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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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