Any Small Goodness

Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio. by Tony Johnston. (2001). 128p. New York: Scholastic Press.  

Awards and Honors: NCTE Notable Children's Book, CLA John and Patricia Beatty Award Winner

Review: 

Arturo and his tight-knit family live in East L.A.- a sometimes tough, sometimes violent, and sometimes beautiful place. His parents are loving and kind and encourage him to see the beauty in "any small goodness". Even though life can be hard, kindness and good deeds are everywhere if you choose to acknowledge them. Each chapter tells the story of a "small kindness" in Arturo's neighborhood. His grandmother, little sister and older brother are each strong and compelling characters; and his teachers, coaches, neighbors and school librarian act as role-models in the story. Spanish words and phrases are liberally sprinkled throughout the book, which includes a glossary for non-Spanish speakers. 

Opinion:

Although I had some qualms with the book's representation of Los Angeles, I feel that the overall message was quite lovely. The book's representation of a loving family was refreshing and heart-warming.

The Year of the Dog

The Year of the Dog. by Grace Lin. (2006). 134p. New York: Little Brown.

Awards and Honors:  2006 ALA Children's Notable, 2006 Asian Pacific American Librarian Association Honor, 2006 NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2006 Kirkus Best Early Chapter Books, Booklist Editors' Choice for Middle Readers

Review: 

A lighthearted and semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story for young readers, The Year of the Dog was Grace Lin's first novel for children. The book tells the story of Pacy Lin, a Taiwanese-American girl growing up in upstate New York. Pacy's story begins and ends with a Chinese New Year celebration, marking a year in her life as she makes a new best friend, navigates her cultural identity, and discovers her talents.
 

Opinion:

This is a charming story for young tweens, especially those who are growing up in two cultures. Lin intersperses the novel with small, illustrations which will appeal to young readers. Although cultural identity is a serious topic, Lin has a wonderfully comic touch that makes this a lighthearted and fun story. 

Ideas:
This book is a great choice for Chinese New Year displays, and a must for libraries that serve Asian communities of any size.

Ninth Ward

Ninth Ward. by Jewell Parker Rhodes. (2010). 217p. New York: Little Brown.

Awards and Honors: 
2010 Coretta Scott King Honor Author Award; 2010 Parents Choice Foundation Gold Award; Best Fiction of 2010, School Library Journal; 2011 Jane Addams Honor Book Award for Older Children

Review: 

Twelve-year-old Lanesha is growing up in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, a tough, but close-knit neighborhood, and while Lanesha's home is not wealthy, she never lacks for love. She lives with Mama Ya Ya, the midwife who birthed her and has raised her ever since her mother died in childbirth. Lanesha and Mama Ya Ya both share "the gift". In Lanesha it manifests as an ability to see ghosts, while Mama Ya Ya has visions of events that will come. When a fierce hurricane bears down upon New Orleans, Mama Ya Ya knows that it will be unlike anything she's seen in her 82 years and Lanesha learns that she must be strong and smart to overcome the disaster. 

Opinion:

Ninth Ward is a beautiful and moving book, but unlike some other books with big messages, it's one that doesn't overshoot its audience. Its language is accessible for tweens, and kids will be drawn into the story by Rhode's pacing and her use of suspense.

Ideas:

Ninth Ward could be an illuminating addition to a unit on natural disasters.

Catherine, Called Birdy

Catherine, Called Birdy. by Karen Cushman. (1994). 212p. New York: HarperCollins.

Awards and Honors: Newbery Honor

Review: 

Catherine is a typical rebellious teenager: coarse, headstrong, sassy and a bit self-indulgent, too. She's also the only daughter of a noble family down on its luck, a role that requires she be married off to a husband who can raise her family's status. Of course, Catherine wants no part of this. She chafes under her domestic duties and social obligations and she finds a way to chase off her suitors one by one, until her father will have no more of her games. When Catherine realizes that fighting doesn't always help her get what she wants, she begins to change her ways and her outlook on life. Cushman writes Catherine's story using a diary format, and doesn't spare readers the nastier details of Medieval life. 

 

Opinion:

I don't love this book. Catherine's character quickly grated on my nerves, the book drags at times and the conclusion seemed hasty to me. I also thought that the potty humor was way overdone. Farts, privies and urine can be funny a few times, and granted Catherine *is* a tomboy, but Cushman's fascination with these things borders on obsession. I will say that I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, but I was glad when I finally finished the novel.

Ideas:
History teachers could use this book in history lessons to inspire their students to create their own diaries of kids living in the past.

A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver

A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver. by E.L. Konigsburg. (1975). 207p. New York: MacMillan.

Awards and Honors: A National Book Award Finalist, An ALA Notable Children's Book

Review: 

"During her lifetime Eleanor of Aquitaine had not been a patient woman. While she had lived, she had learned to bide her time, but biding one's time is a very different thing from patience. After she had died, and before she had arrived in Heaven, it had been necessary for Eleanor to learn some patience."

So begins E.L. Konigsburg's historical novel about one of the most well-known European rulers of all time, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Though Eleanor is the subject of countless novels and biographies, Konigsburg's highly original premise makes A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver a real standout in Medieval fiction for tweens. Eleanor and a handful of her contemporaries and friends are waiting for her husband Henry to be allowed entry into Heaven. From atop their clouds, they pass the time by gossiping about the trials and and travails of Eleanor's life, providing readers with an engaging and intimate picture of a fascinating woman.

Opinion:
A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver is best-suited for readers on the older side of the tween spectrum. Although there is nothing objectionable with the content, the book is fairly sophisticated and may be a challenging read for younger tweens.

Ideas:
This is an obvious choice for inclusion in Medieval European curriculum, and I'd definitely recommend it for students looking for historical fiction. 

Frog and Toad Together

Frog and Toad Together. by Arnold Lobel. (1979). 64p. New York: HarperCollins.


Awards and Honors: Newbery Honor

Review: 

A classic and wonderful early reader for children. Easy-going and friendly Frog and nervous, brooding Toad are best friends who like to do everything together. The book contains five sensitive, thought-provoking and clever short stories ("A List", "In the Garden", "Cookies", "Dragons and Giants" and "The Dream"), each charmingly illustrated and often hilarious, which detail their adventures and discuss the nature of friendship. Lobel tackles some big topics in these little stories, like bravery, willpower, ego and productivity, yet he does so in such as way that is highly accessible and enjoyable for younger readers.

Opinion:

The Frog and Toad series is one of the few that appeal just as strongly to children as they do to parents. Because the books contain several illustrated short stories, they are great choices for beginning readers since the format is both non-threatening yet gives kids the feeling of a chapter book. These stories are simple, yet sophisticated. 

Ideas:
Frog and Toad would be a wonderful choice for a lesson, storytime, or other library program on best friends.

Judy Moody Saves the World

Judy Moody Saves the World. by Megan McDonald. illustrated by Peter Reynolds. (2002). 160p. New York: Candlewick Press. 

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
This is the third title in the Judy Moody series, featuring the spunky heroine in a quest to save the world. After Judy Moody learns about the environment at school she makes it her mission to educate her family and her classmates on recycling, reusing and being kind to the planet. In true Judy Moody fashion, she tends to go a bit overboard in her attempts, but in the end all is well as Judy comes up with a wonderful idea for her class to help save the rain forest. There's also a secondary storyline involving her brother Stink and a band-aid design contest.

Opinion:
This series is suited for tweens on the younger end of the spectrum, and while I'm not the biggest fan of Judy Moody (I personally prefer Babymouse for a funny read featuring a spunky heroine), kids do enjoy the series for its humor and readability.

Ideas:
For kids who are outgrowing Junie B. Jones but who still want a fun read featuring a strong female character, the Judy Moody books are a good next step.

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia. by Katherine Paterson. 1977. 128p. New York: Scholastic Press. 

Honors and Awards: Newbery Medal

Review: 
Fifth grader Jesse Aarons is the only boy in a family of four sisters growing up in rural Virginia. Jesse is known as the "fastest kid at school", a title which he values highly. When Leslie Burke, the new girl at school, outruns him in a race on her first day, Jesse is upset though he and Leslie soon form a close friendship. Together Jesse and Leslie create a secret kingdom that they name Terabithia. Through his relationship with Leslie and their secret world, Jesse learns to face his fears, and experiences a terrible loss that forces him to mature.

Opinion:
Bridge to Terabithia is a classic of middle grade literature and it's a wonderful example of exactly how powerful, moving and beautiful a book for youth can be. I was absolutely blown away by the book and only sorry that I had not read it early.

Ideas: 
Bridge to Terabithia is one of the most frequently challenged children's books and an excellent choice for a Banned Books Month display or in a discussion of intellectual freedom for kids.

Catching Fire

Catching Fire. by Suzanne Collins. (2009). 391p. New York: Scholastic Press.

Awards and Honors: Publishers Weekly's Best Book Of The Year: Children's Fiction, A Booklist Editors' Choice, 2009

Review: 

The second installment of Suzanne Collins' wildly popular Hunger Games trilogy, Catching Fire is a fast paced, plot-driven adventure. In Catching Fire, Katniss has won the Hunger Games, but at what price? Katniss quickly learns that President Snow means to make her pay for her act of defiance in the Arena, but she also discovers that the monolithic dominance of the Capital may not be as powerful as it seems. The second book in the series, while still action-packed, focuses more on the workings of Panem, the incipient rebellion and Katniss's role as the face of that rebellion.

Opinion:

Although Catching Fire furthered the overall narrative arc, I found this novel to be less powerful than Collins' first book in the series, which was made more compelling with Katniss's relationships with Prim and Rue.

Ideas:

There are a slew of dystopic novels being published right now. Catching Fire has been massively popular with young people who may not typically read many novels, and thus makes an great way to segue young readers into other books.

The Westing Game

The Westing Game. by Ellen Raskin. (1978). 182p. New York: Penguin Group.

Awards and Honors: Newbery Award

Review: 
A challenging and innovative novel for tweens, The Westing Game is an intricate "murder" mystery featuring upwards of 20 characters. Sixteen heirs are chosen to live in the newly built Sunset Towers which lies across Lake Michigan from millionaire Sam Westing's home. When Westing dies, the heirs are summoned to the home to hear his last will and testament. The will pairs them up into teams and plunges them into a competition to solve the mystery of Westing's death.

Opinion:
The Westing Game is original and interesting, though with so many characters it's hard to feel a solid connection to any of them. It can also be difficult to keep up with the plot, so I'd probably recommend this book for kids on the older end of the tween spectrum as younger, less experienced readers may be frustrated by the twists and turns.


Ideas:
The Westing Game is a solid addition to bibliographies of mystery books for tween readers.

Babymouse: Rock Star

Babymouse: Rock Star. by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm. (2006). 96p. New York: Random House Books for Young Readers.

Awards and Honors: none

Review: 

A humorous and charming addition to the Babymouse series. In this volume, Babymouse dreams of becoming a famous rockstar (even in the face of a serious lack of musical talent). Babymouse's active imagination leads her on some hilarious adventures as she deals with the universal issues of middle school life- bullies, riding the bus and making friends.

Opinion:

In a genre that is heavily boy-centric, Babymouse is a spot-on and spunky heroine for young girls and a great choice for reluctant readers. The series is easy to read and appeals to a wide age range of young readers. Though the series is aimed towards second through fourth graders, the format and humor extend its appeal to middle schoolers.

Ideas:

Many girls on the younger side of the tween spectrum adore princess and ballerina books and everything pink. I'd recommend Babymouse for these readers, as it offers a bit more substance but would still appeal to those who love girly books.

Starry River of the Sky

Starry River of the Sky. Grace Lin. (October 2012). 289p. New York: Little Brown and Company. 

Awards and Honors: not yet published

Review: 
After Rendi runs away from home and becomes stranded in the remote Village of Clear Sky, he begins to work at the town's lone inn. Rendi plans to hitch a ride out of town the first chance he gets, but when a beautiful and mysterious woman named Madame Chang arrives at the inn and begins telling stories of old, Rendi finds it harder and harder to leave the village and its unusual inhabitants. Lin slowly unwinds the story of each character while Madame Chang's stories intertwine with the various plots in the novel until what seem like a bunch of unrelated (however lovely) folktales end up being masterfully brought together with the book's various story lines as the reader advances through the novel. The book's mix of fantasy and folklore is enchanting and sure to appeal to younger tweens, particularly ones who enjoy legends and fables.

Opinion:
When I saw Grace Lin's newest book at the Little Brown booth at ALA Anaheim, I knew that I had to read it, and I was lucky enough to get the very last ARC (which was only found after the rep searched the booth high and low). Grace Lin's last novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was a magical read, made all the more lovely by her beautiful full-color illustrations, and Starry River of the Sky (while as yet missing its final illustrations) does not disappoint. The various story lines and unusual plotting may challenge some readers, however I think that this is a wonderful choice for younger tweens. I eagerly await the final version featuring Lin's sure-to-be stunning illustrations.

Ideas:
This book would make a nice addition to a Chinese New Year display, or could be part of a display on Chinese folklore.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village. by Laura Amy Schlitz. illustrated by Robert Byrd. 2007. 85p. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. 

Genre: poetry

Honors and Awards: Newbery Medal

Review: 
School librarian Laura Amy Schlitz wrote the poems of Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! to be performed by a large group of students who were putting on a play, but each wanted an important part to in the production. The result of her work is a stunning collection of tales- historically informative yet incredibly moving- that each detail the life of a young person living in a feudal English  village during the 13th century. Each monologue delivers an powerful story, and when considered as a whole the stories comprise an illuminating portrait of the social, economic and political structures of Medieval England. 

Opinion:
Though this book has been on my radar for years, neither the cover nor the title immediately appealed to me, and I had always hesitated to pick it up. But when I read the book, I was absolutely blown away. It's wonderfully rich; at times wryly funny, at times absolutely devastating in its beauty and its pathos. I think that this is a superb book, but it's one that tweens may need a bit of prodding to pick up. I'd recommend it to kids looking for books of poetry and I think it'd see great use in classrooms.

Ideas: 
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! would be an obvious and excellent addition to lessons on Medieval history, or could be used in an English classroom to teach poetry appreciation. Pair this book with other fiction titles (Cushman's The Midwife's Apprentice, de Angeli's The Door in the Wall, etc.) and non-fiction books on Medieval history for a library display.