Another take on the quest for treasure, good vs. evil genre of children’s books. The illustrations are in a “video game” style with different levels to survive and unusual terrains to traverse. The multitude of little characters and side humor jokes keeps the book interesting in spite of the rather usual story line. Heroes such as a Unicorn and a Gnome add to its appeal for children. A silly reason for the theft–the Old Oak stole the Mystical Crystals of Life to buy a speedboat–lessen the depth, therefore the interest in the story. It is an okay book for a possible one or two time read, not destined to be the long-held treasured favorite, read every night book.
Are Pirates Polite?
A delightful, rough-edged presentation of basic manners. Pirates are pirates: they burp and fight and plunder but they don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you” or share fairly or use their “inside voice”. Zany, colorful illustrations plus humorous rhyming text add to the message of manners amid chaos. This would be a fun book to read to children around three to eight-year-old. Thoroughly entertaining! Bravo to Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehrig.
Surviving Middle School: Navigating the Halls, Riding the Social Roller Coaster, and Unmasking the Real You
Luke Reynolds approaches readers with advice for surviving middle school. As a middle school teacher and a former middle school student himself, Reynolds knows his way around a middle school and the behaviors and attitudes that are prevalent in most of these institutions. He draws on his personal adolescent experiences as well as those from his time as a teacher, to outline middle school survival strategies. He intersperses quotations from famous people and regularly references space gnomes who try to steal your garlic bread to capture and hold the reader’s attention. This book is an additional purchase which will help round out this section of a library’s offerings.
Girl About Town
Lucille O’Malley teen years are not footloose and fancy-free. In the heart of the Depression, the O’Malley family barely makes it by on the small profits from doing other people’s dirty business – their laundry. Lucille’s mother always has a happy outlook, but Lucille desperately wants to find other means to support her family. Unfortunately, it was another kind of dirty business that allows her an opportunity. While delivering garments one afternoon, Lucille witnesses a New York mobster, Salvatore Benedetto, kill another man. With the police already on Sal’s heals, he doesn’t shoot Lucille too. But when the police question Lucille, she covers for Sal. Impressed but still worried she might spill the beans at some point, Sal grants her wish to move to Hollywood and arranges for her to become an actress with an agent.
In a parallel storyline, Frederick Preston Aloysius van der Waals, the heir to a business and lifestyle of power and extreme wealth in New York, is learning that he doesn’t like his life either. He appreciates his betrothed girlfriend who wants to marry the 17-year-old but he doesn’t love her. He used to love his father but learns that he is a back-stabbing, lying, money-hungry power monger who has no sense of remorse or empathy for others. Wanting nothing to do with the family “business” anymore, he disappears and begins to cross the country, heading for California.
The 2 plot lines remain separate for part 1 and 2 of the book. Lucille learns what it takes to be a Hollywood starlet and Frederick bums his way across the country with the aid of a companion named Ben. How their paths cross is unique and it is quickly realized that they will eventually couple up. But each keeps their secret of how they ended up in California from each other until the fates push out the truth. Frederick’s greedy father and notorious Sal both make resurgences to bring about the climax. How the issue with Sal is wrapped up feels rushed and weak considering his gangster status but the relief of tension between Frederick and his father is satisfying. Authors Adam Shankman and Laura Sullivan keep this plot driving forward, especially in part 3 as another gunshot puts Lucille in the center of a high-profile Hollywood scandal. Looking at these author’s own profiles helps explain why this text is such a well-written young adult novel that feels like it could go straight to a screenplay. Both male and female teens would enjoy this story if only the publisher hadn’t put a picture of a female on the front. Why do they do that??? Highly recommended for middle or high school libraries.
When Friendship Followed Me Home
When Friendship Followed Me Home is a story about friendship and growing up. Ben Coffin spent many years in the foster care system. Finally finding a home to call his own, his life progresses steadily. He mostly keeps to himself and enjoys spending time at the local library. Books are his friends; the library his domain. The librarian knows his reading preferences and suggests books to check out. One day, a small dog follows Ben into the library and then home. On that same day, Ben meets the most amazing girl he has ever met, Halley – like the comet. A friendship blooms and a creative partnership is born. Together Ben and Halley embark on a journey to write a story. Then, when life is progressing smoothly, Ben’s adoptive mother dies, Ben and his four-legged friend, Flip, find themselves living with his aunt and her husband. Unfortunately, this is not an ideal situation as Leo doesn’t have the temperament to be a father. Halley’s family ends up opening their home and hearts to Ben and Flip.The relationship that develops between Ben and Halley’s family is heartwarming. Halley is sick, and the Lorentz’ are struggling with Halley’s physical decline. Ben learns that unlike writing a story, you cannot write a new ending to life. You can, however, choose your path and the people you call family. This was a touching story that is a great choice for realistic fiction lovers.
Lost in the Pacific, 1942
Lost in the Pacific, 1942 retells a story of survival at sea during the second World War. The year was 1942, and the US was in heated battle with Japan for control of the Pacific ocean. This nonfiction survival and suspense story retells the events that led to the crash landing of a B-17 bomber into the Pacific ocean and the attempted survival and rescue of the crew and VIP passengers. This page turner provides facts about the aircraft, the crew, and the events both before and after the crash. The book is put together in a manner that makes it easy to follow and understand. Features include: table of contents, cast of characters – complete with photos of crew and passengers, maps and photos for historical context, glossary, author’s note and sources.
Willows vs. Wolverines
Izzy and Mackenzie have been best friends since they were little kids, and they have spent every summer together at camp. This summer the two girls go to a new camp where they have to make all new friends. On top of that, they are each assigned to different cabins. Izzy wants to fit in and be popular. She worries about Mackenzie but is more worried about being noticed by her new friends. Izzy soon learns that her cabin is in a time honored prank war with the Wolverine cabin. Izzy has a history of being a prank master, but none of her new cabin-mates are interested in her ideas. Then Izzy tells a small lie to gain the trust and respect of the rest of her cabin.This lie does the job, but it grows day by day and becomes a black cloud that, predictably, comes between both her new friendships and the long standing friendship with Mackenzie. Izzy learns an important lesson about trust and friendship. The plot is simple, characters are reflective of the age group represented, and the resolution is predictable. Readers who compare the cover image to the story will be disappointed – while the scene comes from the story, the accuracy of details is a miss.
10 Fascinating Facts About Chewing Gum
This Rookie Star Fact Finder book will draw young readers into reading non fiction. The front cover immediately captures your attention using a pink bubble gum-colored background with a wide-eyed boy’s lower face hidden behind a big pink bubble of gum.
The Table of Contents states an abbreviated list of the 10 facts as section titles. The ten facts include gums’: origin, quantity of flavors, health aspects, energy, and gum used in art.
The health aspect has to do with an increase in the amount of saliva created when chewing gum and its calming effect on people. According to this book do not believe the old wives tale about swallowed gum staying in your stomach.
The side bar in each section is quite entertaining/ informative, as well, such as the Guinness World Record for most people chewing gum at one time, on page 15.
There is an activity on pages 26-27 that could be used for a school science fair project. This is followed by a timeline, a glossary, index, and a Scholastic web site with more information on chewing gum.
Shabbat Hiccups
This is a gentle story about a Jewish family’s weekly Sabbath ritual. The flavor of the ritual comes alive in the artwork of Ilana Exelby and in the few distinctly Jewish words used. This book will fit into your diversity collection.
As Jonah’s family prepares for Shabbat on Friday evening, Jonah suddenly comes down with a case of hiccups that will not go away. Jonah’s sister, Eden, tries to scare the hiccups away. Grandma Sue tries to rid Jonah of the hiccups by first using a spoonful of sugar. When that does not work, she has Jonah try drinking water. Nothing works. On Saturday evening, the family goes for a walk to see the first stars of the night, but the hiccups continue. The family returns home for the closing Havdalah, when finally Jonah’s hiccups stop. Then, the quiet is broken not by Jonah’s hiccups, but by Grandma Sue’s.
Wolf Hollow
In this historical fiction, we meet two young girls who are as different as night and day living in rural Pennsylvania in 1943. Annabelle is a sweet, responsible, compassionate twelve year old who lives with her parents, grand parents, aunt, and siblings on the family farm. Betty Glengarry, an older girl, moves to town to live with her grandparents. Annabelle and Betty have many run-ins and each run-in escalates with Betty revealing herself to be more and more of a bully. Annabelle typically would turn to her family for help, but since she is getting older, she attempts to handle the situation on her own. One day, Betty plays a nasty trick on Annabelle and her brothers and Toby, a WWI veteran, intervenes. Toby lives alone and is a wanderer. He isn’t from Wolf Hollow and few people know much about him. Living a life of solitude, he soon finds himself on the cruel end of Betty’s antics. Annabelle must find the courage to stand up for what she believes and speak the truth about Betty’s actions. Life lessons are not always sweet and charming, as Annabelle learns, some lessons are heartfelt and bitter.Highly recommended.