Check out what my department's doing for Black History Month and tell me what your library's doing over at the ALSC blog: How are you celebrating Black History Month?
And hey, it's my very first post on the ALSC blog, so help make me look good by commenting on the post, okay? ;)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Book Review: Bad News for Outlaws
Bass Reeves was born into slavery in the years before the Civil War and lived with Indian Tribes in Indian Territory until after the Civil War. When Judge Isaac C. Parker arrived in 1875 to bring order to the Indian Territory, Bass Reeves was hired as a deputy marshal to track down bandits, murderers, and other outlaws. Reeves served as a deputy marshal until 1907 when Oklahoma became a state and local lawmen took over. During his career, Reeves arrested over 3000 men and women. With his strong sense of right and wrong and his devotion to duty, Reeves did much to make the Wild West a safer place.
Vaunda Michaeux Nelson won the 2010 Coretta Scott King Author Award for this title and now that I've read it I have to say that it was much deserved. I really enjoyed this book. I had never heard of Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves before and now I'm so glad that I know his story!
The format of the book serves its subject well. On some pages the text is incorporated into the full-page illustrations, but on other pages, it's printed on paper styled to look like Old West newspaper. It's a very effective way to give the reader an immediate sense of the time and place. Nelson starts the book with a bang, describing Reeves's showdown with outlaw Jim Webb. From there, she moves into biographical information and then she gives several examples of how Reeves brought in various outlaws.
I have to confess that I am not the biggest fan of R. Gregory Christie's illustrations, but I will say that the colors he uses for this book definitely evoke the setting. Wide blue skies, green forests, brown fields... they all help to create the atmosphere of the West.
This is a book that combines kid appeal with literary merit and you won't want to miss it. Add it to your Black History Month displays and units as well as your studies on the Old West.
Check out The Brown Bookshelf's interview with Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and the Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast's interview with R. Gregory Christie. Read more reviews at Through the Looking Glass Children's Books Reviews and Eva's Book Addiction.
Happy Nonfiction Monday! Great Kid Books has the round-up this week, so go forth and learn!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
In My Mailbox #20
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren! Here's what was in my mailbox this week (it was apparently a very eclectic week!):
Smile by Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic, February 2010.
I pre-ordered this one (purchased because I had so enjoyed the author's work on the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels) and I did a happy dance when it arrived! (And also, I read it on Tuesday when it came in the mail - review coming soon!)
Publisher description (accessed from Good Reads):
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.
This coming-of-age true story is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in middle school, and especially those who have ever had a bit of their own dental drama.
Prowling the Seas: Exploring the Hidden World of Ocean Predators by Pamela S. Turner. Walker Books for Young Readers, October 2009.
Publisher summary from Good Reads:
From the surface of the ocean, it’s hard to see any visible signs of life below. But this remarkable ecosystem is teeming with life—life that is increasingly under environmental stress. And it is often the predators that sound the earliest warning signs. By tracking a wide variety of ocean predators, the Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) project provides essential cutting-edge information about the state of the ocean’s health and the challenges facing all its inhabitants. Acclaimed science writer Pamela S. Turner takes readers along with four predators—a leatherback sea turtle, a bluefin tuna, a great white shark, and a Sooty Shearwater—on their remarkable journeys. This full-access look will change the way readers view our blue planet.
Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson. Delacorte Press, March 2010.
Summary from ARC:
Joshua Wynn is definitely what you would call a good guy. He's a preacher's son who chooses abstinence and religious retreats over crazy nights and wild parties. Instead of joining his high school basketball team, Joshua spends his time leading the church's youth group.
One Sunday, Joshua's mind drifts from his father's sermon to a beautiful girl in the fifth row. She's gorgeous, wearing a dress cut down to there, and she looks like the little girl he crushed on as a kid. It turns out that Maddie Smith is back in town, but instead of throwing her a welcome-back picnic, the community condemns her for her provocative clothes and the rumors about her past. According to Joshua's parents, she's on the need-to-save list, though his mother isn't sure he's the one to do it. Still, Joshua can't stop thinking about Maddie's purple-painted lips, and he wants to help her find who she really is.
But can Joshua save Maddie without losing himself?
Looks like great books in my mailbox this week! How about you? Did you get anything exciting in your mailbox or from the bookstore or library this week?
I pre-ordered this one (purchased because I had so enjoyed the author's work on the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels) and I did a happy dance when it arrived! (And also, I read it on Tuesday when it came in the mail - review coming soon!)
Publisher description (accessed from Good Reads):
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.
This coming-of-age true story is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in middle school, and especially those who have ever had a bit of their own dental drama.
Publisher summary from Good Reads:
From the surface of the ocean, it’s hard to see any visible signs of life below. But this remarkable ecosystem is teeming with life—life that is increasingly under environmental stress. And it is often the predators that sound the earliest warning signs. By tracking a wide variety of ocean predators, the Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) project provides essential cutting-edge information about the state of the ocean’s health and the challenges facing all its inhabitants. Acclaimed science writer Pamela S. Turner takes readers along with four predators—a leatherback sea turtle, a bluefin tuna, a great white shark, and a Sooty Shearwater—on their remarkable journeys. This full-access look will change the way readers view our blue planet.
Summary from ARC:
Joshua Wynn is definitely what you would call a good guy. He's a preacher's son who chooses abstinence and religious retreats over crazy nights and wild parties. Instead of joining his high school basketball team, Joshua spends his time leading the church's youth group.
One Sunday, Joshua's mind drifts from his father's sermon to a beautiful girl in the fifth row. She's gorgeous, wearing a dress cut down to there, and she looks like the little girl he crushed on as a kid. It turns out that Maddie Smith is back in town, but instead of throwing her a welcome-back picnic, the community condemns her for her provocative clothes and the rumors about her past. According to Joshua's parents, she's on the need-to-save list, though his mother isn't sure he's the one to do it. Still, Joshua can't stop thinking about Maddie's purple-painted lips, and he wants to help her find who she really is.
But can Joshua save Maddie without losing himself?
Looks like great books in my mailbox this week! How about you? Did you get anything exciting in your mailbox or from the bookstore or library this week?
Friday, February 5, 2010
AudioSynced: Whatcha listening to?
(This is the very exciting announcement I mentioned yesterday!)
The book blogosphere has many memes. Every Friday we celebrate poetry with Poetry Friday. On Mondays we post about nonfiction for Nonfiction Monday. People may participate in In My Mailbox or the Sunday Salon. There's also Waiting on Wednesday, Booking Through Thursday, Library Loot, and, I'm sure, a whole host of others.
Well, Kelly of Stacked and I are adding one more to the mix: AudioSynced. On the first day of every month, Kelly or I will host a roundup of blogosphere posts about audiobooks. We want to encourage people to listen to audiobooks and to post about them. We want to provide a place for people to find out about great audiobooks. So plug in those headphones, check out an awesome audiobook, write up a post about it, and on March 1 head over to Stacked and leave your link in the comments.
Not sure where to start? Here are some resources for picking out great audiobooks:
I love to listen to audiobooks in the car, but if you've got a short commute, listen to audiobooks while you're cooking or cleaning your house or when you go on a road trip. Or see if your local library has picture book readalong kits which will offer you some shorter choices perfect for when you don't spend much time in the car. As an audiobook convert, I can tell you that the more you listen to audiobooks, the more you'll want to listen to audiobooks.
And check out Kelly's post on evaluating audiobooks to see what you might be listening for when you review them.
While you're at it, you may want to join the 100+ bloggers participating in the 2010 Audiobook Challenge hosted by Royal Reviews.
So, go forth and listen. Blog about audiobooks. And on March 1, head over to Stacked where you can grab the image and add your link to the roundup. On April 1, AudioSynced will be here at Abby (the) Librarian, on May 1 it will be at Stacked, and so on and so forth. Questions? Leave 'em in the comments!
And hey, spread the word, please. This monthly blogger event has the potential to be a really valuable resource, but only if we can get the word out and convince y'all to participate!
The book blogosphere has many memes. Every Friday we celebrate poetry with Poetry Friday. On Mondays we post about nonfiction for Nonfiction Monday. People may participate in In My Mailbox or the Sunday Salon. There's also Waiting on Wednesday, Booking Through Thursday, Library Loot, and, I'm sure, a whole host of others.
Not sure where to start? Here are some resources for picking out great audiobooks:
- The ALSC's Notable Children's Recordings lists
- The Odyssey Award winners and honor books
- Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
- The Grammy winners and nominees for Best Spoken Word Album
- The Audies Award winners
- Or, heck, even my own Audiobook Roundup posts and Good Reads audiobook reviews
I love to listen to audiobooks in the car, but if you've got a short commute, listen to audiobooks while you're cooking or cleaning your house or when you go on a road trip. Or see if your local library has picture book readalong kits which will offer you some shorter choices perfect for when you don't spend much time in the car. As an audiobook convert, I can tell you that the more you listen to audiobooks, the more you'll want to listen to audiobooks.
And check out Kelly's post on evaluating audiobooks to see what you might be listening for when you review them.
While you're at it, you may want to join the 100+ bloggers participating in the 2010 Audiobook Challenge hosted by Royal Reviews.
So, go forth and listen. Blog about audiobooks. And on March 1, head over to Stacked where you can grab the image and add your link to the roundup. On April 1, AudioSynced will be here at Abby (the) Librarian, on May 1 it will be at Stacked, and so on and so forth. Questions? Leave 'em in the comments!
And hey, spread the word, please. This monthly blogger event has the potential to be a really valuable resource, but only if we can get the word out and convince y'all to participate!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Around the interwebs
Y'all have probably heard about the Massive, Ridiculous Amazon Fail that started last weekend. EarlyWord sums it up quite nicely in Amazon v. Publishers. And linked in that post is John Scalzi's All the Many Ways Amazon So Very Failed the Weekend, also worth a read. Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.
A school in Arkansas is declaring February 12, one month after the tragic hurricane hit Haiti, the day to show your continued empathy and support for Haitians by wearing red and blue. Link via American Libraries Direct.
And on a lighter note, author Jackson Pearce writes about where she gets her character names. I love posts that give us a glimpse of process.
Very exciting that School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids' Books is coming back at some point in the near future. Follow the Battle of the Kids' Books Blog or @SLJsBoB for any and all developments.
I no longer live in Illinois, so I will leave it to Becky at Libri Delectio to tell you about the 2011 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Nominees. It is a stellar list. (My local schools don't seem to do much with the Young Hoosier Book Award... maybe after I tackle the eleventy bajillion projects on my plate, I'll see what I can do about that...)
J.D. Salinger passed away last week and I confessed that I am not a big fan of The Catcher in the Rye. If you somehow missed reading this modern classic (or are thinking about rereading it), join Melissa and a bunch of others in the Catcher in the Rye Read-Along, starting February 14.
The People of Color (POC) Challenge: it's a good thing, right? Well, yes, but Debbie Reese, American Indian Studies professor, has some thoughts about it and they're well worth a read. Check out her thoughts about the POC Challenge Part 1 and Part 2.
Who's going to BEA? (I am! Woohoo!) If you're a BEA newbie like myself, check out this blog tour full of BEA tips by bloggers who have been there.
The January Carnival of Children's Literature is up at Jenny's Wonderland of Books! Do check it out for some great reading.
And on that note, I'm out. COMING TOMORROW is a VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT about a project that I am VERY EXCITED ABOUT! (Note all the caps and the boldness. I am very excited about this thing I will be telling you about tomorrow. You better come back and read my very exciting announcement.)
A school in Arkansas is declaring February 12, one month after the tragic hurricane hit Haiti, the day to show your continued empathy and support for Haitians by wearing red and blue. Link via American Libraries Direct.
And on a lighter note, author Jackson Pearce writes about where she gets her character names. I love posts that give us a glimpse of process.
Very exciting that School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids' Books is coming back at some point in the near future. Follow the Battle of the Kids' Books Blog or @SLJsBoB for any and all developments.
I no longer live in Illinois, so I will leave it to Becky at Libri Delectio to tell you about the 2011 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award Nominees. It is a stellar list. (My local schools don't seem to do much with the Young Hoosier Book Award... maybe after I tackle the eleventy bajillion projects on my plate, I'll see what I can do about that...)
J.D. Salinger passed away last week and I confessed that I am not a big fan of The Catcher in the Rye. If you somehow missed reading this modern classic (or are thinking about rereading it), join Melissa and a bunch of others in the Catcher in the Rye Read-Along, starting February 14.
The People of Color (POC) Challenge: it's a good thing, right? Well, yes, but Debbie Reese, American Indian Studies professor, has some thoughts about it and they're well worth a read. Check out her thoughts about the POC Challenge Part 1 and Part 2.
Who's going to BEA? (I am! Woohoo!) If you're a BEA newbie like myself, check out this blog tour full of BEA tips by bloggers who have been there.
The January Carnival of Children's Literature is up at Jenny's Wonderland of Books! Do check it out for some great reading.
And on that note, I'm out. COMING TOMORROW is a VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT about a project that I am VERY EXCITED ABOUT! (Note all the caps and the boldness. I am very excited about this thing I will be telling you about tomorrow. You better come back and read my very exciting announcement.)
Available now: A Match Made in High School
Happy Debut Day, Kristin!
Check out Kristin Walker's website.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Book Review: The Champ
All around the world -
in tall, gleaming cities,
in small, quiet towns -
the mere mention of the name
"Muhammad Ali"
will spark big smiles.
But Muhammad Ali was not always his name.
So begins this picture book biography of Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., better known as Muhammad Ali. The book describes Clay's childhood in Louisville, KY and his path to boxing. As a child, Clay loved to dodge rocks thrown at him by his brother, no doubt a precursor to "floating like a butterfly". After an incident in which his bike was stolen, Clay started training and he went on to win three heavyweight championships and an Olympic gold medal.
Tonya Bolden's writing perfectly fits its subject. It's not quite straight prose, not quite straight poetry, but it bobs and weaves like Muhammad Ali in the ring. I love the poetic descriptions Bolden offers:
What a wonder he was to watch: with his fine physique, with his cheetah eyes, with his moonbeam smile...
So quick with his hands, so swift on his feet - Cassius Clay hardly ever got hit. And he had a super-fast - whiz-zip! - left jab. His STING! And a thunderbolt right - it stuned. And a rapid-fire left-right-left-right-left-right-rat-a-tat-tat - fierce flurry of punches. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!" became his motto, echoed around the world.
I didn't particularly care for the illustrations. Christie uses a lot of bright colors, which was very fitting for the biography of such a dynamic person, but his style just doesn't agree with me.
A short section of notes at the end of the book provides quote sources and a selected bibliography.
I love Tonya Bolden's work and I'll definitely be seeking out more of her books! Happy Nonfiction Monday - Wild About Nature's got the round-up this week, so go check it out!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
In My Mailbox #19
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren!
I got a book in my mailbox this week:
An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank by Elaine Marie Alphin. Carolrhoda Books (Lerner Publishing Group), March 2010.
From the jacket flap:
Was an innocent man accused of murder?
On April 26, 1913, thirteen-year-old Mary Phagan planned to meet friends at a parade in Atlanta, Georgia. But first she stopped at the pencil factory where she worked to pick up her paycheck. Mary never left the building alive.
A black watchman found Mary's body brutally beaten and raped. Police arrested the watchman, but they weren't satisfied that he was the killer. Then they paid a visit to Leo Frank, the factory's superintendent, who was both a northerner and a Jew. Spurred on by the media frenzy and prejudices of the time, the detectives made Frank their prime suspect, one whose conviction would soothe the city's anger over the death of a young white girl.
The prosecution of Leo Frank was front-page news for two years, and Frank's lynching is still one of the most controversial incidents of the twentieth century. It marks a turning point in the history of racial and religious hatred in America, leading directly to the founding of the Anti-Defamation League and to the rebirth of the modern Ku Klux Klan. Relying on primary source documents and painstaking research, award-winning novelist Elaine Alphin tells the true story of justice undone in America.
And that's it for my mailbox this week! Did you get anything exciting in the mail or bookstore this week?
I got a book in my mailbox this week:
From the jacket flap:
Was an innocent man accused of murder?
On April 26, 1913, thirteen-year-old Mary Phagan planned to meet friends at a parade in Atlanta, Georgia. But first she stopped at the pencil factory where she worked to pick up her paycheck. Mary never left the building alive.
A black watchman found Mary's body brutally beaten and raped. Police arrested the watchman, but they weren't satisfied that he was the killer. Then they paid a visit to Leo Frank, the factory's superintendent, who was both a northerner and a Jew. Spurred on by the media frenzy and prejudices of the time, the detectives made Frank their prime suspect, one whose conviction would soothe the city's anger over the death of a young white girl.
The prosecution of Leo Frank was front-page news for two years, and Frank's lynching is still one of the most controversial incidents of the twentieth century. It marks a turning point in the history of racial and religious hatred in America, leading directly to the founding of the Anti-Defamation League and to the rebirth of the modern Ku Klux Klan. Relying on primary source documents and painstaking research, award-winning novelist Elaine Alphin tells the true story of justice undone in America.
And that's it for my mailbox this week! Did you get anything exciting in the mail or bookstore this week?
Friday, January 29, 2010
Around the interwebs
So, what's been happening around the interwebs this week?
Betsy at A Fuse #8 Production let us know that the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation is accepting submissions for the Ezra Jack Keats Mini-Grant. If you work at a public library or public school, do check it out.
What fabulous YA books have not yet gotten the buzz they deserve? Kelly over at YAnnabe asked just that question and 73 bloggers chimed in. Check out her Unsung YA project to find out the top ten books you may have missed. Looks like she's considering making it an annual event and that's certainly one I'll look forward to!
Remember when 2010 used to be the future? Thanks to @kidsilkhaze for the very amusing link.
Ohhhh, if only I lived in New York! Among other things, I COULD SEE BABYMOUSE: THE MUSICAL. Thanks to @randomhousekids for the link.
Imagine how nice it would be to look back and see a list of the books you read as a child. Or the books your children read. Over at Booklights, Susan encourages parents to start writing down the books your kids are reading. I don't have any kids, but I can add that keeping a list together could be a great activity to encourage early literacy skills or motivate your kids to practice their writing. (Which is one reason I have trepidation about libraries heading over into online-only summer reading club records... Just as reading over the summer helps kids retain their reading skills, writing down the book titles helps them practice their writing! But that is a rant for another day...)
These are just awesome. Thanks to Fuse #8 for the link.
Travis of 100 Scope Notes gives us a peek at what he bought for his school library when he had $200.00 to spend.
In How to Complain About Your Publisher in Public, Editorial Anonymous talks about the Magic Under Glass cover fiasco and answers the question "Why wasn't the author the very first to object publicly to the cover?"
Have you checked out Fed Up: School Lunch Project yet? An anonymous teacher, concerned with the nutritional value of the lunches provided at her school, is eating (or at least buying and documenting) school lunch every day. It is gross, but kind of fascinating. And it's definitely got a lot of people thinking and talking about nutrition. Thanks to bookshelves of doom for the link.
Martin Scorcese is going to direct the (live-action) movie adaptation of The Adventures of Hugo Cabret. Hmm. Thanks to J for the link.
And speaking of movies, they've released a trailer for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie and it looks hilaaaarious! Do check it out. Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the (first) link (I saw).
Betsy at A Fuse #8 Production let us know that the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation is accepting submissions for the Ezra Jack Keats Mini-Grant. If you work at a public library or public school, do check it out.
What fabulous YA books have not yet gotten the buzz they deserve? Kelly over at YAnnabe asked just that question and 73 bloggers chimed in. Check out her Unsung YA project to find out the top ten books you may have missed. Looks like she's considering making it an annual event and that's certainly one I'll look forward to!
Remember when 2010 used to be the future? Thanks to @kidsilkhaze for the very amusing link.
Ohhhh, if only I lived in New York! Among other things, I COULD SEE BABYMOUSE: THE MUSICAL. Thanks to @randomhousekids for the link.
Imagine how nice it would be to look back and see a list of the books you read as a child. Or the books your children read. Over at Booklights, Susan encourages parents to start writing down the books your kids are reading. I don't have any kids, but I can add that keeping a list together could be a great activity to encourage early literacy skills or motivate your kids to practice their writing. (Which is one reason I have trepidation about libraries heading over into online-only summer reading club records... Just as reading over the summer helps kids retain their reading skills, writing down the book titles helps them practice their writing! But that is a rant for another day...)
These are just awesome. Thanks to Fuse #8 for the link.
Travis of 100 Scope Notes gives us a peek at what he bought for his school library when he had $200.00 to spend.
In How to Complain About Your Publisher in Public, Editorial Anonymous talks about the Magic Under Glass cover fiasco and answers the question "Why wasn't the author the very first to object publicly to the cover?"
Have you checked out Fed Up: School Lunch Project yet? An anonymous teacher, concerned with the nutritional value of the lunches provided at her school, is eating (or at least buying and documenting) school lunch every day. It is gross, but kind of fascinating. And it's definitely got a lot of people thinking and talking about nutrition. Thanks to bookshelves of doom for the link.
Martin Scorcese is going to direct the (live-action) movie adaptation of The Adventures of Hugo Cabret. Hmm. Thanks to J for the link.
And speaking of movies, they've released a trailer for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie and it looks hilaaaarious! Do check it out. Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the (first) link (I saw).
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Catching up...
And here I am, catching up on my to-review pile with three short reviews of books I've picked up lately.
Epitaph Road by David Patneaude. (Grades 5-8.) Egmont USA, March 2010. Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher.
In 2067 the virus came. Elisha's Bear. It only affected males and it was deadly. Almost every male on earth was wiped out. Now, thirty years later, Kellen is one of the few boys on earth. When Kellen hears that there might be another outbreak of Elisha's Bear near where his father lives, he knows he has to warn him... whatever the cost. But what he'll discover on his journey will change everything.
It's an interesting premise and usually post-apocalyptic teen novels are right up my alley, but this one didn't do it for me. I liked the author's device of explaining the changes that brought about the current government through newspaper headlines. But it just took forever for the plot to get to where it was going. By the time Kellen undertook his journey and started figuring out the hidden truths, I had long lost patience. Plus, I understand from other Good Reads reviews that the premise has been done (and possibly done better) in The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S. Tepper.
Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed. (Grades 4-6.) Philomel Books, September 2009. Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher.
This is the story of Sam the Lion, a pedigreed dachshund with a rare Duuglitz tuft. Meant to be a show dog, he soon escapes the clutches of the overbearing Mrs. Nutbush and elects to follow an orphan named Heidy who is going to live with her uncle. But when Sam steals the attention away from the champion standard poodle Cassius, Cassius will get his revenge. What ensues is a wild and wacky adventure as the flawed dogs decide to claim what is rightfully theirs.
Now, this one I didn't expect to like as much as I did, but once I started it I found myself getting into it. The book reads like an animated feature and I could really see everything happening as the story unfolded. Plus, the voice of Sam, the scrappy dachshund, is hilarious. I'm not totally sold on the kid appeal because I've had a hard time selling books with animal protagonists to middle-graders, but parts of the book might be a little disturbing to younger kids. This might make a good family or classroom readaloud, though.
The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin. (Grades 2-5.) Scholastic Press, April 2010. Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher.
Before there was the Baby-Sitters Club, there were four girls - Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey. This is the story of the summer before they got together to form the BSC. That summer they were all going through things. Kristy was missing her dad and rebelling against her mom's new boyfriend Watson. Mary Anne was struggling with her father's strict rules. Claudia was discovering boys and feeling much more mature than her two best friends, Kristy and Mary Anne. And Stacey was dealing with her former best friends who dumped her.
The Summer Before is exactly what you'd expect from a Baby-Sitters Club prequel. It definitely matches the tone and writing of the series and fans will be glad to get some more insights into their favorite characters. I don't know that it will necessarily attract new fans to the series, though. What I loved about the BSC books is the friendship between the girls and their babysitting stories, both of which are somewhat scarce in this prequel. That said, it'll please current fans. And I guess I'll hold off on weeding out BSC books just yet... ;)
Epitaph Road by David Patneaude. (Grades 5-8.) Egmont USA, March 2010. Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher. In 2067 the virus came. Elisha's Bear. It only affected males and it was deadly. Almost every male on earth was wiped out. Now, thirty years later, Kellen is one of the few boys on earth. When Kellen hears that there might be another outbreak of Elisha's Bear near where his father lives, he knows he has to warn him... whatever the cost. But what he'll discover on his journey will change everything.
It's an interesting premise and usually post-apocalyptic teen novels are right up my alley, but this one didn't do it for me. I liked the author's device of explaining the changes that brought about the current government through newspaper headlines. But it just took forever for the plot to get to where it was going. By the time Kellen undertook his journey and started figuring out the hidden truths, I had long lost patience. Plus, I understand from other Good Reads reviews that the premise has been done (and possibly done better) in The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S. Tepper.
This is the story of Sam the Lion, a pedigreed dachshund with a rare Duuglitz tuft. Meant to be a show dog, he soon escapes the clutches of the overbearing Mrs. Nutbush and elects to follow an orphan named Heidy who is going to live with her uncle. But when Sam steals the attention away from the champion standard poodle Cassius, Cassius will get his revenge. What ensues is a wild and wacky adventure as the flawed dogs decide to claim what is rightfully theirs.
Now, this one I didn't expect to like as much as I did, but once I started it I found myself getting into it. The book reads like an animated feature and I could really see everything happening as the story unfolded. Plus, the voice of Sam, the scrappy dachshund, is hilarious. I'm not totally sold on the kid appeal because I've had a hard time selling books with animal protagonists to middle-graders, but parts of the book might be a little disturbing to younger kids. This might make a good family or classroom readaloud, though.
Before there was the Baby-Sitters Club, there were four girls - Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey. This is the story of the summer before they got together to form the BSC. That summer they were all going through things. Kristy was missing her dad and rebelling against her mom's new boyfriend Watson. Mary Anne was struggling with her father's strict rules. Claudia was discovering boys and feeling much more mature than her two best friends, Kristy and Mary Anne. And Stacey was dealing with her former best friends who dumped her.
The Summer Before is exactly what you'd expect from a Baby-Sitters Club prequel. It definitely matches the tone and writing of the series and fans will be glad to get some more insights into their favorite characters. I don't know that it will necessarily attract new fans to the series, though. What I loved about the BSC books is the friendship between the girls and their babysitting stories, both of which are somewhat scarce in this prequel. That said, it'll please current fans. And I guess I'll hold off on weeding out BSC books just yet... ;)
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