Saturday, May 3, 2008

Information Book Reviews

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow. Scholastic, Inc.: New York.

Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler’s Shadow

“I begin with the young,” said Hitler. Because he admired the passion and enthusiasm of the young, Hitler sought to secure the future of Germany through the establishment of Hitler Youth, or Hitlerjugend, in 1926. This book is centered around the lives of twelve young people whose innocence and patriotic devotion led to manipulation by the leaders of the Third Reich. The large black and white photographs are an essential element and individual photos of the youth – some in military attire – as well as the horror of concentration camps, and the aftermath of the war. A powerful epilogue concludes the book with “what became of them” paragraphs over each of the twelve featured youth. The Timeline of Hitler Youth is an added resource, and the chapter –by –chapter quote sources relate the accuracy of this work. The organization, writing, photography, and added resources mesh into a powerfully emotional book. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

Arnosky, Jim. 2004. Beachcombing. Dutton Children’s Books: New York.

Beachcombing

“What kind of shell is that? Where did this coconut come from? Can I take a closer look at a horseshoe crab?” Jim Arnosky answers these and many other questions as he introduces youngsters to many wonders of the sea in this relaxing, fun book. Designed with a vintage journal look, this beachcombing guide will take young explorers on a personal tour of a tropical beach, and introduce them to many common and not so common sea creatures that could be found. It also highlights important steps to take prior to a day on the beach – for example, applying sunscreen. The text is simplistic to the point of sometimes being unclear, but for the most part, the information will be well received by children. The lovely pastel illustrations add to the calm feel of the book. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

Murphy, Jim. 2003. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion.

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

The yellow fever outbreak centered in Philadelphia in 1793, was a disaster of epidemic proportions. Jim Murphy recreates the fear and panic that swept through the city by chronicling solid research interwoven with fascinating stories. The story is brought to life by elements such as copies of newspaper articles, black and white period art, and archival photos and prints that add authenticity to this horrific story. Ample interesting source notes are included at the end of the book along with an afterword that explains yellow fever and its causes. This is an excellent and highly readable informational book for middle to upper grades. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Fantasy Book Reviews

The Field Guide

DiTerlizzi, Tony and Holly Black. 2003. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide. Scholastic, Inc.: New York, N.Y.

This first book in The Spiderwick Chronicles, is a lively, fantastical adventure featuring the Grace children - twin brothers Simon, the creature collector, and Jacob, the troublemaker, and their older sister Mallory, the fencer. After their father leaves, and Jacob gets into trouble at school, the three siblings and their mother move to the mysterious and dilapidated house owned by their great-aunt Lucinda. At first, Jacob is blamed for the strange occurrences that plague the family, such as a mysteriously messy kitchen, and the sabotage of Mallory’s hair, and Simon’s pet tadpoles. Determined to find the real culprit, Jacob uses clues from a letter he found in a secret room to discover Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, a book about faeries. Disbelief turns to realization when the siblings come face to face with a pint-sized creature named Thimbletack, and are introduced into a world that they never could have imagined. This brief novel packs a punch. The black and white illustrations add a vintage feel to the book. The character development is brief and shallow, but the fast-paced plot will reel the reader into this fantastical world, and will leave them wanting more. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

The Seeing Stone

DiTerlizzi, Tony and Holly Black. 2003. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone. Scholastic, Inc.: New York, N.Y.

The first book, The Field Guide sets the stage for this series, so this second installment is a continuation of the story of Jacob, Simon, and Mallory Grace, and the fantastical world they discover. Jacob and Mallory set out with the seeing stone, which reveals things that would otherwise be invisible, to rescue Simon from a band of goblins. Again, the imaginative, fast-paced story will fulfill the expectations of Spiderwick fans. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

Bone: Out From Boneville

Smith, Jeff. 2005. Bone: Out From Boneville. Graphix: New York: N.Y.

After the greedy swindler Phoney Bone is run out of town, he and his cousins Fone and Smiley Bone, embark on a misadventure to find their way back to Boneville. When following a misleading map, the three are overtaken by a swarm of locusts and get separated. Fone Bone, now lost in a strange forest befriends a dragon, a lovely country girl, and her cow-racing gran’ma, who one different occasions rescue him from the clutches of rat creatures. Phoney Bone is the actual target of the rat creatures and their leader, a cryptic hooded creature, wants his soul. In the end, the three cousins are reunited in this strange place, and Phoney Bone is spared for the moment from his pursuers. This imaginative graphic novel has distinct characters and story lines, and although the pacing is a bit slow at times, the plot is engaging enough to hold readers’ attention. The text is witty and hilarious with colored illustrations that follow suit. By the conclusion, readers will be eagerly awaiting the next installment. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)


The Lightning Thief

Riordan, Rick. 2005. The Lightning Thief. Hyperion Books for Children: New York, N.Y.

Mythical characters in modern times – Twelve-year old New Yorker Perseus (Percy) Jackson seems to have big problems - he has a horrible step dad, attends a school for troubled youth, and has ADHD and dyslexia, but he’s really a demigod, the son of Poseidon and his mortal mother. Mythical monsters are trying to kill him, but with the help of his mother, and satyr sidekick Grover, Percy arrives safely at Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for demigods, where discovers that is father has been accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt. To prevent a war among the gods, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) embark on a quest to Hades to recover the missing lightning bolt. Greek gods and monsters get a new spin in this fresh, fast-paced story. Percy’s a reluctant hero, whose witty humor and inclination toward danger propel the plot forward at a break-neck pace. By giving original myths a fresh look, Riordan incorporates themes of friendship, family, perseverance, and trust in a modern setting. This cleverly written book will have wide appeal. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

Friday, April 4, 2008

Historical Fiction Book Reviews

Lily's Crossing

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1997. Lily’s Crossing. Delacorte Press: New York, N.Y.

During the summer of 1944, Lily Mollahan and her widowed father, Poppy, make their annual trip to Gram’s house in Rockaway, New York. Lily’s summer expectations of fun and freedom crumble when her father is sent to Europe with the US Army Corp of Engineers after the Allied invasion. Perpetuated by the loss of her mother and anger at her father for leaving, Lily invents imaginative stories and consistently tells lies, which serve to generate the plot. Lily meets a Hungarian boy named Albert who had to leave his ailing sister behind in France, and so the harsh realities of war are a commonality that binds their friendship. The story is beautifully drawn, and the attention to historical detail and vivid descriptions makes it believable. Although the loose ends are tied up a bit too neatly – Lily’s father finds Albert’s sister in France – the happily-ever-after homecoming will bring the tears. It’s a lovely work that would be a fine addition to any collection. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS).

Sarah, Plain and Tall

MacLachlan, Patricia. 1985. Sarah, Plain and Tall. Harper & Row: New York, N.Y.

MacLachlan has written a warm, affecting story about a widowed mid-western farmer with two children, Anna and Caleb, who advertises for a wife. Sarah leaves her home in Maine for a trial visit with this farm family, and when she arrives, it’s the ocean that she misses the most. She learns to do the work that living on a farm requires, even plowing, and she teaches the family to play again, and even sing – something they haven’t done since Mama died. Because Sarah is so homesick, the children fear that she won’t stay, and one day when she goes to town, they’re afraid she’s not ever coming back. Sarah returns, of course, decides to stay, because though she misses her home in Maine, she would miss them even more. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)



Bud, Not Buddy

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1999. Bud, Not Buddy. Scholastic, Inc.: New York, N.Y.

Set in Michigan in the 1930’s, this irresistible novel features 10 year-old orphan Bud Caldwell, on the run from one of the several foster homes he has lived in since his mother died when he was six. As Bud (not Buddy) sets out on this journey to find his father, whom he believes is jazz musician Herman E. Calloway, he lives by his “Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself”. By relying on his own ingenuity and good fortune, Bud arrives in Grand Rapids and meets an old, grumpy, unwelcoming Herman Calloway. The band, however, welcomes Bud, and their warmth and love make him finally feel at home. The grim details of the Depression, and the harsh conditions that Bud endures do not overshadow the lively humor and adventure that this book offers its readers. Although Curtis explores the difficulties faced by African Americans during this period, the overall message of hope and optimism comes through loud and clear. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS).

WeedFlower

Kadohata, Cynthia. 2006. Weedflower. Atheneum Books for Young Readers: New York, N.Y.

Twelve-year-old Sumiko lives a content life with her younger brother, Tak – Tak, and her uncle, aunt, grandfather, and cousins on their family’s flower farm in Southern California. Although her parents died years ago, she is surrounded by family and never feels like an orphan. At school, however, Sumiko longs for friendship and acceptance, because she is the only Japanese-American in her class. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, her feelings of isolation turn to fear for the safety of herself and her family. The government officials take her uncle and grandfather to a prison camp in the Midwest, and then she and the remaining members of her family are sent to a camp on a Mohave reservation in Arizona. Sumiko’s only distractions from the boredom of reservation life are a blossoming friendship with a Mohave boy named Frank, and a blossoming garden that she tends with Mr. Moto. The common plight of the Mojave people and the Japanese-Americans, both in a sense “imprisoned”, deepens the connection between Frank and Sumiko. Kadohata’s prose-style writing moves the plot at a steady pace, and her rich character development helps readers connect with their deeply felt emotions on many levels. This is authentically written historical fiction, with issues of friendship, prejudice, and perseverance that will appeal to a wide audience. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS).

Monday, March 24, 2008

Book review - Junie B. Jones is a Beauty Shop Guy

Park, Barbara, ill. Denise Brunkus. 1999. Junie B. Jones is a Beauty Shop Guy. Random House Books for Young Readers: New York, N. Y.

Junie B. Jones’s latest adventure begins in the “spinny” chair at the local beauty shop. The excitable kindergartener becomes convinced that her calling is to be a “beauty shop guy”, and she begins to practice on her dog, rabbit slippers, and eventually herself. She covers her “unfortunate sprigs” with several hats, but upon her arrival at school, eventually has to ask her teacher for help. As always, Junie B. is the focus of this delightful story, but the adult characters are close by to assist and reaffirm, but without being over-bearing. Parks has hit another home-run with the colorful, witty story that will hold the attention, and bring rollicking laughter from children and adults alike. Brunkus’s illustrations add to the fun and bring the finishing touch to a delightful short novel. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS)

Book review - The Road to Paris

Grimes, Nikki. 2006. The Road to Paris. Putnam Juvenile: New York, N.Y.

This poignant and beautiful story about family, friendship, and faith is told by Grimes from the viewpoint of eight-year-old Paris Richmond. Paris and her brother Malcolm have moved from one foster home to another, and when Paris is finally placed in a loving home, the price is separation from Malcomb. Paris’ foster brother encourages her to keep God and her pocket and she shares her new-found faith through the beauty of her music. The harsh realities of alcohol abuse, abusive relationships, foster homes, and racism are dealt with delicately, but maintain plausibility. Readers will cheer as Paris and Malcolm are reunited with their mother and husband. Grimes has weaved a story that readers will not soon forget. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS).

Book review - The Penderwicks

Birdsall, Jeanne. 2005. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. Alfred A. Knopf: New York, NY.

This enjoyable book is the summer tale of four fascinating sisters – Rosalind, 12; Skye, 11; Jane, 10; Batty, 4 – and their many adventures at the Berkshire cottage on the Arudel estate. Although the story may seem a bit old-fashioned, it definitely works with the Penderwicks! Their father is widowed and has a very gentle, easy-going personality. Although he is good-intentioned, he rarely is clued in on his daughters many misadventures. The girls spend their three weeks of vacation frolicking around the Arudel estate and avoiding its owner, the snooty Mrs. Tifton. After befriending her son Jeffrey, the gardener Cagney, and the hospitable house-maid Churchie, avoiding Mrs. Tifton becomes more difficult, and then eventually impossible. The sisters’ characters are deep, well-developed, and believable. Each has a unique personality and powerful range of emotion, and their relationship with each other is both endearing and very realistic. Most of the other characters re rather static and superficial, especial Mrs. Tifton and her gentleman friend Dexter, but they balance with the strength of the sisters’ characters. The setting is perfect for the content of this novel and the plot moves along at snippy pace without ever feeling heavy or bogging down. This is a well-written, easy to read novel with wide-appeal. Highly recommended. Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS).

Book review - Flush

Hiaasen, Carl, 2005. Flush, Alfred A. Knopf: New York, NY.

To protest the illegal dumping sewage from the floating casino the Coral Queen, Paine Underwood sinks it. It’s not the first time this often misguided, volatile husband and father has been in trouble with the law, no matter how good-intentioned he might be. Paine is out of jail, but under house arrest, so it’s up to his clever kids, Noah and Abbey to devise a plan to stop the crooked casino owner, and once and for all prove that their dad isn’t crazy. With the help of some shady individuals like Lice Peeking, Sherry the bar-tender, and a mysterious man with a gray beard and wicked scar, the two managed to flush dye down the toilets of the casino, and prove that the sewage was being dumped from the Coral Queen. Set in the Florida Everglades, this book is full of humor and quirky characters, yet presents an environmental message that strikes deeply. The plot is timely and adventurous and packs an exciting punch that will keep readers wanting more.
Mandy Hooker (Written as an assignment for TWU SLIS).