Mean Soup by Betsy Everitt. Voyager Books (1995), Paperback, 32 pages

A bad day at school puts Horace in a foul mood that he will not be cajoled out of--until his mother makes Mean Soup. ---Not as serious as Juanita Havill's Brianna series, nor even as the Viorst classic Alexander and the terrible, horrible no good day--still, this sweet and light hearted story works and works best as a tool to use with younger children to help them shed those bad moods brought on by everyday frustration. Everitt's book is fun and clever and charming ...and who knows...it may do for bad days what Patricia Polacco's Thundercake did for thunderstorms!

Meeting Lizzy by SarahBeth Carter. LJW Publishing, 2008. 211 pages

I'm so disappointed with this book--it is very poorly written and looks as if it is self published or computer generated.While i like the concept of a book written from dual points of view--the narrative really lacks authenticity--One voice--purported to be told from the point of view of a male 17 year old, particularly does not ring true, --- no teen ever sees themselves, let alone speaks of themselves as "in disguise" as a freak because i hate my father. In public, Cy goes around dressed like what sounds like a poor man's version of Edward ScissorHands--everywhere, even to school where he is shunned for this by all but one, even stranger, friend...while at home (where he lives alone because his father is always out of town) Cy washes the makeup off his face and wears jeans and t-shirts, so he can be "normal" in secret. It is so contrived it is ridiculous and no teen will ever take this seriously...Domestic violence among teens is a topic of enormous importance and very little is written on it--the subject deserves better treatment than this. Poorly written, unappealing, contrived, contorted and ludicrous storylines such as this one hold the entire subject up to ridicule.

The Secret Olivia Told Me by N. Joy. Just Us Books, Inc. (2007), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 32 pages

Olivia shares a big secret with the narrator--a friend who swears she will never tell. Predictably, (to adults) "the secret accidentley slipped" and travels through the entire class, until everyone not only knows, but has added their own flourish to the original story. In the end, the narrator screws up her courage to tell her friend the truth. Nancy Devard's illustrations, limited in color to black, white and red, really pop and because all the characters are drawn in silhouette--without identifiable features--the story could have happened in any class, in every class. Included in the back pages are discussion questions to help guide the conversations that this book will no doubt initiate.

Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern. Houghton Mifflin, 1992, 52 pages.

A good version of the well known Jewish folktale, McGovern's retelling is detailed enough to appeal to older children and adults, while still managing to retain the simplicity, the repetition and the humour that makes this tale a favorite of young children. (see the flannel board version from Judy Sierra). Simms Taback's illustrations--lively, colorful and fun--only enhance the retelling of this well loved classic. One of my current favorites, it is a favorite when storytelling for all ages and it should circulate widely.

Lost and Found (Bluford High Series #1) by Anne Schraff, Townsend Press, (2002), 133 pages.

I wanted to like Lost and Found---I really did. The entire Blueford series is wildly popular with teens and I loved The Bully, one of the Bluford boy books, but i was disappointed with Schraff's work. HIghschool student, Darcy Willis, has some problems. Her Dad abandoned the family and hasn't been seen in years, her mother struggles financially and works very long hours as a nurse to make ends meet; she is tired and distracted. Darcy's grandmother had a stroke and now lives with them--paralyzed and unable to talk--needing constant care. and Darcy's younger sister, Jamee, deals with her issues by shutting down emotionally, pushing away everyone who loves her, and acting out at home and in school with lots of at risk behavior. Darcy is smart and studies hard and does well academically, but she is lonely and doesn't make friends easily and acts superior to her peers--partially to hide her shyness. Things get mysterious and even ominous when, for a class project, Darcy is paired with 2 students with bad reputations. A stranger begins to follow her and then her sister disappears. Darcy must put the pieces together to save herself and her family.
The book, like the others in the series, has lots to recommend it--relatively short, easy middle reader with Black characters and urban settings and typical kid problems and situations--Darcy's life seems very real to me. The problem with Lost and Found, i thought, was not only the predicable ending, but also that it sends a poor message to girls; Darcy learns that if you stop being stuck up and stop thinking that you are better than your lower achieving peers, then a boy and his male friends will beat up a male bully who is threatening you, and your father will comeback into your life and save your sister. i was really disappointed --especially since i really loved The Bully and it's very positive and realistic storyline. Unfortunately, i cannot say the same for Lost and Found; it sends a bad message to teen girls and I cannot recommend it.

The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake. Jump At The Sun (2007), Paperback, 176 pages

Maleeka Madison is desperately trying to blend into the middle school wood work. The nail that stands out gets pounded, and Maleeka has plenty to pound-- no money, homemade clothes, book smarts and good grades and, impossible to hide, very black skin. She is at exactly the age when so many girls lose their confidence and Maleeka learns to avoid, live with, deal with the bullying by becoming "friends" (minions?) with her main tormentor Charlese Jones who bestows favors and humiliations at her whim. Her reputation and grades and self esteem suffer because of the association, but to Maleeka's thinking-- this is the best deal she can get..until Ms. Saunders shows up. A career changer with ideas and attitude, Saunders isn't like the other teachers and she is not having it. She sees the potential in Maleeka and she encourages her--over and over again--to love herself and have pride and be who you want to be--not who you think you have to settle for. Aim higher!
A great book for middle schoolers-boys as well as girls--i found it fast paced and well written and real--no one is perfect here--the characters are complex and nuanced just like in real life and this is a good book that teens will identify with and eat up. Similar in theme and in teen popularity to Anne Schraff's Lost and Found (Bluford Series) The Skin I'm in is far superior with complex and well developed characters and plot lines, as well as a much better, and more realistic examination of the issues bullying and low self esteem. A Coretta Scott King Award winner. Highly recommended.

Anansi and the Pot of Beans (Story Cove: a World of Stories) by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk, August House, 2006

Noted storytellers Bobby and Sherry Norfolk's updated version of Anansi and the Hat-Shaking Dance (made famous by Harold Courlander's collection of the same name)is updated for western children has a teenage Anansi shirking his duties and burning his head with Grandma Spider's spicy beans. While the illustrations are vibrant and and colorful, the story is made for vigorous telling--nose twitching, hat lifting and bean tasting-- and a good vehicle to practise your animal voices! And everyone loves Anansi--always a winner at storytime and family programs.