opened it up to look. I enjoyed it.

Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac. HarperCollins 2007, 208 pages.

2010-01-25T06:23:00.005-05:00

13 year old Baron is a small for his age new kid at school. Both his parents are military personnel-- his father is MIA and his mother is active duty in Iraq, so Baron lives with his grandmother. Already a bully magnet, Baron keeps his Native American heritage to himself, until the class takes a school trip to an outward bound type camp in the Adirondacks. There he must call on his knowledge of Mohawk legends to help save his classmates from the Bearwalker.
I love Joseph Bruchac, but i was so disappointed in this story. It reads like a reluctant reader--not like the work of a master storyteller, and the storyline was so cliché-- i actually cringed when i read it. The professional reviewers gave it great reviews-- and school library journal called it a work for teens- 7 grade +-- and based on that-plus the fact that it is written by the a literary lion like Bruchac, i put it on the middle school myths and legends summer reading list. But i had not read it, and now i am so sorry. i would still recommend it to certain kids-- boy reluctant readers, or, even more likely-- younger boys who read well above level-- but that is about it.
disappointed overall-- will try Skeleton Man instead.

Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood by Tony Lee. Candlewick Press. 2009.

2010-01-09T07:28:00.005-05:00

True to the classic legend and very well done, Lee's graphic adaptation of the famous English classic adds just enough of a contemporary feel to be real and accessible to kids today. The illustrations and general feel is dark and brooding-- lots of shadows and "KERPOW" for action, sidebar celtic knots and medieval backdrops help keep the story real and compelling. it is a time of political turmoil in England. King Richard the Lionhearted is kidnapped and held for ransome on the way home from the Crusades. His brother John and his Norman cohorts are running England to the ground-- usurping the ancestral lands of "real" English Lords and handing them over to Norman invaders, who, in turn, are taxing the local peasantry into the ground and abusing the population. Robin of Loxley, Earl of Huntington, and ally of good King Richard, turns outlaw when the Sheriff of Nottingham (ally of Prince John and enforcer of brutal tax levies) steals his land. Robin robs from the Normans and English traitors and gives the money back to the peasants so they can pay their taxes--he fights for the forces of sweetness and light, gains all the respect of the peasantry and the good lords -- even King Richard himself-- and wins the heart of the brave and lovely Maid Marion to boot! A very well done classic adventure story done in graphic format. i loved it. great for all kids-- especially boys and anglophiles. lots of text for a graphic-- but very well done- and like all good graphics, each word is well chosen (much like poetry has to be) inorder to convey the core message in a small word bubble. Great for content knowledge and pleasure reading. Interesting backpage history of the legend included. Highly recommended. I put it on the middle school myths and legends summer reading list.

Bloodline by Kate Cary. Razorbill/Penguin, 2005. 324 pages.

2010-01-07T05:51:00.002-05:00

Set in England during World War I and told entirely through journal entries and letters or the characters, Nurse Mary Seward reads the journal of Lt. John Shaw, a patient badly injured-- physically but especially emotionally--during fierce fighting in France. She becomes wary of Captain Harker, John's commanding officer. As Mary grows more suspicious, Harker gets close to John's only living relative, a young and naive sister Lily. Before Mary can convince John of the danger, Harker and Lily run off to Transylvania to marry and the shared bloodline to Dracula becomes known. John and Mary follow to try to save Lily, and the entire family from their fate.
I am especially fond of stories told in journal and letter form. I really enjoyed the beginning and middle of this book--the journal entries brought trench life during the First World War to life. Cary knows something about the period, i suspect. The story was compelling and well written until about two thirds through, when i thought it felt hurried and got ridiculous. the entire vampire part bored me, honestly-- anyone could see it coming-- all the tension of a good creepy horror story was gone. Also, i did not much like the characters in the end, and so cared little for what happened to them.
So, a no for me personally, but vampire fans-- youngish, middle school aged ones-- will enjoy it fully.

Beowulf: A Hero's Tale Retold by James Rumford. Houghton-Mifflin, 2007. 48 pages.

2010-01-02T07:03:00.005-05:00

A wonderful retelling of the Old English Classic-- Liner notes detail the research Rumford did into the legendary epic itself, as well as the linguistics behind the history of english that are very much a part of the modern student's study of the tale. The language is strong and dynamic, luscious and poetic, with- more amazingly- Rumford using only english words derived from anglo saxon-- (with the exception of 3 words from old norse). The dark and powerful retelling mirrors the language of a storyteller, and is enhanced by Rumford's own illustrations-- muted blues and green and grays that evoke misty, sunless lands of northern europe. Celtic knots and ancient symbols float in the people, clothing and landscape, ripped open by the occasional brilliant black, gold or red, where the curve of the dragon's tail mirrors the prow of a viking ship. Please understand, I never liked this poem as a highschool student who had to study it in english class. But this is different--a fabulous retelling of the ancient classic, full of action and power and made accessible to kids today. strong recommendation for upper elementary and older.

January's Sparrow by Patricia Polacco. Philomel Books, 2009, 95 pages.

2009-12-21T08:47:00.003-05:00

Patricia Polacco doing what she does best--a fabulous new picture book for older readers--the narrative drawn from real life--in this case, the memoirs of the Michigan based Crosswhite family. A master storyteller, Polacco tells the story of the Crosswhite family's escape from slavery in Kentucky to Michigan on the underground railroad--narrated by January, it is told from young Sadie's point of view. I'm a huge Polacco fan--(can you tell?) and January's Sparrow is Polacco at her best; a warm, personal story of individuals and families dealing with issues of universal importance, full of humor and symbolism, truth and hope. The illustrations are classic Polacco-warm pencil sketches with an emphasis on people, she uses color to great effect. Even the unusual square shape of the book itself enhances the story. the publisher offers a curriculum guide as well. I have already promised it to a 5th grade teacher who cannot wait to get it for her class. Another winner from Polacco--5 of 5--no question.

American Born Chinese by Gene Yang.2006, First Second/Roaring Book. 233 pages

2009-12-13T07:35:00.004-05:00

I love graphic memoirs, and American Born Chinese reads like a graphic memoir, even thought it is considered fiction. I don't doubt that Yang put a lot of himself into it. Yang weaves together three seemingly separate and unrelated tales--a contemporary chinese american high schooler, an ugly asian stereotype and a famouse chinese legend, The Monkey King together with universal YA issues of identity and teen angst and comes up with one great graphic novel. Award winner and quick, quirky read-- i loved it and recommend it to all.

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli. Atheneum Books, 2004. 186 pages

2009-12-13T07:31:00.002-05:00

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. Vintage Books/Random House. 1987, 126 pages.

2009-12-13T07:11:00.004-05:00

11 year old Ellen tells her own story of abuse and neglect in mid-20th century North Carolina. Her mother commits suicide to escape her abusive father, and young Ellen learns to take care of herself-- literally putting food on her table and paying bills so she doesn't lose the house and hiding from her Daddy and his drunken friends. Strong implication of sexual abuse--no detailed abuse scenes (this is not A CHILD CALLED IT). Ellen bounces back and forth-past to present-- which is comforting because she is in a new foster home-- a good home-- at the end of the story-- the abuse is significant. Ellen grows through out the story-- sub plot of her only friend, a poor black girl names Starletta- lots of growth there too. A quiet, compelling book, sometimes funny--you really like Ellen-- a strong survivor. Has one of the best opening lines i ever read: "When I was little I would think of ways to kill my daddy."
Good book. Quick Read.

Highway Cats by Janet Taylor Lisle. Philomel Books, 2008, 118 pages.

2009-12-08T06:16:00.002-05:00

Feral cats, embittered by their hard life living around a trash strewn highway, learn to work together to stop a cynical politician from building a shopping center over this last piece of open space that they call home. A quick read, great mix of plot and character development dealing with the subject of overdevelopment, trash, abandoned animals and dirty politics while remaining light, and age appropriate. I loved it and am recommending it to good readers, upper elementary, early middle school who are looking for more but not a 500 page epic.

Opuestos: Mexican Folk Art Opposites in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill. Cinco Puntos, 2009. 34 pages.

2009-11-23T18:53:00.007-05:00

Bilingual spanish/english concept book-- beautifully done. Whimsical Oaxacan folk art animal figurines --striking in both color and simplicity-- convey the concept of opposites-- big/tall, large/small, together/apart, etc. Weill has a great eye, not just for art, but for color, and her vibrant color wash backgrounds for the concept figures add punch without adding clutter. Beautifully detailed endpages and borders continue the Mexican folk art motif. Opuestos can also be used for colors, animals, and auditory awareness--an added plus I always look for in concept books. Another winner from Cinco Puntos-- I loved this book. 5 out of 5.

Little Bunny Kung Fu by Regan Johnson. Blooming Tree Press, 2005. 32 pages

2009-11-13T12:20:00.005-05:00

Little Bunny Kung Fu has all the elements of a good fractured fairy tale---Where little bunny foo foo was picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head, Little Bunny Kung Fu uses all his martial arts moves and props to destroy the bamboo forest-- no matter how many animals come out to explain how the destruction of the environment hurts them. It isn't until the Dragon comes down to explain in great detail --and with a clear threat to Little Bunny Kung Fu himself-- that our martial arts rabbit learns-- reluctantly-- to respect mother nature. The clean and straightforward charcoal drawings enhance the text and support the asian setting. The deceptively simple verse mirrors the nursery rhyme of old but tells a powerful tale that has even young children roaring with laughter-- Every one loves to watch a bad bunny get his in the end.

**This one was a sleeper that i had overlooked in the picture book section--Thanks to Margaret for recommending it. I love it too!!!

Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli. Scholastic, 1993. 96 pages.

2009-10-28T12:26:00.002-04:00

Blubber by Judy Blume.

2009-10-23T07:04:00.003-04:00

In a fifth grade class that could be anywhere in the western world, Wendy, the class alpha-female, uses her power to make life miserable for Linda---aka Blubber. All the girls allow it and encourage her, either actively or passively. Jill learns the hard way that wrong is wrong-- it doesn't matter who the players are, and before she knows it, the shoe is on the other foot.
Judy Blume is amazing-- everyone knows that. Written in the voice of Jill, it is hard to believe a 10 year old did not write this herself--the language and characters and the situations are so authentic. Blume never preaches, but lets Jill tell a story as it occurs-- as the days pass we see her grow and start to question what is happening-- she moves from discounting the victim to feeling compassion for her and begins to challenge the Alpha's hold on their 5th grade world, only to find herself-- as so many other girls have-- the new victim. It happens so easily. This kind of first person growth is always a style i enjoy. It reminded me of the LOUD SILENCE OF FRANCIE GREEN by Karen Cushman-- which i also recommend,.
Loved it, loved it, loved it. Highley recommend.

Stuck in the Mud by Jane Clarke. Walker Books for Young Readers (2008), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 32 pages

2009-10-20T06:36:00.002-04:00

Similar to The Enormous Turnip---a cumulative tale where all the barnyard animals come out one at a time to help the hen whose chick is stuck in the mud. The ending is funny and cute and surprising-- and both kids and adults love it. Fun to read. A storytime crowd pleaser!

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook Eleanor Davis Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (2009), Paperback, 160 pages

2009-10-20T06:28:00.002-04:00

A great graphic for kids-- a great story of 3 friends who are secret science freaks -- a nerd who is desperate to fit in, a jock who feels dumb and a wild child who even the teachers fear. i liked the plot, i enjoyed the story, i loved the diverse characters and the good messages that tweenish kids are always interested in--identity (will i fit in) and confidence (am i stupid...no, you just don't take tests well). I also loved the graphics-- bright and page full of things to look at. (I actually liked the "fussy" graphics-- some frames are really crammed full of stuff. i think it was intentional) I am handing it over to a 5th grader to get a kids reaction. I'll let you know.

A Second Is A Hiccup Hazel Hutchins Arthur A. Levine Books (2007), Hardcover, 40 pages

2009-10-20T06:16:00.002-04:00

Clever and child friendly explanation of measuring time--second, minute, month, year --easy to read and very well done--picture book -ish nonfiction makes a difficult subject very accessible to even young children

Strength in what remains Tracy Kidder New York : Random House, 2009.

2009-10-17T06:49:00.004-04:00

Truly a great book. So well written that the lovely words flow and you are lulled into forgetting the truly horrific history of the events that took place in Burundi and Rwanda. Until Deo (through Kidder) reminds us. The narrative flips back and forth between Burundi and Rwanda and New York and while primarily documenting events in the 1990s, includes Deo's personal memories from the 1970s nad 80s, as well as some historical background to the genocide of the 90s. i had forgotten what a great writer Kidder is. A strong and powerful work-- a memoir, an urban tale, africana , world affairs and social justice all in one book. great literature-- i highly recommend it to eveyone who has an interest. A total stranger was thrilled to see me with it and then disappointed that it was not really out in soft cover yet-- Not to be missed

Joey Pigza Loses Control Jack Gantos Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000, Hardcover, 208 pages

2009-10-17T06:40:00.003-04:00

The second in the Joey Pigza series, please read JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED A KEY first. Joey is now on good meds that control his adhd and he is receiving support services to understand his illness and help with coping strategies. His dad has reentered his life and a court has granted him summer visitation-- so Joey is going to visit the dad he has not seen for many years-- a man who is clean and sober, has a job and a new girlfriend, and desperately wants to make up for lost time. But Joey's dad (and his grandma) have the same ADHD issues that joey does, but they remain untreated and it is not long before the dad becomes unglued and convinces joey to stop taking the meds that have given him back his normal life. joey wants a relationship with his dad-- what boy doesn't? But he can see feel himself losing control and he is so far from his mom. what to do?
Another great chapter from Gantos in the Joey Pigza story. Gantos tells the story through Joey's voice and we draw our own conclusions-- i love that. No preaching or heavy handed morality. Subtle and funny and endearing and frightening. Very imperfect characters that are at once unlikeable, mean, funny, endearing and sympathetic. All of them. Even grandma.
I love this series. Highly recommended.

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar. Random House Children's Books, 1987, 195 pages.

2009-10-13T06:07:00.002-04:00

A very well written book-- funny but much more serious than i had anticipated. Bradley Chalkers is the oldest kid in the 5th grade- a well known and always avoided "serious behavior problem" that no one (not even the teachers) likes. Every one is afraid of him and they avoid him at all costs. Enter Jeff, the new kid who has to sit next to him in class, who has no friends yet, does not know Bradley is a social pariah and befriends him. But this is realistic fiction, and Bradley does not know how to be a friend, Jeff makes friends quickly and doesn't want to become a social outcast and a new young school psychologist shakes things up in more ways than one. Winner of 19 children's choice awards, There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom is funny and moving and with the notable exception of the the corny ---basketball -let's all be friends now --scene--very realistic portrayal of upper elementary and early middle school social horror show that most kids will relate too. Not fluffy at all-- a good solid read. Highly recommended.

A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson. McElderry, 2007. 32 pages

2009-09-18T05:57:00.002-04:00

Karma Wilson with another winner-- Frog in the Bog has everything a storytime favorite needs-rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, numbers, repetition humor and a surprising (to kids) ending. "There's a small hungry frog sitting on a log in the middle of the bog". As frog eats 1 tick, 2 fleas, etc., he gets bigger and bigger until he realizes the log is an alligator. When frog opens his mouth to yell, all the insects jump out in reverse order. Joan Rankin's illustrations lend a muted, watery feel that works very well. Cute and fun-- flows better than some of Wilson's work. Reminiscent of Root's One Duck Stuck.

Life Sucks by Jessica Abel. First Second, 2008. 192 pages

2009-09-18T05:34:00.002-04:00

Fun and quirky new graphic. Think of a vampire CLERKS. Dave is a young, depressed emo vampire boy-- a vegetarian vampire who refuses to kill- he lives on past date blood bank blood. Unlike the Anne Rice world of wealthy, educated, sophisticated vampires, the real vamp world is a lot like our own--Dave works the night shift at a quicky mart-- the owner is his vampire master who has en-wage-slaved him for eternity-- an eternity of sweeping the parking lot and pouring plastic cheese on nachos. Dave falls for a goth human girl named Rosa but so has his rival-- a jerky surfer boy vampire who is very strong. Who will Rosa choose.
Clever and witty-- the book is very clerks--i loved it and the subtle humor and dead end job focus will appeal to older more irreverent teens. An award winning graphic.

Shock Doctrine; the rise of disaster capitalism by Naomi Klein. Metropolitan Books, 2008.

2009-09-07T18:17:00.002-04:00

Hole In My Life by Jack Gantos. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002. 200 pages

2009-09-07T18:09:00.004-04:00

How many children's book authors would write a memoir about serving time in federal prison for drug running during their young adult years? Jack Gantos would-- and did so brilliantly with this Prinze and Siebert award winning book. Written in a style that is very reminiscent of the Joey Pigza series, Gantos gives an honest and frank account of his late teen life and the actions and choices he made that led to his being convicted of drug running at age 19 and sentenced to federal prison for several years. The story is well told and compelling; funny and horrifying and sad and uplifting. We like Gantos and we care what happens to him, even as we cringe for him as he makes what we all know are terrible decisions that will have terrible consequences. And prison is tough-- Gantos is quite skillful in his ability to portray prison as a very violent and scary place-- full of sex and drugs-- and he does so honestly (important for all of us, yes, but especially so for young adults) but without sensationalizing it. No easy feat. And it was the constant violence and fear and hopelessness of prison life that forced Gantos to soul search and, finally, to make a decision to get serious about what he had always wanted to do--to write, to become a writer...a decision that not only carried him through the rest of his sentance, but one that Gantos credits with carrying him through the rest of his life. YES, YES, YES

Greetings From Somewhere Else A Novel by Monica McInerney. Ballentine Books, 2009. 448 pages

2009-09-07T18:04:00.002-04:00

A very light weight, chick lit novel about Lainey Byrne, type A career girl with lots of family problems and responsibilities who suddenly finds herself forced to leave everything behind to run a bed and breakfast in Ireland in order to meet the terms of a dead aunt's will so her father can inherit the land and sell it to pay for his much needed medical treatments. How's that for a family guilt trip? Lainey-- dutiful daughter that she is-- is totally selfless and, being the only one the family can count on, gives up everything, her career, her home, her love, in order to make this thing work.
The story is weak and predicable and , as noted by a previous LT early reviewer, the supporting characters are undeveloped types more than well thought out characters in their own right. I did not care for Lainey nor for her ridiculous predicament and i doubt anyone else will either. Sorry-- this one is not for me and I would not recommend it to anyone.

Pitch Black by Youme Landowne and Anthony Horton. Cinco Punto Press, 2008.

2009-08-01T07:25:00.007-04:00

Stunning vignette/memoir of Landowne's chance encounter with a homeless artist on the NYC subway that led to her learning his story and publishing it. Details the story of how his troubled youth led him through the system-- social services to shelters to living in the subway tunnels under NYC. Powerful, raw, frightening, moving and even hopeful--the work is full of detail and simplicity. The artist is also the subject. The black and white illustrations really complement the story, while the endpapers leading us into the dark tunnels are stunning. The 11 by 6 size of the work is reminiscent of a subway car. A dark, true tale, Pitch Black is sure to spark classroom and book club conversations. Well, well done and highly recommended.

Sammy's Mommy Has Cancer by Sherry Kohlenberg. Magination Press, NY. 1993,

2009-07-23T07:48:00.004-04:00

A simple but straight-forward account of daily life for Sammy and his family after his mom is diagnosed with breast cancer-- the fear and sadness of the diagnosis, the age-appropriate explanation of cancer and chemotherapy, the reality of hair loss and other side effects, the joys of shrinking tumors and of maintaining family life while living with the disease. Kohlenberg, a breast cancer survivor, states her goal was to write a book to help parents help their children and she succeeds brilliantly with this realistic but positive and very well crafted work. Crow's illustrations enhance the text, lending a warm and comforting feel. Includes a (now dated) list of cancer related resources, as well as additional questions and activities to help children deal with a cancer diagnosis. Bibliotherapy at its best.

Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew by Ursula Vernon. Harcourt Children's Books (2008), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 144 p

2009-06-28T10:25:00.002-04:00

Poor Nurk-- a small, cautious shrew who aches to live up to the legend of his fearless, warrior grandmother, Surka, and yearns for an adventure of his own, first needs to overcome his timid and practical nature. An mysterious letter for help-- along with the discovery of his grandmother's rather cryptic journal, start Nurk off on his first adventure where he meets creatures real (if you call talking dragonfly kings real) and fantastical. A wonderfully clever and engaging first work by Vernon--who is also the illustrator-- i initially thought it was a British import-- a gentle (sort of) old fashioned feel, reminding me of Le Guinn's Catwings and Dahl and Avi and Jacques. Nurk himself is familiar and sympathetic-- both nervous and brave, and while the adventure concludes as we would (hope) expect, the story is clever and endearing and very well written. Vernon pulls us in and we really care what happens to our hero. Watch for a sequel. This is great high quality fiction for middle elementary kids - so sure to please that i chose it to be the first intallment in our summer BookWorms ReadALoud Book Club. I'll let you know how the kids react. Highly Recommended.

The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander by Barbara Coloroso. Collins/Harper Collins, 2004. 218 pages.

2009-05-31T09:38:00.003-04:00

Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S Brannen. Putnam Juvenile (2008), Hardcover, 32 pages

2009-05-31T09:04:00.002-04:00

Little Chloe adores her Uncle Bobby, but when Uncle Bobby falls in love with Jaime and begins to plan the wedding, Chloe is angry and jealous and very afraid that Uncle Bobby will no longer love her. In the end, Chloe is reassured that Uncle Bobby will always love her and in Jaime, she will now have TWO loving uncles. Plus, she gets to be flower girl! A gentle and loving yet realistic look at the complex feelings and emotions children may experience when a loved one gets married. The guinea pig characters are sweetly gentle and appealing, and while it is clear that Uncles Bobby and Jaime are gay, this is not the issue, making this an especially good choice for school units on feelings and families and celebrations. Highly Recommended.

The Rough Guide to Men's Health 1 (Rough Guide Reference) by Lloyd Bradley. DK Rough Guides, 2008. 384 pages..

2009-05-31T08:47:00.003-04:00

The Rough Guide to Men's Health is great for what it is--an easy to read, quick read reference-ish guide to men's health issues for men who may not read about their health in general. it is stylish with a pleasant and easy to read lay out-- it is clever and fun, with some humorous photos and captions, and it is filled with good, general health education and advice for men who are young or young at heart. WARNING: I did find an error right away-- spaghetti bolognaise is listed as high calorie and fettucine alfredo as low-er? This-- from my vast experience -- is NOT TRUE-- an editing error i am certain--and while there may be other errors-- nothing else jumped out at me. A good DK type guide, it is filled with references for additional information-- books, websites, magazines and organizations. it should be popular with young men and the women who love them. i ordered a copy for our adult collection.

Million Dollar Shot by Dan Gutman. Hyperion, 2006. 128 pages.

2009-04-04T06:55:00.003-04:00

Rogue State, 3rd edition: A Guide To The World's Only Superpower by William Blum. Common Courage Press, 2005. 306 Pages.

2009-04-04T06:50:00.002-04:00

Teacher Man: A Memoir, by Frank McCourt. Scribner, 2005. 272 pages

2009-04-04T06:47:00.002-04:00

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2008. 219 pages

2009-04-04T06:42:00.002-04:00

People's History of Sports in the United States by Dave Zirin, Howard Zinn, Editor. New Press, 2008. 270 pages.

2009-04-03T06:36:00.004-04:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: a novel in cartoons, by Jeff Kinney. Amulet Books, NY, 2007. 217 pages

2009-02-24T20:28:00.002-05:00

Wildly popular with 6th through 8th graders, the pages of Jeff Kinney's book actually looks like a diary-- albeit a very neat one with extraordinary cartoon doodles throughout. Greg Heffley is in middle school--surrounded by morons, bullies, teachers, parents and friends-- his journal is laugh out loud funny because Heffley acts on every kids fantasy--tricking friend and foe alike without any hint of guilt. Kinney definitely understands how kids think. We cannot keep it on the shelf-- or the sequals. Always a winner.

Mudshark by Gary Paulsen. Wendy Lamb Books, 2009. 96 pages.

2009-02-16T19:59:00.002-05:00

Mudshark, aka Lyle Williams, is the coolest kid in middle school-- He is the go-to guy for all manner of problems-- where did i leave my homework? how do i get out of band practice, my cat is lost, can you find him, etc. He's not really a genius, he just has very good powers of observation, and in order to keep his position of importance, he starts the Mudshark Detective Agency and everyone-- even the principal, come to Mudshark for help. In this book ( the first of several, i am sure) Mudshark helps the principal straighten out some problems involving a class mascot, some missing erasers, the custodian's job and the library parrot who talks too much. Light hearted and clever-- lots of funny observations about school culture-- Paulsen's new series should find lots of popularity, especially among boys.

The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Scribner (1995), Paperback, 128 pages

2009-01-08T11:59:00.003-05:00

The old man, Santiago, is at the end of his life. He is a fisherman--- a hard life, and now he is old and poor and unable to catch the fish he could in his heyday. Thinking to change his luck, he sets out --too far and all alone-- to richer but more dangerous fishing grounds and has the battle of his life with an enormous marlin-- 3 days and 3 nights. A short and thrilling and absorbing read-- truely-- i am not making this up. Full of symbolism and irony -- and so well written-- a sparseness to the text--in few, well chosen words-- this is Hemenway at his best. I will not spoil the story by saying more. A great book for all readers...especially good for book groups and guided reading because there is so much to talk about. A Classic.

Baseball Crazy; Ten short stories that cover all the bases, Nancy Mercado, editor. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008. 191 pages.

2009-01-01T09:42:00.005-05:00

I love short stories and Mercado's collection is a winner. Ten baseball themed short stories by wonderful authors for young people--Jerry Spinelli, Joseph Bruhac,

A Greener Christmas by Sheheerazade Goldsmith. Dorling Kindersley, 2008. 350 pages.

2008-12-26T18:25:00.002-05:00

A Greener Christmas was not exactly what I expected-- it is a holiday craft book-- a good one-- but not all that different from countless others. A great book for someone who needs a holiday craft book, but if you have a few already there is no reason to purchase it.
Now- if you ARE in the market for a holiday craft book, this one has lots to recommend it. The photos are gorgeous and because this is a british import, it has a little something many domestic books do not. The crafts are simple and mostly easy to do, the traditional british recipes are very simple and lovely and appropriately old fashioned christmassy. The recipes and craft and decorating ideas are interspersed throughout the book. There are some green ideas in the book-- recycle your tree, reuse wrapping paper, buy organic, etc. and, of course, the simpler more down to earth things do leave less of a carbon footprint, but in general you a getting a holiday craft book, albeit a well done one. i would recommend it to the right person...but i still can't get my dried orange and lemon slice ornaments to look the way hers does!

The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle. Scholastic, 2000 112 pages.

2008-12-13T09:16:00.003-05:00

When Mr. Mack punishes his children unfairly, he gets 'The Treatment'-- that is, tiny, gremlin like creatures called Gigglers must find a fresh dog poop and make him step in it. This is the story-- told with lots of reference to poo, bums, rudies, etc. A favorite of my own daughter Rose for several years, the book is funny and irreverant and much loved by kids. Definitely for the "The Day my Butt Went Psycho" and "Captain Underpants" crowd---which is virtually every 3-5th grader, I believe. In addition, since the author is Irish, the book comes with a glossery of the Irish/Anglo expressions used in the text. Cheeky and loads of fun!

The Story of Babar by Jean De Brunhoff. Random House Books for Young Readers (1967), Library Binding, 56 pages

2008-12-13T09:12:00.002-05:00

A french classic i never read until today! A sweet tale of a young orphaned elephant who finds friendship and adventures in the city and then returns home to the forest to be crowned King. Lovely in its simplicity, Babar feels like a bedtime story created by a favorite aunt or uncle. The illustrations are exquisite-- both old fashioned and timeless. One warning though--while the script style font is charming, early readers may have trouble reading the text. Still, a lovely and charming tale loved by generations of children around the world.

The Jumping-Off Place by Marian Hurd McNeely. South Dakota Historical Press, 2008 (1929) 321 pages

2008-12-13T08:40:00.002-05:00

After the death of their beloved uncle, four orphaned siblings settle a homesteading claim in South Dakota in 1910. Led by their older teen sister, Becky, they spend their first year on the prairie. Originally published in 1929, this is definitely an old fashioned children's book, and it is very reminiscent of the Little House series. The book starts off a little slowly, but Hurd McNeely develops her characters very well-- quietly but quickly--and i found my self pulled deeper into a story that is quiet but consistent-- chronicling events --not adventures, exactly-- that occur during the family's first year on the claim. The story ends when the year finishes, and while the ending is certainly predictable, it is also satisfying-- and in keeping with the quiet nature of the work itself. I really enjoyed the book --- it is very well written and full of subtleties that enhance the story without hitting you over the head-- for example, the seasonal weather on the prairie mirrors the mood of the narrative as it progresses. i knew little about South Dakota or the prairie experience before The Jumping-Off Place and i did not expect to like the book anywhere near as much as i did, and i have a new found understanding for the settler experience. When i talk about this book and this period, however, I do feel compelled to point out that this was the last of the large native american land thefts, and this land ----that the Linville kids and other prairie families so loved-- was stolen from native people as part of US policy to decimate the Indian population, separate the people from their ancestral lands and destroy native culture. I believe the book's afterward, by Jean L. S. Patrick, should have made this point more clearly. So....that being said, I clearly liked the book quite a bit, and while it is not for every child, i think that for upper elementary and middle school kids with a taste for the Little House series, or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, or Secret Garden, etc. I would recommend it. Also, a great Read-A-Loud for a younger group. Recommended-with historical notes--

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Penguin, 2003. 336 pages

2008-12-13T07:19:00.003-05:00

It is Georgia, 1964, and 14 year old Lily Owens hates her life. She has vague, ominous memories of her mother 's violent death, lives with a cold, abusive father (physical and emotional abuse) and is a social outcast among her peers. The only stable figure in her life--Rosaleen- is-a middle aged black farm worker employed by her father to watch over Lily while he operated his peach farm. One day, Rosaleen goes into town to register to vote --it is 1964-- and insults the biggest racists in town and Lily and Rosleen are forced to flee. They end up in Tiburon SC, at the home of 3 sister bee keepers--the first real home Lily and Rosaleen have ever had. All goes well until one day, when the past catches up with them. i enjoyed the story, told from Lily's point of view. The characters, who continue to develop as the story unfolds, are fun and interesting, quirky and sad. It feels very southern, full of strong, colorful women who are both in conflict and bonded together and like family. The book is well written, holds your interest and moves along rapidly. I do want to note, however, that the backdrop is Georgia and South Carolina, 1964-- big events from the civil rights movements frame the story, but it is not a work of historic fiction--and the sensibility is completely 21st century-- as a historian, i cannot let this go and it did mar my enjoyment of the book. For example, the interraccial love affair between Zach and Lily is treated by the church ladies with knowing smiles and cute asides-- which certainly does not ring true because in that historical time and place, Zach's life would have been in real danger; young black men were murdered for a lot less than that. Still i enjoyed the book immensely-- a fun, fast read with lots to talk about for book groups. i recommend it with the above disclaimers.

Runaway Radish/El Rabano Que Escapo by Janice Levy. Raven Tree Press C/O Delta (2008), Edition: Bilingual, Hardcover, 32 pages

2008-11-11T18:17:00.003-05:00

i really wanted to like this book-- i love folktales, i love Oaxaca, i love bilingual books.... but I was so disappointed. i love Oaxaca and have visited many times---i am familiar with the radish festival, although i have never been. I love the gingerbread man but this story does not flow, does not feel or sound authentic and seems very hokey to me. While i understand that the target audience is not latino, but US born children--Levy's tale still has a clumsy and stereotypical feel to it. i do not like the art work at all--it had an unfinished quality to it that was unappealing and failed to enhance the story. The other reviewers, who all liked the work, were correct to try it out on an audience, and so i read it at a storytime filled with boys and girls from 3-10. The kids listene, but by no means did they love it--and the 2 nine year olds immediately began talking about the gingerbread man --a great connection, of course-- but they then requested the gingerbread man which was a real crowd pleaser. So, while I love the concept, i am very disappointed in the work, and cannot recommend it. Mexico has plenty of lovely folktales that are readily available in english and spanish --Cucú, by Lois Ehlert, La Mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol, by Martinez and Horse and Hooves by Neil Philip, to name a very few. Runaway Radish just cannot compare.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. HarperTrophy, 1983. 134 pages.

2008-10-18T10:56:00.002-04:00

12 year old Leigh has been writing to Mr. Henshaw off and on since a school assignment in 2nd grade mandated he contact a published author. Now in 6th grade, Leigh begins writing in earnest--ostensibly for another school project-- revealing the unhappy details of his life. It is Mr Henshaw's brief, but thoughtful, response that leads Leigh to start keeping a letter-journal and it is through these letters--some sent (Dear Real Mr. Henshaw) and some journaled (Dear Fake Mr. Henshaw) that we learn about his struggle with his parents recent divorce and separation, the move to a new house, a new school, his loneliness, and the unreliable father that he loves and misses. As in real life, things improve for Leigh by the end of the book--he meets a new friend and comes to terms with the new living situation but, just as important, there is no happily ever after and his parents do not get back together----instead, they all move on.
Well written and brilliant--this is a great book for individual reading and for book club and class room discussions. The issues of divorce and unhappiness and alienation are very common in YA books, but much less so for this age level--when many children are aware of family issues but do not know how to talk about them, leaving them full of fear and anxiety. Thoughtful and moving, Dear Mr. Henshaw is popular and well received by children and adults and serves as a great introduction to the works of Beverly Cleary. Recommended

Hot Girl by Dream Jordan. St Martin's Griffin, NY. 2008. 214 pages

2008-09-25T06:29:00.003-04:00

Kate has had a tough life so far; her drug addicted parents forfeited their parental rights to the state when she was only months old, and Kate, a former gang-banger, has bounced from foster home to group home to foster home all her life. With the help of a much respected social worker, Kate is staying clear of trouble--but its hard. Then Kate meets wild and sexy Naleejah and things change fast...With the help of her new friend kate is now hot and sexy and commanding everyman's attention, even Charles, her homeboy and not so secret crush...of course things don't stay happy long and street smart Kate realizes she should have followed her instincts about Naleejah--who does not really have her interests in mind...
I did not care for this book at first-- i thought the neverending streetslang was over the top...but i was wrong--some kids do speak like that and the dialog language changed even within characters--depending on the situation and whom the character was speaking--just as it does in real life. Kudos to Jordan for that. Plus, i really like t Kate--and find the characters and the situations very authentic and real on many levels. The characters are interesting and believable and the story is fast paced and interesting, and i love the ending--really loved it- it was both positive and credible at the same time--no small feat for any literature, let alone YA lit. In fact, the deeper i got into the novel, the more i liked and appreciated it. Hot Girl is great for a girl's group, a book club, a classroom or on its own. There is already an informal waiting list for my review copy and i am ordering it for our YA collection where i know it will be a huge hit!

Jamela's Dress by Niki Daly. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1999.

2008-09-20T14:33:00.005-04:00

When her mother buys material to make a new dress for a friend's wedding, Jemela falls so in love with the beautiful fabric that she wraps it around herself and parades throught the street. But this is a busy neighborhood and on the way the fabric gets ruined. What will mama do?
Warm and earthy illustrations complement this wonderful story. Filled with images of modern South African street scenes, as well as Nguni works, children everywhere will love the story and identify with its heroine. Kwela Kwela!

My Piles of Rows and Coins by Tololwa M Mollel. Clarion Books, NY. 1999

2008-09-20T14:05:00.003-04:00

A young boy in Tanzania saves the money he earns while working in the market with his mother. He is saving to buy a bicycle, which he believes will allow him to help his parents more at home. Although the other kids often ridicule him, he practises every chance he gets and, with the help of his father, he eventually learns. When he finally saves 350 coins he runs to the bike shop only to find out that, although 350 coins is an enormous amount to a young boy, it is no where near enough to buy a bicycle. Dejected, he returns home to Yoyo, but a surprise awaits.
This beautifully illustrated and wonderful tale manages to introduce themes that speak to experiences both universal and uniquely African.

Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. HarperTrophy, 1994. 212 pages

2008-08-31T10:06:00.002-04:00

Although it sounds deadly--one year in the life of Birdy, the13 year old daughter of a minor knight in 11th century England, as told through her diary entries--it is, instead, brilliant. Birdy is irreverent, manipulative, modern, lively, funny, thoughtful, moody, anxious, headstrong and thoroughly alive--she is Anne of Green Gables, Hermoine Granger, Jo March, Charlotte Doyle-- a strong adolescent female character coming of age and trying to make sense of her world. Birdy, as the daughter of a poor and minor knight, hates lots of things about her life--killing fleas, cleaning rushes, her older brother, endless needle work--and she fights against the social constraints put on women of her era-- sometime actually longing for the imagined greener grass life of the peasantry. In the course of the year she loses her best friend to a less than happy marriage and is herself facing the very real prospect of being married off to the highest bidder--which she decides to fight with every tool in her limited power. The details of daily life are certainly realistic--the actual character of Birdy--i'm not so sure--but that does not diminish the story at all--the character is one many girls (and boys) will identify with and while the ending is a bit convenient (yes, i 'll give you that) it is historic fiction and a great story and one that kids love. This is Karen Cushman doing what she does best.

Bully Buster (Jake Drake). Aladdin Paperbacks (2001) 73 pages.

2008-08-19T18:52:00.004-04:00

Jake Drake recounts how he managed to stop being a "bully magnet" and became a "bully buster". A fairly realistic account of the problems kids have dealing with bullies...no solution that we as adults offer seems to work--not telling, not keeping quiet, not being nice, not avoiding them, etc. Kids often feel on their own with this stuff--as Jake does. The bully ends up needing Jake's help when they are partnered together for an assignment and while Jake and the bully never become friends (thank goodness..that's so lame at this age!) Jake is no longer a victim. Not great literature or deep thinking, but i do love Andrew Clements for school age kids and the Jake Drake series is great for the younger chapter readers..advanced 2nd graders, 3rd and some 4th graders. And, of course, bullies loom large in all of our lives.

The Jacket by Andrew Clements. Aladdin (2002), Paperback

2008-08-19T18:25:00.002-04:00

A white student, Phil, sees a black student, Daniel, wearing his brother's jacket and assumes the boy has stolen it. Daniel is righteously angry and Phil, in questioning his own actions, begins to see his entire world--including his family--in the context of racism and white privilege. it is not great literature and the story line is a little pat--Phil suddenly sees and understands subtle racism in himself, his family, his society, and in the end, he and daniel become friends. Yes, i agree--clumsy and hoky--BUT, this is a great message--a real, complex message about racism in our society that IS very complex and that occurs right now and that involves otherwise good people. The Jacket is a great book for class discussion and begs to be assigned to a 4th or 5th grade book club. The adults, in general, do not want to talk about the incident that bothers Phil so much, and with the exception of Lucy, Phil's family maid and Daniel's grandmother (a little contrived, i know!) they all fail in their response in some way--the principal, phil's mother, his father...
A wonderful book that will read well for most in the age group--a great book for encouraging a REAL discussion about racism in the age group. Realistic realistic fiction...I love Andrew Clements!