Tibet: Through the Red Box

Tibet: Through the Red Box. Peter Sis. (1998). 64p. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Awards and Honors: Caldecott Honor

Review:
Sis weaves a complicated, rich and multi-layered story in Tibet: Through the Red Box. When Peter Sis was a child, his filmmaker father was sent to Tibet via China to document the building of the first modern road into the country. The project was to take two months but tragedy separates the elder Sis from the road crew and the trip stretches into years. During this time Sis's father kept a journal of the magical and mysterious things that he experienced. After he returned home to Czechoslovakia, he would often tell Peter about his amazing experiences, but Peter was never allowed to touch the journal which was kept in a red box on a shelf in his father's study. Many years later when Sis is grown and living in America, he receives a brief note from his father telling him that the box is now his... Tibet: Through the Red Box tells the story of Sis's father's time in Tibet through his father's diary entries, interspersed with Sis's own retellings of the stories his father told him as a young child, intricately detailed mandalas, maps, recreations of diary pages, and beguiling full-spread illustrations. The effect is an absolutely haunting blend of fantasy and reality which will captivate readers.

Opinion:

I'm a fan of Sis's children's books so I thought I knew what to expect from Tibet: Through the Red Box, but I was seriously blown away by this book. I haven't stopped recommending it to people since I've read it. Unfortunately, this is one of those books that tweens won't necessarily come across while they're browsing the shelves, and even if they do the picture book format suggests that it is a book for a much younger child.

Ideas:
I've been toying with the idea of creating a "picture books for older readers" shelf in my library. This is definitely a book that I would add to that collection.

The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin

The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin. Peter Sis. (2003). 44p. New York: Farrar,  Straus & Giroux.

Awards and Honors: 
American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, American Library Association Notable Children's Books, New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Books of the Year, New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Books of the Year, Amazon.com Top 10 Editors’ Picks: Children, Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, Parents' Choice Award Winner, John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young, National Science Teacher's Association-CBC, Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children, Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List, Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice, Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

Review:
A wondrous and detailed look into the life and work of famed naturalist and father of the theory of natural selection, Charles Darwin. In inimitable Sis style, this book takes on an almost scrapbook-like quality, featuring highly detailed illustrations, panels within panels, diary pages, maps, and a double gate-fold panel, while it illuminates Darwin's personal and professional life. Sis does an excellent job of balancing his own dreamlike aesthetic with the facts and figures of Darwin's life, while managing to steer clear of inflaming the religious controversies surrounding Darwin's work.

Opinion:

This is a spectacular picture book for older readers, packed with incredible detail and fact.

Ideas:
Picture books for older readers really deserve more attention. I'd feature this book in a library display spotlighting great illustrated books for older readers.

Center Court Sting

Center Court Sting. Matt Christopher. (1998). 140p. New York: Little Brown.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Hot-tempered middle schooler Daren McCall plays basketball on his school's team. He's talented, but his quick temper often gets him in trouble both off and on the court. When his outbursts begin to interfere with his team's success and with his friendships, Daren is forced to take a hard look at his behavior and change the way he interacts with others. The story carries a strong message of team work and good sportsmanship.

Opinion:

I chose to read Center Court Sting because although I have often recommended Matt Christopher's books to kids and parents who are looking for stories which feature team sports, I have personally never read a sports fiction book for tweens. Though I wouldn't say that I'm a huge fan of the genre, these books are popular for a reason with boys who enjoy sports.

Ideas:
Creating a display of sports fiction during championship or finals seasons would be an attention getting way to promote the library's collection.

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung Fu Cavemen from the Future

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung Fu Cavemen from the Future. Dav Pilkey. (2010). 176p. New York: Scholastic Press.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Ook and Gluk, two caveboys, must save their hometown from the evil Goppernopper Enterprises, a corporation from the year 2222 which is set on plundering the natural resources of Caveland, Ohio. When Ook and Gluk are transported to the future, they are taken under the wing of a martial arts master, where they learn Kung Fu in order to destroy Goppernopper Enterprises and save the day. Pilkey writes and illustrates this story, which features plenty of his trademark humor in graphic novel format.

Opinion:
Misspellings galore, rude language and potty humor... This is a book that kids love and adults will cringe at. The premise of the story is that it is written by two elementary aged kids, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, hence the deliberate misspellings and poor grammar. Although I have to wonder how all the misspellings in the book might negatively affect kids who have trouble spelling in the first place, I did enjoy the book for its humor, even if some was a a bit over the top.

Ideas:
The humor and graphic novel format make this is a great book for reluctant readers.

Boys Over Flowers

Boys Over Flowers: Volume 1. Yoko Kamio. English adaptation by Gerard Jones. (2003). San Francisco, CA: Viz Media.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
When working class teenager Tsukushi Makino is accepted into an elite high school, Eitoku Academy, she immediately feels out of place. Things get worse for her when the popular boy's clique, the F4, decides that they want her out of their school. The group mercilessly bullies her and at first Tsukushi is scared, but she eventually decides to fight back. Further complicating matters, Tsukushi's bravery causes her popularity amongst her classmates at Eitoku Academy to rise, and she begins to develop a crush on one of the members of the F4. The first volume in the series leaves off with Tsukushi striking an uneasy truce with the F4, but with problems developing with the girls at Eitoku Academy.

Opinion:

I am not a big reader of manga, so unfortunately I don't have much to compare this book with. The soap opera type serial did not appeal to me, though I know it is popular with many older tweens in my community. I would personally hesitate to recommend this book to younger tweens, because the bullying scenes are pretty intense.

Ideas:
This shojo manga series has also spawned a popular Korean television drama. Manga has great appeal to the community that I work in, and I think it would be cool to make a display of Korean DVDs and the books or manga that inspired them.

Have You Met My Ghoulfriend?

Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? (Mostly Ghostly Book #2). R.L. Stine. (2004). 136p. New York: Delacorte Press.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:

Eleven-year-old Max has a hard time at school, he's bullied by his older brother and threatened with boarding school by his father. Compounding Max's problems is the fact that he is being haunted and no one in Max's family believes him. Nicky and Tara are two new ghosts who are trying to get Max to help them out how they died and where their parents are. Unfortunately, an evil ghost named Phears is trying to use Max to get to Nicky and Tara, which is making Max's life even harder. Max tries to protect Nicky and Tara from Phears, but when he doesn't cooperate, the evil ghost sends a ghoul to possess Max and force him into turning over the two young ghosts.

Opinion:
I can't say that I was a fan of this book. The writing was repetitive and lazy, the characters were stereotypical and unimaginative, the dialogue was clunky, and most importantly the book just wasn't scary. 

Ideas:
I don't think that I would recommend this book at all. 

Babymouse: Heartbreaker

Babymouse: Heartbreaker. Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. (2006). 94p. New York: Random House Press.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Babymouse: Heartbreaker is the fifth book in the graphic novel series by brother and sister team, Jennifer and Matthew Holm. In this installment, indomitable Babymouse faces one of the most dreaded institutions of middle school- the school dance. Valentine's Day is coming up and Babymouse decides that she really wants to attend the dance. The only problem is she doesn't have a date. So Babymouse tries as hard as she can to get boys to notice her, to comically lackluster effect. As always, Babymouse refuses to be defeated and she ends up attending the dance, even though it doesn't play out exactly as she had originally imagined. As with all the Babymouse series, this book has plenty of laughs as Babymouse deals with the trials and tribulations of middle school life.

Opinion:

The Babymouse series with its spunky, imaginative heroine is one of my favorite recent discoveries. In a genre that is heavily dominated by books which appeal to boys, Babymouse stands out as a great graphic novel choice for tween girls.

Ideas:
I'd use this book in a book display featuring books with pink covers (Meg Cabot's Princess in Pink, the Pinkalicious series, etc.). 

Ruby Lu, Brave and True

Ruby Lu, Brave and True. by Lenore Look. illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. (2004). 112p. New York: Atheneum Books.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Ruby Lu is an eight-year-old Chinese American girl growing up with her mother, father and baby brother, Oscar. Ruby loves reflective tape, doing magic, and playing with Oscar. She doesn't love her mean neighbor, Christina; going to Chinese school; or the impending arrival of her Chinese cousin, Flying Duck, but Ruby handles each dilemma with exuberant panache. Each chapter in this book, the first in a series, reads like a separate short story.

Opinion:
Ruby Lu is like the Chinese American equivalent of Judy Moody. I appreciated her individuality, but I didn't love the book. The language felt disjointed at times, and an unfortunate chapter in which Ruby drives herself to school (virtually without consequence) marred the book for me.

Ideas:
Working in a majority Chinese American community, I'm always on the lookout for books which feature Asian American characters. 

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things. by Lenore Look. (2008). 172p. New York: Random House Books.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Alvin Ho is an eight-year-old antihero of sorts; he's terrified of most things, he goes mute in school, and he has a terribly hard time making friends. Consequently, everyday life is pretty hard for Alvin, but he is nonetheless determined to make friends and to become a "gentleman". At home Alvin is the middle child, stuck between cool older brother Calvin, and sassy little sister Anibelly. The book details Alvin's adventures, from taking piano lessons to seeing a psychologist. LeUyen Pham's pen and ink illustrations add additional levity to his trials and tribulations.
 

Opinion:

This was a book that I did not immediately fall in love with. At the outset, Alvin is not a particularly likeable character: he's neurotic and mean at times (especially to Flea, his only friend at school). But, as the book develops so does Alvin, and I eventually began to really enjoy Alvin's story and to root for him. The addition of historical facts (Alvin lives in Massachusetts) about Henry David Thoreau and the Revolutionary War enriches the book.

Ideas:
I'd like to make a bibliography of tween books with male characters.

Sports Illustrated Kids

Sports Illustrated Kids. monthly magazine. published by Time, Inc.

Review:
Sports Illustrated Kids is a kids version of the popular monthly sports magazine, Sports Illustrated. The magazine is full of colorful, attention-grabbing photographs of sports stars, athlete profiles, news articles and playing cards. The content is similar to the adult version of the magazine, though the articles are slightly shorter, there is a greater emphasis on humor, and the magazine contains kids' artwork, picture puzzles and word games. Still, the vocabulary and writing style definitely put this magazine at an older tween level as far as the reading level.  

Opinion:
At my library, this is one of the most popular magazines amongst our tween patrons. The bright, photo filled pages have a lot of kid appeal, and the content draws in children who might be reluctant readers. There are not many magazines which appeal to tween boys, and this is definitely one of them.

Ideas:
I have an Olympics book display in my library, and I've added Sports Illustrated Kids to it.

Mississippi Bridge

Mississippi Bridge. Mildred D. Taylor. (1990). 62p. New York: Penguin Group.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:

Told from the point of view of young Jeremy Simms, a shy and fair white boy growing up during the Depression, Taylor's novella Mississippi Bridge addresses the bitter racism of the American South. Jeremy, who rejects his father's unabashed racism, yet cannot escape the social structure of institutionalized racism in Mississippi, recounts the events of a fateful day in a small Southern town. The story takes place within and around a small general store where the local bus route stops. Just as the bus is full and ready to leave, a white family arrives late, and the bus driver forces several black passengers off of the bus to make room for them. It's an ugly scene, and one that leaves Jeremy disturbed. As the bus leaves and Jeremy tries to process what has happened, he learns that the bus has crashed off of a bridge, killing all the passengers in a terrible accident. This is a mature and haunting story which invites further discussion.

Opinion:

This story is visceral and almost painful to read, but it's important for tweens to understand this ugly part of American history.

Ideas:
This book would work best in a classroom setting, and would be an excellent choice to accompany a history lesson on segregation. 

The Tiger Rising

The Tiger Rising. Kate DiCamillo. (2001). 128p. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Awards and Honors: National Book Award Finalist

Review:
Twelve-year-old Rob Horton has recently lost his mother to cancer and finds himself living with his father in an old motel, The Kentucky Star, in rural central Florida. Both Rob and his father have learned to push down their grief over the loss of the central figure in their lives. Rob's father tries to pretend she never existed, while Rob's grief manifests itself in a persistent rash on his legs, which alienates him even more from his classmates. In the span of a week, Rob experiences two life changing events: he meets a new girl named Sistine, another outcast in his school, and he finds a tiger locked in a cage in the woods behind the Kentucky Star. Rob soon finds himself the reticent caretaker of the tiger, and Sistine pushes him to make a fateful decision that allows Rob and his father to begin the healing process. 

Opinion:
A short, but powerfully emotional book, The Tiger Rising is a heavily symbolic story that won't appeal to everyone. The death of the tiger may disturb some younger readers, while the ending seems a bit short on resolution.

Ideas:

The Princess Test

The Princess Test. Gail Carson Levine. (1999). 91p. New York: HarperCollins.

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
The Princess Test is Levine's retelling of fairy tale classic, The Princess and The Pea. A blacksmith's daughter, Lorelei, lives in the village of Snettering-on-Snoake. From the time she was born, she has always been particular, delicate and sickly... but sweet. When the blacksmith travels to another town, Lorelei meets Prince Nicholas who immediately falls in love with the girl. Meanwhile, the King and Queen begin a search to find a wife for Prince Nicholas. Fate brings Lorelei to the castle, where Nicholas passes her off to his parents as a princess. Lorelei undergoes a series of tests devised by the King and Queen to find a true princess for Nicholas to marry. Her finickiness comes in handy for the tests; she notices the missing stitch on an embroidered dress, she finds a tiny piece of noodle in her salad, and can feel a pea under twenty mattresses. Each test weeds out more princesses, until finally Lorelei is the last girl left.

Opinion:
I expected more from this story, but I felt it was a little flat. I was hoping to find a book to recommend to girls who love princess stories, but Levine's attempts at humor didn't hit the mark, and none of the characters were particularly compelling. The small black-and-white illustrations really added nothing to the story. The story is short though, and I'd be willing to try another installment in Levine's Princess Tales series.

Ideas:
In my library, I have a bibliography of "girly" books that is extremely popular. Most of the books tend to be for younger readers, so I'd add this series for something with a little bit more substance. 

A Cool Moonlight

A Cool Moonlight. Angela Johnson. (2003). 133p. New York: Dial Books.

Awards and Honors: Booklist Starred Review

Review:
Eight-year-old Lila was born with a rare disorder that causes her skin to be hypersensitive to light. Ever since she was a baby, she has lived an isolated life, sleeping during the day and only going outside at night. Her companions are her older sister Monk and friend David, with whom she ventures out into the city at night. Lila also has two mysterious friends, Elizabeth and Alyssa, who sneak into her backyard at night and disappear when the sun begins to rise. No one but Lila has seen the girls, who wear tutus and fairy wings and who promise Lila that they will help her find a way to enjoy sunlight. The book ends with a celebration of Lila's ninth birthday, where she comes to realize that being different doesn't mean missing out.

Opinion:
This was a strange book; it's written in a child's voice, using stream of consciousness with no capitalization, but I felt that it had little child appeal to it, even though it is recommended for ages 8 and up. Furthermore, the dreamy and vague narrative may turn off some readers. It's not a bad book per se, but I feel that it would have been more successful as a short story. 

Love That Dog

Love That Dog. Sharon Creech. (2001). 86p. New York: HarperCollins.

Awards and Honors: Christopher Award, Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

Review:

A story written in free verse diary entries, this is the story of Jack, a student in Miss Stretchberry's class who on the first day of school begins a poetry journal. At first Jack is resistant to the idea ("I don't want to/ because boys/ don't write poetry"), but as the school year progresses and Miss Stretchberry encourages his efforts, Jack begins to find his voice. With each new poem, Jack is drawn closer into poetry, and when Miss Stretchberry reads Walter Dean Myers' poem "Love That Boy" to the class, Jack is hooked. Through the new found medium, Jack begins to express his grief over his dog Sky who was killed by a car, and pens a poem called "Love That Dog". With his teacher's encouragement, Jack invites Myers to speak at his school and is thrilled when Myers agrees.  

Opinion:
This is a sweet and sensitive story, poignant without becoming saccharine, and at times quite funny. The story of Jack finding his voice is downright inspiring, and Creech's inclusion of the original poems which are referenced in the book is an nice addition.

Ideas:

This book would be wonderful to use in a classroom to inspire students to keep their own poetry journals. 

Dear Dumb Diary: The Problem With Here is That It's Where I'm From

Dear Dumb Diary: The Problem With Here is That It's Where I'm From. by Jim Benton. (2007). 120p. New York: Scholastic Press. 

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Jim Benton is an author of popular humor for tweens. His Dear Dumb Diary series is a hilarious look into the diary of Jamie Kelly, a sarcastic and sassy middle school student. In this installment, Jamie, who is bored with her school and her town, becomes obsessed with the idea of being "foreign" and "exotic". When the students of nearby Wodehouse Middle School are bussed into Mackerel Middle School because of a problem with their ventilation system, Jamie and her best friend Isabella are thrilled. Things get even better for Jamie and Isabella when they meet Colette, a beautiful Wodehouse student who challenges the social dominance of popular girl, Angeline. The book is a clever commentary on prettiness and popularity. 

Opinion:
I expected to not enjoy this book, as I imagined it was just a hasty attempt to cash in on the sarcastic adolescent diary trend started by Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid series. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Dear Dumb Diary series is  hilarious and even perceptive at times. The humor is intelligent and the stories also have a nice message without becoming didactic. 

Ideas:
This series may inspire tweens to begin keeping their own journals. 

Glee

Glee. Season 1. (2009). Fox Studios.

Review:

Glee is an hour-long prime time musical television show which airs on the Fox network. The show tells the story of the New Directions high school glee club, as it is taken over by Spanish teacher Will Schuester, a new director who attempts to revive the program. The glee club is seen as a direct rival to the school's award winning cheer leading program, run by overbearing coach Sue Sylvester. Will is faced with the task of uniting a ragtag bunch of students while avoiding the scheming plots of Sue Sylvester. The show is a mix of comedy and drama and deals with touchy subjects like drug use and sexuality comically, yet frankly.   

Opinion:

I had a hard time watching this show... The preponderance of stock characters, some of which are offensively stereotypical (such as effeminate and predatory gay characters), turned me off from the very beginning. I think that the creators were trying to use these stereotypes to comment on social issues, but their attempts falls flat resulting in a show that is only occasionally funny and more often annoying.

Ideas:
Use this show as a way to discuss harmful stereotypes with tweens. 

A.N.T. Farm

A.N.T. Farm. Season 1. (2011). Disney Channel.

Review:

A.N.T. Farm is a 30-minute tween sitcom which airs on the Disney Channel and centers around the life of eleven-year-old Chyna Parks, a musical prodigy who attends a program for gifted kids at the local high school. At the Advanced Natural Talent (A.N.T.) program, China meets Olive, a girl with a photographic memory, and Fletcher, an artistic genius, and the three quickly become best friends. The show follows the group as they go on various mischievous, yet generally harmless adventures, and as they deal with the hazards of attending school amongst older teens. Recurring characters are Chyna's older brother Cameron, who is mainly embarrassed by his younger sister; Chyna's police officer father, Darryl; Lexi, the popular blond bully; and Gibson, the hapless teacher of the A.N.T. program.

Opinion:

A.N.T. Farm is a typical tween sitcom... stock characters, unrealistic situations and silly humor, but it's entertaining. The multicultural cast is also a nice touch.

iCarly

iCarly. Season 1. (2007-2008). Nickelodeon Studios.

Review:

iCarly is a 30-minute tween sitcom which centers around the life of Carly Shay, her sassy best friend Sam, and her admirer and neighbor Freddie. When the girls play a prank on a teacher, their punishment is to help the school conduct and record the talent show try-outs. Freddie helps record and ends up posting Carly and Sam's antics online, where the audience calls for more. The group realizes that they could have a popular webcast on their hands, so they turn the third floor of the loft Carly shares with her older brother and guardian into a recording studio and begin producing iCarly, a webcast featuring teens showing off their talents.

Opinion:

iCarly is a typical tween sitcom, with stock characters, rather unrealistic situations and silly humor, but it's cute. I think that it is interesting that the show focuses on the digital life of tweens who are generally much more tech savvy than the older generation. While the premise is a bit silly, the depiction of tech behavior of tweens is rather realistic.

Ideas:
I'd love to use this show as a springboard for having tweens script, record, edit and post their own digital videos.

Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Circus Clown

 

Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Circus Clown. by David A. Adler. (2004). 57p. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group. 

Awards and Honors: none

Review:

Cam Jansen, a girl with a photographic memory, solves a mystery and nabs a purse thief when she her friend Eric and her Aunt Molly go to the circus in this installment of David Adler's Cam Jansen series. Cam slowly unravels the mystery by recalling what she has seen during the day, leading her to a pair of purse snatchers who commit their crimes by pretending to be circus clowns. This is a short and simple mystery for young tweens with a satisfying ending. While the main characters in most mystery series are male, Cam is a clever and likeable female lead.

Opinion:
Series fiction is popular with young readers, and Adler's Cam Jansen series is a good choice for newly independent readers. Kids will enjoy reading along as Cam puts together the clues to solve the mystery of the missing purses. 

Freckle Juice

Freckle Juice. by Judy Blume. (1971). 47p. New York: Random House Children's Books. 

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Andrew Marcus wants freckles. He wants them so much that he agrees to pay his know-it-all classmate Sharon fifty cents for her secret family recipe for Freckle Juice. Andrew mixes up the juice according to Sharon's directions, but he doesn't get any freckles, he only gets sick. But Andrew doesn't want to admit that Sharon got the best of him, so he takes matters into his own hands.

Opinion:

Judy Blume is the author of some of the best known works of literature for children and Freckle Juice is a classic. It's an innocent story of childhood, best suited for younger readers. I do take issue with the fact that Sharon lies and steals, yet faces no repercussions and while it feels a bit dated, these are minor qualms.

Ideas:
This book is an excellent choice for younger tweens and English language learners. 

Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Frantastic Voyage

Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Frantastic Voyage. by Jim Benton. (2005). 103p. New York: Simon and Schuster.  

Awards and Honors: none

Review:

In this installment in Benton's Franny K. Stein series, the young mad scientist creates a doomsday device to destroy her inventions in case they should fall into the hands of evil-doers. Unfortunately, Igor, her lab assistant (who is only part Labrador Retriever) ends up swallowing the tiny device and Franny must shrink herself to deactivate the explosive before it detonates inside him. Plenty of over the top, gross out humor abounds, and along the way, Franny and Igor also learn about the dangers of advertising and television.

Opinion:

This was the first book I've read in the Franny K. Stein series, and while I didn't love it (Benton's Dear Dumb Diary is smarter and funnier), I can see its appeal for readers who enjoy humorous, easy-to-read books liberally dosed with cartoonish illustrations.

Ideas:
A good choice for reluctant readers, who will be drawn to the large type and comic illustrations.

The Magic Finger

The Magic Finger. by Roald Dahl. illustrated by Quentin Blake. (1964). 63p. New York: Scholastic Press. 

Awards and Honors: none

Review:
Roald Dahl's dark humor is on full display in The Magic Finger, a bizarre little story with an anti-hunting message. The Gregg family love to hunt, but the girl who lives next door to them thinks their sport is atrocious. When she tries to talk them out of it they just laugh at her. She finally becomes so mad that she puts the Magic Finger on them... After a particularly successful duck hunting excursion, the Greggs wake up one morning to find that they've been changed into ducks and now the tables are turned. Quentin Blake's wonderfully wry illustrations add to the humor in the book, which has a happy ending for the Greggs and for the little girl with the Magic Finger. 

Opinion:

This is a smart and funny book written with typical Dahl wit. 

Ideas:
This book would make a fine addition to a bibliography of humorous books for young readers. 

Big Nate: From the Top

Big Nate: From the Top. by Lincoln Peirce. (2010). 223p. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel.

Awards and Honors: none

Review: 

Big Nate: From the Top is a collection of comic strips featuring the antics of eleven-year-old Nate Wright, a wise-cracking troublemaker, class clown and anti-hero. Big Nate goofs off, gets in trouble and generally drives all the adults in his life crazy, though he also gets his share of comeuppance, too.
 

Opinion:

Though much of the humor is rather unoriginal, younger tweens will be left in stitches at Nate's mischievous adventures. Unfortunately though there are a few laughs here and there, I find Big Nate a bit too mean-spirited for my taste. (For instance, making fun of a foreign exchange student for the way he speaks is just not funny to me.)

Ideas:

Big Nate should appeal to reluctant readers, as well as fans of the Wimpy Kid stories who have exhausted all the books in that series.

The Midwife's Apprentice

The Midwife's Apprentice. by Karen Cushman. (1996). 144p. New York: HarperCollins.


Awards and Honors: Newbery Medal, 1996

Review:

The Midwife’s Apprentice is the story of a homeless, nameless orphan who after seeking shelter in the warmth of a trash heap ends up being apprenticed to a  harsh midwife in a medieval village. Jane the Midwife takes her in, not out of pity or kindness, but because she is looking for cheap labor, and names her Beetle. The girl soon renames herself Alyce, and begins to learn the midwife's trade. Although Alyce comes across many stumbling blocks, she is a plucky and likeable heroine who does not let her unlucky circumstances get the best of her. This is ultimately a story about hope and determination.

Opinion:
Alyce's determination through her travails left me rooting for her and wishing that Cushman had written a sequel to The Midwife’s Apprentice. Though I'm not much for books with a moral, I enjoyed the message of persistence and will.

Ideas: 
Use this book to enhance lessons on Medieval fiction.

Among The Hidden

Among The Hidden. by Margaret Peterson Haddix. (1998). 153p. New York: Simon and Schuster.  

Awards and Honors: Top 10--ALA Best Books for Young Adults, An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Reader, YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, California Young Readers Medal

Review: 
A quick-paced and accessible dystopia for tween readers, Among the Hidden is the first book is Haddix's Shadow Children trilogy. Sometime in the not-too-distant future, a totalitarian government prohibits families from having more than two children. Luke is a third child- a "shadow child"- whose very existence is punishable by death by the Population Police. Luke must hide in an attic to keep his existence a secret, he cannot go to school, or even leave the house and he has little hope for the future until he meets another shadow child who has big plans to defy the government and try to change the lives of all shadow children. But when tragedy strikes, Luke must take a terrible risk to try to keep himself and his family safe.

Opinion:
While I thought that the dialogue was stilted in places, Haddix does a good job of maintaining pacing while setting up the back story of the book. It's an easy read, but it holds appeal for older readers for its action.

Ideas:
With the new found popularity of dystopias, recommend this for tweens who may not be ready to tackle Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series. 

Clay

Clay. by David Almond. (2005). 256p. New York: Delacorte Press.  

Awards and Honors: none

Review: 

David Almond has a knack for conjuring up strange and curious stories. Where Skellig was bizarre but uplifting, Clay is entirely creepy. Altar boy Davie is a mischievous, but innocent, student growing up in the North English countryside during the 1960s. When a strange new boy named Stephen Rose comes to town, Davie finds himself simultaneously repulsed and attracted by the boy, and soon finds himself entangled in a quickly escalating situation. Stephen, a talented sculptor, has the ability to create living things from clay, and together with Davie he creates an enormous clay monster which he intends to have do his bidding. Davie is horrified by the creature, and when a death takes place he is plagued with guilt at his own culpability in creating such a monster. The book raises big questions about good and evil, creation and destruction and about God.

Opinion:

Even though the plot was predictable, I thought that Clay's discussion of some very deep and philosophical questions kept the book interesting. This is definitely a book for older tweens who can appreciate and tackle the heavy issues that are raised by Almond.

Ideas:
Pair this with Shelley's classic gothic horror, Frankenstein, for an interesting discussion of creation and destruction. 

A Visit to William Blake's Inn

A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers. by Nancy Willard. illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen (1981). 48p. New York: Harcourt Brace.  

Awards and Honors: Newbery Medal, Caldecott Honor

Review: 
A collection of poetry about an imaginary inn belonging to the poet William Blake and its fantastical guests and staff. Sun flowers, tigers, rabbits and cats inhabit the magical inn where they interact with each other and with the owner. Accompanying the poems are the Provensens' illustrations, rendered in muted earth tones, detailed, yet old-fashioned seeming, in keeping with the tone of the poems. Willard's language is rich, employing words like 'prodigious' and 'incommodious'.

Opinion:
Even though the language is difficult, I feel that younger readers would get the most enjoyment from this book with its fanciful illustrations and imaginative poems.

Ideas:
I'd use this book for a language arts class to enrich a lesson on William Blake. 

Skellig

 

Skellig. by David Almond. (1998). 182p. New York: Delacorte Press.  

Awards and Honors: 1998 Carnegie Medal Winner, 1998 Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Award, 2000 Michael L Printz Honor Book, A Publishers Weekly Best Book, A Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choice-Top of the List, A Horn Book FanFare , A School Library Journal Best Book, An ALA Notable Children's Book

Review: 

Twelve-year-old Michael's new baby sister is seriously ill. In order to make room for the new addition, his family has moved out of their old neighborhood and into a mysterious house which is literally falling apart around them. Michael's father warns him not to go in to the garage which is in danger of collapsing, but in spite of the warnings and his own fear, Michael decides to see what is inside the old building. He finds a strange, winged man in the garage, who calls himself Skellig. Michael, along with new friend Mina, an unconventional free spirit who realizes that Skellig is something special, feed and shelter Skellig as he grows stronger and stronger. As Skellig grows stronger, Michael's baby sister gets sicker until she's rushed back to the hospital for a risky surgery that might save her life. The mystery of Skellig's identity only intensifies after the baby recovers, but Michael and Mina are left transformed through their relationship with the winged man.

Opinion:

A wonderful book for perceptive tweens, Skellig deals in magical realism, fantasy, literary allusion and tons of symbolism. At times, the story seems like a book about children for adults, even though its written on a middle grade level.

Ideas:

This book would be a good choice for a middle grade English class to read when discussing symbolism.

The Star Maker

The Star Maker. by Lawrence Yep. (2011). 100p. New York: HarperCollins.  

Awards and Honors: none 
 
Review: 

As the youngest child growing up a large Chinese American family in San Francisco's Chinatown, eight-year-old Artie is too often the brunt of his older cousins' teasing. During a family get-together, he makes a hasty promise to his cousins to buy firecrackers for them all during the next Chinese New Year. Artie's uncle Chester, himself a black sheep in the family, sympathizes with him and offers to help him out. But when tough times fall upon Uncle Chester, Artie begins to worry that they will both break the promises that they made. The novel explores the relationship between Artie and Chester, as they both navigate the concepts of responsibility, accountability and integrity.  

Opinion:

The Star Maker is an excellent novel for young readers who are beginning to transition into more challenging material. It is nuanced and realistic, yet short and accessible. Multicultural books, while usually well-intentioned, often fall into the trap of exoticizing other cultures, but one of the strengths of this novel is that it offers a nice look into some of the traditions that are celebrated by families during the Lunar New Year, yet avoids exoticizing Chinese culture.   

Ideas:
This book lends itself perfectly to library displays for Chinese New Year.

The Book Without Words

The Book Without Words. by Avi. (2005). 200p. New York: Hyperion.  
 

Awards and Honors: New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age, 2005

Review: 

From the very first foreboding paragraph, The Book Without Words is a dark, thrilling and highly atmospheric novel. Avi's tale of magic in early Medieval England centers around a mysterious book of blank pages- the Book Without Words- which is said to hold the mysteries of alchemy and immortality. Stolen long ago by a young boy, the book now lies in the hands of Thorston, an elderly alchemist who will stop at nothing to unlock its magic. However Thorston is being followed by a monk intent on recovering the book, as well as the greedy town reeve who wants the gold that he believes Thorston has learned how to make. Thorston's servant girl, Sybil, his speaking pet raven, Odo, and two young boys hired by the monk and the reeve, get caught in the middle of a terrible struggle between good and evil, desire and greed. Together they must work together to save themselves and to rid the world of black magic. 

Opinion:
I thoroughly enjoyed this spooky, suspenseful and well-crafted book. As fantastical as some parts of the story are (a talking raven, a reanimating corpse, magical spells, and saintly apparitions), the narrative comes alive with Avi's wonderfully descriptive language and tight dialogue.  

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.