Friday, July 31, 2009

Cookie by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

I was vaguely aware that Jacqueline Wilson was very popular in the UK and the couple things of hers we have at our library check out consistently. So, I picked up an ARC of Cookie at ALA and decided it was time to read my first Jacqueline Wilson, spurred on by a young patron at our library who told me how much she loved these books.

Beauty Mercedes Cookson is not the pretty, perfect girl her father wants. Her mother, a fluffy, pretty, ditzy girl (she's barely older than Beauty) can't always be perfect either. His frightening rages and vocal abuse finally go too far and Beauty and her mother leave. Through a series of lucky circumstances, they find a better life and settle down happily.

If all Wilson's mothers are as "fluffy" as Mrs. Cookson, "Silly Dilly", I can see Ms. Yingling's complaint about the repetition. On the other hand, I've known quite a few moms like this - whose responsible daughters ended up taking over the household. I think it's unrealistic to expect Mrs. Cookson to be a mature, logical adult, as it's stressed throughout the book that she's never had the chance to be an adult. But although she makes a lot of foolish mistakes, she really tries hard to do what's best for her daughter. And Beauty, renamed Cookie, does end up with a better life. Wish fulfillment? Of course. We all need a little fluff in our lives.

Verdict: This is a fun, escapist read with some darker moments.

ISBN: 978-1596435346; Published September 2009 by Roaring Brook; ARC provided by publisher at ALA 2009

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Angels Inc. by Bruce McBay, illustrated by Kim La Fave

Two kids decide to form a club for doing good deeds. Unfortunately, their good deeds go awry and cause problems. In the end, they stop some thieves and the people they caused problems for forgive them.

Sound choppy? Well, unfortunately so is the book. Some of the oddity of the story can be contributed to it being Canadian, such as school ending in April. But there are many more problematic elements in the book. The children's ages are never given, but they appear to be around 8 or 9. But they take the bus alone to a kind of public market, Granville Island and handle a lawn mower on their own. If they're supposed to be older, their behavior is extremely childish and the story as a whole would not appeal to an older audience.

Wendy, who has the idea for the club and sticks to it even when her friend Zachary wants to quit, is unbelievably oblivious of the havoc she's causing. The sudden apprehension of the thieves is plopped into the plot without warning and the story ends so suddenly that I went back and checked the publication data to see if a page was missing. The black and white illustrations are engaging, but not enough to redeem the flat storytelling and loose plot. The reading level seems to be beginning chapter book, but the storyline is more suited to an early reader audience.

Verdict: Not recommended.

ISBN: 978-1896580302; Published September 2008 by Tradewind Books; Review copy provided by publisher through LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Friday, July 24, 2009

Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist: The flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers, illustrated by Kelly Murphy

Nathaniel Fludd hasn't heard from his parents in over three years. He's been living with his comfortable, if not very interesting, governess. Suddenly, his parents are declared missing, Miss Lumpton disappears with the Tidy Sum left her in his parents' will, and he's on a train going to a new home and a distant cousin. Once he arrives, Nate's adventures start immediately. But is he really an adventurous Fludd? Or just a scared little boy who can't live up to his family's high expectations?

This is definitely a first book in a series - there are soooo many ends left untied. What happened to Nate's parents? What was Miss Lumpton hiding? Who is the mysterious ginger-bearded man? Will Nathaniel's drawings be important later on? I can't wait to find out!

Verdict: Kelly Murphy's black and white illustrations are charming and add to the gentle humor that runs through this story. The adventures are exciting, but not too perilous. A fun transitional chapter book (I just made that up - it's a little harder than a beginning chapter book, not quite a middle grade chapter book) that kids interested in strange beasts and adventures will enjoy. Pass this one to fans of R. L. LaFevers' Theodosia, any of the -ology books from Candlewick, and any child lucky enough to be a fan of David and the Phoenix.

ISBN: 978-0547238654; Published September 2009 by Houghton Mifflin; ARC provided by publisher at ALA 2009; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal wishlist

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley, illustrated by Ethen Beavers


Ok. You have your average nerd/secret society story. Outcast kids turn out to be amazingly cool, band together, save the world, and totally destroy the popular kids. Or just never see them again. And we all learn a VERY IMPORTANT LESSON.

And then you have NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. It starts out with all the stereotypes: geeky kids who don't fit in because they lack social skills or have physical issues or are just weird. Super cool kids who torment the nerds. Slick, professional secret agent sent to take charge of their secret government operation. Evil/crazy villain and stunningly beautiful henchwoman (well, really goon but she's kinda sensitive about that).

And then....Michael Buckley takes all these elements and turns it into something completely different.

About Michael Buckley. I skimmed part of a Sisters Grimm book several years ago. But as I was currently involved in skimming HUNDREDS of books to create fantasy bibliographies for the School of Education library at UIUC (You can see them here if you're interested) it didn't really sink in. Over the past couple months, I've had a small but steady stream of kids "where's the Sisters Grimm?" "Why don't you have all of them?" Leading me to add the rest of the series to my "series to fill in when money falls on my head out of the sky" list.

And then, ALA. The very first publisher I happened upon was Abrams. And there was Lauren Myracle! And she was signing books! And I thought, SUMMER READING PRIZE! And then I noticed another book, with kinda a cool cover, and thought, "oh, I'll get that one too." Then I took a closer look, "oh, it's that guy the kids keep talking about. Cool, I'll get an autograph, and tell him how much the kids like his books."
So I added it to my giant stack and staggered home. Yesterday evening, after an exhausting day of programs, shelving (my aide is out of town) and just STUFF. I sat down for cartoons and a book. And this one happened to be on top of my pile.

So, back to the book. As I was saying, before I digressed into la-la-land (hey, it was a REALLY LONG DAY), this is an exuberant, explosive book. Literally! It explodes conventions. It explodes scientists. It even explodes guinea pigs! It shakes up ideas about bullies, popularity, nerds, and beauty pageants. It has tons of exciting action, cool gadgets, weird superpowers, and suitably malicious villains. Kids aren't just nerds, bullies, secret agents, or assassins. They're also...kids. Who sometimes learn how to change and grow....and sometimes don't. Buckley has even managed to make the adults believable and dimensional characters. And it's got hilarious little inserts between each chapter!

And....*drumroll please*....it's got guinea pigs! Yes! Woot!

Verdict: Fans of the Benedict Society, Kiki Strike, Joshua Mowll, Catherine Jinks' Evil Genius, David Lubar's Talent books, and all things gadgety, secret societish, and geekly, will be thrilled to read this! And if not....we're WATCHING you. Squeak!

ISBN: 978-0810943247; Published September 2009 by Abrams; ARC provided by publisher at ALA 2009; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal wishlist

Friday, July 17, 2009

Clover Twig and the Magical Cottage by Kaye Umansky, illustrated by Johanna Wright

Clover Twig is the organizer, the tidy one, the one who takes charge in a large and messy family. When she starts working for the local witch, Mrs. Eckles, she will need all of these qualities - and more - to make it through her first week!

Clover Twig is a brisk and cheerful heroine, always ready with ideas, cleaning supplies, and common sense. Her tidiness is frequently endangered by the unbelievably clumsy and accident-prone Wilf, but she likes him anyways. Mostly.

The plot is as tidy and well-constructed as Clover Twig's newly cleaned witch's cottage and the characters are fun and memorable. Mrs. Eckles is as endearing a personality as Clover Twig, although she's not without her little secrets. The villains are satisfyingly villainous without being cartoonish and the plot twists and turns are funny and exciting.

Oh, and my only complaint is the cover. If we could have fewer covers featuring girls, it would be easier to get boys reading fun books like this! The British cover is better, although it gives away the plot rather badly. Just my opinion.

Verdict: An excellent step-up from beginning chapter books. Fans of Suzanne Selfors, Angie Sage, and Katie Speck will enjoy this story.


ISBN: 978-1596435070; Published August 2009 by Roaring Brook; ARC provided by publisher at ALA 2009; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal wishlist

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Love, Aubrey by Susanne Lafleur

It took a whole box of tissues and lots of breaks to finish this book, but I couldn't stop reading.

Aubrey's grief and her reactions to the tragedy that has destroyed her family are wrenching and realistic. Although she slowly heals throughout the book, ending on a note of hope, I still found myself crying at the end. The story is, perfectly, tightly focused on Aubrey's own pain and recovery and as she begins to live again in the world around her, we learn more about her new friends through Aubrey's eyes - I'd be interested in maybe seeing companion novels about Aubrey's new friends.

I can see parents not wanting their kids to read this because of the high emotional content (no, I am not being silly. you would not believe the vast variety of elements parents can object to in the books their kids read. Not the tv they watch, just the books they read) but I'd say this was an important read - not just for those who have experienced tragedy, but for kids who've never known what it's like to have a loved one die. This beautifully-written novel will draw them in and allow them to empathize and understand others who are experiencing grief.

Verdict: Highly recommended.


ISBN: 0385737742; Published June 2009 by Wendy Lamb; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Monday, July 13, 2009

Nonfiction Monday: Quest for the Tree Kangaroo by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by R. Wingrave, photographs by Nic Bishop


I'm working my way through the Scientists in the Field series (does anybody know where I can find a complete list? It's aggravating that even the publisher doesn't have a complete series list). I just finished the award-winning Quest for the Tree Kangaroo by Sy Montgomery. Hopefully, most of you have read this amazing book already, but basically it tells the story of a scientific expedition to Papua New Guinea to track a rare species of tree kangaroo, found only in the just-as-rare cloud forests. The things which make this book amazing, fascinating, and award-worthy are:

Stunning photographs by Nic Bishop. He brings the cloud forest to life and makes me want a tree kangaroo to cuddle!

Brisk, expository text by Sy Montgomery. She includes facts, stories, descriptions, history, and science in a wonderful blend that holds the reader's attention throughout the story.

Personal stories of the people on the expedition. The leading scientist, Lisa Dabek, overcame asthma to study the animals she loved. Other personal stories of the various members are included, as well as those of their local guides and contacts which....

Makes this book truly amazing as it is one of the few science/travel type books which really shows the local population as friends, scientists, and assistants without patronizing them or denigrating their help. What makes this book even better, is that Sy Montgomery has managed to give equal importance to the local conservation efforts and the local culture as she gives to the Western scientists. It's a new model for scientific field expeditions and a large part of what makes this book stand out.

Excellent sources and other information, including pronunciation guides and sources for more information about the people, places, and animals in the book.

I plan to use this in the spring as part of my planned nonfiction book club and I think it will be a winner. Which is part of the reason why I want a complete list of the Scientists in the Field series, because I know kids will want to read more...

Verdict: This series is one that should be on the shelf of every library. It will take a little time to find them all, as there is no comprehensive list, but it's worth the time!


ISBN: 978-0618496419; Published October 2006 by Houghton Mifflin; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Friday, July 10, 2009

Alice's Shooting Star by Tim Kennemore


Alice's third and final story is by far the most hilarious of the trilogy. Rosie, her terrible little sister, is just getting interesting. At least, Alice thinks so. Alice's parents and her perfectionist older brother, Oliver, don't agree. They say Rosie is lying and needs to learn to tell the truth.

Woven into the family's efforts to curb Rosie's imagination, are Alice's feelings that she is a dull and uninteresting person. But as the story progresses, Rosie and Alice both find new abilities and in a side-splitting conclusion, become stars!

Alice is a thoroughly endearing character. She doesn't want the limelight, like Rosie, but she does want a little recognition and attention at times. Her tenacity and common sense turn out to be just as effective as Rosie's wild imagination and the growing relationship between the sisters is both funny and touching.

Verdict: I highly recommend the Alice trilogy to beginning chapter readers and it will be enjoyed by adults and as a read-aloud as well. Funny, engaging, realistic, and hits exactly on the feelings between siblings and especially of the middle child. A must for your library collection.


ISBN: 978-0802853370; Published March 2009 by Eerdmans; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library; Purchased for my personal collection

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight


Frankie Pickle is an explorer, an adventurer, on the track of missing artifacts, like....the last breakfast waffle! He's also a fourth grade kid who just doesn't want to clean up his room. Frankie thinks he's solved everything when his mom tells him "This is your space. Do with it what you want." But Frankie soon finds out there are less than pleasant consequences to a swinish life and he must face his greatest adventure ever - the Closet of Doom!

Pros: Frankie is an engaging character and will resonate with kids. One of my favorite scenes is immediately after his "deal" when he goes to make a sandwich in the kitchen; and leaves everything out. "We have an understanding" he tells his older sister. The comics are lively and kids will enjoy the juxtaposition of Frankie's black and white daydreams and his actual adventures. I appreciate that Frankie is given a choice and decides to face up to the consequences of that choice, although the story doesn't descend into didacticism.

Cons: I can see a lot of kids liking this book, but it hit several of my buttons and I just....don't like it. First, the don't clean your room up until it's so messy horrible things happen is not a new idea - it's one of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's cures. Although I have to say, having a parade go by your window and not being able to escape from your room is no more believable than waking up from a nightmare and cleaning a week's worth of mess in one night....without waking anybody up. This cure, assuming it works at all (some kids would live perfectly happily in a huge mess - and do) requires that the kid has his own bedroom and owns enough stuff to blockade himself in.

I didn't really like the slightly-changed-brand-names thing, although that may keep the book from getting outdated quite as fast. Will kids know that "Yugimon" cards are referring to Yu-Gi-Oh cards in another five years? Or that Avril the Traveler is really Dora the Explorer? It felt kind of forced to me. What really irritated me - the Dryer Sheet Fairy. Now, I'm sure Frankie knows it's really his mom mysteriously collecting, washing, drying, folding, and putting away his laundry. But he's 9. If he's old enough to fix himself a sandwich and use the vacuum cleaner, he's old enough to do his own laundry!! It's a personal peeve when parents, especially moms, clean up after their kids. Of course, these things (like the baby watching television - bad! bad!) make the story realistic. They just irritate me personally.

Verdict: Aside from my personal peeves, this is a fun story and will really grab reluctant readers.


ISBN: 978-1416964841; Published May 2009 by Simon & Schuster; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Friday, July 3, 2009

It's picture day today! by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Katherine Tillotson

It's picture day at school, and a button is late! But he makes it in time, and here come the feathers, the "whirly things", pom-poms, and all their friends. But someone is still missing, someone very important who holds them all together....

When I first received this book, I looked at the cover and decided I probably wouldn't like it because a. it was ORANGE (despite - or because - I grew up in Austin, TX, I hate orange) and b. it just looked silly and I wasn't in a silly mood.

I was wrong! I loved it! First, you have to know that at our library we collage frequently and with great enthusiasm. I mean, what's not to love? All you need is paper, glue, and whatever you can find in the cupboard and outside. Add imagination and it's art!

And here is a book, all about collage! All the different bits and pieces come together in the end, on an eye-smacking double-fold-out, to create a classroom of enthusiastic students. The words dance in exuberant rhythm towards the final mischievous joke and I can see children chanting along after a few readings.

According to the back flap, the paper Ms. Tillotson cut for the illustrations she created herself by drawing patterns on paper with paste. Apparently this is an old crafting technique, one I shall have to look into as it sounds fun! The illustrations abound with things for kids to find and point out and the final spread shows them all fitted together into various wacky creatures.

Oh, and they sent an adorable collage bookmark with the book! I am in love. I plan to pull this out many times in the future for my storytimes to get us ready to put things together and create pictures!

Verdict: Recommended for storytimes and for reading before collaging!

ISBN: 978-1416924340; Published June 2009 by Athenaeum; Review copy provided by the illustrator; Added to the library

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Wendy Halperin

This story is written in the tradition of friend and school stories of an earlier era. Set in the Depression, ten-year-old Allie's family has just moved into a new house, thanks to her father finally getting a job. She starts to make friends with Martha next door, but soon discovers she isn't the perfect best friend. At first confused and embarrassed by Mimi across the street, Allie finally comes to realize she is more "interesting" and trustworthy than Martha. Small touches throughout the book place it in the Depression era - a hobo at the door, Shirley Temple, tap-dance class, and the various financial difficulties of Allie's friends' families. There is also a minor theme of religious difference and prejudice - Allie and Mimi are Jewish, Allie. M. (Allie's new friend at school), Martha and her unpleasant friend Cynthia are Catholic. But there's no stereotyping and the characters are not one-dimensional types.

The story is pleasant and flows well, showing Ms. Hoberman's mastery of words. Allie's thoughts and feelings are well-expressed and the story is a pleasant, light read. The ending is not completely resolved but the depiction of Depression-era problems and issues is realistic and not excessively preachy.

However, I am having a hard time coming up with an audience for this book. It is being promoted to ages 8 - 12, but I find it difficult to think of any tweens who would pick this up. Compared to her modern sisters, such as Judy Moody and Allie Finkle, Allie Sherman is bland and sedate. Just as Gardam rewrote the holiday family adventure genre of Elizabeth Enright, Ms. Hoberman has rewritten the school and friendship genre of the Moffats and other similar stories from the time period. Fans of Lenski's Strawberry Girl, Fisher's Understood Betsy, and Estes' Moffats and Hundred Dresses may find this an additional and enjoyable read, but it doesn't have the staying qualities of a classic.

Verdict: Families looking for a peaceful read-aloud at bedtime may enjoy this.


ISBN: 031604136X; Published July 2009 by Little Brown; ARC provided by publisher for review (illustrations not available for review)