Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson - ESSENTIAL

Anderson, Laurie Halse Chains, 300 p. Simon and Schuster, 2008. $17

Content: G

MS - ESSENTIAL

Isabel and her sister Ruth were promised freedom upon the death of their mistress. Instead, they are sold again to a family in New York - Loyalists on the side of King George at the beginning of the American Revolution. Madame Lockton is harsh with her slaves and Ruth is eager for freedom, but when she supplies information to the revolutionaries they fail to rescue her and when the British arrive to occupy New York, they will not help her either. As the war heats up, Ruth's situation becomes more dire, with danger coming from within the house, from the antagonistic Madame, and from outside the house, as the war encroaches on the city.

Anderson has added a fresh perspective to the body of Revolution historical fiction, with her look at the life of a loyalist family. It would be an excellent addition to a small group read of historical fiction.

CINDY

Revealers by Amanda Marrone - NO

Marrone, Amanda Revealers, 268 p. Simon Pulse, 2008. $9.

Language: R (140+, 3 "f"); Sexual Content: PG (implied petting).

NO

Jules and her coven are busy fighting vampires and werewolves, sometimes to the detriment of their grades and social lives. The girls are all rapidly approaching their 18th birthdays, when they will be initiated into the final levels of knowledge of the main coven's inner workings. All of their questions will be answered and their doubts allayed. Jules, however, is the youngest, and not only is she rebellious, she has a boy that she wants to be with, but she is kind of freaked out by her friends' reactions to their personal initiations. The secrets are even scarier than Jules ever imagined and only a revolution will free the girls from immortal danger.

If it weren't for the long catalog of swear words, this book would be much more interesting. This is only for the most cutting-edge of schools.

CINDY

A is for Art by Stephen T. Johnson - ESSENTIAL

Johnson, Stephen T. A is for Art. Simon and Schuster, 2008. $17. PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

Johnson has created a masterpiece of art and language with his clever, artistic and intellectual look at composition, whether in sight or sound. Art teachers and Language Arts teachers need to both see this book. At any level the lessons are rich and rewarding.

CINDY

My So-Called Family by Courtney Sheinmel - OPTIONAL

Sheinmel, Courtney My So-Called Family, 194 p. Simon and Schuster, 2008. $16

Content: G

MS - OPTIONAL

Leah Hoffman-Ross Doesn't know her father because he was a donor at Lyon's Reproductive Services. Now mom is remarried and Leah has a little half-brother, but the unanswered questions about her father still eat at her. Then she discovers the Lyon Sibling Registery and suddenly Leah has four more half siblings. But mom doesn't want the old life choices interfering with the new family, so she doesn't want to hear anything about new siblings. Leah and her mother are ready to butt heads in a big way.

This is the first book that I remember reading addressing the children of reproductive donors. While not fabulous, it certainly is interesting and it addresses an issue that effects an ever-increasing portion of our population.

CINDY

The Debutante by Kathryn Williams - ADVISABLE

Williams, Kathryn The Debutante, 248 p. Hyperion, 2008. $16

Content: G

MS - ADVISABLE, HS - OPTIONAL

Connecticut and Alabama are worlds apart and Annie McRae is feeling torn in two. Moving into the sphere of control of her grandmother makes Annie uncomfortable, especially when she feels that Gram is trying to control her life. Annie has no desire to be a deb, but that is what Gram wants, and Gram controls the money that Annie needs to escape to college at the end of the year. Annie is not sure if she if white gloves are a good trade for her educational freedom.

As opposed to the really harsh debutante books I have read before, this one is cute without being cloying.

CINDY

The Many Rides of Paul Revere by James Cross Giblin - ESSENTIAL

Giblin, James Cross The Many Rides of Paul Revere, 81 p. NON-FICTION. Scholastic, 2007.

EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

While formatted like a picture book, this is so much more. The life of Paul Revere and the several rides he took in support of the Revolutionary cause. It also, of course has a in-depth look at the famous ride itself and the other men who were involved that night. There is enough information here to fascinate any American history teacher and plenty of material for a student to use if they need to do research. 

CINDY

Twelve Dates of Christmas by Catherine Hapka - OPTIONAL

Hapka, Catherine Twelve Dates of Christmas, 248 p. Simon Pulse, 2008. $7

Content: PG

MS - OPTIONAL

Lexi is concerned that she and her long-term boyfriend are going to grow apart as soon as they leave for different colleges. In order to make things easier on Cameron, she decides to help him say goodbye now, by setting him up with someone else. When her plan works, however, she suddenly has a change of heart and she doesn't know what scheme she might come up with to get him back.

While I wasn't thrilled with a story of two high school students finding true love their freshman year, watch Lexi learn the power of honesty in a relationship was worth the read.

CINDY

Hummingbird by Kimberly Greene Angle - ADVISABLE

Angle, Kimberly Greene Hummingbird, 256 p. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2008. $16.95.

Content: G.

EL, MS - ADVISABLE

March Anne's life is dictated by the rhythms of her family's watermelon farm. Since her mother's death, Grenna (grandma) has been the stalwart holding the family together. Now Grenna is in decline and March Anne, twelve, is not up to stepping into the void, whether it is cooking dinner or keeping the family garden plot. Until March Anne confronts her grief over her mother's death, she will never come to terms with Grenna's passing when it is time.

I am not usually a big fan of slow-moving books, but this one stood out for me. It is a reminiscent of Missing May by Rylant and of Chasing Redbird by Creech, but in small ways. This is a novel that should be shared with teachers in 5,6,7 as a possible classroom purchase. It themes of friendship, maturation and grief are very teachable.

CINDY

A Giant Problem by Tony DITerlizzi and Holly Black - ESSENTIAL

DiTerlizzi, Tony and Holly Black A Giant Problem, 154 p. Simon and Schuster, 2008.

Content: G

EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

Nick and Laurie have handled the nixie problem; while they have not solved it, it is at least temporarily dealt with. However, the giants are stirring and could possibly wreck the entire subdivision, killing innocents, ruining the family monetarily, unless the kids recruit some allies and solve the giant giant problem. And while the kids may think they are being clever, the bigger picture is bringing bigger problems right into the neighborhood.

Fans of the Spiderwick chronicles will not be disappointed by this next installment. In fact, their biggest frustration will be that they will want the next book as soon as they finish the last word of this one.

CINDY

Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Haddix - ADVISABLE

Haddix, Margaret Peterson Palace of Mirrors, 297 p. Simon and Schuster, 2008. $17

Content: G

MS - ADVISABLE

Cecilia is a princess raised in exile in order to protect her from evil doers. Her best friend, Harper, challenges Cecilia to embrace her heritage and the pair head off to the palace to relieve the decoy princess of her duties. Instead, the pair find themselves imprisoned by that princess in a high tower and embroiled in a much more complicated scenario then they even thought. Everyone will have to take a stand and find untapped reservoirs of courage in order to solve this puzzle and rescue the kingdom.

Fans of Gal Carson Levine and of Hale's Princess Academy will flock to this title. It's not without its flaws, but it is very girl power.

CINDY

The Landing by John Ibbitson - OPTIONAL

Ibbitson, John The Landing, 155 p. Kids Can Press, 2008.

Language: PG (10 swears).

MS - OPTIONAL

Since his father died, Ben has lived with his mother on his uncle's small farm in rural Canada. He is resigned to farm life never ending, but then an independent woman purchases an island home across the way, and as Ben helps her ready the house for guests, he sees a chance for a different life.

I liked everything about this novel except for the ending. I don't see why Ben's dreams coming true had to rest upon a terrible accident. It just seemed a bit too deus ex machina for me. This a book that adults will like more than teens.  (The actual time setting for this book is not given within the context of the novel, but at the end there is an historical note about a similar boating accident that happened in 1934). 

Rogelia's House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood - NO

Wood, Jamie Martinez Rogelia's House of Magic, 320 p. Random House, 2008.

NO

Xochitl used to be happy in her life with her sister, but now her sister is dead and Xochitl is in a new country with her family. Marina is American through and through, but something about Latino spiritualism draws her, especially because she has no other way to understand the messages she seems to be receiving from spirits. Rogelia, Xochitl's grandmother, is willing to teach the girls about their powers and the world beyond. Marina and the girls held no interest for me.

The story just doesn't seem to work right; but I know nothing about wicca, which this seems to be.


CINDY

Puppy Love by Nancy Krulik - ADVISABLE

Krulik, Nancy Puppy Love, 260 p. Simon Pulse, 2008. $7

MS - ADVISABLE

Alana's boyfriend is off to college and even though he is around occasionally, he seems to be getting more distant. Alana, meanwhile, still has plenty to occupy her time with her dog-walking business, catering to the needs of pampered pooches. Handyman Connor has caught her eye and Leo seems to be angling in on her, so Alana has almost as many boys to deal with as she does dogs!

Another fine Romantic Comedies addition - already in paperback, so the price is right too!

CINDY

Frightful's Daughter Meets The Baron Weasel by Jean Craighead George - OPTIONAL

George, Jean Craighead; Frightful's Daughter Meets The Baron Weasel;Dutton Children's Books(a division of Penguin Young Readers)

Content-G

EL - OPTIONAL

The life of wild animals is very different from our domesticated pets. In this story, which pulls characters from George's My Side of the Mountain novels, both Baron Weasel and Oksi Falcon have young to take care of and provide food for. The trouble is that young falcon is a delicacy for weasels and Baron Weasel's family is hungry. This story will delight fans of George's previous work, however a casual reader will be put off by the slow story line and dense text.


Allison Madsen~Children's & Teen Librarian-SJO Public Library

How the Ladies Stopped the Wind by Bruce McMillian - ADVISABLE

McMillian, Bruce; How the Ladies Stopped the Wind. PICTURE BOOK. Houghton Mifflin Co.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

In this silly story about wind, ladies, and chickens, we find out how to stop wind and sheep. The ladies want to plant trees to stop the wind, but all the sheep want to do is eat the trees. The chickens so a wonderful job of provide fertilizer. The illustrations are whimsical. While children may not pick this title off the shelf themselves, if read aloud to them, they will want to share the story with others.

Allison Madsen~Children's/Teen Librarian-SJO Public Library

Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby - ADVISABLE

Rorby, Ginny Hurt Go Happy, 267 p. TOR, 2006. $5.99. 

MS, HS - ADVISABLE

Joey has been deaf since she was six, so being on the outside is nothing new to her. Then she meets Dr. Mansell and his sign-language-using chimp. Even though her mother has forbidden her to sign, Joey is drawn to the means of expression and to Sukari the chimp. When Dr. Mansell dies, Joey is in agony over what may happen to Sukari. She will have to be bold and determined in order to secure a safe future for herself and for Suakri. 

Rorby manages to pack several different threads into her novel without over dramatizing or skimming over any of them. The drama between Joey and her mother about whether she should be a lip-reader or a signer and the options available for chimps who have been abandoned are just two of the themes. 

CINDY

Accidentally Fabulous by Lisa Papademetriou - ADVISABLE

Papademetriou, Lisa Accidently Fabulous, 187 p. Scholastic, 2008. $5 

EL, MS - ADVISABLE.

Amy has always had an easy time getting to know people. All of her skills are put to the test, however, when she enters new, ultra-rich, ultra-fancy Arlington Academy. She thinks she has a friend in Jenelle, but Jenelle is a member of the League, a group of prima donnas, ruled by mean girl extraordinaire Fiona. And if Amy doesn't do things Fiona's way, Amy may have no social life to talk about. 

While I had a hard time stomaching (or believing) the description of the Academy, the rest of the book was just fine. The Candy Apple series, written by various authors, makes their point without resorting to profanity, drugs, violence or sex. The subjects are the kinds of things tween girls think about all the time. 

CINDY

Floods by Mary Winget - ADVISABLE

Winget, Mary Floods, 32 p. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 2008. 

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

Floods is a quick little tutorial for younger readers on the causes, the kinds and what to do in case of a flood. While it isn't a true picture book, each page has a colored picture to supplement the accompanying text. Early readers will grasp the information easily. It also includes books and websites for further learning. 

CINDY

Eli Manning by Matt Doeden - ADVSIABLE

Doeden, Matt Eli Manning, 106 p. NON-FICTION. Twenty-First Century (Lerner), 2008. 

 MS - ADVISABLE

Eli Manning has broken out of the shadow of his famous father and older brother and become a football powerhouse in his own right. 

 Doedon's biography is well researched and is a good balance between personal information and intriguing football action. My only complaint is that all of the pictures are clumped together in the middle and none of them are in color. But don't let this detract from your purchasing decision; it does help keep the purchase price down (schools and libraries: $21.95). It is very up to date and will be appreciated by Manning fans.

CINDY

Sweat and Blood by Gloria Skurzynski - ADVISABLE

Skurzynski, Gloria Sweat and Blood: A History of U.S. Labor Unions, 107 p. Twenty-First Century (Lerner), 2008.

MS, HS - ADVISABLE

Don't let the page count fool you; this is a deep, detailed look at the history of labor unions in the US. There is enough information here for a student who needs the book to write or a report, yet it is fluid enough for a student who may just be looking for something to read. If your school teaches Lyddie by Patterson, Out of the Dust by Hesse, or any other novel about the Great Depression or unions, this would be a necessary supplement.

CINDY