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The Encyclopedia of Me. by Karen Rivers. September 1, 2012. Scholastic. 256 pages. ISBN: 9780545310284 The encyclopedia of Isadora “Tink” Aaron-Martin’s life is an alphabetical listing of all the things that matter to her, both good and bad. Included in this tome are things like her brother Seb’s autism, her best friend Freddie Blue Anderson, skateboarding,
Everybody magazine, her afro, her crush list (which may or may not include Kai, the new blue-haired boy next door), and lots of footnotes explaining Tink’s personality, family, friendships, and emotions. Much like a diary, this encyclopedia reveals Tink’s innermost secrets, creating a rich, realistic portrait of a twenty-first century middle schooler.
I had no idea when I started this book how much I would grow to love it. It starts out so randomly, with an entry for “Aa, “which Tink defines as “Some kind of lava.” For the first few entries of the encyclopedia, I thought the concept was more of a gimmick than an effective story telling technique. Soon, though, I realized that this story has an actual arc, and that Tink’s encyclopedia serves as a place for her to share what she might never say out loud to anyone else. As the entries unfold, the reader is allowed to experience many defining moments in Tink’s life. We see her first real kiss, her major falling out with Freddie Blue, a rebellious overnight in a department store, her first experiences as a skateboarder, and, at the height of the story, a meltdown from Seb, a near-tragic injury for her other brother, Lex, and her own decision to stop using her nickname and go by the name Isadora instead. Every one of these moments feels true, and readers can really relate to the various crises Tink faces.
I think the true strength of this book is the description. I love the way Tink characterizes Freddie Blue, for example. At one point, she complains that Freddie Blue talks to her “as though she is my elderly maiden aunt from Ohio.” Later on, she writes that “FB’s scorn is so sharp, it’s like a glittery paring knife peeling the skin off an apple in one smooth, long curl. You do not want to be the apple.” Freddie Blue is one of the most interesting characters in the story, and these moments of description really helped me form an image of her in my mind.
Lots of other little moments caught my attention and made me smile with enjoyment or recognition. I could relate to Tink’s statement that “
Sometimes I write things that are so embarrassing that even my fingers blush and wish they could run away to a forest to hide without the rest of my embarrassing self.” I also loved her observation that “
Coffee-flavored ice cream, which tastes like coffee smells, is delicious. Actual coffee, which smells like coffee-flavored ice cream tastes, is not.” There are many other lines like these that demonstrate Tink’s sense of humor, as well as her unique outlook on life.
This book is perfect for middle school girls. It’s entertaining, smart, and well-written, with the perfect mix of humor, drama, and romance. It compares well with other books about complicated friendships, such as
Mission Unpopular and
The Darlings Are Forever, and will also draw in readers who like books written in a
diary format.
The Encyclopedia of Me is one of my favorite books that I’ve read in 2012, and I can’t wait for it to come out in stores this September 1st.
I received a digital ARC of The Encyclopedia of Me from Scholastic via NetGalley.
Third Grade Angels. by Jerry Spinelli. September 1, 2012. Arthur A. Levine Books. 112 pages. ISBN: 9780545387729 Third Grade Angels is a prequel to
Fourth Grade Rats, a beloved Jerry Spinelli chapter book originally published in 1991. As of writing this review I have not yet read
Fourth Grade Rats (though it is on my to-read list), so my evaluation of this book is based solely on the story itself, and not how well it does or does not complement the first one.
George, better known as “Suds” due to his love for taking long baths has always heard the rhyme that says first grade babies/second grade cats/third grade angels/fourth grade rats. This year, as he enters third grade, he learns that his teacher, Mrs. Simms, literally wants her students to be angels, and that she will award one student per month with a halo for their efforts. Suds, who never likes to come in second, decides that he must be the first one to receive a halo, and he immediately starts doing extra nice things with the sole intention of impressing his teacher. But it turns out that being an angel is a lot harder than it sounds, and it might involve more than simply being good when the adults are watching.
I have no doubt that the lesson of this story - that being good is less about ourselves and more about how we treat others - will be the delight of parents and teachers alike, especially those who believe the purpose of children’s literature is always to instruct and to educate children on how to be better citizens. I like it for that reason, too, because I’m an adult, and I like knowing there are books out there still protecting childhood innocence and promoting good morals. For kids, though, the moral will probably not be as appealing as the other positive qualities of this book - mainly its sense of humor, fast-paced dialogue, and memorable characters.
Suds is by far my favorite character of the story. He just comes across as so real, with all the innocence and mischief of a real eight-year-old boy. A great example of why I love Suds comes early in chapter three:
[Joey] held out his first. I stared at it. “Bump me, dude,” he said. “Oh,” I said. I bumped him. I guess I did it right because he didn’t laugh or sneer. It my first-ever fist bump. I love that he is the kind of kid who has never fist bumped, but who would take note of the first time he does so.
I also love the connection he was with his mom, and the discussions they have while he is in the bathtub, especially about Suds’s longtime crush on Judy Billings. These moments remind me quite a bit of the discussions between Clementine and her parents in the Clementine series. Another similarity to Clementine is that Suds call his little sister Zippernose in the same way that Clementine calls her brother different vegetable-related nicknames.
Third Grade Angels is the perfect early chapter book. Its sense of humor, characterization, and storytelling style are all spot-on, and there is never a dull moment in the entire story. This is definitely one of the best books I have read this year, and I’m eager to see how it compares to the first book, especially with 20 years between the two.
Third Grade Angels will be published on September 1, 2012.
I received a digital ARC of Third Grade Angels from Scholastic via NetGalley.
Liar & Spy. by Rebecca Stead. August 7, 2012. Random House. 192 pages. ISBN: 9780385737432 Liar & Spy, the forthcoming new novel from Rebecca Stead, is, in some ways, the complete opposite of
When You Reach Me.
When You Reach Me has a girl protagonist;
Liar & Spy’s main character is a boy.
When You Reach Me involves science fiction and historical elements,
Liar & Spy is completely contemporary and realistic.
When You Reach Me has a pair of old friends who aren’t speaking;
Liar & Spy has a pair of new friends just getting to know one another. The two books share one thing in common, however - both feature Rebecca Stead’s unmistakable writing style.
Georges is named for his parents’ favorite artist, Georges Seurat, but most of the kids in his school don’t know that, so they tease him, calling him Gorgeous and generally bullying him until school becomes insufferable. Georges’s family has also just lost their house, and they have had to move into an apartment while his dad finds work and his mom works double shifts as a hospital nurse. Only one exciting thing has happened to Georges: meeting Safer and his sister, Candy. They live in Georges’s apartment building with their free-spirited parents and spend much of their time spying on their neighbors. One in particular, whom Safer calls Mr. X, is a frequent target, because Safer says he smuggles dead bodies out of the building in duffel bags. Georges is drawn immediately into the excitement of spying on a potential murderer, but as Safer becomes more and more reckless, Georges wonders just how far he will be asked to go toward exposing Mr. X’s supposed crimes.
This book is so well-crafted that every character and every place the characters visit, including school, feels somehow magical. Stead chooses such strong, substantial details in her descriptions that the reader can’t help but visualize each sentence. I read this book over several days, riding the train to and from work. Each time I had to put the book down, I would look around dazedly, as though surprised to discover I was not actually living inside the world of the story. When I returned to the story each day, I could feel myself sliding back into the story with ease, eager to absorb every detail.
There are some twists and turns to the plot, with two major mind-blowing reveals toward the end that cause the reader to really reevaluate his/her take on the entire story. Though twists are fun, the more impressive thing is the way in which the mood of the story shifts depending on how Georges is feeling. Georges sees things one way at the beginning of the book, but when his attitude shifts after the events of the story, the very same people and situations look totally different. That kind of subtlety is what sets Stead’s writing apart, and it’s what really pushed me over the edge from a four-star Goodreads rating to a five.
I can’t say that I love
Liar & Spy as well as I love
When You Reach Me, but it’s not a disappointing follow-up at all. I’ll be curious to see whether
Liar & Spy is also recognized by the Newbery Committee; I suspect it will turn up in a lot of this year’s Mock Newbery discussions.
Liar & Spy will be available in bookstores beginning Tuesday, August 7.
I received a digital ARC of Liar & Spy from Random House via NetGal
Nerd Girls: A Catastrophe of Nerdish Proportions. by Alan Lawrence Sitomer. July 31, 2012. Disney-Hyperion. 272 pages. ISBN: 9781423139973
In this sequel to
Nerd Girls: Rise of the Dorkasaurus, Maureen, Beanpole, and Q, collectively known as the Nerd Girls, are still fighting pretty constantly with the Threepees, Kiki, Brittany-Brattany, and Sofes. The two groups’ pranks on each other escalate so severely, the principal finally steps in to put an end to their bitter rivalry. His solution? The two groups must join as one team and compete in the Academic Septathlon.
As in the first book, Maureen’s voice is very strong in this second novel, but she is much more likable this time around. Though she still occasionally puts herself down over her weight, she is more confident in herself and more willing to take on the cruel popular girls instead of just backing down and letting them win. I also thought her affection for Q and Beanpole was much more evident this time around, especially when Q nearly lets her medical issues get the best of her. Interestingly, Beanpole became a favorite for me in this novel as well, especially when it begins to look like she and Sofes will become friends during their preparations for the septathlon. In fact, Sofes, Brittany, and Kiki all seem to become more human in this book. They’ll never be angels, but Sitomer does a nice job of letting the reader see at list a hint of who the girls are beneath their nasty attitudes.
Another thing that struck me about this book is how funny it is. I don’t remember laughing as much during the first book, but there are a lot of great one-liners and comic moments in the sequel. I especially like the predictably klutzy moves Beanpole makes at various points throughout the book. They provide nice comic relief as well as a great model for kids to learn how to laugh at themselves. The entire story is actually a great lesson in self-acceptance and confidence, but it doesn’t present itself in a preach way, so kids will be drawn to it, not repelled.
All in all, this is a great follow-up to
Rise of the Dorkasaurus and fans of the first book will eagerly devour it. Both Nerd Girls books are great for kids who like Dork Diaries, Popularity Papers, Dear Dumb Diary, and The Snob Squad. Look for
A Catastrophe of Nerdish Proportions in bookstores on July 31, 2012.
I received a digital ARC of A Catastrophe of Nerdish Proportions from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley.
The Classroom: The Epic Documentary of a Not-Yet-Epic Kid. by Robin Mellom. June 19, 2012. Disney-Hyperion. 288 pages. ISBN: 9781423150633School often poses problems for worrywart Trevor Jones, but he’s always had his best friend Libby Gardner to save him from disaster. Therefore, it’s a huge shock when Libby arrives to the bus stop on the first day of middle school and immediately tells Trevor they can’t be “friend friends” anymore because she thinks they need to branch out. It gets even worse when Libby explains that Trevor has until the end of the first day of school to find a date to the Fall Dance - without any of her usual expert guidance.
There are a lot of books out there about the first day of middle school, but
The Classroom is unique for two reasons. One is that the story is told in a documentary format, with breaks between chapters for interviews with the main characters. Characters’ pictures are shown, along with transcripts of what they have told the cameraman about their day at school, giving insight into the worries and motives of kids other than Trevor. I won’t say this is a successful gimmick all the time, but it’s a welcome change from the diary format that seems to be taking over lately. The documentary format is still visually appealing but it also takes a different approach, which makes the book stand out.
The second reason this book is unique among the scores of middle school books available is that it’s a friendship story from the male point of view. We have other middle school books about boys, of course -
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, James Patterson’s new series, the Big Nate books - but somehow those books don’t focus quite as strongly on the changes in friendships that occur when middle school begins. A lot of attention is paid to girls losing their friends to the popular crowd, but Trevor is the first boy I’ve seen go through that in a work of fiction, and it was so completely refreshing to see that. I’m sure boys fall victim to shifting cliques as much as girls do, and this book really validates that experience.
I think the best term I could use to describe
The Classroom is “tween soap opera.” This book reads like a cleaner version of DeGrassi, and it has a lot of great characters who would lend themselves easily to an animated cartoon series. It was fun to keep track of each characters’ trajectory throughout that first day of school, and the big cast of characters captured that crowded, chaotic environment of middle school hallways so well. The story itself unravels a litle bit at he end because the resolution comes so easily after all of Trevor’s turmoil, but it was still worth the ride it took to get there.
Recommend
The Classroom to true wimpy kids who are fed up with Greg Heffley, and to fans of
The Fourth Stall,
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda,
The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman, and the Amelia Rules graphic novels.
I received a digital ARC of The Classroom from my local public library.
For more about this book, visit Goodreads and
0 Comments on Review: The Classroom by Robin Mellom (ARC) as of 1/1/1900
Flirting in Italian. by Lauren Henderson. June 12, 2012. Random House. 336 pages. ISBN: 9780385741354Violet Routledge is shaken when she discovers that she strongly resembles the subject of a portrait hanging in Sir John Soane’s museum. When she learns that the painting was once located in the Castello di Vesperi in Tuscany, she makes the decision to study abroad for the summer, joining a small group of girls who have signed up to study art, culture, painting, dancing, and more under the tutelage of a local Italian woman. The fourteenth century villa where she will live turns out to be beautiful, and the other girls are different, but nice. There are only two things Violet isn’t really prepared for - her attraction to a gorgeous Italian boy named Luca, and the fact that her resemblance to that portrait will put her life in danger.
Flirting in Italian is the first installment in a new trilogy by Lauren Henderson. (She also wrote the Scarlett Wakefield mysteries, which ended in 2011 with
Kiss of Death.) I had trouble getting into the Scarlett Wakefield books, possibly because the series begins with a death, but found no such trouble here. I knew from hearing Henderson read a few years ago, that her prose was very poetic, and her kissing scenes extremely original, with not a cliche to be found, but this book really brought those aspects of her talent to the forefront.
The story really bridges two genres. About half the time, it’s a mystery, complete with secret passages and unexpected evildoers. The other half of the time, it’s a romance novel, where Violet tries to reconcile her logical and rational side with the side that desperately wants Luca all to herself. I wouldn’t go so far as to label it romantic suspense, since the mystery and love story aren’t 100 percent intertwined, but the book has that same tone and atmosphere.
For the most part, Henderson does a great job of handling the various cultures and languages that are such a big part of her story. Violet and one her housemates are both English, as is Henderson, so I think their dialogue seemed the most natural and the least forced. The two American characters in the story did seem somewhat stereotypical at certain points, but their accents, too, seemed mostly on point, except for one moment where one of them used the word clever in a decidedly British way. The way Henderson infuses the Italian language into the story, mostly without translating, is also a really nice addition to the atmosphere of the novel. I felt completely immersed in the Tuscan way of life. I think my only issue was the way in which the characters were sometimes compartmentalized according to their country of origin. I wasn’t sure how much of the Italian culture was authentic, and how much was just a stereotype.
This book will delight Henderson’s established fans, but will also appeal to readers who have loved Maureen Johnson’s
13 Little Blue Envelopes, and Stephanie Perkins’s
Anna and the French Kiss. It’s also a nice read-alike for some of Sarah Dessen’s books, but only for readers who also like a bit of mystery and suspense.
Flirting in Italian ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, since it is only the first of three planned books, but the end of the ARC already lists the title of the second book as
Following In Love i
Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm. by Megan McDonald. August 14, 2012. Candlewick Press. 176 pages. ISBN: 9780763634513Judy Moody has a lucky penny. At first, it brings great luck - prizes from The Claw machine, a lucky number of marshmallows in her breakfast cereal, and ten dollars among her Crazy Strips collection. Unfortunately, though, her good luck runs out before the class spelling bee and she is not selected to represent the third grade in Washington, DC. Now her only chance to go on the trip is to accompany her classmate, Jessica, and babysit Jessica’s pet pig, Peegee Weegee. Will her luck hold out long enough to keep Peegee Weegee out of trouble, or will more bad luck follow her to Washington?
This book fits in nicely amongst the others of the series, but it did give me pause. Why would someone bring her pig all the way to Washington, DC for a spelling bee? And why hire a third grader to watch him? I haven’t read all of the previous Judy Moody titles, so maybe this is just par for the course, but this storyline seemed especially unrealistic to me. I also noticed that the characterization of the Moody family, and even of Judy herself, seemed stronger to me in the
most recent Stink book than it does in this one. I found that surprising, since the Stink books are a spin-off from the Judy Moody series, but it might also be that the Judy series is just more well-established so readers need fewer reminders of who everyone is.
The idea of a good luck charm is a nice choice of topic for a chapter book, because I think a lot of kids wish for magical objects, or at least pretend everyday things like pennies and rocks can grant them wishes. I also like the fact that Judy ultimately learns that her good fortune comes from her own actions and not from magical outside sources. Finally, I think this book fills the need for more pig-related chapter books for Mercy Watson fans looking for what to read next.
Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm will be published along with
Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths on August 14.
I received a digital ARC of Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm from Candlewick via NetGalley.
Lulu and the Duck in the Park. by Hilary McKay. September 1, 2012. Albert Whitman and Company. 104 pages. ISBN: 9780807548080 Lulu has many interesting and wonderful qualities, but what she’s known for is her love of animals and her huge collection of them. One day, while her elementary school class visits the park, she gets hold of a duck egg that needs protection. Despite her teacher’s blatant dislike of animals, Lulu takes the egg back to class with her. All is well, until... the egg suddenly starts to hatch!
This chapter book is by Hilary McKay, the author of the Casson family series, the first book of which I reviewed last year. Since it’s for a younger audience, this book deviates quite a bit from the style of the series books, but it’s every bit as well-written as McKay’s books for older readers. Lulu, whose personality reminds me a lot of Ramona Quimby and Clementine, is the kind of good-hearted, bold character kids really relate to and root for. Her predicament with the duck is just the kind of thing that makes five to seven year olds laugh, but it also appeals to that common interest in rescuing animals that leads so many kids to say they want to be veterinarians.
Though I was somewhat puzzled by the class trips to the park and a bit uncomfortable with how strict and mean Lulu’s teacher seemed to be, I don’t think these are true flaws in the story. Rather, I think they demonstrate how attuned McKay is the minds of kids. Children do often see strict adults as simply cruel, and I doubt kids will notice anything unusual about a few extra field trips. In fact, reading about walking through the park is probably more fun than reading about regular classroom activities.
An obvious companion for this book would be
Duck for a Day by Australian author, Meg McKinlay, which was published by Candlewick in February. I also think it would be a nice tie-in for classrooms hatching chicks.
Lulu and the Duck in the Park will be published in the U.S. on September 1, 2012.
I borrowed Lulu and the Duck in the Park from my local public library.
Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super Sleuths. by Megan McDonald. August 14, 2012. Candlewick Press. 96 pages. ISBN: 9780763659417 This summer, Candlewick will publish not one but two new Judy Moody titles. While
Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm (which I will review next week) is a regular Judy Moody story which follows in succession after
Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, this book is something a little bit different. It’s Judy’s guide for detectives, complete with puzzles, activities, and a set of short Encyclopedia Brown-esque mysteries for readers to solve.
What makes
Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super Sleuths stand out for me over other activity books of its kind is how much emphasis it places on reading. This isn’t just an opportunity for kids to fill in a few blanks and move on. Rather, readers have to read carefully to solve mysteries, answer simple logic puzzles, and learn Judy’s various detecting strategies. Just like the rest of the series, the book is heavily illustrated, so new chapter book readers can feel confident trying it out, and the various puzzles would be as much to do alone as with a group, whether that is a child’s family, scout troop, or class.
There are only two drawbacks to this book. One is that it relies on some of the earlier Judy Moody books for hints and clues to some of the puzzles. I can see kids being frustrated if they buy or borrow this book but don’t have the others on hand. Sure, the publisher wants to encourage kids to read the other books in the series, but I hadn’t read Judy Moody, Girl Detective, and it annoyed me that I couldn’t understand some references because of that. In the same way, the book also devotes a good number of pages to Nancy Drew. Nancy Drew is a great character, and kids should definitely discover her, but if they haven’t yet, a pretty sizeable chunk of this book is lost on them.
All in all, this is a book mainly geared toward fans of the series who have read the other books and will appreciate the tie-ins with various plot points. Kids who fancy themselves spies or detectives will love the tips they find here, and they’ll gain confidence from solving Judy’s mysteries right along with her.
I received a digital ARC of Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super Sleuths from Candlewick via NetGalley.
Diary of a Parent Trainer. by Jennifer Smith. June 12, 2012. Random House. 192 pages. ISBN: 9780375990359This middle grade title originally published in the UK introduces Katie Sutton, a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed expert on parent behavior. In her notebook - which reads like a diary similar to that of Nikki in the
Dork Diaries books or Julie and Lydia in the Popularity Papers books- she records not just daily occurrences but her own hard-earned wisdom about the care and keeping of parents. She identifies various modes in which parents operate - embarrassment mode, for example, or angry mode - and then offers advice on how to behave around parents in those modes to achieve the most desirable outcome. Katie also faces her own challenges, especially when it comes to boys and her mother’s new love interest.
I was skeptical of this book for the first few chapters. There were a few cliches that grated on my nerves, the biggest one being that libraries are quiet places with stodgy librarians. That image is false and outdated, and I’ve grown weary of the laziness of authors who still use it. I also wasn’t sure how many kids really believe the adults in their lives are such mysteries. Even when I didn’t agree with my parents at this age, I never thought they were impossible to understand or speaking another language. I also don’t recall truly believing that people over 40 were ancient. Sentiments like these made me question the authenticity of Katie’s character, and turned me off to the story at first.
I also found myself wondering about the book’s title. To me,
Diary of a Parent Trainer implies that Katie trains parents how to behave. What she actually does, though, is train kids on how to read their parents’ moods and behaviors. The difference is subtle enough, I suppose, but I couldn’t help thinking the title arose from a desire to attract fans of other diary-style novels. I don’t think the title will turn readers away, since it does have a nice ring to it, but it might inadvertently muddle the reader’s expectations.
Thankfully, the quality of writing improves greatly as the story develops, and that saves the book. Author Jenny Smith does a great job of portraying the family’s healthy attitude toward the death of Katie’s father. This is one area where she avoids the usual cliches and develops a unique and believable set of circumstances for this very specific family. She also really demonstrates her capabilities as a writer through her descriptions of Katie’s neighbors and relatives in her small village. I really enjoyed seeing the dynamics of a small town come to life, and I thought Katie’s family’s relationships to these people added a lot to the story. I also really appreciate the fact that the American version of this novel does not seem to be completely Americanized. I have no way of knowing how much British English appears in the UK edition, but at least some of it remains, which preserves the integrity of the setting and the characters’ proper manner of speaking.
Girls already into other diary-style novels will happily enjoy this one as well. Other possible read-alikes include the
Katie Jordan series, the
Lou! graphic novels and
0 Comments on Review: Diary of a Parent Trainer by Jennifer Smith (ARC) as of 6/1/2012 5:27:00 AM
The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm. by Patricia MacLachlan. September 1, 2012. Albert Whitman & Company. 144 pages. ISBN: 9780807566169Long before they become those well-loved orphans living secretly in a boxcar to escape their supposedly evil grandfather, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny live at Meadowview Farm with their parents. In the final year before their parents die, the four kids care for animals, open their home to strangers whose car breaks down during a bad snowstorm, and even put on a free circus for their neighbors to distract them from “hard times.” Above all, even when the inevitable sad ending arrives, they care for and love one another. This book is being published to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the publication of
The Boxcar Children.
I had mixed feelings about reading this book, but my curiosity won out over my reservations. Having read many of the original titles as a kid, I found that I really wanted to know what life was like before that opening scene in
The Boxcar Children where the four kids stand hungry before the bakery window. I was worried, though, that even the talents of Patricia MacLachlan could not preserve the charm and warmth of the original series. It turns out I was a little bit right about that, but I still wasn’t entirely disappointed.
The first thing I noticed, for better or for worse, is the fact that the writing style in this prequel is clearly that of Patricia MacLachlan. I guess I didn’t really expect her to try imitating Gertrude Chandler Warner, since that would feel even less authentic, but I found the change in voice from the original books to this one to be quite jarring. This is why I think this book should be seen as a tribute or homage to the original author and her narrative world rather than a true part of the series. If this were the first book a child read in the Boxcar Children series, I think that would be too bad and would somehow diminish the overall reading experience.
Once I settled into the story, I became further convinced that this is definitely a book to be read after becoming familiar with the Boxcar Children, not before. There are lots of hints throughout the text to the death of the Alden parents, which I suppose could be seen as foreshadowing, but really won’t have nearly as much meaning for anyone who doesn’t know already how things turn out. There are lots of details, too, that hint at the roles each of the children will play later on in the series, characterizations which on their own are easy to breeze by, but combined with knowledge from the series give the reader a bit of a knowing smile.
On its own, without considering the series as a whole, the book was just okay for me. I felt a strong sense of detachment from the characters, as though I could never really get close enough to them to feel what they were feeling, or worry about what worried them. The tone of the book is very upbeat and positive. Even when “hard times” strike, the Alden family seems to greet them with a smile, always ready for the next challenge. I know some parents will be pleased to have such a wholesome story to share with their kids, but I would argue that it’s even more wholesome than the already tame original series, and that it borders on painfully sweet. I also think the latter half of the book zips by far too quickly, with barely a climax before the denouement and conclusion. I felt like the parents’ death happened mainly because it was supposed to for the sake of continuity, and not because it made any logical se
Squish #3: The Power of the Parasite. by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. May 22, 2012. Random House. 96 pages. ISBN: 9780375843914 The Power of the Parasite is the third book in the Squish series by
Babymouse creators Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. In this episode, Squish, a pond-dwelling amoeba, is sent to summer swim camp because his mom thinks amoebas who live in ponds should know how to swim. While sitting on the sidelines, too scared to actually get in the pool, he meets a hydra named Basil. Squish and Basil share a love of Super Amoeba comic books, which Squish reads in every volume of the series so far, and they laugh themselves silly over the swim coach’s insistence that swimming is “super awesome fun!” Before long, though, Basil’s sense of humor reveals a cruel streak, and Squish finds himself wondering if their fun is going too far.
What I like about Jennifer and Matthew Holm’s work is that it finds the fun and humor in childhood experiences. Both Babymouse and Squish are successful series, I think, because of their unique, clever perspectives on school, adults, family, friendship, and in Squish’s case, science. As I’ve said in the past about the Little Wings chapter book series, there is something really appealing about realistic problems set in fantastical and unusual settings. There isn’t much new about the storyline in this book - lots of books have dealt with the idea of bullying or peer pressure in some way, but because the setting is a pond and the characters are hydras and amoebas, the entire story becomes fresh and interesting to its audience, even if that audience has read the basic plotline before.
I also think the way each organism is introduced to the reader is a nice way to incorporate some scientific knowledge into the book without losing the book’s entertainment value. I wasn’t even sure myself of the difference between an amoeba, a paramecium, and a hydra before getting into this series, and it was fun to be reminded by these quirky comics characters. The only thing I do need to admit is that this book isn’t as funny as even the least amusing Babymouse book. Babymouse’s sarcasm really resonates with me, as does her snarky banter with the narrator, but Squish is more earnest, and there is a bit more of a moral to his story. I also recently book talked Babymouse: Mad Scientist to a third grade class, and all of them had read Babymouse, but none had heard of Squish. Squish is cute, and his stories are fun and fast-paced, but they just don’t compare to the excellence of the Babymouse books.
Overall, I think
The Power of the Parasite will appeal to kids hooked on graphic novels. Boys who are turned off by the pinkness of Babymouse might find these a nice alternative. I think kids as young as 5 or 6 can appreciate Squish’s more innocent humor, whereas Babymouse’s audience might skew slightly older. Parents who are turned off by Captain Underpants and similar books can feel at ease with Squish, whose only disgusting traits are those given to him by nature. Recommend this book to budding scientists, comic book fanatics, and fans of Megan McDonald’s Stink series.
I received a digital ARC of The Power of the Parasite from Random House via NetGalley.
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Katie Woo Rules the School. by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Tammie Lyon. August 1, 2012. Capstone. 96 pages. ISBN: 9781404879089
Four Katie Woo books originally published as stand-alone easy readers have been gathered into this attractive collection entitled K
atie Woo Rules the School. In each story, Katie faces a different situation in her classroom. "Katie and the Class Pet" is the predictable story of Katie bringing the class guinea pig home for the weekend and nearly losing him. "No More Teasing" offers effective solutions for classroom bullying. "The Big Lie" deals with the theft of a classmate’s toy and lying to cover it up. "Star of the Show" focuses on the class play, in which Katie has a much more significant role than she realizes. Each story teaches a lesson that can easily apply to any child’s day-to-day life at school.
Because they are now in a compilation, the four books included here are no longer divided into their own short chapters. It is almost as though each story is a chapter unto itself, a fact that is likely to attract new readers who are anxious to start reading “big kid” books. The illustrations remain, which is wonderful, because they’re adorable and they offer just the right amount of clues to help readers decode what they read. In this new format, Katie Woo suddenly seems to fit into the same category as characters like Mr. Putter and Tabby, Frog and Toad, and Mercy Watson, all of whom star in longer, thicker easy readers. The transitional time when kids move from easy readers to chapter books is a tricky one for some people - especially parents - and this new format for Katie Woo fills a real need for easy-to-read books that more closely resemble chapter books.
I have always loved Katie Woo, and this book has made me excited about her all over again. Don’t miss the suggestions at the back of the book for activities related to the stories, and also be on the lookout for
Katie Woo and Friends, another compilation to be published along with
Katie Woo Rules the School in August. Katie Woo and Friends will include the stories previously published as
Boss of the World,
The Tricky Tooth,
Goodbye to Goldie, and
Katie Goes Camping.I received a digital ARC of Katie Woo Rules the School from Netgalley.
Oh Boy, Mallory. by Laurie Friedman. February 1, 2012. Lerner Publishing Group. 160 pages. ISBN: 9780761360728
In
Oh Boy, Mallory, Mallory McDonald starts writing in a diary after she learns through the school grapevine that an older boy has a crush on her. This news is both exciting and bewildering, and Mallory turns to her new diary to help her sort out her feelings and decide what to do. As usual, her decisions are not completely well thought-out, and she winds up owing quite a few apologies, but her heart is in the right place, and she learns yet another valuable lesson about growing up.
I love the Mallory books, so I hate to say that this one disappointed me, but it did a little bit. Mainly I’m confused as to why we once again have to revisit the issue of boys and crushes, when just two books ago, in
Mallory's Guide to Boys, Brothers, Dads, and Dogs, Mallory determined she wasn’t ready to be interested in boys yet. I agree that the subject matter is interesting to girls in the book’s target audience, and I loved reading Mallory’s secret diary, but it just felt very inconsistent to me, as though I’d missed something in the last couple of books.
Another issue is Mary Anne’s personality. In the past, she has always been a reliable and level-headed best friend, but in this book she does nothing but egg Mallory on, and encourage her to start a relationship with this boy who supposedly likes her. Half of the mistakes Mallory makes in this book happen at Mary Anne’s insistence, which seemed completely out of character for her.
I feel like this series is trying to remain relevant as Mallory ages, which is important, because ten-year-olds have different concerns than eight-year-olds, and it makes sense that Mallory’s interests will change as she grows up. I like the fact that Mallory is getting older and that she turns to a diary to say things she can’t say to anyone else. I kept a journal when I was younger, and I can remember exactly how it felt to sit in my bedroom writing furiously about my first crush. I just hope the Mallory series won’t become permanently obsessed with boys. There is lots more to being a girl than pining away for boys, and I like the series best when it focuses on a variety of life experiences and lessons.
I received a digital ARC of Oh Boy, Mallory from Netgalley.
Crush. by Gary Paulsen. May 8, 2012. Random House. 128 pages. ISBN: 9780385742306
In this third (and I believe final) book about Kevin Spencer, Gary Paulsen finally gets to the heart of what has driven Kevin's actions through the entire trilogy - his crush on Tina. Determined to get her attention, Kevin starts a series of scientific experiments and observations designed to help him understand how romance works. His test subjects include his older brother, his parents, the parents of Markie, his babysitting charge, and various classmates. Despite his well-laid plans, however, Kevin doesn't have much luck figuring out girls. Could it be the only way to learn about girls is to actually talk to them?
I really loved
Liar, Liar and
Flat Broke, and they both left me desperately wanting a third book about Kevin. Unfortunately, I don't think this conclusion to the series is quite as strong as the first two books. Kevin's hi-jinks are always amusing, and the scenes with Markie, who refers to Kevin as "Dutchdeefuddie" had me laughing out loud. The narrative voice is well-developed, and, for the most part, authentic. The only thing that didn't ring true for me was the resolution of the crush plot line in the final chapter. Things fell into place way too easily, and the book seemed to lose its sense of humor a little bit. This entire series succeeds because it is funny, so breaking out of that formula at the last second is a bit jarring and seems like a let-down. Still, though, if a book about a serious crush is going to have a happy ending, there are only so many ways it can happen, and I definitely did want the happy ending. I'm not sure reluctant readers who have latched onto Kevin's sarcastic attitude will appreciate his suddenly earnest attempts at maturity, but if they're invested in the story, they might not let it turn them off. I think everybody likes a happy ending now and then, and I'm not sure Paulsen could have ended this series any other way. I just wish we'd had a few more pages to tie things up so I didn't feel so rushed.
Fans of Avi's and Gordon Korman's realistic fiction novels are likely to enjoy Paulsen's tone in this book, as it shares their same brand of clean, somewhat silly, humor.
Crush is a true feel-good novel, likely to draw in those kids who like their reading on the lighter side. All three books in this trilogy are also great for bridging the gap between middle grade and YA.
Crush will be published on May 8, 2012. In the meantime, check out my
reviews of
Liar, Liar and
Flat Broke, and read about more crushes (from the female perspective) in the books listed
here.
I received a digital ARC of Crush from Random House via NetGalley. For more about this book, visit Goodreads and Worldcat.
Unbreak My Heart. by Melissa Walker. May 22, 2012. Bloomsbury. 240 pages. ISBN: 9781599905280Clementine's summer, though spent on a sailboat with her family, is anything but carefree. As school ended, she had a major falling out with her best friend, Amanda, over a boy, leaving her friendless and heartbroken. Her younger sister and parents all try to help her heal, but it's not until she meets James, whose family is sailing the same route as Clem's, that she can even begin to see herself as anything but a terrible person.
Clementine's story alternates between present-day action on the family sailing trip and flashbacks to the formation and deterioration of her friendship with Amanda. This structure is used in a very specific way that builds suspense as the details of Clementine's mistakes and Amanda's anger fall into place. The author also uses wonderfully specific descriptions and moments to convey the closeness of Clementine's friendship with Amanda. For example, whenever Clementine seems sad, Amanda will ask her, "Do you want me to make you a smile?" This simple question takes on great significance as the story progresses, intensifying Clementine's feelings of loss.
Clementine's family is also really well-developed, especially her intuitive and empathetic younger sister, Olive, who tries her best to draw Clem out of her sadness. While I did think the sibling relationship was at times too perfect, there was something very endearing about Olive's persistence in helping her sister feel better. Also endearing is the way James bonds not just with Clem, but with Olive, too, giving the reader a sense of his kind and welcoming personality.
The real strength of this book is the way it focuses on multiple facets of Clem's life. Walker understands that teens have a lot going on in their lives, and that romance, friendship, and family often act together to influence a teen girl's decisions and emotions. This is not just a romance, though there is a romance, nor is it just a break-up novel, though there is a break-up. Rather, it's a novel about finding the strength to forgive oneself when things go wrong, and hanging onto hope for reconciliation, while also becoming prepared to move on either way.
Fans of Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti will especially enjoy
Unbreak My Heart. It speaks so well to the joy of falling in love, the pain of losing a friend, and the hope of starting over. The characters are strong and specific, the emotions raw and true, and the ending satisfying and therapeutic for any girl who has ever had her heart broken. For more break-up related books, check out my
Themed Thursday post about breaking up.
Unbreak My Heart will be published on May 22, 2012.
I received a digital ARC of Unbreak My Heart from Bloomsbury via NetGalley.For more about this book, visit Goodreads and Worldcat.
By:
Katie,
on 4/17/2012
Blog:
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genre: realistic fiction,
source: netgalley,
level: middle grade,
published 2012,
read 2012,
format: graphic novel,
series: lou,
author: julien neel,
publisher: lerner publishing group,
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Summertime Blues. by Julien Neel. Translated from French by Carol Klio Burrell. April 1, 2012. Lerner Publishing Group. 48 pages. ISBN: 9780761388692Summertime Blues, the second book in the Lou! series, picks up right where
Secret Diary left off. Abandoned by their respective love interests, Lou and her mother pack up and head to the country to stay with Memaw. Memaw is difficult, as always, but they make the best of their situation. While her mother reconnects with a high school classmate, Lou befriends a ukulele-strumming “boy in a skirt” named Paul.
While I don’t think
Summertime Blues is as strong as
Secret Diary, both books share a lot of positive qualities. The relationship between Lou and her mom continues to be one of the best I’ve read in tween fiction. Lou’s mom is a flawed human being through and through, which makes her not just endearing, but also true to life. She doesn’t have all the answers, but like Lorelei Gilmore on The Gilmore Girls - a TV series of which I was frequently reminded as I read this book - she would do anything for her daughter. I also liked the tension introduced by a whole summer at Memaw’s house. The conflicts between Lou’s mother and Memaw, and between Lou and her own mother provided lots of great opportunities for character development, and plenty of laughs as well.
I also enjoyed the character of Paul. He’s definitely a unique personality, and very different from the typical crushes introduced in other tween fiction. I love that he plays the ukulele, and that he and Lou bond over music. I also thought Lou’s progression toward getting over Tristan’s abrupt departure at the end of book one was well-executed. She doesn’t snap out of it too quickly, but also learns that wallowing alone in her grandmother’s house isn’t the most productive way to live.
This series is great for reluctant readers. The books are short and funny, and kids will undoubtedly see much of their own lives reflected in Lou’s trials and tribulations. This second book develops further many of the plot lines introduced in book one, and the reader gets to learn even more about the characters’ histories and personalities. I’m already excited for Book 3,
Down in the Dumps, which is set to be published this October.
Summertime Blues was published on April 1, 2012. Read my review of the first Lou! book,
Secret Diary,
here.
I received a digital ARC of Summertimes Blues from Lerner Publishing Group via NetGalley.
By:
Katie,
on 4/16/2012
Blog:
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genre: realistic fiction,
source: netgalley,
level: middle grade,
published 2012,
read 2012,
publisher: disney hyperion,
author: alicia thompson,
series: go for gold gymnasts,
author: dominique moceanu,
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The Go-For-Gold Gymnasts: Winning Team. by Dominique Moceanu and Alicia Thompson. April 17, 2012. Disney-Hyperion. 240 pages. ISBN: 9781423136330
Spirited prankster Brittany (Britt) Morgan is also a skilled gymnast. When she moves to a new town to start training at a bigger and better gym, she finds it difficult to adjust to the serious attitude, intense competition, and unfriendly faces of her new gymnastics team. Not only does she offend one of the girls by performing a move the other girl has not yet mastered, she also uncovers an eating disorder, makes a girl cry when trying to prank her, and finds herself struggling to impress her new coach.
I am usually not crazy about children’s books written by celebrities, but there is something appealing about a book about a gymnastics team written by an Olympic gymnast. It’s clear from early on in Britt’s story that Dominique Moceanu has lived many of these experiences firsthand. The details surrounding the gym, the various moves the girls perform, and even the tension between the girls also come across as authentic, and the details, especially, got me interested in the world of gymnastics, and therefore, in Britt’s story.
The plot wasn’t the most exciting, and included some cliches. If a book involves gymnastics, figure skating, or dancing, I always expect an eating disorder to show up, and that story line crops up almost immediately. I’ve also seen sports rivalries between girls in other books I’ve reviewed, such as
McKenna (which is also about a gymnast), and
Faith and the Camp Snob. It was very easy to predict what would happen between Britt and the other girls because cattiness among girls is such a common go-to tween plot.
I think a more skilled author might tell a more interesting story, but Moceanu has the unique advantage of having been an Olympic gymnast, so for girls who are aspiring gymnasts themselves, her perspective and knowledge of particular details will be the draw, not the storytelling. I did wish for some more character development, and some more information about Britt’s previous life and her friendship with her best friend, Dionne, but since this is apparently the first book in a series, I have a feeling some of those things might be revealed in later volumes.
All in all, I think
Winning Team accomplishes what it sets out to do. It provides girls interested in competitive gymnastics with a fictionalized peek into that world. I’m not sure girls without this interest would be as excited about the story, but Britt is an engaging enough character that any reader will latch onto her and follow her story to find out what happens.
Winning Team will be published tomorrow, April 17, 2012, along with the second book of the series, entitled
Balancing Act. Two more titles,
Unexpected Twist and
Reaching High, will be published this June.
I received a digital ARC of Winning Team from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley.
For more about this book, visit
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Lou! #1: Secret Diary. by Julien Neel. Translated from French by Carol Klio Burrell. April 1, 2012. Lerner Publishing Group. 48 pages. ISBN: 9780761387763In her secret diary, written in full-color graphic novel style, Lou records her feelings for her cute neighbor, Tristan, her mother's obsession with video games, and her life-long friendship with level-headed serious-minded Mina. Though each page of the book focuses on a particular moment in time, almost like a comic strip, many of the panels address common threads that run through the entire book. These threads include the absence of Lou's father, Lou's adoption of a smelly cat, and the relationship between Lou, her laidback mom, and her strict grandmother. The book was originally published in French in 2004, but will be available in English in the U.S. beginning in April 2012.
It would be impossible for me to review this book without comparing it to the Amelia Rules series because there are so many similarities. Both Lou and Amelia are spunky, blonde tween girls facing new challenges and emotions as adolescence begins. Both also deal with absent fathers and with unexpected crushes. Both are, overall, well-developed lovable characters at the center of unique and interesting universes. I have to admit, though, that I think I like Lou better.
There are so many things I loved about
Secret Diary. I think the way Julien Neel draws Lou's mother with her hair always in her eyes is a stroke of genius. Her looks could not suit her personality any better. The relationship between Lou and her mom is also one of the strongest mother/daughter relationships I've read in tween fiction of any kind. They truly like each other, even when they drive each other crazy, and their friendship as well as their parent/child encounters ring very true to real life. The book is also just hilarious at certain points. I don't often laugh out loud when I'm reading, but this book gave me the giggles many times throughout, and usually with thoughtful and clever punchlines, not easy or immature jokes. I also really enjoyed the way Lou's romantic encounter with Tristan and her mom's romantic encounter with the new cute guy next door parallel each other and give them yet another enjoyable bonding experience.
Graphic novels can be hit or miss for me, but this one is a definite hit not to be missed.
Secret Diary is reminiscent of Peanuts, For Better or For Worse, Amelia Rules,
Smile, Popularity Papers, and Dear Dumb Diary, but with a sense of humor and style of storytelling that set it apart as its own creation. I highly recommend it to girls in grades 5 to 8 who are into graphic novels and love to laugh. They'll reach the cliffhanger ending of
Secret Diary begging for more and eager to get their hands on book two,
Summertime Blues, also available this April.
The French Disney channel airs a cartoon based on the Lou books, the trailer for which is below:
Clips of the show are on YouTube as well, and they are quite entertaining, even for someone like me who doesn't speak French. Also worth checking out are
Julien Neel's blog (again, written in French) and my
review of Nola's Worlds: Changing Moon, another French graphic novel import translated by Carol Klio Burrell.
I received a
Bears Beware. by Patricia Reilly Giff, illustrated by Alasdair Bright. April 10, 2012. Wendy Lamb Books. 80 pages. ISBN: 9780385738897.
Bears Beware is the fifth book in the Zigzag Kids series. This time, the Zigzag Afternoon Center plans a camping trip for all the kids, which troubles Mitchell. He's worried about sleeping outside with lots of bugs and wild animals all around. Still, since his best friend Habib will be there, he figures he will be safe. When they arrive, however, he doesn't get to be partners with Habib for the nature hunt - and worse yet, the tent pole for the boys' tent gets broken! Will Mitchell survive a night in the woods, or will he be forced to face the bears he fears?
As much I loved Patricia Reilly Giff's Polk Street School books as a kid, the Zigzag Kids books don't speak to me in the same way. I don't find myself getting inside the characters' heads as much, and their experiences don't ring as true as the ordinary events that happened at Polk Street School. Though I think the idea of camping is interesting to young readers, I didn't feel as though this book captured the excitement kids might experience on such a trip. Mitchell's fears, too, are likely shared by many real kids his age, but reading about them wasn't as interesting or as fresh as I might have expected.
The illustrations perfectly match the characters, however, and they do a wonderful job of portraying their diversity in terms of age, race, and appearance. The visual guide at the start of the book is especially useful in keeping track of the large cast, especially since there isn't much description in the text, and the narrator changes with each book.
Overall, I think Giff has created a very 21st century series that reflects the reality for a lot of kids who don't go home after school, but instead visit a center or program. I don't know of many other books set in such a program, so these books fill a real gap on libraries' chapter book shelves. Giff also has a knack for understanding the struggles of elementary schoolers and bringing them to life through interesting characters. While this series doesn't really thrill me like Giff's other works, chapter book readers who love realistic fiction and school stories will have no problem falling in love with Mitchell and his friends.
I received a digital ARC of Bears Beware from Random House via NetGalley.For more about this book, visit Goodreads and Worldcat.
By:
Katie,
on 3/21/2012
Blog:
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genre: realistic fiction,
source: netgalley,
level: easy reader,
format: ebook,
publisher: candlewick,
published 2012,
read 2012,
series: bink and gollie,
author: alison mcghee,
author: kate dicamillo,
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Bink and Gollie: Two for One. by Alison McGhee and Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Tony Fucile. June 12, 2012. Candlewick Press. 96 pages. ISBN: 9780763633615 
Bink and Gollie are back in their second set of adventures, all of which take place at the state fair. The first story, "Whack a Duck," introduces the girls to the perils of carnival games when Bink decides she absolutely must win a large donut in exchange for whacking a duck. In the second story, "You're Special, Aren't You?" Gollie enters a talent show without actually preparing a talent. Finally, in "Without Question" Bink and Gollie have their fortunes told by Madame Prunely, who has messages about their past and future.
This is another strong, funny, and heartwarming collection of vignettes, which portrays not just the ups and downs of life, but the support and constancy of true friendship. As in the first Bink and Gollie story, Tony Fucile truly captures each girl's personality with the wonderful way he draws facial expressions and body movements. I was particularly struck by the way I could almost hear each girl's manner of speech just from looking at the illustrations. Alison McGhee and Kate DiCamillo also keep the story fresh with lots of humor, which comes across most often in the characters' dialogue, not just with each other, but with supporting characters as well. Especially memorable is the man who runs the Whack a Duck booth; he takes a baseball to the face when Bink throws just a bit too hard.
At first glance, the writing in this book seems very sophisticated, which made me question whether it would truly work for early readers. When I went back to analyze the text more closely, though, I realized that the vocabulary of the story, with few exceptions, is actually very basic. Many words such as "duck," "Whack," "stage", "talent," and "friend" are introduced and then repeated over and over again, reinforcing their meaning. Sentence structure, particularly where there is dialogue, is very simple, and the speaker is always identified. The story itself is so entertaining that it's easy to miss its simplicity, but the authors have done a really thorough job of making sure their intended audience will truly be able to read their book. I imagine a couple of words - "scepter" and "tragedy", for example - might pose a challenge for newer readers, but I don't think it's a challenge that couldn't be met by a child accustomed to reading Level 2 and Level 3 easy readers. I also love the inclusion of signs and other printed material in the illustrations themselves. What a great way to foster print awareness, which is one of the important early literacy skills kids need to develop before learning to read.
Sequels sometimes turn out to be mistakes, and they can create a formula out of what was previously fresh, exciting material.
Bink and Gollie: Two for One, is decidedly not one of those mistakes. Every bit as lovely and satisfying as the first, this second book about these irresistible best friends explores further their connection, and also gives kids a look into the world of state fairs, which for some kids will be a foreign concept.
In addition to the original
Bink and Gollie, also pair
Bink and Gollie: Two for One with Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad series, The Friends for Keeps chapter book series by Julie Bowe, and Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie books.
Bink and Gollie: Two for One will be published on June 12, 2012, just in time fo
The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook. by Joanne Rocklin. April 1, 2012. Amulet Books. 240 pages. ISBN: 9781419701924Oona and her five-year-old brother Fred are still mourning the loss of their father, who died of cancer, when their cat, Zook (named for his love of zucchini) also falls ill. Determined to protect her brother from any more sadness, Oona tells him that cats have nine lives, and Zook is only on his fifth. Continuing a tradition begun by their father, Oona begins using rebuses to tell Fred stories about Zook's other lives. In the meantime, Oona struggles to deal with the fact that she may have stolen Zook, and from none other than the man her mother has just begun dating.
I am not a cat person, but I loved
One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street so much that I knew I wanted to read Joanne Rocklin's next book, regardless of the subject matter.
The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook, like
Orange Street, demonstrates Rocklin's unique way with language that sets her books apart from other contemporary middle grade novels. In
Orange Street, it was her use of different points of view that made the story so strong and emotional. Here, the use of memories and stories add emotional depth to what turns out to be much more than a sad pet story. In fact, thanks to Oona's spirited and uplifting narrative voice, this book didn't make me very sad at all. Even when Oona faces difficulties, her optimism and desire to help her brother buoyed my spirits and kept me looking on the bright side, rather than wallowing in melodrama.
Another strength of this book is the strong sense of setting. The alley where Oona and Fred first find Zook, the pizza restaurant where they sometimes work, and the animal hospital where Zook is a patient are all conveyed with such colorful details that I could imagine them vividly. Place isn't necessarily central to the story, as it was in
Orange Street, but being immersed in Oona's world made her that much more credible as a character, and that much more interesting to read about.
I did struggle at times to keep track of all that was happening in the story. This book takes on a lot for just one novel - loss of a parent, illness of a pet, memory, friendship, storytelling, learning to read, sibling relationships, parents going on dates - and at times, it felt like too much. It took me a while to get an understanding of what the real story was, and even then, I felt distracted by Oona's stories. But what I did think was maybe the most clever thing about the entire book was the subtle ways in which Oona's stories were influenced by the events happening around her. Each story that she tells to Fred exists not in isolation, but as a product of Oona's state of mind at the time of the telling. I think the fact that the details of her stories obviously parallel people and events from her life really saves the storytelling framework of the book from becoming a gimmick and ties the entire book together in a very satisfying way.
It would be hard for any book to match
One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street in my estimation, since it spoke to me on so many levels and is so beautifully crafted, but
The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook was not a disappointment by any means. It's a great book for cat lovers, girls with little brothers, any child who has lost a parent, and especially classrooms learning about storytelling. It's hard
Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World. by Candice Ransom. April 10, 2012. Disney-Hyperion. 160 pages. ISBN: 9781423131731 Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World is a realistic fiction novel set in Virginia in which Iva Honeycutt attempts to uncover buried treasure she believes was left behind by her great-grandfather, Ludwell. To avoid being associated with her “double-first cousin,” Heaven, who is a cruel tattle-tale, Iva takes on the last name Honeysuckle in the hopes that when her name appears in the local newspaper after her great discovery no one will associate her with her cousin. Instead of fame and fortune, however, Iva’s summer brings frustration, as Heaven becomes close to Miz Compton, the church school teacher Iva has always considered her best friend, and pushes her to the breaking point with her snobby attitude.
Iva’s hometown of Uncertain, Virginia is similar in many ways to other quirky small towns depicted in children’s fiction, such as Hard Pan from
The Higher Power of Lucky, and Naomi, from Because of Winn Dixie. Uncertain is populated by interesting, larger than life minor characters with strange names like Swannanoah and Euple, and places like the junkyard and a taxidermy and cake decorating shop are just some of the bizarre stopping points on Iva’s expedition. Iva’s family dynamic is also on the unusual side. Her mother and Heaven’s mother are sisters, and her father and Heaven’s father are brothers. Each of the girls’ siblings is paired off into a perfect cousin-to-cousin best friendship, with only Iva and Heaven struggling to connect. This difficult relationship is the main focus of the entire story, and I think the passages I enjoyed reading most were the ones where the quirky setting took a backseat to the complicated interactions between these two girls who want to like each other, even underneath the bad feelings that exist between them.
Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World compares well to the Kylie Jean books by Marci Peschke, which focus on another Southern girl with a strong personality. I didn’t have a very strong connection to the story myself, because I got kind of bogged down in the eccentricities of the town and its residents, but I think kids, who haven’t read Fannie Flagg’s and Rebecca Wells’s novels, might find these elements much fresher than I did. If nothing else, girls will certainly understand the desire for a best friend, the frustration of being shown up by an enemy, and the wish to make a great discovery no one else has ever made before. Also, a bonus for children’s librarians - there is an entire chapter devoted to an incident with a flannel board. I have to admit that it was my favorite part of the entire story!
Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World will be published on April 10, 2012.
I received a digital ARC of Iva Honeysuckle Discovers the World from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley.
For more about this book, visit Goodreads and
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Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen. by Donna Gephart. March 13, 2012. Random House. 288 pages. ISBN: 9780385740524Olivia Bean has always been obsessed with trivia, and especially with Jeopardy, which she used to watch with her father before he ran off with Olivia’s best friend’s mom and started a new life in California. Now Olivia is left to fend for herself in the school cafeteria, as her best friend is gone and not speaking to her, and at home, she’s having trouble adjusting to Neil, her mom’s new beau who has recently moved in. While constantly waiting for her father to call, and trying to protect her little brother Charlie from the truth of their family troubles, Olivia also puzzles over the behavior of her next door neighbor, Tucker, and desperately looks for a way to get on her favorite show during Kids Week.
As my wordy summary no doubt suggests, this is a story with a lot going on. Olivia has an internal life, a family life, and a school life, and each one plays a significant role in the overarching plot, which is not just about trivia, but about Olivia taking control of her destiny and letting go of the anger she feels toward her dad, while also forgiving Tucker’s past bad deeds and accepting her new family as they are. Olivia’s struggles, and her frustrations with the way she is treated by people who are supposed to love her the most, are very real, and well-described. Her situation is not uncommon in twenty-first century families, and the story does a nice job of depicting reality rather than sugar-coating it. Some plot threads are tied up better than others, and I did find myself thinking that the author may have tried to take on too many things in one book, but even so, I enjoyed Olivia so much as a narrator it almost didn’t matter.
In fact, I think character development is probably the strongest aspect of
Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen. Gephart’s descriptions of each character painted a picture in my mind which made me feel as though I knew each one and made it easy to visualize them very clearly. The trivia theme and Jeopardy references amused me as well, but what truly keeps things moving along is the reader’s investment in Olivia and her desire to have a chance to prove herself.
This book will definitely speak to girls who do well in school, and who enjoy trivia and watch
Jeopardy themselves, but it covers enough universal ideas that I think most tween realistic fiction readers will find something in it to appreciate. Read-alikes for this book include
The Clueless Girl’s Guide to Being a Genius, because of its brainy main character,
Bigger Than a Breadbox, because of its strained family dynamics, and the
Katie Jordan books, which include another wonderfully sweet younger brother.
Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen will be published on March 13, 2012.
I received a digital ARC of Olivia Be
Calvin Coconut: Man Trip. by Graham Salisbury, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers. March 13, 2012. Wendy Lamb Books. 112 pages. ISBN: 9780385907989.
Up until reading this soon-to-be-published Calvin Coconut book, my interest in this series focused mainly on the immersion in Hawaiian culture and the boy-friendly humor that have been at the center of each of the books I've read so far. In Man Trip, however, author Graham Salisbury shows us a whole new layer to Calvin's character that elevates this book from simple fluff to true literature.
Calvin begins the book faced with a dilemma. He's been asked to mow the lawn, but there are a bunch of bufos - or toads- lurking in the grass, which must be removed before he can actually start the lawn mower. His solution is pretty typical of his mischievous character: he starts violently hurling the toads into the nearby pond. When Ledward, his mother's boyfriend sees him doing this, though, he encourages him to think about how his actions might be hurting the toads. After that, Ledward takes Calvin on a special fishing trip - a man trip, for men only - where he learns to appreciate and respect the beauty of the natural world.
I am reading this series out of order, mainly because I read the books as I am able to find them, so it's possible that earlier books have shown a quieter, more contemplative side of Calvin. But for me, after reading
Trouble Magnet and
Zoo Breath, where Calvin is mainly causing trouble and investigating the disgustingness of life, the Calvin of
Man Trip feels like a brand new character. I absolutely loved being inside Calvin's mind, and actually seeing the transformation he undergoes on the fishing trip. I also enjoyed seeing him deal with the admiration shown to him by his classmate, Shayla, and his interaction with his teacher, Mr. Purdy. The details of the fish which Calvin helps to catch, tag, and release, are so well-written, and so action-packed, I can't imagine an adventure-minded boy would be able to resist them.
Calvin Coconut is one of those series that just never grows stale or runs its course. Each book is richer than the last, and I love seeing Calvin's growth from a prankster and a troublemaker to a thoughtful and responsible young citizen. Fans of the series won't want to miss this one - and I think new fans will be won over and want to read the other books right away. Man Trip will be published on March 13, 2012.
I received a digital ARC of Man Trip from Random House via NetGalleyFor more about this book, visit Goodreads and WorldCat
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Thanks for the review—I was wondering about this one. I'm glad it's good!
I loved this book, too! I hope it gets some attention from the awards folks. In some ways I like it better than When You Reach Me, but in other ways not. Hmm...