Indianhead Federated Library System > Services > Youth Services > Starred Reviews

April 2007

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

April 2007 * 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), 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
Juvenile Non-fiction

YA Fiction

Audio

Books in Spanish

Picture Books

Addy, Sharon Hart. Lucky Jake. Illus. by Wade Zahares. Houghton, $17 (978-0-618-472-864)

(PreS-gr.2) “Jake and his pa are mining for gold...some of it goes toward the pet Jake has longed for...a pig—names him Dog...corn kernel...Jake carefully plants and waters the corn... Pa has a habit of calling everything ‘lucky,’ but Jake knows that hard work has been a chunk of that luck...amazing artwork... pastels in deep and heavy hues...unusual perspectives...images that roll breathtakingly across the pages...intriguing mix of old-fashioned storytelling and cutting-edge art.” (BL)

Cowell, Cressida. That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown. Illus. by Neal Layton. Hyperion, $16.99 (978-1-4231-0645-6)

(PreS-gr. 2) “...Emily and her rabbit are launching themselves into outer space... interrupted by the Chief Footman to Queen Gloriana...offers to trade...will not take no for an answer, and repeatedly sends her military staff to offer undesirable toys...in trade... special commandos...steal...storms the palace...spunky child with a terrific imagination ... wacky illustrations...perfectly depict the joy and energy...exuberant text...loads of child appeal...” (SLJ)

Goldberg, Myla. Catching the Moon. Illus. by Chris Sheban. Scholastic/Levine, $16.99 (978-0-439-57686-4)

(PreS-gr.3) “...elegant text ...enchanting illustrations...friendship between a Fisherwoman and the Man in the Moon ...tale develops like a beguiling dream. The moon...puts on "his traveling hat" and sunglasses disguise to visit her at home. They have tea together-he brings a sea cucumber sandwich, and another time a moon pie...gentle humor in both text and images softens the environmental theme...as captivating as moonlight shimmering on a quiet sea.” (PW)

Grifalconi, Ann. Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me. Illus. by Jerry Pinkney. Hyperion/Jump at the Sun, $16.99 (978-0-7868-1857-0)

(K-gr.4) “...resonant, moving story ... loving rapport between a girl and her grandfather, and the story of his family's escape to freedom. ... grandfather ...waves hello to every passerby, the youngster asks how he knows so many people. He replies, "Don't know 'em by name-just by heart, Honey.... Ain't nobody a stranger to me!" ...travels back to a darker time... as a slave, he had carried apple seeds in his pockets ...He and his wife ran away with their baby...shadow-filled paintings depict their harrowing journey, and give way to glorious color as the man and his granddaughter reach his apple orchard in full bloom...An inspired collaboration.” (PW)

Gravett, Emily. Orange Pear Apple Bear. S&S, $12.99 (978-1-4169-3999-3)

(PreS-gr.1) “A plump brown bear adds a humorous touch...charming book about shapes, colors and sequence. Five words...make up the entire text...cuddly-looking bear changes color and shape as he balances, juggles, and eventually eats the three pieces of fruit...Beautiful, softly hued watercolor illustrations...delightful...Children and adults alike will relish this delectable book.” (SLJ)

Grimes, Nikki. When Gorilla Goes Walking. Illus. by Shane Evans. Scholastic/Orchard, $16.99 (978-0-439-317-702)

(PreS-gr.2) “In interlinked poems, Cecilia, a young African American girl, introduces her ‘cool cat’...variety of forms...celebrate Gorilla’s idiosyncrasies...skillfully chosen sounds and rhythms echo the distinctly feline behavior...spare, expressive lines and bold colors...dynamic paintings capture the messy intimacy of the cat and human bond...” (BL)

Krauss, Ruth. The Growing Story. Illus. by Helen Oxenbury. HarperCollins, $16.99 (0-06-024716-9)

(PreS-K) “...1947...classic story...small boy...wonders if he’s getting bigger... inviting white space...boy, his puppy and some baby chicks are ‘very little.’...boy asks more than once if he is growing...Winter approaches...take down the warm clothes... delight, his pants are too tight...story gets right to a child’s experiences as it expresses both wondering and wonderment...art that captures the affection...” (BL)

Maclennan, Cathy. Chicky Chicky Chook Chook. Boxer Books, $12.95 (978-1-905417-40-7)

(PreS-gr.1) “...rambunctious story has an onomatopoeic rhyming text that children will love to hear again and again...Chicky chicks, buzzy bees, and kitty cats romp in the sunny warm shine...inspired by the art and culture of her native Zimbabwe...bright splashes of paint on brown butcher paper. Lively spreads...creative placement of text express energy...unique, eye-catching experience...” (SLJ)

Miles, Victoria. Old Mother Bear. Illus by Molly Bang. Chronicle, $16.95 (978-0-8118-5033-9)

(PreS-gr. 3) “...reverent, informative picture of a majestic 24-year-old ursine matriarch raising her last litter of cubs... digs a den, gives birth, nurses her three young and teaches them the ways of a remote wilderness...reads like observations from a naturalist’s journal...vibrant oils and chalk illustrations...onlookers in the same woods...gentle, genuine portrayal of a wilderness giant.” (PW)

Palatini, Margie. The Cheese. Illus by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. HarperCollins/Tegen, $16.99 (978-0-06-052630-6)

(PreS-gr. 3) “...just how tempting it is to abandon the ‘Rules and Regulations’ that state the cheese stands alone in the dell...introduces the characters one by one...all of whom eventually decide to ignore the rules...pump up the humor...cleverly combine cartoon layouts, full-bleed paintings, speech bubbles...actual lyrics and music staffs...” (PW)

Polacco, Patricia. Ginger and Petunia. Philomel, $16.99 (978-0-399-24539-8)

(PreS-up) “Droll text and playfully hyperbolic art ...porcine pet with plenty of personality. Petunia's owner, a "brilliant pianist" ...showers oodles of affection on Petunia...When Ginger is invited to be a guest soloist in London... Disguised in Ginger's eccentric ensembles ... Petunia presides over the prodigies' piano lessons. ...Though she wreaks comic havoc as a socialite, Petunia can do no wrong...lighthearted caper. (PW)

Sherry, Kevin. I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean. Dial, $16.99 (978-0-8037-3192-9)

(PreS-up) “...squid with a fondness for braggadocio...cartoony blue hero...adorable googly eyes...in quick order and punchy sentences...enumerates all the species he outranks in the ocean, size-wise...suddenly finds himself inside the belly of a whale...only temporarily nonplussed...collage and watercolor...bright colors, and bold, simple shapes...” (PW)

Willems, Mo. My Friend is Sad. Hyperion, $8.99 (1-4231-0297-5)

Willems, Mo. Today I Will Fly! Hyperion, $8.99 (1-4231-0295-9)

(PreS-gr.1) “...graphic novel influences...friendship-duo easy reader...It’s as if each page were one frame of a comic strip...express emotion through spot-on body language...characters’ distinct personalities play off each other...sly humor lends a satisfyingly tart note to each heartwarming wrap-up...plenty of quirky details to reward repeated readings...full of authentic emotions...” (BL)

Wilson, Karma. How to Bake an American Pie. Illus. by Raul Colòn. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, $16.99 (0-689-86506-0)

(PreS-gr.2) “...recipe for America... ‘Preheat the world until fiery hot with a hunger and thirst to be free’...cooks are a cat and a dog...action rolls across the spreads in all sorts of fantastical ways...cooks pull rainbows out of a sky studded with stars and stripes...use of white space and typeface enhance every aspect of the book...wild wonderful celebration...” (BL)

Yoo, Taeeun. The Little Red Fish. Dial, $15.99 (978-0-8037-3145-5)

(PreS-up) “...Falling asleep among the shelves after his grandfather, the librarian, leaves the room, young JeJe wakes in the moonlight to find that his beloved red fish ...has disappeared...Inked in vermilion, the red fish and the red book stand out against the neutral background, as a series of wordless spreads follows. JeJe takes the book down, opens it, and is greeted by a fountain of fish just like his...exhilarating visual images don't really need words...” (PW)

Juvenile Fiction

Babbitt, Natalie. Jack Plank Tells Tales. Scholastic/Michael di Capua, $15.95 (9780545004961)

(gr. 3-6) “Jack Plank enjoys being a pirate...is let go...takes a room in a boarding house...Each evening at the communal dinner table...possible occupation...however, he has ruled out that particular job, based on an experience he proceeds to relate... straightforward manner with touches of wry wit...stories unfold with...economy and assurance...highly recommended for reading aloud...” (BL) (PW)

Blos, Joan W. Letters from the Corrugated Castle: A Novel of Gold Rush California, 1850-1852. Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, $17.99 (0-689-87077-4)

(gr. 4-8) “Set in 1850s California...13-year-old Eldora, having moved to San Francisco with her loving guardians, is rediscovered by her long-presumed-dead mother...strains credibility...so compelling that it’s hard to object...unfolds in dated installments, mostly correspondence...sturdy characters, whose experiences reveal the complexity of human relationships...” (BL)

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Abrams/Amulet, $14.95 (978-0-8109-9313-6)

(gr. 3-8) “...laugh-out-loud "novel in cartoons," ... Middle school student Greg Heffley ... mother forces him to keep a diary ...loosely recounts each day's events, interspersed with his comic illustrations...believable preteen dialogue and narration ... illustrations serve as a hilarious counterpoint to ...deadpan voice... ably skewers familiar aspects of junior high life... should keep readers in stitches...” (PW)

LaFevers, R.L. Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. Illus. by Yoko Tanaka. Houghton, $16 (978-0-618-75638-4)

(gr. 4-7) “...a sort of Indiana Jones for girls and a perfect blend of mystery and humor. Set in turn-of-the-20th-century London...11-year-old Theodosia Throckmorton, ... Museum of Legends and Antiquities. ...as new acquisitions arrive, she makes it her business to secretly remove any lingering curses by using recipes she finds in her constant research... Heart of Egypt, a scarab amulet...goes missing...possesses a particularly nasty curse... Loads of evocative Egyptian history and an oh-so-plucky, resourceful narrator make this the first volume in a series to watch. “ (PW)

Mièville, China. Un Lun Dun. Del Rey, $17.95 (978-0-345-49516-7)

(gr. 5-9) “In present-day London, strange things start happening around Zanna: dogs stop to stare at her...she and her friend Deeba find themselves in an alternate reality...strange people and creatures dwell...Zanna is the chosen one...first fight with the nefarious Smog isn’t what was predicted...end up back in London...sometimes the chosen one doesn’t get to save a city...fantastical city is vivid and splendidly crafted...story is exceptional and the action moves along at a quick pace...” (SLJ)

Paulsen, Gary. Lawn Boy. Random/Wendy Lamb, $15.99 (987-0-385-909-235)

(gr. 5-8) “...short and hilarious tale...ordinary preteen...thrilled to make $60 in one day, mowing his neighbors’ lawns...demand for his services skyrockets...meets... home-based stockbroker who becomes his business manager...dozen migrant laborers...thousands of dollars he earns goes into some wildly successful investments...young tycoon ends up smarter than when he started out, and worth half a million dollars...” (BL)

Pennypacker, Sara. The Talented Clementine. Illus. by Martha Frazee. Hyperion, $14.99 (978-0-7868-3870-7)

(gr. 2-5) “...Clementine is the only untalented student in her third-grade class...talent show fast approaching...friend Margaret offers her tap-dancing lessons, but her improvised beer-cap tap shoes don’t work...Clementine is a true original, an empathetic human being with the observant eye of a real artist and a quirky, matter-of-fact way of expressing herself...laugh-out-loud funny...drawings are plentiful and just right...” (SLJ)

Pyle, Kevin C. Blindspot. Holt, $13.95 paper (978-0-8050-7998-2)

(gr. 4-7) “... uses the graphic novel format to powerful effect ...boy's coming of age. Dean Tollridge and his friends love "playing army," running missions through the woods behind their houses and combating imaginary Nazis. But reality invades the thoughtful boy's fantasy milieu ...uses color as a brilliant storytelling tool...very robust set of characters...very smart and humane graphic novel...resonates with a broad emotional range.” (PW)

Porter, Tracey. Billy Creekmore. HarperCollins/Joanna Cotler, $17.89 (0-06-077571-8)

(gr. 5-7) “Ten-year-old Billy’s story begins in a Dickensian orphanage, where being pawned off to a local glass factory is one of the few routes out...looks forward to working...pal...disfigured at the factory...appearance of a long-lost uncle...West Virginia coal mining...Billy’s involvement with the union forces him to leave town—and join the circus...writing is strong...Billy’s steadfast yet child-true voice...personal relationships...sensitivity to both the living and the dead...” (BL)

Schmidt, Gary D. The Wednesday Wars. Clarion, $16 (978-0-618-72483-3)

(gr. 5-9) “...1967-68 school year, Holling Hoodhood ...only seventh-grader who does not leave early every Wednesday to attend Hebrew school or catechism. ... Stern Mrs. Baker ... making him read Shakespeare. ... adopting the Bard's inventive cursing ...to dress down schoolyard bullies. ...serious issues are leavened with ample humor, ... supporting cast...fully dimensional. Best of all is the hero... more of a man than his authoritarian father. Unlike most Vietnam stories, this one ends happily...” (PW)

Toksvig, Sandi. Hitler's Canary. Roaring Brook/Brodie, $16.95 (1-59643-247-0)

(gr. 6 and up) “...unique glimpse of WWII... 10-year-old Danish boy forced to grow up quickly...In Copenhagen, Nazi soldiers now rule the streets, and native Danes begin to fear for their safety...When rumors spread that Jews are being taken from their homes... entire family takes part in a resistance movement...Based on true stories handed down to the author by her father... brings to life the tensions in Denmark at a time when "it wasn't always easy to tell the difference" between the "good" and "bad" people. (PW)

Juvenile Non-fiction

Andreasen, Dan. The Giant of Seville: A “Tall” Tale Based on a True Story. Abrams, $15.95 (978-0-3109-0988-5)

(PreS-gr.4) “...sleepy little Seville, OH...until 7 feet 11 ½ inches tall Martin Van Buren Bates...retired circus performer...inhabitants...go to great lengths...to make the stranger feel welcome....language is appropriately old-fashioned...storytelling style and appealing subject matter...excellent choice for reading aloud.....well-designed...standout package.” (SLJ)

Bertholf, Bret. The Long Gone Lonesome History of Country Music. Little, Brown, $18.99 (978-0-316-52393-6)

(gr. 4-6) “...tongue-in-cheek overview...folksy narrative of how and why country music developed...text doesn’t miss a beat...instruments, early recordings, yodeling... Great Depression...costumes...Nashville...While poking fun at itself...the book offers a vast amount of historical fact amid a multitude of caricatures of country stars...broad view...explain the genre to young readers...in an entertaining manner.” (SLJ)

Hama, Larry and Williams, Anthony. The Battle of Iwo Jima: Guerrilla Warfare in the Pacific. Rosen, 21.95 (1-4042-0781-3)

(gr. 5-8) “...graphic novel...makes it very accessible...short, informative background piece describing the run-up to World War II...Japanese war machine...terrific job of examining the ups and downs of the battle...see the Japanese as real people and not just as the enemy...will encourage kids to read more...glossary...bibliography...contact information for two relevant museums...” (BL)

Heuer, Karsten. Being Caribou: Five Months on Foot with a Caribou Herd. Walker, $17.95 (978-0-802-795-656)

(gr. 3-6) “...Arctic National Wildlife Refuge... calving grounds of more than 100,000 Grant’s caribou. Wildlife biologist Heuer and his wife spent five months...with the herd...Numerous full-color photographs highlight both caribou behavior and the human toll this arduous journey took on the authors...writing is incredibly vivid... fascinating nonfiction that will be welcomed by report writers, animal lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts.” (BL)

Kirkpatrick, Katherine. The Snow Baby: The Arctic Childhood of Robert E. Peary’s Daring Daughter. Holiday, $16.95 (978-082-341-9739)

(gr. 5-8) “...Marie Peary, daughter of the famous explorer...had a childhood like no other...Called Snow Baby by the Inuit...moved back and forth between the icy domains where her father kept camp...and the U.S., where her mother’s relatives led a genteel life...involving writing gets this right down to children’s level as she picks out the details that will appeal to them most...wisely frames the youngster’s personal story against a larger one—the repeated struggles of her father to reach the North Pole...attractive package, studded with fabulous photographs...solid bibliography...” (BL)

Levine, Ellen. Rachel Carson. (Up Close Series). Viking, $15.99 (978-0-670-06220-1)

(gr. 6-9) “...Carson’s childhood...supportive mother...lifelong love of nature ...biologist...environmental pioneer...draws on numerous primary sources...determination helped her overcome many obstacles...analyzes how the woman’s work contributed to a greater public understanding of the dangers of pollutants...excellent choice...” (SLJ)

Otsuka, Yuzo. Suho’s White Horse: A Mongolian Legend. Illus. by Suekichi Akaba. Tr. by Richard McNamara and Peter Howlett. R.I.G., $17.95 (1-74126-021-3)

(PreS-gr.3) “First published 40 years ago in Japan...stirring legend of why the Mongolian fiddle, the morin khuur, has a carved horses head at the top of its neck...Children will love clear watercolor paintings...excitement...sorrow and elation...includes an audio CD that features music played by a morin khuur master.” (BL)

Rubin, Susan Goldman. Haym Salomon: American Patriot. Illus. by David Slonim. Abrams, $16.95 (978-0-8109-1087-4)

(gr. 1-5) “...picture-book biography sheds light on Haym Salomon, a Jewish Polish emigrant credited with being the "Financier of the American Revolution." ...raising funds for the impoverished American soldiers and establishing the Bank of North America to serve the fledging republic...admits in her lively, scrupulous afterword that factual information on Salomon is scarce... historical details (setting, dress) are spot-on... Although the paintings' humorous tone feels slightly at odds with the earnestness and relative sophistication of Rubin's text, the artwork does pump up the child appeal.” (PW)

Ryder, Joanne. Toad by the Road. Illus by Maggie Kneen. Holt, $16.95 (0-8050-7354-X)

(gr. 2-4) “Dividing the year into seasons...cycle of poetry reflecting the toad’s experience...vary widely in voice and tone...typical page offers a short poem, a fine illustration, and in smaller print...a sentence or two of information...Combining poetry and natural history...impressive interpretation of a humble but amazing animal.” (BL)

Schneider, Dorothy and Carl J. Schneider, eds. Slavery in America, rev. ed. (American Experience Series). Facts on File, $80 (0-8160-6241-2)

(gr. 6 and up) “...revised edition...extends the original’s scope to encompass Reconstruction...chapters are topical...lucid historical overview...detailed time line...dozens of long, cogent...passages of contemporary “Eyewitness Testimony” drawn from memoirs, newspaper reports, court records...wealth of ...primary-source material...maps, tables...biographies...comprehensive index...thin scattering of average-quality illustrations...invaluable volume belongs in every academically oriented reference collection...” (SLJ)

Taylor, Peter Lane. The Secret of Priest's Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story. With Christos Nicola. Lerner/Kar-Ben, $18.95 (978-1-58013-260-2) $8.95 paper (978-1-58013-261-9)

(gr. 5 and up) “...dramatic contemporary and period photographs...articulate, hard-hitting narrative...38 Ukrainian Jews who sought refuge in a local cave to escape the invading Nazis in fall of 1942 and remained there for 344 days...Nicola, a veteran American caver, viewed evidence of human habitation while exploring ... Drawing on heartrending conversations with these individuals and a privately published memoir ... details of the clan's harrowing ordeal... near superhuman physical and emotional endurance, courage, loyalty and unity... At once sobering and uplifting, this is an astounding story of survival, powerfully told. (PW)

YA Fiction

Bingham, Kelly. Shark Girl. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-7636-3207-6)

(gr. 7 and up) “... poems, letters and journal entries...strikes a delicate balance between shock story and emotive rant...15-year-old Jane ...loses her arm to a shark over the summer... must find a way to move beyond her wounds-both physical and psychological. Powerful without being maudlin or preachy... slight (but realistic) lift at the story's conclusion.” (PW)

Cooney, Caroline B. Enter Three Witches. Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-439-71156-2)

(gr. 7 and up ) “...compulsively readable...rise and fall of Lord and Lady Macbeth, told from the points of view of several of the play’s minor characters...several subplots...briskly narrated plot lines...bite-size scenes, each prefaced by a related quote from the Bard’s play...offers an easy way in for readers new to the play...will also reward those familiar with the grand tragedy.” (PW)

Cullen, Lynn. I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter. Bloomsbury, $16.95 (978-1-599-900-469)

(gr. 8-12) “After her mother dies and her beloved brother moves away, 14-year-old Corneilia is left...father, Rembrandt...poverty...Cornelia craves convention...develops a warm friendship with handsome Carel...emotional depth...Readers will learn about Rembrandt and his art...creates a powerful family drama...whole, heartbreaking individuals whose inner lives are glimpsed with acute sensitivity. Readers will overlook any bumps in the narrative...absorbing, romantic story...notes about paintings mentioned in the text are appended.” (BL)

Dubosarsky, Ursula. The Red Shoe. Roaring Brook/Porter, $16.95 (978-1-59643-265-9)

(gr. 7 and up) “... Cold War... three sisters...living in uncertain times. Growing up "in a house far away... deep in the bush," there are many things six-year-old Matilda doesn't understand...Answers to...questions quietly emerge as pieces of a complex puzzle ...honest, poignant third-person narrative shifts among the sisters, but focuses mostly on Matilda's point of view, and reveals unsettling details about the family's history... masterful in conjuring and connecting images...” (PW)

Herrick, Steven. The Wolf. Front Street, $17.95 (978-1-932425-7-75-8)

(gr. 9 and up) “...verse style perfectly suits this emotionally taut survival story. Sixteen-year-old Lucy has turned bitter and cynical...farming family...father’s physical and emotional abuse...direct contrast is the other family in this near-barren valley...loving and respectful relationship shared between 15-year-old Jake and his parents...predator has started picking off his sheep...wild dog...two teens set off on a hike into the mountains to find it...Jake injures his foot...find emotional solace (and romance)... compelling... rewarding ...emotions pitched directly at high school readers.” (SLJ)

Jinks, Catherine. Evil Genius. Harcourt, $17 (978-0-15-205988-0)

(gr. 7 and up) “...breakneck twists and turns...Cadel Piggott, a seven-year-old Australian boy...incredible mind and a proclivity toward mischief...Following a string of disasters, which Cadel engineers...adaptive parents take him to a psychologist...instead of refocusing Cadel on more positive activities...encourages the boy to develop increasingly destructive plans...reveals he is employed by Cadel’s birth father...a criminal mastermind serving a life sentence...Cadel...uncovers a conspiracy of lies and betrayals that leave no aspect of his life untouched...” (PW)

Kerr, M.E. Someone Like Summer. HarperTempest, $16.89 (0-06-114100-3)

(gr. 7-12) “...stirring teen romance...issues of race, class and politics (including the war in Iraq) are a part of the contemporary Romeo and Juliet drama...Annabel, 17...in love with Esteban, a Latino immigrant...can’t keep their hands off each other...Prejudice is rough from all sides...main characters disturb all the stereotypes...searing climax...” (BL)

Lockhart, E. Dramarama. Hyperion, $15.99 (0-7868-3815-9)

(gr. 8-12) “...big-boned, big-nose Sarah...meets Demi, who is trying hard to be invisible—surprisingly easy, considering he is black and gay...brought together by their love of musical theater, they light up...summer theater camp...finds out she is less talented than she believed...Demi is discovering that he’s a star...told in a bright, bitchy voice...very smart and very funny...” (BL)

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. The Off Season. Houghton, $16 (978-0-618-68695-7)

(gr. 7-10) “...sequel to Dairy Queen...D.J. Schwenk...hits her stride in her junior year of high school...playing linebacker...hanging out with Brian...earning passing grades...pulling her weight on her family’s dairy barn...become the unwitting subjects of a People magazine article...shoulder injury...gay best friend runs away...D.J.’s older brother...suffers a serious spinal-cord injury during a college football game...believably maturing DJ....character shines through...” (SLJ)

Sones, Sonya. What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. Simon & Schuster, $15.99 (9781416942290)

(gr. 7-10) “In What My Mother Doesn’t Know...14-yearpold Sophie...describes her surprise when she is drawn to Robin, the school-appointed loser...sequel, Robin picks up the narrative...rapid-fire, first person free verse...feels guilty for the “random acts of unkindness” she endures...thrilling and faltering first love...believable voice is distinctive ...uses spare words...to expert effect...great choice for reluctant and avid readers alike...” (BL)

Wynne Jones, Diana. The Game Penguin/Firebird, $11.99 (978-0-14-240718-9)

(gr. 7 and up) “Celestial intrigue and the nature of storytelling ... Sent from her grandparents' London home in disgrace, Hayley arrives in Ireland to stay with her aunts and cousins in their rambling castle home. ... thrilling game her cousins play, in which they venture into the mythosphere... tasks drawn from the worlds of fairytale, myth and legend...rescue her long-lost parents from dreadful fates... note at story's end that clearly links the original Greco-Roman characters with their modern-day avatars. A sparkling treat.” (PW)

Audio

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: v.1: The Pox Party. By M.T. Anderson. Read by Peter Francis James. 8 hrs. Listening Library, CD, $55 (978-0-739-348-468)

(gr. 9-12) “...mid-eighteenth century...Octavian...Boston household of scientists and philosophers...believe in the Age of Reason’s principals. Octavian is one of many subjects that the Collegians observe and study...dream about his release from slavery... deeply resonant tones...clarity and precision...depicts...learned community in a refined manner...For listeners seeking a challenging story.” (BL)

Books in Spanish

Mugford, Simon. Mi gran libro de ciencia. (My Science Book) tr. by Gerardo Hernández Clark. Mexico: Ediciones Castillo, dist. by Holtzbrinck (Niños en acción) spiral $17.95 (970-200-762-3)..
(K-Gr 2) “...chock-full of science activities for kids to try out before they have to be bothered by all the math. Lucid instructions take readers through a few simple steps assembling household items into fun experiments, with brief explanations of the applicable principles. ...crisp photos ... ordered layout make for maximum clarity and accessibility to budding scientists.” (CR)

Lionni, Leo. Su propio color. (A color of his own) tr. by Teresa Mlawer. U.S.: Lectorum, $12.99 ( 978-1-933032-14-6)..
(K-Gr 1) “Other animals have it easy...poor chameleon changes color according to where he sits... retires to a leaf, determined to stay green forever, but then comes fall... But when he finds another chameleon, no matter where they go they’ll be the same color. ...clear and precise translation of the original classic” (CR)

Martínez, Rocío. Gato Guille y los monstruos. (Guille the Cat and the Monsters)
Spain/U.S.: Kalandraka Editora, dist. by Lectorum, $15.99 (978-8484640028).
(PreS-gr 1) “Kitten Guille is scared of strange noises...monster might be trying to get him...plays happily until new strange noises scare him and he realizes that his mother has left the room ... seeks comfort from his mother, going from one room to the next. ... discovers that all the spooky sounds are made by things in the house... innovative and clever typography of the scary sounds ... visually interesting...” (CR)

Mayer, Mercer. Una pesadilla en mi armario. (There’s a Nightmare in My Closet)
tr. by Xosé M. González. Spain/U.S.: Kalandraka, dist. by Lectorum, $18.99 ( 978-8484641025)..
(PreK-Gr 2) “...newer translation ... when shot, the nightmare begins to cry, and the boy has to tuck him into his own bed to calm him down ... translation is smooth, hewing close to Mayer’s short sentences and swift forward movement.” (CR)