Some similarities to the three little kittens, as the mother pig is very concerned that her naughty pigs are so muddy. She is so concerned that she gives them all a reward for their terrific pig-like behavior. Very wonderfully illustrated, charming picture book, suitable for a library or private collection. Recommended.
Colin Kaepernick: NFL Phenom
Colin Kaepernick was a competitive child growing up and excelled at sports. He got good grades in school and many awards for sports. Both in college and the pros, Kaepernick has been a top-notch player. This book will appeal mostly to reluctant readers, especially boys who love football. Other than playing football, not much else is told about Kaepernick and his life outside of football.
Homestretch
Gaston, “Gas,” is devastated by the loss of his mother, who he believes was killed by an illegal alien in an auto accident. When Gas’s father begins drinking more and becomes physically abusive, Gas decides it is time to leave. He ends up in another state, working with a family of Mexicans – the people his father has taught him to hate. Gas finds out that the family he works with are more trustworthy than his new boss, who will do anything for money. This coming of age novel is fast-paced and will pull the most reluctant readers along for the ride. The characters aren’t fully developed, but Gas’s feeling ring true. NOTE: some language and ethnic slurs.
Falling for Hamlet
Ophelia is paparazzi fodder: she is the daughter of the King of Denmark’s adviser and the girlfriend of the King’s son, Hamlet. Her life is the epitome of today’s celebrity culture. When Hamlet’s dad dies unexpectedly and his mother marries his uncle Claudius, Hamlet begins to fall apart. The novel follows Shakespeare’s plot in great detail, which is not a good thing. It might have been better if this modern retelling was loosely based on the play and let go a little more. Shakespeare fans will be put off and those who have never read the original will miss some of the references and events. Girls who enjoy Lauren Conrad might enjoy this one.
My Unfair Godmother
After being forced to move in with her father and new step-family because her mother must travel with her actress little sister, Tansy thinks life is horribly unfair. Her father has never had enough time for her, and now she goes to great (and destructive) lengths to get his attention. When her new bad boy boyfriend abandons her after spray painting city hall, Tansy is picked up by police, meets a cute guy at the police station and is grounded to her room for life. Enter Chrissy – Chrysanthemum Everstart, Fairy Godmother in training. Unfortunately Chrissy hasn’t quite gotten the wish thing down, so all kinds of havoc ensues. While the plot (the retelling of Rumplestiltskin) strains the reader’s credulity, the characters are likable and the book is fun. Where other modern retellings of fairy tales circ well, this one should, too. Sequel to My Fair Godmother.
The Different Girl
In a dystopian future, where global warming has threatened resources and the religious right does not trust scientists and bullies want to wipe out education and replace it with the rule of might, four “girls” are being raised on a small tropical island to observe everything by two adults who are not their parents. One day they observe the remnants of a wrecked ship and find a girl who is different. May, the new girl, brings the outside world to their little haven. You can guess how it proceeds from there.
The problem is, I didn’t care how it proceeded. I was not attached to the characters. The stereotypes were grossly exaggerated. There seemed to be no point to the novel at all. It was so slow that it was difficult to finish. I can’t imagine teens picking this up, let alone finishing it. Even science fiction fans would have little to interest them; there is almost no information about the “girls” or how they work. This was a chore to read.
Snowy Owls
Snowy Owls is one of a series on Arctic animals by Julie Murray. A small map of the Arctic Circle shows the many countries included in the snowy owls’ territory. Backgrounds for photos are colorful and work well with the large, black font, except on a couple of dark blue pages, where the text is harder to read. Physical descriptions define males, females, and chicks. Facts on what they eat, behavior patterns, and habitat are beautifully presented on these birds who mate for life. Still and action photos are captioned and many pages include Uncovered! text boxes with additional facts. A final WOW! page concludes the book with other related details. The glossary defines words highlighted on pages. Index and an ABDO website finish this engaging 32 page book.
Komodo Dragon
Well-written text provides accurate information about this exceptional predator. What type of animal the komodo dragon is, where they live, and what they eat is presented in a clear, easily read format. Captioned, colorful photos and side boxes offer additional facts. Web sites supplement pages with fascinating, additional material. Captions not only offer more information, many share primary sources, and include questions to encourage deeper thinking. Aligned to Common Core Standards, one is prompted to write reports or responses to observations made from the text. Students will be drawn to this nonfiction book starting with the cover photo. Teachers will see this as an excellent resource as a teaching tool for informational text.
Guantanamo Boy
Khalid, a fifteen year old from England, is on a trip to Karachi to visit family when he is mistaken for a terrorist and sent to Kandahar and then Guantanamo Bay. An innocent victim of the war on terror, he is held, interrogated and tortured for two years. This fictionalized story representing real situations illustrates the captives’ feelings of helplessness and boredom, the brutality and indifference of the jailors, and the consequences both intended and unintended of the war on terror. This story is riveting and will grab the attention of most teens. There is a timeline and discussion questions at the end that should prompt a lot of dialogue.
Getting Somewhere
Instead of serving time in juvie, four girls elect to enter a new correctional program. Each of the girls has some sort of history that makes them reluctant to trust. Working together helps the girls to slowly begin to open up to each other. However one of the girls tries to sabotage both the girls’ success and the entire program.
This could have been a compelling story about four girls bonding and coming to terms with their issues, however, the characters are not well-developed. Lauren, the girl who betrays the others, is unpleasant, vindictive and not a sympathetic character at all. Could have been much better than it was.