The Music in George’s Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue

George heard music all the time, but no one even knew music was important to him until his mother got a second-hand piano.  While his brother, Ira wasn’t interested, George raced over and amazed his mother by pounding out a popular ragtime tune. After that, George studied with famous piano teachers and began composing. At 17 he sold his first tune. By 1920, everyone knew of George Gershwin and his music.  He combined classical, ragtime, jazz and blues in wild, unpredictable ways to create his rhapsody, a “musical kaleidoscope of America’s melting pot,” Rhapsody in Blue.  The world premiere took place on February 12, 1924 in Aeolian Hall, New York.

Wonderfully descriptive language helps the reader hear the music of the story.  Text is accentuated in places with colorful swirling words and phrases.  Much of the illustrations are done in tones of blue as befitting a book about Rhapsody in Blue.

Includes Author’s and Illustrator’s Notes, Timeline, and Selected Bibliography

The Branch

A young girl falls asleep listening to a winter storm and dreams of her tree castle where she’s the queen sitting on a throne of branches. She’s awoken by the creak, crack, crash and thud of her favorite branch falling in an ice storm.  She’s devastated.  It isn’t just a branch to her and she’s unwilling to give it up.  Her mother agrees to let her keep it for a little while. During the cleanup of the neighborhood, the girl notices the elderly next-door neighbor, Mr. Frank with his chainsaw.  Mr Frank notices the girls long face.  Mr. Frank helps the girl recognize the potential in the fallen branch.  With tools, time, and elbow grease, the two work together on weekends and sometimes after school in Mr. Frank’s workshop.  They draw plans, measure, saw, dry the wood, plane, make holes, sand, and varnish. Finally their creation is pictured – a swing. Now her branch can again be her castle, her spy base, her ship.

A story of the importance of imagination, creativity, and relationships.

Old Turtle: Questions of the Heart

It had been such a long time that Old Turtle was just a legend, a story told late at night. But the people were haunted by questions they had no answers for.  When the questions are brought to the Old Woman, she knows the stories of Old Turtle are real and he hold the answers. Those who follow the whisperings of their hearts will find him.  The trusted few were tasked to speak for the people and ask their important questions.  The journey was long, but their hearts finally led them to Old Turtle.  The questions of their hearts; What is our purpose in life? How do we find happiness? Can you tell us about play? Speak to us of evil. And what about death? culminate with, Who are you and how will you live this day?  The answers to these deep meaningful questions tie us to each other and to creation itself.

While as powerful a message as the 2 previous Old Turtle books, the magnitude of the questions asked and the answers given are a bit overwhelming, making this aless effective book .  Each of the “important” questions is worthy of its own book.

Beautiful watercolor illustrations enhance the emotions of the book.

Steg-o-normous

The Oodlethunks are a cave man family. They will remind the reader of the Flintstones in many visual ways, but without the dinosaurs. That is except for the one dinosaur Oona has hatched from a lone egg in Book #1. [ Book #1 is not given a recap, but it does not seem to matter, as this story can stand alone on its own merit.]

Oona’s baby stegosaurus , Stacy Steg Oodlethunk, is eating too much and growing too big to stay in the Oodlethunk’s cave home. Oona’s parents want to set Stacy free, but of course, Oona won’t hear of it.  After school, Oona, her friend Erma, and her younger brother Bonk go to see witch Brouhaha for a magic potion to fix Stacy’s growing problem. Brouhaha says the potion has not been tested yet. It might not work, do not take it. Oona tricks Brouhaha, takes the potion, and gives it to Stacy. The next morning, Stacy is bigger.

At school, the students go on a field trip to Rock Park and the Cave of Echoes. After school, Stacy is even bigger and hungrier.

By the next morning, Stacy has grown so much she is stuck inside the family cave and can’t get out. After school, the students come to see Stacy. Oona has the students collecting food for Stacy along the way to their home in trade for allowing them to see Stacy. Stacy eats it all!  Dad sends everybody home, saying they can come back tomorrow with the entire village to help them get Stacy out of the cave. Meanwhile, the family sleeps outside. The next morning, Stacy is sick and Oona is sick with worry so stays home from school. Once again Oona goes to Brouhaha for help.

After school, the villagers help dismantle the Oodlethunk’s cave freeing Stacy just as the snow begins to fall. Without a cave to stay in the Oodlethunks and villagers go to Rock Park and the Cave of Echoes to wait out the snow storm.  Then, the villagers hears an avalanche has buried their village.  After the snow storm ends everybody goes to help rebuild the village. The Cave of Echoes is big enough for Stacy to stay in all winter.

How Kate Warne Saved President Lincoln

Ladies, do you ever get upset when people do not take you seriously or do not think you will understand the importance of something? This book is the telling of how the real Kate Warne used that kind of thinking to her and our country’s advantage. It is nice to have another piece of “herstory” out in front of young boys and girls.

The year is 1856, Kate Warne is a young widow who wants to work for the United States’ first detective agency, the Pinkertons. Kate explains to Mr. Pinkerton, ” Men liked to brag about their adventures and women encouraged them to talk by pretending to be impressed. Women she said, could also worm out secrets in places where male detectives couldn’t go.” (3) Kate was hired.

Kate often wore disguises. She would attend society parties. There Kate would talk with wives who would talk about their husbands’  careers. Kate would gain their confidence by saying her husband was in jail or she might be in the disguise of a fortune teller. Either way, Kate was able to gain valuable information.

After Lincoln’s election in 1860, “a plot to attack Lincoln as he passed through the city” of Baltimore on his way to Washington D. C., by train, was discovered.  Lincoln was disguised, put on an earlier train, then into a sleeper car, saved for him by Kate. Lincoln arrived safely in Washington D. C., but Kate stayed behind in Baltimore to listen for other plot rumors.

Kate continued on with Pinkerton agency through the Civil War and afterward.

Illustrator Valentina Belloni gave the characters simple yet expressive faces. Belloni has given the clothing the rich elegant designs of brocade fabrics against the much simpler time period backgrounds.

One small error between text and illustration exists.  The tombstone in the near final illustration has Kate’s year of birth incorrect, if she was thirty-eight when she died, as stated in the author’s Note.

 

Ruby Lee and Me

This wonderful story will simply tug at your heart. Set at the beginning of summer, in the late 1960s, in North Carolina between two twelve year old girls and their grandmothers, one is white and the other is of color.

Sarah tells the story of how she is reading her library book outside when she should be watching her younger sister Robin. Then the unthinkable happens! Robin is hit by a car. (AND this is only the first page.) Sarah wrestles with herself throughout the book blaming Robin’s accident on herself for not watching Robin more closely. Sarah will be the best sister possible this summer to make up for this accident which has left active, fun loving Robin in a full body cast.  Sarah’s parents deem it necessary to give up living  in town with a mortgage if they are going to be able to pay for all of the medical bills Robin’s accident will incur. So Sarah’s family move out into the country by her grandparents’ house to live rent free in her Great Uncle John’s old house.  Out in the country away from town folks eyes Ruby Lee and Sarah are the best of friends. They have been ever since they were little. Out in the country, Sarah finally is faced with her own ‘white privilege’ when the upcoming school year draws closer. Sarah and Ruby Lee will both be going to the first integrated school in their area. Both of their grand mothers telling them they will not be able to be friends at school where others can see.  “Miss Irene sat down across from Granny, ‘Praise Jesus,’ she said.  ‘ Maybelle, I need you to help set these girls straight…’

”  ‘Sarah, are you ready to be called bad names? How you gonna feel when Betsy Carter doesn’t invite you to her birthday party? Or when you’re not welcome at the lunch table?’ “…

“Miss Irene held up her hand …’Now it’s my turn. Ruby Lee, you better mind your place. The colored children will call you uppity, and the white children will treat you like something bad they stepped in.’ (83)

Later, other words are spoken, some in anger between Ruby Lee and Sarah. Now, once best friends do not speak to each other for the rest of the summer.

Miss Irene and Granny work together to help keep the Ice Cream Social (before the first day of integrated school) peaceful. As the people begin to leave the ice cream social, feeling are heightened when it is revealed “Somebody had keyed the awful word across the side” of the ‘colored’ teacher’s car. (171) ” I hung my head, feeling more hopeless than I ever had before, but Mrs. Smyre’s voice rang out. She sang the words to ‘We Shall Overcome.’ …Then lots of people started singing. White or black, it made no difference, everybody’s voices blended.” (172)

A few days later, on a Sunday morning, Granny and Sarah find themselves alone in the kitchen making breakfast. Granny ruptures one of the bulging veins in her leg. The bleeding turns into an emergency. Sarah is forced to drive Granny in grandpa’s old farm truck to the hospital. There Sarah is eventually reunited with her parents because of Robin’s physical therapy at the hospital. Shortly, Ruby Lee shows up at the hospital because you can’t hide news like that in a small town. Tensions are eased while at the hospital between Sarah and her own guilt over Robin’s accident and between Ruby Lee and Sarah, as well.

 

Ocicats

I can hear someone say, “Ahhh, just look at those precious golden eyes,” pictured on the cover of this young readers’ book for cat lovers. The book comes in four parts, not really chapters for this early level of reading: What Are Ocicats?, History of Ocicats, Coat of Many Colors, and Lively and Loving. To answer the first question, Ocicats are large, spotted, short haired  domestic cats named after Ocelots. The breed began in Michigan in 1964 by crossing Abyssinian and Siamese cats and then crossing those kittens with Abyssinians. The diagram on page 17 sums it up nicely: large slanted eyes, spotted coat, athletic body, long tail with dark tip, weighing 6 to 15 pounds, with a life span of 15 to 18 years.

Being that this book is written for a young aged reader there are usually only two sentences per page with 75% of the page filled with a color photo of this cat species.

 

This Raging Light

This Raging Light tells the hard luck story of a 17 year old girl who has to care for her sister after terrible family dynamics occur: her dad loses his mind, and her mom abandons the girls. Lucille gets a job in a sketchy (Hooters’ style) restaurant to pay the bills, but struggles as a teenager to make enough money to support her sister and herself and to run the household.

Adding to her worries are her best friend, a character that is hard to like due to her meanness to Lucille. And, complicating things even more, Lucille falls for her best friend’s twin brother. He, also, is difficult to like, as he already has a girlfriend, yet he cheats on her with Lucille, and cheats on Lucille with the girlfriend. The two-timing boyfriend and the mean best friend, compounded by too many confusing plot turns, make this a difficult book to finish.  Too much drama.

 

 

 

 

 

The Shadows We Know by Heart

The Shadows We Know by Heart is the story of a teenage girl, Leah, whose life has never been the same since the death of her brother ten years earlier. Her mother self medicates with alcohol, and her father is bitter with anger. And Leah has a secret she can’t tell, which is Sasquatches (Big Foot) are real, and she there are three of them living in the woods behind her.
Things take a dramatic turn when Leah discovers that a teenage boy lives among the Sasquatches. The boy seems to have no memory of his past and can barely speak, but Leah is mesmerized by him. As the plot unfolds, Leah’s life entwines with his, and she now has an escape from her miserable reality.

This mystery provides a modern day retelling of the Tarzan story,  plot twists and turns, realistic family dynamics, and romance.  What a great book!

 

 

The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet

The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet  is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It is written in diary form from Lydia Bennet’s perspective. The author, Natasha Farrant, assumes that the reader has a good working knowledge of the plot of Pride and Prejudice; without that background, this novel won’t have the same effect on the reader.

 

Here is the preface page: Hertfordshire, 1811 but really decades behind the modern world because we are in the depths of the English countryside and nothing ever happens.

The opening page: Thursday, 13th June:  I am fifteen years old today, and this journal was a present from Mary. She says I must write in it everyday to improve my mind.

“Whatever for,” Mamma cried, “When she is so pretty?”

Father asked, “Are we certain Lydia HAS a mind?”

“Of course she does!” Mary said. “It’s just not very developed.” 

“Excuse me!” I tried to look down my nose at her, which was not easy because I was sitting and she was standing. “Right now, my undeveloped mind thinks you are extremely rude.”

And so it continues. Funny, feisty, enjoyable. This fresh twist on a classic story will surely appeal to fans of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice.

Tales for the Perfect Child

The humorously titled, Tales for the Perfect Child is a collection of stories featuring 8 children who, despite initial appearances, are anything but perfect. Arthur ruins his clothes so he doesn’t have to visit Aunt Eunice. Gloria purposely breaks dishes so she doesn’t have to help in the kitchen, Harry hides his carrots in his pocket instead of eating them, and Harriet whines. Students will easily recognize the mischievous behaviors from their own experiences.

With 8 short chapters, simple text, and sthis is a good choice for young developing readers. Sergio Ruzzier’s 3 tone illustrations decorate this new edition of Heide’s previously published work (1985).  A classic sure to bring laughs, though the dated language and names reduce its kid appeal.

Willa: The Story of Willa Cather, an American Writer

Willa Cather, a great American author writing in the early 1900’s is known for writing stories about the land with strong female characters.  Unlike many girls at the time, Willa was encouraged by her parents to become whoever she wanted to be.  Even as a child, she chose a path different from other girls.

The chunky nature of the book makes it difficult to glean biographical information.  Each new section of the book focuses on a specific time without transitions or connections.  The episodic telling of parts of Willa’s early life, however, feeds well into the later references made between her writing and memorable times and places from her younger years.

One drawback of the book is the disconnect between the subject matter and the reading level.  Willa Cather’s work is typically introduced to students at the high school level, yet this biography is more appropriate for upper elementary and middle school.  As a study of a historical era or of a strong woman brave enough to challenge societal norms, this is a good addition to a library.

Hero Therapy Dogs

Hero Therapy Dogs explains what therapy dogs are and what they do. It was explained in easy to understand terms with several short sentences on a page. The book offers text features such as text boxes, an index, table of contents, glossary, and further reading. I felt that it jumped from the hospital to school to hospital again. It also dedicates a page to a specific dog, but there is only text on the page and there is not a picture of the dog. This is the only page without a picture and left me wanting to know what the dog looked like.

Survive an Avalanche

This book is a part of a series called Survival Zone. This book covers what is an avalanche, how they occur, and ways to avoid or stay safe during an avalanche. It includes many text features including a table of contents, diagrams, text boxes, an index, glossary and further reading suggestions. The format is straightforward and informative. Students who are interested in disasters and survival would enjoy this book.

Almost Autumn

Almost Autumn is set in the snow covered streets of Oslo, Norway, in October 1942. a 15 yr. old Jewish girl, Ilse Stern is waiting to meet Hermann Rod, the boy-next-door who she’s had a crush on forever, to go on their first date.  But Hermann can’t make it. Ilse is completely unaware that Hermann is secretly working for the Resistance, helping Jews flee Norway to escape the Nazis.  Hermann tell lies to everyone he cares about: his parents, his boss, and to Ilse, to keep his secret hidden.

This story is tense with pressure building as  life under the German occupation becomes  more difficult, particularly for Jewish families like Ilse’s. The mood of secrecy, uncertainty, and fear in World War II Norway creates a moving story of sorrow, chance, and first love.

Almost Autumn won numerous awards in Norway when it was released there. Now an English translation is available, and I would recommend it to those interested in the Holocaust and the Resistance, as well as historical romance fiction.

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (Music Storybooks)

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake ballet is presented as a picture book with stunning mixed media illustrations by renowned Mexican artist Gabriel Pacheco.

In addition to beautiful telling of the story, the book includes information about the composer, background about the ballet, and descriptions and definitions of both the music and ballet moves of the performance. Readers who enjoy fairy tales, ballet, or art will appreciate this book.

Make me the Best Football Player

Make Me the Best Football Player is part of the Make Me the Best Athlete series which, in addition to football, also includes the sports of track and field, baseball, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and volleyball.

This non-fiction, easy to read text highlights five positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, and defensive end. Each position has a chapter devoted to it, and a couple of top football stars who play the position are featured. Also included in each chapter historical sidebars, how-to fact boxes, tips and drills. The text also includes a glossary, additional print and online resources, and information on visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The full color photos, fact boxes, and easy to read text make this book approachable by intermediate elementary through high school students.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is a graphic novel (it’s more than a short story, more like a novella) by Spanish cartoonist Paco Roca.  A work of historic fiction, the story tells of Francisco, a wounded, disheartened sixteen-year-old Republican soldier in the Spanish Civil War. He tries to flee the war by crossing the French border. During his escape, he stumbles upon an old remote lighthouse, removed from the fighting. He is taken in by Telmo, the elderly operator of the lighthouse. As Francisco recuperates from his injuries, Telmo’s tells him tales of epic sea adventures. These stories reignite the spark of life in the teenage soldier.

This is an enjoyable graphic novel.  The book is gripping and emotional and will tug at your heartstrings.

The Witching Hour (Midnight)

The Witching Hour is part of the Midnight) series of scary stories, which are similar in length to the Goosebumps series, but intended for teen readers. The Witching Hour focuses on Rosie, a teenage girl who moves to the town of Middleton shortly after Mackie, a star played on the high school football team, has died in an accident. There is speculation that Mackie’s best friend Omar may have been at fault in the death. Rosie befriends Omar and tries to help him overcome his grief, which isn’t an easy task, as many in the town believe that it was Omar’s fault.

How does Rosie deal with all the unexplainable things that keep happening? How does she and Omar cope with  Mackie’s ghost?  What can they do to stop the haunting?

This short, easy to read book will appeal to teens who like ghost stories.

Dallas

Dallas is part of a new series called Texas Fridays by sports writer Sam Moussavi. This series is football themed. Moussavi wrote the Hoops basketball series, and many non-fiction sports biographies.

In Dallas we meet Bobby Dupree,  a backup quarterback who has been trying to make an impression on his coach, and also on girls at school.  When the starting quarterback suffers a knee injury, Bobby is thrust into the starting position, and the hopes of Trinity High School’s football team rest on his shoulders. Will Bobby be able to handle the pressure?

Like Moussavi’s other books, Dallas is easy reading and high interest, and will appeal to teens who enjoy teen sports stories.

The Baby

The story starts with a 17th birthday party for Olivia at her home, and moves quickly to the totally unexpected delivery of a baby on the bathroom floor by her best friend,  Nicola, who didn’t even know she was pregnant. Nicola is not at all ready to be a mom. As the story progresses, Nicola expects Olivia’s help, but Olivia has her own problems to deal with, including her bullying boyfriend, Jonty, and keeping an eye on younger sister Alice. There is also Nicola’s friend Ben, who is struggling with secrets of his own.

Written from the various points of view of the five main characters, each chapter covers one month from February through June. The author, Lisa Drakeford, is British and the book is set in England.  This is a well written YA book exploring the impact and consequences of an unplanned baby on a group of friends, their families and their futures.  Teenage pregnancy, and especially teenage parenthood, is an important issue which doesn’t appear very often in YA literature. In The Baby the focus is on not only teen pregnancy but also about being a parent, experiencing bullying, domestic violence, and friendship.

 

Confessions of a High School Disaster

Confessions of a High School Disaster is the humorous story of  Chloe Snow, a high school freshman told from pages of her diary.

It is reminiscent of Bridget Jones’s Diary,  although Chloe is only 14. Chloe makes many bad choices, including drinking alcohol at parties, and being tempted to engage in sexual activities with older boys. She can also be mean to her friends.

Below is one of her entries that will give the reader a snapshot of her life:
I’m Chloe Snow, and my life is kiiiiind of a disaster.

1. I’m a kissing virgin (so so so embarrassing).
2. My best friend, Hannah, is driving me insane.
3. I think I’m in love with Mac Brody, senior football star, whose girlfriend is so beautiful she doesn’t even need eyeliner.
4. My dad won’t stop asking me if I’m okay.
5. Oh, and my mom moved to Mexico to work on her novel. But it’s fine—she’ll be back soon. She said so.

Mom says the only thing sadder than remembering is forgetting, so I’m going to write down everything that happens to me in this diary. That way, even when I’m ninety, I’ll remember how awkward and horrible and exciting it is to be in high school.

This book will appeal to teen readers who enjoy lighter reads, teen angst, and humor.

Alex, Approximately

Author Jenn Bennett immediately builds curiosity and tension in the summer adventure that Bailey “Mink” Rydell is embarking on as she descends a central California airport escalator.  Choosing to come live with her father on the California coast, readers soon put together that this is the same town her online crush “Alex” lives in.  Alex and Bailey have chatted online for some time now as they watch old classic movies together.  Bailey, also nicknamed the “Artful Dodger” because of her desire to avoid conflict, plans to scope out who Alex is before she tries to meet up with him.  So begins the 1st plot line.  All great stories have multiple plot lines and Bennett does a nice job weaving together three of them.  Bailey is soon accosted by two surfer boys, Davy and Porter.  Both argumentative and rude, she later realizes that Porter is a security guard at the quirky museum where she is hired to sell tickets.  Porter and Bailey’s instinct to quarrel with each other over petty things also ironically develops their friendship and soon to be passion.  But wait, there’s more.  Readers will get to learn the other traumatic reason why Bailey is needing to leave her past behind in a 3rd storyline that will allow Bailey to grow in strength as well as trust.  But if Bailey likes Porter, what happened to her interest in “Alex”?  2/3 of the way most readers will see where the story will resolve itself, but it will not be a smooth ride.  All in all, Bennett’s premise is unique, slightly far-fetched, yet fun enough to keep readers going.  While the cover will probably draw in readers, it is a horrible representation of the story — they never hung out in a pool and Bailey’s not comfortable with her body yet to be in public in a bikini. Still this novel is recommended for high school age students.

Pig and Goose and the First Day of Spring

It is spring at last. Pig celebrates with a picnic at the pond. There she meets Goose and so begins a sweet friendship. Eternally positive Pig is impressed with Goose’s ability to fly and swim, though she can’t do either.  Goose is later impressed with Pig’s hostess skills, dancing, and storytelling. Appreciation for each other’s differences leads to a friendship that is sure to last.

Short simple sentences and repetitive structure make this a good choice for transitional readers.  The story is broken into 3 chapters so young readers gain a sense of accomplishment.  Lovely watercolor illustrations support the text.

The Music of Life: Bartolomeo Cristofori and the Invention of the Piano

The Music of Life details the creation of the first piano. Bartolomeo Cristofori was an instrument maker in Italy who worked on both clavichords which only played piano (softly) and the harpsichord which only played forte (loudly).  While working in Florence for Prince Ferdinand de Medici, Cristofori ponders the problem of creating an instrument that can play both piano and forte. Cristofori’s perseverance to pay off as he experiments with different materials and different constructions to create his new keyboard.  Cristofori’s masterpiece is named the pianoforte since it plays both loudly and softly.  During his life, the piano was not widely used.  It was only 20 years after his death as Joseph Haydn then later Johann Christian Bach and Wolfgang Mozart compose for and play on the piano that it emerges as an instrument that captures the music of life.

Large ornately formed Latin musical terms (with English translations) decorate the top of each page, acting as an accompaniment to the story.  The timeline of the story is punctuated by quotes from historical record of the time.

Endpapers include a timeline of the life of Cristofori and the piano, a comparison to Cristofori’s pianoforte and the modern piano, a list of famous piano composers, a description of how the author researched Cristofori, Bibliography, and Grazie.