December 2006

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

December 2006 * Eau Claire, WI

The books in this newsletter were given starred reviews by the following periodicals: School Library Journal (SLJ), Publisher’s Weekly (PW), Booklist (BL), Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA) and Criticas (CR). Library binding prices and ISBNs are noted. Quotations have been taken directly from the reviews. This selection tool has been created to assist IFLS library staff wade through the 5,000-5,500 children’s and young adult titles published each year. Librarians should consider which of the following books best fit their collection and clientele.

Content:

Picture Books

Juvenile Fiction

Non-fiction

YA Fiction

Audio Book Recordings

Music Recordings

Books in Spanish

Picture Books

Bauer, Marion Dane. A Mama for Owen. Illus. by John Butler. Simon & Schuster, $15.99 (0-689-85787-X)

(K-gr.3) “…closely matches its narrative and visual tones to its target audience…rhythmic, lulling narrative smoothes the barbed edges of the disaster…feathery illustrations…hint at the sunny outcome even during the story’s troubling opening…invites sharing—even with sensitive young listeners…” (BL)

Franco, Betsy. Birdsongs. Illus. by Steve Jenkins. S&S/McElderry, $16.99 (978-0-689-87777-3)

(PreS-gr.2) “…celebrate the free concert that birds perform for backyard audiences every day…as the book introduces various species it uses their sounds to count down from 10 to one…gorgeous, boldly graphic collages make the birds seem at once familiar and magical…certain to inspire plenty of audience participation…” (PW)

Henkes, Kevin. A Good Day. Greenwillow, $17.89 (0-06-114018-9)

(PreS-K) “Playfully contradicting the title…begins with the words, “It was a bad day.”…explains why: “Little yellow bird lost his favorite tail feather…squirrel dropped her nut.”…tone shifts…happy reversal for each of the four animals…perfectly chosen words…spirit of hope that bubbles to the surface…works well in every way…precise, unaffected, and easy…to understand…illustrations…visually and emotionally satisfying conclusion…” (BL)

Hong, Chen Jiang. The Magic Horse of Han Gan. Tr. from French by Claudia Zoe Bedrick. Enchanted Lion, $16.95 (1-59270-063-2)

(gr. 1-5) “…elegant picture book…legend…painter Han Gan, who lived in China 1200 years ago…loved to draw horses…great warrior visited him and asked him to bring to life a valiant steed…artist was frustrated with his attempt, but…horse came to life…crispy and concisely told…illustrations…painted directly on silk in the style of Han Gan…masterfully told…timeless message will resonate with many readers.” (SLJ)

Pennypacker, Sara. Pierre in Love. Illus. by Petra Mathers. Scholastic/Orchard, $16.99 (0-439-51740-0)

(PreS-gr.2) “A simple fisherman, Pierre the mouse is in love with Catherine the rabbit, a ballet teacher…decides to…give her the shell…tell her how he feels…flees, leaving the shell behind…string of anonymous nightly gift giving…Catherine…catches Pierre, who confesses his love…Subtleties abound, and the emotions may affect adults more than children…color, detail, and a warm expression of feelings.” (BL)

Root, Phyllis. Lucia and the Light. Illus. by Mary Grandprè. Candlewick, $16.99 (0-7636-2296-6)

(K-gr.3) “Lucia has always loved the cozy mountain cabin…winter when the sun disappears altogether. Mama is loving and reassuring…brave Lucia is determined to restore daylight…sets off on her skis…evocative, dimly lit acrylics capture the eerie mystery and shivery suspense of the adventure…finally finds the sun, held hostage by a band of deliciously gruesome trolls…rich language…” (BL)

Salley, Coleen. Epossumondas Saves the Day. Illus. by Janet Stevens. Harcourt, $16 (0-15-205701-3)

(K-gr.5) “…charming book…variation of the Southern folktale “Sody Sallyraytus.”…Mama’s plans to make…biscuits…out of sody sallyraytus…guests…buy some…meet up with a hungry…snapping turtle. It’s up to Epossumondas to rescue them…alive with the colorful expressions of the South…delight to read aloud…mixed-media illustrations are a perfect match for the narrative…lovable characters…truly frightening villain…belongs on the shelves of every library, but it won’t stay long.” (SLJ)

Van Allsburg, Chris. Probuditi! Houghton, $18.95 (0-618-75502-0)

(PreS-gr.3) “…Calvin…birthday…tickets for a magician/hypnotist…can’t wait to build their own rotating disk…fresh and funny scenes. Under hypnosis, Trudy becomes a dog. The suspense builds as the boys struggle to remember the word that will break the spell…highly textured pastel and pencil drawings…masterful compositions… displays a clear sympathy for the thankless role of the younger sibling…” (SLJ)

Juvenile Fiction

Barth-Grozinger, Inge. Something Remains. Trans. from the German by Anthea Bell. Hyperion, $16.99 (0-7868-3880-9)

(gr. 5 and up) “When the Nazi Party takes over the German government, 12-year-old Erich Levi…once vibrant household has turned somber…faces humiliations by cruel teachers…Life continues…just below the surface brews a mixture of anger and hatred… mixture of fiction and historical fact…asks readers to speculate how the Holocaust could have happened…” (PW)

Hartnett, Sonya. The Silver Donkey. Illus. by Don Powers. Candlewick, $16.99 (0-7636-2937-5)

(gr. 5 and up) “…set in France during the Great War…deeply resonant…two sisters, eight-year-old Coco and 10-year-old Marcelle discover a blind and hungry soldier in the woods, they befriend him…reluctant to tell anyone…enlist the help of their older brother…soldier tells the children allegorical tales about honesty, loyalty, courage and kindness…Bible, folklore…own life…tender fable of peace will linger…” (PW)

Heneghan, James. Safe House. Orca, $7.95 (trade pb) (978-1-55143-640-1)

(gr. 6-9) “Twelve-year-old Liam Fogarty is jarred awake…by the sound of gunfire…1999 in Belfast, Northern Ireland…Catholic parents…murdered by militant Protestants in a random retaliation killing…Liam…gets a good look at one of the murderers…man…tracks Liam relentlessly… “safe house”…one of the couple accepts a bribe to turn Liam over…stark, tight thriller starts off with a bang and does not stop…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Mass, Wendy. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. Little, Brown, $15.99 (0-316-05829-7)

(gr. 4-7) “…winning narrator…Jeremy…on a quest to discover…purpose on earth before his 13^th birthday…mysterious box…assembled by his father before he died in a car accident five years prior…can only be opened with a set of four keys, which have gone missing…larger-than-life characters with their own life-lesson nuggets to bestow…exquisitely executed plot twist…soulful novel…” (PW)

McCaughrean, Geraldine. Peter Pan in Scarlet: The Official Sequel. Illus. by Scott M. Fischer. S&S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks., $17.99 (1-4169-1808-6)

(gr. 5 and up) “…sequel to J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy…grown-up Lost Boys suffer from bad dreams…must return to Neverland…when they reunite with Peter Pan, they…become caught up in the wild joys…imaginative adventures…captures the excitement of the original story without the overly precious Victorian glorification of childhood…developed characters…” (SLJ)

Primavera, Elise. The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls. HarperCollins, $16.99 (0-06-056946-8)

(gr. 3-7) “…prudent Prudence Gumm…Franny Muggs, voyeur and dare-devil; Cat Lemonjello…Ivy Diamond…Ivy holds the key to the story…rightful heir of two red shoes—laced with mystical powers and tied to Hollywood’s production of The Wizard of Oz…girls find themselves facing a wicked witch…postmodern, surreal reworking of Baum’s classic, significantly buoyed by the author’s cheerful pen-and-inks…overriding emphasis on humor…occasional flashes of poignancy…” (PW)

Spain, Susan Rosson. The Deep Cut. Marshall Cavendish, $16.99 (0-7614-5316-4)

(gr. 5-8) “…quiet, sensitive Lonzo, 13…endures the tragedy that the Civil War brings to his small Virginia village…teems with military activity…Lonzo is sent to help his aunt Mariah run her inn…Yankee soldiers take up residence in the inn…civilians suffer humiliation and near-starvation…Well-wrought characters, vivid historical details, and nuanced themes…Lonzo’s evolving opinions…powerful story about the impact of the Civil War on ordinary lives…” (BL)

Thompson, Kate. The New Policeman. Harpercollins/Greenwillow, $16.99 (978-0-06-117427-8)

(gr. 5 and up) “enchanting story…reads quickly…J.J. Liddy, 15, lives in a village on Ireland’s…west coast… ‘Time’ is what J.J.’s mother wants most for her birthday… why time is flying by…events in Tìr na n’Òg, the fairy kingdom…nifty plotting mines a rich vein of Irish faerie lore and magic for this meditation on the losses that modernization brings…love song to traditional Irish music…” (PW)

Non-fiction

Arnosky, Jim. Babies in the Bayou. Putnam, $16.99 (0-399-22653-2)

(PreS-gr. 2) “…accessible to young children. A mother alligator guards her babies…mother raccoon shows her babies how to dig for turtle eggs…nearby several turtles hatch…and walk to the water…simple text circles back to the beginning in a satisfying way…paintings…offer plenty for children to observe…could be used for classroom units on food webs…transports children to a distinctive habitat that most will never see.” (BL)

Bryan, Ashley. Let It Shine. S&S Atheneum, $16.99 (0-689-84732-7)

(PreS-gr.3) “…a series of arresting, kaleidoscopic cut construction paper collages that interprets three beloved spirituals: “This Little Light of Mine,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”…images of nature…diverse skin tones…urban and pastoral…author’s note describes…origin and history of Negro spirituals…” (PW)

Burleigh, Robert. Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson: Against the Odds. Illus. by Mike Wimmer. S&S/Wiseman, $16.99 (978-0-689-86276-2)

(gr. 1-4) “…engaging, multilayered…two narrative voices, one a spare, lyrical moment-by-moment replay of Robinson’s bold steal home…tone of an impassioned sportcaster…Historical sidebars on each spread supplement…textured, animated oil paintings…deftly intensify the emotion…” (PW)

Davies, Nicola. Extreme Animals: The Toughest Creatures on Earth. Illus. by Neal Layton. Candlewick, $12.99 (0-7636-3067-5)

(gr. 3-5) “…chatty, funny text…colorful cartoon illustrations…will pull kids into the fascinating book about survival. Each double-page spread…facts about particular mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, bacteria, and more, which thrive in habitats ranging from polar wastelands to deserts and volcanoes…Comparisons with humans add to the fun…Exciting biology for the elementary-school classroom.” (BL, SLJ)

Eilenberg, Max, retell. Beauty and the Beast. Illus. by Angela Barrett. Candlewick, $17.99 (0-7636-3160-4)

(gr. 2-4) “Nineteenth-century period details, lively dialogue…sly humor…basic plot is familiar…slight changes in details and dialogue…lovely watercolor illustrations …effective use of light and shadow communicates the shifting moods…” (SLJ)

Fleming, Thomas. Everybody’s Revolution: A New Look at the People Who Won America’s Freedom. Scholastic Nonfiction, $19.99 (0-439-63404-0)

(gr. 4-7) “…inviting, expansive text…stories of often little-known players in the quest for independence…conversational narrative…interesting facts and anecdotes… Each chapter focuses on a different segment of the population:…European…African-Americans, Native Americans, women and youth…handsome layout…period paintings, photographs…primary sources…lively presentation.” (BL)

Fletcher, Ralph. Moving Day. Illus. by Jennifer Emery. Boyds Mills/Wordsong, $17.95 (1-59078-339-5)

(gr. 3-6) “…free verse poems, 12-year-old Fletch talks about his family’s move from Massachusetts to Ohio…what was left behind…sadness of packing…pencil drawings…mirror the loss and longing in these poems…” (SLJ)

Goldenberg, Linda. Little People and a Lost World: An Anthropological Mystery. Twenty-First Century, lib.ed., $29.27 (0-8225-5938-8)

(gr. 5-8) “…account of the 2003 discovery of the Flores Island “hobbits” … rivalries within the scientific community…record of an exciting, controversial find… sparked international arguments about how old they actually are…new species or just someone with severe medical problems…thumbnail sketches of the history of paleontology and of ‘little people’ in folklore worldwide…clearly explained positions and counterpositions…color photos…extensive multimedia resource lists… “(BL)

Grady, Denise. Deadly Invaders: Virus Outbreaks around the World, from Marburg Fever to Avian Flu. Kingfisher, $16.95 (0-7534-5995-7)

(gr. 7 and up) “…readable and riveting…account of …trip to Angola in 2005 to cover…Marburg fever…writing is informative and compelling…challenges of fighting a viral epidemic in a city that lacks such basic services as running water…conveys the difficulties of confining and halting the spread of diseases…infected individual…spread disease worldwide in a matter of hours…fast-paced, timely and important book.” (SLJ)

Hatkoff, Eisabella, Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu. Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship. Photos by Peter Greste. Scholastic, $16.99 (989-0-439-89959-8)

(PreS-gr.3) “…baby hippo orphaned by the 2004 tsunami and an adult tortoise…Kenyan sanctuary…mesmerizing…crisp color photographs…remarkably close range…unique ways the pair communicate…raise questions about how the friendship will progress…Youngsters will eagerly await the next chapter in this extraordinary companionship.” (PW)(BL)

January, Brendan. Genocide: Modern Crimes Against Humanity. Twenty-First Century, $31.93 (978-0-7613-3421-7)

(gr. 6-12) “…If ever there was a pressing need for a book like this one, the time is now…sensitive, solid framework…comprehend multiple facets of genocide…separate examples of genocide, historic and contemporary…poignant personal narratives from witnesses…Clear documentation, source notes, time lines,…detailed index…outstanding book sparks thoughtful inquiry…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Lewis, J. Patrick. Black Cat Bone: The Life of Blues Legend Robert Johnson. Illus. by Gary Kelley. Creative Editions, $19.95 (1-56846-194-1)

(gr. 6 and up) “Robert Johnson, the celebrated blues musician…so much legend and conjecture surrounding this man…perfect subject…poetic biographical treatment… verse echoes Johnson’s music…Johnson’s own lyrics…add to the narrative tension… mixed-media illustrations…add to the mood and enliven the layout…surprisingly deep …well-supported narrative riff introducing Johnson—the man and his music…” (SLJ)

Marrin, Albert. Saving the Buffalo. Scholastic, $18.99 (0-439-71854-6)

(gr. 5-7) “…robust prose…retraces the American bison’s roller-coaster ride from “Lord of the Great Plains” to near extinction at the end of the 19^th century, and slow recovery…how the buffalo fit into the habitat’s…ecology…vivid detail…generous array of accompanying illustrations…crisply reproduced photos…prints, paintings…splashy alternative…” (SLJ)

Montgomery, Sy. Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea. Illus. by Nic Bishop. Houghton, $18 (0-618-4964-16)

(gr. 5-8) “…beautifully illustrated entry in the Scientists in the Field series…join researchers on a grueling expedition in Papua New Guinea to track the rare Matschie’s tree kangaroo…chronological…account…conditions in the camp…awe-inspiring encounters…occasionally veers into a casual tone…unusually strong, visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails…communicates the thrill of studying animals in the wild…color photographs are exemplary…” (BL)

Reynolds, David West. Kennedy Space Center: Gateway to Space. Firefly, $40 (978-1-55407-039-8)

(gr. 9-12, adult) “….extremely meticulous overview of the space program…facilities…people…elegant descriptions and compelling details…Beginning with the German development of rockets during World War II…success as well as the crushing defeats…detailed enough for science buffs yet simple enough for everyone…extraordinary view of the real people involved in the program…outstanding…will find a great home in any reference collection… “(VOYA 5Q4P)

Rosen, Jared and David Rippe. The Flip: Turn Your World Around! Hampton Roads, $23.95 (978-1-57174-474-6)

(gr. 6-12) “…Upside-Down world offers stress, war…debt…Right-Side-Up world is calm, meditative, mindful, nurturing, healthful…Barry lives in…Upside-Down world; Mary…Right-Side Up…new possibilities…unabashedly biased views without preaching…present an impassioned plea for sane and sustainable practices…Paced for short attention spans…comprehensive resource…Even short, infrequent glimpses will lure readers to the empowering message.” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Ruddell, Deborah. Today at the Bluebird Cafè: A Branchful of Birds. Illus. by Joan Rankin. S&S/McElderry, $15.99 (978-0-689-87153-5)

(PreS-gr.5) “…collection of poems…lyrical text and highly detailed illustrations…passion for winged creatures that readers may well find both palpable and infectious…voice never assumes an authoritative pitch…playful and often humorous…lush watercolor renderings…impressive range…” (PW)

Sheldon, David. Barnum Brown: Dinosaur Hunter. Walker, $16.95 (0-8027-9602-8)

(gr. 2-4) “…From a young age, Barnum loved exploring the area around the family farm in Kansas…plenty of fossils to collect…led Barnum to a job at the American Museum of Natural History in New York…adding a dinosaur to the museum’s collection…made some thrilling discoveries, his crowning achievement a Tyrannosaurus rex…pictures have a scope and generosity that capture both the size of the dinosaurs and the vast Badlands where many of their bones were found…” (BL)

Siddiqui, Haroon. Being Muslim. Groundwood, $15.95 (0-88899-785-X)

(gr. 8-12) “… ‘Islam-bashing’ bears all the symptoms of racism as it holds up the relatively few fanatics as representative of all 1.3 billion Muslims…clear, passionate discussion confronts international issues…faith and feminism, suicide bombing… Without preaching or political jargon…shows that extremists are being challenged by a new generation of Muslims…asks penetrating questions…sure to spark debate… excellent for classroom discussion.” (BL)

Werker, Kim. Get Hooked: Simple Steps to Crochet Cool Stuff. Watson-Guptil, $11.95 (trade pb), $11.95 (978-0-8230-5092-5)

(gr. 7-12) “…pleasant, conversational tone…Humor and plain language make complicated techniques seem easy…colorful photographs assist…basic overview of crochet…progressively complicated stitches…fifteen patterns in all…beginning…more experience…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

YA Fiction

Bloor, Edward. London Calling. Knopf, $18.99 (978-0-375-93635-7)

(gr. 6-12) “John Martin Conway despises his exclusive prep school…scholarship student…clashes with the obnoxious great grandson of…the school’s founder… fascinated by a vintage 1940s Philco radio…travels back in time to London during the Blitz…meets Jimmy…journey of personal growth…comes to terms with…depression… There is a bit of something for everyone…elegant blend of contemporary teen angst, time travel, and history.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Brust, Stephen. Dzur. Tor, $24.95 (978-0-765-30148-2)

(gr. 9-12/Adult) “Vlad Taltos, a feisty assassin on the run…band of wicked sorceresses…dragon-like familiars…plot mirrors Vlad’s dinner…stage remains set for yet another installment.” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Carter, Dean Vincent. The Hand of the Devil. Delacorte, $7.95 trade pb (978-0-385-73371-7), $9.99 PLB (978-0-385-90386-8)

(gr. 7-12/adult) “Ashley Reeves, journalist…giant mosquito … performs horrible experiments on unsuspecting journalists whom he lures to the island with tales of the exotic mosquito, but he does it all at her behest…excellent ear for dialogue. Pacing is excellent…flurry of excitement…coarse language…sure to be a mover…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Cooney, Caroline B. A Friend at Midnight. Delacorte, $17.99 (0-385-90345-6)

(gr. 6-9) “…exploration of Christian forgiveness…first section plunges readers into the action: an 8-year-old is abandoned at an airport by his…father…15-year-old sister, Lily, makes a secret airplane journey to retrieve him…toll her father’s cruelty takes on Lily…dynamics of divorce…cosmic resentment that shakes her relationship with God…promise of a resolution to Lily’s anguish will pull at readers…a natural choice for youth ministers to share with teens.” (BL)

Giles, Gail. What Happened to Cass McBride? Little, Brown, $16.99 (0-316-01703-5)

(gr. 10 and up) “…story grabs readers’ attention and doesn’t let go…Kyle Kirby blames Cass McBride for his younger brother’s suicide, and exacts a terrible revenge … kidnaps…buries her alive, with a walkie-talkie so he can upbraid her…Alternating chapters in the teens’ first-person narrative…interspersing of chapters from detective… can be confusing… compelling reading…well-rounded characters…readers will be riveted.” (PW) (VOYA 5Q5P)

Hoffman, Alice. Incantation. Little, Brown, $16.99 (978-0-316-01019-1)

(gr. 6-12) “…tears a horrific page from history and melds it with mysticism… spellbinding tale…Estrella…Spanish Jews hiding as devout Catholics during the Inquisition…love of one’s faith and family…lyrical…reads like poetry…”(VOYA 5Q4P, SLJ)

McCaughrean, Geraldine. The White Darkness. HarperCollins, $17.89 (0-06-089036-3)

(gr. 8-11) “Fourteen-year-old Symone’s only friend is an imaginary incarnation of…explorer…failed expedition to the South Pole. Sym is passionate about the Antarctic…Uncle Victor…surprises Sym with a trip to “the Ice,”…mother can’t come…Uncle Victor has an obsession of his own that runs deeper than the glaciers and threatens her life…lyrical language actively engages the senses…Best suited to older, better readers…intellectually demanding novel offers plenty of action.” (BL)

McCormick, Patricia. Sold. Hyperion, $15.99 (978-0-7868-5171-3)

(gr. 7-12) “Thirteen-year-old Lakshmi…monsoons destroy the crops on her family’s Nepal farm, her stepfather arranges…become a maid for a rich lady…Instead Lakshmi is sold into a Calcutta brothel…brief, poetic scenes…haunting and thought-provoking picture of helplessness and hope…eerie reminder…nightmares like hers are happening right now in cities around the world…not to be missed…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Moers, Walter. Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures. Overlook Press, $26.95 (687 p) (978-1-58567-725-2)

(gr. 7-12) “…lengthy tome is a boisterous, zany epic about Rumo…a horned, dog-like creature…must defeat villains…travels through Overworld…Netherworld… finally emerges as Zomonia’s greatest hero…prose and silliness flow perfectly…pen-and-ink drawings are charming…wonderful, rollicking tale for advanced readers…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Orenstein, Denise Gosliner. The Secret Twin. HarperCollins, $16.99 (0-06-078564-0)

(gr. 7-10) “…enigmatic…spellbinding story will entangle readers at the first sentence…told in two voices…Noah, the prissy 13-year-old…Grace…determined health-care worker… Grace’s brother died in a hit-and-run accident, and Noah was born a twin …writing is magic…creative language…nail-biting plot and intense characterizations…” (BL)

Owen, James A. Here, There Be Dragons. Simon & Schuster, $17.95 (978-1-4169-1227-9)

(gr. 6-12) “…Imaginarium Geographica, or atlas of the Archipelago of Dreams…1917…war reflects occurrences on the Archipelago, the destinies of the two worlds are entwined…pursued by evil creatures, the men escape…set sail for the Archipelago…arresting prologue…finely crafted…compelled to continue…homage to great, imaginative literature, Arthurian legend, and mythology…will appeal to all fantasy fans…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Rabb, Margo. Cures for Heartbreak. Delacorte, $15.99 (0-385-73402-8)

(gr. 10-12) “…In the same year, teenage Mia’s mother dies of cancer and her father has a heart attack…stand-alone chapters…distinctive voice…surprising humor and dark absurdity…subtle connections between abstract history and intimate lives… remarkable character…almost unbearable poignancy…Readers will cherish this powerful debut.” (BL)

Reckless: Rush Hour, A Journal of Contemporary Voices. Vol. 4. Michael Cart, ed. Delacorte, $10.95 trade pb (978-0-385-73034)

(gr. 9-12) “Seventeen pieces…short stories, verse, art…appeal of recklessness is obvious for many adolescents…issues raised and faced in every work here are those that belong to older teens…would work for reading aloud and for group discussion…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Ruby, Laura. Good Girls. HarperCollins, $17.89 (978-0-06-088224-2)

(gr. 9-12) “Audrey is in trouble. Someone snapped a photo of Audrey giving her boyfriend a blow job…Reclassified from good girl to promiscuous girl…struggles to come to terms with her own image…redefine her relationships with her parents, boyfriend, and friends…strong dialogue, likeable characters, detailed descriptions of Audrey’s sexual activities as well as their consequences…some of Audrey’s reflections seem too mature and refined…libraries…will want this book for its popularity and its frank, realistic portrayal of teen life.” (VOYA 3Q5P)

Slade, Arthur. Megiddo’s Shadow. Random/Wendy Lamb, $17.99 (0-385-90945-4)

(gr. 7 and up) “engrossing and thought-provoking…young man fighting in World War I…16-year-old Edward Bathe lies about his age and enlists…injures himself training a horse…meets Emily Waters, an army nurse…relationship…sent to Palestine to fight the Turks. Soldiers die from the heat and disease…faith in God and in humanity are shaken…All of the characters are fully realized…powerful book… “(SLJ)

Smith, Kirsten. The Geography of Girlhood. Little, Brown, $16.99 (978-0-316-16021-6)

(gr. 7-9) “…Told in verse, Penny’s story…captures the three-dimensional aspects of the characters through metaphors of the changing seasons, references to maps…traverses through difficult truths…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Audio Book Recordings

The Black Tattoo. By Sam Enthoven, read by John Lee. Listening Library, unabr., 11 CDs, 14 hours, $50 (0-7393-3675-4)

(gr. 4 and up) “…fantasy novel set in London and the underworld…occasional broad mannerism and raising his voice to a goblet-shattering screech for emphasis… innovative…tale of two boys swept up in an ancient secret mingles the magical and mundane…superbly handles both elements of the book…summons the grandeur of both London and Hell itself… “(PW)

The Book Thief. By Markus Zusak, read by Allan Corduner. Listening Library, unabr., 11 CDs, 14 hours, $51 (0-7393-3727-0)

(gr. 7 and up) “…talent for accents…compelling, challenging novel set in Nazi Germany. Death serves as knowing narrator for the tale…lengthy flashback…lots of foreshadowing…With quick vocal strokes…paints vivid provocative portraits of Germans and Jews…” (PW)

A Certain Slant of Light. By Laura Whitcomb, read by Lauren Molina. Listening Library/Random House, unabr., 8 hours, 32 min., 7 CDs, $55 (978-0-7393-3575-8)

(gr. 9-12) “After being “Light” for more than one hundred years, Helen…James/ Billy seeks her out…was also “Light” but has been able to embed himself into the body of Billy…Helen successfully merges with Jenny…ethereal reading…Filled with passion, despair and intrigue…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

The Death Collector. By Steven Pacey, read by Steven Pacey. Listening Library, unabr., 7 hours, 28 minutes, 6 CDs, $50 (978-0-7393-3564-2)

(gr. 7-12) “Atmospheric music…strange tale…Albert Wicks…startles his wife and dog when he shows up for tea four days after his funeral…demonic man who’s attempting to create monsters using deceased bodies coupled with mechanical parts and steam engines…maintains a chilling note…doesn’t slight the characters…tones of doom pair with…precise British accent…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Green Jasper: The de Granville Trilogy, Book Two. By K.M. Grant, read by Maggie Mash. Recorded Books, unabr., 8 hours, 8 CDs, $74.75 (978-1-4193-9470-6)

(gr. 6-12) “Fervor and power emanate from reader Mash’s voice…tale of the deGranville brothers, returned from the Crusades…deftness and dexterity as she leapfrogs among characters…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Half Moon Investigations. By Eoin Colfer, read by Sean Patrick Reilly. Listening Library, unabr., 6 hours, 15 minutes, 6 CDs, $50 (1-978-0-7393-3561-1)

(gr. 6-9) “…Fletcher Moon…indoctrination into true detecting occurs when popular April Devereaux hires him to solve…theft…Irish accent…sense of noir…adds to the telling, heightens the suspense…ratchets up the humorous campiness…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Life As We Knew It. By Susan Beth Pfeffer, read by Emily Bauer. Listening Library, unabr., 7 CDs, nine hours, $45 (0-7393-3683-5)

(gr. 7 and up) “..perfect choice as narrator…excellent coming-of-age novel… Miranda…world is literally ripped apart when an asteroid hits the moon, shifts it from its orbit and throws the earth into chaos…chronicles the heroine’s and her family’s efforts to survive…skillfully captures Miranda’s adolescent angst…fine performance that only enhances…thoughtful, heart-wrenching novel.” (PW)

Looking for Alaska. By John Green. Read by Jeff Woodman. Brilliance, unabr., 7 hours, 6 CDs, $82.25 (978-1-4233-2445-4)

(gr. 9-12) “…Together the Colonel and Alaska introduce Pudge to a new life as a smoker…prankster…Alaska drives this book…narrator…depicts her exuberance and vitality…mood swings…rich Southern accent…halting yet commanding voice of the religion teacher…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

On Christmas Eve. By Ann M. Martin, read by Alison Fraser. Listening Library, unabr., 2 CDs, 2 hours, $22 (0-7393-3719-X)

(gr. 4 and up) “…youthful voice is key in portraying the hope, determination and confident belief in all things wonderful demonstrated by third-grade protagonist Tess… waits for the real Santa, who she is sure can deliver a holiday miracle for her best friend Sarah, whose father is stricken with cancer…sweet, but never saccharine…captures both the spunkiness and the sorrow…” (PW)

The Ruins of Gorlan. By John Flanagan. Read by John Keating. Recorded Books, CD, $74.95 (1-4193-3939-5)

(gr. 5-8) “…forced fricatives and cringing consonants articulate…rasping voice whispers harshly as he hints at the adventures to come in the menacing tale of Lord Morgorath’s revenge against the Kingdom of Araluen…15-year-old Will…is chosen…to train as a ranger’s apprentice…convincing…commanding, well-paced reading does great justice to this atmospheric novel…” (BL)

The Snow Spider: The Magician Trilogy: Book One. By Jenny Nimmo, read by John Keating. Scholastic Audio, unabr., three CDs, 3.5 hours, $24.95 (0-439-89553-7)

(gr. 4 and up) “There is nothing like a hearty brogue to drop a listener into a faraway land…Wales in olden times…wonderfully rich voice…takes place in present-day Wales, the past is alive…nine-year-old Gwyn…sets out on a journey to find his sister, who disappeared on a nearby mountain…reading of the tale is flawless…mastery may well convince readers that this fictional world is real.” (PW)

To Kill a Mockingbird. By Lee, Harper, read by Sissy Spacek. HarperAudio, unabr., 12 hours, 11 CDs, $49.95 (978-0-06-08888669-5)

(gr. 9-12) “Approved by the author to read her novel, Spacek perfectly captures…exceptional recording.” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Music Recordings

SteveSongs: Marvelous Day! Steve Roslonek. Rounder Records (800-768-6337), CD, 11.99 (1-57940-154-6)

(PreS-gr.4) “…perfect blend of top-notch musicianship, silliness and kid-centric concepts…kicky, stand-out recording. Inviting vocals…kid chorus…pop-rock vibe…16 mostly original songs…hard to resist the lessons…served up in such a catchy and entertaining package…variety of sound effects and musical styles…” (PW)

You Are My Little Bird. Elizabeth Mitchell. Smithsonian Folkways (800-410-9815), CD, $11.98.

(all ages) “…voice—sweet, clear and homey…treasure trove of warm, easy-to-sing-along-with folk/rock music…music that’s comforting and perhaps familiar, but performed with fresh style……simple, intimate…minimal instrumentation…lives up to the highest standard of family listening and will be welcome in any music collection.”(PW)

Books in Spanish

Luján, Jorge. Accidente Celeste. (Sky Blue Accident) illus. by Piet Grobler. Canada: Groundwood Books, $17.95 (0888998058).

(PreS-K) “...delightful, nonsensical romp through the clouds. An unnamed protagonist crashes against the sky, dislodging a few pieces and prompting his teacher and classmates to repaint it. The emphasis here… not on plot but …imagination and possibility…expressiveness of the illustrations… emotions are clearly conveyed in a few deft strokes.” (CR)

Newmark, Deborah & Assaf Newmark. Mis manitas. (My Little Hands) illus. by Solibros Publications. U.S.: Solibros Publications, $7.99 (0-9755945-2-4).

(PreS-K) “…cardboard book. Shaped like a hand… Each page is dedicated to one finger…simple words and catchy … bright-color illustrations…will surely keep listeners focused…” (CR)

Ruiz Zafón, Carlos. El príncipe de la niebla. (The Prince of Fog) U.S.: Rayo: HarperCollins, $21.95 (0-06-128438-6).
(Gr 7 Up) “…gothic novel contains the right elements to fascinate young adults: death, mystery, romance, magic, and a thrilling climax. It’s World War II and 13-year-old Max …small village by the Atlantic Ocean...house has a mysterious past …freaky death of one of Max’s friends, a wardrobe that makes weird sounds, statues that move, and the appearance of an evil magician disguised as a clown... definitely a page turner…” (CR)

Markle, Sandra.
Los leones.(Lions) (0-8225-6628-1)

Los lobos (Wolves) (0-8225-6626-5)

Los cocodrilos (Crocodiles) (0-8225-6629-X)

Los tiburones blancos (Great White Sharks) (0-8225-6627-3)

tr. by ediciones Lerner. U.S.: Lerner (Animales depredadores), $7.95 each.
(Gr 2-5) “…concise texts examine the animals’ eating habits, skills, and methods of hunting, as well as how their abilities develop…early days…adult hunter…vivid, full-color photographs…“looking back” section that encourages young readers to …review important information…” (CR)