December 2005

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

December 2005 * Eau Claire, WI

The books in this newsletter were given starred reviews by the following periodicals: School Library Journal (SLJ), Publisher's Weekly (PW), Criticas (CR), Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA) and Booklist (BL). 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
Juvenile Non-fiction
YA Fiction
YA Non-fiction
Reference
Graphic Novels
Books in Spanish
Audio
Audiobooks
Video

Picture Books

Haas, Irene. Bess and Bella. Simon and Schuster/Margaret K McElderry, $14.95 (1-4169-0013-6)

(PreS-K) “…dreamlike tale…chiffonlike watercolors, whimsically clothed animals…fantastical transformation…Bess marvels at wonder upon wonder…smudging of the boundaries between real and imaginary…many imaginative children will pore over the pictures…and recognize in them their own rich interior landscapes.” (BL)

Hills, Tad. Duck and Goose. Random/Schwartz & Wade, $14.95 (ISBN 0-375-83611-X)

(PreS-gr.2) “…a young duck and a little goose march … toward a big spotted sphere…they decide it is an egg…closely resembles a soccer ball. "I saw it first," says the yellow duck. "I touched it first," taunts the white-feathered goose… they climb atop their claim and huffily sit back to back…time passes… cartoonish characters… shows how even stubborn characters can cooperate…” (PW)

Kasza, Keiko. The Dog Who Cried Wolf. Putnam, $15.99 (0-399-24247-3)

(PreS-gr.3) “Moka is a good dog who lives a perfect life…until they read a book about wolves…is inspired to hunt for his food…runs away to the mountains…perfect pacing and expressive watercolor…Children will find themselves captivated by Moka's playful antics and comforted by his return…” (SLJ)

Look, Lenore. Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese Wedding. Illus. by Yumi Heo. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, $16.95 (0-689-84458-1)

(K-gr. 2) “Rituals, both solemn and fun…form a backdrop for universal emotions about family…Jenny's Chinese American family is attending the wedding of favorite cousin (sic) Peter…sense of abandonment…subsides through tender gestures…references to Chinese traditions emerge naturally throughout…” (BL)

Juvenile Fiction

Carroll, Lewis. Alice Through the Looking Glass. Illus. by Helen Oxenbury. Candlewick, $24.99 (0-7636-2892-1)

(gr. 4-7) “…splendid interpretation…small, black-and-white drawings and full-page watercolors…adds layers of meaning to the story…calls attention to Carroll's own playful jumble of solid, real-world elements…and delicious, wholly imagined fantasy … seems both old-fashioned and modern, and comfortable on both sides of the mirror. (BL)

Clements, Bruce. What Erika Wants. Farrar Straus Giroux, $16 (0-374-32304-6)

(gr. 6-9) “…Erika lives with her father, but after two years, her mother has started the legal process to get her back…judge assigns Erika her own lawyer, Jean Rostow-Kaplan…well-told jigsaw-puzzle of a novel…Erika is a genuine girl, trying to keep everyone happy…story of a young girl struggling to survive while caught in the “wants” of others…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Evangelista, Beth. Gifted. Walker, $16.95 (0-8027-8994-3)

(gr. 5-8) “…George R. Clark—a gifted student…obnoxious. Pompous… unlikable protagonist…worries that his tormenters….will corner him…understand who he is, why people loathe him, and what to do about it…Fresh and funny.” (BL)

Gavin, Jamila. Blood Stone. FSG, $18 (0-374-30846-2 )

(gr. 7 and up) “Venetian jeweler Geronimo Veroneo left Italy for Hindustan in search of precious gems 12 years ago…Geronimo now presumed dead …an exquisite diamond pendant… Geronimo is a hostage in need of a princely ransom…Filipo… retrieve … from Hindustan—with the jewel hidden in his body. … Characterization plays second fiddle to period detail and plot, but for those who love meaty historical fiction, this is a thick, juicy helping…” (PW)

Napoli, Donna Jo. The King of Mulberry Street . Random/Lamb, $15.95 (0-385-74653-9)

(gr. 3-7) “…nine-year-old narrator Beniamino, from his last day in Naples, Italy, to his premature graduation into adulthood on the tough streets of New York's Five Points neighborhood in 1891… boy's mother gets him new shoes and smuggles him, alone, onto a ship bound for America… surviving on the streets … unspeakable cruelties going on around him yet manages to extend kindnesses to others … and to find his own makeshift family in this new world…” (PW)

Stroud, Jonathan. Ptolemy's Gate. Hyperion/Miramax, $17.95 (0-7868-1861-1)

(gr. 6-9) “The final volume in the Bartimaeus trilogy reveals more backstory and exposes greater complexity in the characters…colossal climax…djinni Bartimaeus…has lost none of his caustic wit…one of the most remarkable scenes in recent fantasies… most satisfying volume of the three…worthy ending to an exceptional saga.” (BL)

Deem, James M. Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii. Houghton, $16 (0-618-47308-4)

(gr. 4-8) “…tells the story of …devastating eruption…lively text with photographs of the bones and artifacts that have been unearthed through the years… explains how scientists…piece together the life styles and final moments of some of the victims…Dramatic photographs of the casts capture the horror of this event… incredibly engrossing images and narrative…powerfully poignant…” (SLJ)

Freedman, Russell. Children of the Great Depression. Clarion, $20 (0-618-44630-3)

(gr. 5-8) “ ‘It's my sister's turn to eat,' a hungry child tells her teacher. Quotes like that bring home…stirring photo-essay…unforgettable personal details with a clear historical overview of the period…signature plainspoken prose…spacious, double page spreads…final bibliographic essay and notes that are a rich part of the story…” (BL, SLJ)

Hakim, Joy. The Story of Science: Newton at the Center. Smithsonian, $24.95 (1-58834-161-5)

(gr. 7 and up) “…introduces students to the great scientific minds of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton…anecdotal information…browsers will be fascinated by the sidebars and captioned illustrations that enhance the text…detailed index…easy, conversational style…full color illustrations, reproductions, or graphics appear on almost every page…” (SLJ)

Johnson, Dolores. Onward: A Photobiography of African-American Polar Explorer Matthew Henson. National Geographic, $17.95 (0-7922-7914-X) lib. ed., $27.90 (0-7922-7915-8)

(gr. 5-8) “The quest to be the first to reach the North Pole…Henson got there first, as part of the ninth expedition led by Robert Peary in 1909…labeled as Peary's “Negro manservant”…physical details of the dangerous Arctic journeys…Hensen's skills, stamina, and essential role in forging relationships with the Inuit…home from his extraordinary travels…still forced to take menial jobs such as stockboy…design is beautiful…glossary, a chronology…web sites…” (BL)

Krutch, Kristy Ann. Drawing and Painting with Colored Pencil: Basic Techniques for Mastering Traditional and Watersoluble Colored Pencils. Watson-Guptil. $24.95 trade pb (0-8230-1568-8)

(gr. 6-adult) “…traditional, watercolor pencil, and complete compositions…types of materials and the various tools…remedies for fixing common mistakes…color wheel …will inspire artists and wannabe artists alike…clear instructions…can be used for a beginning artists or someone looking to fine-tune their skills…” (VOYA 5Q2P)

Marsalis, Wynton. Jazz ABZ. illus. by Paul Rogers. Candlewick, $24.99 ( ISBN 0-7636-2135-8)

(all ages) “…an insider's A to Z guide through the greats of jazz. The …giants are all here… brief bios at the book's close …poster-like portraits pay homage …poetic style suited to each subject…Each poem brims with words that showcase the letter in the alphabet and the accomplishments … The passion for jazz shared by this book's creators emanates from every spread—and it's contagious.” (PW)

Modern Nations of the World. Lucent, $28.70

Miller, Debra A. Libya (1-59018-443-2)

Wild, Mary. Denmark (1-59018-112-3)

Miller, Debra A. Kuwait (1-59018-624-9)

(gr. 6-12) “…stand-alone volumes in this series profile modern nations…broad overview of the country…geography, history, economics, politics, society, culture, and the arts…well written and highly readable…each volume includes strategic quotes from historians, journalists, politicians…maps…are the main weakness of this series… valuable for country reports…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Okey, Shannon. Knitgrrl: Learn to Knit with 15 Fun and Funky Projects. Photos by Shannon Fagan. Watson-Gutpill, paper, $9.95 (0-8230-2618-3)

(gr. 5-8) “…Everything works here, from the design to the enticing projects… plenty of teen-worthy extras…graphic-novel style illustrations and plenty of color. Instructions are clearly written and aided by sharp color photographs…Not your mother's knitting book.” (BL)

Usher, M.C. Wise Guy: The Life and Philosophy of Socrates. Illus. by William Bramhall. FSG, $16 (0-374-31249-4)

(gr. 3 and up) “…brings…lofty subject down to an understandable level…life and teachings of the famous Greek thinker…can be read on two levels…main text…child-friendly account…rectangular scroll offers further explanations and interesting details…black line and watercolor wash paintings add a dynamic touch…Usher…drew entirely from ancient sources…keeps ideas clear-cut and accessible…a fine introduction to philosophy.” (PW)

A World of Prayers. Edited by Jeremy Brooks, Illus. by Elena Gomez. Eerdmans, $16 (0-8028-5285-8)

(all ages) “…gathers children's prayers from around the globe…thematic sections…textured, mixed-media artwork introduces imagery from different countries and cultures…accessible anthology…” (PW)

Boyle, T.C. The Human Fly and Other Stories. Viking, $17.99 (0-670-06054-2), $9.99 trade pb (0-14-240363-6)

(gr. 7-12) “…thirteen…imaginative short stories…Most involve young adults… absurdly humorous and satirical…nearly all include a touch of the grotesque… serious social observer as well as an entertaining storyteller…downbeat but not despairing… surprising conjunctions of joy and pain…sex and violence…nothing inappropriate for a typical teen…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Budhos, Marina. Ask Me No Questions. Simon & Schuster/Ginee Seo, $15.95 (1-4169-0351-8)

(gr. 7-10) “…moving…narrative, Nadira, 14, relates how her family left Bangladesh, came to the U.S. on a tourist visa, and stayed long after…illegal status is discovered…following 9/11…must struggle to …prevent the family's deportation… wonderfully immediate…real drama…Readers will feel the heartbreak, prejudice, kindness…” (BL)

Carlson, Lori Marie, ed. Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today. HarperCollins, $16.89 (0-06-623959-1)

(gr. 9 and up) “…10 short stories will resonate with Native readers and inform and affect non-Natives as well…boarding-school…divorce…everyday struggles Native people have with stereotypes…addiction, loss…poverty…pride, generosity and determination…oral tradition…distinguished anthology…beautifully written…” (SLJ)

Courtenay, Bryce. The Power of One. Young Readers' Condensed Ed. Delacorte, $17.99 (0-385-90274-3)

(gr. 7-12) “…adult-marketed novel…author has condensed the first half…to make it appropriate for younger readers…has retained many powerful, poignant moments. In South Africa at the onset of World War II…English boy is sent to a boarding school…unbelievable cruelty…friendly railroad porter…vows that he will become the nation's boxing champion…ends on a high note…will generate tears and laughter…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Leitch, Will. Catch. Razorbill/Penguin Putnam, $7.99 pb (1-59514-069-7)

(gr. 9-12) “…heart-wrenching honesty of voice and vision…summer before Tim Temples goes away to college…loser brother Doug is home from college…best friends are already slipping away…new job and a woman…spin his life around…funny stuff…tough stuff…voice is so right, the sense of place is so perfect…timeless theme seems so fresh…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Moers, Walter. The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear: A Novel. The Overlook Press (141 Wooster St., New York, NY 10012), $26.95 (1-58567-724-8) (704 p)

(gr. 6-9) “…rollicking odyssey, Bluebear describes his death-defying adventures on the lost continent of Zamonia…learns lessons that help him survive…illustrations and typographical effects are delightful… consistently excellent narrative voice, it is highly imaginative…and informative in…physics, natural history, and geography… length…and sophisticated vocabulary might discourage some readers.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Monette, Sarah. Mèlusine. Ace Books, $24.95 (0-411-01286-8)

(gr. 9 and up) “Mèlusine is a city where pleasure and pain go hand in hand alongside magic and corruption. Felix Harrowgate…powerful wizard with a tormented past…when his past as a sex slave, tortured and trained by the evil Malkar is revealed…nonstop action adventure fantasy…riveting read…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Morris, Gerald. The Lioness and Her Knight. Houghton Mifflin, $16 (0-618-50772-8)

(gr. 7-12) “…Luneta…travel with her cousin Ywain, a young knight… Camelot …quest…adventures include matchmaking, studying enchantment…witty retelling of eleventh-century…poem The Knight of the Lion …brimming with adventure, romance, insights, and just plain old silliness…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Poe, Edgar Allan. Tales of Terror. Illus. by Michael McCurdy. Knopf, $17.99 (0-375-93305-0)

(gr. 7-12) “With haunting black-and-white illustrations….creates a dramatic context for six…thrillers…biographical introduction…excellent note establishing historical context introduces each story…free CD accompanying the book…cover, size, and graphics will entice young and old readers…will spend most of its time off the shelves.” (VOYA 5Q5P)

YA Non-fiction

Akbar, Said Hyder and Susan Burton. Come Back to Afghanistan: A California Teenager's Story. Bloomsbury, $24.95 (1-58234-520-1)

(gr. 8 and up) “After the fall of the Taliban government in 2001…Akbar's father sold his hip-hop clothing store in Oakland to join his friend Hamid Karzai…serving ...as his spokesman…governor of the remote province of Kunar…author…spent three summers … chronicled his experiences and his reactions… engaging and informative account of Afghan life and politics…teen's reactions to his first visit to his family's native land…inside look at Afghan reconstruction…” (SLJ)

cummings, e.e. Love: Selected Poems. illus. by Christopher Myers. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun, $16.99 ( 0-7868-0796-2 )

“… astonishing picture book about sensual love…combines evocative photographs of people and paintings to create collages…intense poems are made even more powerful by Myers's brilliant artwork. Each illustration translates the emotions behind cummings's quicksilver metaphors into unforgettable visual imagery… the book's emphasis upon erotic love makes it more suitable for sophisticated teens and adults than for children…” (PW)

Telgen, Dianne. Brown v. Board of Education. (Defining Moments Series) Omnigraphics, $38 (0-7808-0775-8)

(gr. 8 and up) “…opens with an ‘Important People, Places and Terms' section… detailed chronology…from 1849 school-segregation case to 2003 University of Michigan rulings on student diversity…narrative overview, biographies of individuals involved, and primary sources…Numerous sidebars provide background information…all-in-one source for class assignments.” (SLJ)

Reference

Appiah, Kwame Anthony and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., eds. Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience. 5 vols. Oxford Univ., $500 (0-19-517055-5)

(gr. 9 and up) “Thoroughly revised and massively expanded…merits a place in any academically oriented high school…detailed index…topical list of headers…nearly 4500 entries…Most articles are signed…illustrations…well chosen…maps, charts and graphs…facts and ideas in plenty here…” (SLJ)

Graphic Novel

Sizer, Paul. Moped Army. Cafè Digital Comics (P.O. Box 51595, Kalamazoo, MI 49005; www.paulsizer.com ), $12.95, trade pb (0-9768565-4-9)

(gr.9-12) “…teen survival clique in the year 2277…High school senior Simone comes from a good family…gasoline was outlawed… starts spending more time in Rust City with the Moped Army…poor people have to scratch out a living and scrounge for everything. Older teens will find some harsh language, the occasional middle-finger salute, a discussion of sex that occurs off-page, and some violence…compelling story with sociopolitical ideas…coming of age story…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

TenNapel, Doug. Tommysaurus Rex. Image Comics, $11.95 (1-58240-395-3)

(gr. 6-8) “…Ely's dog dies…spend the summer working on his grandfather's farm…encounters…local bully and hides in a cave…discover a living tyrannosaurus rex…has to train the dinosaur…to do tricks…truly engaging coming-of-age tale…art is remarkable…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Books in Spanish

Cowell, Cressida. Cómo entrenar a tu dragón.(How to Train Your Dragon) tr. by Amalia Bermejo. Spain: Ediciones SM, $22.95 ( 84-675-0503-6).

(gr.3-6) “Hipo Horrendo … catching one of the baby dragons that lives in his Viking country and training it to obey him…catches a garden variety dragon instead of a frightening beast...But when enormous fire-breathing dragons rise from the bottom of the sea … the unlikely heroes save the day...Castilian translation makes adult dialog sound appropriately old-fashioned …One character's name, Culón, would not be used in polite conversation among some Spanish speakers, but it will surely make readers laugh... childlike sketches, scrawls, and ink splotches…Strongly recommend…” (CR)

Malpica, Toño . Las mejores alas (The Best Wings) illus. by Cristina Niizawa Ishihara. Mexico: Ediciones Castillo, dist. by Holtzbrinck, pap. $7.95 (ISBN 970-2001-79-X).

(gr. 4-7) “ Gus is a street kid. He lives under a bridge in Mexico City and makes a living as a street performer. He is also an angel of the sort that has wings, but he doesn't know it yet. …sweet and gentle fable is complemented by a first-person conversational narration that gives the story a mythic feel…Highly recommended for libraries where it can be “hand sold” to children who read fiction in Spanish.” (CR)

Pulman, Phillip. El reloj mecánico. (Clockwork: Or All Wound Up) tr. by Carmen Netzel. illus. by Peter Bailey. Spain: Ediciones B, dist. by IPG, pap. $15.95 (84-406-8065-1)

(gr 4-6) “… scary thriller full of twists and strange characters…In the German town of Glokenheim, sometime in the distant past… lazy apprentice to the clockmaker… searching for a figurine for the town's famous clock …the ominous Dr. Kalmenius enters the tavern and offers Karl a mechanical figure for the clock. But, all sorts of tragic and gruesome events ensue when Karl accepts. Full of suspense and thought-provoking narrative… great addition ...” (CR)

Audio

Color Wheel Cartwheel. 20 min. Green Kid, $16 ( http://www.greenkid.com )

(PreS-gr. 2) “…eight original songs…named for the colors of the rainbow…Laura Freeman's strong voice is an amazingly supple match for the wide variety of music…Motown, Latin, 50s pop, slinky jazz…between each cut, a narrator tells what the rainbow is called in one particular language…then lists the colors of the rainbow…in that language…will find a ready place in public and school library collections.” (BL)

Audiobooks

Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy—The Tertiary Phase. Narrated by Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern and others. BBC Audio/The Audio Partners Publishing Corp. Unabr., 3 hours, 10 minutes. 3 CDs, $29.95 (1-57270-469-1)

(gr. 9-up) “Background music and sound effects add to the upbeat, wacky world of space travel…engaging in…inane exploits…maintain a fast-paced tempo in this work originally portrayed on BBC radio…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Prom. Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Recorded Books, Unabr., 5 hours 45 minutes. 4 cassettes, $37.75 (1-419-3509-78); 5 CDs, $48.75 (1-419-3511-00)

(gr. 9-12) “…Ashley steps forward to help…sponsor stole the ticket money… reactivating the prom planning…discovers that she's a great organizer…Narrator…does not miss a beat as she amplifies the humor…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Bruchac, Joseph. The Dark Pond. Narrated by Ramon de Ocampo. Recorded Books. Unabr., 2 hours, 45 minutes; 2 cassettes, $19.75 (1-419-3310-35)

(gr. 7-12) “Native American legends…eerie work…Armie boards at North Mountains School…affinity for animals…a monster calls to him from a nearby pond in the woods…narration heightens the foreboding aura of the pond…fear and…courage… terrifying final confrontation…”(VOYA 5Q4P)

Dunkle, Clare, B. The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy. Narrated by Jenny Sterlin. Recorded Books.

The Hollow Kingdom. Unabr., 8 hours, 30 minutes, 6 cassettes, $58.75 (1-402-5694-16)

Close Kin. Unabr., 7 hours, 15 minutes. 6 cassettes, $54.75 (1-402-5850-47) 7 CDs, $72.75 (1-419-3323-84)

(gr. 7-12) “In The Hollow Kingdom , orphaned Kate and her younger sister Emily...uncle…kidnaps Emily…Kate agrees to marry Marek, King of the Goblins…In… Close Kin, Emily spurns the…elf Ceylin's offer of marriage…realizing how much she misses him…undertakes a danger-filled journey to find him…superb narration brings drama, mystery, and excitement to this strange world…”(VOYA 5Q5P)

Lasky, Kathryn. Elizabeth I, The Red Rose of the House of Tudor—England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries). Narrated by Josephine Bailey. Unabr. CDs. Tantor Media, $49 (1-4001-0135-2).

(gr. 6-9) “…Narrator…adopts a childlike voice to portray…Elizabeth I as she comments on court intrigues and the lifestyle of royalty in 1500s England…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Levithan, David. Boy Meets Boy. Multiple Narrators. Full Cast Audio. Unabr., 6 hours. 6 CDs $45 (1-933322-33-0)

(gr. 9-12) “…upbeat account of Paul, who discovers in third grade that he is gay…now a sophomore in high school…comfortably tolerant world…gays and straights are friends…large cast of narrators…varied voices…are authentic…Jazzy or subdued piano music signals changes in story line…follow-up interviews with the young narrators…comparing their high school experiences with Paul's…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Maynard, Joyce. The Cloud Chamber. Narrated by Joel Johnstone. Listening Library/Random House. Unabr. 5 hours, 39 minutes. 4 cassettes, $35 (0-307-24617-5); 5 CDs, $45 (0-307-24618-3)

(gr. 6-9) “Teenager Nate…ostracized…after …father tries to shoot himself …police consider Nate's mother a suspect…Nate is forced to team with class outcast… cloud chamber for their science fair project…Narrator…effectively portrays a somber, grieving Nate…the determined-to-be-happy Junie…unsympathetic grandfather …tender coming-of-age novel.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Morpurgo, Michael. Private Peaceful. Narrated by Jeff Woodman. Recorded Books. Unabr., 5 hours, 15 minues. 4 cassettes, $39.75 (1-419-3297-74). 5 CDs, $48.75 (1-419-3561-43)

(gr. 7-12) “In England during World War I…Charlie eventually faces execution for defying the orders of a vengeful sergeant…Narrator…marks the time…softens as he relates the carefree life shared by the brothers in their rural boyhood…A note of harshness enters after the brothers enlist…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Mosley, Walter. 47. Narrated by Ossie Davis. Listening Library/Random House. Unabr., 6 hours, 18 minutes., 4 cassettes, $35 (1-4000-9941-2); 5 CDs, $45 (0-307-2066209)

(gr. 7-12) “…powerful tale…about slavery in America…young 47 is yanked from his comfortable life as a kitchen slave…husky, slightly gravelly voice…old man…spellbinding narration…making every aspect of 47's life seem real.” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, Book 1) Narrated by Jesse Bernstein. Listening Library/Random House. Unabr., 10 hours. 6 cassettes, $45 (0-307-24592-2); 8 CDs, $60 (0-307-24531-4)

(gr. 6-12) “…Percy Jackson…discovers that he is a half-blood, the son of a mortal and a god…summer camp filled with other half-bloods…sent off on a perilous quest…Narrator…brings mythology alive…and when necessary, screams!…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Sage, Angie. Magyk. (Septimus Heap Series, book 1) Narrated by Allan Corduner. HarperCollins, Unabr., 12 hours. 10 CDs, $27.95 (0-06-076083-4)

(gr. 6-12) “…mistaken identities…Jenna and Septimus stand against an evil necromancer…filled with wizards, magic, and a multitude of creatures…enchantment of this sparkling world is heightened by …narration…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Schmidt, Gary D. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. Narrated by Sam Freed. Listening Library/Random House. Unabr. 6 hours, 46 minutes. 5 cassettes, $40 (0-307-020725-0). 6 CDs, $50 (0-307-28185-X)

(gr. 6-12) “…Turner Buckminster moves to Phippsburg, Maine… ‘minister's son'…hypocritical, religious townsfolk, he becomes friends with Lizzie Bright…lives on nearby Malaga Island and is the granddaughter of a former slave…citizens decide…to develop Malaga Island…no thought is given to the island's residents…Narrator… duplicates Maine accents…moving work based on a true incident.” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Tingle, Tim. Walking the Choctaw Road: Stories from Red People Memory. Narrated by Tim Tingle. Cinco Puntos Press, Unabr., 4 hours, 13 minutes. 4 CDs, $24.95 (0-938317-82-2)

(gr. 6-12) “…Choctaw storyteller Tingle's strong delivery, modulated volume and expressiveness lend a haunting, resonating quality to each story included…bring the listener through early folklore…Trail of Tears…recent family relationships…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Verne, Jules. Around the World in Eighty Days. Narrated by Jim Dale. Listening Library/Random House. Unabr., 7 hours, 53 minutes. 7 cassettes, $56 (0-7366-2556-9)

(gr. 7-12) “…originally published in 1873…classic…Phileas Fogg bets that he can travel around the world in eighty days…distinctive, well-enunciated voice…Against the background of trumpeting elephants, chugging trains, twittering birds, and music of the period…emulates the varied regional accents…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Video

Counting Sheep: Restoring the Sierra Nevada Bighorn. DVD. 60 min. Produced and dist. by Green TV, Inc., 2003. $24.95 (0-9768328-0-1)

(gr. 7-12) “…beautiful and fascinating documentary…conservation of bighorn sheep on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range…late 1990s, only about one hundred remained…natural predator, the mountain lion…also protected species…raises fascinating issues of conservation…issues are complex and meaty…” (VOYA 5Q3P)