Indianhead Federated Library System

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.

 

 

Bond, Rebecca. The Great Doughnut Parade.  Houghton, $17 (978-0-618-77705-9)

            (PreS-gr. 1) “...fanciful picture book...increasingly large crowd...spontaneously assembled a parade almost certain to make viewers laugh...Billy marches along with a doughnut that, oddly, he has tied to his belt with a string...attracts a chicken...cat ...dog... girl...characters and their activities multiply quickly without compromising their delicious particularity...watercolors are kinetic and limber, chock-full of playful details...” (PW)

 

DiCamillo, Kate. Great Joy. Illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline. Candlewick, $16.99 (0-7636-2920-0)

            (PreS-gr.2) “On a busy corner, a week before Christmas, and organ grinder and his monkey appear...Frances notices them...realizes they have no home...asks the organ grinder to come to the church...story, though moving, is slight...evocative artwork moves it to a higher level...1940s...art captures the time beautifully...” (BL)

 

Dillon, Leo and Diane. Mother Goose: Numbers on the Loose. Harcourt, $17 (978-0-15-205676-6)

            (PreS-gr. 2)  “...collection of number rhymes is so imaginative and playful that each reading yields something new and unexpected...sophisticated images...never interfere with the simplicity of the well-chosen rhymes...Brilliantly colored numbers, letters and inanimate objects become sideshow characters engaging in ancillary action...Numerous minor characters populate every page...endow each with distinct individuality...absolutely irresistible.” (PW)

 

Gregory, Nan. Pink. Illus. by Luc Melanson. Groundwood, $17.95 (978-0-888-997-814)

            (K-gr.2) “Vivi, ‘dizzy with wanting pink,’ admires a threesome of well-heeled schoolmates...pink dresses, coats, shoes, earmuffs, and hair ribbons...falls in love with a pink bride doll...starts doing errands in hopes of earning enough to buy it...capture the character’s feelings...distinctive look...use of the title color in the illustrations is particularly fine...” (BL)

 

Horse, Harry. Little Rabbit’s Christmas. Peachtree, $15.95 (978-1-56145-419-8)

            (PreS-gr.1) “...When the Christmas Rabbit brings the red sled... refuses to let anyone else play with it...crashes and the sled breaks. It takes his friends to fix both the sled and his attitude, and everything ends happily...delightful visual and textual details. Simple and satisfying...childish wonderment, frustration and bravado...” (SLJ)

 

Kanninen, Barbara. A Story with Pictures. Illus. by Lynn Rowe Reed. Holiday, $16.95 (978-0-8234-2049-0)

            (PreS-gr.3) “... ‘Hi there,’ says the narrator. ‘I am the author of A Story with Pictures.’... ‘Ack! Where are the pictures?’...has forgotten to give her manuscript to the illustrator, who seems to have created her own story and painted the author right into it...mixed-media compositions expertly contain the antic action...duck...cows and trolls run amok...Readers will enjoy the wild ride...entertain various outlandish possibilities for the author’s fate...learn a thing or two about...setting and plot in the process.” (PW)

 

Martin, Steve. The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z! Illus. by Roz Chast. Doubleday/Flying Dolphin, $17.95 (978-0-385-51662-4)

            (all ages) “...outrageous, alliterative couplets with full-page cartoons approximating the situations they describe...supplements the nonsense rhymes with added images of items that start with the highlighted letter...peculiar and funny book...dizzying combination of words and pictures.” (PW)

 

Pinkney, Jerry. Little Red Riding Hood. Little, Brown, $16.99 (978-0-316-01355-0)

            (PreS-gr.1) “...generous format...inviting...full-bleed art, rendered in Pinkney’s characteristic style...wolf...mostly cuts a comical figure...writing and the art are spry and satisfying...” (PW) (SLJ)

 

Rex, Adam. Pssst! Harcourt, $16 (978-0-15-205817-3)

            (K-gr.3) “...zoo-going girl talks to the animals...pushy beasts send her on errands ... pig wants trash cans...sloths demand bicycle helmets...girl goes from bemused to stoop-shouldered...eccentric graphics...psychedelic edginess...very funny excursion.” (PW)

 

Thomas, Jan. What Will Fat Cat Sit On? Harcourt, $12.95 (978-0-15-206051-0)

            (PreS-K) “Fat Cat is ready to take a seat... ‘Sit on the Pig!’ shrieks Chicken... Mouse gingerly broaches an alternative: ‘Perhaps he could sit on the chair?’... rollicking ... laugh-out-loud...supremely silly visual evocation of high anxiety...” (PW)

 

Willems, Mo. I Am Invited to a Party! (978-1-4231-0687-6)

                        There Is a Bird on Your Head! (978-1-4231-0686-9)

(An Elephant & Piggie Bk.). Hyperion, $8.99.

            (K-gr.2) “...distinctive humor and illustrative style...Piggie receives her first invitation...asks Gerald...relies on his advice... has a tendency to overanalyze... second title...two love birds, a nest, and three hatchlings...finally able to ask them to move...speech bubbles...tell the entire story...flows smoothly...sure to become favorites.” (SLJ)

 

Xinran, Xue. Motherbridge of Love. Illus. by Josee Masse. Barefoot, $16.99 (978-1-846-860-478)

            (PreS-gr.2) “Simple, lyrical language and gorgeous art...more than just another adoption story...directed right to the child-listener...sentiment is exactly right—loving, caring and thoughtful...stylized...illustrations...evoke the lyrical tone with grace and elegance...printed in Chinese in the front.” (BL)

 

 

 

*Graphic Novel Abadzis, Nick. Laika. Roaring Brook/First Second, $17.95 paper (978-1-59643-101-0)

            (gr. 5 and up) “...space program...Laika the dog...mutt caught off the streets and impressed into the Russian space program...first sentient being to leave Earth’s orbit...Sputnik 2...tear-inducing and solidly researched graphic novel...surpassingly tragic story...sympathetic point of view...refusal to Disnify or anthropomorphize the undeniably cute dog...tightly packed and vividly inked panels...impressively complex tale... bibliography...” (PW)

 

Anderson, John David. Standard Hero Behavior. Clarion, $16 (978-0-618-759-200)

            (gr. 6-9) “Unlike his father, who left long ago with...heroes, 15-year-old Mason Quayle...unsuccessful, unhappy bard who longs to be a hero himself. By chance, he discovers that the town’s sole protector...is a sham, and the town will be routed by...monsters...Mason...is enlisted to brave the Blackcloud Mountains and come back with some heroes to save the day...thoroughly believable as a somewhat unwilling adventurer...imaginative details...satisfying story while poking large fun at all genre traditions...” (BL)

 

Applegate, Katherine. Home of the Brave. Feiwel & Friends, $16.95 (978-0-312-36765-7)

            (gr. 5-7) “American culture, the Minnesota climate, and personal identity... moving first-person...free verse. Kek comes to the U.S. from war-torn Sudan...mystified...fresh eyes...both the beauty and the ugliness of our way of life...words...simple...hard ideas...creative thinker, a problem-solver, and an optimist despite the horrors that have befallen him...warm and winning protagonist...” (SLJ)

 

Bode, N.E. The Slippery Map. Illus. by Brandon Dorman. HarperCollins, $16. 99 (978-0-06-079108-7)

            (gr. 3—7) “...inventive, far-reaching fantasy...Oyster R. Motel, an earnest 10-year-old raised in a nunnery shared by 13 nuns...vows of silence...wears out his welcome...meets an old woman who maps children’s Imagined Other Worlds...Oyster’s parents...once slipped inside the map they created...never to return...Oyster is soon transported...long-awaited hero...effortlessly renders and expansive, entertainingly quirky cast of creatures benign and malevolent...” (PW)

 

Egan, Tim. Dodsworth in New York. Houghton, $15 (978-0-618-77708-3)

            (gr. 1-5) “...droll stand-alone chapter book picks up where...picture book The Pink Refrigerator...Dodsworth...mouse, prepares for adventure...encounters...crazy duck...opens his suitcase and discovers a stowaway—the duck...realizes he must retrieve...inadvertently gets a grand tour...keeps the hijinks low-key...” (PW)

 

Erlings, Fridrik. Benjamin Dove. North-South, $15.95 (978-0-7358-2150-7); $7.95 paper (978-0-7358-2149-1)

            (gr. 5-9) “First published in Iceland...coming-of-age...moral ambiguities that arise out of attempts to right an injustice...friends... playground in their shabby neighborhood... bully...sets fire to...clothes...two groups of ‘knights’ in the neighborhood...tragedy... lyrically ... redemptive ending...complexities of friendship, retribution and loss of innocence.” (PW)

 

Fellowes, Julian. The Curious Adventures of the Abandoned Toys. Illus. by S.D. Schindler. Holt, $17.95 (0-8050-7526-7)

            (gr. 3-5) “...children’s ward...Hospital is renovated in preparation for a royal visitor...longtime toy residents find out that newer, shinier toys will be replacing them... Junkyard life is tough...find friendship and purpose by aiding an injured blackbird...some vocabulary may be too sophisticated for younger readers...wonderful flair for both dialogue and conversation...enchanting, intricate artwork...kids will read over and over again.” (BL)

 

Funke, Cornelia. Igraine the Brave. Trans. by Anthea Bell. Scholastic/Chicken House, $16.99 (978-0-439-90379-0)

            (gr. 3-7) “Igraine’s parents are magicians...Igraine finds magic incredibly boring—she pines for the excitement of knighthood...on her 12^th birthday... castle next door is taken over by Osmund the Greedy...parents inadvertently turn themselves into swine...quest...playful details...family dynamics...aimed squarely at elementary school readers...witty images...atmospheric spreads with inset text...abundance of action and humor make...read-aloud...” (PW)

 

Hawking, Lucy and Steven with Christophe Galfard. George’s Secret Key to the Universe. Illus. by Garry Parsons. S&S, $17.99 (978-1-4169-5462-0)

            (gr. 3 and up) “...one of the world’s most renowned theoretical physicists... two inquisitive, middle-school heroes... wondrous adventures through time and space...first volume of a projected trilogy...handily explore a range of themes...moral responsibilities of science, global warming and space colonization...insets of color photos from outer space...cartoons enhance...” (PW)

 

Marsh, Katherine. The Night Tourist. Hyperion, $17.99 (978-1-4231-0689-0)    

            (gr. 5 and up) “...reworks the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in a supernatural tale about a 14-year-old boy’s quest through an underworld in New York city, in search of his late mother’s spirit...Jack...meets Euri...ghost...becomes his personal tour guide...Mixing numerous references to mythology and classical literature with deft touches of humor and extensive historical details...intelligent and self-assured debut...” (PW)

 

Rex, Adam. The True Meaning of Smekday. Hyperion, $16.99 (978-0-7868-4900-0)

            (gr. 3 and up)  “Who knew the end of the world could be so hilarious...misfit cast of characters...11-year-old narrator named Gratuity “Tip” Tucci...bumbling alien...high-octane fantasy...Boov...conquer Earth...all humans must live on preserves...Parallels between the Boov and European settlers...goes well beyond delivering a single political message...” (PW)

 

Rinaldi, Ann. The Redheaded Princess. HarperCollins, $15.99 (0-06-073374-8)

            (gr. 6-9) “...historical fiction...life of Elizabeth I leading up to her spectacular reign in Renaissance England...traumatic childhood...makes history come alive through her portrayal of the tough, precocious heroine...Religious and political tensions of the day emerge in the course of the story...princess comes into her own...rich scene-setting...appealing heroine...” (BL)

 

Voelkel, J. & P. Middleworld.  (The Jaguar Stones Trilogy Bk. #1). Smith & Sons, $17.95 (978-1-57525-561-3)

            (gr. 5-9) Max Murphy is the 14-year-old spoiled and self-centered son of archaeologists who are Ancient Maya experts...housekeeper sends him to visit his uncle...discovers that [his parents] have disappeared under mysterious circumstances... life-or-death battle to rescue his parents from the Ancient Maya underworld...Suspense, intrigue, human sacrifice, smuggling, and secret doors and escape routes...likely to win legions of fans...nonstop action...” (SLJ)

 

 

 

Alexander, Elizabeth and Marilyn Nelson. Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color. Illus. by Floyd Cooper. Boyds Mills/Wordsong, $17.95 (978-1-590-784563)

            (gr. 6-10) “Twenty-four clear, beautiful poems...stirring history of white teacher Prudence Crandall...Canterbury, Connecticut...1833...school for 20 young African American women...dramatic sonnets...long introduction details the historical facts...images...quiet dramatic pastel illustrations compellingly capture the haunting history...” (BL)

 

Alexander, Kwame. Crush: Love Poems. Word of Mouth, pap. $10 (978-1888018-40-0)

            (gr. 8 and up) “...cosmopolitan menu of tanka, haiku...sung discoveries, French phrases, prose poems, and poems written in Spanglish...Many of the poems lend themselves to pairing with the classics...well-crafted anthology will capture the interest of teens...” (SLJ)

 

Aronson, Billy. Richard M. Nixon. Marshall Cavendish, $22.95 (978-0-761-424-284)

            (gr. 5-8) “...slim volume...able to paint a picture so full that readers will come away feeling that they know the man...understand...forces that shaped him...strict father and Quaker mother...narrative moves chronologically...quotes and other material...evenhanded picture...lack of source notes is a real minus...Presidents and Their Times series...” (BL)

 

ARTIST TO ARTIST: 23 MAJOR ILLUSTRATORS TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR ART. Philomel, $30 (978-0-399-24600-5)

            (gr. 4 and up) “...celebrates and elucidates contemporary picture-book art...Ashley Bryan, Quentin Blake, Leo Leoni...Gennady Spirin...comments are formatted as signed letters, illustrated with childhood photographs...glorious self-portraits...gatefold page that reveals a marvelous array of sketches, color mixes, and studio scenes. All readers will find something that piques curiosity or provides insight...some overlap with Pat Cummings’s ‘Talking with Artists’ series...Brief biographies and bibliographies conclude the titles...gorgeous, browsable gallery of international treasures...” (SLJ)

 

Bonner, Hannah. When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth, and Bugs Began to Swarm: A Cartoon Prehistory of life Long before Dinosaurs. National Geographic, $25.90 (978-1-4263-0079-0)

            (gr. 3-6) “...life on Earth during the Silurian and Devonian periods...plants and bugs emerge from oceans to adapt to land...clear, engaging writing conveys plenty of information without overwhelming readers...illustrations offer fascinating visual representations...small cartoons add touches of humor. Maps of the continents today are juxtaposed with larger representations of the landmasses in the two periods. Visual time lines...serve report writers well and captivate casual readers.” (SLJ)

 

Crowe, Ellie. Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku. Illus. by Richard Waldrep. Lee & Low, $18.95 (978-1-58439-276-6)

            (gr. 3-6) “...picture-book biography...champion swimmer and surfer...key period in Hawaii as it grew from a sleepy rural backwater to a tourist mecca. Kahanamoku... natural swimming abilities...1912 Olympics...shattered swim records... won a gold... popularize the sport of surfing...encounters with racial discrimination...concise and readable...vibrant, action-filled illustrations...well-researched and fact-filled...” (SLJ)

 

Egan, Erin. Hottest Race Cars. Enslow, $17.95 (0-7660-2871-2)

            (gr. 4-6) “...today’s drivers and their cars have it plenty tough...clearly and enthusiastically explains enough of the technical and cultural detail...new Wild Wheels! Series...open-wheel racing...history...three kinds of open-wheel competitions...drivers’ gear, race strategy...sprinkling of anecdotes...loaded with full-color photos...” (BL)

 

Fradin, Judy and Dennis. Volcanoes. (Witness to Disaster Series). National Geographic, $26.90 (978-0-7922-5377-8)

            (gr. 4-7) “Volcanoes...from the well-known...to the least heralded...fierce pyrotechnics can affect such disparate factors as weather, geography, local economies, and history...interesting quotes...glossary and further research suggestions are included...bibliography...” (SLJ)

 

Freedman, Russell. Who Was First? Discovering the Americas. Clarion, $19 (978-0-618-663-910)

            (gr. 6-9) “...well-designed, clearly written book...various ideas about the discovery of the Americas...Columbus...Zheng He...Vikings in Newfoundland...Native Americans...very readable presentation of facts and theories...showing that history is not a static body of knowledge, but an evolving process...continually questioned, disputed, and revised...chapter notes...books, articles, and Web sites...illustrations...excellent maps...reproductions of period drawings, paintings, engravings...people, artifacts and sites...” (BL)

 

Innes, Brian. DNA and Body Evidence. M.E. Sharpe/Sharpe Focus, $35.95 (978-0-765-681-157)

            (gr. 9-12) “...journalistic...familiarity with biochemistry and forensic science...four-volume Forensic Evidence series...facts are disturbing, but...never sensationalizes...DNA evidence...limitations and successful applications...high-interest topic...bibliography and index...” (BL)

 

Keller, Laurie. Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners. Holt, $16.95 (0-8050-7996-3)

            (K-gr.3) “...kinetic illustrations...clever...introduces the golden rule with irresistible humor. Mr. Rabbit is worried about life with is new neighbors, the Otter family...wise bird introduces Mr. Rabbit to a favorite saying...ponders how he would like to be treated...basics of polite and responsible behavior...clean design...wildly expressive cartoon-style animal characters...unabashedly goofy puns, jokes...sheer silliness...” (BL)

 

Murphy, Jim. The Real Benedict Arnold. Clarion, $20 (0-395-77609-0)

            (gr. 7-10) “...see Benedict Arnold in as fair and objective a way as possible...one of the most vilified figures in American history...no personal diary, and his wife burned his letters after his death...carefully contrasts popular myth with historical fact...meticulously traces Arnold’s life...complex man...as much admired as he was loathed...taut and suspenseful...splendid...fascinating reading...” (BL)

 

Orgill, Roxane. Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire. Illus. by Stèphane Jorisch. Candlewick, $17.99 (978-0-7636-2121-6)

            (gr. 1-5) “...detailed text...Fred spent almost the first three decades of his career paired with his older sister Adele...lengthy, briskly moving narrative...bumpy rise to stardom...equal billing to...successes and setbacks...winning, Art Deco-flavored ink-and-watercolor illustrations...glamour and verve...eloquently conjures early 20^th century stage life...Informative...projects an element of sophistication...A class act.” (PW)

 

Platt, Richard. Pompeii. Illus. by Manuela Cappon. Kingfisher, $16.95 (0-7534-6044-0)

            (gr. 2-5) “...introduces...Italy’s tumultuous history, beginning in 750 CE...Precise, detailed color illustrations dominate each spread, documenting the changes each new date brings...advances in architecture...political turmoil...79 CE eruption of Vesuvius...readers follow the same house through the pages...sensory impressions...lend immediacy...typical meals...rooms were arranged...time lines, maps and a glossary...will attract browsers and find wide use across the curriculum.” (BL)

 

Scott, Elaine. When Is a Planet Not a Planet? The Story of Pluto. Clarion, $17 (978-0-618-89832-9)

            (gr. 3-6) “...will fill the void in the 523.4 section neatly...engaging and child-friendly language...history and science behind the discovery of the nine planets. Terms are defined, scientists are introduced, and a time line of planetary milestones is included. Kepler and Newton...change in Pluto’s status is no surprise. Groundwork is laid for future discoveries...Beautifully designed from cover to cover...” (SLJ)

 

Singer, Marilyn. Venom. Darby Creek, $19.95 (978-1-581-960-433)

            (gr. 5-8) “...teeming menagerie of creatures...that use venom for attack, defense...or both. Organizing...by environment...home and yard...desert, pond, forest...ocean...specific details about toxins and their effects...delivery systems...how venoms are proving useful in the treatment of human maladies...frequent sidebar quizzes...meaty lists of recommended books and Web sites...Browsers and dedicated young naturalists alike...” (BL)

 

Walker, Alice. Why War Is Never a Good Idea. Illus. by Stefano Vitale. HarperCollins, $17.89 (978-0-06-075386-3)

            (gr. 3 and up) “A thought-provoking, eloquent poem and brilliant art...bring the abstract concept of war to a personal, immediate level...Evocative and moving as the words are, it is their blending with the folk-art paintings that gives them stunning power...Dramatic spreads...will spark discussion with older children and teens...” (SLJ)

 

Wilson, Edwin Graves, ed. Maya Angelou. Illus. by Jerome Lagarrigue. (Poetry for Young People Series). Sterling, $14.95 (978-1-4027-2023-9)

            (gr. 4 and up) “...addresses how Angelou’s life has informed her imagination...childhood in segregated Arkansas...political and humanitarian engagement as an adult. Twenty-five poems show her concern with the African-American experience...Dignity, pride, and resiliency are at this collection’s core...Footnotes offer definitions of colloquialisms and difficult words...painterly artwork...will be appreciated by those studying American history and literature.” (SLJ)

 

Winter, Jonah. The Secret World of Hildegard. Illus. by Jeanette Winter. Scholastic/Arthur Levine, $16.99 (0-439-50739-1)

            (gr. 1-4) “In the Middle Ages, when girls were hardly seen and almost never heard, Hildegard was born in Germany...things she saw in her head scared her...stay with holy women...read, sing, and pray...A world inside her was desperate to get out, and then God told her she must share her visions...pouring out ideas and music and medical knowledge...celebrated as a visionary and a woman beyond her times...complicated... amazing job of squeezing out its essence...artistic style is deceptively simple...Children will be fascinated...” (BL)

 

 

 

Bennett, Veronica. Cassandra’s Sister. Candlewick, $16.99 (0-7636-3464-6)

            (gr. 9-12) “...inspired by Jane Austen’s life and work...beginning when 18-year-old Austen wrote Sense and Sensibility and ending nearly a decade later...plot focuses on the close bond between Jane...and elder sister Cass...affection for the celebrated author will enhance...appreciation...gracefully mimics Austen’s style...” (BL)

 

Cassidy, Anne. Looking for JJ. Harcourt, $17 (978-0-15-206190-6)

            (gr. 9 and up) “Seventeen-year-old Alice Tully is finally starting to feel comfortable...boyfriend, job...plans to attend college...Six years before, her name was Jennifer Jones...itinerant lifestyle...flighty mother...idolized the woman who left her emotionally deserted...struggled with a rage...exploded, leaving a young playmate dead...ready to start over...painful reminders...constant media attention...page-turning thriller...Alice...complex and well-drawn figure...Crisply plotted and smoothly written...” (SLJ)

 

Dickinson, Peter. Angel Isle. Random/Wendy Lamb, $20.99 (978-0-385-909-280)

            (gr. 7-10) “...sequel to...The Ropemaker...beautifully created, four-dimensional universe...perilous adventure...secluded valley is in dire straits...team of diverse characters set out on an arduous trek to find the Ropemaker...one who can listen to the words of rivers and ocean...powerful young magician...12-year-old Maja...thoroughly believable...complex, multilayered story...” (BL)

 

Draper, Sharon M. Fire from the Rock. Dutton, $16.99 (978-0-525-47720-4)

            (gr. 6-9) “...intertwines history, pop culture, and emotion...1957...Sylvia Faye is chosen to be one of the first black students to enter Central High School...Little Rock, AR...excited and honored but also very scared...character is very real and appealing... frank dialogue is both educational and refreshing...ability to explore numerous prejudices subtly without bogging down readers with too much backstory is impressive...” (SLJ)

 

Kephart, Beth. Undercover. HarperCollins/Laura Geringer, $17.89 (978-0-061-238-949)

            (gr. 7-10) “...Elisa has leveraged her talent for looking closely and seeing what others don’t...operates an undercover business ghostwriting love messages for boys who struggle to express their feelings...trips to a secluded pond...parents’ marriage strains dangerously during her fathers’ long absences...moving story of a young teen whose first powerful crush is tempered by the aching sense that her family is falling apart... compelling premise...memorable, graceful voice...” (BL)(PW)(SLJ)

 

*Graphic Novel Kim, Derek Kirk. Good as Lily. Illus. by Jesse Hamm. DC Comics/Minx, paper, $9.99 (978-1-401-213-817)

            (gr. 10-12) “On her eighteenth birthday, Korean American Grace...surrounded by three very corporeal essences of herself...small child...30-year-old... ‘cranky old fart.’ Each of these incarnations is at an emotional precipice, which teenage Grace helps resolve, allowing the other self to quietly disappear...huge task...pull it off nicely...pacing and plotting are excellent...artwork is lively, witty, and full of appropriate comedy and melodrama...will hook a wide variety of readers...” (BL)

 

Koja, Kathe. Kissing the Bee. FSG/Foster, $16 (978-0-374-39938-2)

            (gr. 9 and up) “...facts and folklore about bees as a metaphor...spare and haunting novel...senior...Dana...bee research...Most people think Avra and Dana are best friends, but Dana knows otherwise...timing is perfect...understated, tightly focused language evokes vivid scenes and heady emotions...each line of dialogue, each interaction illuminating struggles that readers face as well.” (PW)

 

Lanagan, Margo. Red Spikes. Knopf, $19.99 (978-0-375-945-779)

            (gr. 10-12) “...short stories...razor-sharp assemblage thrusts readers...into alien, hermetic environments...always startle...also often murmur about humanity’s higher inclinations...most appropriate for the broadest, most mature readers...several stories deal with childbirth and motherhood in a way rarely seen in books for teen readers...” (BL)(PW)

 

Napoli, Donna Jo. Hush: An Irish Princess’ Tale. S&S/Atheneum, $16.99 (978-0-689-86176-5)

            (gr. 7 and up) “...powerful survival story...backstory for Melkorka, a character in a major Icelandic work...Melkorka, 15...daughters of an Irish king...10^th century...Viking raids...common...captured by Russian slavers...To conceal their high birth...do not speak...captors.....come to fear that Mel is an enchantress...vocabulary...may challenge readers, but it’s unlikely to stop them...” (PW)

 

Sheth, Kashmira. Keeping Corner. Hyperion, $15.99 (0-7868-3859-0)

            (gr. 7-12) “Engaged at 2 and married at 9, 12-year-old Leela is awaiting her anu ceremony, after which she will move to her in-laws’ home...husband is killed...head is shaved...must ‘keep corner,’ unable to leave her family’s home for one year...India’s fight for independence is escalating...begins to question tradition...begins to dream of a hopeful future as an educated, professional woman...thrilling premise...politics become achingly personal...tumultuous coming-of-age plays out in intimate detail against the backdrop of her nation’s independence...will attract a wide readership.” (BL)(PW)

 

Smith, Tara Bray. Betwixt. Little, Brown, $17.99 (978-0-316-06033-X)

            (gr. 10 and up) “...intensely atmospheric...angst-ridden paranormal thriller...three teenagers...surreal, drug-filled summer...all supernatural entities known as changelings... think they’ve come to a party, but a terrifying arcane ritual called The Ring of Fire....true natures...critical roles in a looming and potentially deadly otherworldly conflict...sharp characterizations...first in a projected series...will strongly appeal to ...fans of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga...” (PW)

 

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Zen and the Art of Faking It. Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-439-83707-1)

            (gr. 7 and up) “After San Lee’s adoptive father is imprisoned for fraud, the eighth-grader moves with his mother from Texas to Pennsylvania...pretends to be a Zen master...sits zazen on a cold rock... ‘uniqueness’ impresses Woody, a folk-singing girl with her own family heartache...it is only a matter of time before San is exposed...gives them plenty to laugh at...Mixed with more serious scenes...importance of honesty and forgiveness...” (PW) (SLJ)

 

Tomlinson, Heather. The Swan Maiden. Holt, $16.95 (0-8050-8275-1)

            (gr. 6-10) “Sixteen-year-old Doucette...two older sisters...magical swan maidens...being trained to be a noblewoman fit for a financially beneficial arranged marriage...finds that she, too, is a swan maiden...parents have lied about her identity... Defying her mother, she flies into the world...melded several French fairly tales into a beautiful fantasy...able to convey the difficult choices freedom brings...Layered, elegantly written, and filled with unexpected twists and turns...” (BL)

 

White, Ellen Emerson. Long May She Reign. Feiwel & Friends, $17.95 paper (720 p) (978-0-312-36767-1)

            (gr. 7 and up) “...fourth installation of the President’s Daughter series...six months after...Meg Powers, daughter of the first woman president of the United States is kidnapped...begins her first semester of college...typical first-year challenges are magnified and distorted by the complications that come with being the President’s daughter...severe emotional and physical fallout of her ordeal...exquisite and thoroughly researched detail...earlier books...scheduled for re-release in spring 2008.” (PW)

 

Wizner, Jake. Spanking Shakespeare. Random, $15.99 (978-0-375-84085-2)

 

 

 

The Aurora County All-Stars.  By Deborah Wiles, read by Kate Jackson. Listening Library, $30, unabr., 5 CDs, 5.5 hours (978-07393-4883-3)

            (gr. 3 and up) “...inspired choice to read...heartfelt story with baseball at its center...slightly raspy voice...occasional twang, is perfect for bringing to life the cast of memorable...characters of a rural town in Mississippi...12-year-old baseball fanatic House Jackson discovers some long-held secrets...explores issues of death and loss...humor and tenderness...can almost hear the slightest chuckle or...thoughtful smile...” (PW)

 

Edward’s Eyes. By Patricia MacLachlan, read by Milo Ventimiglia. S&S Audio, $17.99, unabr. Two CDs, 1.5 hours (978-0-7435-6911-8)

            (gr. 3 and up) “...soft voice and smooth delivery capture all the notes of fun, sadness and eventually, emergent hope...Listeners will discern early on that something must have happened to Edward...Having tissues on hand for some of the latter chapters may be a good idea, thought the tale closes on an uplifting note.” (SLJ)

 

Keturah and Lord Death. By Martine Leavitt, read by Alyssa Bresnahan. Recorded Books, CS, $56.75 (978-1-428-146-440); CD, $66.75 (978-1-428-146-490)

            (gr. 8-12) “...deeply romantic novel, beautiful Keturah staves off Lord Death by bargaining for her life...uses her storytelling skills...time is of the essence...complex, multi-character story...stressing its intimate nature...distinctive characters...superb transition to audio.” (BL)

 

Princess Academy. By Shannon Hale, read by Laura Credidio et al. Full Cast, CD, $55 (978-1-933-322-773)

            (gr. 6-9) “When the priests divine that the future wife of the prince will come from Mount Eskel...academy for training eligible girls...homesick girls...more than 30 years...softly modulated, upbeat voice reflects the folktale aspect of this historical-fantasy tale...Todd Hobin’s music adds a regal atmosphere...exquisite a cappella singing...meshes perfectly with a full-cast performance...” (BL)

 

 

 

Willems, Mo. El Conejito Knuffle. Un cuento aleccionador (Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale) Tr. by F. Isabel Campoy. Hyperion, $15.99 (978-1-4231-0566-4).
            (PreS-Gr 1) “Carefully translated by award-winning children’s author ... story is as captivating as the original... concise text flows smoothly to retell the journey of Trixie and her daddy “down the block, through the park, past the school, to the Laundromat.” Campoy captures the cadence of the original tale and effortlessly recreates the youngster’s hilarious gibberish...” (CR)