Grades 5 and Up Reviews: January, 2006
-- School Library Journal, 1/1/2006
Fiction
ABRAHAM, Susan Gonzales & Denise Gonzales Abraham. Surprising Cecilia. 230p. photos. CIP. Cinco Puntos. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-938317-96-2. LC 2005013981.
Gr 6-10-This sequel to Cecilia's Year (Cinco Puntos, 2004) tells of the teen's first year in the local high school in the Rio Grande Valley in the 1930s. Devastated when she learns that her crush is attending school in El Paso, Cecilia longs to live in a modern city. She continues to pine for Johnny throughout the novel, and readers will be relieved when the two are finally reunited in the last chapters when Cecilia accompanies her aunt on a brief visit to El Paso. An excellent student, she works hard at home to help her family, but receives no encouragement to continue her education from her old-fashioned mother. The book relies on the memories of the authors about their mother, Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, and the sentimental retelling of family stories. Captioned black-and-white photographs are included at the beginning of each chapter. A brief endnote brings readers up-to-date on the life of the real Cecilia.-Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX
ALTON, Steve. The Firehills. 192p. CIP. Carolrhoda. 2005. PLB $14.95. ISBN 1-57505-798-0. LC 2005007507.
Gr 5-8-This sequel to The Malifex (Carolrhoda, 2002) continues the adventures of Charly, a Wicca teen; her mother, Megan; her friend Sam; and a wizard/bard named Amergin who, having been brought out of a deep sleep, spends his time watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on TV and marveling at modern technology. A brief prologue sets the stage for those who haven't read the first book. Megan and Charly are packing to go to a Green Man festival. Sam joins them there and almost immediately they are threatened by evil faeries, or, in Gaelic, the Sidhe. When Amergin is abducted, Charly and Sam have to rescue him from the Hollow Hills. During their quest, they encounter the evil Malifex once again, and Sam is led to an unexpected destiny. The Sidhe, like all reliable fantasy villains, are bent on world domination and plan to use the Jack-in-the-Green, the green man built at the festival, to achieve their goal. The fantasy elements here were put to much better use by Susan Cooper in Greenwitch (1985) and The Grey King (1975, both S & S). Ultimately, The Firehills is a somewhat bizarre combination of traditional fantasy with Wiccan belief and ritual. Still, kids will probably respond to the action. Purchase where the first book is popular.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
BACCALARIO, Pierdomenico. The Door to Time. tr. from Italian by Leah Janeczko. illus. by Iacopo Bruno. 226p. (Ulysses Moore Series, Bk. #1). CIP. Scholastic. Jan. 2006. Tr $12.99. ISBN 0-439-77438-1. LC 2005012699.
Gr 4-6-The 11-year-old Covenant twins approach their family's move to the ancient Argo Manor on the British coast differently. Julia sees their new home as remote, and without the comforts of a nearby mall. Jason, on the other hand, feels an immediate sense of danger and mystery lurking behind the manor's stony walls. After befriending local kid Rick Banner, the three stumble on a mystery. The building's previous occupant, eccentric Ulysses Moore, left behind clues and codes to unlock a hidden ancient wooden door. Using their unique talents, the children must discover the secrets hidden deep beneath the house and find the truth behind the disappearance of the enigmatic Moore. The book ends with an unfair cliffhanger that brings the story to a halt just as the supernatural elements of the tale come into play. Filled with black-and-white photographs and mysterious illustrations drawn on top of documents and letters, this Italian import is bound to appeal to those kids who like tangible clues mixed into their fantasy novels. Children desperate for stories similar to Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's "The Spiderwick Chronicles" (S & S) will find much to love in this overly familiar but likable series.-Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library
BATSON, Wayne Thomas. The Door Within. 311p. map. Thomas Nelson. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 1-4003-0659-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-9-When his family moves to Colorado to care for his ailing grandfather, Aidan thinks his life is ruined until he discovers three ancient scrolls in the man's basement. They tell of a world where the knights of Alleble fight to keep the warriors of Paragory from gaining dominion over the Realm. When Aidan reads the last line of the scrolls, "Believe and enter," he is swept into this strange land. His role there is to become the 12th knight of the King's Elder Guard. Their mission is to travel to the kingdom of Mithegard and convince its sovereign not to sign a treaty with Paragory. Aidan discovers that the people in the Realm, called Glimpses, have doubles that exist in his world. A map of the Realm is provided, as is a character guide with pronunciation key. The concept in this first of a projected trilogy is intriguing and the plot moves along at a steady pace. Some characters lack development, but several of them are engaging, especially the swordmaiden Gwenne and an underground serpentine creature named Falon. Give this title to readers who have finished the current book in D. J. MacHale's "Pendragon" series (S & S) but who might not be ready for J. R. R. Tolkien or David Eddings's "Belgariad" books (Ballantine).-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA
BAUER, Christina. The Pirate Queen: A Timewalker Journey. 269p. Windstorm Creative/Blue Works. 2005. Tr $14.99. ISBN 1-59092-224-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-8-This fast-paced fantasy relates the adventures of 13-year-old Jessica Ross, who has been traveling around the world with her father and younger brother since her mother's death. In Ireland, she discovers that her nightmares of a haunting figure asking for help to find lost treasure are actually mysterious appearances by the Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley. Jess's gift of timewalking (moving back in time at the will of another) is revealed and she becomes enmeshed in a Timewalker Quest for the Pirate Queen. Bauer has created a contemporary world haunted by its past, with nearly nonstop action and a fairly well-developed mythology. Unfortunately, she has tackled too much for such a brief volume. The locales are often difficult to visualize and try too hard to be exotic, and the Timewalker history is too complex to be synopsized. The author relies too heavily on action and dialogue to carry the story, and not enough on character development.-Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN
BEEDE, John R. Climb On!: Dynamic Strategies for Teen Success. 126p. appendix. bibliog. Sierra Nevada. 2005. pap. $12.95. ISBN 0-9765697-0-1. LC 2005904531.
Gr 9 Up-Anna, a 16-year-old troubled by her broken family, has just moved to Las Vegas. She meets Jeremy, who turns her on to rock climbing, which is his way to offer her new ways of thinking about making positive changes. Every Saturday, teens and adults from different backgrounds meet at Red Rock Canyon to "Climb On," a euphemism for reaching their goals. While climbing, Anna encounters stumbling blocks, which can be related to her personal life. In an effort to keep her from quitting, the members encourage her to take baby steps to reach her goal of having a better relationship with her family and overcoming obstacles in school. Jeremy turns out to be her biggest motivation. She later finds out that he is HIV-positive due to mistakes in his past. He shows her that the choices she makes will shape her life, for better or worse. Teens will relate to the situations, such as Anna's unfortunate home life and the loneliness she feels, and see that there are steps to be taken to improve their future, no matter how big or small their goals. For climbing, the skills needed are strength, endurance, balance, and mental persistence. In other goals, the skills may differ, but the same principles can be applied. Teens will find the book both interesting and easy to read. Helpful hints are highlighted in the middle and end of different chapters. Characters are easy to relate to and the situations are believable enough for teens to become motivated.-Nicole Marcuccilli Mills, Glenview Public Library, IL
BOLES, Philana Marie. Little Divas. 164p. CIP. HarperCollins/Amistad. Jan. 2006. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-073299-7; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-073300-4. LC 2005005860.
Gr 5-7-Life is changing at a rapid pace for Cassidy Carter. Her parents have recently divorced, her mother is teaching in Ghana for a year, and the 12-year-old is living with her musician father. Even her relationship with her cousin and best friend, Rikki, isn't the same. And, Cassidy's new next-door neighbor makes the familiar twosome into a sometimes-awkward threesome. At least, Cassidy thinks, she will be going to King Junior High with everyone she knew in elementary school. Then she hears that she might be attending exclusive Clara Ellis Academy instead. The three girls are invited to an end-of-summer pool party that they don't tell their parents about and Cassidy discovers that the boys she knew (and disliked) in sixth grade have somehow changed over the summer, too. Boles portrays this variable age well, and readers will feel for Cassidy's trials. The night before school starts the girls are eating Godiva (go-diva) chocolate and decide that a diva who is clever, cool, stylish, not stuck-up, and respects herself is something to emulate. This book will be enjoyed by fans of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's "Alice" series (S & S) and Lois Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik (Dell, 1984).-Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA
BONDOUX, Anne-Laure. The Second Life of Linus Hoppe. tr. from French by Catherine Temerson. 208p. CIP. Delacorte. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-73230-9; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-385-90256-5. LC 2004028811.
Gr 5-9-Hard manual labor in a miserable Subterranean Training Zone transit home was not the life 14-year-old Linus expected when he switched exam scores to end up in Realm Two in The Destiny of Linus Hoppe (Delacorte, 2005). This story picks up six months after he and Yosh traded places in a Paris of the near future where society is strictly divided into Realms: One is for the elite, Two for the working class, and Three and Four for the social deviants. Linus, considered a failure of the system, faces a brutal future, while Yosh has taken Linus's comfortable place in the Protected Zone. Linus breaks out of the transit home with the assistance of the director's daughter and works with "the organization" to expose the flaws in the classification of society. Obviously translated, the language is stilted and the dialogue is unnatural. The setting, relationships, and most characters were introduced in the first book and are only briefly described here, leaving gaps and questions for readers unfamiliar with the previous title. This is a necessary and neat, if overly hasty and saccharine, conclusion for those who want to know Linus's destiny.-Kelly Vikstrom, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD
BROWN, Devin. Not Exactly Normal. 235p. CIP. Eerdmans. 2005. Tr $15. ISBN 0-8028-5283-1. LC 2004020443.
Gr 5-8-Todd Farrel attends a small Episcopal school in New England. Each year, the sixth graders must write a social-studies term paper. After hearing about a classmate's mystical experiences, Todd decides to explore the topic for his project. Following extensive research at the library, he discovers that historical figures, including Joan of Arc and St. Francis, were driven to greatness by mystical revelations. In order to verify his report, he is convinced that he must experience his own epiphany. This is achieved during a near-death experience when he saves his best friend from drowning. Todd learns to accept and appreciate friends who are like him and those who are different. The final chapters are more compelling and exciting than the first part of the book, especially the near drowning in an icy pond, but readers must suspend disbelief to buy into the almost perfect outcome of the incident. Overall, this is a mildly interesting but didactic story.-Kathryn Kosiorek, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Brooklyn, OH
BUCKLEY, Michael. The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives. Bk. #1. illus. by Peter Ferguson. 284p. CIP. Abrams/Amulet. 2005. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-8109-5925-9. LC 2005011784.
Gr 4-6-Buckley has created a world in which humans and fairy-tale creatures live side-by-side in rural New York in an uneasy alliance. Brought here by Wilhelm Grimm in an attempt to save them, the Everafters are now kept in check by the man's descendants. Enter Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, two sisters seemingly abandoned by their parents, who have been brought to live with a grandmother whom they thought was dead. Heartbroken and wary, the girls are immediately swept up in a mystery that includes giants, pixies, fairies, and witches. Readers well grounded in their fairy tales will get the most pleasure from recognizing the characters-Prince Charming, Jack-the-Giant-Killer, the Three Pigs, the Magic Mirror, and more-but the fast pace, sly humor, and cleverly inserted vocabulary lessons will entertain even those who are meeting the characters for the first time. Softly rounded, black-and-white illustrations and old-fashioned silhouettes at the chapter headings complete the first-rate design of this madcap adventure.-Sharon Grover, Arlington County Department of Libraries, VA
BUCKLEY, Michael. The Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspects. illus. by Peter Ferguson. 290p. Abrams/Amulet. 2005. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-8109-5926-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6-In this second book in the series, Sabrina and Daphne continue their family's fairy-tale detective work in the Hudson River town of Ferryport Landing. The village has more than its share of "Everafters," a group of fairy-tale characters who escaped persecution in Europe by fleeing to America over 200 years ago. Here, the sisters start attending the local elementary school where the principal just happens to be the Pied Piper of Hamelin and Snow White is a most beloved teacher. Almost instantly, one of their teachers is found dead in his classroom, tied to the ceiling in a spider web. While investigating his murder, the girls uncover a devious plot and get closer to discovering the whereabouts of their missing parents. Free-spirited Daphne is a perfect foil for her older, grumpier sister, Sabrina, whose understandable anger over the loss of her parents is the main theme of this novel. There are as many references to frightening aspects of today's world as there are nods to folklore and sometimes both appear in the same sentence. While this mixing of sensibilities proves that fairy tales can be as dark as reality, it also occasionally trivializes truly upsetting modern problems such as nuclear weapons and child labor. The story is fast paced and the main characters are sympathetic and appealing. The abrupt ending will leave readers hungry for the next book in the series.-Kathleen Meulen, Blakely Elementary School, Bainbridge Island, WA
BURKHARD, Daryl. Riddle in the Mountain. illus. by Frank Riccio. 240p. CIP. Nomad/Dogtooth. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-9668289-5-X. LC 2005924733.
Gr 4-8-Kathy's family has just moved to Boulder, CO, and within a week she and her older brother, David, are off hunting ghosts with David's new friend Frank. Instead of ghosts, they encounter a goblinesque figure that leaves them with a riddle to solve. When they depart the cave, they find themselves in the Boulder of 1879-a rough, Old West town of miners. To return home, they must solve the riddle, which refers to a key they must find. Kathy is forced to trade her comfortable jeans for one of the awkward dresses girls wore then, and all three are given piles of chores to do in exchange for food and lodging. They meet, and then lose track of, a psychically gifted Cornish miner who apparently possesses the key they seek. This is a respectable historically based fantasy that promises sequels. The three characters are individuals, and the story moves quickly, but its strongest feature by far is its well-researched look at 19th-century Colorado.-Walter Minkel, New York Public Library
BYNG, Georgia. Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure. 392p. HarperCollins. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-06-075032-4; PLB $17.89. ISBN 0-06-075033-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6-If reading a Molly Moon title means navigating a variety of twists, turns, and sudden surprising revelations, then this addition to the series is no exception. Having perfected her hypnotic technique and defeated her villainous uncle in Molly Moon Stops the World (HarperCollins, 2004), the protagonist is caught completely unaware when a stranger kidnaps her beloved pug, Petula. It isn't long before Molly follows the pet backwards in time to 1870 India. There, she meets the repulsive Maharaja of Waqt, a spoonerism-loving cad who collects time-traveling crystals. Seeing Molly as an obstacle to his plans, he sets about kidnapping her at ages ten, six, and three, and as a baby. Now she must rescue her former selves and find a way to defeat Waqt, all while navigating some tricky time travel and taking care not to change anything in the past that would significantly alter the future. Byng plays fast and loose with her time-travel rules, often contradicting herself and making up explanations for problems encountered along the way. The breakneck speed of the novel, which reads like an elaborate chase sequence, will undoubtedly please fans and leave them howling for the next installment. Though sloppy, the plot is undeniably engaging and even attempts to explain the rudimentary differences between Hinduism and Islam. Just don't expect any condemnations of colonialism. This is an ambitious addition to the genre and a first purchase for any library in which the previous titles are popular.-Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library
CABOT, Meg. Avalon High. 288p. HarperCollins. Jan. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-06-075586-5; PLB $17.89. ISBN 0-06-075587-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up-Elaine's parents are on sabbatical and she has to spend her junior year in Annapolis, MD, far from her Minnesota home. While running in the park, she meets Will, and she finds her life intertwined with a familiar story. Too many coincidences, like being named after the Lady of Shalott, and Will's complicated family life make her feel as though she is living in modern-day Camelot. Even her teacher believes that King Arthur will be reincarnated. The author weaves together fantasy, romance, and history. Although the story lacks the humor of Cabot's previous novels, it is well done with good characters and a good dose of style. It will fly off the shelves.-Amy Patrick, formerly at New York Public Library
CHALIFOUR, Francis. After. 133p. CIP. Tundra. 2005. pap. $7.95. ISBN 0-88776-705-2. LC C2004-904141-X.
Gr 8 Up-Francis is called home from a class trip to find his family forever changed: his father hung himself in the attic of their Montreal home. The 15-year-old is now faced with a life different from any he could imagine. His friendships and the way he views situations shift, and the roles he assumes in taking care of his younger brother and in dealing with his mother all reflect the fact that he is forced to become an adult before his time. Yet the teen is a child who misses his father deeply, who does not understand why the man would commit such an act, and who questions what he could have done to prevent the tragedy. The resounding theme in this autobiographical novel is that darkness eventually gives way to light. Francis goes through the phases of grieving; the chapters of the book reflect his journey. Just as he thinks that everything is on track, the grief that he feels overwhelms him and pulls him back down into depression. Ultimately, however, he finds a balance. Although the book is well written, interspersing elements of the culture of Montreal, it is a difficult read, bleak and somber. On the dedication page, Chalifour says, "If you've lost someone close, this book is for you. You know what I'm talking about." Indeed, this title will appeal to a specific audience.-Emily Garrett, Naaman Forest High School, Garland, TX
CHERIPKO, Jan. Sun Moon Stars Rain. 160p. Front St. Jan. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 1-932425-53-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up-Danny Murtaugh narrates the events that take place after he drops out of college. Barely 18 and a music student overwhelmed by a failed romance, he has come home to the small community where his widowed mother is dating the town cop and the only diner has a new and attractive waitress. He gets permission from the local recluse to take photographs of the woods and river on the old man's property-an area where Danny's father died and that has long been threatened with seizure in a case of eminent domain. Most of the characters are odd, but none is unbelievable: alcoholism has wracked the lives of a few, including the waitress (who also did drugs), while bad luck and/or bad outlooks have wounded several others, including Danny. The chapters are brief, and each one pitches the protagonist and readers toward a calamity that fits its buildup, and that finds Danny better able to cope than he would have been weeks earlier. While there are no scenes of overt sexuality, readers need to approach this book with a degree of maturity simply because Danny gives so little of himself at first and uncovers so much about others that requires respect and care.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
COLLINS, Yvonne & Sandy Rideout. Now Starring Vivien Leigh Reid: Diva in Training. 242p. Griffin. Jan. 2006. pap. $9.95. ISBN 0-312-33839-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up-Leigh Reid, who first appeared in Introducing Vivien Leigh Reid (St. Martin's, 2005), spent the summer she was 15 with Annika Anderson, her estranged, actress mother who left the family when Leigh was just a toddler. Her father insisted that she have "bonding" time with the B-movie diva on a movie set in Ireland. Leigh landed a supporting role in the film and despite seeing her mother's extreme vanity up close, she decided to spend the next summer with her in L.A. to attend a prestigious acting class. In this book, Leigh does just that, and is recommended for a soap-opera audition that she nails due to her varied accents and versatility. She plays "Willow," a British diva whose "attitude" crosses the continent and translates into Leigh's real-life existence. As a result, her relationships with friends and colleagues suffer. Surprisingly, it is Annika who tells her daughter that she can't get ahead without working hard, taking direction, and keeping her ego in check. By book's end, Leigh is ready for a turn out of the spotlight, but chances are that she and Annika will have other opportunities for drama, both on and off the screen. This volume is pop-culture fun with a moral; the mother-daughter relationship is rather two-dimensional, but extreme diva behavior in both characters makes for a juicy read.-Tracy Karbel, Glenside Public Library District, Glendale Heights, IL
DEARY, Terry. The Fire Thief. 253p. glossary. notes. Kingfisher. 2005. Tr $9.95. ISBN 0-7534-5818-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6-In highly irreverent fashion, Deary retells the myth of Prometheus as a time-travel adventure. After enduring 200 years of punishment for stealing fire from the gods, Prometheus has managed to kill the Avenging Fury. Before he can escape, however, Zeus issues a challenge: find one true hero. Prometheus travels into the future, with the resurrected Fury in pursuit, and arrives in a murky factory town in 1858. He falls in with a pair of itinerant thieves: a young orphan and his "Uncle" Edward. They gain admittance to wealthy homes, and while Uncle Edward stages a theatrical performance in the downstairs parlor, Jim steals valuables upstairs. The story switches back and forth from ancient Greece to 1858 until the two narratives come together as related by young Jim, who aspires to become a writer. He interrupts the story with footnoted asides that are often funny, but that slow the pace and add to an already complicated plot. Deary crams his tale with wordplay, zany characters, and allusions: Eden City, Dickens (including quotes from A Tale of Two Cities), a pathetic match girl hovering at death's door, and a mayor named Wallace Tweed, among others. The characters fail to develop beyond stereotypes, and the plot twists unroll all too predictably.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
DORFMAN, Ariel & Joaquin Dorfman. Burning City. 259p. CIP. Random. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-375-83203-3; PLB $17.95. ISBN 0-375-93203-8. LC 2004009282.
Gr 9 Up-Heller is a philosophical 16-year-old bike messenger, and it's a good thing, because he is always tapped to deliver bad news. His company, Soft Tidings, believes in a personal touch, and their messengers communicate verbally. Though Heller is their youngest employee, he's best at providing comfort and peace along with painful tidings. He is less successful in his personal life; an unrequited crush on Silvia leads him to seek advice from a rich cast of characters. Salim Adasi, one of the teen's customers, provides some guidance and insight, though the man's status as an illegal immigrant makes him a target of Bruno the Bruiser, an over-the-top New York City cop. When Heller receives a sad message of his own, his philosophy and attitude are put to the test. The authors' descriptions of summer in Manhattan are flawless; the city seethes as Heller surges through its streets like an electron, connecting people and lives in complicated ways. His bicycle athletics make for flashy, exciting reading. With just a few lines of description or a quick dialogue, the authors provide the secondary characters with background and texture. Heller's own situation at home with his grandparents, by contrast, is a bit underdeveloped. His shyness with Silvia, along with the messages he delivers, contributes a hint of plot to this dreamy, episodic novel. It's the characters, their conversations, and histories that will draw in older, thoughtful teens.-Sarah Couri, New York Public Library
DRAPER, Sharon M. Copper Sun. 302p. further reading. Web sites. CIP. S & S/Atheneum. Jan. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-689-82181-6. LC 2005005540.
Gr 8 Up-This action-packed, multifaceted, character-rich story describes the shocking realities of the slave trade and plantation life while portraying the perseverance, resourcefulness, and triumph of the human spirit. Amari is a 15-year-old Ashanti girl who is happily anticipating her marriage to Besa. Then, slavers arrive in her village, slaughter her family, and shatter her world. Shackled, frightened, and despondent, she is led to the Cape Coast where she is branded and forced onto a "boat of death" for the infamous Middle Passage to the Carolinas. There, Percival Derby buys her as a gift for his son's 16th birthday. Trust and friendship develop between Amari and Polly, a white indentured servant, and when their mistress gives birth to a black baby, the teens try to cover up Mrs. Derby's transgression. However, Mr. Derby's brutal fury spurs them to escape toward the rumored freedom of Fort Mose, a Spanish colony in Florida. Although the narrative focuses alternately on Amari and Polly, the story is primarily Amari's, and her pain, hope, and determination are acute. Cruel white stereotypes abound except for the plantation's mistress, whose love is colorblind; the doctor who provides the ruse for the girls' escape; and the Irish woman who gives the fugitives a horse and wagon. As readers embrace Amari and Polly, they will better understand the impact of human exploitation and suffering throughout history. In addition, they will gain a deeper knowledge of slavery, indentured servitude, and 18th-century sanctuaries for runaway slaves.-Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC
DURKEE, Sarah. The Fruit Bowl Project. 153p. CIP. Delacorte. Jan. 2006. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-73289-9; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-385-90310-3. LC 2005003908.
Gr 5-8-A new teacher who is an admitted "dork" reveals to her eighth-grade Writers' Workshop students that she is related to rock superstar Nick Thompson. Not much impresses these savvy New York City kids, but they are suitably wowed. Nick, a songwriter, is invited to teach the class. He contends that a song is like a bowl of fruit, and that he needs to figure out how to paint it, using words as colors. There are infinite ways to create the canvas, using style, voice, genre, and much more. He challenges the students to each write a piece based on only seven simple elements: school, sixth grade, a reading test, a dropped pencil, an angry girl, lunch, and milk out the nose. The balance of the novel consists of the students' 50 projects, ranging from rap to haiku, monologue, fairy tales, a screenplay, etc. Durkee captures the students' jargon and behavior but the plot and its many characters are undifferentiated and undeveloped. Teachers and aspiring writers will enjoy the many clever ways a story can be told, while readers more interested in character development or plot are likely to give up after a few selections.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
EVANGELISTA, Beth. Gifted. 180p. CIP. Walker. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-8027-8994-3. LC 2004061166.
Gr 4-7-George Clark would be the first to tell you that he is gifted. He is about the smartest eighth grader in his school and has science-fair ribbons to prove it. For someone so smart, though, his social skills leave much to be desired. Most of the time he is protected from bullies he annoys with his mouthiness since his father is the school principal. Now, however, he is going on a class trip without his dad. The journey to the camp is relatively uneventful; even the football team isn't picking on him for a change. George thinks that just maybe the guys are coming around. They talk him into the game of smearing mustard all over the teacher chaperone; however, George gets set up big time and has to do chores for punishment. To retaliate, he locks the "Bruise Brothers" in an unused bunker-then he's glad to be around the teachers. The story takes a hard-to-believe turn when the campers must evacuate due to a hurricane warning, the abruptness of which, in light of recent events, stretches the imagination a bit. No one knew about the storm before the trip? In the chaos of leaving, George is attacked and left behind. He finds shelter and, in the storm, finds one of his tormentors severely injured. George helps him and, in the process, has a change in attitude. No longer lonely and dorky, he tutors the football team and runs track. Overall, the story is a light read with an obvious moral.-Diana Pierce, Running Brushy Middle School, Cedar Park, TX
FARLAND, David. Of Mice and Magic. illus. by Howard Lyon. 276p. (Ravenspell Series, Bk. #1). Covenant Communications. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 1-57734-918-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8-When Ben, 10, buys a pet mouse, he doesn't realize that Amber is the most magical creature to be born into the animal kingdom in hundreds of years. He finds this out when his parents force him to feed her to the lizard he is pet-sitting. To save herself, Amber uses her "wish" power to turn Ben into a mouse. Their adventures begin as they try to free all the mice and animals from the pet store and then try to keep them safe from Nightwing, the evil bat sorcerer. This book stresses friendship, teamwork, and courage and features many lovable creatures, including a brave vole, a wise toad, and a psychic shrew. Everyone will root for Amber and Ben as they learn that their power together is much stronger than when apart. At times, the humor is too sophisticated, and the pop-culture references too intrusive, but kids will keep turning the pages, cheering their heroes on. At the end of this first book in the series, Ben is still a mouse. Hopefully, in subsequent stories, he will find his way back to his parents.-Carly B. Wiskoff, Great Neck Library, NY
FREDERICKS, Mariah. Crunch Time. 317p. CIP. S & S/Atheneum/A Richard Jackson Bk. Jan. 2006. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-689-86938-X. LC 2004020008.
Gr 9 Up-After skipping out of an SAT prep class, juniors Leo, Daisy, Max, and Jane agree to meet regularly at Jane's apartment for their own study group. They all work hard, seem to improve their test-taking skills, and forge friendships in the process. Soon, Max reveals to best friend Daisy that he wants more than friendship from her. Daisy, however, falls hard for Leo, who appears to fall back but doesn't know how to be devoted in a relationship, especially when he is drinking. Jane is the rich, beautiful wallflower whom Max could ask out if the idea occurred to him. After the SAT, a senior high scorer confesses that she was paid to take the exam for someone else. The whole school is in an uproar as the senior refuses to disclose the cheater's name. When two members of the study group are among the suspects, things begin to unravel. The extreme preoccupation with the SAT and getting into good colleges becomes somewhat weighty during the course of the novel and some of the plot elements test believability. However, because it is, for the most part, insightfully told from the various viewpoints of the four main characters in short, quick-moving segments with true-to-life dialogue, the story is redeemed. Readers will wonder what will happen to the friends as they embark on senior year at the conclusion.-Diane P. Tuccillo, City of Mesa Library, AZ
FUQUA, Jonathon Scott. King of the Pygmies. 246p. Candlewick. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-7636-1418-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 7 Up-Penrod is an introspective 15-year-old with concerned parents, a mildly retarded older brother, a developing romance, and an alcoholic bum of an uncle. All in all, his life is rather normal-until he starts to hear the thoughts and to experience the feelings of other people. Penn's mother and father think he is showing signs of schizophrenia and take him to see a therapist, but his uncle's opinion is that the teen is a Pygmy, like himself-someone who can soar to great heights if only he can harness his power. Penn's relationship with his brother is a highlight of the novel for its tenderness; the love story does not ring true. Terry Trueman's Inside Out (HarperCollins, 2003) is a more gripping look at mental illness in teens. Not for reluctant readers, Pygmies is a gentle story with a satisfying ending; the book will appeal to those who enjoy a quiet read.-Morgan Johnson-Doyle, Sierra High School, Colorado Springs, CO
GILMORE, Rachna. The Sower of Tales. 423p. CIP. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 1-55041-945-5. LC C2005-903642-7.
Gr 5-7-The power of story to heal and give courage takes center stage in this fantasy. Calantha has aspirations to be a Gatherer of story pods that grow in the fields, and, when picked, release their stories to be experienced by the community. But something has gone wrong with the Essences, the pods stop growing, and soldiers from the neighboring kingdom are threatening the country. When Calantha goes in search of the Sower of the pod seeds, she becomes embroiled in dangerous political intrigue. It is ultimately the power of story itself that enables her to accomplish her mission of saving the seeds from corruption, and to understand that the community can survive without the pods, learning instead to tell the stories they have previously experienced. While the characters are clearly drawn, the overly dramatic writing impedes the narrative flow and detracts from its credibility. The premise is an appealing one, but the idea that an entire country's will to freedom is dependent on stories that are predominantly "lively tales" around folk themes is not entirely convincing. In addition, the relationship between the Sower and the plainsfolk, as well as the mechanism of sowing the tales, is not believable within the bounds of the fantasy. While the moral is laudable, the book takes readers on a very long road to get to that point. Some may wonder if it is worth the trip.-Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City
GOLD, Maya. Harriet the Spy, Double Agent. 151p. CIP. Delacorte. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-32787-0; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-385-90294-8. LC 2004021336.
Gr 5-8-Harriet's new neighbor, Annie Smith, has moved to New York City to live with her aunt and uncle. When Harriet befriends her, she discovers that there is more to the girl than meets the eye, including her persona as new classmate "Cassandra D'Amore." She also learns that Annie is hiding a lot of secrets. By making her a partner in her spy escapades, Harriet hopes to learn more about this unique person. All she knows is that Annie comes from Boston, is well read, and that she is in love with an older man. Frustrated, Harriet becomes a "double agent" and spies on her own colleague. She discovers that Annie has been lying about her life, which leads to an explosive climax. The characters lack spark and personality, and the plot is slow and repetitive. Except for the protagonist's familiar name, there's not much to interest readers here.-Amanda Conover Le, St. Johns County Public Library System, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
GRAHAM, Rosemary. Thou Shalt Not Dump the Skater Dude: And Other Commandments I Have Broken. 281p. CIP. Viking. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-670-06017-8. LC 2005003928.
Gr 8-10-In My Not-So-Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel (Viking, 2003), three girls meet during a retreat at a Cape Cod inn. While that novel focuses on Tracy, this new offering tells Kelsey's story. Following her parents' divorce, she moves from Boston to California with her mother and younger brother. After spending eighth grade as an outcast at a small private school, she convinces her parents to let her attend public high school. Tall, blond, and pretty, Kelsey hits the social jackpot when C.J. Logan, a well-known skateboarder, picks her for his girlfriend. At first, being with C.J. is fun, but Kelsey eventually realizes that the relationship is all about him and his ego. When she dumps him at the end of the school year, he retaliates by saying nasty things about her on his blog. To live down her reputation and find her real self, Kelsey joins the superachievers on the school newspaper in the fall. When she realizes that even her brother can read the venom that C.J. is spewing on the Internet, she confronts him and receives an apology and his promise to delete his lies about her. Like Hippie Hotel, this is a story of girl power as Kelsey stands up for herself and takes charge of her life. While the strong feminist message is great, there is not much new here; issues and characters are fairly stereotypical. Still, Kelsey's breezy, edgy, often-wry voice captures high school life and will appeal to fans of teen romances.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
HAPKA, Cathy. Pardon My French. 209p. (S.A.S.S. Series). Penguin/Speak. 2005. pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-14-240459-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up-After spending most of her childhood moving from town to town, Nicole is glad to be settled in one place to finish high school. When she starts daydreaming about marrying her boyfriend after graduation, her parents decide that she needs to broaden her horizons. They sign her up for the "Students Across the Seven Seas" program, and soon she is unhappily headed for Paris where she will attend school and live with an American family. Despite her negative attitude, she makes friends with the other exchange students and her host family's French nanny. As a new culture and new experiences make Nicole more mature and confident, she begins to realize that her decisions about her boyfriend and to belong to the in-crowd are limiting her potential. Nicole starts out as shallow and slightly unlikable, but does show some real growth as the story progresses. This addition to the series is a respectable entry in the teen chick-lit genre, but it moves a bit slowly.-Stephanie L. Petruso, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton, MD
HARPER, Charise Mericle. Flashcards of My Life: A Novel. illus. by author. 233p. charts. diags. Little, Brown. Jan. 2006. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-316-75621-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-7-Like many teens, Emily has tons of friends, thinks her parents are totally uncool, and wishes for a boyfriend. For her birthday, Aunt Chester sends her a set of blank cards called "Flashcards of My Life." Each card has a label like "Friends," "Kiss," "Identity"-different topics to spark some writing. Emily starts on the cards and, in the process, readers learn about her. Her best "24-hour" friend, Sandra, doesn't like her school friends, Sarah W. and Sarah J., leaving Emily stuck in the middle. The girls all have crushes on different boys and there's the constant swirl of rumors of who likes whom. The story is full of early teen angst-being uncomfortable in one's body, not sure why parents act like they do, crying over the smallest things. The style and language are aimed at younger readers; however, some of the topics make the story a better fit for older readers. For example, the girls think their gym teacher is a lesbian because of her roommate's picture on her desk. The font appears to be handwritten, and numerous doodles, charts, and diagrams adorn the pages. An entertaining but hardly earth-shattering look at junior high life.-Diana Pierce, Running Brushy Middle School, Cedar Park, TX
HERRERA, Juan Felipe. Downtown Boy. 293p. CIP. Scholastic. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-439-64489-5. LC 2005002877.
Gr 7 Up-Herrera's novel in verse tells of a year in the life of 10-year-old Juanito Palomares in late-1950s California. At the mercy of his roving father, the young Chicano reports on his sometimes bleak, yet ultimately hopeful existence. When he and his mother bunk with relatives in San Francisco, his cousin Chacho demands, "You wanna be a chump/or a champ?" to get him to box Sweet Pea Price, and to pursue wild dares at the hospital morgue. His father's return puts him in motion once again. San Diego is his next home, where he continues to change apartments and schools, often just as he begins to look forward to a special event. Flashbacks to the family's time in the state's central farm region, living by picking, show Juanito's guilt at revealing the Garcia family's location to the "green van" immigration officials. The Palomareses demonstrate a wealth of love when Juanito's father loses both legs to complications from diabetes, curtailing his travels. The language varies from prosaic sentences broken into lines of verse to poems quite lyrical, but action is in short supply. Lacking the universal appeal of Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street (Knopf, 1991) and less engrossing than Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust (Scholastic, 1997), this novel perhaps speaks more to adult readers than to young people, who may not feel as much kinship to this boy of their grandparents' generation or before, even if they share his Latino heritage.-Suzanne Gordon, Richards Middle School, Lawrenceville, GA
HORNIMAN, Joanne. Secret Scribbled Notebooks. 220p. Allen & Unwin. 2005. pap. $7.95. ISBN 1-74114-406-X. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up-In three notebooks, 17-year-old bibliophile Kate O'Farrell records the events in her life the year before leaving for university. She lives with her older sister, Sophie, at a quaint bed-and-breakfast in a coastal town in New South Wales. The owner, Lil, has raised them ever since their father left them there when they were toddlers. The story opens as unwed Sophie gives birth to a baby girl. Kate befriends Alex, whom she meets at the local used bookstore. While the two seem destined for romance, nothing ever blooms. Horniman's writing is elegant, with a flowing language that embodies the mood of a lazy summer day. Unfortunately, the plot moves leisurely when it moves at all. Not much happens, and it is unclear what changes make Kate grow as a person. Although sophisticated readers may be drawn to the characters, few will stay the course for the conclusion.-Michelle Roberts, Merrick Library, NY
HOVING, Isabel. The Dream Merchant. tr. from Dutch by Hester Velmans. 630p. Candlewick. 2005. Tr $17.99. ISBN 0-7636-2880-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up-Josh Cope, a dreamy, gadget-obsessed 12-year-old, is chosen, with friend Baz, to work at an old company called Gippart. The boys are teamed up with Theresa, and the three enter its trading zone, called umaya. Umaya is the collective unconscious of humankind, and Gippart has discovered the secret of physically entering it and selling fantastic goods and concepts. The three young people are soon trapped in there, which starts a multilevel, action-crammed plot. They are hunted by a ghost-made-flesh and her accompanying guardian angel. Two Gippart employees who also want to use them for personal gain track them. Josh and friends are stuck in a repeating pattern so that whenever they fall asleep, they travel backwards in umaya time. They realize their actual goal: to right an ancient wrong committed by company founders. This is a lengthy tale with an extremely complicated setup. Readers who commit themselves to it will be well rewarded; the intricate plot is deep and gratifying. Despite the sprawling, fast-paced action, it's a personal story; nightmarish monsters plague the heroes, and each one must make a momentous decision or slay a private demon before returning home. This novel speaks to the art of storytelling, the conflict-filled history of the world, and the nature of greed and selfishness. While the ideas translate beautifully from the Dutch, dialogue is occasionally stilted. This book may require some hand-selling, but it's worth the effort.-Sarah Couri, New York Public Library
HUGHES, Dean. Search and Destroy. 216p. bibliog. CIP. S & S/Atheneum/Ginee Seo Bks. Jan. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-689-87023-X. LC 2005011255.
Gr 8 Up-Rick, a recent high school graduate, has no direction. He and his girlfriend break up as she prepares to start college, and an argument with his boss leads Rick to quit his job. After a fight with his father, he decides to join the army, realizing that he needs some discipline. He is selected to join the Special Forces and attend jump school in preparation for going to Vietnam. There, Rick is challenged by the heat, the smell of burning sewage, and jungle training. He volunteers for a unit that goes out on long-range jungle patrols and almost loses his life rescuing a comrade. He also discovers that many of his fellow soldiers do not really believe they are accomplishing anything. This is an involving story about the Vietnam War from the viewpoint of a young soldier. Hughes captures the danger, tension, pain, and small triumphs of the conflict. While this book could be easily read by many middle school students, it is more appropriate for high school collections because of its graphic battle scenes and descriptions of serious injuries and death. A well-written, realistic, and engrossing book.-Jane G. Connor, South Carolina State Library, Columbia
HURST, Carol Otis. You Come to Yokum. illus. by Kay Life. 137p. CIP. Houghton/A Walter Lorraine Bk. 2005. Tr $15. ISBN 0-618-55122-0. LC 2005001228.
Gr 3-6-The fight for women's suffrage is brought to life through the eyes of 12-year-old Frank Carlyle, who lives on a farm in 1920s Massachusetts. His mother actively campaigns for a woman's right to vote. He and his brother, Jim, are used to being teased about her politicking. When the family buys their first Model T, it is Mrs. Carlyle who learns to drive. She takes the car to Washington, DC, and is arrested after chaining herself to the White House fence. Upon her return home, Father signs up the family to run a vacation lodge in a remote part of the state, far from the suffrage movement. Frank and Jim work hard and have many adventures as they slowly learn to appreciate their surroundings. The fight to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment is not forgotten when their mother attempts to bring the word to her neighbors. With mostly short chapters and charming black-and-white illustrations, this is a satisfying read. For another teen's view of the suffrage movement, try Kathryn Lasky's A Time for Courage (Scholastic, 2002).-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH
HURWITZ, Johanna. The Unsigned Valentine: And Other Events in the Life of Emma Meade. illus. by Mary Azarian. 167p. CIP. HarperCollins. Jan. 2006. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-056053-3; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-056054-1. LC 2005006856.
Gr 5-7-Emma Meade, first encountered in Faraway Summer (Morrow, 1998) and Dear Emma (HarperCollins, 2002), continues to share details of family life on a farm in Vermont. Her journal entries begin during a drought in September, 1911, when her father hires a dowser, and end the following April, around the time of the sinking of the Titanic. Emma likes her brother Eddie's handsome friend, Cole, but when he comes by the house with some cider, her father tells him that the 15-year-old is too young to be courted. Emma feels embarrassed, and worries that pretty Josie Wheeler will win Cole's affections. Then, during a February choir practice, Emma gets an unsigned valentine that she guesses is from Cole. In a conveniently exciting ending, he rescues her when she falls into the river during a flood. Azarian's small, serene woodcuts open each chapter, while local newspaper articles add interest. This entertaining novel can stand alone, and it is a good choice for readers who have graduated from the "American Girl" doll books (Pleasant Co).-Debbie Stewart Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI
JELLEN, Michelle. Spain or Shine. 214p. (S.A.S.S. Series). CIP. Penguin/Speak. 2005. pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-14-240368-7. LC 2005043445.
Gr 6-9-Sixteen-year-old Elena, who is a quiet and shy dreamer, feels as if she doesn't fit in with her overachieving siblings. To get a different perspective on life as well as a chance to stretch her wings, she signs up to study in Spain for a semester. Once there, she makes new friends, including Miguel, a good-looking local teenager. She longs to start a relationship with him, but even though he pays special attention to her, she is too insecure to believe that he would actually be interested in her. Meanwhile, her experiences in drama class show her that she has a real talent for playwriting as well as acting. Ultimately, Elena's stay abroad teaches her to come out of her shell and take on new situations. She builds lasting friendships, gains independence and self-confidence, and even falls in love. Incorporating descriptions of San Sebastian and life in this scenic seaside town, the narrative creates a strong sense of place. Elena's emotional growth is clearly and believably depicted and the plot keeps the story moving quickly. An enjoyable read.-Kim Carlson, Monticello High School, IA
KAY, Elizabeth. Jinx on the Divide. illus. by Ted Dewan. 368p. Scholastic/The Chicken House. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-439-72455-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-8-In this final installment in the series, Felix, 14, is back in his own dimension and ready for life to return to normal. However, when Rhino, the class bully, discovers the brandee's lamp that Felix brought back from the Divide and the brandee within, trouble begins. Rhino is taken hostage by the djinn and later set loose in the magical dimension linked to our own by the Divide. It isn't long before he hooks up with the japegrins in an explosive way. Fans of the first two books will find this episode another action-packed ride across dimensions. Once again, Kay introduces a wide range of characters and subplots that will challenge readers to remain focused. And, as with the previous books, the characters all seem slightly underdeveloped. Still, if action is what they seek, Jinx will keep their eyes glued to the pages.-Lisa Marie Williams, Fairfax County Public Library System, Reston, VA
KERR, M. E. Your Eyes in Stars. 229p. HarperCollins. Jan. 2006. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-075682-9; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-075683-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up-In 1934, teenaged Jessie lives in a small upstate New York town where her father is the warden in the state prison. Her mother is a bit of a social climber, while her father has allowed himself to become overly friendly with a prisoner, Slater, a young Southerner with a heartbreaking background and a keen musical talent. Jessie is pleasantly surprised when the daughter of the German professor who has moved into the neighborhood makes direct appeals for friendship. So unfolds the first section of this deceptively straightforward but sophisticated and engrossing novel. Jessie's friendship with Elisa is interrupted when the Stadlers abruptly return to Germany, an event that happens at the same time that Slater is killed in a situation that makes it appear that he murdered a local man. Jessie and Elisa correspond during the next few years, their letters-as well as those from their acquaintances-making up the latter portion of the novel. Years later, in 1946, Jessie learns what really happened to Elisa. Kerr weaves an authentic story in which characters can know only so much at any given moment of their lives, and actually misunderstand much of what they think they know. The period and the place are re-created with excellent detail. Kerr doesn't have to make Jessie pronounce the big questions because she does such a thorough job of showing that they should be every reader's questions: what is really going on, both under our noses and inside the lives of people we care about but cannot know completely?-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
KETCHUM, Liza. Where the Great Hawk Flies. 261p. CIP. Clarion. 2005. Tr $16. ISBN 0-618-40085-0. LC 2004029832.
Gr 6-8-During the British-inspired, murderous Indian raid in Vermont in 1780, a hawk led 13-year-old Daniel Tucker, his Pequot mother, and his sister to the safety of a cave while his English-immigrant father fought with the local militia. The Coombs family, now back from refuge in Connecticut, lost nearly everything. Young Hiram Coombs and Daniel immediately dislike one another for Hiram is haunted by the sights and sounds of the raid. He steals from Daniel, and both boys resort to name-calling. Their fathers attempt cordiality, but Hiram's pregnant mother is disdainful of Daniel's mother, even though she is the only midwife in the area. With the arrival of Hiram's uncle (crazed from the treatment he endured as a captive of Canadian Indians) and Daniel's Pequot grandfather (a healer whose tribe has befriended Americans), each family is hurled toward danger. Interspersed with the customs and language of two cultures and narrated in turn by each boy, the story never bogs down. The dignity, tolerance, and humor Daniel's grandfather displays is uplifting, and the way he passes on to his grandchildren valuable insights into their heritage and future is touching. Most evocative is the lyrical and reconciliatory ending. This story demonstrates how prejudice can injure both individuals and nations. Readers will enjoy the well-motivated characters and the exciting plot. Jerrie Oughton's Music from a Place Called Half Moon (Houghton, 1995), set in a more recent time, has similar themes.-Cindy Darling Codell, formerly at Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY
KLAUSE, Annette Curtis. Freaks: Alive, On the Inside! 328p. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. Jan. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-689-87037-X. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up-Abel, 17, is the "normal" son of a legless father and an armless mother. He lives with other "oddities" in a midget village where they put on shows. He is restless and wants his own life. His romantic experiences have been limited to kissing the hairy Dog-Faced Girl. He runs away and joins a traveling circus, unaware that Apollo, 12, the hairy Puppy Boy, has followed him and stowed away aboard the circus train. Apollo is discovered and caged like an animal and Abel is thrown from the train by his fellow performers. Apollo escapes and they are reunited, working as servants in a brothel until Dr. Mink's Traveling Monster Menagerie arrives in town and Apollo is lured into joining them. Most of the show's "monsters" are children who were born with deformities and have been sold to or kidnapped by Mink. As Abel attempts to free them, he is plagued by dreams of a beautiful Egyptian woman who repeatedly throws herself at him. Somehow a ring he received as a gift allows this female mummy to come alive. Set in 1899, this gripping and sensual, but never explicitly sexual tale is a fascinating mixture of fantasy and reality. Abel's growth from an immature, irresponsible teen into a more mature, dependable young man ready to take charge is well done. The author never loses sight of the fact that despite their unusual appearances, all of the characters are human.-Sharon Rawlins, NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Trenton
LASKY, Kathryn. The Hatchling. 222p. (Guardians of Ga'Hoole Series). map. Scholastic. 2005. pap. $4.99. ISBN 0-439-73950-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6-The fascistic Pure Ones, a tribe of barn owls who believe that they alone are fit to rule, lost their king, the evil Kludd, during a great battle in The Burning (Scholastic, 2004). In this seventh book in the series, Kludd's sinister widow Nyra continues to plot to conquer all of the owl kingdoms, especially the heroic, egalitarian owls who dwell in the great tree of Ga'Hoole. She raises her hatchling son Nyroc to one day take his father's place and teaches him to believe in the power of hate. But the older he grows, the more he disagrees with his mother's ways, and after he learns the horrible truth about a deadly ceremony the Pure Ones have planned for him, he realizes that he must leave his home and his mother. While Lasky has combined fascinating details of how real owls live with her imaginary civilization, the story lacks any humor that might relieve its dreariness. The Hatchling often lumbers rather than soars.-Walter Minkel, New York Public Library
LAWRENCE, Iain. The Cannibals. 230p. CIP. Delacorte. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-73088-8; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-385-90110-0. LC 2005000308.
Gr 5-9-Readers in search of swashbuckling adventure, gripping plot twists, and hair-raising encounters will gravitate to this sequel to The Convicts (Delacorte, 2005). Set on the high seas during the 1820s, the story follows the adventures of Tom Tin and a handful of very bad and not-so-bad boys who are being transported from London to Australia to serve out their prison terms. The first of many outrageous coincidences is that, while Tom is a prisoner below decks, his own father is at the helm. But the hapless captain, who is being persecuted by the sinister, offstage Mr. Goodfellow, can't do much to help. Tom and his blind friend, Midgely, decide that they must escape and return to England to dig up the jewel that Tom has hidden. Unfortunately, a gang of cruel and vengeful boys comes with them. Every turn of the plot becomes more far-fetched as the boys encounter an Alexander Selkirk-like castaway, a missionary's daughter (beautiful, of course), Komodo dragons, and the cannibals. The mood is as much fantastic as it is Dickensian. There is a hard edge to the violence, but there are moments of humor and caring as well. Readers are well set up for a planned third book. A well-researched author's note gives a short history of convict transport to Australia and recounts the true story of Mary Bryant who, with 10 others, fled in a small boat from Botany Bay to Timor, a distance of over 3000 miles. In that context, Tom Tin's adventures seem a shade more plausible.-Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
LEVIN, Betty. Thorn. 176p. CIP. Front St. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 1-932425-46-2. LC 2005012682.
Gr 5-8-A story set in an unidentified prehistoric time. When Thorn is to be sacrificed for the good of the people on the High Island, in the hopes of reversing their fortunes, his father arranges for him to return to his grandparents' home, the People of the Singing Seals, rather than be killed. Yet Thorn doesn't fit there either, and his crippled leg breeds suspicion and distrust among the People. Only Willow, a girl being trained as the next Keeper of Story, dares approach Thorn and tries to befriend him. Although he is suddenly accepted, even venerated by the People, he does not feel safe there, so he begins planning his escape. Told in alternating chapters by Willow and Thorn, the story is uneven, requiring some leaps of faith (and reason). Middle school readers will be frustrated by the inconclusive ending. Although the dialogue and superstitions lend authenticity to the setting, they cannot save the story. A disappointing read from Levin, who excelled in portraying primitive life in The Ice Bear (1986) and The Banished (1999, both HarperCollins).-Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN
LEVITHAN, David. Marly's Ghost. illus. by Brian Selznick. 155p. CIP. Dial. Jan. 2006. Tr $14.99. ISBN 0-8037-3063-2. LC 2005016183.
Gr 7-10-In this modified version of Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Scrooge has been replaced by Ben, a high school student whose girlfriend has passed away, leaving him extremely cynical about love as Valentine's Day approaches. The creatively mutated story follows the basic action of the original as the teen is visited by Marly's ghost, then three spirits: The Ghost of Love Past, The Ghost of Love Present, and…well, you know. While this seems like a promisingly inventive way to address bereavement, nothing quite clicks in this remix of the classic. Prior knowledge of the original story seems to diminish rather than enhance the power of this adaptation. There are downright awkward moments, too. The character Tiny Tim has morphed into a pair of gay freshmen, Tiny and Tim, for example, and the young lovers' presence in the story seems gratuitous and synthetic. Selznick's pen-and-ink drawings, while very well done, don't quite seem to fit in either, reflecting the overall problem the story has establishing and sustaining a uniform tone and mood.-Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MI
LUNN, John. The Aquanauts. 221p. CIP. Tundra. 2005. pap. $8.95. ISBN 0-88776-727-3. LC C2004-907140-8.
Gr 7 Up-Three teens and a 12-year-old spend their summer vacation on a deep-sea research habitat a mile and a half under the ocean. However, the site is a front for a mad scientist running a super-secret and highly illegal experiment involving the creation of a black hole and time travel. Underperforming Goth girl Greta, whose physicist father brings her aboard, quickly realizes that she doesn't want to be there, especially after meeting ambitious control-freak Jules, super genius Marco, and his younger brother, Nicky, science-fiction geek extraordinaire. She also meets her father's boss, Dr. Simms (the mad scientist). Almost immediately, weird stuff starts to happen. Greta and Marco are sent forward to one time, Jules and Nicky to another, while Dr. Simms's cabal of scientists is flung to an unimaginably far future where they work to control time travel. Simms kidnaps Greta and forces her to be a guinea pig. She figures out how to travel to a specific time and uses her newly discovered leadership ability, along with the help of her formerly distant, now unnaturally aged father, to destroy the project. She also finds time for a sweet romance with Marco. The story starts slowly but builds speed quickly; despite more than a few unanswered questions at the end, it is entertaining and thought-provoking.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library
MCNAB, Andy & Robert Rigby. Traitor. 265p. glossary. CIP. Putnam. 2005. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-399-24464-6. LC 2005006701.
Gr 6-10-When Danny, an orphan who lives in a hostel in southeast London, is rejected by the Army due to the traitorous past of his grandfather, he vows to find the old man and make him suffer. His friend Elena is the computer genius who aids in his search. As Danny learns about Fergus Watts's exemplary service record and then his turn to the "other side," he becomes more and more angry. Once he tracks Watts down, the real story about the man's past unfolds. Danny is followed, bullets start flying from an unknown source, the only person who can confirm Watts's story is murdered, and Fergus is captured. The conclusion confirms that a sequel is forthcoming. A glossary of military terms is included at the beginning, but some readers are still likely to feel overwhelmed at the lingo and will have to flip back and forth frequently as the contextual clues are not helpful. Though it takes a while to get involved in the plot, the authors do deliver hearty doses of adventure and suspense. The book has a Tom Clancyesque feeling for younger readers.-Emily Garrett, Naaman Forest High School, Garland, TX
MCNEAL, Laura & Tom McNeal. Crushed. 292p. CIP. Knopf. Jan. 2006. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-375-83105-3; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-375-93105-8. LC 2005004320.
Gr 10 Up-The characters in this novel have their secrets and make false assumptions about others, causing them all to be "crushed" in some way. Audrey's mother died when the girl was young and her father is in financial trouble. Clyde's mother is dying of cancer. Wickham, born of an affair 18 years earlier and new in town, is running from his own secret. The trouble begins when he romances Audrey, who is quickly taken with his seeming sophistication. He, on the other hand, is looking for someone to help him graduate and relies on her academic assistance. Painfully shy Clyde also has a crush on her and uses his father's computer program to investigate Wickham's past. When he tries to share what he discovers with Audrey, she rejects him. In the meantime, a slanderous paper is circulating secrets about students and teachers. When cornered by the school bully, Audrey tells him that Clyde is the author, even though she lacks evidence. This sets in motion the revelation of other secrets and the breaking of hearts. With the exception of Audrey's friend Lea's off-key change in personality, characters and situations ring true. Readers will sympathize with these individuals, some of whom mature, and some of whom do not. This quiet, sophisticated story will appeal to a small, mature audience.-Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL
MARLEY, Louise. Singer in the Snow. 304p. CIP. Viking. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-670-05965-X. LC 2005005575.
Gr 7 Up-Set in the same sphere as the "Singers of Nevya" trilogy (Ace), this is an engaging tale of a world in which only the psionic powers of the Singers (those who use music to focus energy and light) can create enough warmth for survival. At the Conservatory, Mreen is a Singer who cannot speak but can communicate psionically. Emle is the opposite; she has a beautiful voice but cannot control her psi to produce warmth and light. When Mreen is assigned to be a Cantrix at Tarus, Emle accompanies her to act as her voice. There they meet Gwin, a girl with the Gift who is abused by her stepfather. In their efforts to help her, both come to terms with their respective issues. Astute readers will guess from the start that Emle's difficulty lies in a childhood trauma, and that Mreen's muteness may be linked to her shame about her mother, a Cantrix who broke her vows of celibacy. Nevya itself is a fascinating world, reminiscent of Anne McCaffrey's Pern. Some elements are not fully explained; for example, why summer only occurs every five years, or even how long it lasts. Still, the story should attract science-fiction fans and may inspire them to seek the "Nevya" trilogy.-Karyn N. Silverman, Elizabeth Irwin High School, New York City
MARTIN, Ann M. & David Levithan, eds. Friends: Stories about New Friends, Old Friends, and Unexpectedly True Friends. 185p. CIP. Scholastic. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-439-72991-2. LC 2004027758.
Gr 5-8-This collection of stories by well-known authors spans a broad definition of the term "friend," and also approaches the topic from a wide variety of viewpoints. There are pieces about real-life friends, imaginary companions, animal friends, and those who fit the old saying, "with friends like that, who needs enemies." Some of the selections are written as if the events are happening in the present, some from the viewpoint of an adult looking back at childhood. The selections by Ann M. Martin, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Rachel Cohn, David Levithan, and Patricia McCormick are among the more outstanding entries. It is unlikely that any one reader will like all of them, but it is also likely that every reader will find at least one that hits home. The trick will be to get youngsters to keep reading to find that one.-Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC
MARTINEAU, Diane. The Wall on 7th Street. 256p. Llewellyn. 2005. pap. $7.95. ISBN 0-7387-0715-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-8-Mysticism and Iroquois legend are alive on 7th Street. Impending divorce takes Toby, his mother, and his older sister from suburbia to Mom's beloved childhood home in Syracuse, NY. It doesn't take long for the family to realize that the street is no longer the same place that she remembers. It is now in the evil clutches of the Strafer gang, led by a poor little rich boy named Hack-face. The neighborhood is overshadowed by a mural painted by the Strafers on a warehouse wall that depicts demons and scenes of destruction. Toby befriends Moe, a homeless man who lives under a deck. The unlikely friendship helps the 12-year-old deal with the pain of divorce while teaching him empathy for those around him. Moe has a theory surrounding the wall and, with Toby's help, plans to reclaim 7th Street for its residents. The legend of the Peacemaker, the man responsible for uniting the Iroquois tribes, is interwoven into the story. The themes of friendship, bullying, and communities working together are explored and developed. This story may need a bit of promotion but it will appeal to readers who enjoy realistic fiction with a touch of fantasy and legend thrown in.-Angela M. Boccuzzi-Reichert, Merton Williams' Middle School, Hilton, NY
