The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn by Sam Gayton - ADVISABLE

Gayton, Sam     The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn, 293 pgs.  Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2011 (text) 2016 (illustrations).  $16.99. 

Language, Mature Content, Violence: G;  

As the landlady of the White Horse Inn, Lettie Peppercorn’s young life was chosen for her, or so she thought.  Abandoned by her mother and neglected by her father, Lettie was left to keep the tiny inn afloat with only the companionship of her favorite pigeon Periwinkle, who mysteriously was turning to stone. One night, when Lettie thought things couldn’t get worse,  she met the alchemist and his snow.  Little did Lettie know, but that night would change things forever.  

Excellent adventure for readers who enjoy young protagonists, magic and adventure.  

EL, MS- ADVISABLE.  J. Hafen

The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan - ADVISABLE

MacLachlan, Patricia  The Poet’s Dog, 88 pgs.  CHAPTER BOOK  Katherine Tegen Books, 2016.  $14.99  Content: G.  

Nickel and Flora are a brother and sister that get lost in a snow storm, but they are found and taken to a remote cabin by Teddy.  Teddy is a sweet Irish wolfhound who has recently lost his beloved owner who was a poet.  Teddy’s poet owner always explained to Teddy that true poets would be able to hear Teddy talk and Nickel and Flora are able to here Teddy.  The ragtag group wait out the storm and hope to be able to stay together once they are rescued.  

This is a sweet story with a great setting and characters that are quickly made endearing.  I’m not even a dog lover and I loved Teddy.  The story is simple and easy to read and heartwarming.  The only part that is kind of upsetting is that Teddy's owner gets sick and passes away which is sad but not graphic at all.

EL (K-3), EL – ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.  

Would You Rather be a Princess or a Dragon? by Barney Saltzberg - OPTIONAL

Saltzberg, Barney  Would You Rather be a Princess or a Dragon?  PICTURE BOOK Roaring Brook Press, 2016.  $16.99  Content: G.  

The reader is shown the difference between being a princess or being a dragon.  If you are a princess you wear pink and walk straight.  If you are a dragon you are green and act wild.  Some days though, a princess wants to be wild too and dragons have a little princess inside them as well.  

The illustrations are very simple and have clean lines.  The story is cute and has a funny ending when the dragon pretends to eat the princess.  I like that the princess can be more than just pink and royal, but she can try new things.  

EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.  

Blood Red Snow White by Marcus Sedgwick -- Optional

Sedgwick, Marcus.  Blood Red Snow White.  296 pages.  Roaring Book Press, 2007.  $17.99.  Language: PG (31 swears); Sexual Content: PG-13 (prostitutes, affairs, and Rasputin without clothes), Violence: PG. 

“Beyond the sunrise, halfway to the moon, and so very far away it would make your feet weep to think about it, lies a land vast in size and sadness.” 

The story is part fairytale, part fictionalized biography of author Arthur Ransome, and part historical narrative of the Russian revolution.  Arthur Ransome traveled to Russia, taught himself the language, and wrote a children’s book based on Russian folktales.  The author, Sedgwick, uses Ransome’s characters in this book tell the story of hunger and despair experienced by common folk and why they eventually killed the Tsar and his family.  The Tsar tries to hold on to his power and kills innocent people, while his wife allows the notorious Rasputin free reign because she thinks he can save her son who is a hemophiliac.  Arthur’s life story is also weaved in.  He left his wife he couldn’t live with and his daughter he would always love and went to Russia.  He worked as a newspaper man and continues to write after the Bolsheviks take power.  He falls in love with Trotsky’s secretary, Evgina and she becomes his mistress.  Arthur is asked by his friend Lockhart to become a British spy.  Other British officers think that Arthur is a Bolshevik spy.  Arthur must decide who or what he is truly loyal to.   

Sedgwick’s writing is sophisticated and the style is a literary masterpiece.  However, Arthur is not a very identifiable character for a teenage audience.  He is a middle-aged man with a Russian mistress; neither of which really have a personality.  They serve as chess pieces in the larger historical story without having voices of their own or character development. 

HS-OPTIONAL.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS. 

I Will Not Eat You by Adam Lehrhaupt - ADVISABLE

Lehrhaupt, Adam  I Will Not Eat You Illustrated by Scott Magoon PICTURE BOOK Paula Wisemen Book, 2016 (Simon and Schuster). $17.99  Content: G.  

A dragon lives in a cave and whenever any living thing crosses the entrance he tells it to go away.  As time goes on though, the dragon is getting hungry, so when a little boy dressed up like a knight won’t go away he decides he is hungry enough to eat him.  The dragon comes out of his cave and chases the little boy, eventually the little boy falls and then the boy starts to laugh.  Together the dragon and boy laugh and from then on the dragon spends less time in his cave and more time out playing.  

This is an adorable book.  The illustrations are cute and the message to get out and play instead of brooding all day is a good one.  

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Queen Dog by Bridget Heos - OPTIONAL

Heos, Bridget  Queen Dog  Illustrated by Alejandro O’Keeffe  PICTURE BOOK  Disney Hyperion, 2017.  $16.99  Content: G.  

A cute little puppy is treated like a princess in her home, and enjoys all of the attention.  One day her servants (her owners) start to slack in their duties, and they eventually bring home a new baby.  Just as the puppy decides it’s time for the baby to go away, a boy takes the baby’s toy.  They bond when the puppy rescues the toy and they become good buddies.  

The illustrations are cute in this bright and colorful book.  The puppy is adorable.  The story is a bit predictable but it is still entertaining.  

EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken - ADVISABLE

Bracken, Alexandra.  Wayfarer.  532 pages.  Hyperion, 2017.  $17.99.  

Language:  PG-13 (133 swears); Violence: PG-13; Sexual Content: PG

The sequel to Passenger (2016), Etta wakes up and she doesn’t know where she is or what century she’s in.  She tries to escape and meets Nicholas’s half-brother Julian who Nicholas thought was dead.  She meets the leader of the people holding her, it’s Henry Hemlock—her father.  He tells Etta that her mother is deranged and obsessed with a Golden man and her shadow servants that don’t exist.  Etta doesn’t know who or what to believe.  Meanwhile, timelines are shifting, pasts and futures are being erased.  The astrolabe must be found.

Nicholas is desperate to find and rescue Etta, he’s even enlisted his once enemy, Sophia Ironwood.  They meet a female mercenary named Li Min who helps them.  Li Min is interested in Sophia, and the reader learns more about each of their pasts.  Nicholas’s desperation leads him to the Belladonna, a famous seller of unique items.  He agrees to do her a favor in return for information.  He puts on her ring and is told that he must kill his grandfather or die himself.  His grandfather has only been a source of pain, but Nicholas doesn’t want to become a murderer.  With time running out for Nicholas, the trio learn that the Belladonna is hosting an auction for the astrolabe.  Nicholas comes up with a plan…

The conclusion is exciting and satisfying.  The plot moves quickly as the traveler’s pop in and out of different countries and centuries.  I particularly enjoyed the side character development; learning about Sophia’s background almost made her likeable.  Etta and Nicholas continued as strong protagonists who are discovering who they are and who they want to become.  And most importantly what they are willing to sacrifice.  A must read for anyone who read the first book.      

HS-ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS. 

When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin -- ESSENTIAL

Lin, Grace.  When the Sea Turned to Silver.  366 pages.  Little, Brown and Co., 2016.  $18.99.  Language: G; Sexual Content: G; Violence: PG.

Author/Illustrator Grace Lin has created a new magical masterpiece.  Pinmei lives with her grandmother on the mountain.  Her grandmother is the Storyteller, and Pinmei is quiet and shy.  Soldiers come to the mountain and the emperor takes her grandmother.  Pinmei decides she must rescue her grandmother and her friend Yishan offers to help.  They begin a journey to find the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night to trade with the emperor for her grandmother’s release.  Pinmei finds her voice and shares the stories that her grandmother has told her to people they meet.  Their adventures take them to the City of Bright Moonlight, the bottom of the sea, and at last the emperor’s great wall. 

Stories are seamlessly intertwined into the narrative and are clues to the exciting conclusion.  Pinmei grows from a shy character to a strong one.  The illustrations are beautiful.  There are many single-color illustrations at the beginning of the chapters and throughout the text.   These illustrations are expressive and interesting.  There are also full color and full page illustrations that are carefully detailed and help create the magical world where the story takes place.  Highly recommended.             
EL-ESSENTIAL.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS. 

WIN STUFF FROM SLEEPING BEAR PRESS

Have you ever read anything from Sleeping Bear/Cherry Lake?  They might be considered a small press, but they have very good taste.  This is a raffle I wish I could win myself!  I.Q. is one of my favorite mystery series for upper elementary/middle school.  I do have that book bag and it is sturdy and durable.  Enter the raffle and enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Evie the Knight by Maggie Testa -- NOT RECOMMENDED

Testa, Maggie Evie the Knight (Mike the Knight). PICTURE BOOK. Simon Spotlight, 2015. $3.99.

This book is an adaptation of a Mike the Knight episode. Mike's sister, Evie, says that being a knight is easy. In order to show Mike that she's correct, she turns herself into a knight -- and then brings a Viking attack down on the village.

Like many books based on television episodes, this one feels rather disjointed and lacks character development. The real deal-breaker, however, is the ending, where Mike declares, "We should both stick to what we're best at." So Evie turns in her knight's helmet and goes back to baking jam tarts, while Mike gets all the fun of being a knight (and, presumably, also gets to eat the tarts).

Not only does this hurt my feminist heart, but it goes against every bit of the growth mindset we try to teach our students to have. Is that math too hard? No need to improve; just give up and stick to whatever you do best. Reading getting you down? Don't bother practicing; just give up and stick to whatever you do best.

Not exactly an attitude I want to instill in my students.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -- NOT RECOMMENDED. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist

The Storm by Cynthia Rylant -- ADVISABLE

Rylant, Cynthia The Storm (Lighthouse Family #1), illustrated by Preston McDaniels. Simon & Schuster, 2002. $15.99.

Pandora has resigned herself to a lonely life of tending to a lighthouse. After all, a lighthouse once saved her in a terrible storm, and now she wants to show her appreciation by doing the same for others. But her melancholy solitude is upended when a storm brings her a friend. And then, finally, a family.

With its gentle storytelling, lovely illustrations, and hopeful ending, this one has the feel of a classic children's book. I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here.

EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist

Missing Magic by Kallie George-ADVISABLE

George, Kallie, ill. by Alexandra Bolger. Missing Magic(Magical Animal Adoption Agency, #3). pgs. 139. Disney Hyperion, 2016. $14.99. Language: G, Mature Content; G, Violence: G

When Mr. Jams leaves the agency to go help a friend, Clover and Olive van Hoof, the new guy, are left in charge. The problem is neither one can agree with how to run the agency and take care of the animals. As magic starts leaving the magical animals in the agency, however, the two must put their differences aside to figure out how to save the animals and the agency. Will they succeed?

The illustrations in this book are detailed and eye-catching. The descriptions in the book are fun and easy to get wrapped up in. The plot is simple, but engaging. The characters are well-developed and likable for an early chapter book. Fans of magic, adventure, mythology, and fantasy will enjoy reading this book. Although you can read it out of order, it is recommended that you read the first 2 in the series first. EL (K-3). ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.

Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer by Bethany Stanley-ADVISABLE

Stanley, Bethany, ill. by Jessie Hartland. Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer. Simon and Schuster, 2016. $17.99. INFORMATION

Daughter of Lady and Lord Byron, Ada had a love for creativity as well as numbers and science. As she grew older, her love for these never died. When her husband Charles Babbage came up with the idea for a self-computing analytical machine, Ada and Charles were excited to put their design to work. This is the story of how Ada helped Charles to convert the design and how she became the first computer programmer.

The layout is well done and easy to follow. The information is useful and intriguing. The illustrations are fairly detailed and colorful and easily complement the text. Readers interested in computer programming, Ada Lovelace, and/or biographies about women who changed the world will enjoy reading this book. Included are a timeline, sources for further information, and glossary for further common core alignment. EL (K-3). ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.