In Emily Dickinson's time, only the most daring women were publicly known. Only her inner circle knew Emily's intelligence, passion for life, and her poetry. She spent most of her days quietly, keeping house and writing. Some of her poetry was published in periodicals but anonymously and not by her. It was only after her death that her family learned the extent of her writing. Her sister found more than 1700 poems-lovingly kept.
RL=6th-YA

This sequel to Night Journeys is told as court testimony from 4 points-of-view. Robert Linnly, the fugitive boy, is the focus. The girl with whom he is escaping is desperately ill, so he must plan how to cross the Lehigh River, get help for her, and provide food for them. John Tolivar, the master of the runaways, describes his hiring of Nathaniel Hill to pursue the girl. Mr. Hill is acting as a bounty hunter and describes his pursuit of Elizabeth Mawes and his dealings with the other characters. George Clagget is the constable in Easton whom Mr. Hill employs to help in apprehending Elizabeth. All 3 men claim their innocence and lawfulness in the calamitous circumstances that unfold. The story is emotionally moving and significant in that it shows the parallels between indentured servitude and slavery.
related-fugitive laws, eighteenth century, Pennsylvania, indentured servants
RL=6th-YA

The history of energy usage and all the major sources of power are explained in a clear and precise manner. The need to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources is also clearly stated. Sadly, though it has been more than a decade since publication, the U.S. has still not moved much in the direction of renewable sources. There has been much talk and some research, but little funding and actual implementation. This book has not become outdated because we have not moved forward.
RL=5th-8th

The concept of the book is amazingly interesting: a family creates a campground, developing it for years, with the idea of sharing a total solar eclipse with enthusiasts. Their whole life revolves around the celebration of astronomical events. Both the experienced and newbies come for this awesome, rare happening.

The story is told by three characters: Ally, the oldest daughter of the campground owners who is an expert on the topic and whose shared anticipation increases others' interest; Bree, whose only interest is in becoming a supermodel and learns to her horror that her parents have made the ill-advised decision to start managing the campground after the eclipse; and Jack, a loner, failing his science class, whom his science teacher (a volunteer astronomer of some repute) asks to aid him with an experiment and management of the trip. The three make unlikely friendships and grow through the whole experience. They face situations they can't comprehend dealing with, and they support each other with the difficulties. They learn to see themselves in ways they hadn't considered before.

The story depicts astronomy in a way that is accessible and appealing. This fact in itself is unusual. How many books pique the reader's interest enough to learn more? - and still fewer related to science. There are a number of details related to the viewing of the planets, stars, moon, and total eclipses. The description of the total eclipse makes me want to know more and maybe see one. I had no idea it could be so interesting. It's amazing to think that people spend much of their lives (at least their vacations) traveling to the spots of perfect viewing. If nothing else, it makes me want to pull out a telescope or pair of binoculars.

So, Wendy Mass's book is successful in two endeavor's at least: igniting interest in astronomy and sharing a convincing glimpse of teenage personal growth. There are also some unique moments incorporated in the story. I especially enjoyed Jack's tale.

related-solar eclipses, friendships, coming of age
RL=7th-YA, also of interest to adults

Primrose's (11 yrs old) parents are lost at sea. Living in a small fishing village in British Columbia, she holds the belief that her parents will be back. She learns to deal with interpersonal relationships (especially with adults) as she waits. She also finds refuge in a restaurant with a unique style.
related-real estate development, foster care, unfailing belief in the unprovable
RL=5th-8th

Little does Callie know that 1899 is her last summer of freedom. Busy with their own affairs, the rest of the family doesn't pay much attention to her odd behavior, her comings and goings, granted that might be because she does a fair bit of sneaking around. Her observations of nature during her jaunts to the river to cool off are the start of a new relationship with her grandfather, a grandfather everyone avoids for his grouchiness and contrariness. She tries to view a controversial book at the library, the librarian harasses her about the immorality of the book, and then she learns her grandfather has a cherished copy under lock and key. This is the moment she is invited into his inner sanctum, and her interest spurs him to guide the broadening of her education in their small Texas town. The book is The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.

When she starts school again, Callie's friendship with her grandfather is well underway, but her mother and teacher conspire to force her education in the womanly arts - sewing, cooking, demeanor, etc. Given the time period, there is only so much the grandfather can do to balance this burden being heaped upon her. Her time is being consumed by things she abhors, things she can't do well and doesn't want to do well. It undermines her belief in her friendship with her grandfather, and she is afraid then that her dreams are beyond her reach as a female. She already knows that she doesn't fit in, but it was a special thing to have her grandfather's admiration and encouragement.

This is a wonderful detailed account of small town life on the verge of the twentieth century. Even more it is a day-to-day description of the girl's observations, natural and social, and progress regarding her scientific learning. Callie and her family's excitement to learn about inventions such as wind machines (fans), automobiles, and telephone operation, and Callie's reaction to molecules under a microscope are an enjoyable experience from the 21st century perspective.

I love the book! My reading experience was similar to when I read Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. Coincidentally, The Origin of Species was a part of that book also, but my enjoyment had to do with the quality of the writing. The details are superb, as well as the enjoyment of everyday exploration. Darwin's book is not the central part of either book, but it does play a role in the education of the children, namely education through observation of life and thinking about those observations.

related-nature, grandfathers, family life, naturalists, Texas, 19th century, turn of the century, Darwin's influence, education
RL=6th and up

This is a useful textbook of drawing techniques for beginners through advanced. Many of the techniques also apply to those who don't wish to use colors. It can be used for selflearning or as a guide to plan lessons for students. There are exercises at the end of the chapters for all levels.
RL=5th-adult

In February, Abby's notified that she is failing 6th grade. Her teachers expect she will be held back, but they are willing to give her one last chance to pass. This means all B's or better for the rest of the year and an extra credit project from her English language teacher. The project she blindly picks is a pen pal project. She must write to someone in Afghanistan, receive a few letters, post updates on a classroom bulletin board, and give a report to the class at the end.

The story takes place from two points-of-view, Abby's and the boy's in Afghanistan, who is chosen by his teacher to write as a representative of his community. Interestingly, the story starts in Afghanistan with the teacher conferring with the men of the community. With two different reasons for the correspondence, neither child is thrilled with the idea at first. After receiving personal information from the other, the writing becomes more interesting and a feeling of friendship begins. Both children keep secrets from their schools. Unfortunately, their communications are cut short by social concerns of the Afghanistan community.

Clements remains one of my favorite authors for young readers. His depth is amazing for the length of the story and reading level. I haven't read all of his books, but I have enjoyed each of the ones I've read. Even wished they were not so short. I enjoy a story that does not suffer from the attempt to ensure access to younger readers.

This particular story has some cool, unexpected ideas in it. The geographical and social connections are brief, not going into anything that would be too controversial or boring, but with a glimpse that may lead to curiosity or discussion.

related-letters, pen pals, family life, Afghanistan, Illinois, school stories, schools
RL=3rd-6th

Caroline Kennedy has collected favorite poems for children. Many are ones I had known through my growing years. Some are favorites of mine, too. Each section has a personal introduction by Kennedy. The book is worth a peek for Jon Muth's paintings alone.

related-childhood, silly poems, animals, seasons, seashore, adventure, bedtime, sharing with family
RL=5th & up, meant to be read aloud to toddlers & up, depending on which poem

Frannie is contemplating a poem by Emily Dickinson when a new boy joins the class. The situation is disruptive in two ways - the new boy appears to be white (in an all black neighborhood and school) and he also looks and behaves a bit like Jesus. The classroom bully is affronted and confrontational from the first moment on. The new guy is christened Jesus Boy and makes waves wherever he goes. He does not back down and responds with sadness. Frannie's religious, best friend is sure he is Jesus. Because she wants him to be, it gives her hope in a neighborhood lacking hope.

Frannie makes a connection with the new boy through their common usage of sign language. Her older brother is deaf, so she grew up with the language. The Jesus Boy doesn't know how he knows it. He just does.

There is a bit of surface tension in the novel. Frannie is observing mostly, not willing to judge. The inevitable confrontation helps her to see things below the surface, allowing her to offer help when others wouldn't, spurring her to see life and people a little differently.

My first impression was of the shortness of the book. Then, it had a very different feel, so it took some acclimating. But I like the contemplation of the book. Granted, it would be more appealing to people wanting to think about life, the universe, spiritual growth, etc. I love that stuff and truly enjoy moments of discussion and revealing thought. It is a very short book. Possibly a good choice for book clubs. It has a very light treatment of religion.

The teacher assigns two writing exercises near the end. With a class reading, these could easily be lesson extensions. One would work for a social studies class as well.

related-race relations, African Americans, schools, deaf, religion, family life, hope, teaching tolerance, 1970s
RL=7th and up, others say younger, but it seems mature to me, maybe younger (4th even) for those forced to deal with prejudice at an early age

Fire is the second of this elemental series; the first was Water. McKinley and Dickinson are a husband and wife team, both having received awards on their own, both excellent storytellers. McKinley's forte is in the retelling of folk tales (such as Beauty, The Outlaws of Sherwood, and Spindle's End, though she also received a Newbery for The Hero and the Crown and a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword. Dickinson writes fantasy with a strong sense of the historical, tending towards ancient history. The Ropemaker and A Bone from a Dry Sea are books I've read of his (He has written close to fifty. As he is British, his books are harder to come by here.).

Spirits closely related to fire would be the phoenix, hellhounds, and dragons. It's no surprise the first story incorporates the phoenix. The connection of the phoenix and the lifespan of individuals is the crux, with a forest caretaker keeping the phoenix as a companion (it cannot be called a pet with its nobility). I love their relationship, the details of the phoenix's routines, and the old retainer's life. In the second story, a hellhound is adopted as a pet, but uniquely it is fighting evil in the area. The setting is a horse stable with a young girl responsible for caring for horses and giving riding classes. I enjoyed her character and that of the hellhound the most. The third story was not as appealing to me. It seemed to me to be how a tribal community might have reacted to dragons attracted to their fires. What I like about the story is that the main character wasn't so sure it was necessary or good to destroy the nest of dragons. That was different. What I didn't like was that he went ahead and played a major part in destroying them anyway. The Salamander Man has creatures less traditionally linked to fire. But the man himself becomes full of fire when the salamanders combine their power. This is an interesting story, with wizards mostly as the bad guys. Too much power for anyone to hold, so the salamanders need to go back to their origination. The last is a dragon and dragonrider story with a young fellow training unofficially to be a healing wizard. Wizards are the 3rd rung on the ladder of respect. Though the boy has great potential, he hides because of the lack of respect. The dragonrider academy provides an opportunity for him to attract attention and gain respect for the healing profession. This is the longest and best of the stories. I would like to see it expanded into a novel. It felt like the story could have been extended so much farther.

related-mythical animals, short stories, phoenix, hellhounds, dragons, dragonriders, horses
RL=7th-adult

On the brink of war, Bobby Burns truly appreciates the wonders of his world. He hopes for miracles in a situation that seems hopeless. He must decide how far he is willing to go to right a wrong. What would we be willing to risk to stand against what we know to be wrong? Can a fight against what is wrong turn into something pointless or a wrong itself?
related-Cuban Missile Crisis, World War II, school, labor, miracles
RL=7th-YA

The language mirrors the story with its galloping prose. It is fraught with metaphors of constraint-being forced into stillness. The choice of words for the descriptions are tangible and exciting with the story bursting forth-pulling forward just as the Governor's Girl (the firehorse) does.

Forced to move to Boston and leave her horse behind, Rachel is consumed with depression. The need to protect another horse pulls her back into the life around her.

This awesome story includes an account of the Great Boston Fire of 1872 based on newspaper articles and a girl's diary. It draws parallels between the firehorse and Rachel, who cares for her when she is terribly burned. Together they find redemption, but what spirit they must have to follow their callings in the 19th century!

related-veterinary practice, gender roles, horses, arson, family life, Boston Massachusetts-history, historical fiction, women's rights and choices
RL=7th-YA

Cooper is raised by his grandparents on their dairy farm. After they die of natural causes strange things start happening. There are black sedans driving slowly around their tiny town, and that's just the beginning. His way of life is at risk.

After reading Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, I immediately searched for other books by Gary Schmidt. I wasn't excited by the description of First Boy, but I was not disappointed by the book. Schmidt's descriptions of his characters-their feelings and their daily lives-are insightful. The book is as much about who Cooper is as it is about the storyline.
RL=6th-adult

First Light is a very interesting tale. Unusual in every sense. It is part utopian science fiction, with a twist of the historical, a smudge of global warming, and a mystery at the heart of it all.

Thea lives in a community under Greenland's ice cap. They went underground more than a century ago when they were driven close to extinction by their neighbors. Thea's mother (dead since she was a toddler) had the dream of resurfacing to expand the community. Thea is now continuing her mother's vision.

Peter's father has a grant to study global warming in Greenland, and he finally gets to go with his parents and watch his father in action, or so he thinks. The camp is a bit of a letdown, but he is allowed to explore a little on his own. He starts to see strange images in his wanderings.

Thea and Peter meet when Thea and her cousin are tempted by the finding of a passage to the surface. Her cousin is stuck in the ice, requiring aid, and Peter's sled dog is called there by Thea's dog.

The story sounds simple enough then, except that there is unrest regarding Thea's behavior and a power struggle rooted in the history of Thea's mother, and even before her. Also, Peter's parents are acting strange. He hears snips of conversation and does not know what to think.

This is certainly a Knock Your Socks Off kind of book. As in When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead likes the plot twists. I wasn't expecting any underlying mystery, only waiting for the inevitable meeting.

The under-ice community is a charming world. One I think I'd like to visit. It was interesting to think how it could work, and I was disappointed by the leaving of it.

related-secrets, Greenland, adventure and adventurers, high interest
RL=5th and up

What an excellent book! I found it looking for mysteries. It is just what I wanted - not the standard mystery. It is layered with concepts. The first to be revealed is the family secret being hidden from Homer about the father he doesn't remember. Then, the mystery of Fake Man, disguised and sneaking around the tiny town of Herring Cove. Homer's life changing as a result of making a friend and pursuing both mysteries. Also, the idea of what it is to be an artist. All four of these themes are what make the book.

Homer is a great character. One of the best things about the book is how convincing his thoughts and feelings are, and their depth. He undergoes a huge personal transformation, made possible by the excitement of a new place and the awareness that he can learn about his father without his mother, by asking townspeople who might have known him. Homer starts out as closed-up as his mother, but his friendship and what he learns pries his clamshell wide open. He also has some profound insights regarding his life and his drawing. I enjoyed Homer's pure enjoyment of exploring the town and his new friendship.

The suspense of the mysteries is carried well throughout the book. Possibly due to there being more than one, and the linking of them builds excitement throughout the story.

The format of the book is a little different. There are brief chapters that provide perspectives besides Homer's. This disrupts the flow but also adds to the story. I'm not crazy about the graphic ones, though, with the silly comments. I believe this was done to lighten a story which becomes a little heavy/depressing at the end. These inserts seemed goofy to me and interrupted an otherwise great story. It's possible it was done for a young audience. The story is accessible to 4th and 5th graders, but because of the major theme of Homer's father's death, I would say older is better.

related-father, artists, mystery and detective stories, Maine, identity, friendships, spying, boys, adventure, high interest
RL=7th and up

Dylan's family owns the gas station in a quiet Welsh town known for having the least crime. Their business is failing because the road leads to nowhere and there is no exit sign along the highway. The National Gallery of Art decides to store paintings in the local abandoned slate mine to protect them from flooding in London.

This story is a quirky accounting of how the paintings transform the lives of all of the townfolk. The Gallery representative sees Dylan as a fellow art lover and lets him in on the secret not realizing it is too big of a secret to be kept. The official expects little appreciation from the less educated community, but the incredible art brings out the best in the people. Much of the story is comical with some great inspirational moments.
related-auto maintenance and repair, art galleries, business enterprise, family life, separation, Wales, eccentrics

RL=4th-YA

When I was in 9th grade, our class read about Rosa Parks. The information was brief, and the gist was that she deserved the credit for the boycott and desegregation. Freedman describes the factors leading up to the boycott and the amazing coming together of the community to make it happen. The boycott was precipitated by Rosa Parks's arrest and willingness to appeal, but the tremendous change happened because the black community was determined that there would be change. Can you imagine the sense of pride and determination the people had who walked miles every workday for more than a year?

The strength of the book lies in Freedman's telling of all the events of the boycott (not just Rosa Parks's part) and the "sacrifices and determination of thousands" who normally relied on the buses of Montgomery, Alabama.

related-African American history, civil rights, bus boycott, 20th century, Montgomery-Alabama, segregation, transportation, race relations, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Jo Ann Robinson, Claudette Colvin, protesters, civil disobedience
RL=6th-YA

This is a humorous example of the spread of words from creation to popularity. A language lesson that Nick finds boring inspires him to create a new word in order to challenge his teacher. He carries the joke too far (partly because of her response), and the situation goes beyond his control.
related-words and language, schools, teacher/student relationships, creativity, thinking and learning
RL=3rd-6th

Garden Crafts for Kids is a resource for helping kids to get started as gardeners. Everything they will need to know is here, from potting plants and transferring trees to growing from seeds to designing a garden and composting. In fact, it can be used as a guide for any beginner gardener - adults, too. It's less crafty than most of the kids' gardening books, concentrating more on gardening itself. The crafts are more useful than average as well. There are some experiments also, such as generating electricity with an onion, and recipes.

The pictures are what drew me to the book at first. Much of the information is things I've already been exposed to as a gardener. Even so, there are some things I have not tried. The potato layers is one thing I would like to try, only I think I will make some bottomless boxes to stack instead of using tires. We have also not kept worms. I did already use one of the recipes and am thinking of a variation for next year when the spruce has new growth.

For beginners, you may want to read through and then try a little at a time. It may be too overwhelming to try all of the interesting projects at once. Refer back to the book when you are ready for more. Gardening is something that takes years to feel comfortable with. Adding on more and more as you go. Definitely worth the time. Soon you will be coming up with your own ideas, since gardening also leads to innovation.

related-gardening, gardens, nature crafts, woodworking, experiments, recipes
RL=4th or 5th-adult

The Gates is a light sci fi/fantasy tale presenting the underworld as a parallel universe. CERN's Hadron Collider briefly opens a wormhole, though the scientists are clueless how this could happen. Simultaneously, a group of friends hold a ceremony to call forth a demon. To their immense surprise, it works. This demon forces the wormhole to stay cracked and invites others through. A unique boy, Samuel Johnson, celebrates Halloween 3 days ahead of time and sees the possession of his neighbors. He and his friends, with the help of a banished demon, work to keep the devil from passing through the Gates and work to seal them shut.

The story was obviously written for children. Besides a low reading level and shortness and quickness, the hero is a child, though smarter than average, aided by two other children. It is simplistic and humorous, with many odd asides, reminding me of Douglas Adams's works. I understand it is being classed as adult in libraries. The intro and subject may be a little controversial, but it is a light, humorous story. There is nothing really that need be considered offensive. It is not meant to be serious. I strongly doubt children would have a problem with it. The scientific connection is interesting. What I like best, though, are Samuel's character and his interaction with other characters, including his dog.

related-boys, good and evil, physics
RL=6th and up

This is the biography of a woman who was rocking the boat her whole life. She is primarily known for saving city areas from demolition in the U.S. and Canada. Also known for changing the way developers look at those city areas. Living in a city herself and biking around her own city, she noticed the wonderful details that make up the life and character of the city. With urban renewal in the 1950s and 1960s, large development projects were planned which would destroy much of the character of the neighborhoods, leaving many families and businesses no choice but to move out of the city.

Jane Jacobs wrote a book about the life that was being demolished, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, pointing out what was being lost to urban renewal. She also helped to organize several protests by communities who were labeling "slums" in order to cheaply proceed with the building projects and hopefully avoid question. The citizen protests were successful as they proved the areas were not slums, and the communities continued to thrive.

I love this book. I didn't already know about Jane Jacobs. I now want to read her books. Though unknown to me before, I suspect her legacy was passed down to me through my college Art and Architecture class. It seems so obvious to me about glorying in the history and diversity of the old neighborhoods. The messages are loud and clear about the underdog winning against uncaring planners and the fame and money they expected to receive and the citizens getting their way because their way of life was at stake. Also, Jane Jacobs had no credentials that City Hall had to respect. She had determination and knowledge that made sense, so citizens can prevail now also, if they try.
related-women, city planners, life in the city, diversity, city development, urban renewal, United States, New York City, 20th century, sociology
RL=5th-adult, mature 5th

Gilda Joyce, a self-proclaimed, psychic investigator, travels with her best friend Wendy Choy to Oxford, England for Wendy's international piano competition. What better place for a young, would-be novelist and paranormal detective to visit! As Gilda gets sidetracked by her own exciting experiences, Wendy is the one confronted by the ghostly events. So much that she cannot concentrate on her music for the competition. Both are baffled by the sinister warnings that appear to be related to Wendy's ghost, and as more clues appear, the contest becomes a focal point of the whole mystery.

Gilda is a wacky character, totally carried away by her adventures. Wendy, normally level-headed, has lost control of herself and cannot focus. The two friends go opposite directions, and Wendy ends up just as involved in the case as Gilda.

It took a while for me to get into the story, but it ended up being a captivating mystery. Different is the word for it. Characters, setting and plot are fresh and light-hearted.

related-ghosts, mystery, detective stories, piano competitions and concerts, Oxford, England, investigation of paranormal
RL=6th-9th

The story was a little slow getting started for me, but once hooked it was quite good. There is a Dickensian feel to it, though broken up by the updates of the contemporary search. The strong characters are mostly the thieves. I particularly like Gideon. I also enjoyed the effect the generator has on the kids and the stir it causes. The focus of the story is on the setting (handled well), mystery, and adventure. The ending is slightly predictable but with a promise of more adventure to come.
related-time travel, robbers and outlaws, history of Great Britain, George III, fathers and sons, London
RL=6th-YA

There is a historical fiction segment in the book as well; this time it deals with the French Revolution. At the end of the first book, Peter gets stuck in 1763. While the grownups discuss whether it is safe to travel in time again, Kate conspires with Peter's father to go back and rescue him. Due to interference with the travel device, they are transported to 1792 instead, so Peter has been living in the past for twenty-nine years. They meet his older self, and he pretends to be someone else to encourage them to go back to 1763 for the twelve year old.

There is also another criminal section since the Tar Man has been transported to the 21st century. He finds his niche quickly and also has contact with Lord Luxom in 1763. He has unfinished business with Lord Luxom which is important for book three and will draw Gideon into the story once again.

The book is long, but I hope that won't deter readers, as I believe it is better than the first-with more complexity and stronger characters. It may even be one to reread while waiting for the third to be published.

*Note carefully the titles, since the change of titles has caused some confusion.

related-time travel, robbers and outlaws, fathers and sons, French Revolution, Great Britain, London
RL=6th-YA

Introducing Gilda Joyce - an ambitious 8th grader, ready to start her career as a psychic detective and novelist. School's out for the summer. Her best friend Wendy is going to music camp, and Gilda's plans for the summer are foiled before they start. Angling for a spectacular summer adventure, Gilda invites herself to her uncle's (an uncle she hadn't known she had) Victorian home in San Francisco, complete with locked tower and hauntings.

She has her work cut out for her: communicating with relatives not in the habit of fraternizing with anyone, extracting information regarding the mysterious events including the past death of her uncle's sister. Meanwhile, Gilda also uses this opportunity to try to contact her deceased father, reasoning that a haunted house is the perfect place to connect with spirits in the hope that one will be her father. It is her desire to reach her dad that drives her to study and practice psychic phenomenon.

Her cousin Juliet is suffering from her own losses. When her aunt Melanie died, her father withdrew from her. Not only did she lose her beloved aunt, but her parents split up, and her father allows no discussion of her aunt. Gilda's influence may help to heal the rift between them. But there are many obstacles to their efforts to work together in solving the mystery of Melanie's ghostly visits. One factor is Juliet's rejection of friendship offered; another is Gilda's clueless pushiness.

Gilda is an interesting character, and the story is a twist on the standard mystery. Like Nancy Drew, Gilda is the passionate, overeager detective, though less perfect and much wackier. She is smart, and even approaches psychic practices in a methodical manner. Her goal is to establish her career, and she very much wants to be taken seriously.

I read the later books first. Gilda's character will be more developed and mature in the other books. All of the stories that I've read in the series are imaginative and entertaining, with The Dead Drop being my favorite so far.

related-detective stories and mysteries, strong female characters, psychic ability, dreams, ghosts, cousins, suicide, fathers and daughters, family problems, San Francisco, CA, humorous stories
RL=5th-8th

G is for Googol, besides having one of the best names, is one of my favorite alphabet books. It's unique and delightful, explaining some great math terms in clear and simple speech. It also has fabulous graphic depictions and comical commentary. The reading level is about 3rd to 5th grade level, but it is really a book for all ages. Everyone can enjoy the comics. Elementary on up through adult can benefit from the clarification of ideas, and in turn discuss with children better, encouraging them to enjoy the concepts of math enough to persevere through the figuring they might not like as much.

Besides the educational value, it is a fun book. It shows that math is fascinating, something worth knowing for the pleasure of it. I think maybe a fault of school systems is that too often math is taught as just memorization and figuring from the beginning through half or all of high school. It isn't just a skill to acquire; there are exciting, mindblowing concepts involved.

G is for Googol and its counterpart Q is for Quark are books to buy for youngsters and keep and cherish. They are not quick reads; they serve as reminders as well as introductions. I have to say these books helped me to understand some of the terms better and explained terms I hadn't bothered to understand. Here's hoping that these books will lead to further exploration.

related-mathematics, alphabet, ABCs, educational comics, exploration
RL=all ages

Nathaniel Dunn is an indentured servant recently arrived in the American colonies from England who has been separated from his father and sold. He becomes apprenticed to a carriage maker who is trying to hold his business together in Virginia as the Revolution develops. His master is a tutor who cannot afford to keep a servant and who passionately believes in the heros of the times-Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Peyton Randolph, and others.

I enjoyed the chance to read about the Virginian point-of-view for a change. I did not already know the facts involved in the story. There is also a comparison of slavery and indentured servants which is thought-provoking. I especially enjoyed the schoolmaster's character.

related-American Revolution, Revolutionary heros, indentured servants, freedom, music, history of Virginia, 18th century, 1775, embargo, historical fiction
RL=5th and up

The Leviathan is en route to Japan when they pick up a passenger in Siberia. Prince Alek is excited to learn that it is Nikola Tesla, the renowned inventor. He is working on a weapon, the Goliath, which he intends will end the war. He claims that he can pinpoint and devastate large cities from across the seas, and the threat will be enough to cease the fighting. He says that the location in Siberia is a test run that he was investigating. Tesla and Alek share a common interest in avoiding war, and their association will bring Tesla more publicity and possibly connections with either Austria or Germany.

In this book, Alek learns Deryn's (young friend and ally) identity and that she has a crush on him. He is drawn to her as well, but as the heir to the Austrian throne, he believes his destiny lies elsewhere. He is torn by the prospect of losing his best friend, though. Unfortunately, Alek is not the only one who learns the truth.

Within the whole trilogy, the Leviathan travels almost all the way around the world. It launched from England initially, and in this third book, flies from Siberia to California to Mexico and up to New York City where Tesla is determined to demonstrate his weapon.

I enjoyed this book as much as the rest of the series. The characters are engaging. The references to the Victorian era keep the story humming along. All the alternate details of the Clankers and Darwinists are fascinating. There is some intrigue aboard, though only some innuendo. I wasn't ready for the series to end, and I wish that some of the scenarios were expanded more. Both Dr. Barlow (scientist/diplomat) and Count Volger (Prince Alek's mentor and protector) could have played larger parts. But Alek and Deryn worked well together and there was plenty of story between the two.

There was one thing that bothered me about the story. Tesla was portrayed as a nut. Westerfeld definitely took artistic license with him. Considering how little people are taught about him and how little they learn on their own, I found this irritating. He was a brilliant man who was capable of things others did not understand. Certainly, he did encourage a mystical reputation and was flamboyant. He lost his popularity and was working on things others didn't understand, but that does not make him a nut. It is quite common for inventors to lack money. Likely, he was driven by his feelings regarding the current war, but so were Einstein and Oppenheimer. I hope that the story leads to biographical exploration. A book my son recommends is AC/DC: The Savage Tale of the First Standards War by Tom McNichol.

related-imaginary creatures, war, mechanical creations, genetic engineering, WWI, Nikola Tesla, William Randolph Hearst, Pancho Villa
RL=6th and up

What a nice way of presenting details of Medieval history and daily life! When I first looked in the book, I noticed the poetry format and thought it was going to be harder to read, dragging, maybe not something kids would pick for themselves. Maybe they wouldn't. But the book is fresh and alive. The text is loosely poems, mostly sounding like speech. They are 19 monologues and 2 dialogues, meant to be performed. The 2 dialogues are blended, sounding similar to Paul Fleischman's Joyful Noise. It is as if the personalities stepped out of time to discuss their lives, their concerns.

The characters are all young people, between 10 and 15 years old. They represent different aspects of the Medieval village and give a realistic image of the times. There are also a few excerpts further explaining some points and a lengthy bibliography for more reading or study.

Schlitz is a librarian who wrote the pieces for a Medieval unit study at her local school. The students all wanted strong parts, so she complied.

This would be a great choice for Readers Theater, too.

The presentation of the book is reminiscent of illuminated books, with borders and small detailed pictures on all title pages and larger ones here and there.

related-Middle Ages, monologues, plays, trades, society and social issues
RL=4th-8th

I found the beginning of this utopian sci fi novel to be a little slow, but once Will starts to visit an outpost which is different from how he was raised, the story becomes very interesting. At the same time evidence of how and why he is created is forced on him. Will has to come to terms with his father's plans for him and what he has learned about his world. This is a fresh approach to an old theme. It took me in a direction I really did not expect.
RL=7th-YA

To start with I was not excited about reading this book. The related short story from M is for Magic was not one of my favorites from the book. But I read the flap description recently and thought I'd give it a try. After about 100 pages, I still was not sure I wanted to continue. Then, everything changed.

You wouldn't believe the stuff that happens in the graveyard. Bod (short for Nobody) gets into a heap of trouble, pushing his limits, as any child would, as he grows to adulthood. I want to know more about Bod's mysterious governess Miss Lupescu, and Silas is the ultimate of guardians, despite the barest glimpses into his background.

I was not expecting the story to be a mystery, but it turns into one and completely captivates. The setting is contemporary but feels like historical fiction due to Bod's isolated, graveyard existence. The ghosts are 18th century or earlier. The Dance Macabre with the death personification is medieval; I so enjoyed this scene.

Bod learns from many of the graveyard's inhabitants, but as he ages he realizes that the graveyard is limited and he is missing out on the world. He begs to attend a real school, for the living. The description of his school expereince reminds me of Susan Sto Helit from Terry Pratchett's Soul Music of Discworld fame. He is at school to learn but really not part of the school. It is during this period when Bod is half grown that I wondered if he might grow to be like Silas, not alive and not dead. It is also when the book becomes more complex, with Bod visiting the town, drawing attention to himself, meeting a friend from childhood, plus the Dance imagery.

Neil Gaiman is an excellent wordsmith. His writing has an elegance even when the reading level is not particularly high. His stories are quirky, and he blends unusual thoughts and images effortlessly.

related-dead, supernatural, cemeteries, mysteries, high interest, orphans
RL=6th and up

This book includes pivotal moments in the history of the Native Americans from first contact with Europeans to Tecumseh's movement to unite the First Nations. It also includes the resistance of several tribes as well as massacres that influenced thought on both sides. It demonstrates the varied beliefs and practices of the many tribes and explains some of the ideas that made war inevitable. Lastly, it honors the First Nations for who they were and are and for their persistence and rebirth.

I do not know enough about the subject to know how well researched the book is, but it seems to be an excellent introduction to the theme.

related-Indians of North America, government relations, Native American social life and customs
RL=6th-ya

So much importance is placed on Thomas Jefferson and George Washington (while Madison is mostly left out) that I didn't realize how important James Madison was to the founding of the U.S. before reading Jean Fritz's book. It is one of the most exciting of her biographies (of which she has done many). Not only did Madison write the initial proposal for the Constitution, he also had to explain it to the other delegates and persuade them that it wouldn't take away the powers of their states. Through the convention called to solve the problems of the Continental Congress, he took his own secrets notes of everyone's reactions so that he could address their concerns. He also persuaded Washington of the importance of his presence. The other delegates would feel safer starting a new government knowing Washington would be the new leader. Madison's influence did not stop with the ratification of the Constitution. He continued to play an active role in the federal government until the end of his life. Sure of what was best for the country and determined to convince the rest.

This is a great book for clear understanding of the founding of the U.S. government. It is a short book but gives a much more in depth and clearer picture than textbooks.
related-U.S. Presidents, James Madison, friendship with Thomas Jefferson, the Constitution of the United States of America, slavery, history of Virginia, War of 1812, Dolley Madison, 18th-19th century, Revolutionary war
RL=6th-8th

Dewey Kerrigan and Suze Gordon are misfits on The Hill. Suze tries too hard to fit in, and Dewey goes her own way, mostly ignoring everyone else, as she creates her mechanical projects. When Dewey's dad is called to Washington, D.C., she moves in with Suze's family. After a few problems, they come to understand each other and even become friends.

The setting is the Manhattan Project. The girls parents are working on the development of the atom bomb. Klages has done a very good job of placing the characters at Los Alamos during the 1940s. There is a feeling of the importance of the work, but the story barely touches on the horrors of the atom bomb and the moral questions related to it.

The depth of feeling regarding the girls' characters is excellent. Dewey has major difficulties to face. Plus, she is an extraordinary girl at a time when girls were expected to do girlish things. There are also some enjoyable extras such as codes, comics, and Dewey's gadgets.

related-World War II, Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, 1940s, loss of parents, friendship, girls, invention, atom bomb, nuclear weapons, fission, United States history, scientists, historical fiction
RL=6th-YA

The Grimm Collection is a group of magical artifacts factually related to the Grimm fairy tales. They are held in locked storage at the New York Circulating Material Repository and lent out to trusted patrons.

Elizabeth takes a new job at the Repository looking to get out of the house ruled by her stepmother, meet friends with common interests, as well as earn some money. The interview and testing procedure are peculiar and the place even stranger, but Elizabeth adapts quickly and is soon enjoying the magical environment.

Artifacts are disappearing from the Grimm Collection, and everyone is suspect, including the pages retrieving items and the librarians who supervise operations. Afraid they will be blamed for the thefts, Elizabeth and her new friends investigate on their own.

I enjoy the idea of the artifacts with their story specific powers, reminiscent of the newish TV show Warehouse 13 on SyFy. There are many references to Grimm stories, which is fun, as well as historical figures such as Marie Antoinette's wig. The mystery itself was a little odd to me, though. There is some romance tied up with the ordinary vs beautiful scenario and adventure with the teens needing to overcome magic related obstacles. Overall, the artifacts were the best part, though I liked the mysteriousness of a couple of the adults as well.

related-magic, folklore, fairy tales, historical objects, libraries, adventures, mysteries
RL=7th and up

To leave the oppressive atmosphere of his uncle's home in medieval France, Grimpow takes up with a petty thief and wanderer. Grimpow finds a dead traveler in the mountains, clutching a stone. The stranger also carries jeweled daggers, silver coins and a coded letter with a golden seal. He and his friend take their find to the nearby abbey for counsel. This opens a new world to Grimpow, of education and adventure. He becomes caught up in a quest for knowledge vs censorship. He joins a tradition of protecting the philosopher's stone and its secrets from the King of France and the current Pope. He must unravel the mystery in order to preserve the tradition, as the knowledge is in danger of disappearing with the last of the secret keepers.

The story has fantasy elements, but reads like a historical novel, incorporating the Crusades, the Knights Templar, alchemists, some old churches and scholars. Grimpow's traveling companions include a knight and a daughter of an artisan. It turns out they both are related to the secret society of alchemists, along with others they encounter. The mystery of the stone and an unknown treasure are the basis for much of the story.

The book is a delightful read. I enjoyed the clues and knowledgeable tidbits. It was nice to read something with a historical feel. It would appeal to the imaginative and adventurous.

related-philospher's stone, knowledge, quest, puzzles and codes
RL=6th and up

This book is the first volume of short stories of the Guys Read Library. Each volume will focus on a particular genre. This one is humorous stories. Guys Read is a website started by Jon Scieszka to promote reading among young boys.

As with all short story collections, I have a few favorites. The first is Artemis Begins by Eoin Colfer, a story about Colfer's brother, the inspiration for Artemis Fowl. Kid Appeal by David Lubar includes an attempt at the best school project. I love the project gone horribly wrong, but recorded for posterity. Kate DiCamillo and Jon Scieszka's entry, Your Question For Author Here, is one of the best. A boy writes to an author for a class project, even though he didn't read her books. He is candid, but she doesn't let him off easy, and a real conversation ensues. A Fistful of Feathers by David Yoo has an ironic twist. For all of the boys out there who don't want to do exactly what there dads like or fit the expected societal mold. Have to admit I was wondering about the turkey's thoughts myself (a little creepy).

For those looking for grotesqueties, The Bloody Souvenir by Jack Gantos might be your thing. A boy seduced by danger and hiding it from his mother operates on himself with nasty consequences. My Parents Give My Bedroom To a Biker by Paul Feig is an odd tale. I like the beginning, but the explanation for the scenario is goofy to me. It may be just right for young boys, though. Christopher Paul Curtis's What? You Think You Got It Rough? is also not something I cared for, but I could see boys cringing and loving it. Unaccompanied Minors by Jeff Kinney is a prime example of sibling rivalry and harassment, lasting into adulthood. Will by Adam Rex features a school with superheroes-to-be, a perennial favorite. Best of Friends by Mac Barnett has two boys that are friends by default with one of them bailing in the end. It also includes one boy using a prize to solicit new friends.

There are some creative and bizarre stories in this collection. Just a few laugh out loud moments, but you'll find yourself laughing, or at least smirking(snickering), at the strangest antics.

related-humorous stories, short stories, comedy, boys, promotion of literacy, friends, families, school, trouble
RL=3rd-7th

Ben Tomlin's family moves from Toronto to Victoria, because they have one of the few universities that would welcome the experiment Ben's parents intend to pursue. On his 13th birthday, his mom brings home his new brother - Zan, a baby chimpanzee. The goal is to attempt to raise the chimpanzee as a human. His father's focus will be solely on human language and whether Zan will be able to use words in a cognitive and creative fashion. His mother plans to observe how closely a chimpanzee can learn and think as a human. Will the nurturing make all the difference, or will there still be a key part of Zan that will always be chimpanzee? The conflicting experiments are interesting in that they do interfere with each other. It turns out the nurturing is very important, and Ben's mother's experiment is highly disrupted by changes in that care. When push comes to shove, with a new grant needed and withheld, evidence is ignored, the project terminated, and Zan is treated unfairly.

As you can imagine, Ben did not originally want a chimpanzee brother. But he does become part of the family. Not because of the household revolving around Zan, which it does, but because Zan interacts with him as a brother would. The language experiment works, and Ben is one of just a few people to fully watch it happen. In the process, he is a key part of his mother's research, which also is revealing of the nature vs nurture argument relating to human development.

Ben's family dynamic is on display as much as Zan's growth. Zan's needs run counter to what Mr. Tomlin deems necessary for the experiment, which pits Ben against his father in trying to ensure what Zan needs. At the crux of the matter is the fact that the family situation is a lie. The father never sees the chimpanzee as a son, in fact is not even closely involved in Zan's world. Arbitrary judgements are made without regard to evidence to the contrary, and it is excruciating to watch while Zan's world falls apart. Ben and his mother are forced to observe helplessly.

Two other books, though very different, to read and compare are NEXT by Michael Crichton and Eva by Peter Dickinson.

related-language recognition and usage, language skills, experiments with animals, nature vs nurture, human and animal behavior and development, family dynamic, critical choices, anthropology
RL=7th and up

Fletcher Moon, the youngest certified detective in the world, is on his first real case. When his investigations lead him towards the truth, he is framed along with a boy from THE crime family in town. They team up to solve the case with a little undercover work thrown in.

This book is totally different from the other Colfer books giving it a new texture. It has imaginative twists and will keep you guessing until the end. Excellent mystery for beginners.
note: author of acclaimed Artemis Fowl series
RL=4th-8th

Despite having 6 children and housework, Harriet wanted to do something important. Her father was a preacher who raised his sons to become a preacher and speak publicly about political issues. Harriet had lived for years in Cincinnati, Ohio on the edge of slave territory with the issue of runaway slaves being important in the town and in her family. She became passionately opposed to slavery during her years in Cincinnati. She decided that writing a book depicting aspects of slavery could be her contribution to the movement to end slavery. The book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, was and still is widely read.

Harriet Beecher Stowe's family and life were more interesting than I would have guessed. This book is one of Jean Fritz's more fascinating books-maybe partly because Harriet Beecher Stowe is a lesser known person than Fritz's other subjects.

related-women authors, 19th century, Congregational Churches, ministers, Beecher family, American authors, abolitionists, writing club
RL=6th-YA

For many people Harry Potter needs no introduction or review. Those who have not read the books may be getting tired of hearing about it. Fans can't get enough and want it to never end. If you have seen the movies and not read the books, I strongly recommend that you read the books. The books are much better because things have been cut for the movies.

Although they were not written as children's books, the first two books are written at a level that 3rd to 5th graders can easily read. At that point the books are amusing because of the humor in the dialogue and the interesting things that can be done with magic. Starting with the 3rd book, the series becomes more complex-dealing with social issues and psychological aspects of life. They are still packed with humor and creative details. However, the characters are more developed and interesting, and we start to see that there is a master plan for the series that is slowly being revealed. Loose ends are being tied to the story that before didn't seem significant.

I know that some people are put off by the magic and hype surrounding Harry Potter. The allure of the magic in the series is similar to the fascination with superheroes or awe of computerized graphics. It creates possibilities that we know are not really possible. To me, the magic is just the backdrop-however amusing. It is just another medium used to display the story which is the struggle of good against evil-including different shades and variations of each. The story also incorporates the social and psychological struggle that life can be. As for the hype, that comes naturally because it is one of the best series available-for both juvenile and adult literature. It appeals to both, and so it has become a masterpiece that we all can share.

My sons loved these books of background information, and they still refer to them for fun and speculation about the Harry Potter series.

For people who want to dig deeper into the stories (or for classes), there are some good sources available. Wizarding World Press supplies critical analysis of the books. Their information is insightful and entertaining. They inspired my family to think more analytically and investigatively of the books.

Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter
The Plot Thickens...Harry Potter Investigated by Fans for Fans
New Clues to Harry Potter: Book 5
by Galadriel Waters
*There are newer books also that we have not read.

The website links listed below provide news, editorials, speculation, discussion, spin-offs, etc.

Paulsen has created a fascinating detailed, and realistic account. You can easily see yourself in Brian's place.

This is a more fantastical book than I usually am interested in reading. For me, fantasy books are better when they have realistic aspects to ground them. However, there are fascinating concepts in this book that kept me reading-travel faster than the speed of light, a connection between light and the human soul, the possibility of our sun's destruction if an emerging pattern is not reversed. Besides these factors, the story is also about an inseparable bond between a girl and her grandfather. A bond which has the strength to save the Earth's solar system. The ultimate pattern of life and death and rebirth is also an important part of the story.

related-fantasy and science fiction, grandfathers, death, adventure, astrophysics, solar system, black holes, life of a star
RL=5th-8th

This story exemplifies several challenges that contemporary Native Americans face, using the voice of a strong, middle school Penacook boy on the verge of recognizing the leader he could be. It starts with Chris Nicola's first day at the public middle school, and he is expecting to be harassed by the nearby town's students. But his negative expectations don't materialize. He meets the school terror and doesn't provoke his ire. New friends are not immediately forthcoming, but as he begins to participate in classes, he gains attention and starts to get to know students from the town versus the reservation.

Because his father is away, dealing with alcoholism related to his wife's death, Chris and his sister live with their grandfather (who is a former chief of the community) and his sister (Auntie Doda). They both serve as a grounding influence and teach Chris to follow old traditions. His grandfather has been entrusted with caring for an island of paradise on the reservation, a place of historical and spiritual importance to the community. When the new chief gives developers approval to construct a casino which would mar the island and land surrounding it, Chris rebels against the project, stirring up the community, and brainstorms to find a way to appease both sides of the issue. At the same time, Chris leads a group, for a school project, in proposing that the school district's mascot be changed from Chiefs. The group unanimously agrees on the subject, all participate in research and delivery, and their project garners community-wide attention.

This is a powerful story by a great storyteller. I don't know what it is about Bruchac, but I feel the story. It's like there is a resonating undertone, as if it is being spoken aloud when it is not. There is a weightiness, though it is simple and accessible. Maybe it is because he wastes no words.

Chris is a great character. He obviously has insecurities like most of us. But his worries are heavier burdens than most as well. To balance this he has the strength of previous generations of his family, plus the loving guidance of two wise beings. Even so, it is crucial for him that he is finally able to communicate with his father, though from a distance Chris wishes didn't exist. Just as important is Chris's ability to stay true to his teachings and to present his thoughts in a productive way. The story is an excellent example of reasoning, judgment, and conflict resolution in action.

related-Indian reservations, Penacook Indians, Indians of North America, New Hampshire, alcoholism, development vs conservation
RL=5th and up

This book went in a totally unexpected direction. That can be an awesome thing. In my mind, I was expecting training within Japan somehow to be a samurai. Instead, a historical whaling adventure enfolded. After being stranded on an outlying island, Manjiro and his fishing buddies are picked up by an American whaling ship. They travel for an extended time with the ship before making port in the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii). Because Manjiro has shown an interest in learning and assimilating, the captain offers him a chance to visit the United States and pursue an American education. After years of training, he decides on a future course - to return to Japan and find a way to act as an ambassador, urging his country to open its ports to visitors and teaching his countrymen about American ways and technology.

As a story, it feels a little rambling and incredible. But the book is based on biographies of a real man's life and adventures. It sounds like it follows Manjiro's life fairly closely. Possibly the unbelievable feeling comes from the uncommon globe-traveling nature of the adventures and also that the 1840s are so different from our own time. Different enough to be incredible.

The book almost reads as separate stories with Manjiro acclimating to various settings. All with the same curiosity and zest for life. It was exciting to read the whaling portion - not at all the usual topic. It reminded me of reading Moby Dick, one of the books I loved reading in college, though obviously less verbose.

related-1840s New England, whaling, shipwreck, ships, Japanese and United States relations, California Gold Rush, Sandwich Islands, 19th century, Nakahama Manjiro, John Mung, biographical fiction
RL=4th and up

Quite a novel idea for a book! To be stuck in a virtual reality game and forced to replay the scenes over and over until managing to win the game--except the brain has a limit to how long it can continue playing. There are many ways to win and seemingly unending mistakes to make as well. Medieval role playing is the context of the game.
RL=5th-8th

Hiroshima is a short and incredibly moving account of the dropping of one atom bomb on Hiroshima, Japan and its effect on the city and the world. It is factual with a simplified telling to make it accessible to young readers. It's simplicity makes it much more powerful than any textbook.

I don't know how old I was when I first had exposure to images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was 30 to 35 years after the bombings, and mostly what I saw was mushroom cloud images and the statistics of the dead and those injured by radiation. While the sheer numbers made an impression, it was brief and impersonal, and so I didn't continue to think about it for long. As simple as it is, this book makes a greater impression, because it provides an image of what it would have been like to be there.

I do not know know what age is appropriate to start dealing with such horrible things. I have not wanted to expose my children to these and other horrific issues. At the same time, I do not want to wait until high school and bombard them with the horrors and realities of the world. I think it is a mistake to NOT teach history because we don't like what happened or the controversy. My generation was mostly not taught much of what happened in the 20th century because of controversy (disagreement about facts). As a result, we are already repeating past mistakes. Any concerned parent should find out what is available and read for themselves.

For this particular book, I would recommend it for 7th grade through young adult. The story and language are simple enough for 5th grade, but the topic is young adult to adult. Maybe younger for children interested in serious subjects, but my problem with that is this subject requires discussion and looking further into the issue. Are they going to be able to deal with further study of this issue in 5th grade?
related-nuclear weapons, World War II, history-U.S. and Japan, bombardment, 1945, atomic bomb, Hiroshima Maidens, radiation, social issues, realities of war, effects of war
RL=7th-YA

For those ready to handle this issue, I would also recommend
Peace, A Dream Unfolding ed. by Penney Kome and Patrick Crean.
Sierra Club: San Francisco, 1986.
RL=YA-adult

The Golden Compass: Raised by the scholars and servants at one of the Oxford universities, running wild with the children of the town and universities, Lyra longs to go North in search of her "uncle" and adventure. Her best friend disappears from Oxford, thought to be kidnapped along with other children by the Gobblers for some sort of sacrifice. She sets out with great determination to rescue him, finding allies along the way where she can.

Mostly a book of epic adventure and intrigue, it also touches on the psyche or soul with the dæmons-individual creatures who are bound to their respective humans. Those of children can change aspects, but in adolescence they "settle" into one form. There is also a connecting point with other worlds (universes) through the Northern Lights. In this series, Lyra's world is the alternate universe, and it is her destiny to travel to ours. She has no difficulty finding protectors but makes her own decisions and follows her own path.

The excitement builds throughout the book with its twists and turns and a knowledge that there are momentous events to come. Not quite on the level with Harry Potter by Rowling and The Dark Is Rising by Cooper, but the story and details are truly exciting. The language and planning are not as complex.
related-missing person, experiment, arctic region, alter ego
RL=7th-adult

The Subtle Knife: Lyra joins Will who has an overwhelming quest of his own. From different worlds, they meet in another world altogether. A world in which the Specters feed on the souls of adults leaving a chaotic world of children. Within this world there was an organization of philosophers who crafted a knife that could cut through anything. Little did they know that the power of the knife was much greater and diverse and would become the ultimate weapon in the war to come.

Will's quest is to find his explorer father who has been missing for years. In his attempts he is drawn into the epic adventure in which Lyra is fated.

While there are parts of the book that are fascinating, it is more disjointed than The Golden Compass and has some slow spots. The book is obviously important in the buildup to the conclusion. My favorite parts are regarding the connecting of worlds, the further understanding of Dust and dæmons, and the story of Will's father.
RL=7th-adult

The Amber Spyglass: The third book is the epic struggle between the religious Authority and Lord Asriel and his rebels who wish to end the Authority's inquisitorial rule. Lyra is known to play a pivotal role in the confrontation, and so she is being hunted. Dr. Malone is also a target and has fled into another world. Her task is to live and study with the beings of that world to form a better understanding of the Dust particles and their importance in the life cycle. Will accompanies Lyra into the afterlife to set Roger free and, in doing this, they change the pattern of life and the Dust. Their relationship and sacrifices also are significant in the reformation of the ruling structures in the worlds.

The dæmon, or soul, is still a primary focus of the story. The ultimate conflict is resolved simply through Lyra and Will's relationship, growth, and thought instead of the usual colossal battle.
related-coming of age, innocence, consciousness, other conscious beings, evolution, adaptation
RL=7th-adult

More reviews of His Dark Materials
The Golden Compass
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass

As a homeschool teacher, I rely on the library for most of our History information. When I found Joy Hakim's books, I found a goldmine. I needed an overview to use for general information for the different time periods-to use as a springboard. I did not expect to find the detail of a ten volume set. Thinking back to the History textbooks I read in school, I was delighted to read an intelligent, and at times witty, account of our history. These books inspired me to read beyond what I already knew about U.S. history. The books also recommend books for more specific information. The series is interesting enough to read solely for pleasure.
RL=5th-YA

Until now, most of what I have read regarding Germany in the 1930s through 1940s was about the war itself or the Holocaust. I had known that Hitler's rise to power was a reaction against restrictions upon them as a result of WWI. I find it hard to understand why witnesses of WWI would have wanted another war. This book brings a new perspective-the idea that the preparation and desire for war was a product of the youth being targeted by NAZI propaganda.

In the U.S., not much time is spent studying the build up to war by the Germans (nor the reactions of other countries). It is important to realize that the Hitler Youth organization was growing for 7 years before Hitler was appointed chancellor at which time it was nearly 100,000 youth. Within the next year it increased more than 2,000,000. There were 6,000,000 members of Hitler Youth before Germany invaded another country. Given that it is the young who are sent to war, many of the soldiers would have participated in NAZI rallies and spreading of propaganda. The youth were the key. They helped him gain power at a time when they felt little hope for the future, and they enthusiastically did what was asked in order to rebuild their country.

The narrative focuses on 12 young people, most of whom were involved in the Hitler Youth organization. One was killed supporting the NAZI party before Hitler became chancellor. Five were arrested as traitors. Four contined to support Hitler throughout the war. Their stories are complicated. Maybe this is a step in understanding why the events happened. The same sort of singlemindedness is apparent in out country now and others around the world. It is frightening to think it could happen again, but to assume that it couldn't is foolish.

related-Hitler-Jugend, National Socialism and youth, Germany, 20th century, education, propaganda
RL=7th-adultHoot by Carl Hiaasen.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House: NY, 2002.
Newbery Honor 2003

When Roy's family moves from Montana to Florida, Roy immediately becomes the target of the school bully. He notices a strange, running boy out the bus window and is drawn into a compelling mystery. After following the boy, he gains an unexpected ally because of his concern.

There are burrowing owls in danger of being buried by a construction project. In the beginning, there is one person committed to saving the owls from their predicament. As the story progresses, others show their compassion for the owls and employ different methods in their desire to help. Though the story involves environmental protection, bullying, and a broken family, there are some imaginatively humorous situations, and it is absorbing and enjoyable.
related-burrowing owls, environmental protection, community activism, bullies, new kid, friendship
RL=4th-8th

Hope and her aunt are a team. Addie's exemplary cooking skills are needed at a diner in Wisconsin, and Hope has learned the serving tricks of the dining trade in their travels. Coming most recently from New York City, Hope does not expect to fit in, but there is plenty happening in the small town with her boss running for mayor despite his leukemia.

Politics, corruption, honor, and trust are served here with plenty of humor and warmth.
RL=5th-8th

Modo was rescued by Mr. Socrates, a wealthy English gentleman, from a traveling freak show and raised in seclusion by Mrs. Finchley, an actress-housekeeper-governess Mr. Socrates hired for the task. He was trained in self-defense and stealth by Tharpa, Mr. Socrates's assistant-bodyguard from India, also saved by Mr. Socrates. He is being trained for a special career.

Not far into the book, Mr. Socrates drops Modo off in the heart of London telling him he must now fend for himself. As difficult as this turn of fortune is for him, Modo not only is trained in survival, but he can also change his appearance, an amazing quality which drove Mr. Socrates to search him out to begin with. He struggles for an undetermined amount of time until he can accrue enough money to set himself up in a hotel apartment. He starts to secretly solve cases as a private detective. Meanwhile, Mr. Socrates has been watching his progress, and when a case goes badly, Tharpa pulls him out of the fire, literally.

Modo is then recruited into the secret Permanent Association of which Mr. Socrates is a board member, with the professed purpose of securing English society. He learns that a new acquaintance, Octavia (another orphan), is also an operative of the group, and the two are employed together to work on recent mysterious disappearances in the news.

This novel is the first of a steampunk spy mystery series. It takes place in Victorian England. The arch enemy of Mr. Socrates's secret society is the Clockwork Guild. The leader of the group is Hakkandottir, a woman with an artificial arm. A woman with whom Mr. Socrates has a personal grudge match. She employs a strongman with other artificial body parts and an engineer expert in automata who was rejected by London's Society of Science due to what they considered disturbing exploration. Indeed, Dr. Hyde is assembling a giant monstrosity powered by the life force of people, in this case children, to be used as the ultimate weapon in the destruction of England.

The Hunchback Assignments starts an exciting new series. This book is really just an intro to the cast and two rival societies. Modo the hunchback keeps his identity a secret even from Octavia, thanks to his morphing. The story is his growth and rise to super-spy status. Octavia has her own story to tell. Both are great characters, neither particularly happy with the world. I think that each will play a part in shaping the other's character. Modo is extremely sweet and idealistic. Octavia trusts nothing but herself. They will make a good team in the books to come. Then, Tharpa seems to be always in the background, ready to help in times of crisis.>/p>

Can't wait to start the next book.

related-disfigured persons, spies, supernatural, London, Victorian England, 19th century British history, detective stories, mysteries, automatons, orphans, science fiction
RL=7th and up

This is an excellent tale of the developmental years of Mordred, King Arthur's son who is fated to kill him. Imagine being raised with the prophecy that you would kill your father hanging over your head. How do you think such a prophecy would affect your behavior? Mordred desperately wants his father's love-the one thing he is not offered. He struggles against his fate throughout the story. It is refreshing to see Mordred depicted as a real person instead of the standard evil caricature.
related-King Arthur, Camelot, fathers and sons, knighthood
RL=6th-8th

Juan de Pareja was the half-black slave of the famous painter Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velázquez. Slave, assistant, friend and student in secret. He also was the subject of one of Velásquez' paintings. Juan was inherited from Velásquez' aunt. The book follows his time before joining Velásquez, his years as a faithful helper and companion, and some of his life after Velásquez dies.

Much of the story takes place at the court of King Phillip IV of Spain. The other main characters are the family of Velásquez and the king.

Having some knowledge of Velásquez and art history, I enjoyed the description of the family and studio life and the King's interaction. The King sent Velásquez to Italy twice to paint and collect art, so there is some of the Italian art discussed as well.

The story is very much a period piece, early seventeenth century, the Age of Enlightenment. The story even feels old, in a different style than nowadays. It is a first person account, though, so it still flows well.

After the Renaissance, Velásquez was one of the first painters to insist on painting what was truly there instead of embellishing. Primarily a portraitist, he was able to paint what was within as well as the body. He was also known for the incredible texture that he practiced, which was a precursor to the Impressionists.

One of the most interesting things about the book is when it was written. The story is Juan de Pareja's story, the slave, who learns to paint in secret through watching Velásquez with apprentices, because slaves are not allowed to create art. Years later when he reveals his secret, he is given his freedom and becomes a famous painter in his own right. We read of Velásquez only through the interaction with Pareja. So, the book was written in 1965 in the middle of violently contested civil rights. The subject being black freedom. Add to that the fact that Pareja was only half black, another issue that drove racism for decades or even centuries. The book must have been highly controversial when it was published. Many books have been similar in content and tone since. Though I have nothing to which I can compare from the 1960s or earlier, I would guess this book was a forerunner of this genre.

The issue of slavery in the 17th century was not controversial at all. It had been the norm for centuries, though not necessarily referring to blacks. A difference being that slaves back then more readily were allowed to earn their freedom. They were thought of more as conquered peoples rather than inferior. In this case, Pareja was considered part of the family or at least a companion. It seems likely that if he had indicated his desire for freedom, he might have received it sooner. He did stay with Velásquez until his death, continuing to learn from him.

related-black slavery, manumission, art and artists, art history, Spain and Italy in the 17th century, Spanish court under King Philip IV, Diego Velásquez
RL=7th and up

Ben MacDonald is at home with the animals near his family's prairie farm in Manitoba, Canada. He observes and closely imitates their speech and behavior. Wild and even fierce animals accept his presence because they know he is not a threat.

In June 1870, he wanders away from the homestead following and watching the wildlife. A storm starts, and he realizes he is lost and unprotected. Instinctively he crawls into a badger hole for some relief from the storm.

His family and neighbors search for Ben for 2 days with no sign of him. Although his family never stops looking for him, Ben is missing for 2 months. When his brother finds him, he behaves as a wild animal would, and once convinced of his safety, he has an unbelievable story to tell.

For some time now I have thought about reading this story and have been reluctant. I finally read it because a friend who is a public school teacher recommended it a few times. As I started to read it, the details of the animals behavior drew me into the story. It is beautifully written-descriptive, but flowing and full of action. Once the boy was lost on the prairie, I had to know how the situation would be resolved.

related-nature, animals, survival, prairie life, badgers, communication, communicating with animals
RL=5th-8th

Our founding fathers knew that the U.S. Constitution did not have strong protections for individuals. So, they immediately introduced ten amendments to the Constitution (the Bill of Rights) that had not been ratified yet. This enlightening book explores court cases that have defined for us what these amendments mean regarding our individual rights. Many things we consider rights today were won for us by these cases. Also, there are things we think of as rights today that may not actually be backed up legally despite the Bill of Rights. This is a good place to start learning about complicated civil rights issues.
related-U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Constitutional amendments, civil rights
RL=7th-YA

The concept of the book-characters coming to life with expert reading aloud-is fantastic. Certain parts of the story are as exciting as the concept. The introduction is plenty mysterious with Meggie's father's secretive behavior. Elinor's houseful of books is just what I would want. Meggie's traveling box of books is a beautiful addition. The entrapment of Meggie's mother within the troublesome book causes most of their predicament. The involvement of the author helps to bring the story to a conclusion.

I'm not sure how I feel about the story overall. It's long and seemed to drag for a while in the middle. Some of the hoodlum behavior is necessary to the story, but in parts it seems a little too Series of Unfortunate Events (everything going wrong, little cause for hope).

I haven't read The Thief Lord yet, so I can't really make an assessment of the author. I do wonder if the story lost some of its attraction in the translation.
related-magic of words and books, theatrical reading, family separation
RL=7th-YA

In this book, the Prescott Players are working on Hansel and Gretel, but the only connection to the storyline is Ingrid's feelings regarding being lost and/or chased in the woods. Her Grampy is in trouble in this episode. His heroism from WWII makes him a key suspect in a murder mystery. Plus, his surliness, motive, and the murder being located on his property. Ingrid seems to be the only one who believes he is innocent, and as in the other books, police chief Strade (her best friend's dad) is watching Ingrid as she investigates in order to prove Grampy's innocence despite his uncooperativeness.

Ingrid's family is also in trouble. Her parents are acting strangely. When questioned her dad, like Grampy, doesn't give an alibi, and his secret is exposed through the solving of the crime.

This is a suspenseful series. The characters are well developed and real, especially Ingrid. The mysteries have many details to consider, and the circumstances are imaginative. The connections between the plots and the play acting are a fresh way of portraying the stories.

related-murder mystery, detective stories, grandfathers, family, divorce, investigations, Sherlock Holmes fan
RL=6th & up

This book has created quite a stir in the last year. Many were sure it would win an award-just not sure which one. It's taken a while for me to get my hands on a copy. The coverart and the author's name were enough for me to be excited, because I loved his illustrations in The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins (Caldecott Honor of 2002).

My first impression was shock at the length of the book and then amazement (flipping the pages) at the wondrous artwork and how long Selznick must have spent drawing. The story is a novel, though short in terms of text. The style is similar to Chris Van Allsburg's-striking, intense, and mysterious. The photographs added of actual events are also intriguing. The story itself is unusual (an understatement), suspenseful, captivating, and in the end awesome as the threads come together.

It wasn't until the end that I realized the illustrations are a means of reflecting the motion picture industry which factors into the story. In the beginning, the story centers on Hugo's mechanical ability and his orphaned situation with the mystery of the broken automaton he tries to fix. When the maker of the automaton is revealed, the story turns towards a segment of the early history of motion picture.

My oldest son praised the unusual concept. His comment reminded me how much I enjoy stories that are so different from anything else. With the amount of reading I do, I have seen many good books (and series) that follow the same format as others. It's a special treat to read a book that is totally its own.

related-Georges Méliès, robots, clocks, orphans, railroad stations, history of Paris, France, mechanical toys, automatons
RL=4th-8th, read aloud to k-3rd

These are 30 of the most famous articles taken from The Inventor's Times-a newspaper reporting on the latest inventions of the times. There are also some portions on the sides that are ridiculous and must have been as jokes for the publishing of the book.
RL=5th-8th

Zoë Costella, nicknamed the Zoë Lama for taking on the playground bully, has made a career for herself fixing other people's lives. She's a little controlling and judgmental, but kind-hearted in her efforts. This year she has taken on too much with the ever-present need to assist her single, working mom and grandma who is losing out to dementia. There is also a new girl whom Zoë believes needs major help and a school dance to manage. She's feeling desperate when her mom starts to talk nursing homes, since Grandma has been there forever to listen and share time with her. Noticing Grandma's peculiar behavior, she hides the situation from Mom and friends as long as possible. In the end, she starts to see that many of Grandma's colorful statements are plenty sane, but her drifting in and out of reality is causing dangerous and expensive problems.

The book is a little chatty, but a quick, fun read. The first half is mostly humor. Then it gets into Zoë's lessons in acceptance. While she was working from a sincere desire to help, her Grandma helps her realize it's sometimes better to let friends be themselves.

related-identity, acceptance, interpersonal relations, middle schools, grandmothers, family, Alzheimer's
RL=6th & up

One month from his thirteenth birthday, Jeremy receives a wooden box from his long-dead father. An inscription on the box says it holds the meaning of life. Its four keys are missing, and as Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy soon learn, only the keys can open it without destroying the contents.

Lizzy immediately has plans to find the keys, pulling Jeremy out of his neighborhood and comfort zone. One of the plans lands them in community service where Jeremy finds that he can learn about the meaning of life through discussion and observation. There are a few excellent ideas on the subject, including that it is different for each of us.

This book has been on my Read List for a couple years. I've always liked the title. Every Soul a Star reminded me of it, and though the reading level and characters are slightly younger, it is every bit as good. Both are unique, Knock Your Socks Off kinds of books. Jeremy, Lizzy and Mr. Oswald are great characters, with some interesting extras thrown in. Their quest is different as are the smaller stories along the way. The ending was totally unexpected.

related-conduct and purpose of life, coming of age, self-realization, fathers and sons, friendship, collections, hobbies
RL=6th & up

Ashe discusses the legend of Arthur and its history and evidence of Arthur in history. He uses Malory as the basis for the legend and refers to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Nennius, and Welsh and British legend and rumor to establish a believable reference point for Arthur in British history. He also mentions a few archaeological findings to strengthen the conclusions.

The evidence that has been discovered regarding a true King Arthur is fascinating. The use of the legend through history is also intriguing-particularly King Henry VII's claim that he fulfilled the prophecy of Arthur's return. From reading of the history of Arthur, I have a much clearer understanding of British history. If what Ashe says is true, then that would make Henry VII the 1st truly British King of all England. The real Arthur was not, and between him and Henry VII are Saxons and Normans. No wonder the Tudors were popular.

There is also some discussion of the rebirth of the legend in the 20th century to present in which there are many variations. Some of this is due to discoveries and revelations about the 6th century Arthur. Some of it is due to more widespread knowledge of Welsh and British legend, and some has to do with more creative license on the part of the writers. For whatever reason there is much more available on the subject, and Ashe lists works I hadn't heard of.
RL=6th-adult

Two Korean brothers combine their talents to challenge last year's champion of the New Year kite competition. The older is a master of kite-making. The younger expertly flies the kites. As the story progresses, the younger boy must learn to accept their father's favoritism towards the elder. His brother will inherit all privileges and responsibilities for the family, and it will be his duty to help his older brother. The boys must find a way to maintain their relationship while learning to deal with this tradition.
related-kites, brothers, first sons, Korea, competition
RL=5th-7th

The new student, Cara Landry, thinks Mr. Larson is the worst of teachers. She posts her editorial opinion on the bulletin board and prods Mr. Larson into challenging his students to write a real newspaper. The whole class gets involved and really learns as the principal uses the newspaper as an excuse to fire Mr. Larson.
related-newspapers, teachers, schools, divorce, First Amendment
RL=5th-8th

Hart Evans shoots the chorus teacher, Mr. Meinert, in the neck with a rubberband, and the teacher goes ballistic. What Hart doesn't know is that Mr. Meinert is being fired due to lack of funds.

The next day as the class prepares for the Holiday Concert, the teacher is set off again. This time he decides the students can come up with their own concert. One of the students decides they should vote to see who is in charge, and Hart is elected the director without asking for the responsibility. Mr. Meinert gloats, as he believes it is the perfect retribution. Neither foresee the events that will lead to the best concert ever.

related-holiday concerts, schools, student-teacher relationships, music, leadership, cooperation, choir, peace, creativity, high interest
RL=5th-8th

This is a great little book! It's a conversation on all steps to music expression - small and huge. There is an awesome amount of information stuffed into it. Looks like a basic children's nonfiction book with short discussion and 1960s style graphics to draw you in. But the conversation takes the reader seriously. This is a book about creating, with the idea that anyone picking it up is mature enough to get started. And they are. While there is a ton of info here, it can be used as a textbook. Take a bit here and a bit there and run with it. Refer back to it when you are ready for another taste or challenge or need a confidence booster. Definitely try the ideas, and you will be on your way to serious musical expression - or not so serious.

One of the best things about the book is the tone. I would guess it is probably directed at middle graders, but it speaks to readers on an equal level. So the book's range would be for 5th graders, with a creative bent, all the way through adult.

Composition, performance, organization, experimentation, and recording are encouraged. Then, once you have enough to want an audience, promotion is discussed as well, including artful creations. My teen son read the book, too. He's been learning guitar for about a year only. He's already tried some recording tracks, and the book excited and inspired him. He wants to work with a band now and is thinking of himself as a musician, a necessary step in becoming one.

I love to see people creating whether it's their own costumes, videos, riffs, stories, or art on paper. This book is a tremendous inspirational aid for getting the juices flowing.

related-musical experimentation, composition and performance, artistic creation, videos, media mixing
RL=5th-adult

Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson.
Random House: NY, 2007.

Disgruntled by his mom's consideration of a marriage proposal, Tom knocks foam packaging over the cliff by his house. His mom sends him down into the valley to retrieve it. After he rescues it from the trees along the river, he is inspired to try floating down the river. It works, and he is lulled to sleep, only to be awakened when he hits rapids. He's sucked under a rock and pulled along what turns out to be an underground river, which passes through caves within the mountain. On an island in one of the caves, Tom discovers a dead body from which he takes handy supplies. No food, though, so he is compelled to try his luck in the river again. He ends up in the net of someone else trapped in the caves, someone trapped for three years inside the mountain.

Meanwhile, up on the ridge, Tom's mother is desperate for help finding Tom. She feels he is not dead and suspects he may be lost within the mountain. The worst possible people step forward to search, treasure hunters.

Through Tom's experience, he learns why his dad disappeared three years ago. He's given a chance for closure, education, and a dose of growing up all at once.

One of the themes in the book is related to the treasure hunting, but is also a different take on history in the Americas. I don't know how much proof is available yet, but it is a theory discussed more and more, one that makes sense and likely has some truth to it.

Wilson's first novel is a great survivalist adventure mixed with history and mystery. I like the split story, above and below ground, but Tom's story is the best part. That, and the dog that links them both. It is a well balanced story - humorous, creative, with anticipation running high.

related-missing persons, caves, adventures and adventurers, mothers and sons, buried treasure, archaeology, survival, explorers, exploration of and inhabitants of the Americas
RL=4th-8th

The Legend of King Arthur retold by Robin Lister. il Alan Baker.
Doubleday/Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc: NY, 1988.

This is the book I most recommend for an introduction to traditional King Arthur (for older readers-Howard Pyle). The illustrations are dramatic and captivating. The language flows well, so it is good for reading aloud or for young readers.

related-King Arthur, Merlin, Arthurian romances, folklore of England, knights, knighthood, Lancelot, Guinevere, Holy Grail, sword in the stone, Tintagel
RL=3rd-6th

The Legend of the Wandering King by Laura Gallego Garcia. trans. by Dan Bellm.
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Press: NY, 2005.

Prince Walid detains and eventually ruins the winner of the Kingdom's Greatest Poet out of jealousy. His actions destroy the kingdom, and he is catapulted into a lifechanging quest. The book explores the concept of fate and how much choices affect the future. I enjoyed both the fateful events and the growth of Walid as a person each step of the way.
related-fate, choice, consequences, poetry, kings, Arabian Peninsula
RL=6th-YA

The Legend of Thunderfoot by Bill Wallace.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2006.

On the day of his naming ceremony, a young roadrunner is bit by a rattlesnake. The bite leaves him with huge, clumsy feet-so he gets stuck with the embarrassing name Thunderfoot. Through his attempts to overcome his impediment, he not only survives in the harsh environment but his achievements become legend.

What a great book for young readers (2nd-4th grades)! Especially animal-lovers. Only a few of the transitional books for young readers that I have read are exceptional. As important as this stage is in reading, you?d think there would be more. Bill Wallace has written many books for young readers; this is the first I?ve read. It has more meaning than the average book for young readers plus adventure and details of nature. It is a work of storytelling rather than a reading primer.

related-animals, desert habitat, handicap, boys, names, identity
RL=2nd-6th

Leonardo's Shadow: My Astonishing Life as Leonardo da Vinci's Servant by Christopher Grey>
Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster: NY, 2006.

For 2 years Leonardo da Vinci has been living off credit. That's how long it's been since he contracted to paint The Last Supper, his greatest painting, on the wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie. There is barely anything on the wall. Why? Is he in a battle of wills with his patron, the Duke of Milan? Is something more important than painting on his mind? How long does he think he can continue without painting the wall? To be sure, their relationship is complex, but who does Leonardo think he is?

Giacomo's (Leonardo's servant) life is a mystery. His memory was lost from a fever and desperate chase before Leonardo found him and took him in. He would do anything to help Leonardo succeed. His most passionate wish is to be trained by his master (to share his master's life), but Leonardo treats him as an errand boy and petty thief (except that he is educating him).

Through necessity and frustration Giacomo plans a solution to Leonardo's debts and what he believes is delaying the painting. There are, of course, complications he could not have foreseen.

This is a fantastic historical novel. We get a glimpse of Leonardo, the Renaissance man, and the dealings he would have had with others to maintain his life while he sought perfection and understanding of the surrounding world. Plus, there is the mystery of the boy's past. He has evidence of possibly important relations. He wants answers, and he believes Leonardo has them.

related-Leonardo da Vinci, 15th century, Milan, Italy, servants, artists, painting, identity, alchemy, inventors, inventions
RL=7th-adult
*I think the title would have been better without the 2nd part. If the description hadn't been so good, I might not have read it. The book is much better than you might think from the title.

Let's Investigate: Number Patterns by Marion Smoothey.
Marshall Cavendish: NY, 1993.

This is a fairly simple introduction to number theory that isn't normally taught before college level. The purpose is to explore the fascinating study of number patterns. It isn't that it can't be taught sooner. It's not considered important for students to learn, but it can encourage more interest in mathematical studies.

related-square numbers, magic squares, triangular numbers, Fibonacci sequence, relationship of dots and lines, number chains, probability, Pascal's triangle, patterns in a number square
RL=4th and up

Letters from Rapunzel by Sara Lewis Holmes.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2007.

Rapunzel (as she is calling herself) is locked in her tower (study hall), writing letters out of boredom and a need to express her feelings about her father's absence. She is trying to find something, anything, that will bring him back home. She hasn't been told all the information she needs to know.

Highly imaginative, she is unwilling to conform at school. Her counsellor, her teachers, and her mother push her to improve herself and achieve her potential. But she is stuck. She can't move on until her father is fixed. She needs her connection with him.

The story is told through the letters she is sending to someone she believes is a close friend of her father's. Writing and writing, even though no one is writing back. How frustrating is that! There are some assignments thrown in and a couple stories she writes for fun. It is certainly imaginative, and passionate. It flows much like a diary would, though more interesting than most diaries are likely to be.

Most of the story is her progress psychologically working through the situation with her dad. She does make progress, though she may feel she's coming apart at the seems. She also gains more information, goes a little wild, and scares her mother. But that's to be expected when dealing with a major problem.

The book is very real. It is an easy read and worth reading. However, the publisher has it marked for 8 yr olds. I don't think it is something an 8 yr old would read. With the angst, I'd say middle school to early high school.

related-depression, mental anguish, fathers and daughters, schools, gifted children, fairy tales, letters
RL=5th and up

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. il Keith Thompson.
Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster: NY, 2009.

Leviathan is an alternate history novel, first of a trilogy, set in the midst of WWI (England, Austria and Switzerland). There is an heir to Franz Ferdinand (whose murder started the war) being chased by the Austrian and German militaries. The Austrians and Germans have mechanical might, but different and larger than what they actually had. England (not in the war yet) uses ecosystems instead of machines, made by Darwin with DNA threads. So far, I think that idea is the best part of the story. Westerfeld plays with the idea quite a bit, and it is fascinating. Leviathan itself is a whale airship with many creatures coexisting. The main British character is a young girl, disguised as a boy to be in the British Air Service. Austrians and Brits meet when Leviathan is on a secret diplomatic mission to the Ottoman Empire.

My initial reaction when reading was disappointment that it is written at a 6th grade level. Being about WWI, I expected it to be YA level. While it would still be interesting to YA readers, I think the reading level should have been YA, partly because WWI is a YA subject. My disappointment also comes from the fact that Westerfeld can write at a higher level, and I don't want to see all of the YA books dumbed down, which will push all of the better readers into adult books out of aggravation.

Not long into the book I did get over my irritation. Westerfeld is an excellent author, and the story is sufficiently unusual to capture anyone's attention. The heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire may motivate readers to learn more about world history, a subject certainly lacking in my American upbringing as well as others'. I'm looking forward already to the sequel which will take place in the Ottoman Empire.

I mentioned before that the cover art is magnificent. There are also highly detailed illustrations throughout the book. The artwork is lovely, though a voice in my head tells me that illustrations are for young children. Though I don't want to see pictures in all novels, exceptions can be made for good artwork when appropriate.

YouTube has a cool trailer for the book, and TOR.com has an interview with Scott Westerfeld you might not want to miss.

related-World War I, imaginary creatures, genetic engineering, princes, gender roles, science fiction, high interest
RL=6th and up

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead.
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House: NY, 2012.

Rebecca Stead's 3rd children's novel. The most striking aspect is that she loves to twist the story. This one starts with Georges and his parents moving to a Brooklyn apartment building from their beloved home. Emphasis is on change of job status and his mother working as a nurse and not home to spend time with him. The story is largely his adjusting to the situation. He meets a sister and brother right off and becomes friends with them, odd though they seem. Their friendship is based on spying adventures. Safer and Candy are both homeschooled, so they are always around to hang out with. Georges also gains friends through school as the story goes on, though slowly at first, and it takes dealing with adversity to develop the friendships.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It is quirky, with several odd character details, and anticipatory, as you can never tell what's going to happen next. And the story progresses in a completely different direction. Both Georges and Safer end up with big secrets that I did not expect at all. Just like When You Reach Me, it makes you feel like you need to go back and read it through again, with your new knowledge, to find the clues that you know Stead left. Awesome.

Rebecca Stead, like another favorite author - Wendy Mass, fills out her stories with philosophical bits. I highly recommend both of these authors.

related-spies and intrigue, adventure, middle schools, apartment houses, family life, homeschool, bullying, dealing with fear
RL=5th and up

The Life and Death of Crazy Horse by Russell Freedman. il. Amos Bad Heart Bull.
Holiday House: NY, 1996.

Crazy Horse grew up in the mid-1800s when the Sioux were desperately trying to save their hunting grounds and way of life. He became the greatest of all the Teton Sioux warriors-leading his warriors against General Custer in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Freedman's account of Crazy Horse's life displays the wisdom, courage, and idealism of an extraordinary man. He fought and died for his beliefs when many others had given up. Yet, in the end he also allowed his followers to live instead of being killed with him.

The drawings were taken from a tribal pictoral history by Amos Bad Heart Bull. He was too young to take part in the battles, but he was Crazy Horse's cousin, and he learned first hand from those who did participate in the last struggles of the Sioux.
RL=4th-8th

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
Hyperion Books for Children/Miramax Books: NY, 2005.

In the first book of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, Riordan tells a tale of Greek mythological characters roaming the modern U.S.-starting in New York City and traveling to Los Angeles. Imagine your ADHD being the result of your demigod status, unbeknownst to you! One crazy event after another happens as Percy meets more characters-especially once he learns who he is and accepts his quest. The characters and other mythological connections are well done and my favorite part of the story. The confrontations occur a little too often, but there are plenty of creative tidbits to keep readers hooked.

Percy's quest arises due to the fact that someone has stolen Zeus's master lightning bolt. He accuses Poseidon and gives him until the summer solstice to return it or prepare for World War III. Percy (short for Perseus) is appointed the task of reclaiming it. His advisers believe Hades is the culprit, so he must travel to the Underworld. Unfortunately, Zeus is not the only god missing an object of power, and matters become complicated.

Interestingly, the book reminds me of another story related to mythical stolen property, Thor's Wedding by Bruce Coville. Coville's story closely follows a Norse poem, Thrymskvitha. Riordan's does not.

All three of my sons (ages 9-16) read the book and immediately read the second book. They loved them.
related-Greek gods & mythology, monsters, family relationships
RL=4th & up

Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 1987.
Newbery Award Winner 1988

In my opinion, no biographical list would be complete without a book about Abraham Lincoln. I have been fascinated by his life and character since I was in 5th grade. He had wisdom and sensitivity beyond most people's capability, and yet he could also captivate crowds with his humor. There are, of course, many biographies available, but Russell Freedman has a knack for exhibiting an individual's personality. It almost feels like you know Lincoln after reading this account-instead of having read through a list of dry facts. The photos are striking, and there are some of Lincoln's writings at the end along with some other good sources.
RL=5th-8th

Lincoln: In His Own Words edited by Milton Meltzer. il Stephen Alcorn.
Harcourt Brace & Company: NY, 1993.

Years ago I compiled a list of books to read for a unit study on the American Civil War. I haven't posted it yet, because I made the list before I started reviewing books. I wanted to reread and review first. Somehow this book escaped my notice at the time. Odd, considering Meltzer is one of my favorite historians.

Because I have read several books on Lincoln, there was not much new to me in this one. It does cover the important points, and since the approach is different it adds in some ways also. Meltzer has a series of books in which he uses the speaker or writer's words for perspective regarding the person's character and deeds. This works perfectly for Lincoln because he was a fluent and eloquent communicator-spoken and written. He is one of the few in history that stands out for his speaking and writing skills, and he is accessible to the average person.

Certain words of his reach out to me across time and still seem appropriate and right. For ex., he made a statement, which I hadn't heard before, against preemptive war as a Congressman regarding the war with Mexico. Given that the book was published in 1993, I found that interesting. Before G. W. Bush I had never thought about the issue. I would guess his words seem so right, because he was contemplative and analytical, not just spouting off. He was principled and stuck to his principles amid chaos, and he used his own words, which is rare nowadays. What I have read of his speeches makes me want to read more. What else did he say that others didn't care enough to note?

A wonderful surprise is the graphics in the book. They aren't necessary, but they are beautifully done. There are black and white, full page, engraving style prints-many of them portraits. They incorporate motifs of the period. The chapter heads are bordered with monotone, block prints. Much of the graphics remind me of quilting and embroidery from that time. Even some of the portraits have motifs within them. A friend who saw the title said she thought it sounded boring. But when she opened the book, she was amazed by the graphics. She studied them for a while and took down the name of the book for future reference. I know that I have seen the illustrator's work before in historical books and will search for more.

related-Abraham Lincoln, United States Presidents, Civil War, US politics and government, 1849-1865, political and social views
RL=6th-adult

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
Little, Brown and Company: Boston, 1994.
Originally published 1868 by same publisher.

Little Women was a book that I loved as a girl. It was written at a time when most people led simpler lives. I was impressed by the simpleness of their lives and their desire to be cheerful and useful. Coming from a large family, I also lived with simplicity and was less impressed with monetary things than other girls I knew. I don't know if our society has changed too much for girls to appreciate this story, but I do believe we need reminders that money and objects are not the most important things. Honesty and caring for others are not valued enough anymore.

Like most girls, I empathized greatly with Jo because I didn't feel "good" enough. But as the story progresses, Jo learns from her mother that goodness comes more easily as you grow. It takes practice and the responsibilities of adults before proper behavior becomes standard behavior for a person. Adults also rebel against things they believe to be unjust-but sometimes silently.
related-family life, sisters, New England 1860s, coming of age
RL=6th-YA

May not be strictly considered historical fiction, but it is old enough now to have the feel of a historical book.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 2004.
Newbery Honor Book 2005

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy is beautifully written. Schmidt has interwoven metaphors that flow perfectly with the story and pinpoint images exactly for instant visual understanding. The words have color and texture and make you want to slow down and hold them and cherish them before moving on.

There are so many thoughts and emotions and issues blended into this story. The historical theme is the decimation of a community of poor, powerless people for the purpose of building a tourist resort. The other major theme is a boy's struggle to find and stick to the right path when the majority (including his father, the minister) are pressuring him to do something else. It is unfortunate that he cannot discuss his thoughts and actions with his disapproving, unbending father (who is undergoing his own struggle).

The story doesn't end how I want it to end because it is based on actual events that took place in the Phippsburg, Maine area in 1912. However, there is hope of positive changes to come in the town of Phippsburg.

I highly recommend this book. It is a great one to share with others.
related-race, clergy, Maine history, noncomformity
RL=6th-adult

It isn't difficult to read, but I suspect it would have more meaning for adults, older teens, and people who have had to suffer some form of isolation.

For those interested, there is discussion on this book in the BookAdvice forums under historical fiction.

London Calling by Edward Bloor.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, Inc: NY, 2006.

The major themes in London Calling are time travel, spiritual visitation, and redemption. Martin is contacted by an English boy from World War II through his dreams. Upon waking, he learns gradually that the facts and people of which he dreamed are real. He follows the boy through his dreams in war-torn London to learn how he can possibly help him, and he studies Britain in WWII during waking hours, so he will be ready to help when the time comes. He is partly drawn into the situation because his revered grandfather is one of the characters he observes in his dreams.

The book has piqued my interest about historical things I have not heard before. It is a truly original work as well-not the standard time travel book.
related-time travel, London 1940-1941, bombardment, schools, Great Britain-World War II, afterlife, redemption, alcoholism, Catholics, futility of war
RL=6th-YA

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.
David Fickling Books/Random House: NY, 2007.
Originally published in Oxford, England.

Ted and Kat take their cousin to ride the London Eye (a giant bicycle/ferris wheel) when Salim comes to visit. Salim uses a ticket given by a stranger to go up alone instead of waiting in line. He goes up, but doesn't come down. How's that possible? Ted spends 3 days trying to figure it out. The police and press are called in to help with Salim's disappearance.

As the youngest present, Ted is mostly ignored. His sister Kat, feeling responsible for the situation, enlists Ted, with his analytic brain, to help her find Salim. She tries to do the field work herself, but Ted follows. Ted figures there are 9 possibilities, Kat discusses the options and does some sleuthing. When they get into trouble for leaving the house, not even Kat will listen to Ted. He turns to the detective in charge, and the solution starts to be revealed.

The book is written in an unusual style and takes some getting used to. It's told from the perspective of Ted who has a neurological "syndrome" which causes him to focus on things in a different way. One of the things he chooses to focus on is the weather-all aspects. This helps him to analyze problems. Meteorological information plays a part in his solving the case.

The mystery itself is good. It's unusual and twists a bit. I didn't expect the solution, although I could see it once all the clues started to come together. I highly recommend the story for its uniqueness.

related-mysteries, detective stories, Asperger's syndrome (highly functional), missing children, meteorology, brothers and sisters, cousins, relatives, London, England
RL=6th-8th

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Boston, 2010.

A Long Walk to Water is about one man's story, Salva Dut - organizer of Water for Sudan, a nonprofit organization. The tale is written from two perspectives. Each chapter starts with part of Nya's day, a girl in Sudan who spends most of her day collecting water for the family. The greater part of the chapter is the story of how and why Salva arrived at his present day work.

Years ago, Salva's family also struggled with their water supply. His family (as well as Nya's) relocated for months of the year for access to water. During this relocation period, his tribe the Dinka often endured fighting with Nya's tribe the Nuer, over the territory. In the 1980s, a civil war erupted in Suda between the Northern Muslim leaders of the government and the Southern non-Muslim groups. Soldiers attack the village in which Salva goes to school, and he is forced to flee, hoping that he will meet family along the path the refugees trek. They first flee towards Ethiopia, then Kenya. After many years, Salva is chosen from a refugee camp to be a foster child in the United States. He works toward an education and goes back to Sudan to try to help his people.

Nya and Salva both walk for survival. Nya's walking is a never-ending routine for a family necessity. She looks forward to the off months when they are camping by the lake, because it gives her a break from the walking. Salva's walking is out of a desperate attempt at freedom and security, an attempt which lasts years before he experiences any of that security. Both of the young people exhibit strength and perseverance as they strive for a future. The two stories come full circle and mesh in the end.

The way that Salva chooses to help his people is an excellent enterprise. Considering that much of the fighting to which the tribes had been exposed was over rare sources of water, what better way to help than to decrease the rarity. It must have seemed like a miracle to the Sudanese people, and I like that he did not stop with just his village or area. I like that Salva's work is inspirational and mind-opening, and also that it is a true story.

Linda Sue Park takes a difficult issue and weaves a story that is horrifically, inexorably true, but in a matter of fact way that doesn't lose sight of the hope for a better future. It shows some of the desperation without it being too much for the reader (especially young ones) to bear. It cuts to the core of reality without being so ugly you cannot look, and it spotlights an example of real change in a world low on hope.

related-Salva Dut, Sudan, Africa, civil war, refugees, lack of water, blacks, peace offering
RL=4th and up, some mature content - violence

The Lost Years of Merlin Series by T.A. Barron.
Philomel Books/Putnam & Grosset Group: NY.
The Lost Years of Merlin 1996
The Seven Songs of Merlin 1997
The Fires of Merlin 1998
The Mirror of Merlin 1999
The Wings of Merlin 2000

T.A. Barron always writes with a consciousness of nature and spirituality. His stories are passionate and alive. The pace is slower than what is currently popular because there is meaning in every part of the story. The language of The Lost Years of Merlin is not difficult or even challenging, but the description requires some lingering and rumination to appreciate the story.

In this series, Merlin's childhood is only loosely linked to the Merlin that the world recognizes, but I can see glimpses of the Merlin that Emrys will become. My oldest was disappointed because the story didn't seem to be truly Merlin to him. Barron points out that there is no established canon for Merlin's childhood. Merlin is different in these stories. He is the young Merlin, before he has learned wisdom. He may have the soul of a wizard, but certainly also the arrogance of one, and not balanced or kept in check by the self-restraint and wisdom necessary to be a great wizard.
related-wizards, magic, childhood and education of Merlin, identity, amnesia, second sight, friends, King Arthur, prophecy, human relationship to nature and animals
RL=6th-YA

The Lost Years of Merlin:

With a sudden jolt, he realized that he could not remember anything. Where he had come from. His mother. His father. His name. His own name.

Cast from the sea onto the rocks of Wales is a boy with no knowledge of who he is or from where he comes. He soon notices a woman who says she is his mother, and they settle in a nearby village, although never truly a part of it. After a few years a momentous and life-wrenching experience propels the boy to journey in search of his past and identity. The task he must undertake on the legendary Isle of Fincayra, the bridge between the Earth and the Otherworld, sets him on a path to become Merlin, the greatest of all wizards.

The Seven Songs of Merlin: In his youthful ignorance and arrogance, Merlin makes many terrible, careless mistakes. He puts aside the task with which he is entrusted, healing the lands of Fincayra, to bring his mother back to the island. Because of this mistake, he grievously wounds his mother and must learn what it truly is to be a wizard to save her. Each of the Seven Songs holds an essential truth necessary to be powerful enough to withstand Rita Gawr and his servants. This particular tale also mirrors the Holy Grail quest in that young Merlin's task is to obtain the Elixir of Dagda in order to restore Elen to health.

This is my favorite of the series so far. I've read all but the last book. There is wisdom in each of the seven tasks he must achieve. A large step forward in Merlin's maturing process.

The Fires of Merlin: Urnalda the Queen of the Dwarves calls upon Merlin to pay a debt by defeating the dragon that has reawakened and is looking for revenge since someone has destroyed the remaining dragon eggs on the island.

A group of characters combine through their separate actions to lessen Merlin's ability to defeat Valderag, the dragon. Because of an old prophecy about the confrontation, he spends most of the time looking for the Galator which he believes will give him the power he needs. The Galator has been stolen from Domnu (its last possessor), so he travels to a volcanic cave to visit a seer (not unlike Greek mythology) to find its location.

Merlin meets 2 deer people-who change back and forth between deer and people. His relationship with this brother and sister extends the series' concept of interconnectedness and helps to prepare him for his confrontation with the dragon (and confrontations in later books)-as does his relationships with Cairpré and Rhia.

The relationship with Hallia and Eremon (the deer people) and the conclusion are the strongest parts of the book. Barron does a good job of showing the reader (and Merlin) the viewpoint of the animals which impacts how he deals with other creatures in hostile situations.

The Mirror of Merlin: The 4th book of the series is again a book of connections. The mists in different situations connecting worlds. The mirror connecting times through different pathways. The mists were present in previous books-this time with increased focus.

The whole book seems to me to be leading up to Merlin meeting his older self (which is the best part of the book). Other than this there is less purpose to the story than the other books. Many of the happenings are accidental. There are some good moments besides, like Merlin freeing the marsh ghouls and their helping him in return (a connection to The Fires of Merlin).

One thing interesting is that Nimue in Barron's series is totally hateful and power-hungry. Normally, I don't see Nimue in this way-although there are variations in her behavior from story to story.

The setting for Merlin's older self doesn't quite fit canon either. Merlin was not imprisoned in the crystal cave as Arthur's tutor. However, it lends interesting details to Barron's story.

I need to go back and check The Seven Songs of Merlin. After reading The Mirror of Merlin, I wonder if Nimue's behavior in the bakery was only about jealousy and lust for power, or is it possible she had some contact with her older self? Did she want the sword specifically or only objects of power? Was she trying to stop Merlin through taking away the younger Merlin's power as she tries to do in this book? My feeling is that Nimue had some knowledge in The Seven Songs of Merlin that Merlin didn't have.Perhaps knowledge of the future?

The Wings of Merlin: Dagda tells Merlin in a vision that he must convince the peoples of Fincayra to unite (an impossible task) to repel an invasion by Rhita Gawr on the longest night. He has 2 weeks to protect the island against certain destruction with the help of a few people-his sister Rhia, Caipré the scholar, Shim the giant, Hallia the deerwoman, and his own shadow. As a distraction, Rhita Gawr sends one of Merlin's oldest enemies after him with complementary sword arms. In protecting the children of Fincayra from Sword Arms, Merlin succeeds in gaining access to the Forgotten Island and earns the chance to restore wings to humans and to choose his destiny.

I enjoyed Rhia's attempts at flight-both the swinging through the trees and the Icarus/Dedalus imitation. Her character is full of surprises and, as said about Rhia and Merlin, "full of madness." I appreciate also that this leads up to the recovery of lost wings and the history of the Forgotten Island. Shim's part in the story (though small) also adds to it. I wasn't impressed by the winged-human idea, but the story of the Forgotten Island is fittiing, and the formation of Avalon lends credibility to Merlin's choice to confront his destiny instead of staying on Fincayra.

The reintroduction of an old enemy and Merlin's sympathy and mercy are one more step towards his ultimate destiny. In the last 3 books, Merlin matures greatly and gains both wisdom and the respect of others. Though he hasn't recognized his own worth, others are starting to consider him a wizard and to see the possibility of his greatness in the future-including the immortal Dagda.
related-Merlin, wizards, forgiveness, unity, community, destiny, Avalon

Lunch Money by Andrew Clements.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2005.

For both Lunch Money and The Last Holiday Concert I made the bad mistake of judging the book by its cover, so I did not read them until recently. They didn't seem like anything special to me; I should have known better. It is amazing to me that Clements can use so few and simple words to convey all that he does in his stories.

In Lunch Money, a business-minded boy (Greg) implements his best project yet: mini-comics. His neighbor, classmate, and nemesis (Maura) appreciates his idea and makes her own books. They feud, are separated, and then become business partners. They share their creative endeavors, and they band together to save their business with the help of their math teacher.

related-interpersonal relations, moneymaking projects, business, comics, authorship, schools, selling and marketing at schools, student/teacher relationships, high interest
RL=4th-7th

Maddigan's Fantasia by Margaret Mahy.
Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster: NY, 2007.

Maddigan's Fantasia is a long, rambling science fiction/fantasy novel. The time travel in the story barely exists; it's a reason for the future dwellers (Timon, Eden and Jewel: runaway orphans, plus the culprits: Ozul, Maska and the Nennog) to be in the story. There are also a number of technical gadgets: for communication, transportation and power generation. The fantasy consists of several elements: a changing map and diary, a very slowly aging woman, a water monster, an apparition, the Nennog and his possession of beings.

Timon, Eden and their baby sister escape into Garland Maddigan's time period and join the travelers, a time when the world is trying to recover from major catastrophes. Lord Nennog sends Ozul and Maska after them to steal the talisman that they carry. There are only a few cities surviving. Maddigan's Fantasia, traveling entertainers, roam between the cities and towns as the places change. They have been charged with the task of buying a generator from one far city to save their home city, Solis. Each group of people they encounter in their quest has a different way of dealing with the formative times. One has child slavery; one captures guests and drugs them; one has children rebelling against parents; one is tribal; one is in complete ruin except the library with a sole caretaker.

I enjoyed many of the parts of the story. Garland and the circus bits were entertaining, as were the motorized wings and Eden's magic. But I felt like the book was made up of bits and pieces meshed together, not really cohesive. Each part made me wish for more focus on it. Maybe the book is more suited to a leisurely read. Maybe it's because it is a low reading level. Anyway, I would guess the book would be loved mostly by those reveling in fantasy moments or enjoying reading snatches of story.

related-time travel, magic, solar energy, circus, entertainers, immortality, friendship, communities
RL=5th-8th

The Man Who Said No by Sally Edwards.
Coward-McCann, Inc: NY, 1970.

This is an absorbing biography with background information of life in pre-Civil War South Carolina. It is about a farm boy who became an important lawyer in Charleston. He rejected secession and continued to live and practice in Charleston during the war struggling to maintain some sense of justice in the city as the war progressed and hotheads prevailed-both Southern and Northern.
related-Civil War, Charleston (SC), Union, integrity, loyalty
RL=6th-YA

Mathemagic!: Number Tricks by Lynda Colgan. il by Jane Kurisu.
Kids Can Press: Tonawanda, NY, 2011.

Mathemagic! features a mix of mathematical tricks. All of them have explanations; some of them even have a history. They are meant to be performed for others, exhibiting your genius. Two of them have to do with properties of the digits 6 and 9 which make them easier to calculate multiplication. Some of the tricks are puzzles in which the audience participates. Mathematical operations are performed to confuse the audience. Quicker participants may figure out what the magician is doing.

The most interesting part of the book to me is the four entries which are different ways of calulating. The Egyptians had a doubling technique making it easier to multiply larger numbers quickly. Binary cards are used for guessing a participants number choice within a given range, and a discussion of binary is included. Napier's Bones, used by merchants in the 1600s, are also discussed for multiplication. They are charts of multiplication facts carved on bone which simplify the process when used together. This is a process that is done in multiplication anyway; Napier set it out visually. The fourth is division dowels, a set of rulers for division similar to Napier's multiplication. In the 1800s, Henri Genaille and Edouard Lucas worked out all of the possible quotients and remainders for a table to be used for simplifying long division. It looks complicated, but it is a simple way of accurately figuring.

The book is designed to encourage thinking about number theory. Math can be like puzzles, something to figure out for enjoyment. And there is always the fun of knowing something that stumps someone else. The author presents these tricks as ways to calculate problems quickly and mentally. Some of them can be used to figure quickly for any reason. When a student can develop this proficiency in mathematics, he/she can start to really enjoy the theory (reasons for doing math).

related-mathematical puzzles, figuring, calculating, multipication, division
RL=3rd and up, a challenge for 3rd graders, probably better for 5th-8th

Mathematicians Are People, Too: Stories from the Lives of Great Mathematicians by Luetta Reimer & Wilbert Reimer.
Dale Seymour Publications: Palo Alta, CA, 1990.

Not only are mathematicians people, too, but they can have very interesting lives. The usual mathematicians are discussed here (Pythagorus, Archimedes, Newton, tec) plus others less well-known such as John Napier, Leonhard Euler, Sophie Germain, and Srinivasa Ramanujan. Half of the people I had either never heard of or only heard the name before reading the book. The biographies are short but fascinating and hopefully will generate more interest in mathematics since they show math as a process of thinking and logic not just figuring.
related-problem solving, geometry, number theory, algebra, computation, probabilty, measurement, mathematical symbols, women in mathematics
RL=5th-8th

The Merlin Effect by T. A. Barron.
Philomel Books/Putnam & Grosset Group: NY, 1994.

Kate's historian father is searching for The Horn of Merlin as the ultimate proof of Merlin's existence. Part of an old folktale, the horn may be onboard a Spanish galleon that may have sunk off the coast of Baja, California in 1547. Add to the excitement a dangerous whirlpool just off the coast, non-migrating grey whales, an ageless fish and youthful fishing village, and a twisted Nimue.

While the Horn does not ensure immortality, it does have a power of agelessness. However, it is harmful to drink from it without proper understanding. Kate's fate is to find the lost treasure, keep it safe from Nimue, and leave it in a place that King Arthur can find upon his return.

As with Barron's other books, philosophical questions arise-agelessness, creation and the continuaion of it, rejuvenation, elemental spirits, faith, and free will. I find Barron's mix of genres and topics exciting-mystery, adventure, history, myth, and science. I particularly like the appearance of Merlin, though the story is otherwise unrelated to the King Arthur stories.
RL=6th-YA

Milton Meltzer: Writing Matters by Milton Meltzer.
Franklin Watts/Scholastic Inc: NY, 2004.

Writing Matters is an updated version of Meltzer's previous autobiography, Starting From Home. The earlier one has more details about his parents and ends with his beginning college. Writing Matters has a more personal tone, explains the details of his professional life, and tells about why he writes.

Milton Meltzer is one of my favorite history writers. From his many books I can tell that he writes for the same reasons that I want my children (and others) to read historical books-so that they understand better what has happened in the past, so that the same mistakes are not made again, and so that we can all move closer towards equality and an understanding of each other. Milton Meltzer brings the past to life. Many of his books have the actual words from people of the time period-including ordinary citizens. He concentrates on people's experiences instead of boring facts that are not memorable when taken out of context.

I did not start reading historical books (besides novels and a biography here and there) until I was considering homeschooling my first child. Suddenly it became important to understand history better, and as I read I learned how little of history is taught in school. Much of what is skipped or glossed over is uncomfortable or controversial. With his books, Meltzer fills in many of the gaps in order to encourage students and adults to think about the issues. If we do not know the people and the struggles that have brought us to where we are, how can we hope to continue moving forward, or even not regress? Few Americans vote because they have not been taught about the ongoing struggles in a real way that matters to them. They also have not been taught that they can look at the whole picture and make meaningful decisions. Reading, learning, thinking, and discussing the information and ideas is all it takes to make better decisions.

related-Milton Meltzer, biography, authorship, education, writing, historian
RL=6th-YA

Mindblind by Jennifer Roy.
Marshall Cavendish: Tarrytown, NY, 2010.

Every now and then, a book comes along which leads me to an epiphany. Mindblind is such a book. The book itself is about a teenage boy (Nathaniel) who has Asperger's syndrome. He has all of the events in his life stored in files in his mind, like a computer. Often they open automatically, with no control, due to a key reminder. Sometimes he is so stuck in the memory that he appears to be in a trance. He is struggling to interact in a world that is foreign to him, beyond his understanding. Mostly, he can cope with this. Mostly, he interacts with people who know and accept and love him for the gifted person that he is. He is at genius level, though he insists he is not a genius due to his lack of an achievement that impacts society. So, through much of the story, he is on a quest to fulfill his genius potential. His breakthrough comes when he is at his very lowest point, withdrawn into his own world after an incident that he cannot face. Two breakthroughs actually: a mathematical proof (an epiphany) which earns him a grad school spot at MIT and song lyrics for his band as he pours out his math and science mantra in retreating from the world.

Nathaniel mentions people who possibly had Asperger's and made an impact on society, such as Einstein. I was confused about this at first, since the people he named didn't seem to be unable to cope in society, though certainly they are atypical. In reading the book, I was struck by how many of Nathaniel's "problems" are things that I have difficulty with as well. Some of them my husband and one son also share: sensory overload, problems with texture (especially food), stress regarding interacting with others, not fitting in, directness that others do not understand, obsessing about little things. Nathaniel calls his traits atypical; I'm not sure that they are. They are just more pronounced in Asperger's people.

One particular trait I have struggled with all of my life. I thought my inability to interact (I hate groups and can't start conversations.) was psychologically induced due to childhood environment. I also thought that it was a personal shortcoming that in 20+ years of adulthood I haven't managed to improve this skill much (with people I know and with whom I feel comfortable, somewhat improved). But my comfort level with most people is low and stress high, leaving me with a serious need to balance when I interact with hibernation periods.

My epiphany? I think quite possibly this is a biologically/neurologically based attribute that is ingrained deeply within me, not psychological. It is something that has caused me great depression for more than half my life, since I desire to interact with people but almost never feel like I belong. Maybe if I can accept this about myself and allow myself to worry less about what others think, I can eliminate some of the depression. I know some will still be there, because our society is going in a direction I cannot deal with or accept. I have been emotionally withdrawing in the last few years because of this fact. Financially, I am being pushed to be more a part of our society, and I do not want to be. At least not until our people agree that workers deserve to share in the profits resulting from their labor. Seems simple to me. People are more important than money.

Mindblind is a smart, complex peek into the mind of a younger teen who struggles to understand the world around him and runs, physically and figuratively, when it is too much emotionally. Not so different from most people. The difference comes through his inability to understand how others think, especially the culture that is so alien to him. Given his known tendencies, Nathaniel does a remarkable job of interacting. The complexity of the story is related to his processing of his experiences, old and new. Especially noteworthy is his relationship with his young half-brother who requires that Nathaniel treat him differently, just as he needs to be treated with understanding. From what I have personally seen of Asperger's and Autism, this would be an achievement to be proud of, making allowances for another's flaws. The story has some cool extras - the kids' garage band and Nathaniel's obsession with The Amazing Race (not a show I've watched, but I like what he does with it).

related-Asperger's syndrome, genius, rock groups, interpersonal relations
RL=6th and up

A Mind With Wings: The Story of Henry David Thoreau by Gerald and Loretta Hausman.
Trumpeter Books/Shambhala Publications, Inc: Boston, 2006.

Henry Thoreau was a thinker first of all. He wanted to be a writer also as was his mentor, Ralph Waldo Emerson. In order to transform himself into a writer, he moved to Walden Pond to live in the woods (for 2 years). There he studied his thoughts and the world around him while living simply and wrote Walden; or, Life in the Woods and A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers about his trip with his brother, John. His books did not sell well at the time because his thoughts were considered too inflamatory then. (The author points out that 50 years before Thoreau's time he would have been in the stocks for missing church on Sunday.) Now, however, his works are considered great American literature and his concepts are known to have impacted both how we see the environment and how we respond to our government. Thoreau also wrote an essay based on 2 lectures he gave regarding his arrest for refusing to pay a tax. That essay, Resistance to Civil Government, has played an important role in civil rights in our country and other parts of the world.

The publisher regards this book as a fictional account. Judging by the authors' note I would say it is a very close depiction. The authors used words from Thoreau's writings to construct dialogue for the story. They also read several biographies to form an idea of his personality and behavior. The book is enjoyable and informative and has a bibliography for more in depth reading.
related-naturalists, writers, Transcendentalism, slavery, civil disobedience
RL=6th-8th

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster: NY, 2007.

I have anticipated reading this book since I learned of it. Maybe overly anticipated. One of the very first books I read as a child was a serial biography of Helen Keller. I loved the story and read it several times. I also have seen 2 versions of The Miracle Worker. The 1962 movie with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke and the 1979 TV movie with Patty Duke and Melissa Gilbert. I think, because the story itself was what so enthralled me, this book could replace the old serial book in the hearts of children. The old one has nice pictures and was meant for very young readers. This one has more depth and much better language and writing. The events are much the same, but Sarah Miller has made an effort to convey the thoughts of Anne Sullivan-including what she believed Helen was going through before understanding the concept of words and as her world opened up. The perspective is the main difference. The old book is from Helen's. This one is from Anne Sullivan's, and because Anne was nearly blind and trained at the Perkins Institution for the Blind where she knew someone like Helen, this book to a certain extent incorporates both perspectives.

One of the things that amazes me about the lives of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan is the realization of how important words are. Their lives made me think at a very young age about this concept. Words-we take them for granted, but the normal way of thinking (not just communicating) is with words. Some people have more visual thinking than I do. Sometimes we think in sound or pure emotion, but all of us think with words. Can you imagine what it would be like to try to communicate without having learned words? Or to communicate with someone else who hasn't? That is what this whole story hinges on. Helen was just starting to learn a few words at six months when she became so ill that she lost her sight and hearing. By age 6 she so desperately wanted to communicate that she had created her own gestures for many things. She needed a teacher who could understand her struggles and help her to communicate or be trapped inside herself with only her family to understand her at all. Only one other person had learned what Helen needed to learn, fifty years earlier.

related-Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller, blind, deaf, people with disabilities, teachers, Alabama history, self discipline, orphans, American sign language, literacy, understanding words, communication, fictionalized biography
RL=5th & up

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien. il. Zena Bernstein.
Atheneum: NY, 1971.
Newbery Award Winner 1972

This is one of the first books that my oldest son was excited about reading. He had been unwilling to move beyond Goosebumps and Animorphs. He had read an excerpt from a textbook and decided to give it a try. His motivation for reading it was the technology involved in the story.

Scientists at NIMH try to teach lab rats to read. They underestimate the rats' abilities, and the rats decide to gain their own freedom and create their own community.

The two sequels (Racso and the Rats of NIMH: 1986 and RT, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH: 1990-both by Jane Leslie Conly, his daughter) are as good as the first book. They are worth reading again and again.
RL=4th-6th

Murder At Midnight by Avi.
Scholastic Press: NY, 2009.

This mystery is different in that it takes place in 1490 Italy. The concept of a printing press seems like magic to the small town of Pergamontio. Magic is illegal by order of King Claudius, so the appearance of multiple exact copies of a seditious paper prompts the jailing of the local magician, Mangus. Fabrizio, an unwanted servant boy of Mangus, filled with awe and faithfulness for Mangus, is caught in the thick of the intrigue when he tries to assist his master.

Caught between the power play of the mysterious Count Scarazoni and Signor DeLaBina, the chief magistrate of Pergamontio, Fabrizio is enlisted in an exciting adventure, requiring all of his abilities and a bit of illusion to prove his master's innocence. Through his investigations, he meets the daughter and printer's devil of the traveling printers. Fabrizio befriends Maria and enlists her help in the adventure.

The details regarding the medieval setting a large part of the charm. I also enjoyed the interaction between Fabrizio and Maria and the appearances of the Count.

Murder At Midnight is a companion novel to Midnight Magic.

related-magicians, orphans, Renaissance Italy, mysteries and detective stories, printing press
RL=3rd-6th

My Brother Abe by Harry Mazer.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2009.

My Brother Abe gives voice to Abraham Lincoln's sister Sally who died in childbirth at age 21. The story deals with the Lincolns' move from Kentucky to Indiana when they are put off their land by wealthy investors. Included is their mother's death and Sally's running of their frontier home at age 11 until Mr. Lincoln brings home a new wife. A poignant period of adjustment follows with Sally unwilling to accept a stepmom.

The historical references to Abraham Lincoln are just teasers, a setting perhaps. The title doesn't quite fit, since the story is Sally's not Abe's. Little is truly known of Sally, but Mazer's story is a glimpse into the difficult life on the frontier. Imagine being in charge of the house (meals, cleaning, food rationing) at age 11. Even being left to run things for weeks while a parent is absent. The best part to me is the emotional struggle Sally has with her father and the ordeal of becoming part of the family her father pieces together out of necessity. Her burden is lifted, but belonging is another matter. I imagine it isn't so different from families pieced together nowadays.

related-Sarah Lincoln, 19th century, early 1800s, Abraham Lincoln, childhood and youth, frontier and pioneer life, Indiana history, homestead
RL=4th-6th

My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath.
Schwartz & Wade Books/Random House: NY, 2008.

It's a summer of adventure for 12 year old Jane and her family and friends. As if it's not enough of an adventure living on the beach in their small Massachusetts town, Jane experiences a lone hot air balloon ride in an attempt to save her soul, Sunday afternoons with her friend and preacher looking to optimize their spiritual energy, babysitting a hoard of Gourd children as penance, excursions and dinners getting to know her mother's ex-boyfriends who have appeared all at once this summer, saving her brothers from an ill-advised boating attempt, and a close call-of-a-kidnapping. In her spare moments, she finds some time to enjoy her surroundings, calming and replenishing herself. She may feel like she is blundering through the summer, but she does a lot of good without fully realizing it.

As in Everything on a Waffle, there are some quirky interesting details, like Jane's mother (Felicity) being a Pulitzer prize winning poet, and startling clear-sighted moments, like there being millions of days within one day because everyone lives that day differently.

Jane's family lives a different sort of life than most, owing to her mother's outlook on life. Felicity's is a simple life - living in an old cottage on the beach, gathering wild fruits, clams and wild grasses to supplement their meager fair, treating others with kindness and giving them the benefit of the doubt. This may be a part of why Jane tries so hard to be good.

Jane's friend Ginny is a kindred spirit, though struggling through her own troubles this summer. She also finds a treasure in an old friend of her mom's, the grandfatherly Anton Fordyce. They share a much needed restful afternoon in the midst of Jane's chaotic summer. Another old friend is set to open up a whole new world of adventures.

related-brothers and sisters, single parent families, summer, beaches, babysitters, interpersonal relations, friendship
RL=5th and up

My Side of the Mountain Trilogy by Jean Craighead George.
E. P. Dutton: NY, 1959.
Newbery Honor 1960

Sam Gribley leaves his family's home to live off the land in the Catskill Mountains. He looks back at the summer and fall when he was faced with solving all the details that would make it possible to survive through the winter independently-with comfort.

As with the other books I have read by Jean George, the strength is in the details of being a part of nature as well as the feelings and thoughts expressed in this solitary living. The story concept is a little strange to me-possibly since so much has changed in our society since the book was written. While I can understand a boy's desire to live freely in an undeveloped area, some of the events wouldn't fit well into modern life. Still I enjoyed the ingenuity of the boy, and the descriptions give the reader the feeling that it is still possible to live independently with only products of the land and one's own ability to think of solutions. As I was finishing I also thought that those enjoying George's books would also likely enjoy Thoreau and Walt Whitman when a little older.

related-freedom and independence, survival, study and observation of nature, ingenuity, problem solving
RL=4th-8th

On the Far Side of the Mountain
Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Books: NY, 1990.

Frightful is taken away and Alice, Sam Gribley's sister, strikes out on her own. Sam and Bando track her across the mountain for an adventure and to make sure she is safe. She leads them on a merry chase. When they learn there are poachers nearby, they split up. Bando contacts the authorities, and Sam moves quickly to catch Alice.

The story is full of natural observations, but it is quirky also because of Alice's personality.
related-wilderness survival, brothers and sisters, falcons-fiction, friendship, ingenuity, falconers
RL=4th-8th

Frightful's Mountain
Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers: NY, 1999.

Told from many points-of-view, the story follows not just Frightful but other peregrine falcons as well. It is the story of Frightful's transfer from captivity to the wild. It discusses (in story format) the dangers affecting the falcons and other endangered birds. The birds and those caring for them face conflicts. Protections are described as well as failed attempts. Children and wildlife protection agencies become involved in preserving Frightful's babies. Full of details of Frightful's adaptation to the wild, it has a great balance between wild life observations and human interest. It is an exciting story-the best of the trilogy.
related-peregrine falcon-fiction, falcons, wildlife conservation, New York state, falconers, return of birds of prey to the wild, endangered species, migration, civil activism, school children, mating, falcon chicks
RL=5th-8th

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. il Carson Ellis.
Little, Brown and Company: Boston, 2007.

Four children are recruited to a secret society through a sequence of tests designed to pinpoint certain abilities. Each child has one particular aptitude: problem solving, retention of facts, bravery, and independence. The four combined make up the perfect team to foil the plans of Mr. Curtain, the head of the Learning Institute for the Very Gifted. They become students to gather information about the hidden agenda of the school and ultimately stop Mr. Curtain.

The testing period is lengthy and interesting. It is surprising how many kids are weeded out, but the tests are trickier than they seem, with things that don't seem like tests thrown in. The results are different for each child and show their different characteristics and personalities.

The plot is somewhat predictable, though the details of the story are unique and engaging. The book is a little long and probably could have used more editing. What I liked about the book is the characters and the unique behavior of each one. Sticky's fear balances out his know-it-all-ness. Reynie comes up with most of the suggestions or plans, but uses the others as sounding boards. Kate and her wonderful bucket full of fun kit, which allows her to do anything. Constance's vocal stubbornness gets them in plenty trouble, but in the end is essential.

This is a book that received a lot of buzz around the internet when it came out. The title is great to start. It is also a rare science fiction book for middle readers, plus a fairly good mystery. As I said, the characters are great. The level is not difficult, but the length could scare some away. It has interesting chapter heads, for those enjoying breaks between chapters.

related-adventure and adventurers, schools, brainwashing and mindwiping, world domination, mysteries, science fiction, spying
RL=5th-8th

Never Trust a Dead Man by Vivian Vande Velde.
Harcourt Brace & Company: NY, 1999.

Selwyn has been accused of murdering Farold, another young man in their small town. The townspeople rush to judgment and the ringleader proclaims he should be buried alive in the burial cave with the body of the dead man. A witch comes to his aide (for a price) and brings the dead man's spirit back to life. Unfortunately, Farold does not know who the murderer is, since he was sleeping and stabbed in the back.

The two young men go disguised into the town to investigate. What they learn is that there are too many people who had cause to want Farold dead. Apparently no one wanted to look into the murder, because they were afraid suspicion would be cast on them. By the end, there are about nine suspects.

The book is mostly a murder mystery but part comedy as well, slightly farcial. Farold's spirit ends up in a bat's body by mistake, and his personality is as unpleasant in death as in life. The witch is comical with her whacking Selwyn for stupid questions and comments and her outrageous price. The daunting task of finding the murderer is also amusing, plus Selwyn's second disguise. The story lightly explores some social issues, though it is largely a comedy. A good, fun story.

I love the title, though it is only loosely connected to the story. It isn't as important as it sounds.

This is a high interest, low level book. Sixth graders could easily read it, but because of the social issues and age of protagonist it is considered YA.

related-murder mysteries, detective stories, motives, small towns, magic, dating

RL=YA

The New Policeman by Kate Thompson.
Green Willow Books/HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2007.
Originally published by The Bodley Head: Great Britain, 2005.

This story is a suspenseful and fanciful explanation of why people in modern times seem to not have time for all of the things people used to do - reading, learning music, hanging out with friends, etc. Time is leaking from the world into the realm of Eternal Youth, otherwise known as the world of the faeries.

The story starts with a modern-day, Irish, farming family that welcomes visitors regularly to their home to play music together and share their music with the community. This tradition dates back to a time when the Catholic Church was trying to stamp out community dances. J.J. Liddy learns form his best friend that the Liddy family has a dark secret, connected to their music playing. Related but not apparent at first, there is a new policeman in town with a bad memory who can be led astray by an invitation to play his fiddle.

All of these things do not immediately seem connected. It isn't until J.J. is led into the realm of Eternal Youth by a concerned neighbor and distracted long enough to understand the problem that the reader can see the connections.

Possibly because it comes to us from Britain, this is a very different book. It is a blend of the Irish traditions of music making and weaving fanciful tales. It has a bare minimum of folklore, and so, seems more modern. It is fairly believable despite the trip to the faerie world. It was nothing like I expected.

I especially enjoyed the musical heritage in the story. Adding to my pleasure is that we had just finished a weekend of musical merriment at the American Folk Festival in Bangor, Maine. Bangor was fortunate in hosting the National Folk Festival for three years, and then the city , with the help of the National organizers, started their own annual event. Musicians from all over the states, plus Canada and other countries, come to perform. Because of the the 400th anniversary of French settlement in Canada, the main focus this year was on French Canadian (also have strong Irish & Scottish influence) groups learning their music through house parties. We heard so much fiddling - including a Norwegian fiddler playing an instrument deemed the devil's instrument, as in the book.

The story is high interest with a low reading level. It also looks longer than it is due to the design of the book. Each chapter is headed by a traditional song, which is a nice touch but takes up space.

related-time and space, fairies, music, Ireland, fiddling and fiddlers, family secrets
RL=7th and up

Night Journeys by Avi (Wortis).
Pantheon Books/Random House, Inc.: NY, 1979.

Two young indentured servants have escaped from their master in New Jersey in the 1700s. They have been told they would be safe and be able to find work if they can reach Easton, PA. Peter York's foster father is the Justice of the Peace in a small township just over the Delaware River border, but he is also a Quaker. Thinking of the reward money, Peter offers to help search for the fugitives. What he doesn't know is that they are children. Both Peter and his foster father wrestle with their consciences over the events that arise.

The first time I read this book I was overwhelmed. It has been a few years, so I wasn't sure if I would still be as moved. Again, I was amazed by the depth of emotion evoked by Peter York's struggles. There are about 10 to 12 of Avi's books that I think are great. This is near the very top.
related-indentured servants, Society of Friends, eighteenth century, Pennsylvania
RL=6th-YA

Night Wings by Joseph Bruchac.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2009.

There is a mythical winged being inhabiting the top of Mount Washington in the Presidential range of New Hampshire. It is said that Pmola protects an ancient treasure in the region. Treasure hunters force Paul and his grandfather to guide them to the treasure. The grandfather is the expert on Abenaki legend in the area, and his familial ancestors have kept the stories through time. Paul has been raised to use his senses for observation, to control emotions that cloud thinking, to communicate in many ways, and to use all of his resources in solving his problems. His family training should serve him well in his dealing with these heartless kidnappers.

The story is in parts: the mystery of the legendary creature, the adventure of the kidnapping and treasure hunt, the aspects of Abenaki tradition and certain family abilities. The anticipation of the adventure is greater than I expected. The story starts with Paul being chased by the winged creature. Glimpses are seen throughout. Sightings too large to be a bird follow Paul at home and on the trails. We know it is only a matter of time. That is the biggest impression I had, the anticipation.

I also enjoyed the pure reading experience. Joseph Bruchac is an experienced and lauded storyteller. Much of what he has written has been based on tales passed down. But he is a master at weaving the language. I always feel a sense of awesome history attached to his writing. I suppose because he draws so much from tradition.

related-Abenaki Indians, Indians of North America, Northeastern states, New Hampshire, Mount Washington, monsters, mystery
RL=5th & up

Nothing But the Truth by Avi.
Orchard Books: NY, 1991.
Newbery Honor 1992

Philip is sent to the vice-principal's office for behaving disrepectfully while the national anthem is played. The situation quickly spins out of control as students, teachers, parents, school officials and the media become involved in the matter.

This is Avi at his best as he highlights an issue that does tend to get totally out of control. The facts tend to get lost in the fuss, and people's ability to reason is also lost as emotions become inflamed. Both sides become increasingly defensive, and the more attention is given, the more the story changes.
RL=7th-YA

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Boston, 2011.
author of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy and Wednesday Wars

Doug Swieteck's family moves to Marysville (upstate NY) in the summer of 1968. Doug starts the story an unhappy and scared kid. He doesn't want to be like his bullying father and older brothers. There doesn't seem to be anything to do in Marysville. He waits on the library steps for it to open only to be told rudely that it is only open Saturdays. But he does receive an offer of a job delivering groceries for a small grocer, which is better than doing nothing.

On his first visit to the Marysville Free Public Library, he goes upstairs to escape the disapproving librarian and discovers the library's treasure, a display case with John James Audubon's book Birds of America, one of the few remaining copies. He meets Mr. Powell, the page-turner for the book and a kindred spirit. Somehow Mr. Powell finds the time to give Doug art lessons on his Saturday visits. Along with the lessons, there is much discussion about the composition of the pictures and art techniques. Not too far along, Doug learns from Mr. Powell that the Town Council has been cutting pages from the book when the town is low on funds.

School is another source of aggravation. Doug mocks the principal at orientation and talks back to the Phys Ed coach (a Vietnam vet and the last person you want to irritate), so he's on Coach Reed and Principal Peattie's hit lists from the beginning. It doesn't help that there is a robbery in town and locals blame Doug's brother. Lil, the grocer's daughter, speaks on Doug's behalf or he would have lost his job, too. It is mostly through school, though, that Doug develops a pattern of sticking up for himself, acting on his own thoughts. It has consequences, and he needs to learn when to hold his tongue, but overall gains him respect.

It is his father's company picnic that is the turning point for Doug's problems. He unknowingly befriends the boss, Mr. Ballard, angering his father in the process. But it is the first unquestionable indication that his father is a big liar, and it is a friendship that continues through the story.

Doug makes a few friends on his delivery route. The playwright's, Mrs. Windermere, home is where Doug sees the first pilfered picture hanging. The principal's office is next. Then, Mr. Ballard's office. Later, he is shown a fourth hanging at a friend's house, a friend who also believes it belongs in the book. Doug instigates the return of the pages to the book. The first one is returned through friendship after Doug makes an impassioned comment. The others Doug has to bargain for.

Okay for Now is a coming of age story balanced with family and school troubles and artistic (drawing and plays) and community endeavors. Doug's new relationships and his achievements are the factors supporting his growth as an individual. Although, some of the friendships are shaky, with teachers and customers, a few are solid and unquestionably supportive (Lil, Mr. Ballard, Mr. Powell, and the science teacher Mr. Ferris). The others grow as the people get to know Doug better, even with more robberies happening and grim circumstances for the brother.

Schmidt is excellent at describing everyday events in an enthralling manner. He also balances many issues well and uses unlikely or unusual happenings in a believable way for an interesting read. The style is not as elegant as his Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, but still nicely written and entertaining. It is more along the lines of Wednesday Wars, in which Doug Swieteck is a minor character. Another memoir of a middle school boy, although with greater problems than the other.

related-John James Audubon, art and learning to draw, plays, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Vietnam War, theft, jobs for young people, moon walk, NY Yankees baseball and stats, community and family life, family problems, handicapped or disabled
RL=7th-YA

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia.
Amistad/HarperCollins: NY, 2010.
Newbery Honor Book 2011

Delphine and her sisters are sent from Brooklyn to Oakland to get to know a mother who abandoned them long ago. Cecile has no place for children in her life, but their dad is sick and insists that they need to know her. So, off to Oakland they fly in a 1960s summer, where they spend their days at a Black Panther day care. It is a rocky reunion for all, but there are snippets of why the father insisted. It is an enlightening experience, for the children and the mother.

My biggest impression is that the subject matter is different than anything else I've read. Sure, I've read other books with abandoned children, irresponsible parents, etc. But none like this. None that gives so much perspective regarding the parent. None that hints that there may have been a reason for the abandonment. None that attempts the complexity of healing the rift that would be there. To top it off, the background is refreshingly unusual.

I thought I'd give the book a try, since I have read and liked short stories by Rita-Williams Garcia. The book is short, and exceptional! Delphine and Cecile are a pair destined to battle, unless Cecile starts to pay attention to what is under her nose.

related-sisters, mothers and daughters, poets, African Americans, Black Panther Party, civil rights movement, Oakland, California, 20th century
RL=4th-7th

On Etruscan Time by Tracy Barrett.
Henry Holt and Company: NY, 2005.

When Hector's mom is asked to help at an archaeological site in Italy, he is dragged along. To pass the time, he helps with the digging and is transported back through time to the Etruscan village it used to be. An artifact with protective qualities is the transportation device. Hector believes he is dreaming at first, but the Etruscan boy's plea for help becomes all too real. Underlying the story is Hector's need to find a way to be heard-in his life and the dream episodes.

The book is short, but unusual with a high interest level. The use of the device for time travel is creative. There are conflicts in the present and past to be sorted out, and I liked also that Hector holds the key to both. In the past he is invisible to all but the one boy and thinks of the boy's solution. In the present, he becomes part of the dig and finds an important artifact.

related-dreams, Etruscans, Italy, archaeology, time travel, sacrifice, mothers and sons
RL=6th-YA

Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2004.
First edition 1992.

I would guess this has to be one of the first stories to have the character living a computer game. Johnny, when playing the game Only You Can Save Mankind, is contacted by the leader of the aliens/enemy. Their leader surrenders and requests safe passage to their home. While it is a game to Johnny and his friends, the aliens are dying for real. The dilemma results in many sleepless nights for Johnny, odd conversations with his friends, wrestling with his conscience, and new friends.

The book was written during the Gulf War, a time when there was daily TV coverage of bombings for the first time. No carnage was shown; it looked like a video game. This story is a reminder that the killing is real, that it isn't a weakness to want to avoid bloodshed, whether it is of foreigners or aliens. Pratchett twists a serious subject into a quirky and compelling plot. It is a good story, with important commentary, but without beating the reader over the head with the message.

related-computer games, war, conduct of life, sci fi
RL=4th & up, publisher says ages 8 and up

On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells.
Candlewick Press: Somerville, MA, 2010.

The bank takes Oscar and his father's home, including their wondrous train set-up, when the stock market crashes. His father travels to California in search of work, and he is left with his austere aunt. During his few private moments home alone, Oscar befriends a homeless man left jobless by the Depression, who in turn tutors him (especially in Mathematics). The ex-teacher gets a job at the bank which has his train set displayed for Christmas. An attempted bank robbery propels Oscar into the future via the train where he meets a soon-to-be Hollywood star and young runaway girl from New York City.

I enjoyed the boy and teacher relationship, since he needed his father so badly, and Oscar gave Mr. Applegate help in the same way that his father needed help from those in California. He teaches Oscar how to memorize speeches and poetry (a quality his aunt values) and discusses with him principles of time travel. Of course, all of this takes place while his aunt is working away from the house, as she would never have approved befriending a stranger.

Oscar's wormhole train ride surprised me. Here I was enjoying the Depression setting, when BAM! he's on a train bound for California where he arrives as a teenager. He does get to see his dad, but he must go back to set their lives straight, though that chain of events is strange as well. Besides Mr. Applegate, the star helps Oscar along the way, as does the runaway girl whose father has important friends.

Rosemary Wells tells a good tale. Odd, but creative and poignant.

related-space and time, railroad trains, single parent families, Depression, 20th century, adventure, California, Illinois, boys
RL=4th-7th

Orphan Train Children Series by Joan Lowery Nixon
Books #1-4 Bantam Books. #5-8 Delacorte Press
A family Apart 1987
Caught in the Act 1988
In the Face of Danger 1988
A Place to Belong 1989
A Dangerous Promise 1994
Keeping Secrets 1995
Circle of Love 1997
Lucy's Wish 1998

This is an incredibly moving series for such short books. A woman reads to her grandchildren from a diary kept by one of the orphan children. The writer was the eldest of a large Irish family whose father died in New York City and the mother could not support the children. The children's adoption is based on a foster program set up to give the children on the streets a better life. It took place in the 1800s, during the Civil War. Part of the idea was to supply western pioneering families with children. There are stories appealing to both girls and boys.
RL=4th-8th

A Family Apart: The first book of the series is told by Frances, the oldest girl. She explains why they are being sent west, describes the families who take them in, and her experiences with her new family.
related-foster homes, brothers and sisters, underground railroad, orphan train

Caught in the Act: Mike's new family has a strict father who mostly wants free labor and a son bent on getting rid of him. They are hiding a terrible secret. Mike believes his safety and that of his new friends lies in exposing the secret.
related-foster homes, family secrets, troublemakers, friendship

A Place to Belong: Danny and Peg go to live with a kind couple, but the wife is sick and weak. They both grow quickly to love her and must accept her passing. Danny concocts a brilliant plan to have his mother marry his new father. It's a great idea, but can life work out that smoothly?
related-foster homes, slavery and abolitionists, kidnapping, remarriage, farm life, Missouri history

Out of the Shadows: An Artist's Journey by Neil Waldman.
Boyds Mills Press: Honesdale, PA, 2006.

Illustrated with Waldman's paintings as well as his relatives', his autobiography consists of anecdotes from his formative years. They create stirring images of the experiences which influenced his career as an artist and writer.

His stories are glimpses of his old journals which he says were important in developing his talent. He encourages students to keep journals both as a form of practice (for sketching and writing) and as reminders of what they have already learned and experienced. Another point not mentioned is that using a journal focuses attention and emphasizes the particular idea being recorded at that moment. So, it becomes imprinted more firmly in the mind.

Out of the Shadows is enjoyable reading and also enlightening and inspirational for hopeful young artists and writers.

related-Neil Waldman, childhood and youth, illustrators, Jewish artists, American history and biography
RL=4th-8th

Paintings From the Cave by Gary Paulsen.
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House: NY, 2011.

Paulsen is an amazing author. He takes short and simple stories and fills them with soul. This book is three intense novellas about kids growing up amidst abuse and neglect, forced to be the adults. The stories feel real and each circumstance is different and original. In two of the stories, an aptitude for art helps a child to transend the surroundings. Also in two of the stories, dogs are a key factor in healing the children, giving them friendship and a sense of joy. There are varying degrees of transformation. It is a book of reality, not a feel good book. The children have limited interaction with people of other lifestyles, and sometimes outside influences are not enough to pull a child out of a bad situation. The ending story is the most hopeful of the three, though the other two have glimmers. Very strong stories for being so short. The reader is immediately transported. I love the use of the art experiences and the dogs.

YA because of violence, but reading level is middle grades.

related-short stories, violence, homeless persons, experiencing art, communication with and understanding dogs, dealing with illness
RL=YA-adult

Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
Scholastic Press: NY, 2007.

Paint the Wind may be Ryan's best work yet. She writes for picture book level up through 8th grade, but her stories are so inspiring that they are enjoyed by adults as well. This particular book has a complexity not often seen for younger ages. It is 2 stories in one-a girl living with her strict, overly protective paternal grandmother, needing desperately to have a connection with her dead mother, and a wild horse, the lead female of her band.

Maya's grandmother dies, and she goes to live with her maternal grandfather and his siblings, with which she has been denied contact since her parents' death. Their family life revolves around horses-wild and domesticated. Under the observation of Maya's great-aunt, Artemisia has her own story to tell, in caring for her new foal and surviving the dangers of the wild. Artemisia is one of the things connecting Maya to her mother, and they also help each other through a critical moment in the story. There are comparisons of their characters to be made as well.

Setting up the story is Maya's transition from one environment to another, with trust issues playing a great role-relating to all of her newfound family. In particular, she has competition from a cousin, who does not want her invading his vacation time.

There is also the matter of finding her way in foreign circumstances, as Artemisia similarly must find her way. Maya and Artemisia are both faced with survival in an extreme situation. There is the possibilty that the connection they share with Maya's mother is a key to their survival. Freedom vs captivity is another shared aspect of their stories.

related-ranch life, Wyoming, wild horses, family life, orphans, self-actualization, psychology, freedom, captivity, lying or lies, death of parent and guardian
RL=5th & up

Peeled by Joan Bauer.
G. P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Young Readers Group: NY, 2008.

This book was a surprise. The reading level is low, so I didn't expect the complexity. Bauer again gives us an entertaining mystery with social significance.

The focus is journalism-the truth vs sensationalism-using a haunted house as a vehicle. Underlying the newspaper theme is the spreading of fear through the town purposefully. Both themes are relevant to current events in our country. Wrapped up in the mystery is a commercial development scheme as well.

The star reporter is a strong female character. Hildy learns some hard lessons with her success, due to her tenacity and coaching from an experienced reporter. A new friend helps her to see the town has not totally embraced the sensationalism of their rival. They are waiting for the truth to be told-and make sense.

An enjoyable read with heart and some lightly probing moments.
related-reporters and reporting, journalism, farm life, apple farms, New York state, high schools, haunted houses, fearmongering, social issues, high interest, commercial development, perseverance, politics
RL=7th-YA

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House: NY, 2005.

Three weeks at a cottage in the Berkshires for the Penderwick girls and their Hound and dad! The cottage is lovelier than they could imagine and on the grounds of a mansion - with a lonely boy. It's the best time Jeffrey has had - ever. His mother is not thrilled with the wildness of his new companions. The five children get into one scrape after another, and the girls' influence turns out to be better than Mrs. Tifton (Jeffrey's mother) will admit.

This light-hearted summer romp was the recommendation of my 9 year old son. There's lots of fun with the Penderwicks' antics and a touching ending concerning Jeffrey's future.

related-sisters, friends, single-parent families, summer vacations
RL=5th-8th

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House: NY, 2008.

The Penderwicks are back home after their summer adventure, and there's always adventure with four girls and a dog. Aunt Claire comes to visit and tells her brother, the girls' father, it's time for him to start dating. Rosalind is unwilling to accept the idea and initiates the Save-Daddy Plan. Rosalind's friend Tommy is jealous of Jeffrey, from summer vacation, and she seems to be losing his friendship. Skye and Jane are having trouble with school work. They decide to switch work to suit their interests better, with terrible results. Batty and Hound are spying on the new next-door neighbor, plus the mysterious Bug Man. All of the family befriends their new neighbors, Iantha, Ben and Asimov (the cat).

Birdsall's 2nd Penderwick book is a heartwarming and emotional romp. The girls are smart, lively, and real. A force to be reckoned with, as Skye's rival at school and on the soccer field can attest.

related-sisters, family life, single-parent families, dating, Massachusetts, writing and writers/authors, theatrical performances, transition to reading
RL=5th & up

Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan.
Hyperion Books for Children/Miramax Books: NY.
The Lightning Thief 2005
The Sea of Monsters 2006
The Titan's Curse 2007
The Battle of the Labyrinth 2008 - no review yet

The Lightning Thief: In the first book of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, Riordan tells a tale of Greek mythological characters roaming the modern U.S.-starting in New York City and traveling to Los Angeles. Imagine your ADHD being the result of your demigod status, unbeknownst to you! One crazy event after another happens as Percy meets more characters-especially once he learns who he is and accepts his quest. The characters and other mythological connections are well done and my favorite part of the story. The confrontations occur a little too often, but there are plenty of creative tidbits to keep readers hooked.

Percy's quest arises due to the fact that someone has stolen Zeus's master lightning bolt. He accuses Poseidon and gives him until the summer solstice to return it or prepare for World War III. Percy (short for Perseus) is appointed the task of reclaiming it. His advisers believe Hades is the culprit, so he must travel to the Underworld. Unfortunately, Zeus is not the only god missing an object of power, and matters become complicated.

Interestingly, the book reminds me of another story related to Zeus's stolen property, Thor's Wedding by Bruce Coville. Coville's story closely follows a Norse poem, Thrymskvitha. Riordan's does not.

All three of my sons (ages 9-16) read the book and immediately read the second book. They loved them.
related-Greek gods & mythology, monsters, family relationships, high interest/low reading level
RL=4th & up

The Sea of Monsters: Thalia, the tree that guards the border of Camp Half-blood, is stabbed with poison by a half-blood traitor. The barriers protecting the camp have broken down, and the camp will be overrun by monsters. It's decided the Golden Fleece is the only thing that can restore the camp, and Clarisse, daughter of Ares, is sent on the quest to steal it from the cyclops, Polyphemus. Percy has a new friend, Tyson, whom everyone else is treating as if he were a monster.

There is more discussion of the prophecy no one wants to reveal to Percy, and the overall plot unfolds a little more. The book is as quickly paced as the first. It may not make as much of an impression as the first, perhaps because the concept was new with the first. There is an intriguing, surprise ending and some funny references to historical figures.
related-Greek mythology, gods, monsters, cyclopses, Golden Fleece, family relationships, relatives, high interest
RL=4th & up

The Titan's Curse: In this 3rd book, Annabeth is kidnapped and the goddess Artemis hunts a monster and becomes trapped. Percy and the others are seeing premonitions in their dreams. Percy and friends save two new half-bloods, but one of the kids immediately becomes involved in the newest quest. There are odd things going on with the new kids. The quest is made up of errors by the participants, but there are some twists that help them to prevail.

This is possibly the most complex of the series so far with many twists in the plot-including an ending I did not guess. The mythological references come fast and furious. The gods play a bigger role in the quest itself since the consequences are increasing. I still may have liked the first book best overall; I think because it was a fresh idea. There are some memorable moments in this one, and it may be more developed psychologically. It is a great series for the age range it is written. Enjoyable for older kids also, but advanced readers may not be interested.
related-Greek mythology, monsters, gods & goddesses, manticore, friendship, family relationships, prophecy, high interest
RL=4th & up

Pieces: A Year in Poems & Quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines.
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2001.

Seasons of the year grace Pieces with nature poems and quilts. Hines constructed the lovely quilts specifically for the book, showing a few different techniques. The actual sizes of the quilts are about the same as the pages. I particularly like that some of the quilts are shown as pieces and then sewn together. I also enjoyed seeing quilts as the medium. I've seen picture books with illustrations made to look like quilts, but this is the first for actual quilts. Notice also the use of borders on the quilts.

Hines's language for the poems is mostly playful with descriptive words, varying in rhythm and sound. The poems I especially enjoyed are Good Heavens (which seems to be a centerpiece of the book), Ballet (a dancing crow), Do You Know Green? (a spring poem), To Each His Own (swirling maples), and Winter Sunshine (the last roses).

Hines discusses quilting techniques she used, at the end of the book. Her personal experience makes the book even more enjoyable.

related-nature, seasons, quilts, children's poetry
RL=3rd and up, read aloud to preK-2nd

Pocahontas by Joseph Bruchac.
Silver Whistle/Harcourt, Inc: NY, 2003.

Written in journal form, this is an account of the Jamestown, VA settlement from two points-of-view (Pocahontas and John Smith). John Smith's chapters are based on Smith's writings as well as others by his fellow settlers. The viewpoint of Pocahontas is based on scholarly writings of the Powhatan culture and information gathered from storytellers and elders in the Native American community. It is so refreshing to have both sides of the story displayed for events that were such a turning point for both cultures.
RL=6th-7th

Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem From the Inside Out by Ralph Fletcher.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2002.

This book consists mostly of tips for writing the substance of poems. There is some discussion of poetry forms, but mostly the book deals with inspiration, observation, word play and revising lines that don't quite work. The author visits schools, helping the students to become involved in poetry. There are several excerpts of poems illustrating his points, many of them by students. Also three interviews with successful poets and recommended poetry books for study and enjoyment.

Fletcher quotes a young student as saying

It's [poetry] like you're at a party, and you hear some fresh music, and you want to get up and dance.

I don't think of myself as a poet or even a writer, but my haiku writing at Christmas and my contest have gotten me excited about putting my thoughts into poetry. The poetry in The Tree That Time Built increased my desire to do so. I realize now that it is something that literally anyone can do for their own pleasure or emotional release, not just for Literature majors.

I originally picked up the book for my sons' high school writing work. It is simple to read and probably the most help I've seen regarding writing poetry.

related-poetry and poets, authorship, creative writing
RL=5th and up

The Power of One: Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine by Judith Bloom Fradin & Dennis Brindell Fradin.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 2004

Daisy Bates co-published the newspaper, State Press in Little Rock, Arkansas. Because of their leadership against racial violence and injustice, Mrs. Bates became Arkansas' president of the NAACP in 1957. She guided the "Little Rock Nine" in their struggles to integrate Central High and sought to protect them from the worst of the violence.

This book follows her life-her childhood, her motivations, her involvement in the State Press, her activism, and of course, the struggle revolving around Central High and the consequences of being involved.

Nothing I have read before has so thoroughly depicted the abuse that these people suffered. I've seen short clips on TV and brief descriptions from books. Mostly the big protests are discussed-not 1 1/2 to 2 years of day to day verbal and physical abuse (some of that while National Guardsmen and teachers watched). I cannot fathom how there could be so much hatred that students could attack other students repeatedly on a day to day basis with no retaliation from the victims. In the book there is a well-known picture of Elizabeth Eckford facing the mob alone. I wonder about the girl behind her with such hatred captured on her face.
RL=7th-YA

Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 2005.

Julia and Patrick have a project to do for a club which emphasizes raising animals, growing plants, and practicing crafts. They want the club to pick their project to enter the state fair. Living in an apartment limits the choices of animals they can raise, so Julia's mother suggests silkworms which she had helped raise as a girl in Korea. Patrick is enthusiastic about the idea because of its uniqueness and practical applications. Julia tries to sabotage the project idea, because she would rather do something traditionally American. For the sake of their friendship, Julia eventually accepts the silkworms as a project. It is an excellent project after all with the life cycle of the silkworms, video footage of each stage plus a scrapbook and a finished product (their own silk used in embroidery).

Besides friendship and the life cycle, Linda Sue Park weaves in sustainable farming, racial prejudice, phobias, how to deal with the annoyance of a sibling, and the writing process itself.

I always enjoy reading Linda Sue Park's books. Her subject matter is unique, contemplative, and a pleasure to read. In this book, she experiments with a new concept-adding conversation between the main character and herself after each chapter. Slightly odd, it is interesting and works well in the story.

related-silkworms, Korean American, friendship, life cycle, sustainable agriculture, 4H clubs, family farm vs. commercial farm, racial prejudice, tolerance, patience, phobia, younger brother, writing process, authorship, mulberry tree, state quarters
RL=4th-7th

Pure Dead Series by Debi Gliori.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House: NY.

Pure Dead Magic © 2001
Pure Dead Wicked © 2002
Pue Dead Brilliant © 2003
Pure Dead Trouble © 2004
Pure Dead Batty © 2005
Originally published as Deep Water by Transworld Publishers Ltd: Great Britain, 2005.

The Pure Dead series is wacky and fun. It's an easy to read series made interesting by odd pets, peculiar happenings, plot twists, and Scottish slang.
related-magic, criminals, brothers and sisters, Scotland, humorous stories
RL=4th-8th

Pure Dead Magic is an introduction to the family, pets, nanny, and butler. The setting is a Scottish castle. The oddness of the family and pets combine with magic and the internet for a truly unusual, zany adventure when their father is kidnapped.

In Pure Dead Wicked, major repairs to their castle force the family to live at an inn for weeks (the only one that will allow their beasts). Included in the book are a real estate development scam and a cloning project through the internet. It is another wacky adventure for all concerned with a unique and funny solution.

Pure Dead Brilliant: As Titus is about to inherit his grandfather's money, he and Pandora see a horrible forecast of their future. Also their home has been overrun by their mother's classmates creating more hilarious upheaval at the Strega-Borgia home. A demon appears who intends to steal an old stone that has been in the family's keeping for centuries.

In Pure Dead Trouble, the Strega-Borgias arrive home from vacation to find their butler comatose on the doorstep. Titus becomes obsessed with exposing a shady corporation that has moved into the area. Pandora shadows the handsome replacement butler. Nanny McLachlan realizes that whatever attacked the butler will be back, and it is up to her to protect the children. The story is as twisted as ever and pulls you right along with it.

Pure Dead Batty: The Borgias' nanny, Mrs. McLachlan, disappeared in the last book. Their terrible cook accuses Luciano (the father) of murdering her, and he is taken to prison. In the resulting chaos, Damp (the youngest) disappears also. As with the other books, it is a totally wacky experience.

Q is for Quark by David M. Schwartz. il. Kim Doner.
Tricycle Press: Berkeley, 2001.

Q is for Quark is one of my favorite alphabet books, has a super cool name, and is one of the best science books for elementary students. It's style is unique and hilarious, explaining science terms and concepts in clear and simple speech, with humorous graphical depictions and comical commentary. The reading level is about 3rd to 5th grade, but it is a book for all ages. Everyone can enjoy the comics. Elementary on up can benefit from the clarification of ideas, promoting the discussion of the concepts with children, which encourages their exploration and willingness to persevere through science classes they may find difficult.

Q is for Quark is a fun book. I wish that my elementary science (what little there was) had been approached in this way. I would like to see more science taught in this way. The book uses normal terminology, but it also explains it without complicated terms which confuse the discussion. It shows science as the explorative subject that it is, something to play around with and observe results and reactions. There are some great concepts within the sciences that don't take a rocket scientist to understand. This book mostly is involved with fairly simple ones (unlike G is for Googol which explains some less elementary ideas), but it is a good book to start some exploration into the science world.

Q is for Quark and its counterpart G is for Googol are books to buy for youngsters and keep and cherish. They are not quick reads; they serve as reminders as well as introductions. I have to say these books helped me to understand some of the terms better and explained terms I hadn't bothered to understand. Here's hoping that these books will lead to further exploration.

related-science, alphabet, ABCs, educational comics, exploration
RL=all ages

Quest for a King: Searching for the Real King Arthur by Catherine M. Andronik.
Atheneum/Macmillan Publishing Company: NY, 1989.

This is the first source I read regarding the documentation of a real Arthur in British history-although from the 6th century A.D. not medieval times and as a general instead of King of all England. Conflicting information is presented, so obviously some of the facts are only claims. It is intriguing to see the possible connections between local legends, British/Welsh history, and the King Arthur stories. The author sites Geoffrey Ashe and Leslie Alcock as the foremost authorities on Arthur.

related-King Arthur, history of Arthurian romances, British antiquities, Anglo-Saxons, Celts, kings & rulers
RL=6th-YA

Qwerty Stevens, Stuck in Time with Benjamin Franklin by Dan Gutman.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2002.

While preparing a history report about the American Revolution, Qwerty accidentally transfers Benjamin Franklin from Philadelphia 1776 to his home in the present. He decides to bring Franklin to school as a visual aid for his report. Afterwards, he and his friend Joey can't resist going back with him to see the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Even better than Gutman's Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time (about Edison and the making of a time machine). The story is comical when Franklin visits school and adventurous as the boys assist Franklin in stopping a plot to change history.

related-time travel, Philadelphia-PA, history of the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, schools, Benjamin Franklin, inventions and inventors, July 4th
RL=2nd-6th

Qwerty Stevens Back in Time: The Edison Mystery by Dan Gutman.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2001.

Thomas Edison wrote about wanting to create a machine that would enable communication with the dead. In this story, Qwerty Stevens digs up a machine invented by Edison. He hooks it up to his computer and is transported to Spain accidentally. Later, he sends himself to Edison's laboratory at Edison's request. It is a fun and interesting adventure with consequences, as you would expect.

The author has made an effort to be realistic including actual events, dialogue, and facts from Edison's life. The only thing that bothered me was the persistence of the idea that Edison invented everything for which he held a patent. Edison was a very successful businessman. He was known for buying inventions from others and producing them himself. He also had a huge laboratory with many workers who most likely invented things for which he held patents. As with the lightbulb, inventions were and are collaborative. To say we wouldn't have electricity without Edison is not true. The electrical system which we use was developed by Tesla who lived and created during the same time period. Edison may have been the first to patent a successful filament, but he wasn't the only one working on the idea. Students would be better served discussing how an idea has developed instead of saying it originates from one person. That is rarely the case. Besides it being untrue, the idea of inventions solely coming from one person also inhibits experimentation and creativity, because then young people believe it is beyond their abilities.

related-time travel, transportational device, transportation, inventors, incandescent light
RL=5th-8th

Raggin' Jazzin' Rockin': A History of American Musical Instrument Makers by Susan VanHecke.
Boyds Mills Press: Honesdale, PA, 2011.

The title sort of says it all. The book focuses on eight huge names in music-making. Within each company there were one or more people who revolutionized a part of the industry. At least one of those names, Steinway, was so prevalent at one time that most people knew of them. Their stories are also linked to historic times, such as the beginnings of jazz, life under a 17th century Sultan, and 19th century German guilds. Famous musicians who played the instruments are also featured.

This is an exciting collection of histories. The entries are short with some excellent pictures. It is accessible to 4th graders, yet fascinating to all ages. I particulary like the mix of historic times with the more biographical information.

While I have heard of most of the manufacturers, I did not know most of the histories. Besides the business startups, a general understanding of the instruments is conveyed along with the innovative ideas.

related-musical instrument makers, development and progression of musical instruments, United States history, high interest
RL=4th and up

The Ravenmaster's Secret: Escape From the Tower of London by Elvira Woodruff.
Scholastic Press: NY, 2003.

Forest Harper assists his father in tending the ravens and guarding prisoners at the Tower of London. He is excited about the capture of three Scottish rebels until he learns that the prisoner in their care is a young girl. The girl, Maddy, wins his friendship, and he is appalled to learn that she is to be beheaded. His choice is to either watch her be executed though he believes she is innocent or commit treason by helping her escape.

Though the plot is somewhat predictable, the details of the story and characters are more complex and enjoyable. A rare historical adventure with courage, justice, and friendship at its core.

related-Tower of London, British history, 18th century, Jacobites, ravens, prisoners, friends, Scotland, rebellion, resistance, escape
RL=4th-7th

Redwall by Brian Jacques
Philomel Books. Originally by Hutchinson Ltd: Great Britain.
Redwall 1986
Mossflower 1988
Mattimeo 1989
Mariel of Redwall 1991
Salamandastron 1992
Martin the Warrior 1993
The Bellmaker 1994
Outcast of Redwall 1995
Pearls of Lutra 1996
The Long Patrol 1997
Marlfox 1998
The legend of Luke 1999
Lord Brocktree 2000
Taggerung 2001
Triss 2002
Loamhedge 2003
Rakkety Tam 2004
High Rhulain 2005
Eulalia 2007

In all of the Redwall books, peace-loving animals join together for a bit of adventure in defending their homes or their friends against evil, roving bandits and tyrants. Jacques applies a medieval format to the lives of woodland creatures. Each type of animal has familiar, humorous traits. The villains are wonderful in their nastinesss.

The strength is in the lively characters, outrageous dialogue, and masterful use of language. For younger readers it is a positive thing that the books mostly follow the same basic storyline with similar characters but with some twists and variations. As individual books they are quite enjoyable. In fact, the first six are excellent. I would, however, recommend not reading one right after another, since there is a battle in every book (I am sure that would not hinder most boys). There are some good elements in the stories for girls, too, such as the riddles, feasts, and good fellowship. This is an excellent series to start reading aloud, since Brian Jacques developed Redwall through storytelling before he became a writer. Most children will want to continue on their own.
RL=5th-8th

The Report Card by Andrew Clements.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2004.

Nora learns at an exceptionally young age that she thinks differently. At the same time, she realizes she doesn't like the attention that is the result of her differences, so she spends her elementary school life making sure others don't see she has rare abilities. Until fifth grade when test grades are dividing students into smart and dumb categories. She brings home a poor report card on purpose. Her parents then want to know how this can happen without any warning from the teachers. Under pressure from her parents, the school administers an I.Q. test, and the problem snowballs. She pushes ahead with her plan to prove grades are not important with the help of her best friend and a librarian she trusts with her thoughts and feelings.

There are a few funny moments, but mostly it is a serious story about a subject that affects many people-students, teachers, parents and administrators. Though it is easy enough for 4th to 5th graders to read, it is interesting enough for anyone above that reading level.

related-grades, exams, achievement tests, schools, genius, friendship, I.Q., memorization vs. learning and interaction, high interest
RL=4th and up

Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange by Elizabeth Partridge.
Viking Press/Penguin Group:NY, 1998.

Written by the daughter of Dorothea Lange's apprentice, colleague, and friend, the biography is an account of homelessness and poverty during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the San Francisco shipyards during the 1940s. It is also a documentation of the difficulties of trying to have a great, meaningful career and care for a family as well. I have known few people who could do both well-at the same time.

Dorothea Lange was an incredible photographer, but she lived at a time when the mother was expected to be the caregiver. She was torn between her work and her family. In the beginning of her career, most of her time and energy was spent on caretaking. As she became more of a photographer (a field photographer), she pulled away from her family. I believe this is an issue that many women are forced to agonize over.

Dorothea Lange was a smart, strong woman with an amazing life. The documentation is enlightening about subjects that are not covered well in history classes, and I think it is a positive thing for teenagers to learn about the balance of career and family life-instead of waiting until they have babies to figure out what to do. We are not all meant to make the same choices, but it is good to have an idea of what to expect.

Also, most of the pictures were taken by Dorothea Lange herself. Some quite beautiful pictures.
RL=8th-YA

Ringside 1925 by Jen Bryant.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House: NY, 2008.

Ringside 1925 is written in verse from nine different perspectives of the town of Dayton, TN, during the Scopes Trial in 1925. All but two of the speakers (a visiting minister and a reporter) are residents of the town. I particularly like the viewpoints of the three students from the high school. The two boys are best friends who have a difference of opinion regarding the case. Peter wants to study geology. Jimmy is influenced by his mother who is concerned about morality. All three students are working through the trial. The boys at a drug store and Marybeth at a boardinghouse. It's the first time she has been allowed to work. She's excited about the bustle of the customers, and she is hoping to find something for herself in life beyond their town. Her older cousin, who manages the boardinghouse, is encouraging her.

Upon reading the novel, I wasn't totally clueless about the events, since I had already seen the Spencer Tracy movie Inherit the Wind. I was struck by how much the novel resembled the movie, and in fact, I believe both made an effort to be true to the facts of, not just the case, but also town happenings. One thing that stood out that I didn't notice in the movie (which at that point was totally centered on Darrow and Bryan) was that the jury was in the courtroom for very little of the trial. I would not have thought it would be legal to continue a trial without the jury in the room! Both the novel and the movie make it clear that the case was being tried with the intent of drawing people/customers to their less than prosperous town.

The book is very short and fast paced. It isn't just flowing; it's hopping. I like the different viewpoints, many more than you usually see in a novel. I think Bryant has done an excellent job of providing a comprehensive depiction, and the story is as much about the times and small town life as it is about the specific place. I am impressed by the number of personal details Bryant included in the story.

related-John T. Scopes trial, litigation, studying and teaching evolution, Charles Darwin, Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, law and legislation, Tennessee history, 20th century, community life, novels in verse
RL=7th-adult

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.
The Dial Press: NY, 1976.
Newbery Award Winner 1977

This story is overwhelmingly powerful. It is the story of a black family in Mississippi during the Great Depression struggling to survive-physically and spiritually. Through Cassie we learn of the importance of integrity, pride, and independence. We also see how difficult it is to maintain them when confronted by people who believe you should have no rights, no pride, and no independence.

This novel was one of the books that helped me to more deeply understand the conditions that the black people (especially of the South, but not only the South) were forced to endure for 100 years after the Civil War. It is not a subject that was fully taught in my history classes growing up in Texas.

*The sequels are also very powerful.
related-Great Depression, Black History, Southern States-race, integrity, independence, labor history
RL=6th-YA

The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone.
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic: NY, 2011.

The title hides a serious historical fiction, mystery. Felicity/Flissy, an English girl, is dropped off in Maine by her parents in 1941. It isn't safe for her to live in England with the war on. Her parents leave, and no one is giving her any information about them as the days drag on, especially not her goofy uncle Gideon. Gideon receives letters that she knows are from her dad, but he isn't sharing the information. She's got to find out what's in them, why they haven't contacted her.

The move takes a bit of adjusting. The house is an old captain's home on a cliff, wind whipping around it in a spooky way. The Gram, Auntie Miami, and Gideon are quirky and secretive. One of the biggest secrets being the Captain Derek who doesn't come out of his room. Flissy writes a note of introduction and pushes it under the door. It is received, and the favor is returned. Before long, Flissy is allowed to meet Captain Derek, who is not what she expects at all. She enlists his help with getting the letters, which it turns out are in code, generating another string of questions.

Flissy shakes up the household, and one by one she pushes the members to deal with the challenges they'd like to avoid. They in turn offer her a loving home with plenty to explore. There is a fair amount of sneaking around to uncover the secrets and a bit of boisterousness.

The pace moves at a fast clip trying to keep up with Flissy's antics. There is intertwining of many secrets and twists making for a packed story. The Bathburn clan of Maine is a lively bunch. The relationships forming are delightful. Everything is not resolved at the end, but at least Flissy learns enough to belong.

related-identity, World War I, 1940s, 20th century, United States history, Maine, families, ciphers, performing arts, theater, music
RL=4th-7th

Room One: A Mystery or Two by Andrew Clements.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2006.

Room One is one of the most serious of Clements's books. It is suspenseful with an unusual topic. The setting is a small Nebraska town with a one-room school in danger of being closed. Ted is a 6th grade boy who can't resist a mystery. After completing his paper-route before school, he thinks he sees a girl through the window of the abandoned Anderson farmhouse. He investigates the farm and starts to help the girl and her family. In his mind he solves the whole situation, with his teacher as an adviser, only to find that they have their own solution.

related-school closings, multi-grade classroom, family farms, homeless, war casualty assistance
RL=3rd-7th

Rules by Cynthia Lord.
Scholastic Press: NY, 2006.
Newbery Honor 2007

How do you have a normal life when your younger brother is autistic and family life revolves around him? Catherine specifically wants a chance to make friends without David's interference. She's taught him rules she thinks are important to minimize embarrassing moments, but he only seems to remember the rules afterwards.

This summer Catherine hopes to have a new next-door-neighbor friend, but out in the world her embarrassment rules her behavior. She does become friends with another boy with special needs. She enjoys Jason's friendship so much that she recognizes the value of it. However, when there is a chance that the friends from other worlds might meet, she tries to keep both apart to avoid dealing with her fear of embarrassment.

Cynthia Lord has done an excellent job of balancing life surrounding an autistic child. Behavior does cause problems for the rest of the family, and tempers can get short, but there is much more to the story. Despite the growing incidence of autism, most people see just blips of behavior in public. This is a book for understanding what the families are dealing with, but also that kids with special needs are in some ways very normal and have rich lives and relationships, too.

There is a bit of humor and warmth in the story as well as tension. Most of the tension comes from Catherine-not David or Jason. I read the book mostly because my 9 year old son highly recommended it. It took some time to get into it, but by the end I wasn't ready for it to be over.

related-autism, brothers and sisters, people with disabilities, paraplegics, friendship
RL=4th-7th

Rules of the Universe by Austin W. Hale by Robin Vaupel.
Holiday House: NY, 2007.

Austin's grandfather has come to stay for the summer. Austin expects a summer full of scientific exploration, as usual, but his grandfather is struggling with cancer and has little energy for anything. He fully intends Austin to explore on his own and keep notes to share. His grandfather brought a gift, which Austin discovers, when he sees a light glowing from a suitcase. The gift has properties of a star. The star's energy changes living organisms. Austin observes it and tries to use its poweres with unintended consequences.

Austin has difficulty reporting his observations, because they are unbelievable and his intentions are troubling. However, most of the chapter segments conclude with a rule of the universe, a more general observation about life, instead of scientific details. The story takes place half in Austin's home and half at science camp, which his parents won't let him skip despite his dire circumstances.

Pets and people change in this lighthearted examination of life, aging and death. Austin views prior ages of three people close to him (and his dog) as the star works its magic.

The story is creative and original. The star pushes the anticipation level. I like that, while addressing the grandfather's dying, the story moves in a different, out-of-control direction as Austin experiments to find a way to save his grandfather. In the process, he learns much about others' growth in life, as well as having a firsthand view of evolution. Fun stuff!

related-science fiction, sci fi, time travel, evolution, maturing and development, scientific exploration and investigation, experimentation, microscopes
RL=4th and up

Runemarks by Joanne Harris.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House: NY, 2008.

Maddy is the misfit in her family and town. She has a "ruinmark" which immediately causes suspicion and has some abilities she keeps secret due to puritanical views in her world. The ruinmarks are a sign of relationship to the Norse gods which were rooted out by the Order after the battle for control (Ragnorak). Maddy was befriended many years ago by an old, one-eyed traveler (her only friend). One-eye has helped her prepare for upcoming events. He is searching for an item (oracle) which he believes is buried in a local hill. He enlists Maddy's aid in retrieving it, because he knows Loki (his brother and enemy) is guarding it and wouldn't expect a young girl. The subsequent events lead to a new battle between the old gods and the Order.

I have been eyeing the book for a while. I love the title. My oldest son highly recommended it. He especially enjoyed the Norse connections and rune castings. Norse mythology is a fairly new subject for American literature. Some other related books are American Gods by Neil Gaiman (adult), Thor's Wedding (3rd-5th) by Bruce Coville, and The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer.

It took half the book for me to be hooked, but the second half is very good. Maddy's character is strong and interesting, and Loki and One-eye also add interest. The workings of the Order resemble medieval Christianity which is a part of what got me hooked. Plus, there is a twist in the planning behind the forthcoming battle and struggle for ultimate control.
related-Norse mythology, Norse gods, medieval world, magic, runes, Loki, Odin
RL=6th & up

The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn.
Viking/Penguin Group: 2004.

Damiana is a safe-keeper. Villagers of Tambleham and outsiders come to her to share the burden of their secrets knowing she is bound to keep the secrets safe. While she is giving birth to her own child, the King's Safe-Keeper delivers a secret to her doorstep- a child. The two children are raised as if they were twins, loved equally by Damiana, her sister, and her circle of friends which includes a Truth-Teller (bound to tell the truth), an herbalist, and a Dream-Maker (who has a power within her that changes wishes to reality). There comes a time when the fathers of both children are important, as is the children's relationship.

Though the idea of a noble being raised by a villager has been done over and over, Shinn's unfolding world is interesting. I enjoyed the friendship that binds Damiana's circle. I also think Fiona (her daughter) is a strong character, and I am looking forward to reading more of the series.

I was drawn to the series and author by a short story I read of Shinn's in Firebirds Rising. The story is called Wintermoon Wish.

related-secrets, villages, friendship, strong female characters
RL=7th-YA

The Saga of Lewis & Clark: Into the Uncharted West by Thomas Schmidt and Jeremy Schmidt.
Tehabi Books/DK Publishing, Inc: NY, 1999.

This is an awe-inspiring recounting of the Lewis & Clark Expedition including excerpts from the journals of the expedition's members, pictures and descriptions of artifacts, topographical maps and gorgeous photographs of the landscape. The 2 authors (a historian and a naturalist) retraced the charted routes before creating the book.
RL=6th-YA

Saving Lucas Biggs by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2014.

Possibly another time traveling Newbery in the works! The O'Malley family has a trait that allows them to travel, but they are sworn to not use it because of the havoc it can create. Four O'Malley generations figure in the present and history of a mining town plagued with accidents and tyranny. The current murder trial of a geologist working for the mining company dredges up memories of another murder trial of a union worker and leader. In both cases, the trial was overseen by employees of the company, Victory Fuels.

Fairly quickly, facts are divulged about the connections of the two incidents. The judge of the current case is the son of the accused from the earlier case. As a boy, he was taken in by the owner of the mines and raised as a successor. Rehashing the past might make a difference to the man currently accused, an O'Malley. From the beginning, we watch both stories unfold. O'Malley's daughter is convinced by an old friend that the past holds the answers. She attempts to travel alone and meets an old O'Malley relative in the process, another traveler.

The stories intertwine increasingly as time proceeds. One visit isn't enough, and try as she might, Margaret's efforts don't seem to accomplish anything, accept the knowledge that she gains through the experience. Enough knowledge that her present actions, and her friend Charlie's, may be the saving acts. Social issues play a big part in establishing place and circumstances, maybe too much for some people to enjoy it as much as I did. The characters are a part of the appeal to me. Particularly Grandpa Joshua (also a boy in previous time period), Aunt Bridey (O'Malley), and Aristotle (the union leader). There are also some ties and unique details that add flair to the experience. The intertwining elevates it as well, mixing the current murder mystery with the historical social setting, but twisting it at the same time. The traveling doesn't change enough happenings that it would be considered silly. More a vehicle for seeing into the past and making it more real.

related-mystery and detective stories, time travel, mining towns, labor unions, control of small towns
RL=4th-8th

The School Story by Andrew Clements.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2001.

Andrew Clements is one of the most exciting authors in this age range, and this is one of my favorites of his books. Passionate, realistic, and fun-the story touches on honesty, achievement, confidence, and loss.

Like most of his books, it is school-related. This one is about a budding young author, Natalie, who ought to be published but does not expect to be. Her best friend is determined that the story will be published. Zoe sets herself up as her friend's agent-even renting office services-and contacts the publishing agency where Natalie's mother works. The manuscript is enough to convince their English teacher to advise them, and Zoe's father (a lawyer) gives advice on negotiations.
related-authorship, publishing and publishers, friendship, loss of parent, honesty, achievement of dreams, student/teacher relationships
RL=3rd-7th

Search for the Shadowman by Joan Lowery Nixon.
Delacorte Press/Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group: NY, 1996.

Andy Thomas thinks the only way his genealogy project could be interesting is if one of his ancestors was an outlaw - until he discovers it's a possibility. He's given an old family bible with one of the children's names crossed out. When questioned, his great-aunt refuses to answer any questions about the matter. It is believed that Cole Joseph Bonner stole his family's fortune and took off for California. In finding a picture of the man, Andy determines Cole must be innocent and decides to prove it. He is thorough in his investigation, using sources such as family letters, a genealogical message board, direct emails, library books, his teacher's advice, a librarian's knowledge and expert research skills, and in the end, a family artifact to prove his case.

Andy receives threats regarding his pursuing the mystery. Everyone seems to want him to drop his investigation. With each clue he becomes more determined, even visiting the cemetery for leads. His success in finding evidence is amazing, but the solution leaves him with a larger problem than when he started. He wanted justice so badly, but not so much once he learns the truth.

I read this mystery about 8 years ago after enjoying Nixon's Orphan Train series. My oldest son was reading some of his first novels, and Nixon's books were a hit. I remember being excited by this story then, and it was just as good this time around. The combination of the genealogical research, the mystery to be solved, and the boy's desire to clear his relative's name is tremendous. Nixon is a master storyteller, leading us step by step with great anticipation. I love unusual books, and this one is quite unique. It has a great range for readers as well, accessible and engaging for 4th graders through adults.

related-genealogy, research, family life, Texas history, mysteries and detective stories, friendship
RL=4th and up

Second Sight by Gary Blackwood.
Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Group: NY, 2005.

The setting is Washington, D.C. during the Civil War. Joseph meets the conspirators of a plot against Abraham Lincoln while performing with his father as a mind reader at the theaters. There is an alternate (altered) ending to the historic story. Joseph's new friend, Cassandra, sees visions of the plot, and so the two join forces to figure out the plans and warn Lincoln.

If you do not already know the details of Lincoln's assassination, I recommend that you read about it before reading this novel. The story will have more significance.
RL=6th-YA

Suggested Books:
The Day Lincoln Was Shot by Jim Bishop. Harper Collins: 1955.
This book was popular in years past, so many libraries would have it. It's easy to read and has many interesting facts. The Lincoln Murder Plot by Karen Zeinert. The Shoe String Press: North Haven, 1999.
This book is short, and most of it deals with the trial of the conspirators. However, it has sufficient information to understand the plot.

Suggested Websites:
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
home.att.net/~rjnorton/Lincoln74.html

Lincoln Assassination Trial
members.aol.com/RVSNorton/Lincoln18.html

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman.
Joanna Cotler Books/Harper Collins Publishers: NY, 1997.

A young girl plants seeds in an empty lot across from her city apartment to connect with a father she never knew. Slowly others in her community follow her example for their own reasons. Thirteen neighbors tell their own stories in this beautiful book. The gardening brings them together in a way nothing else would.

The story is written as short stories, a different one for each chapter, each building onto the previous.

related-gardens, city life, neighborhood, diversity, community
RL=6th-8th         note: author of Joyful Noise 1989 Newbery Award

Shadrach's Crossing by Avi Wortis.
Pantheon Books/Random House, Inc: 1983.

Smugglers take over Lucker's Island as the town is struggling through the Depression. At first the residents are glad for the money they bring, but as time goes by they are given less money, and their fear of the smugglers increases. Everyone is afraid to go against them-except Shadrach. Because of the humiliation and fear of his parents he decides to collect evidence for a man he believes is a government employee. He may have gone too far and endangered his family as well as himself. A captivating and thrilling adventure as Shad follows his convictions and stands up against the criminals who have taken over his home.
related-smuggling, islands, Coast Guard, Great Depression 1930s, courage, spying
RL=6th-8th

Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach.
Henry Holt and Company: NY, 2005.

Coming home from the worst possible first day of school, Hero meets the woman next door and learns of the missing diamond that is believed to be hidden within Hero's family's new home. Even more astounding is the necklace to which it belongs and the heritage that is attached to it.

A significant portion of the book is based on the theory that Edward de Vere (a ward of Queen Elizabeth I's court) is the real author of the Shakespearean plays. A convincing case is presented, and it is woven into the story in an intriguing way. A suspenseful, high interest story with fascinating historical tidbits.
related-William Shakespeare, Edward de Vere, authorship, Great Britain-history, King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, neighbors, mystery and detective stories, reputation, friendship, family separation
RL=5th-8th

The Shakespeare Stealer Series by Gary Blackwood.
Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Putnam Inc: NY.

The Shakespeare Stealer ©1998: Widge as an orphan turned apprentice has learned the skill of writing a form of shorthand. He can write as fast as a person talks and translate it after. This would be an invaluable skill to someone who wants to steal Shakespeare's new play, Hamlet. That is what he has been ordered to do, and when he is caught he devises another plan to steal the play. This involves apprenticing to be a player, and in so doing, he finds the first place he has ever belonged.

More secrets are exposed as the story unfolds. The story is full of colorful characters, drama and adventure-and a bit of masquerading as well. This trilogy is one of the best for this reading level (6th-8th).

Shakespeare's Scribe ©2000: The Black Plague has come to London again. As a result Queen Elizabeth has banned all public gatherings in the city. The Lord Chamberlain's Men take to the road to perform in towns around the country. Many obstacles are presented in their travels as would be expected. A new boy is hired for female parts as Sander stays in London. Widge finds himself struggling to get along with Sal Pavy as he gradually loses parts to him. Even his new duties as Shakespeare's scribe cannot console him. In the region of Widge's birth, he meets a man who claims a link to his family and may also drive a wedge btween Widge and Shakespeare's troupe.

Shakespeare's Spy ©2003: In this last book Widge becomes James. He falls in love for the first time only to have the girl go out of his life again. Evidence is found of a thief within their troupe, and to prove his innocence James becomes a spy in their rival's troupe. He also tries his hand at script-writing and agonizes over the result.

A cunning woman (fortune teller) tells Widge, Sam, and Sal their fortunes. She says Sam will become a traitor. She at first sees nothing for Sal, but then she sees a rough hand gripping him and a knife at his throat. She predicts Widge will come into a fortune. Later she predicts he will cause someone to die and someone to come back to life. All of the predictions will come true-but not necessarily in expected ways.

As with the other books, there is no shortage of action and plot twists.

related-theater, Black Plague, William Shakespeare, Great Britain-history, orphans, actors
RL=6th-YA

Sherwood ed. by Jane Yolen.
Philomel Books/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers: NY, 2000.

Join Robinhood and the outlaws of Sherwood Forest in these eight original tales-including two different stories of Maid Marion, one narrative by Friar Tuck, an attempt to capture Robinhood by a young boy, and an account of an internet Robinhood versus a modern Sheriff of Nottingham.

As always Yolen's collection brings the legendary characters to life and adds new significance when viewed from fresh angles.
*Look for Camelot also-Jane Yolen's collection of King Arthur stories.
RL=4th-8th

Ship by David Macaulay.
Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 1993.

Macaulay uses narration and journal form to blend stories of marine life, archaeology and shipbuilding. The presentation is fictional, but it is almost entirely based on archaeological and historical information. The subject is the building and recovery of 15th century sailing ships.
related-caravels, underwater archaeology, shipwrecks, antiquities, exploration
RL=4th-6th

Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence by Denise Kiernan and Joseph D'Agnese.
Quirk Books: Philadelphia, 2009.
Distributed by Chronicle Books, San Francisco.

To my knowledge this is the first book for youth which gives biographies for each signer of The Declaration of Independence. There are some adult versions, and they are listed in the bibliography. Each short bio is headed with a personal designation, some funny or odd, and the signers are in order by states and geographic regions. Though some of the profiles are almost blurb length, the book is a little long due to the number of signers. However, it can be read in segments, enjoyed leisurely, due to the structure of the book. You can even skip around, reading the accounts that promise to be more interesting or important.

The significance of the book is primarily background information for the American Revolution. More than most juvenile books it seriously delves into the whole period - the factors leading to the conflict, the concerns of people from different backgrounds, the consequences for the decisions they made personally, the importance of the work of more people than you would normally hear, a better idea of the number of people involved in the Revolution (history classes only point out a few), plus significant events. The book also underscores the magnitude of the decision to sign The Declaration, given that until this point most of the colonies had not committed to breaking away from England. Not only were the men handpicked in their colonies for representation, but their signatures were a written record that singled them out for any retribution by the Crown. Their actions were a hanging offense.

This anecdotal style brings history to life, making it enjoyable while learning. Books like this are my preferred sources for teaching history. They have all the info you get from text books plus personal accounts which make history a more real experience. The more a student (of whatever age) enjoys the process, the more the mind is engaged. This form of learning leads also to the study (and ideally discussion) of philosophical questions which are necessary for progression of mankind - whether the nature of the subject is social, spiritual, economical, etc.

Many of the signers went on to fill positions in the new levels of government, state and federal. Whether that is due to the positions they already held or because they had already "signed their lives away" would be difficult to determine but interesting to consider. Many also have descendants that are well-known, more than I would have thought.

related-American history, colonial period of the United States, colonies of Britain, British empire
RL=7th-YA

Silent To The Bone by E. L. Konigsburg.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, 2000.

13 year old Branwell is speechless when his baby half-sister suffers a head injury and slips into a coma. He dials 911, but cannot speak, cannot explain what happened. He is sent to the Juvenile Behavioral Center, because the children's au pair blames him for the injury. Branwell's dad asks his old friend Connor to visit him. They had been friends since nursery school, until around the time the au pair came to stay with the family. Connor knows at once there is much to be explained and visits daily to try and help Branwell tell his story.

The story is an unusual mystery, in that the events are nothing like they first appear. It takes Connor's persistence in communicating with Branwell to draw the truth out. Branwell remains silent until Connor knows the whole truth. In between visits, Connor investigates to find evidence supporting Branwell's side of the story. He starts to investigate, with the help of his much older half-sister, before Branwell reveals anything, because he does not believe he would purposefully hurt Nikki. He learns quickly that Branwell needs someone to speak for him, and investigate. There are two crucial witnesesses that have not offered their knowledge.

Branwell's situation is difficult. Perhaps, he worries that he will not be believed if he speaks the truth. Perhaps, he is ashamed of a secret. And just maybe, he is feeling like he no longer belongs in his family, since his dad remarried and has a new baby. Branwell sends Connor to his sister Margaret, knowing that Margaret understands about stepmothers and the loss of a father's affection. This family relationship is intertwined with the mystery. It is an equally important theme.

Au pairs were a popular idea in the 1990s. It was an opportunity for foreign travel for the au pairs and possibly cheaper and more focused, personal, responsible care for the children, like a governess. With most moms working, this was an important issue, and it seemed like a good solution. But, an injury to a child brought up the question of safety and trust.

This is an excellent story. It is complex, with the different themes involved, and has a high level of anticipation. The characters are strong, varied, and feel like they are themselves. There isn't just one story here. It feels like life happening. I saw the book years ago and was interested, but not sure I wanted to read social issues at that time. While those issues are there, it is a telling of life, a story. It doesn't feel like a lesson, like many social issues books do.

related-mute, emotional problems, remarriage, brothers and sisters, babysitters, friendship, communication, adolescence, shame
RL=6th and up

Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 1997.

The Silverwing bats are preparing to migrate to their winter home in Hibernaculum from their summer nursery, a hollowed out, petrified tree. The owls are spoiling for war with the bats. A small infraction sparks a violent response by the owls, which precipitates the bat migration.

The runt of the newborn Silverwings, Shade, is separated from the colony during a storm and left for dead. Smart, curious, questioning, Shade continues the journey with the help of the Brightwing bat Marina, who was chased away from her own colony due to contact with humans. Prior to separation, Shade's mother had sung him a map of the directions to Hibernaculum, and so they follow. Each landmark is a new experience and must be seen to understand, especially the last. They face obstacles along the way, including rats and larger bats, but also an unexpected friend.

Shade is a great character. His curiosity is the cause of the initial owl invasion, but he soon learns that there have been other attacks, which may be the reason for his father's disappearance. Shade's curiosity about everything is the essence of the story. The journey is fully described. There is a wealth of experience. Shade grows from the runt to one capable and worthy through the course of events.

Oppel says in an end note that he liked the challenge of taking animals considered ugly or scary and making them appealing. He certainly succeeded in doing so here.

The book is full of adventure, including intellectual observation. It is fast paced and highly captivating. It is an excellent selection for young readers' first novels. There are 2 more in the series, plus the 1st of a related series, Darkwing.

related-bats, migration, growth
RL=3rd-7th

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 2001.
Newbery Award Winner 2002

The orphan Tree-ear is fascinated by the potter Min's work. He begins to do odd jobs for Min in exchange for food and being allowed to observe the potter's process. He hopes one day to be taught the trade. Many aspects of the job are lifechanging experiences for him and also the potter.
related-pottery, Korea, coming of age, orphans
RL=5th-8th

Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel.
Eos/Harper Collins Publishers: NY, 2006.

In this fantastic sequel to Airborn, Matt Cruse identifies the Hyperion-the airship of a wealthy inventor that was lost forty years before. He is the only one with coordinates, so he is prodded into going on a treasure hunt to retrieve it or its treasures. Dangerously high altitudes and unusual life forms become serious obstacles. Pursued by others wanting the Hyperion, he and his companions end up fighting for their lives as well as the loot from the airship.

My sons and I were excited to see this sequel. We all three loved it-even more than Airborn.

Note: Although it is a fantasy/sci fi book, it has the feel of a historical novel. In some ways it is like an alternate history book. Both books are based on the use of airships instead of airplanes and describe interesting creatures that live in the sky but are rarely seen.

related-airships, salvage, pirates, inventions, imaginary creatures
RL=5th-8th

Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman? by Patricia C. McKissack and Frederick McKissack.
Scholastic Inc: NY, 1992.

This is an inspirational biography about a strong, intelligent, and charismatic woman. Sojourner Truth was a Northern slave until she was 28 and by New York law had to be freed. She was one of the first black women to win a lawsuit against a white man. The man had illegally sold her son to a Southerner. For many years she wandered the Northern U.S. speaking against slavery. She did not read and write, but she had her autobiography transcribed. She needed no preparation for her speeches. Everything she needed to speak was in her mind and heart. She absorbed everything she heard, and her courage and conviction matched her intelligence. Sojourner Truth also became an important speaker on behalf of women's rights. Arguments of female weakness could not stand with the evidence of her life before the audience. She knew how to counter every argument placed before her. After the Civil War, she worked tirelessly to gain support for a bill to give Western land to freed slaves so that they might become self-supporting citizens.
related-slavery, women's suffrage, social reform, abolitionists, black history
RL=6th-YA

Spiderwebs to Skyscrapers: The Science of Structures (Experiment! Series) by Dr. David Darling.
Dillon Press/Macmillan Publishing Company: NY, 1991.

Darling explains a few principles of structural engineering. He has provided easy experiments using household objects to illustrate his points, and the text is clear and interesting.
RL=5th-7th

The Squire's Tales by Gerald Morris.
Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston.
The Squire's Tale (1998)
The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady (1999)
The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf (2000)
Parsifal's Page (2002)
The Ballad of Sir Dinadan (2003)
The Princess, the Crone, and the Dung Cart Knight (2004)
The Lioness and Her Knight (2005)-No review yet
Quest of the Fair Unknown (2006)-No review yet

The Squire's Tale: The story is told from the perspective of Gawain's squire (Terence) who is related to the fairies and therefore has undiscovered abilities. Gawain is shown as more intelligent and thoughtful than the other knights. The fresh perspective of Terence is the distinguishing feature of this retelling of events.

The book will be more enjoyable for elementary readers than most Arthur stories.
related-Gawain, knights and knighthood, magic, England, chivalry, fairy and folk tales, King Arthur
RL=4th-8th

The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady: In this book, Squire Terence and Sir Gawain are called on a quest. Gawain has been challenged by the Green Knight to accept one blow for another. Gawain gives the first blow and must find the Green Chapel to accept his. They leave Camelot to accept the consequences knowing that Gawain will likely be killed. Bound by honor, he has no choice.

Lancelot has newly come to Camelot and has stolen Guinevere's favor. In Gawain's absence, Lancelot has also replaced Gawain in the court's esteem as the greatest knight of the kingdom.

Morris shows Gawain as the true heroic knight with some slight flaws. Lancelot may be a great sportsman, but he doesn't have the honor or wisdom of Gawain. Wisdom that Gawain has achieved through hard lessons.

The challenge of the Green Knight is borrowed from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a 14th century poem which was influenced by even earlier tales. The tournament at the end is symbolic of Gawain's replacement by Lancelot in later tellings. Time passes, and the young generation has its new heroes. Also the new story replaces the old-although the old is not necessarily forgotten by all.
related-Sir Gawain, knights and knighthood, England, magic, honor, love, loyalty
RL=6th-YA

The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf: This is a retelling of Beaumain's story-the kitchen hand who takes up the challenge of Lady Lynet to rid her and her sister's castle of the Red Knight who has besieged the castle. Beaumain is a skilled knight in disguise. An unusual dwarf (who knows Beaumain's identity) accompanies them on the quest. Morris's much expanded version answers questions left hanging in the original telling. Not only does Morris's version make more sense, but it is also more interesting and realistic.
related-Gareth and Gaheris, knights and knighthood, King Arthur stories, Knights of the Round Table, chivalry, beauty, love, Medieval life
RL=6th-YA

Parsifal's Page: Raised on courtly stories by his lady-in-waiting mother, Piers wants to become a page, not learn his father's trade-blacksmithing. He jumps at his first chance to serve a knight. As Piers learns the knight is a recreant, Parsifal (a rustic wishing to become a knight) slays the knight and takes the armor. Piers becomes Parsifals's page and tries to teach him to be more knightly. They happen upon Jean le Forestier who trains Parsifal in weapon skills. In Parsifal's quest for good deeds to do, they come across the castle with the Holy Grail. They fail to ask about King Anfortas's perpetual injury, and in their failure the castle disappears. The quest to rediscover it is also a maturing process for both of them. Along the way they journey with Gawain and Terence and learn of important family connections.
related-Perceval and the Holy Grail, King Arthur, Medieval pages, England in the Middle Ages
RL=6th-YA

The Ballad of Sir Dinadan: Morris uses a minor knight that appears in Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur as a way of telling of the often told or referred to love triangle of Tristram (Tristan, the legendary knight) and Queen Iseult (also known as Isolde, Isoud, and Isolt) and King Mark. Morris uses Sir Dinadan as a contrast to show what knights ought to be like instead of the more praised Tristram, just as he contrasted Gawain and Gaheris with Lancelot in previous books.

In the story, Dinadan's father knights him against his will. Dinadan travels to Camelot where he befriends knights of the Round Table. He goes questing with others, but his foremost desire is to write and perform ballads. He prefers not to fight (like Gaheris) knowing that he is no good at it.

In his travels, Dinadan meets a Moorish knight, Palomides, who has come to England to learn what it is to be a great knight. After journeying together Palomides decides it isn't necessary to meet King Arthur and his knights. He has already met the closest to ideal that he can possibly find-Dinadan.
related-Iseult, Isolde, Tristan, Tristram, knights and knighthood, minstrels, troubadours
RL=6th-YA

The Princess, the Crone, and the Dung Cart Knight: Morris retells a lesser known tale, at least in our time, by one of the early writers of the Knights of the Round Table, French poet Chrétien de Troyes. He adjusts parts of the story that don't work well and adds more of his own characters while keeping to the basic storyline.

In the basic story, Kai and Guinevere are abducted as the catalyst of a revolt against King Arthur instigated by Morgause. The intention is to accuse Kai and Guinevere of disloyalty, like Lancelot and Guinevere, kill them both, and weaken Arthur's rule over all of England. Lancelot and Gawain go to the rescue separately, and there is a trial by combat with Sir Meliagant, who imprisoned Kai and Guinevere, to resolve the situation. In Morris's tale there is a witness to the kidnapping (Sarah) who alerts King Arthur, which starts the rescue. As the kidnapping knight is also responsible for her mother and foster father's death, it becomes Sarah's quest as well.

The story shows Lancelot as a worthy knight again despite his past errors. One odd thing is that Morgan le Fay is shown contradictory to how others have depicted her. She and Morgause remain mysteries to me. Perhaps, that is how it should be.
related-King Arthur, Knights of the Round Table, knights and knighthood, treatment of Jews, Lancelot, England, magic, fairies, Chrétien de Troyes's Le Chevalier de la Charette (The Knight of the Cart)
RL=6th-YA

Steinbeck's Ghost by Lewis Buzbee.
Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan: NY, 2008.

The first part of the story deals largely with a major change in lifestyle, a move to a different neighborhood and school, plus different jobs for Travis's parents, meaning they are never home. Travis decides he lives in Camazotz of A Wrinkle in Time fame, a perfect house in a perfect city (only it's sterile and boring and his parents are AWOL). One day he can't stand the inactivity, so he goes to an old hang out, the John Steinbeck Library (Salinas, CA) where he learns the city is planning to close the library due to lack of funds. His favorite librarian, Miss Babb, asks for his help in saving the library. She also recommends a book touching on John Steinbeck's works by a little known, local author. Travis becomes totally involved in the Save Our Library campaign, including getting this author, Ernest Oster of Corral de Tierra, involved. Travis regains an interest in Steinbeck's books, which leads him to see Steinbeck's ghost and some of his characters coming to life. He knows he's not crazy, since he shares the experiences, first with Oster, then with his friend Hil, Miss Babb, and his family.

The mystery of Steinbeck, his characters, plus his setting from The Pastures of Heaven (the subject of Oster's book) remain elusive until the end. The whole experience - meeting with Oster, reading the books, watching the behavior of the ghost and characters - leads Travis and Oster to explore the region, looking for a solution to the mystery. Something is obviously being hidden and trying to come to light.

The Save Our Library campaign represents the major theme of volunteering and activism. Saving the world. Through most of the book Travis actively participates in saving the library. At the end (one of the times more people are participating) his dad's band holds a benefit gig. They raise "A whopping $212.79." Travis replies:

"That's not what matters. It's not this one thing that's gonna save the world. It's this one small thing and that one small thing, and all the others. This small thing here, it's part of something much bigger."

Americans used to know that many people contributing their own talents can add up to saving the world. One of the huge things I think is wrong with our country is that too many people seem to think someone needs to be profiting off each little thing. We have lost the sense of giving, especially our time, creatively working towards a common goal without remuneration. It is refreshing to see such a strong example depicted as a cool thing to do.

The exploration and Camazotz/Bella Linda Terrace (Travis's neighborhood) brings up the subject of reality. Living life as opposed to putting it on display or fencing and owning it. The idea of reading opening up horizons, teaching people how to live.

Something discussed regarding Steinbeck is that life mysteries don't have solutions. So Lewis purposefully constructs a story that retains some of the mystery. I realized while reading this book that all stories (maybe even some nonfiction) are mysteries. Some are for solving, others for contemplating or appreciating.

Steinbeck's Ghost reminds me of another mystery, Chasing Vermeer, because there are so many ideas woven into the story. They also both have creative spirit. Here is my favorite passage from the book:

It's about silence. Steinbeck was silent about the real story he knew, and it haunted him. And there was this silence in Bella Linda Terrace that almost killed me, until I remembered the word Camazotz. And Oster, Oster let himself be quiet because someone else told him to be. And Hil and I were almost not-friends because I couldn't talk to him. My parents, too, they let the silence of their jobs shut up their real selves. And if the library closes, then all those books and all those words, they'll be silent forever. You can't let that kind of silence into the world. Make a noise.

Chasing Ray has a great interview with Lewis Buzbee, in which my question of whether Ernest Oster is real or not is answered. The description of Oster's book and anecdotes about Steinbeck and Bradbury seem so real, I had to search to find out. Adding to the mystery of the book.

Characters from The Red Pony are also related to the story.

related-books and reading, characters in literature, libraries, political activists, family life, Salinas, California, moving household, John Steinbeck, mysteries, conduct of life, balancing life, careers, authors, writers, social issues, high interest
RL=6th-adult

The Story of King Arthur and his Knights by Howard Pyle.
Charles Scribner's Sons: 1903.

For many generations now Howard Pyle's Arthur has been one of the standards for learning of the Knights of the Round Table. T.H. White is another. Both have brief tellings of each event, but Pyle's flows better, and White's also varies more from the accepted tradition. White uses more medieval sounding language, so some might prefer the romance of it.
Sequels are:
The Story of the Champions of the Round Table (1905)
The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions (1907)
The Story of the Grail and the Passing of King Arthur (1910)
related-King Arthur, Merlin, Queen Guinevere, knights & knighthood
RL=6th-YA

A Study in Sherlock ed by Laurie R. King and Leslie Klinger.
Poisoned Pen Press: Scottsdale, AZ, 2011.

Here we have 16 new short stories inspired by the Sherlock Holmes canon. Holmes does not appear in all of the stories, and the stories are quite different than anything I might have expected. The auhors are not all writers of detective works usually, nor do all of the stories take place in Victorian England. Hence, the wide variation.

This is an excellent collection, but perhaps, one to read leisurely. I find that short stories are often more enjoyable when you have time to take some breaks between stories. Think about them a little before moving on to the next.

My favorites of the collection are The Startling Events in the Electrified City by Tom Perry, in which Holmes acts as a security consultant for President McKinley during Buffalo, NY's Pan-American Exposition and The Case of Death and Honey by Neil Gaiman, in which Holmes travels to a remote Asian village to study (for years) a certain type of bee. Both of them have some wonderful Holmesian moments, while being way different from the canon or anything else.

For children and young adults, the author most known is Neil Gaiman. Laurie King is a writer of detective novels. Leslie Klinger has edited an annotated collection of the entire Holmes canon.

related-Sherlock Holmes, detective stories, crime, Alan Bradley, Tony Broadbent, S. J. Rozan, Phillip and Jerry Margolin, Lee Child, Tom Perry, Colin Cotterill, Neil Gaiman, Gayle Lynds and John Sheldon, Laura Lippman, Margaret Maron, Lionel Chetwynd, Dana Stabenow, Charles Todd, Jan Burke, Jacqueline Winspear
RL=7th-adult, adult book

The Sundown Rule by Wendy Townsend.
Namelos: South Hampton, NH, 2010.

Louise is a naturalist and wildlife caretaker in the making. She lives in the woods of Michigan with her dad, a writer of nature articles. She leaves the neighboring crows tidbits and observes from a distance as they feast. She's been known to care for injured animals, including operating on a heron which had its leg caught by a snapping turtle.

Her father has an opportunity for a blockbuster article, joining the crew on a rainforest expedition in Brazil. Unfortunately, it means leaving Louise behind. She goes to stay with her aunt and uncle in a suburban environment for the summer and even has to leave her cat behind. Louise finds a special, untouched spot just outside of the subdivision, and she makes a friend quickly enough, but certain events challenge her capacity for acceptance.

Townsend's love of nature shows through her descriptions of Louise's interaction and observance of nature. The story is complex and passionate for one so short, with several heartbreaks for Louise to bear. Townsend has characters learning from each other about different views of nature. But the very best parts are Louise's moments in nature. It is her habitat, and the author's detailing of it is natural and beautiful.

related-human/animal relationships, love of animals and nature, visiting extended family, observing wildlife, natural habitats
RL=4th-8th

The Sun, the Rain, and the Apple Seed: A Novel of Johnny Appleseed's Life by Lynda Durrant.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 2003.

This is a fascinating depiction of an American hero who planted apple seeds in the wilderness so that those coming after would have food to sustain them in the winter. He risked illness and death from the cold winters so that others might have food. All he asked in return was friendship, a little hospitality, and help gathering seeds to take back into the wilderness. His message was clear. If they would only plant the seeds from the apples harvested, they could help more neighbors to have plenty.

I am sure many people at the time thought he was a bit crazy, and many would now as well. But possibly he was thinking more clearly than those judging him. He was driven by his mission and lived in a way I would not wish to live personally. But he managed too carry on, and there is no doubt he helped many. It is too bad there are not more people like him.

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer.
Hyperion: NY, 2004.

Cosmo Hill realizes his time is running out at the Clarissa Frayne orphanage since most orphans are used up at a young age. He takes the first opportunity to escape and becomes involved with a group that hunts supernatural Parasites feeding off the life-force of humans.

Strange and captivating, the story becomes more complicated as it proceeds.
related-Sci Fi, orphans, supernatural, vigilante
note: author of the acclaimed Artemis Fowl series
RL=5th-YA

Switching Well by Peni R. Griffin.
Margaret K. McElderry Books/Macmillan Publishing Company: NY, 1993.

Ada, in 1891, and Amber, in 1991, wish at the well to be in opposite times. Ada wants more freedom-especially from her younger brother and sister. Amber is upset about her parents' separation and wishes her mother didn't work at a shelter for children. When the girls switch times, they both must deal with unexpected problems, and they both look for a way to get back to their families. The girls' stories are creatively interrelated, and social factors in both time periods are incorporated in the book.
related-time travel, late 1800s, orphanage, home for runaways, gender roles, women's rights
RL=7th-YA

Sword of the Rightful King by Jane Yolen.
Harcourt, Inc: Orlando, 2003.

In this retelling of The Sword in the Stone, Jane Yolen brings the old characters to life and makes them real. She adds new twists to the story with her usual flair. Her version focuses mainly on the weak position that Arthur is in as High King of a country normally split into factions fighting against each other. It is a good story for someone who has not already been enchanted by the Arthur stories, and those who already love the stories will enjoy Yolen's additions.
related-King Arthur, knighthood, trickery, magic
RL=5th-8th

Sylvie and the Songman by Tim Binding. il Angela Barrett.
David Fickling Books/Random House: Oxford and NY, 2008.

The Songman is stealing voices, of the animals in the surrounding area. Sylvie's dad is missing, believed to be kidnapped, on the day after an astounding chord has been struck by his self-made, natural-based instruments. Sylvie, her devoted dog, and her kite-making friend George follow the animals, including a fox with which Sylvie forms an interconnection, to find Sylvie's father and the source of the animals' silence. The Songman, knowing Sylvie has information he needs, sends the Woodpecker Man after them in his swan-powered hot air balloon.

This light fantasy novel was a delightful surprise. It had an interesting description, but you never know whether a story will touch you or not. It sounded too whimsical for me, but I enjoyed the nature instruments, Sylvie's connection with the animals (inherited from her mother), Sylvie and George's passions - kites and tree-climbing, the Allamanda road - a road all animals travel, and the unique usage of sound. Sound is the center of the whole story - voices, music, the strength of vibrations. The Songman uses it a few ways as a negative force.

The artwork is worth mention. The cover art and pencil drawings throughout the book are outstanding. They add to the story, not just take up space.

Certainly, a unique story and very light reading.

related-relationship of animals and humans, musicians and instruments, the music of voice and nature, sound as a weapon, high interest
RL=5th and up

The Talking Earth by Jean Craighead George.
Harper & Row, Publishers: NY, 1983.
author of Julie of the Wolves Newbery Award 1973

Billie Wind is asked to choose her punishment for scoffing at the tribe's legends. She chooses something she thinks is ridiculous believing that it will not be carried out. The council agrees to the punishment-24 hours alone in the swamp to listen to the animals talk. Circumstances spin out of her control, and that time lengthens to 12 weeks. In that time she learns to survive by listening to what the animals tell her. She also acknowledges that the earth must be protected because the animals know more about the earth and survival than humans. While humans could conceivably move to another planet, the animals would be left behind to die.

The story focuses on living with animals, communicating with them, and learning from them. Billie Wind shows concern about the destruction of the environment throughout the story. By the end she has gained a greater understanding of her people's legends.
related-Seminoles, Native Americans, Everglades, ecology, animal, survival
RL=6th-8th

Talking Peace: A Vision for the Next Generation by Jimmy Carter.
Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Books USA Inc: NY, 1993.

Obviously there have been some changes since it has been more than a decade since publication. However, the things that cause wars remain the same. The needs of people all over the world remain the same. The necessity of learning to live without waging war is as important as it has ever been. Our lives are more intertwined globally than ever before, and if we are to avoid global war, we must develop a greater degree of respect for others. Our culture, for the most part, does not encourage that respect.

We are given countless reasons to start or fund wars. They are rarely fought for the reasons given. Usually it has something to do with profit not necessity. It is important that people understand that there will always be reasons to fight and even kill. It takes a stronger and wiser person to stop it from happening or continuing.
RL=7th-YA

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck.
Dial Books/Penguin Group (USA) Inc: NY, 2004.
author of A Long Way from Chicago-Newbery Honor 1999 and A Year Down Yonder-Newbery Award 2001

Russell thinks Hominy Ridge School is sure to close when the town's teacher dies right before the starting date. He believes this will leave him free to pursue his own plans to join a harvesting team in the Dakotas with his best friend. Unforeseen circumstances save the school, and the new teacher instills new life in the lessons and leads the children in an unexpected and promising direction.

It has the same quirky humor as A Long Way from Chicago andA Year Down Yonder. It's set in a small Indiana town in 1904-near the turn of a century and at a time when drastic changes were heading their way. Peck's vivid depiction of peculiar events happening to ordinary people make his books outstandingly funny. You never know what will happen next.
RL=6th-YA

Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power by Milton Meltzer. il Bethanne Andersen.
Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Putnam Inc: NY, 1998.

This interesting and informative book is for all-not just girls. It spans many periods and describes customs that are quite different from our own.

All of the queens chosen except Esther actually ruled their people whether or not they had kings beside them. The fact that they were women brought a distinctive perspective to their roles as leaders. They all used their power or influence to make improvements in their people's lives. Yet, they were not always benevolent.

I included the illustrator here because her bold and emotional oil paintings add to the strength and appeal of the book.
RL=5th-YATerrier by Tamora Pierce.
Beka Cooper Series
Random House: NY, 2006.

Beka Cooper is the heroine of an exciting new series. She is an ancestor of George Cooper, the Rogue from the Alanna series. In this first book, she is training to be a Provost Guard, the law enforcement officers of Tortall. Because of her potential, she is given the best Guard partners as trainers. She uses her magical abilities, fresh perspective, and desire for justice to catch 2 mass murderers, convincing her partners, assorted friends, and inhabitants of the Lower City to help in the search.

At the heart of the book is a power struggle within the criminal network of the city, and just maybe Beka and her friends can change the dynamic of that structure.

Considering the topic, there is less violence than what you would expect. There is less magic than the usual Tamora Pierce book, but it is a strong, interwoven story with much suspense, interesting character interaction and plenty of loose ends leading to the books to come. It's one of the best of Tamora Pierce's books with perhaps only the Protector of the Small series being as strong.

I hope people won't be put off by the thickness. Keep in mind it is short with wide spacing, so less words than it looks like, and it is fast-paced. Can't wait to see more of the Cooper family history!

related-police, fantasy, magic, Tortall, Beka Cooper, law enforcement, criminals, murder mystery, social issues
RL=7th-adult

Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: NY, 2010

Through exposure to her parents' Egyptian museum and archaeological digs, Theodosia has become an expert in Egyptian artifacts. Her specialty is detecting curses placed on the objects. Her self-appointed job is removing the curses. Her talents expose her to mysterious adventures. She casually works for a secret organization (the Chosen Keepers) concerned with controlling articles of power to keep them from the agents of Chaos, a group intent on destruction of societies. The Arcane Order of the Black Sun (an occult club of Egyptian enthusiasts) is familiar with Theodosia's abilities and wishes to use her knowledge for their own gain.

This book is the 3rd of a series, the first being Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. The series is a blend of mystery, historical fiction, and mythical fantasy. This particular story deals with a tablet that doesn't fit the standard Egyptian artifact, but is sought after nonetheless by the Black Sun and Chaos members. Another character is also interested, a magician, Awi Bubu, exiled from his Egyptian homeland and knowledgeable of antiquities. During Theodosia's research and protection of the tablet, she must look after her brother, home from boarding school, who has no idea of the dangers lurking.

Kidnapping, obsession, haunting, unofficial burial ceremony - there is plenty going on in the story to captivate. The blend of genres makes for an unusual mystery adventure. Theo is a strong female character, spunky and intelligent. The story lacks a little in character development, probably due to the low reading level, but I hope that the series as a whole will flesh it out a bit.

related-curses, artifacts and antiquities, museums, history and archaeology, mystery, Egyptian mythology, high interest
RL=4th and up

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers.
Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2007.

This is the first of the Egyptian Theodosia mysteries. Theo is testing a statue of Bastet for curses when her cat Isis is possessed by whatever spell is on the statue. The girl is expecting her mother to return soon from a major archaeological dig with treasures in tow. Meanwhile, Theo is hiding from one of the assistant curators of the museum her parents manage, who she believes is a suspicious character. She also befriends a local pickpocket who she expects will come in handy as a co-conspirator.

Her mother returns, bringing with her the Heart of Egypt, an artifact which is said can bring down the whole country of the person who steals it from its resting place. The item is stolen from the museum, and Theo determines to get it back. In her quest, she learns of two groups in search of magical artifacts. The Serpents of Chaos wish to use their powers to dominate the world; the Chosen Keepers aim at countering their nefarious purposes.

The story is set in 1906. London is changing from the old horse and carriage world to one bustling with motorcars and omnibuses. Theo is still young enough that her family is only half-heartedly trying to turn her into a lady. Luckily, her parents have important work to distract them, so she is allowed freedom of the museum, and it is barely noticed when she makes her disappearances into London. A little more noticed when she becomes a stowaway to follow her parents to Egypt and takes off with a guide to her mother's dig site. The importance of the time period is that it is still a period that is focused on studying antiquities, the changing times are exciting and females demand more freedom and intellectual pursuits, but also it fits quite nicely with the goals of Chaos who reveal to Theo that their purpose is to start a World War.

This is the 2nd book of the series I've read. I find them to be exciting and more complex than this level of reading tends to be. Intriguing characters, twists and turns, and a feisty, knowledgeable heroine. The female protagonist will not detract from a boy's pleasure in reading, since Theo is quite the tomboy and persues adventures boys would love to have as well.

related-related-curses, artifacts and antiquities, museums, history and archaeology, mystery, Egyptian mythology, travel, high interest RL=4th and upA Thief in the House of Memory by Tim Wynne-Jones.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux: NY, 2004.

A thief is found dead in Dec's unlived-in ancestral home and has stirred up baffling questions. His family moved from the house sometime after his mother left them. His father maintains the house, and he and his sister visit-playing and remembering. As memories come back to him in pieces, he finds that there are questions that only his father can answer. The answers don't seem to fit, so is his father telling him the truth? His father's reluctant attitude also disturbs him and causes him to wonder what other secrets are being hidden from him.

The name itself is intriguing. The book was nothing like I expected, but intriguing is an excellent word for it. The dreams and memories seem so real that the book almost leans towards fantasy. New information about the deceased and unanswered questions about the disappearance of Dec's mother create a mystery, and then there is the sorting out of details and feelings about his mother for social content. There is a great deal of suspense since the reader doesn't really know until the end what the conclusion will be.

related-memory, mothers, family separation, investigation of death, abandonment, trust friendship, father/son relationship
RL=6th-YA

The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence.
Roaring Brook Press: Brookfield, CT, 2001.
First published by Orion Children's Books: London, 2001.

The Thieves of Ostia is Caroline Lawrence's first book, the first book of her Roman Mysteries.

In the Roman port city of Ostia in 79 AD, a girl, Flavia, meets 3 other children and plans with them to solve the mystery of beheaded dogs on their street. Jonathan is her new next-door neighbor, the son of a Jewish doctor. She buys Nubia, a terrified young slave girl, from the market, and befriends her. The children save a mute homeless boy, Lupus, being chased by wild dogs, and Jonathan's family takes him in. The children become close friends through their adventures together, solve the mystery, and trap the one responsible.

The story is an unusual mystery. The Roman and ancient background is noticeable, but the mystery and children's friendship remain the focus. Also highlighted is the differences between the lives of all four characters.

related-dogs, stealing, theft, Ancient Rome, history, empire, mysteries and detective stories, friendship
RL=4th-8th

Thomas Jefferson: The Revolutionary Aristocrat by Milton Meltzer.
Franklin Watts: NY, 1991.

Milton Meltzer takes on the challenge of explaining the greatness and ambiguities of Thomas Jefferson. Certainly, Jefferson achieved much, put forth ideas liberal and radical for his generation and class, and pushed for reforms his colleagues feared and rejected. He also did ignore obvious truths, as did his fellow statesmen, and take for granted the labor of others because to truly live by his ideals would mean living a totally different life. A life which would have prevented him from achieving as much as he did.

In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was the first to state what came to be known worldwide as universally applicable human rights. As one man among the legislators, he could not form the emerging country to fit his beliefs, but he did insert the issue of equality/inequality for all of those coming after to consider and improve upon-not just for the U.S., but the world.

I wonder if Jefferson started in his youth truly hoping for equality for all, but the years of learning the limits of what could be done in his time wore him down. Rather than continue to deal with his painful conscience, did he begin to pretend that equality was not possible or desirable? It is interesting to me also that he did not seem to be bothered by the herding of Native Americans westward.

This is a fairly balanced accounting of Jefferson. To truly understand his motives would require much more reading. However, this book is not a bad start.

related-Declaration of Independence, French Revolution, Governor of Virginia, Monticello, Secretary of State, Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, University of Virginia, equality, representation, slavery, freedom, public school
RL=6th-YA

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin. adapted by Sarah Thomson.
Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Group: NY, 2009.

It isn't often that I read a nonfiction book that is as gripping as Three Cups of Tea. Greg Mortenson was on a mission to do one great thing as a thank you to the village that saved his life in the mountains of Baltistan, Pakistan. A lost mountain climber, he stumbled into the remote village of Korphe. He was nurtured and welcomed as a guest until he was strong enough to find his way home. Noticing the children at their lessons, drawing in the dirt and sitting in the cold, he promised the village chief he would be back one day to build a school.

Returning to America with little money, he got a job and proceeded to raise funds by writing letters to celebrities. After receiving only one check, he talked to a fellow mountain climber who published an article about Greg's mission in a newsletter for climbing enthusiasts. One man gave him the money he needed to start. From there, the process was slow going, but he eventually built his school, with many obstacles. His benefactor persuaded the American Himalayan Foundation (the group responsible for the newsletter) to support Greg's work. With his success, a foundation (Central Asia Institute) was started to build more schools, with Greg as the director.

This book is about an ordinary person determined to fulfill a promise. His goal might not seem so extravagant, but difficulties arose regarding the geography of the village (lack of bridge and seasonal roads), lack of personal money, the necessity of people of different cultures communicating with each other, and the growing unrest in Pakistan regarding Americans. Besides the project of building the first school and others, Greg's interaction (friendship) with the villagers and other contacts is detailed. Though the villagers lived mostly secluded from the world outside, Greg learned much from them, including patience and the need to use trusted locals instead of walking into an unknown place without support.

I like the story for not only its adventure and integrity, but also the relationships between Greg and others. I also really like that it is biographical. I strongly believe that our people need to be more focused on doing good, real things and less on making money. I believe that is how America has lost its way, the money factor. I also do believe that building schools and other needed projects are what ends war and hatred not the conquering of "enemies."

On a side note, CAI also founded a group called Pennies for Peace to teach students about Pakistan and Afghanistan and to promote education in remote areas.

related-schools, hospitality, heroes, charity, philanthropist, nonprofit organizations, peace, Pakistan, friendship
RL=6th & up

There is also an adult version of Three Cups of Tea and picture book Listen to the Wind.

Time Capsule ed. by Donald R. Gallo.
Delacorte Press/Random House: NY, 1999.

I love the concept for these short stories. Each story deals with a different decade of the 20th century. All of the stories are good.

The Electric Summer by Richard Peck is about a girl's trip to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. A girl whose family is normally too busy working their farm to do anything so extravagant. Richard Peck is a master at depicting the life of poor farmers from this period, like in his novel A Long Way From Chicago. He tends to play towards their strengths - for ex. their ingenuity and flexibility.

Bootleg Summer by Will Weaver is about a teen's summer working for a gangster near the Canadian border. Interestingly, he sees himself as the bad guy in the end, not the gangster.

Moving On by Jeanette Ingold explores the relationship between a white girl and her family's black servant of about the same age. The girls grew up together, and the servant is moving on looking for a better chance at life. It also describes a cousin who is a modern girl and treats the servant poorly and unthinkingly.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dream? by Jackie French Koller is an interview for a high school project of an 80 year old man recalling the poverty of the Depression and the flooding of the Swift River Valley to create a reservoir for Boston and how it impacted the townspeople in the area. I liked the idea of the interview, and the discussion of the man's boarding one of the construction workers was particularly effective.

Waiting for the War by Graham Salisbury deals with three themes: the reactions of native Hawaiians to the mainlanders overrunning their lands, the training or breaking of a horse and trust between the horse and rider, and the waiting of the soldiers to be sent into WWII. The soldiers' condition was a perspective I'd never seen addressed. It made me think and bears some resemblance to current events

We Loved Lucy by Trudy Krisher depicts two drastically different perspectives on life during the fifties: the perfect nuclear family with their nationalistic patriotism and fear of communism and a family with a much freer attitude, enjoying life and not taking it too seriously. The contrast is between the Shellburnes with their building of a fallout shelter and attendance at the weekly civil defense meetings and the Whompers who enjoy Monday nights together watching I Love Lucy and are less concerned about appearances or communists

Fourth and Too Long by Chris Crutcher is another story focused on appearances. A high school football star who decides longer hair enhances his looks is standing up for his right to keep his hair. The battle of wills could cost him a scholarship and his team the championship, but the point is deeper than hair. It isn't the first time the coach has asked sacrifices of Benny for the team without considering his situation. The story also touches on the Vietnam War and Native Americans.

Do You Know Where Your Parents Are? by Bruce Brooks is a bit quirky. A boy lies to his hippie parents about his activities, so he can play football for his school. It turns out they have been putting on a show for him all year as well, because they are embarrassed about their own competitive behavior.

Rust Never Sleeps by Chris Lynch relates the story of a teen who flies solo from Germany to Russia as a political statement and becomes a celebrity overnight. Years later, an American girl is excited that his brother is coming to live with her family as an exchange student. Her brother holds a different attitude, and it turns out that the reality can be different from the appearance.

In Y2K. CHATRM43 by Alden R. Carter, Joel moderates a chat room with the intention of internationally discussing important issues. His local friend gives him a hard time about the hours he spends on the internet, but he feels he is truly connecting with people and encouraging discussion and open-mindedness, which is the world's only chance for peace and even survival. His friend participates and decides maybe he is right.

The only thing I think could be different about the collection is that it might have been better as a set of books, one for each decade. One story cannot represent a whole decade well. The earlier decades might have been harder to create stories. Certainly they would have had a more historical feel.

related-short stories, United States history, 20th century
RL=7th-adult

The Time Hackers by Gary Paulsen.
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House, Inc: NY, 2005.

Welcome to a time when everyone can call up a hologram from any time and any place using a laptop. This creates a perfect chance for someone to play sick jokes on Dorso-and Frank since they are usually together. The jokes start as holograms but soon lead to horrifying adventures in time travel.

The novel is very short but fast-paced, inventive and suspenseful.
RL=4th-8th

Traces: Framed! by Malcolm Rose.
Kingfisher/Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2005.

Luke is the youngest person to qualify for forensic investigation at the age of 16. The same day he passes his exam, he is assigned his first case-on campus. As he gathers evidence, two more people are murdered, and his first priority is to prove to his robotic assistant that he is not the guilty party. The time the Authorities have allotted him to solve the murders is running low, and he still has 4 strong suspects.

The book carries the mystery and excitement of forensic investigation without the gore and horror. It is absorbing until the end with evidence pointing to several people but not all overlapping. Luke investigating himself as the prime suspect adds a nice twist.
related-mystery, murder, forensic investigation, school
RL=7th-YA

The Traitor's Gate by Avi.
A Richard Jackson Book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers: NY, 2007.

John Huffam's father swears he doesn't owe any one person the amount of money for which he is sent to debtor's prison in 1849 London. While trying to solve the problem of getting his father released, John learns that just about everyone he encounters is lying-his father, the family's housemaid, the bailiff, his ex-school teacher, his sister's suitor, the inspector treating his father as a traitor, the inspector who isn't that confronts him with a warning, even Sary, his new friend, who is helping him make sense of the confusing mystery. All he knows for sure is that there is a spy after a secret that his father holds, and he is determined to discover who it is.

Very much in the style of Dickens, the story has many elements that Dickens used-scenes of poverty, sneaks from the lower class, wrongful accusation, trial of the innocent, many and varied colorful characters, wealthy benefactor, and emphasis on detail and description. Because of the detail and twisting of the plot, it takes some time to become involved in the story. Once sufficiently into the story, the mystery is captivating. It isn't my favorite Avi book, but I would recommend it for both historical and mystery.

related-19th century England, imprisonment for debts, spies, Scotland Yard, intrigue, poverty (1800s), mystery and detective stories
RL=6th-YA

Trapped by Roderic Jeffries.
Harper & Row, Publishers: NY, 1972.

Gerry Stevens listens to the weather report at lunch and leaves to visit his grandparents. Bert Holdman just bought a used gun and heads to the river for duck hunting. The two boys meet in town, and Bert challenges Gerry to join him.

The crew of police launch Delta Delta One Four expect the patrol on the river to be hazardous when they hear the forecast of strong winds, heavy snow and unusually high tides. When they receive the call about a missing boy, they assume he is with friends instead of doing what was expected of him. Not until 5 hours after Gerry and Bert leave their homes do the police start to get evidence that the boys may be in trouble and begin the search on the river. The mudflats range too far up and down the river to find the boys without more information. Luckily, they do receive more clues, but can they be found before the tide covers the mudflats?

The story equally covers the survival of the boys on the mudflats and the search and rescue attempts on their behalf. There are extraneous circumstances to muddle the search as well. The story is unusual and suspenseful. It's quite an interesting read for middle grade readers.
related-high interest, adventure, survival, search and rescue, estuary, river life, character
RL=5th-8th

Tree Castle Island by Jean Craighead George.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2002.

When Jack's Uncle Hamp is called away for a couple weeks, Jack sets out to explore the Okefenokee Swamp in a canoe he built himself. As he explores, he finds evidence in this wilderness of another human inhabitant-a raft, a basket, and a plate. He meets a dog who answers to the same name as his dog (Dizzy), and he keeps hearing an eerie, echoing call. He doesn't know if it's an animal, a ghost, or what. He gets off-track in the swamp and finds a dead bear just as he really needs food. He creates a camp for himself on an island where he can repair the damage to his canoe caused by an irritated mama alligator. He's in for a great surprise with visitors to his island home, one of which causes him to question his past and change his future. This meeting changes the whole dynamic of the story which started out with an exploration of nature, thoughts about life expectations, and his sense of achievement and wanting confirmation of that achievement.

I love Jean George's description of nature and the contemplative thoughts as Jack paddles through the swamp. The dominant theme of the book was a complete surprise-as much to me as it was to Jack. From that point on, I was totally hooked.

related-Okefenokee Swamp/Georgia, survival, camping, foraging, exploration, adventure, twins, brothers, adoption, achievement, boat craft, construction with native materials, wilderness, self-discovery, social issues
RL=4th-7th

The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination selected by Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston.
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky: Naperville, IL, 2009.

This poetry book is a lovely surprise. Knowing the intent of the collaboration, I was expecting something more heavily scientific or education oriented, and biased at that. What I found instead was beautiful and thoughtful contemplation of nature and many aspects of life. It is educational in that there are informational extras, on the pages and in the glossary and poet sections in back. Also in that it is a thinking experience for all readers, or listeners. There are many delightful observations, and as is normal with poetry, so much play with language.

The overall themes are gradual evolution through time and biological curiosity. I like the approach of the book. It is primarily a nature poetry book. I think if Darwin could be taught in this way (mainly observations that he had, that we all can have if we look closely) the subject would be less controversial. The poetry is exciting. There are many facts or points that increased my own curiosity about creatures, things I never thought of before, as well as comparisons between the creatures and society of mankind.

I can see this collection being used as a middle school poetry textbook. Different forms of poetry are represented by well-known poets, including Mary Ann Hoberman, U.S. Children's Poet Laureate of 2008. The biology teachers will love it, too, for the promotion of exploration in the natural world, looking closely at unique features and tiny elements normally overlooked.

The collection includes a CD with selected poems performed, mostly by the poets. Twelve of the poems selected were poems that I picked out as favorites before checking the tracks. The title poem by Mary Ann Hoberman, Cross-Purposes by her also, Think Like a Tree by Karen I. Shragg, Just Living by Hans Christian Andersen, Rain Forest by Marilyn Singer, and Locust by Hoberman are among my favorites of the collection, and all are on the CD.

The poet biography section leaves me wanting to find many of their own collections for further reading. There are also recommended books for further interest in evolution, Charles Darwin's books and others.

Here's a link to a great interview with Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston, cultural anthropologist and teacher, about the inspiration for the collection and some of the audio poems.

related-figurative language, poetry, scientific observation, biology, anthropology, philosophy
RL=4th and up, mainly for middle graders

Truce by Jim Murphy.
Scholastic Press: NY, 2009.

What would happen, I wonder, if the armies suddenly and simultaneously went on strike and said some other method must be found of settling the dispute?

wrote Winston Churchill to his wife November 23, 1914. This is how Murphy starts Truce regarding a spontaneous ceasefire agreed upon by the soldiers, both German and Allied along the Western Front, during World War I. The time was Christmas the same year after months of unproductive battling in the trenches and the No Man's Land in between them. In spots, the soldiers were near enough to listen to conversations of the enemy (or Christmas carols). It was only a matter of time before they started to see each other as people instead of the enemy, despite the efforts of military command.

I have heard of this incident before. It was explained as Christmas fellowship, but after reading Truce, I believe it was more than that. The Front stretched longer than I knew and so did the truce. The details Murphy includes make it clear that the soldiers had had enough, most of them, and they wanted the war to stop. Some of them realized it was pointless, some that they had been lied to and used. The wonder to me is that after that experience they could go back to brutally killing each other, for 4 more years. It was a fleeting moment of peace and truth.

I'm glad there are some authors like Murphy who can sift through the endless battling of history to point out events such as this. The wars (American Revolution, WWI and WWII specifically) were the reasons I had little interest in history before college. This is an incident worth remembering and broadcasting, with the hope that other soldiers will dare to go against their ruthless orders for the good of mankind as well, with the belief that all men have the ability within themselves to ascertain whether the cause is worth the price, even after they have a contract with the military, with the understanding that the government can be wrong (and often is).

related-Christmas truce 1914, World War I, Western Front-France, European history, armistices, ceasefire, peace
RL=6th and up, looks like it might have been targeted for younger but because of content I wouldn't give to younger unless the person has a specific interest.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.
Orchard Books/Franklin Watts, Inc: NY, 1990.
Newbery Honor 1991

Upon learning which ship Charlotte Doyle is sailing on to America, the porter refuses to deliver her trunk to the ship. Another laborer is quickly hired to deliver the trunk, but he also runs away when told which ship. Despite this obvious warning, the man entrusted by her father to see her safely onto the ship demands that she sail on it. Her father has left no alternate plan or funds. They also find that the 2 families with whom she planned to travel will not be sailing with her. This leaves Charlotte the sole passenger aboard the ship. Not long after departure she is given a dagger by the cook to protect herself. The voyage becomes an ordeal that changes her perceptions drastically. The fantastic events seem extraordinarily real in this captivating novel.
RL=5th-8th

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm.
Random House: NY, 2010.
Newbery Honor Book 2011

Turtle is shipped from New Jersey to Key West, Florida to live with her aunt and cousins when her mother takes a housekeeping job with a woman who doesn't like kids. Her mother is hoping for a Hollywood ending, with a new home to share with her new boyfriend. Though her mother's relationships never work out, Turtle thinks this time it might be different - except she's being shipped away. This may seem harsh today, but in the 1930s Depression Era when this takes place it was quite common.

Arriving in the neighborhood, she learns that most everyone on the island is a relative. Her aunt is not expecting her, and there are a horde of boy cousins who are unwelcoming. Turtle is shunted off to the group of cousins, because Aunt Minnie is overworked and needs time to process an uninvited addition to her work.

Turtle spends her days following the boys' Diaper Gang, a club formed for babysitting crabby babies in exchange for candy. The boys ride the babies around in their wagon for a few hours and introduce Turtle to the island inhabitants along the way. When she first arrives, she is clean and has shoes. As she starts to fit in, she loses the shoes and is less particular about her appearance.

One of Minnie's chores is making lunch for Miss Philomena (Nana Philly to the relatives) to give her caregiver a break. An emergency occurs, and Turtle offers to take Aunt Minnie's place. Turtle learns that Nana Philly is just one of the secrets her mother is keeping from her about her childhood. She soon sees why. But she is a determined girl, and she can hold out as long as Nana Philly. Slow Poke is another secret. She comes to appreciate his gentleness, and he is one of the friends she does not want to leave when her mother decides it's time.

The story takes place before Key West is a tourist attraction. It has been hit hard by the Depression. Their own imagination is about all they have for amusement. That and conch fishing, treasure hunting, radio shows, and the occasional movie at the theater. There is a specific treasure that the locals are after, belonging to the pirate Black Caesar. Two other historic tidbits are the big hurricane the kids are caught in while treasure hunting and the highway construction in the Upper Keys which employs Uncle Vernon through the story. Many men did leave their families in search of work during this time.

Historical fiction fans will love the book. Holm conveys the historical feel of the community well and throws in a few characters for interest. Everyone has a wacky nickname, and reading about the Depression always feels like being transported to a distant time. For those not used to historical fiction, it may take longer to be drawn into the story. I like that the community is different geographically; it was interesting to see Florida specific details.

Turtle is a bit blunt in demeanor, but considering she's just been dumped by her mother, she has every reason to be. She does seem to be smart and willing to cooperate or fit in. She's making the best of her life. Other characters maybe could have been developed more, but I totally felt a connection with Turtle. In fact, the only complaint I have is that the story is short. The pace is fine; it needs to move quickly for young readers; but I wanted it to be longer.

Note that the story is based on the author's family history. She has two other Newbery Honor Books that were also based on her family, Our Only May Amelia (2000) and Penny from Heaven (2007). She has a new one out, The Trouble with May Amelia.

related-1930s, Depression, cousins, family life, Key West, Florida, 20th century history, adventure, treasure, hurricanes
RL=4th and up; publisher says 3rd, but the content is serious, so maybe 5th or 6th

Victory by Susan Cooper.
Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster: NY, 2006.
BookAdvice Book of the Month Dec 2006

Molly, a British girl recently transplanted to Connecticut, gains possession of a rare artifact which transforms her life. Through her dreams she becomes haunted by Sam, a British boy impressed into service aboard the HMS Victory under Vice-Admiral Nelson's command. She is enthralled with Sam's life because she desperately wants to have a connection again with her British home. With time and experience Sam is promoted to powder monkey-carrying ammunition to the cannoneers. Through him, we and Molly see what life would have been like for boys in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars. Molly and the readers are shifted between her life and the past with the artifact and dreams being the mode of transportation.

Besides life on board the HMS Victory, the story also centers around Molly's struggle to accept her new home and altered life.

The book (a blend of historical and current times) is nothing like Susan Cooper's other stories. The historical portion is quite intense and keeps you wondering what the connection is between Molly and Sam with an unexpected answer to that question.
related-British history, naval history (19th century), HMS Victory, naval stories, stepfather and stepbrother, transatlantic move, culture shock
RL=4th-8th

The Wanderer by Sharon Creech.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2000.
Newbery Honor 2001

This is an outstanding story of a family's (3 uncles and 3 cousins) courageous and tumultuous journey across the Atlantic Ocean in their own boat. It is told through the journals of 2 of the cousins-one of them the only female on the trip. The girl, Sophie, tells the stories of their grandfather, mixing her feelings with his words, in an attempt to belong in this family and on this journey. On this journey the only threads holding them together are their positions in the family and their struggle to survive-until they come to personal realizations through their crises.

related-sailboats, sailing, ocean voyage, sea stories, family, adoption, adopted children, survival, adventure, diaries, storytelling
RL=5th and up

The Water Seeker by Kimberly Willis Holt.
Henry Holt and Company: NY, 2010.

The Water Seeker chronicles the life of Amos through the 19th century pioneering West. His dad, Jake, is a dowser and mountain trapper, leaving first his wife, then his son, to trap beaver. When his mom dies giving birth to him, Amos is left with his aunt and uncle, then with neighbors when his aunt dies. Jake visits each year and finally brings him a Shoshone stepmother. When Amos turns 15, Jake accepts a job scouting for an Oregon trail guide. He, Amos, Blue Owl, and another aunt and uncle join the wagon train.

The story is a strong depiction of much of what is known about the Oregon Trail expeditions (and pioneer life), from excess baggage being dumped along the way to sudden mortal illnesses to the desperation brought on by adversity to disagreements about how to proceed. The cast of characters, especially Amos, are confronted by hardship after hardship, as Amos grows up. At the heart of the book is the basic goodness of people, most of them. Amos in particular is developing a good, strong character, despite mistakes, errors of judgment, and hurtful feelings through the years.

Through much of the story, Delilah's (his mother) spirit watches over his life, appearing to the females who care for him, until he is grown and has found his true love. Each female treats him in a different manner.

About 2/3 of the story is related to the Oregon Trail. The rest is Amos's young years and their settling in Oregon. All of it deals with Amos's growth as a person. He must accept severe losses of people he loves, a lack of stability in his life, and little attachment to others. On the trail, he learns to be close to people and accept them for who they are. He must make a risky decision for his family's benefit and stand up for his decision when others question it. He undergoes a change in how he sees a person a few times as well.

There are small touches like Delilah's spirit, Jake's strength of character, Aunt Daisy's joyfulness, and Aunt Rebecca's kindness that make this an enjoyable read. Like many historical novels, it is more of a leisurely experience. The whole thing is believable - characters and happenings. It feels like a real journal. My favorite parts are the numerous anecdotes themselves and the emotion conveyed in so much of the writing.

related-coming of age, fathers and sons, dowsing, overland journeys to the Pacific, frontier and pioneer life, Western United States, 19th century, Oregon Trail, wagon trains, personal loss and growth, adventure
RL=7th-YA

Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice.
MacMillan Publishing: NY, 1990.

Weasel paints a stark picture of Ohio frontier life in 1839. Eleven year old Nathan and his younger sister Molly have been waiting 6 days for their father to come back from hunting. They know something is wrong, but have no idea what to do about it. Then a man who can't talk shows up at their door, gesturing for them to follow. He has their father's locket, so they determine following will be the only way to find out about their pa. The man leads them to his wigwam, where their father is laying ill from a wound. They help to tend him, and he slowly recovers. In the process, they become friends of the man, Ezra, who has withdrawn from society, due to his experience with the Shawnee and the government policy at the time. Nathan goes back to the cabin to feed animals and is confronted by an infamous character who has been raiding settlers for years. Nathan escapes, but the event shapes his mental well being for sometime to come. Both his father and Ezra share ugly experiences with this person called Weasel. Their reactions are somewhat different than his, and the book is largely about Nathan's dealing with his experience.

The story is a strong depiction of a time all but forgotten. Ezra's character is a scintillating morsel. His tongue was long ago cut out by a scoundrel, and yet his personality shines with his mannerisms. The children quickly become attached to this quiet soul.

The feel of the book is so old and obsolete, but it is adventurous and philosophical to an extent rarely seen in young literature.

The story is very short; the words a low level. The topic is mature, but could work as a history tie in.

related-frontier and pioneer life, revenge, family and friendship, history of Ohio and United States
RL=4th-8th

A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 2002.
BookAdvice Book of the Month Oct 2006

Mark has just moved to rural New Hampshire from New York. He has half a year at the public school, and then he will be shipped off to a boarding school the next school year. He is angry about moving and about the business interests that keep his parents travelling instead of home with him. He is also terribly bored at school and doesn't see any point in participating.

After a couple of weeks he decides to try to fit in better. He makes progress with the other students, but the teachers are irritated with him and are not so willing to forgive.

The whole sixth grade is preparing for the traditional camping trip, and Mark is excited because he has been exploring on his own and wants to learn more. He wants to prove himself to his science teacher who is the director of the camping trip and resident expert. An unfortunate incident will make that impossible. Or will it? The event changes the whole atmosphere from a school conflict to survival and eventually cooperation.

This is one of my favorite Andrew Clements books because it has so much packed into it. One of the things I like about Clements's books is that they show teachers as people with their own problems. There is usually a gap in communication, misunderstandings, and a process working towards cooperation from which we can all learn.
related-schools, teacher-student relationships, survival, camping, adventure, exploring, communication, cooperation, high interest
RL=5th-8th

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.
E. P. Dutton/NAL Penguin Inc: NY, 1978.
Newbery Medal 1979

The Westing Game is an old style whodunit mystery. It was published during a time when Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot movies were popular and has much the same format. There is a slow feeding of seemingly random clues throughout the book, and then, BAM BAM BAM, the whole solution is told by a person (or persons) in rapid fire with many twists. I'm not personally very good at guessing all of the who did what, but I enjoy observing how the whole thing plays out, seeing the connections, looking back at the clues.

In the story, six invitation letters are delivered to entice certain people to reside in the grand new apartment house, Sunset Towers, on the shore of Lake Michigan. Once the apartments are full of the right people, most of the residents, plus 2 workers, are invited to the reading of the will of the wealthy Sam Westing. They are chosen to be heirs due to some connection with the deceased (not necessarily blood related), but the ultimate heir must solve the mystery of Westing's death. They are paired up and given random word clues, though most of the real clues come from observing or investigating each other.

Because the Newbery books at my local library are separate, I have often seen and wondered about the title. I may even have checked out the book and didn't have time to read it. I finally read it, because it was recommended in relation to Blue Balliett's books. This is one of the better Newbery books I've read. Also, one of the best mysteries, though I have not concentrated on that genre in the past.

related-murder mystery, whodunit, word games and solving puzzles, working together, friendship, inheritance, heirs to a fortune
RL=7th-adult

What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Boston, 2012.

The story alternates between two worlds. In a far away universe, there is a coup. The last of the conquered must protect an artifact of power crafted with the beauty from which they derived their rule. It is sent out of the universe to keep it out of the hands of the conquerors. The item lands in Plymouth, MA, at a beachhouse home. A home struggling with the loss of a beloved mom and wife. A town on the verge of making a modern decision that could forever change its New England style. The conquering Lord Mondus sends minions to detect and retrieve the object. Tommy wears the found necklace and gains knowledge and understanding, strength and power, and increased artistic ability. He will need all of his talents to stand against the power of Lord Mondus, and more.

The two tellings are interesting on their own. Going back and forth between them was more difficult to keep focus, since the tales are so different in makeup. Fantasy can be challenging anyway for readers, because the world is foreign and names are uncomfortable in sound and rhythm. I remember as a young reader that even foreign country names made reading harder, as I had trouble reading names I couldn't pronounce. One thing good about the format is that alternating gives a less practiced reader a break from the unusual world.

The parts within New England make a very strong story. I love Tommy's family, and enjoyed his school days. His struggles are not so unusual for everyday life, except that the confrontation with the other world characters adds a twist and children do not usually handle any major problems in our society.

Again, Gary Schmidt has created an awesome story. I have found each of his works to be fascinating and quite different from anything else, including his own works. Quite satisfying.

related-fantasy, other worlds, Plymouth, MA, New England, beach life
RL=4th or 5th and up

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House: NY, 2009.
Newbery Award for 2010

Miranda is receiving anonymous notes about things that only someone close to her should know, and also things that haven't happened yet. Her best friend withdraws after being punched by an older boy. An extra apartment key is stolen. An old homeless guy hangs out on her street.

Her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time is some comfort to her in her distress. She knows passages by heart but still carries the book everywhere. It's a key to new friendships, opens up real possibilities.

There's a puzzle to be solved, one Miranda keeps to herself, while she goes about her daily life. A life filled, by the way, with some wonderful moments.

Miranda's mother is preparing to be on a TV game show. To answer questions she says she lifts a veil to see connections more clearly. Miranda speculates about this veil. With the introduction of this idea, I became distracted by similar ideas. I have thought for a while that people have shields they use to keep LIFE at a distance. To most people it is an unconscious thing; mine was erected consciously, because I believe I might have been born without one. Oddly, later on the page Miranda discusses this same idea. Lifting her veil, helps Miranda to solve the puzzle and do what she needs to do for everything to work out.

I like the story's link to time travel. It is a subject that fascinates me. Many stories are too obvious in their use of time travel. I knew there must be one, but the story pulls away from the idea throughout the book. It isn't until the end that the connection is revealed. A seemingly small part that means everything. The revelation lifts the veil for the reader, and a new level of story is revealed.

related-space and time, New York, single parent family, family life, mother and daughter, friendship, step relations, mystery, sci fi
RL=6th and up

Where the Great Hawk Flies by Liza Ketchum
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 2005.

A red-tailed hawk watches two families flee from the same Indian raid in Vermont in 1782. Hiram Coombs has an uncle who was caught and then imprisoned by the British in Canada. Daniel Tucker and his sister and mother are part Pequot Indian. They are accepted by the community because of her healing abilities. When the Coombs family moves in next to the Tuckers, the boys meet and antagonize each other until Daniel's grandfather (a Pequot medicine man) comes to visit. He helps the boys to sort out their differences.

The story is gripping and powerfully written as one conflict after another must be resolved. It is a good one to use in a history lesson regarding colonists vs. Native Americans or a lesson related to conflict resolution.
related-identity, conflict resolution, prejudice, healing, 18th century, Pequot Indians, Indians of North America (Connecticut), Vermont history
RL=5th-8th

Wild Things by Clay Carmichael.
Front Street/Boyds Mills Press: Honesdale, PA, 2009.

The title refers to four wild things: 1) Zöe, an eleven-year-old orphan, independent and forced to rely on herself from a young age (now living with her previously unknown doctor/sculptor uncle), 2) a feral black and white cat who sometimes favors residents with his trust and whose viewpoint is regularly expressed in the book, 3) a young white deer whose presence brings out the best and worst in people, and 4) an unknown teenage boy fending for himself in the local wilderness.

Much of the book has to do with Zöe and Uncle Henry's relationship, Zöe's past and concern that Henry will abandon her, physically or emotionally. Is Henry neglecting her, taking care of his own business, or giving her space to heal emotionally and grow? Or a mix of all three?

Zöe has an unusual maturity. She writes her own memoirs, heartily adopts Henry's friends as her own, opens her heart to strays, discovers and tends a secret hideaway (as a possible escape route), and risks everything when the need arises. She even has the sense to step back and analyze her situation when her uncle disagrees with her. She still does what she wants, but at least she understands his position.

Their circle of friends (Zöe, Henry, Fred, Bessie, and the Padre) all have spirit and their moments of headstrong rebellion. Usually in defense of others.

One of the best parts of the story is the cat's perspective before each chapter. The cat tells much of the backstory, including that of the wild boy, and it thinks philosophical thoughts about humans that otherwise wouldn't fit well in the story. Both narratives - the cat's and girl's are nicely written. The flow and anticipation level are perfect. I need to look for more of Carmichael's books. It was such a pleasure to read.

related-family life, trust, orphans, self-reliance, uncles, sculptors, cats, human-animal relationships
RL=6th-adult, content a little higher, 7th or 8th

Windcatcher by Avi.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 1991.

Tony is learning to sail as he stays with his grandmother on the Connecticut coast. He hears rumors of sunken treasure nearby and watches and follows a couple who appear to be searching for it. He and his grandmother do some sleuthing, and Tony is convinced the treasure is real. As Tony ventures out of safe waters, it quickly becomes clear he is beyond his level of safety.

This is a riveting story for young readers with the mystery of the treasure and of the town's founder, and also, the adventure of sailing and survival. It is also exciting because it demonstrates the possibility of achieving something of the adult world; for children that is momentous.
RL=3rd-6th

Wind Rider by Susan Williams.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2006.

Fern is on the verge of womanhood and is pressed by the women of her family to learn womanly duties while her twin brother seems to mostly play since his life on the plains is expected to be freer than hers. Her mother wishes to suppress Fern's gift of communication with animals as she and others see it as unnatural. One day, avoiding her chores, she helps a young horse stuck in the bog. She keeps the horse in a secret place, shares a friendship with it, and learns to ride. In a society whose only use for horses is food, Fern develops new uses through her bond with her horse Thunder. Because of their fear, much more must happen before the tribe will accept the changes Fern shows them.

This is an excellent story in which Fern is transformed from an unaccepted girl not wishing to become a woman to a loving and respected woman who has given much to her community and has become a legend. Beautifully written, it will appeal to a wide range of ages.

related-prehistoric explanation of the development of domesticated horses, girls-duties, feelings, and transition to womanhood, coming of age, human/animal communication, gender roles, prehistoric peoples, historical fiction
RL=5th-adult

Winter Lights: A Season in Poems & Quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines.
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins: NY, 2005.

Winter Lights is a sequel to Pieces: A Year in Poems & Quilts. The quilts are fantastic! I'm amazed by the work with the twisted triangles used for fire and flickering light. Though I know Holiday Magic was much easier, it is displayed beautifully as are several others. You've got to see it to believe it. I did enjoy the poems, too, but the quilts are masterfully presented. To know that each illustration was pieced together is just lovely. For anyone with an appreciation of sewing, you'll not want to miss this. The poems celebrating the season are a bonus.

The back of the book discusses techniques in piecing the quilts. Looking at it, you can tell Star Catcher must have been the hardest to put together. All the tiny triangles, plus the preplanning to achieve such a wondrous effect. Many of the quilts were strip pieced (strips sewn together in long columns or rows) and added together. The candlelit bags in Christmas Path, the Menorah and star in Small Miracles, and the houses in Holiday Magic used this technique but required preplanning to create the objects. Most of the details in Holiday Magic are the fabrics themselves. The placement of the fabrics with a few highlights is what makes it special. It's Time is also strip pieced but with four different sections, and the pieces are manipulated more (sewn opposite directions and sewn at angles which varies the width of the strips). This also has an amazing result. The aurora borealis is created with the basic form of bargello, a type of strip piecing. Long strips of fabric are sewn together diagonally to form a rectangle and cut across, slightly varying the color placement in the strips. In "Morning Light" and "Nian Is Coming" Hines played with the technique a little, creating radiating light in the first and a monster and fireworks in the second.

related-winter celebrations, pieced quilts, children's poetry-American, lights in a dark season
RL=2nd and up, read aloud with toddlers-2nd

With Needle and Thread by Raymond Bial.
Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 1996.

"Certainly the number and variety of quilt patterns are remarkable, often breathtaking, but I wanted With Needle and Thread to be more about people and their connection to quilts. Feelings about quilts run deeply through quilters' lives, and it is this abiding love and respect for quilts and quiltmaking that I have sought to evoke in With Needle and Thread: A Book about Quilts."

Quilts are remarkable, and Raymond Bial has selected some great examples for illustration. I would have liked to have seen even more, because as a quilter I can't get enough. I hope that it is enough to convey to non-quiltmakers the awe that I feel regarding quilts.

Bial explains the history of quiltmaking. If it's not amazing enough that women used to make all of the blankets for their homes by hand, piecing them from old clothing and scraps when material wasn't available, consider how little time women had to do anything for themselves. Or that thinking beyond household work was discouraged. Sewing was one of the only arts that allowed women and girls freedom of expression. Even slaves were able to create art through quilting. It is incredibly uplifting to know that you can and have created such a work of art.

Traditions of quilting are described, including patterns, styles and quilting communities. Regions are also noted, as well as trends such as the pioneering migration and quilts in support of causes.

Quilting is still done in a traditional manner, but even more freedom is practiced. Quilting is also going in a new direction in that it is now viewed publicly as an art, pieces made to be hung on the wall and viewed rather than only to be used as household items.

It was great to see this conversation of an art that I absolutely love. The author has noted that he took extra care in choosing the pictures and text to make a "patchwork."

I was introduced to quilting by my sister Evelyn who has made many quilts for family members. I had no idea that it would become such a part of my own life when I tried my first. Now it is a heavenly thing to walk around a quilters' show. I've only been to our state show, but what a time I had viewing so many quilts at once.

related-quilting history, United States history, patchwork, arts and crafts
RL=4th and up

The World of King Arthur and His Court: People, Places, Legend, and Lore by Kevin Crossley-Holland. il by Peter Malone.
Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers: NY, 1998.
Originally published by Orion Children's Books: London, 1998.

Every aspect of King Arthur and his kingdom is described here: the knights and knighthood, the enchanters and enchantresses, the ladies of the court, manners and life in the Medieval world, the places associated with Arthur's life, writers and troubadours, popular stories, the differences between the romances and real Arthur, and fantastic beasts and magical happenings. The thorough discussion along with the attractive paintings are a delight for those wanting to know King Arthur's world.

related-Merlin, Uther, Excaliber, Lady of the Lake, sword in the stone, Knights of the Round Table, Avalon, Glastonbury, the Holy Grail
RL=4th-6th

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux: NY, 1962.
Newbery Medal 1963

Meg and Charles Wallace Murry and a new friend Calvin travel through time and space by means of tesseracts, guided by Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. The Murrys' father is a scientist who disappeared while exploring the concept of tessering. The Mrs. W's inform the children that he needs their help, and they travel to release him from his imprisonment.

Despite the sci fi/fantasy baseline, the book is mostly psychological. It is a good vs. evil adventure story, using love and freedom of thought to combat the shadow that would control the characters' minds. The characters are presented as misfits, and the story shows their differences as being their strengths, what saves them.

This is a book that I loved in 6th grade, though I didn't fully understand the tesseracts. Looking back I don't think it has much depth. It was written and remains for young children. It is groundbreaking for its use of scientific concepts in children's literature. It still is one of the few that attempts to deal with complicated scientific theories. Though there is starting to be sci fi literature for young adults, there is still little for younger kids. It still is a good book for introducing fiction to young readers.

related-tesseracts and tessering, hypnosis, equal vs. sameness, identity, nonconformity, familial love, missing parent, fitting in, sacrifice
RL=5th-7th

The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood.
Dutton's Children's Books/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers: NY, 2002.

After starting to live the life of a gaming wastrel, Creighton is abducted and shipped to America. The book is based on the premise that General George Washington was captured by the British. This event ends the war with the colonists-or so the British think. Creighton finds himself in the middle of the resistance to British rule of the colonies. He is expected to spy for the British, but he is no longer so sure of where his loyalties lie.

This is an exciting alternate history book. There is plenty of action and surprise and also thought-provoking details. Much of the book focuses on Benjamin Franklin (his character, experimentation, and printing business) who is perhaps the most fascinating of all the American patriots. Blackwood has done an excellent job of blending his story with historical figures.

I also highly recommend Second Sight and The Shakespeare Stealer series.
related-American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin, Benedict Arnold, duels, printing business, codes, codes, New Orleans
RL=5th-YA

The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice.
The Bowen Press/HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2009.

Eleanor Robinson aka Groovy is a cook at eleven years old. Her fondest wish is to train at a culinary school. Knowing how costly it would be, she fears it won't be possible, and family problems are so overwhelming she's not sure she wants to continue cooking, even though customers at a friend's shop are clamoring for her specialty.

Alongside her problems and her best friend's (Frankie), the town is preparing for the annual swallow migration. The swallows travel from Argentina to San Juan Capistrano, in Southern California, to nest. The swallows' return coincides with the resolution of the children's problems, both learning to forgive a grievous injury and both sharing the return of a parent.

I thoroughly enjoyed Fitzmaurice's first novel. It is complex and emotional but also uplifting and hopeful. Two of the children in the story have career plans and are working towards their dreams (Eleanor and her cooking, Marisol and her drawings). There is community spirit - the children helping each other, Eleanor working in Luis's (Frankie's stepbrother) shop, Luis and Eleanor's father helping a resident homeless man. Eleanor and Frankie both struggle with hurt feelings and confusion about parental relationships. Both must on their own come to terms with the faults of a parent, but they support each other through the process.

The children seem older than 11 years. The book is recommended for 3rd to 5th graders by the publisher. Because of the emotional content, it seems more like 5th to 8th to me.

related-fathers and daughters, absent parent, forgiveness, conduct of life, creativity, cooking, drawing, migration of birds
RL=5th and up

Your Atomic Self: The Invisible Elements That Connect You to Everything Else in the Universe by Curt Stager.

From the very beginning, I was hooked on this book. Understanding the elements leads one to philosophical thoughts, apparently, and some to be poetic in their description. I had no idea when I started the book that I would be so amazed by it. While I generally am interested in atomic theory, I find most media presents it in a way that is still above the level of someone who has not reached an understanding of the elements. So, it remains mysterious and out of reach.

Maybe it is partly due to being a book instead of video, that is easy to read over and over or flip back through for better understanding, but I think also because Stager addresses elements individually, starting with the simplest (and oldest) and progresses from there. Reading a segment at a time focuses on the special aspects of each of eight elements that are essential to our bodies and life on the planet. The interaction between them to form life is awesome to understand and contemplate, leading to excitement, poetry and philosophy. It is obvious how much Stager loves the subject and wants to share it. A reading of the book may very well enrich your life, to look around you and see the elements at work in your lives. Open your eyes to this world and universe of elements and see how we are all linked within them.

I absolutely love picking up some random book to read and having it be such an important experience! As a tribute, I have created a crossword puzzle for it.

related-matter, atoms, composition of the human body, elements, molecules, organic chemistry and biochemistry, quantum physics, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, iron, sodium, calcium, phosphorus
RL=adult, but accessible to 7th and up