August 2006

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

August 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.

Picture Books

Juvenile Fiction
Non-fiction
YA Fiction
Graphic Novels
Audio
Books in Spanish
Reference

Picture Books

Arnold, Marsha Diane. Roar of a Snore. Illus. by Pierre Pratt. Dial, $16.99 (0-8037-2936-7)

(PreS) “…Jack…hears a ‘roar of a snore’ and rouses Old Hound Blue…noise continues…awakening each successive snorer…crowd grows…as they gather in the barn, they discover that the sound is coming from a tired and homeless kitten…all gather round and fall asleep…illustrations help create a pace that perfectly complements the rhyming, cumulative text…A must-have…” (SLJ)

Banks, Kate. Max’s Words. Illus. by Boris Kulikov. FSG/Foster, $16 (0-374-39949-2)

(PreS-gr.3) “…clever and funny…literal and rambunctious word play…Max… decides to collect words…clever illustrations…words…sprinkled across the pages like confetti…begins separating words into piles… ‘when he puts his words in different orders, it makes a big difference.’…starts to write a story of his own…economically told tale brims with wit…splashy illustrations easily keep the story Max writes from being confused with the overall plot… nearly word-perfect…”(PW)

Bildner, Phil. The Greatest Game Ever Played. Illus. by Zachary Pullen. Putnam, $16.99 (0-399-24171-X)

(K-up) “…1958 championship NFL game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts…plenty of compelling pre-game background…Sam’s father loses his factory job…he and his son can no longer attend the games of their beloved New York Giants baseball team… ‘other’ New York Giants…Sam’s boss…hands the lad tickets to the championship game…intriguing balance of realism and caricature…artwork scores a win…” (PW)

Curtis, Jamie Lee. Is There Really a Human Race? Illus. by Laura Cornell. HarperCollins/Joanna Cotler Bks., $17.89 (0-06-075348-X)

(K-gr.3) “…infectious toe-tapping poetic form…inner thoughts and worries…a boy asks his mother the title question…continues, ‘If the race is unfair, will I succeed?’…ink-and-color-wash cartoons are a perfect match to …lilting text…should be enjoyed by the whole human race.” (SLJ)

Fleming, Denise. The Cow Who Clucked. Holt, $16.95 (0-8050-7265-9)

(PreS-gr.1) “A cow wakes up to find that she has lost her moo and is clucking instead…visits various creatures…clucking at them and getting answers in their natural sounds…repetitive refrain, ‘It is not you who has my moo’…sonorous charm and invites participation…Cow at last finds Hen mooing…chicks…find their own voice…thrilling illustrator…layers of subtle humor and visual splendor are truly impressive.” (SLJ)

Gravett, Emily. Wolves. S&S, $15.95 (1-4169-1491-9)

(gr. 1-3) “…imaginative, cleverly designed story…delectable blend of spare text and eloquent multimedia illustrations…Rabbit borrows Wolves…from…library… children will absorb the information that the rabbit is reading…but also enjoy the suspenseful tale of what is happening to the rabbit as he walks along…delightful picture book…best shared with children who can appreciate the sly humor.” (SLJ)

Knudsen, Michelle. Library Lion. Illus. by Kevin Hawkes. Candlewick, $15.99 (0-7636-2262-1)

(PreS-gr.2) “Miss Merriweather…first meets Lion when he saunters past his stone counterparts…as long as he breaks no rules, he is welcome…does misbehave… promises to reform…everyone appreciates him…feel-good ending…deft…pictures…rich with expression, movement and detail…winsome pairing of text and illustration…” (SLJ)

Landstrom, Lena. Boo and Baa Have Company. Illus. by Olof Landstrom. Tr. by Joan Sandin. Farrar/R&S, $15 (91-29-66546-9)

(PreS-gr. 2) “The intrepid sheep Boo and Baa are raking leaves…hear a cat high above them…afraid to climb down…Boo tries a rescue but ends up stuck in the tree… will leave children laughing out loud…worthy of a classic silent-film comedy…uses page design and the page turns exceptionally well…unusual perspective …deadpan commentary and short conversations…” (BL)

McMullan, Kate. I’m Dirty! Illus. by Jim McMullan. HarperCollins/Cotler, $16.99 (0-06-009293-9)

(PreS-gr. 3) “…backhoe loader who relishes his dirty work…lot filled with discarded items…digs in with gusto, providing an alliterative countdown as he cleans up 10 torn-up truck tires… Energetic illustrations capture these mucky goings-on with a large dollop of humor…” (PW)

Miland, Deborah. Annie’s Chair. Walker, $16.95 (0-8027-8082-2)

(ages 2-5) “…girl who refuses to relinquish her favorite seat. For Annie, her chair…place where she can daydream…comfort zone…someone manages to usurp the space…dog Benny…resorts to childish tears…twist that proves that sharing can be double the fun.” (PW)

Myers, Walter Dean. Jazz. illus. by Christopher Myers. Holiday, $18.95 (0-8234-1545-7)
(all ages) “… scintillating paean to jazz…so much savvy syncopation …swept up in the rhythms…black-inked acetate over brilliant, saturated acrylics… dynamically enlarges key compositional elements…cogent introduction, selective glossary and chronology round out this mesmerizing verbal and visual riff…” (PW)

Raschka, Chris. Five for a Little One. Atheneum/Jackson, $16.95 (0-689-84599-5)

(ages 2-5) “…explores all five senses…young bunny…looks…and listens… asymmetrical rhymes direct the rabbit to delicious experiences…encourages movement… graceful, Zen-like spreads…illustrations imply…focus on simplicity and natural materials… easygoing rhymes…tactile art causes a sensation.” (PW)

Rawlinson, Julia. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. Illus. by Tiphanie Beeke. HarperCollins/Greenwillow, $15.99 (0-06-113401-5)

(PreS-gr.3) “…potent synthesis of art and prose…child’s first awareness of the changing seasons…Fletcher, a tiny fox…favorite tree turns brown…as its leaves fall and flutter away, the youngster struggles in vain to catch and reattach them…resplendent watercolors work beautifully with the book’s tone…A first purchase for every collection.” (SLJ)

Ries, Lori. Aggie and Ben: Three Stories illus. by Frank W. Dormer. Charlesbridge, $12.95 (1-57091-594-6)
(PreS-gr. 2) “…three linked tales … Ben … pet shop... weighs the pros and cons of several candidates…charm comes through in the space between what the boy thinks and what he actually says… silence filled with …panel illustrations. Ben picks a cute puppy he names Aggie. … watercolor-and-ink drawings…just the right level… interweaving broad humor...with vivid action…moments of authentic tenderness…” (PW)

Winter, Jonah. The 39 Apartments of Ludwig van Beethoven. Illus. by Barry Blitt. Random/Schwartz & Wade, $15.95 (0-375-83602-0)

(gr. PreS-gr. 4) “…pseudo-scholarly tone…will undoubtedly float over the heads of some…tongue in cheek lampoon of portentous documentaries…points out that [Beethoven] lived in 39 different apartments…combine comic brio with audacious fabrication to suggest how difficult it was…to move…quintet of pianos from one place to another…irreverent account of a brilliant musician…author’s note sorts fact from fiction.”(PW)

Winthrop, Elizabeth. The Biggest Parade. Illus. by Mark Ulriksen. Holt, $16.95 (0-8050-76850-9)

(PreS-gr. 4) “…basset hound Fred and his beloved owner, Harvey, are at odds…town’s 250^th anniversary parade…wants Fred to have a starring role…Fred…isn’t biting…with everybody else marching, Fred is the only spectator…wry reportorial prose makes this a terrific read aloud…visual punch line worth waiting for.” (PW)

Yorinks, Arthur. Mommy? Illus. by Maurice Sendak, paper engineering by Matthew Reinhart. Scholastic/Michael de Capua, $24.95 (0-439-88050-5)

(all ages) “…mischievous boy addresses the title question to some unmaternal characters…wanders into a haunted house and naively calls, “Mommy?” Stylized… characters…unfold in 3-D to menace the child, but he…pulls pranks on every one… engineering feat…boy spins the white wrappings off an Egyptian ‘mummy.’ …pointedly suggest humor’s power over fear.” (PW)

Juvenile Fiction

Barry, Dave and Ridley Peterson. Peter and the Shadow Thieves. Hyperion, $18.99 (0-7868-3787-X)

(gr. 5-9) “…delightful sequel to…Peter and the Starcatchers…Peter and his fellow orphans…Mollusk Island…Molly…back in London…Peter’s only problem is boredom…taunting Captain Hook…abilities he has obtained from the starstuff…have forever set him apart from his friends…sinister Lord Ombra…come searching for the starstuff…not quite as much humor here…more complex characters and relationships…exciting, rousing read…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Boyce, Frank Cottrell. Framed. HarperCollins, $17.89 (0-06-073403-5)

(gr. 6-9) “…Dylan Hughes is the only boy living in Manod…Welsh town of drizzling grayness…best buddies are two agoraphobic chickens…family runs the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel garage…business falters, his father takes off…try to make Oasis more profitable so he will return…colorful characters steal the show…Dylan’s narrative voice…is truly a masterpiece.” (SLJ)

Delaney, Joseph. Curse of the Bane. Illus. by Patrick Arrasmith. Greenwillow, $17.89 (0-06-076622-0)

(gr. 6-9) “…Tom Ward…Last Apprentice series…apprehensively apprenticed to the Spook…routs the Dark…violent, deadly bane…the embodiment of evil…blood and gore…more than a well-crafted horror story…infuses…characters with depth and emotion…exceptional…interweaving stories…” (BL)

Dee, Barbara. Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life. S&S/McElderry, $15.95 (1-4169-0861-7)

(gr. 5-9) “…achingly real…12-year-old…upsetting changes in her life…Cassie’s father moved away…sold their house…Cassie’s older sister Miranda has volunteered to do the food shopping and care for their younger brother…usually does neither…up to Cassie hiding…her own harried state from their frazzled mother…estranged from her friends…grades begin to plummet…keeps…from descending to melodrama…sharp sense of humor,…spunkiness that readers will find refreshing…” (PW)

Dokey, Cameron. Golden. S&S/Pulse, $5.99 pb (1-4169-0580-4)

(gr. 6-10) “…inventive reworking of a fairy tale…Rapunzel…shunned by her vain mother at birth because she is odd looking (completely bald)…sorceress takes the infant…raises and loves her…Rue…sorceress’s real daughter, imprisoned for years in a magic tower by a wizard…Rapunzel matures…ability to see into people’s hearts… suspicion directed toward the sorceress…Strong characters, a clever plot…interesting moral dilemmas…”(SLJ)

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Water Street. Random/Wendy Lamb, $17.99 (0-385-90097-X)

(gr. 5-8) “Continuing the Irish American immigration story…set in 1875…Bridget, 13, befriends a lonely boy Thomas…would like to be a nurse-midwife…loving family…happily-ever-after ending never denies the harsh struggle…poignant…” (BL)

Grimes, Nikki. The Road to Paris. Putnam, $15.99 (0-399-24537-5)

(gr. 4-7) “…clear, short chapters…beautiful story…Nine-year-old Paris’ closest bond is with her older brother Malcolm…protects her…placed in a loving foster family, but the price is separation from Malcolm…biracial kid in a mainly white neighborhood… keep God in her pocket…big upheavals are quietly told…religion is not didactic… hilarious scene…” (BL)

Gridley, Sally. Dear Max. illus. by Tony Ross. S&S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks, $14.95 (1-4169-0392-5)

(gr. 2-4) “A nine-year-old boy and his favorite author forge a bond…slowly reveal themselves through a year’s worth of letters, postcards and drawings…Max is the smallest kid in his class…target of a school bully…father died several years before…serious medical condition…Clever line drawings… appear throughout…” (SLJ)

Johnson, Jane. The Secret Country. Simon & Schuster, $14.95 (1-4169-0712-2)

(gr. 5-9) “…first title in The Eidolon Chronicles begins at a local pet store…twelve-year-old Ben…encounters a speaking cat…existence of a parallel universe…owner of the pet store…poacher who is robbing the Secret Country of its creatures to sell in his shop…draining the alternate world of its magic…his mother is the queen…she will die if the magic continues to fade. Mythical creatures, witty dialogue…suspense…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Nuzum, K. A. A Small White Scar. HarperCollins/Joanna Cotler, $16.89 (0-06-075640-3)

(gr. 5-8) “Since the death of their mother seven years earlier, Will, 15, has been responsible for his disabled twin. His desire to ride off to the rodeo…and escape being his brother’s caregiver is the pivot…Denny follows him…just as tenacious and stubborn as Will…stark 1940s Colorado countryside…wild animals…clearly drawn with poetic turns of phrase…Characters, plot and theme all combine to make a compelling story… beautifully told.” (SLJ) (BL)

Paterson, Katherine. Bread and Roses, Too. Clarion, $16 (0-618-64579-8)

(gr. 5-8) “Rosa, 12, wants to be an educated…American…hates it when her militant Italian immigrant mother and sister join in the mill workers’ strike…1912. Jake, 13…homeless, trying to work…From the two kids’ alternating viewpoints…brings close the labor history…children are sent to safety…in Barre Vermont…stirring and dramatic …exciting…kindness…breaks your heart.” (BL)

Pennypacker, Sarah. Clementine. illus. by Marla Frazee. Hyperion, $14.99 (0-7868-3882-5)
(gr. 2-5) "… Clementine has an unfailing nose for trouble and a comical way with words…eight-year-old proclaims herself lucky because "spectacularful ideas are always sproinging up in my brain." …black-and-white illustrations …seamlessly weaves… common third-grade themes… Fans of Judy Moody will welcome this portrait of another funny, independent third-grader.” (PW)

Russell, Christopher. Dogboy. HarperCollins, $16.89 (0-06-084117-6)

(gr. 6-9) “The year is 1346…Hundred Years War. Sir Edmund Dowe…called to aid the king…brings…pack of mastiffs and Bring, the dogboy…a foundling who has lived with Edmund’s pack all his life…members of the group are separated…Characters are interesting…it has everything---dogs, war, hunting, knights, and storms at sea…compelling story…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Snow, Alan. Here Be Monsters! S&S/Atheneum, $17.95 (0-689-87047-7)

(gr. 3-9) “…Young Arthur…enters the town of Ratbridge…stealing food for himself and his grandfather, who live underground…finds himself trapped in Ratbridge…eccentric characters…beached pirates who do laundry for a living… villainous Snatcher…machine…that can shrink and enlarge living creatures…” (PW)

Woods, Brenda. My Name is Sally Little Song. Putnam, $15.99 (0-399-24312-7)

(gr. 4-7) “…Sally…slave in the cotton fields…11 in 1801…runs away and finds shelter with the Seminole Indians in Florida…Mama dies on the journey…grief… terrifying threat…runaways ultimately find kindness and community…action is fast…Some characters are idealized…searing historical fiction…” (BL)

Non-fiction

Apel, Melanie. Cystic Fibrosis: The Ultimate Teen Guide. It Happened to Me Series. Scarecrow Press, $42 (0-8108-4821-X)

(gr. 7-12) “…great resource…extensive medical and technical information… profound insight into the disease’s human impact…definition, source, diagnosis… grueling treatments…interviews, suggestions for further reading…long lists of print sources and Web sites…poetry and essays…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Armstrong, Jennifer. The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History. Illus. by Roger Roth. Knopf, $39.99 (0-375-81256-3)

(gr. 4-7) “…collection of lively tales…Starting with the colony of Saint Caroline…in 1565…proceed chronologically…tales are pulled from politics and government, social and religious life, recreation and science…excellent classroom resource…selections are cross-referenced into ‘Story Arcs’…readers can follow historical threads…immigration or science…lively prose is matched by numerous… illustrations…”(SLJ)

Fleischman, Sid. Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini. HarperCollins/Greenwillow, $19.89 (0-06-085095-7)

(gr. 4-8) “…looks at Houdini’s life…as a fellow magician. Guarding the secrets, yet entertaining readers…rags-to-rags story…tone is lively …revealing just enough truth behind Houdini’s “razzle-dazzle” to keep the legend alive…Engaging and fascinating.” (SLJ) (BL)

Gerstein, Mordicai. The White Ram: A Story of Abraham and Isaac. Holiday, $16.95 (0-8234-1897-9)

(gr. 1-5) “…powerful and lyrical picture book inspired by Jewish legends… viewpoint of the white ram that plays a key role in the Bible story of Abraham and Isaac…travels afar…reaches Abraham just in time…striking, textured medium…will have young readers repeatedly poring over these pages.” (PW)

Godkin, Celia. Fire! Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $17.95 (1-55041-889-0)

(gr. 1-3) “…cycle of forest fires in words and pictures…lightning bolt…fire rages throughout the forest…seeds germinate, plants sprout, trees shoot up…animals return…Years later another hot day in a dry season…illustrations are richly colored, surprisingly varied…forest in various stages of its cycle…clear, concise writing and vivid artwork…” (BL)

Govenar, Alan. Extraordinary Ordinary People: Five American Masters of Traditional Arts. Candlewick, $22.99 (0-7636-2047-5)

(Gr. 6 and up) “The featured artists all live in the United States but come form a variety of cultural backgrounds…singing…boat building, wax-flower making, weaving, and performing at Mardi Gras…interviews…explore their art, but also their history… interesting homey details…High-quality color and black and white photographs… extraordinarily handsome title…” (SLJ)

Kimmel, Elizabeth Cody. Ladies First: 40 Daring American Women Who Were Second to None. National Geographic, $27.90 (0-7922-5394-9)

(gr. 6-9) “…engaging introductions to forty of America’s most brilliant and courageous women. Each essay is three pages in length…full page portrait…athletics to the arts to politics…faced enormous obstacles…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Marrin, Albert. Oh, Rats! The Story of Rats and People. Illus. by C.B. Mordan. Dutton, $16.99 (0-525-47762-4)

(gr. 4-6) “…lively and informative overview of the history and behavior… animal’s capabilities for survival…anecdotal accounts…impressive statistics…nine short chapters…rats as both carriers of disease and valued subjects of medical research…” (SLJ)

Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. The Buffalo and the Indians: A Shared Destiny. Illus. by William Muñoz. Clarion, $18 (0-618-48570-8)

(gr. 4-8) “Beautiful, well-written book…how the bison and Native Americans came to the New World…importance of the animal to the survival… Plains Indians…spiritual relationship with the buffalo…arrival of the white men…horses… improved hunting…also led to the destruction of their way of life…near extinction of the buffalo…Each chapter opens with a retelling of a Native myth…narrative is clear…breathtaking color photos…mixed with reproductions of period art and illustrations…remarkable book deserves a place in every collection.” (SLJ)

Price, Geoff. Puberty Boy. Allen & Unwin (Dist. by Independent Publishers Group), $15.95, trade pb (1-74114-563-5)

(gr. 6-9) “discussing genitalia…ejaculations, and more. Quotes…detail men’s memories of embarrassing body changes…myths are debunked about organ size …Basic female anatomy and puberty are discussed…male aggression, privacy, respect, homosexuality, independence, and changing parental relationships…changing relationships with girls…properly handling…sexual feelings…STDs, exercise… photographs, illustrations and charts…tastefully written…should prove popular with all curious teens.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Students at Awet Secondary School in Tanzania, East Africa, and What Kids Can Do USA. In Our Village: Kambi ya Simba Through the Eyes of Its Youth. Next Generation Press, $10.95, trade pb (0-972706-7-6)

(gr. 6-9) “…nonprofit organization What Kids Can Do…visited Kambi ya Simba village…Cultural information…greetings, agriculture…housing…foods, singing and dancing…written in the voices and words of the village children…village elders and business people…full-color photos…helpful country map…almanac…ideal…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Sullivan, George. Built to Last: Building America’s Amazing Bridges, Dams, Tunnels and Skyscrapers. Scholastic, $18.99 (0-439-51737-0)

(gr. 6-12) “…heavily illustrated history of major American construction projects…innovations in engineering…Erie Canal…Hoover Dam…skyscrapers… required dangerous, backbreaking labor…development of new tools…underwater caissons…fortified steel…brief history of conception and significance [of over a dozen of America’s most famous structures.]…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

They Teach That in College!? A Resource Guide to More Than 75 Interesting College Majors and Programs. Andrew Morkes, Ed. College and Career Press, $19.95 (0-9745251-1-1)

(gr. 6-12) “…Crime scene investigations, homeland security, and sustainability are just a few of the areas of study covered…highlight institutions of higher learning that are unique in their focus…majors discussed fit three criteria…fill job market…good salary…no more than 25 percent of the nation’s colleges and universities offer the major…have to be fun…perfect guide for college-inclined students who are not drawn to the traditional disciplines…invaluable resource…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Todd, Mark and Esther Pearl Watson. Whatcha Mean, What’s a Zine? The Art of Making Zines and Mini-Comics. Houghton/Graphia, pb, $12.99 (0-618-56315-6)

(gr. 6 and up) “…fun, informative introduction to the art form…in the format of a zine…defining terms…designed for maximum creativity and expression…history of self-publishing…ideas for zine subjects…tips…fresh and inspirational tone…convincing argument for zines over blogs as a better outlet for personal creativity…accessible … well-designed and entertaining…” (SLJ)

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. Illus. by Kadir Nelson. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun, $15.99 (0-7868-5175-9)

(K-gr.3) “…gorgeous, poetic picture book…Harriet Tubman…escape….mission to lead others to freedom as divinely inspired…ongoing dialogue between Tubman and God…elegant design…finely rendered oil and watercolor paintings…convey all the emotion of Tubman’s monumental mission…” (BL)

YA Fiction

Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia. Wolfcry. Delacorte, $16.99 (0-385-90354-5)

(gr. 6-12) “Princess Oliza Shardae Cobriana…choose a mate…Her reign will mean the ‘union of two worlds that warred for two millennia.’ …feels it is her duty to stop the hatred…Oliza is abducted…escapes…befriended by a wolf…fourth entry…in The Kiesha’Ra series…fast-paced fantasy…adventure, mystery and magic, yet thin enough to give to reluctant readers…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Bondoux, Anne-Laure. The Princetta. Bloomsbury, $17.95 (1-58234-924-X)

(gr. 6-12) “Malva is the fifteen-year-old Princetta of Galnicia…Tired of being…a pawn in her country’s politics…runs away on the eve of her wedding to Orpheus…son of a renowned sailor…never been to sea…transcends both gender appeal and genre… both characters and readers…will embark on a journey of self-discovery…less-than-happy ending…appropriate and true to the theme of the book…writing is luminous…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Chambers, Aidan. This Is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelier Ken. (808 p) Abrams, $19.95 (0-8109-7060-0)

(gr. 9-12) “…ambitious, multilayered…complex…Nineteen-year-old Cordelier Ken records the story of her life for the daughter with whom she is pregnant…records a narrative…poetry, ideas, observations, lists…acute observer…the most complete character study in all of young-adult literature…Unsparingly honest and candid…her story challenges—but it will grow richer and larger with each reading…” (BL)

Choice, Leslie. Deconstructing Dylan. Boardwalk Books/Dun urn Press, $12.99 trade pub (1-55002-603-8)

(gr. 7-12) “…2014…sixteen-year-old Dylan…happy-go-lucky high school student…only child of well-known genetics researchers…Dylan has always felt that he is different…discover an obituary for Dylan’s older brother Kyle…confronts his parents… confess that Dylan is a clone of his dead brother…mesmerizing…ethics…psychological repercussions…tantalizing story line…difficult questions about the consequences of scientific progress…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Clements, Andrew. Things Hoped For. Philomel, $16.99 (0-399-24350-X)

(gr. 8-11) “…Gwen…living with her grandfather and studying violin…tensions rising as the conservatory auditions…approach…Grampa disappears…Gwen has an ally: Robert…realistic depiction of a young woman who is thrown off kilter by emotional turmoil…regains her balance…gains a new level of confidence…riveting storyline, engaging characters…” (BL)

Dean, Debra. The Madonnas of Leningrad: A Novel. William Morrow, $23.95 (0-06-082530-8)

(gr. 9 and up—Adult book) “The story of Marina…flawless prose…alternating chapters…museum guide at Leningrad’s Hermitage during World War II…elderly Seattle woman…Alzheimer’s…themes of memory, love, beauty, sacrifice and hope… unforgettable story…history and humanity…terrifying losses…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Green, John. An Abundance of Katherines. Dutton, $16.99 (0-525-47688-1)

(gr. 9-12) “…sharp, intelligent story…full of mathematical problems, historical references, word puzzles, and footnotes. Colin Singleton…washed-up child prodigy… just been dumped by his most recent girlfriend…road trip…buddy Hassan…Gutshot Tennessee…laugh-out-loud humor…everyone’s story counts…what Colin contributes to the world…will, indeed, matter…” (BL)

Herrick, Steven. By the River. Front Street, $16.95 (1-932425-72-1)

(gr. 6-12) “Harry Hodby…little Australian town near a river….series of free-verse poems…mother died when he was seven…learns about life by observing his father, his brother…friends…enemies….understand the complexities of their lives…poems are simple but potent…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Lansens, Lori. The Girls. Little, Brown, $23.95 (0-427-06903-5)

(gr. 9 and up—Adult book) “…twins are born to an unwed teenage runaway… Ruby and Rose are…conjoined twins…mother abandons…raised by Aunt Lovey Darlen…and…Uncle Stash…Rose decides to write her autobiography, Ruby reminds her she has not lived her life alone…oldest living conjoined twins at…twenty-nine…pitch-perfect prose…enlightening and compelling…will appeal to high school students who appreciate realistic fiction.” (VOYA 5Q3P)

LeGuin, Ursula K. Voices. Harcourt, $17 (0-15-205678-5)

(gr. 7 and up) “The year Mermer was born, a foreign army overthrew her city’s elected government…written word demonic…destroyed every book…Seventeen years later, possession of books is still punishable by death…Mermer…protectors of a hidden library…thought-provoking parallels to our own world…prose is simple and unadorned … superior narrative voice and storytelling power…ring with truth…” (SLJ) (BL)

Lockhart, E. The Boy Book: A Study of Habits and Behaviors, Plus Techniques for Taming Them. Delacorte, $17.99 (0-385-90239-5)

(gr. 9-12) “Ruby Oliver is back from…The Boyfriend List…has a driver’s license, a new friend…several of her friends are still not speaking to her…parents are certain that there are deeper issues that she needs to explore…new job at the zoo…perfect balance of self-deprecating humor and self-pity…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

McCullough, Kelly. WebMage. Ace Books, $6.99 pb (0-441-01425-9)

(gr. 9-12—adult book) “Ravirn is an undergraduate…majoring in Classics…first rate hacker…knack for debugging any faulty computer program, or…any misfiring magical spell…great-grandson of Lachesis, one of the three Fates of Greek mythology… discovers that the darkest of the three Fates is attempting to…completely do away with human free will…rollicking combination of verbal humor, wild adventures, and just plain fun…modicum of sex mark the book as most appropriate for older readers.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Meyer, Stephanie. New Moon: A Novel. Little, Brown, $17.99 (0-316-16019-9)

(gr. 7-12) “…sequel to…Twilight…Bella…incredibly enamored with her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen…disastrous birthday celebration leads to the Cullens’ exodus from Forks…Jacob Black helps bring her out of her melancholia…Jacob… undergoes an unexpected metamorphosis…aficionados will voraciously consume this mighty tome…better written than its predecessor…wishing for something different—a more empowered and self-assured heroine, comic relief…fewer references to the vampires’ innate beauty…Despite the flaws, expect this book to remain checked out…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Miller, Sarah. Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn. St. Martin’s/Griffin, $16.95 (0-312-33375-7)

(gr. 7 and up) “…Gideon’s thoughts and actions are related by a girl at the school who is somehow able to get inside his head…two popular roommates…make him the center of a bet: Can he have sex by the end of Octobers with…classmate named Molly…outrageous antics… Gid’s kind, often insecure character…Readers will have a good time living inside Gid’s head as he slowly becomes more confident…” (PW)

Novik, Naomi. His Majesty’s Dragon. Del Ray, $7.50, pb (0-345-48128-3)

(gr. 7-12—adult book) “During the Napoleonic wars…Will Laurence captures a French frigate with a dragon’s egg aboard…dragon bonds closely…Aerial Corps… dragons are vital for nations at war…compelling characters…wonderfully engaging…dragons fly and fight as frigates of the sky, complete with multiperson crews…very eighteenth century world…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Oates, Joyce Carol. After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away. HarperTempest, $16.99 (0-06-073525-2)

(gr. 9 and up) “…devastating automobile accident that leaves her mother dead. Fifteen-year-old Jenna…passenger seat…car…careens into the guardrail…emotional wounds are still raw…moving to a small New Hampshire town to live with her aunt and uncle…longs to be…drug-induced state she experienced in the hospital…turning to…alcohol and drugs…develops an unlikely friendship…finds the courage to confront and overcome her fears… inspiring conclusion.” (PW)

Shields, Gillian. The Actual Real Reality of Jennifer James. HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99 (0-06-082241-4)

(gr. 7 and up) “…energetic, hilarious spoof of reality TV in a public British school…Jennifer James…TV crew and group of celebrities…descend…to document the goings-on of the school’s faculty and students…Survivor-type competition…Jennifer’s peers elect her…winning the status of token nerd and underdog…endears herself to the public…grows suspicious…quick-witted, lively narrative…” (PW)

Skelton, Matthew. Endymion Spring. Delacorte, $17.95 (0-385-73380-1)

(gr. 7 and up) “An enchanted blank book…lies at the center…two alternating narratives…young Blake…runs his fingers across the spines of some books in the Bodleian Library and one volume strikes him back…opens the cover only to find the contents blank…in 15^th-century Germany…apprentice to the great Gutenberg…Riddles galore, a great cliffhanger, and a film deal with Warner Bros. Should generate plenty of excitement…” (PW)

Trottier, Maxine. Three Songs for Courage. Tundra, $16.95 (0-88776-745-1)

(gr. 7-12) “…well-crafted, thoughtful novel…sixteen-year-old Gordon and younger Stan, a polio victim…1950s Lake Erie…Gordon…confronts love, friendship, and tragedy…Complex characterization, meaningful symbolism, and ongoing suspense…Teen characters are center stage…adults…fully realized….” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Werlin, Nancy. The Rules of Survival. Dial, $16.99 (0-8037-3001-2)

(gr. 7-10) “…unpredictable, psychotic mother…Matthew…sister Callie…shelter their younger stepsister…terror is palpable in this haunting, powerful portrayal of domestic dysfunction…adults…don’t help…dark but hopeful tale…pacing and suspense guaranteed to leave readers breathlessly turning the pages.”( BL)

Zurbo, Matt. Hot Nights, Cool Dragons. Allen & Unwin, $14.95, trade pb (1-74114-178-8)

(gr. 6-12) “A sultry, smoky verson of Something Wicked This Way Comes…siblings Bobby and Sassy Piero…come across a jazz band…composed of dragon descendents…Sassy’s desire to join the ranks of the musicians is soon all-consuming…danger…lurks…spellbinding, complex, and unique…less a novel than a musical composition.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Graphic Novels

Espinosa, Frank. Rocketo: Journey to the Hidden Sea, Vol. 1. Image Comics, $19.99, trade pb (1-58240-585-9)

(gr. 7-12) “Rocketo Garrison lives…centuries after an alien monster destroyed the old world, rearranging…continents…full of tigermen and fishwomen…uncharted areas…only…those with genetic compasses…can navigate…quirky characters…art matches text…fast-moving plot…cliffhangers…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Audio

Accidents of Nature. Written by Harriet McBryde Johnson, read by Jenna Lamia. Listening Library, unabridged, 5.5 hours, 5 CDs, $35 (0-7393-3530-8)

(gr. 7 and up) “A major benefit to the audio…is experiencing the discrepancy between the palsied speech of disabled protagonist Jean and her eloquent inner thoughts…Set in a 1970s summer camp for the disabled in North Carolina…handles all accents, ages and genders with ease…should engage adults and adolescents alike…help demystify the lives of the disabled…bring into sharp relief their oft-marginalized status in society.” (PW)

Behind the Curtain. Written by Peter Abrahams, read by Colleen Delaney. HarperAudio, unabridged, six CDs, eight hours, $27.95 (0-06-089734-1)

(gr. 5 and up) “…read perfectly…quietly but persuasively brings considerable excitement to Abrahams’s words…Ingrid uses Holmes’s methods to dig into several mysteries about her own family and her town…perilous adventure so expertly presented…” (PW)

Between Two Worlds: Escape from Tyranny: Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam. Written by Zainab Salbi, read by Josephine Bailey. Tantor Media, unabridged, 10 hours, 30 minutes. 9 CDs, $69.99 (1-4001-0180-8), 1 MP3-CD, $22.99 (1-4001-5180-5)

(gr. 9-12) “…growing up in Baghdad under Saddam Hussein’s reign…contrast between Hussein’s reprehensible actions and the quiet dignity…of narrator…When appropriate…emotions…rise to the surface of…reading…narration supports and provides momentum to…story…hauntingly powerful listening experience.” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Born to Rock. Written by Gordon Korman, read by Billy Hammond. Brilliance, unabridged, 5 hours. 4 cassettes, $62.25 (1-4233-1194-9); 5 CDs, $74.25 (1-4233-1196-5); 1 MP3-CD, $39.25 (1-4233-1198-1)

(gr. 9-12) “Original rock music leads off each disc…interludes between scenes…perfect accompaniment…senior Leo Caraway’s scholarship to Harvard is revoked…meet…lead singer of…punk rock band…supposedly Leo’s biological father… rich, strong voice…”(VOYA 4Q5P)

The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen. Written by M.T. Anderson, read by Marc Cashman. Listening Library, unabridged, 4 hours, 4 CDs (0-307-28431-X)

(gr. 5 and up) “…laugh-out-loud sequel to Anderson’s Whales on Stilts. Lily and her friends…are trying to enjoy…vacation…find that several other children’s book heroes are also staying at the resort…oddball characters…[narrator] matches…beat for outlandish beat…energy and commitment that is infectious in its enthusiasm…fine combination of author and material…will tickle funny bones of all ages.”( PW)

Here Lies the Librarian. Written by Richard Peck, read by Lara Everly. Listening Library/Random House, unabridged, 3 hours, 41 minutes. 3 cassettes, $30 (0-307-28595-2), 3 CDs, $30 (0-307-28596-0)

(gr. 6-12) “Tomboy Peewee…tornado in 1914…library students…end up transforming…library and Peewee’s life…voice recaptures small-town life of turn-of-the-century America…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You. Written by Ally Carter, read by Renee Raudman. Brilliance Audio, unabridged, 7 hours, 5 cassettes, $69.25 (1-4233-1178-7), 6 CDs, $82.25 (1-4233-1180-9), MPC-CD, $39.25.

(gr. 7-12) “…upbeat spy caper…Cammie Morgan…very secret spy school… covert operations…unauthorized sleuthing…[narrator] propels the antics…campy and fun…fast-paced, teen-speak inflections add to the humor.” (VOYA 4P5Q)

The Penderwicks. Written by Jeanne Birdsall, read by Susan Denaker. Listening Library/Random House, unabridged, 6 hours, 44 minutes, 4 cassettes, $35 (0-307-28576-6), 6 CDs, $50 (0-307-28577-4)

(gr. 4-8) “Charming is the operative word…endearing rendition of the summer when four young sisters, their father, and mischievous dog…vacation at Arundel Cottage…smoothly portrays voices…very special listening experience…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Permanent Rose. Written by Hilary McKay, read by Sophie Aldred. Listening Library/Random House, unabridged, 4 hours, 28 minutes, 3 cassettes, $30 (0-307-28463-8), 4 CDs , $38 (0-307-28464-6)

(gr. 4-8) “Enchanting…narration exemplifies Rose’s precocious, stubborn…personality…chaotic household…Rose often takes family matters into her own hands…merging of a great story and a wonderful narrator…exceptional audiobook.” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie. Written by David Lubar, read by Ryan MacConnell and the Full Cast Family. Full Cast Audio, unabridged, 6 hours, 45 minutes. 6 CDs, $37 (1-933322-51-9)

(gr. 7-12) “…freshman Scott Hudson…tries to survive the daily head-thumps of upperclassmen…first major crush…mother…announces unexpected pregnancy…older brother returns home…perfect voice for Scott…refreshing to hear the wide range of voices and personalities that emerge…”(VOYA 4Q5P)

Books in Spanish

Canetti, Yanitzia. Ay, luna, luna, lunita…(Oh, Moon, Moon, Little Moon) illus. by Ángeles Peinador. Spain: Everest, dist. by Lectorum, $14.99 (84-241-8774-1)
(PreS-Gr 1) “… will engage the little ones with its repetitive structure, poetic dialogue, and memorable illustrations…the animals in Federico’s farm are not content to be what they are…pleads with the moon to make them a different animal…All of the animals end up trading places… illustrations beautifully portray the moon, the night, and the gradual approach of dawn…essential addition…” (CR)

Chapra, Mimi. El ladrido de Sparky/Sparky’s Bark tr. by Christian Pietrapiana. illus. by Vivi Escriva. U.S.: HarperCollins, $16.99 (978-0-06-053172-0)
(Gr K-2) “Lucy has just arrived in the United States and everything seems strange. … her Aunt Dot, and cousin Robby are familiar from photographs…fuzzy dog …jumps up on Lucy over and over… cousin laughs…Lucy leaves the table in tears…sympathetic story of a child’s adjustment to a new country is told with an ear for language and a keen understanding of young children.” (CR)

Herman, Debbie. El sándwich de Carla. (Carla's Sandwich). tr. by Rosario Pérez. illus. by Sheila Bailey. Flashlight Press, $14.95 (0-972-92256-3)
(gr. 1-4) “… Carla … creates sandwiches that her friends call "repugnant" … at first curious …but she soon finds herself eating lunch at her own private table…Hector, who is constantly taunting her, realizes he has forgotten to pack his lunch… no one else but Carla offers to share…colorful illustrations … Truly delicious vocabulary…” (CR)

Le Duc, Michel and Nathalie Trodjaman. La ciudad a tu alcance. (The City at Your Fingertips) tr. Nuria Martí. illus. by Yves Calarnou. Spain: Ediciones Oniro (Querido Mundo), pap. $18.95 (84-9754-211-8)

(Gr 4-7) “The history and transformation of cities throughout the world…neatly simplified … basic terms, with plenty of illustrations and in a fun layout…cartoon format… will keep children engaged. After the glossary, an index for cities mentioned, and a table of contents complete the book…” (CR)

Roncagliolo, Santiago. Matías y los imposibles. (Matías and The Impossibles) illus. by Ulises Wensell. Spain: Ediciones Siruela( 84-7844-988-4)
(Gr 4-6) “After Matías’s beloved grandfather dies, the fairy-tale characters that populated his bedtime stories…come to life…not everything goes as planned...learns that having imaginary friends in upper elementary school does not win him any real friends… deeply hued illustrations…original Castilian text presents rich vocabulary… intriguing plot…” (CR)

Reference

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature. Fourth Edition by Jack Zips. 1,824 pages. Oxford, $495 (0-19-514656-5)

“…stated focus on the Anglo-American tradition…scope…is impressive…39 countries and regions…106 genres or types of literature…2700 entries on authors, illustrators, librarians…Signed entries from more than 800 international scholars…Some typographical errors…excellent starting point for queries. Recommended for most libraries.”(BL)