The Last Airbender

The Last Airbender (motion picture, rated PG for fantasy action violence)
Paramount Pictures, 2010

Genre: Fantasy

Honors:

• Nominated for Choice Summer Movie, Teen Choice Awards, 2010
• Nominated for Film Music Composition of the Year and Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film, International Film Music Critics Association Awards, 2010
• Nominated for Best Performance in a Feature Film, Young Artist Award, 2010
• Won Worst Picture, Worst Screenplay, Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actor, Worst Eye-Gouging Mis-Use of 3D, and Nominated for Worst Supporting Actress, Worst Screen Couple, and Worst Prequel, Golden Raspberry Awards, 2010

Review: In a world divided into regions supporting four different elements (air, water, earth, and fire), there are races of people who can bend just one of the elements and live apart. However, to avoid conflict in the world and balance the energy of the elements, one person is born every hundred years who has the special gift of being able to bend all of the four elements. This person is known as the Avatar, and it is expected that the Avatar will have been born to the air tribe. However, in the present century, the Avatar that was identified suddenly disappeared. Fast forward almost one hundred years later, the Fire kingdom has managed to carry out plots against the other elemental tribes and destroy the Air tribe in an attempt to prevent the next Avatar from rising. The world over believes that there are no air benders left--until a young water bender discovers a bright light beneath the frozen waters near her home and uses her forbidden bending gift to break the ice, freeing a young boy and a large creature in hibernation. Through a series of events it becomes known that this frozen boy is the last air bender in the world--and he is the Avatar, the one person who has the power to stop the evil intentions of the Fire kingdom. This movie was intended to be a prequel and part of a trilogy.

Opinion: I found it very amusing that this movie received so many honors for being so bad, as opposed to being great. Still, it is possible the plans for the entire trilogy have been dropped, and that is a shame. The creators of the first film can still save face and improve in the second and third films. A lot of the criticism comes from fans of the anime series that originated in Japan and has Asian cultural attributes that folks claimed were stifled or changed to make the film into something very different--and ugly. I haven't seen the Avatar cartoon series, but my impression of the film was fairly similar. The acting: pretty bad. The dialogue: pretty unrealistic and not heartfelt. The plot: somewhat uninspired as it is presented. The action scenes: a bit dry. The soundtrack: too mellow, oftentimes it feels distracted, as if the orchestra has forgotten what they are supposed to be supporting. The directing seems rather shabby and unfocused, and the camera often stays at a distance from what is happening, which communicates disinterest to the viewer. There just isn't anything that stands out about this movie. The story idea is a good one, but it was treated poorly for such an expensive production. I suppose adults can criticize the movie all day long and at the end of the day, the kids are still going to enjoy it, but I have a feeling there are a lot of Avatar fans who see this for what it is (a cheap knockoff) and will avoid it or dump it early.

Ideas: Perhaps this one can go in a display of worst movies ever produced. The Golden Raspberry Awards have been presented to bad Hollywood films since the 1980s, so there are plenty to choose from across all of the categories.

Fossil Fish Found Alive

Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth
by Sally M. Walker
Carolrhoda Books, 2002

Genre: Non-fiction

Honors:

• ALA Notable Children's Books 2003
• Book Report 09/01/02
• Booklist 03/15/02
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred 04/01/02
• Horn Book 01/01/03
• Kirkus Reviews starred 04/01/02
• New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age 2004
• School Library Journal starred 05/01/02
• Teacher Librarian 04/01/03
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10
• Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10

Review: Ever since an unusual fish was discovered in a net full of the day's catch in 1939, scientists in several parts of the globe have been racing to discover more about--and find ways to protect--the Coelacanth (pronounced "see-luh-kanth"), a modern day version of a fossil fish more than 300 million years old, though hardly changed since the time of the dinosaurs. As different scientists and fish experts have found, this remarkable fish has many characteristics that are unlike any other modern fish anywhere on the planet, and scientists still haven't discovered why, or how this fish remained alive long after other ancient species either died out or evolved. Walker dives as deep into the mystery of the Coelacanth as possible, providing artifacts from research such as photographs and stills from video footage, letters and diagrams of the fish, and details about the known facets of the fish's daily existence.

Opinion: This was one of my favorite reads in this entire blog. Seriously. I was amazed at what I'd learned about the Coelacanth, and I have to wonder how many other library users have discovered this book in the ten years since it was published. It is not a lengthy read, it took me about forty-five minutes to complete, but with the scope of issues revealed in the book and the number of resources suggested for further research, I would put this on a higher level of reading and research material than some of the other non-fiction titles I've read, better for older tweens.

Ideas: As this book is a bit dated, a good exercise/lesson would be to send students on a quest to find newer information (if it exists) about the Coelacanth: what has been discovered, or what remaining questions have been answered (if any) since the book's publication date?

The Prairie Builders

The Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America's Lost Grasslands
by Sneed B. Collard III
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005

Genre: Conservation, Non-fiction

Honors:

• ALA Notable Children's Books 2006
• ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award 2005
• Book Links 03/01/08
• Book Links starred 09/01/05
• Booklist starred 06/01/05
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 07/01/05
• Horn Book 07/01/05
• Horn Book starred 07/01/05
• Kirkus Reviews 05/01/05
• School Library Journal starred 08/01/05
• Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10

Review: Sneed Collard's photographs are captivating, bringing home the vast amount of work that goes into prairie restoration. As Collard explains, reconstructing a devastated eco-system is experimental, as scientists are still learning about what makes a system like a prairie or a river or a forest work in such harmony and keep it thriving over the years. He documents with interviews and photographs the work of several participants in the project and their years of attempts to re-grow native plants, encouraging native species to return to a prairie land that had been nearly decimated by agriculture practices in Iowa, noting some of the successes and setbacks that motivated their continued research and efforts.

Opinion: It is very exciting to see non-fiction written for children and young adults that delves into research and efforts made toward conservation and eco-system restoration. Youth can benefit greatly from non-fiction that aims to help them be more aware of the impact different behaviors and practices have on biodiversity and the lives of other species around them. A great book introducing an important part of environmental science studies.

Ideas: This is another great book to present in a lecture about conducting research and using reference points in non-fiction. There are some useful web sites and books recommended in the back of this book, along with a thorough glossary and index.

The Twelve Months

The Twelve Months
by Rafe Martin
Stoddart Kids, 2000

Genre: Fairy tales

Honors: unknown

Review: An orphaned girl named Marushka, who has lost her parents, goes to live with her selfish and greedy aunt and cousin, who turn her into a housekeeper while they sit around the house doing nothing. However, her relatives become increasingly bitter when they see how pleasantly Marushka takes to her life of chores and no outside contact. They vow to find a way to rid themselves of their burdensome, cheerful neice. The aunt decides to demand that Marushka go out in the middle of winter and collect items from the earth that it can't possily produce, and after she is pushed out the door, it is locked behind her. So begins a story in which twelve unusual characters sitting around a fire in the middle of the woods come to Marushka's aid again and again, to the frustration of her aunt and cousin. When she succeeds in fulfilling their demands, the two relatives decide that her bounty is not enough and that they must find the source for themselves. The moral of this story from Czechoslovakia is not to take advantage of others and to show appreciation for what you have.

Opinion: This is a fairly short story, with illustrations that only convey part of what is written in the narrative; they are beautiful, nonetheless, and the lessons taught in the fairy tale are very good ones. Not much else to say, except that this book was rated for younger readers and I'm not really sure why it wouldn't be just as interesting for nine-, ten-, and eleven-year-olds.

Ideas: The story is simple enough, with few characters and objects, that it could be told as a puppet show or play. Actors could have a lot of fun acting out the slob-ish behavior of the aunt and cousin, and the audience could have some fun playing with the props in the story after the play is over.

Anne Frank: The Authorized Graphic Biography

Anne Frank: The Anne Frank House Authorized Graphic Biography
by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon
Hill and Wang, 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel, Biography Non-Fiction

Honors:

• Booklist 10/15/10
• Kirkus Reviews 07/15/10
• Library Journal starred 01/01/11
• Publishers Weekly 09/27/10
• School Library Journal starred 03/01/11

Review: The collected accounts of friends, relatives, and those who helped the Frank family hide in an annex behind Otto Frank's business are re-told using visual depictions based on photographs of Anne Frank, her sister, mother, and father, and the four others who hid with them from the Nazi Germans during World War II. This graphic novel is not your typical manga or cartoon: the story is based on true events, and the narrative boxes surrounding the pictures are meant to tell the history of events that brought about the capture and deportation of Jews like Anne and her family and those that influenced Anne to aspire to journalism, beginning with the autobiographical account of her life in hiding. The story comes from entries in Anne's diary, leading up until the fateful day when an unknown person working at Otto Frank's business discovered the secret passage to the annex and sold the information to the police, and once the family is separated the story relies upon the stories of other survivors of the concentration camps who were in contact with one or more of the members of the Frank family.

Opinion: I remember hearing about Anne Frank, and the Holocaust, as a child, and then learning about her fate when a made-for-tv movie was shown on one of the major network stations many years ago. The movie was very difficult to watch, with graphic depictions of Jews being violently separated, stripped, shaved and tatooed, starved, and gassed, and then left to die. This novel tells almost the same story, but the images are a little easier to bear as they are true to events but not as dynamic as video footage. I was moved at the way the story was told, with third-person narratives accompanied by pictures with speech and thought bubbles conveying the spirit of the moment in the narration. It puts readers directly into the shoes of Anne, Margo, Peter and his parents, and Other and Edith Frank. It is also difficult to follow the deterioration of the Frank family as they are separated and starved, being drawn with shaven heads and appearing almost skeletal compared with the full-figured and colorful drawings of them that appear during the time of hiding.

Ideas: I am pegging this book as a must for anyone who is planning on teaching about the Holocaust. Anne Frank's published diary is well known and appreciated, and I don't mean to undermine the usefulness of reading the diary, but it is a lot easier to identify with her story, PLUS the history of events that occurred in Germany after the stock market crash and Hitler's rise to dictatorship and the many battles that led to the surrender of Italy and Germany so close to the time in which Anne dies, in this surprisingly smart format.

Pokemon Pearl

Pokemon: Pearl Version (ESRB Rated E for Everyone)
Nintendo, 2007

Genre: Role Play Game, Adventure

Honors:

• Nominated for Best RPG, Won Best Handheld Game, G4's G-phoria, 2007
• Nominated for Children's Kids Vote Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 2008
• Best online multiplayer, best RPG awards, IGN's Best of 2007 Awards
• Best Hit Award, Game of the Year Award, Famitsu Game Awards, 2006

Review: Short for "pocket monsters," Pokemon: Pearl Version is one of a multitude of different Pokemon releases that enable gamers with different versions to experience separate quests, encounter some unique monsters, and connect their DS handheld consoles together to share tips and pocket monsters. Usually, the only way to collect all of the pokemon in a given generation is to trade with other players via a link. In older generations of the pokemon series, a cable cord had to be connected to two gameboys and both players had to initiate a trade at a location in the game called a Pokemon Center. With the DS it is possible to use wireless technology to connect to another DS; therefore, with Pokemon Pearl one merely needs to be in the vicinity of another player where there is access to a wireless network. There are two goals to complete in any Pokemon version: 1) Become a Pokemon Master Trainer; and 2) collect every Pokemon that is known to exist in the given generation. An additional option in Pokemon Pearl that is appealing for today's avatar-centered youth is the ability to choose between a male and female as the main character, to name a best friend, and to customize the appearance of the pokeballs that store the monsters.

Opinion: I agree with some of the gaming sites' reviews of this release: it feels like more of a rehash of older Pokemon games, without a lot of improvement with the exception of extended battle scenes from having the dual screens and touch screen, plus better graphics than those of the original Pokemon Blue and Red for Gameboy. The music feels flat and disappointing, as the programmers could have taken advantage of a sound system with a lot more capabilities than those of previous generations of the game. Personally, I thought the newer generation of collectible pocket monsters were not as sharp and impressive as those of previous versions. This is a personal assessment, but I feel that it may reduce the overall popularity of the game, making it more acceptable for younger gamers or less seasoned gamers. Older tweens may think it is too babyish. The gameplay is also very slow: it literally took me over an hour to get through the opening sequence of the game and collect my first three pokemon because the battle scenes are slow, there are a lot of messages on the screen that delay action, and there is a lot of opening dialogue--and that is without accepting some of the characters' offers of advice. Even walking around on the game's map is a bit clunky.

Ideas:

Whip It

Whip It (motion picture, MPAA Rated PG-13 for partial nudity, language)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2009

Genre: Drama, Romance

Honors:

• Video Librarian 01/01/10
• Nominated for Bronze Horse, Stockholm Film Festival, 2009

Review: In Bliss's small town life, there is not much to do besides earn meager tips waitressing and participating in beauty pageants for her mom, who seems to be stuck in the 1950s. Deep down, Bliss is an alternative girl who wants to break out of her small town life and leave the dress-up world far behind her. An opportunity to do just that arrives in the form of a flier for a roller derby match, but knowing her parents would not approve, Bliss lies to her family and goes to the game. Then Bliss tries out for one of the teams and earns the nickname "Babe Ruthless," and the lies pile up as she and her team of new friends play their way to the top of the league. The only thing that can tear Bliss' dream apart is if her secret gets out: that she is only seventeen, too young to play roller derby without a parent's permission. This film is about one girl finding the strength to be her own hero, chase a dream, and learn to love her roots for what they are.

Opinion: The rating for this movie is more due to the brief sexual romance that is inserted midway through the film. There is a beautifully choreographed scene in which Bliss and her boyfriend undress in a public pool at night and--you can imagine where that goes. It does not get explicit beyond underclothes and does not go into details after the undressing, but it is some powerful imagery, a sexual fantasy brought to life on the big screen. There is also a lot of language, and some of the roller derby playing is very rough and there are a few fight scenes on the court. I had wondered at first why the movie wasn't in the YA collection at the library, but perhaps the catalogers thought it was a bit too on the mature side? Definitely a bit of chick flick drama in the film, and a bit of action and adventure as well.

Ideas: This film is based on Shauna Cross' novel, originally published as "Derby Girl" and later re-released under the title "Whip It." Another great example of a novel being adapted to film and great for an in-library, based-on-the-book screening event.

Hound Dog True

Hound Dog True
by Linda Urban
Harcourt Children's Books, 2011

Genre: Fiction

Honors:

• Booklist 09/01/11
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred 11/01/11
• Horn Book 09/01/11
• Horn Book 04/01/12
• Kirkus Reviews starred 04/15/11
• Publishers Weekly starred 07/25/11
• School Library Journal starred 10/01/11

Review: Having had a few bad experiences in her first year of public school, eleven-year-old Mattie is very introverted and shy. In the summer weeks before she starts school again, Mattie dreads her first day backas a fifth grader, and she begins following her uncle, the janitor at her school, around, trying to learn his trade in hopes of convincing him to let her be his apprentice during the school year: maybe that way, she can avoid other people. Then an older girl named Quincy shows up at her neighbor's house for a visit, and she seems to keep appearing in Mattie's life and may actually want to be her friend, despite Mattie's childishness. It turns out, Quincy may be older, but she may be just as unprepared for young adulthood as Mattie. Mattie keeps an honest account of her fears and her plans in her diary, and there, a remarkable story develops, one in which a frightened girl, afraid to grow up, finds a friend and faces the truth about herself.

Opinion: I really identified with the characters in Urban's story. It is hard being on the verge of teenhood when you are a very inward-facing person, and like Mattie, I was one of those awkward pre-teens who always thought I was going to say or do the wrong thing, and I wanted to grow up but I didn't know how to find myself and my voice under all of my bad experiences. Any young girl who reads this book will find a mirror of herself and, hopefully, a bit of comfort.

Ideas: I am inspired by this story, and it makes me think it might be nice to have a share-a-story event, in which participants can share an experience involving themselves or a friend, with someone who has had to face a difficult adjustment in life or overcome a trait like shyness.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (sound recording)
by J.K. Rowling; performed by Jim Dale
Listening Library, 2000

Genre: Fantasy, Book-on-CD

Honors:

• ALA Notable Children's Books 2001
• School Library Journal 09/01/00

Review: J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is wonderful to read, even better to hear. Jim Dale lends his talent to this 20-hour, 17-disc audio book adaptation, providing unique voice characterizations and smooth narration to guide his listeners through the world of Harry Potter. In Goblet of Fire, the fourth chapter of the Harry Potter saga, the students at Hogwarts' are whispering about a secret event being organized by the Ministry of Magic. When it is revealed that several magic academies are participating in an international contest, to be hosted by Hogwarts', Harry's friends are excited and many of them want to compete; Harry, however, is distracted. His scar has recently been bothering him, and sometimes his dreams take him to nightmarish places, where he sees Voldemort and Wormtail, and he hears things he doesn't understand. Then the unexpected happens: despite a rigid rule forbidding students under seventeen from putting their name into the Goblet of Fire (the medium for entering the contest), somehow Harry's name ends up in the Goblet and is accepted as valid. What this turn of events will lead to, only time will reveal.

Opinion: Jim Dale is a very talented storyteller and performer. When I put the first disc in, I expected to hear a straightforward narrative with not a lot of variation. However, Dale does a remarkable job switching from voice to voice, from girls and boys at Hogwarts to men and women at the Ministry, to elves. And his dynamic voice is easy to follow. I listened to a lot of the book while doing other things, and I could follow along without much effort. I'm going to say that the same readers of the series would enjoy the audio book, but beyond that, readers who aren't into the series, or who may not like the books but who like the movie series, may appreciate hearing the book read aloud instead as it is an entirely different experience.

Ideas: You know how you hear music when you walk through a supermarket or department store? Why not audio books? I wonder about playing a book over speakers in a certain area of the library, or during library time at school--how would that go? Maybe older children would enjoy hearing a narrative in the background as they browse for books or other materials--especially one that is narrated by Jim Dale.

Remember the Bridge

Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Philomel Books, 2002

Genre: Poetry, African American History


Honors:

• Book Links 01/01/07
• Book Report starred 09/01/02
• Booklist 02/15/02
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 05/01/02
• Kirkus Reviews starred 12/01/01
• New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age 2004
• Publishers Weekly 12/24/01
• School Library Journal 01/01/02
• Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 08/01/02
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10
• Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10

Review: "Remember the Bridge" is not only the title of this book, it is an appeal, a mantra, a lesson being passed on through a series of poems that are also historical accounts of the lives of skillful African hunters, unknowing that they themselves are being hunted, soon to be captured and sent to a new world to be slaves. There are stories of African American heroes such as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Bessie Smith, as well as the unnamed men and women who worked hard day and night for their masters, who dreamed of freedom, and who escaped. There are poems about quilters and laborers, soldiers, basket weavers, and storytellers, musicians and athletes. Carole Weatherford can hold her audience captive herself with the emotions, the feelings of strife and victory present in the stories her poems convey.

Opinion: There are some very vivid and passionate lyrics in Weatherford's poetry that really hooked me and pulled on my heart strings. The poem, "On the Auction Block," tells how a captured African woman who bears a child on board a slave ship is separated from her baby hours later when she, but not her child, is bought by a slave owner. It is a sad tale, mostly because I can easily imagine that she is real and that she was one of hundreds (if not thousands) of women who had this experience.

Ideas: I practiced reading these aloud to hear the words orally, and it has beautiful rhythm and flow. Would make a good addition to African American history narrative storytime.

Every Thing on It

Every Thing on It: Poems and Drawings
by Shel Silverstein
Harper, 2011

Genre: Poetry, Humor

Honors:

• Booklist 09/01/11
• Horn Book 11/01/11
• Horn Book 04/01/12
• Kirkus Reviews 08/01/11
• Publishers Weekly starred 07/25/11
• School Library Journal starred 09/01/11

Review: This recent collection of poems from the Silverstein archives is filled with absurdities and humorous complementary drawings. His poetry discusses the every day (such as moving, eating out, and playing games), the ponderings of children, creations of the imagination, situational comedy (how about a horse so hungry it could eat a child? or a monster that is afraid there is a child under its bed?), and so much more. There are over one hundred fascinating poems, from one paragraph to one-and-a-half pages in length, making for loads of laughs and endless Silverstein goodness.

Opinion: I remember reading a lot of Silverstein's poetry as a child, but for the life of me, I can't remember any specific poem that I had read. But this book and its drawings really took me back. I know that these poems click best with the younger folks, but the wonderful thing about Shel Silverstein is that children grow up remembering how much they enjoyed his poetry and they return to it again and again. I had several fourteen-year-olds requesting his books when I worked as a school librarian, and it seemed like I could not provide enough copies to satisfy.

Ideas: I would love to do a read-aloud of Silverstein's poetry, complete with audio and visual effects. It seems like a book that a storyteller could have a LOT of fun with!

Anansi Goes Fishing

Anansi Goes Fishing
retold y Eric A. Kimmel; illustrated by Janet Stevens
Holiday House, 1992

Genre: African Folklore

Honors:

• Book Links 03/01/96
• Booklist 03/01/96
• Child Study Children's Book Committee 1995
• Elementary School Library Collection 06/01/00
• Horn Book
• Kirkus Reviews
• School Library Journal
• Teacher Librarian
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: Anansi the trickster is at it again, and this time, he tries to fool Turtle out of an entire meal. Only Turtle is just a clever as his spider friend, if not more so, and he has seen through Anansi's scheme--not only that, but he comes up with a plan of his own, one that will convince Anansi to do all the work and give up all of the spoils. With the aid of Janet Stevens' beautiful full-page illustrations, Eric Kimmel retells a classic African folk tale that imparts a lesson about trying to trick a trickster. The story also alludes to the invention of the spider's web, Anansi's version of the fishing net Turtle taught him how to weave in order to catch food.

Opinion: It is hard for me to imagine anyone not appreciating folk stories that are well illustrated with fun pictures. This book is often recommended for children, but in another format, the same story could be just as interesting to young tween or even older. I got a kick out of Anansi and Turtle's constant trickery.

Ideas: Anansi is a wonderful character to include in a storytelling event. His adventures can be told with puppets, a story board, music, and traditional oral telling.

Avalon: The Warlock Diaries, Book 1

Avalon: The Warlock Diaries, Book 1
by Rachel Roberts
Seven Seas Entertainment, 2009

Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel

Honors: unknown

Review: This is Rachel Roberts' first comic book series and it center around three middle school girls who have unique magical gifts and each are protected by a "bonded," similar to the idea of a familiar. Like many other mages, Emily, Kara, and Adriane are on a mission to find a mythical city, Avalon. It is known as the source of all types of magic in the world, and it is only accessible through a particular sequence of portals. As the mages try to figure out the sequence, and unexpected visitor arrives, one who the girls and their familiars thought no longer existed. While the new warlock in town has magic and animals in tow, his quest to find Avalon has different motivations from Emily, Kara, and Adriane, and the actions of his servants are highly suspect. This action series comes complete with drama, cute boys, and lots of butt kicking.

Opinion: This series comes across as a sort of a tame version of Sailor Moon. It also reminds me of the W.I.T.C.H. series. Very girly and cute, so I'm doubting boys would be interested in it, but it may click with both younger and older tween girls.

Ideas: This one goes on the list of comic character heroes youth can dress up as for a super hero day at the library.

Daniel X: Alien Hunter

Daniel X: Alien Hunter
by James Patterson & Leopoldo Gout
Little, Brown, & Co., 2008

Genre: Action, Drama, Science Fiction, Graphic Novel

Honors:

• Booklist 10/01/08
• Kirkus Reviews 11/01/08
• School Library Journal 11/01/08
• Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 06/01/08

Review: After his family is killed by criminal aliens, Daniel X, son of an alien race, assumes his father's place and takes on a list of baddies from across the universe. He faces evil alone, using the power of his mind to create his sidekicks and imagine whatever weapon he needs to get the job done. Daniel's most dangerous mission yet is to take on Number 7, one of the strongest aliens on his father's list--and also one of the least-known species, an alien poacher who is responsible for the extinction of several innocent races. But with the help of an unlikely ally, Daniel may just find a way to prevent Number 7 from carrying out his latest plan. With vividly colored drawings and corny jokes, this cartoon version of James Patterson's science fiction novel is exciting, almost impossible to put down from cover to cover.

Opinion: Some violence, though not graphic, and very mild language form the backbone of this novel. It has more mature character drawings than most mangas and cartoons, and the reading level may be on the higher side, but the overall feel of the novel is fun and little bit goofy. Vengeance and protecting others are overarching theme that many tweens can identify with.

Ideas: I'd put this one out on display during a graphic artists' workshop, or in a series of displays for novels and movies that have been adapted for graphic novels.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Professor Layton and the Curious Village (handheld video game, ESRB Rated E for Everyone)
Nintendo, 2008

Genre: Brain Teaser, Puzzle, Mystery, Adventure


Honors:

• Spike Video Games, best handheld game, 2008
• Gamespy, best Nintendo DS game 2008
• British Academy Video Games Awards, best handheld award, 2009
• Nominated for best puzzle game for Nintendo DS, IGN video game awards, 2008
• Children's BAFTA Best Video Game Award, 2008
• GiantBomb, best DS game, 2008
• Nintendo Power Magazine, best puzzle game of the year
• AdventureGamers, "Aggie," best console/handheld adventure, 2009
• Nominated for best handheld game, G4's G-phoria, 2008

Review: One in a highly popular handheld mystery game series, Professor Layton and his apprentice, Luke, are much like Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Dr. Watson, piecing together unusual clues in order to solve a mystery that no one else can fathom. In this installment, the professor and his apprentice receive a letter from a recently widowed baron, claiming that the amazing fortune of the late baron will be awarded to the person who can solve a mystery: where is the Golden Apple? As the two enter Mystere, the curious village of the game's title, they encounter puzzles and brain teasers, which are worth points to solve. The game advancement is based on solving the brain teasers, which range in difficulty, and gaining information from the townsfolk of Mystere.

Opinion: The rating and design of this game are very deceptive. While gameplay in Professor Layton appears to be very simple and cute, the puzzles are extremely challenging and require some deep thought. I found myself jumping to the most logical answer many times and then failing to correctly solve many puzzles, and having to retry a puzzle means winning fewer than the max points originally offered for solving it. There are some that appear to be easy (such as, name the number of times in a 24-hour period three or more of the same number appear in a row on a digital clock), some are optical illusions, and some require specific knowledge (such as knowing in which direction the sun rises) in order to solve. As a grown adult who enjoyed being stumped by the puzzles in this game, I would say it is great for any age, really!

Ideas: One thought I had was to put on a mystery event and reenact some of the puzzles in Professor Layton, making useful reference materials available in the general area of the puzzles to assist the guest "detectives" in solving them. There are 120 in all, plenty to work with!

Mirrormask

Mirrormask (Motion picture)
Sony Pictures, 2005

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Drama

Honors:

• Herald Angel Award, The Scottish Herald
• Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival, Black Tulip Award, 2006
• Locarno Film Festival, Nominated for Golden Leopard, Won Youth Jury Award, 2005
• Sarasota Film Festival, Audience Award, 2005
• Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival, Nominated for Best Film, Won Best Art Direction and Best Makeup, 2005

Review: From the imagination of Neil Gaiman and the Producers of Jim Hensen Productions comes a story that blends reality with a dream world. When Helena, a teenage circus performer, finds out her mother is in the hospital and needs surgery, her dreams take her to another world, one in which her mother is a white queen, and she is trapped in a deep slumber by magic. The daughter of a dark queen has escaped using a magical item called a "mirrormask" and has switched herself with Helena, putting Helena in the dreamworld. Without the dark princess, the dreamworld is coming apart, and Helena becomes the enchanted slave of the dark queen. The only way to return to reality and awaken her mother is to find the mirrormask, along with a window into the waking world, so she can switch herself back and return balance to the dreamworld.

Opinion: I had to watch this more than once to get into it: it has a very art house-y feel to it, and Gaiman's twisted artwork takes over the entire film, from costume design to scenery. Something about the tone and direction of the film make it very slow at first, and I felt like I had to be either an intellectual observer or a big Gaiman fan to appreciate the style present in Mirrormask. The film was rated highly by young adults and teens, judging by the film festival awards and nominations it has received, so my guess is it would be more appropriate for older tweens than younger ones.

Ideas: I like the idea of having multiple displays for fantasy authors that have transitioned to the big screen. We have seen many, such as C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowing, have their works adapted to film. This is going a step beyond, in a way, as Gaiman and Jim Hensen were working together to create this film, which is pretty neat.

Eureka!

Eureka!: Poems About Inventors
by Joyce Sidman; illustrated by K. Bennett Chavez
Millbrook Press, 2002

Genre: Poetry, Technology Non-fiction

Honors:

• Book Links 11/01/03
• Booklist 10/15/02
• Horn Book 04/01/03
• Riverbank Review 01/01/03
• School Library Journal 01/01/03
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: Ever wonder what Leonardo da Vinci was thinking? Who was the "Real McCoy"? Want to know what "graham" is? The answers to these questions and more are the makeup of sixteen poems written about famous inventors and inventions of the pre-past, the age of invention, and the present age of the Internet. Some of the poems take on a life of their own as Sidman brings the voices of some past inventors to life to speak their own account of what they've accomplished. Her rhymes are often silly and nonsensical, and sometimes, as in the case of Marie Curie, they are very serious.

Opinion: A sixth-through-eighth-grade teacher I used to work with would have appreciated this book immensely. She was always looking for unique poetry books to share with her students.

Ideas: A good example of how poetry can be used for more than conveying emotions. I would base a fun poetry workshop on books like Sidman's, putting it on display for a reference for young poets who attend.

Genetically Modified Food

Saving Our World: Genetically Modified Food
by Nigel Hawkes
Copper Beech Books, 2000

Genre: Biology Non-fiction

Honors: unknown

Review: Nigel Hawkes attempts to offer young readers a balanced look at the issue of genetic engineering of animals and food, which is becoming more relevant in the decade following the turn of the millennium. This book is part of Saving Our World series, which explores new ways in which science is involved in environmental protection agenda. Topics such as the uses of genetically modified food and its impact for farmers and the environment are covered from both the pro and the con side of the coin, making this a good introductory, unbiased resource for readers new to this issue.

Opinion: Aside from being very general, this book is more than ten years old and a lot of the information is out-of-date now. It has some good basic information, which is nice because I don't think very many books exist for youth on the subject of genetic engineering--and more adult books will have a for/against skew. A good book for tweens of any age looking to do some general research.

Ideas: For a lecture on using resources that non-biased, this book would be very useful. There is also a useful-though-brief glossary and index in the back.

Disturbia

Disturbia (motion picture)
Dreamworks, 2007 (MPAA Rated PG-13 for terror, violence, and sexual content)

Genre: Suspense, Thriller


Honors:

• ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards, 2008
• Nominated for Empire Awards, Best Thriller, 2008
• Nominated for Kids' Choice Awards, Australia, Blimp Award, 2007
• Nominated for MTV Movie Awards, Best Kiss, 2008
• Nominated for People's Choice Awards, USA, Choice Actor (Shia LeBeouf) and Choice Horror Movie, 2008
• Teen Choice Awards, Choice Actor (Shia LeBeouf) and Choice Movie, 2007

Review: From Dreamworks comes a creepy thriller that takes the idea of being a part of the neighborhood
watch to the extremes. In the months following the death of his father in a fatal car accident, Kale (Shia LeBeouf) becomes overtly defiant, even violent, to the point that he socks his Spanish professor, lands himself in juvenile court, and is sentenced to three months of house arrest. What to do with all of that free time? Without access to the physical world beyond his front lawn, Kale turns to the only logical form of entertainment: spying on his neighbors. Only, what starts as innocent observations transforms into a technological stakeout when Kale begins to suspect that his neighbor is a serial killer and is responsible for countless unsolved missing women cases. As Kale and two of his friends gather more and more footage and test theories, the line between spying and creating evidence is crossed, and viewers will be frightened at how easy it is for an innocent person to be framed and a killer to go free. The suspenseful investigation scenes,, gory imagery, and chilling soundtrack to the movie make it a horror film with deep psychological thriller undertones.

Opinion: I was enjoying the comical breaks in this movie a lot, as some of the suspenseful scenes were very chilling and had my nerves on edge. By the time the mystery was resolved and the movie concluded, I wasn't sure whether I liked the film or not. The acting was superb, the directing amazing, and the plot had you doubting the evidence left and right, but when Kale and the killer face off toward the conclusion of the movie, the gore and music was so intense I felt like I couldn't watch anymore! I would definitely NOT recommend this movie to a younger tween. I think many older tweens like this kind of scary movie and will enjoy some of the erotic moments and heroicism displayed by Kale, but I have a hard time feeling like it is a good movie for young people of any age to watch. My personal feeling is that it over-glorifies the uses of technology to spy and the use of weapons to solve conflict.

Ideas: This movie would fit in well in a horror movie display; perfect for a Halloween theme for young adults and up.

Only the Mountains Do Not Move

Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation
by Jan Reynolds
Lee & Low Books, 2011

Genre: Agriculture Non-fiction, Geography Non-fiction

Honors:

• Booklist 09/01/11
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 12/01/11
• Horn Book 04/01/12
• Kirkus Reviews 09/01/11
• Publishers Weekly 08/22/11
• School Library Journal 10/01/11

Review: The daily life, culture, and farming practices of the Maasai people of Kenya are explored through photographs and proverbs of the Maasai, translated into English. Reynolds brings conservation and adaptation to the center of this narrative of a people who are learning to create innovative and environmentally-friendly changes within their culture as they adjust to the increase in activity from outside their village that affects the local animal populations, as well as the affects of global warming on the land.

Opinion: A very enjoyable book, and great for younger tweens.

Ideas: During April I like to focus on materials about conservation. It is a month filled with events celebrating the environment, the Earth, trees, and ecosystems; there is so much that this book can contribute to.

Animals on the Edge

Animals on the Edge: Science Races to Save Species Threatened with Extinction
by Sandra Pobst
National Geographic, 2008

Genre: Endangered Species Non-Fiction

Honors:

• Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 12/01/08
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10
• Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10 

Review: This book introduces young readers to the people involved in protecting endangered species and describes both the causes of declining populations of certain species and the modern methods being used today to work against the forces affecting animal habitats and health. Chapters focus on animals from the polar regions, the ocean, the rainforest, and more, with information about methods such as animal tracking through feces, breeding in captivity, tracking and preventing poaching and other criminal activity affecting endangered species, and ecosystem restoration efforts.

Opinion: The back of this book contains some very useful resources for youth doing research on endangered species. There is an index, glossary, bibliography, a list of websites, and recommended books for further reading. There are also some great wildlife shots of the species and of some of the scientists and species protectors at work. At 64 pages there is a lot of useful information packed into a small space, making this an ideal book for jumpstart research that would be easy for older tweens to get into and (hopefully) will not turn off younger tweens.

Ideas: With so many tools embedded into the book, I would find it very useful to model this book for exercises in using the references list, the index, or the glossary. Even the list of websites could be modeled for a research lesson.

Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow

Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow
by Robert D. San Soucil; illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Orchard Books, 2010

Genre: Folklore, Legends, Picture Book

Honors:

•  Booklist 10/15/10
• Horn Book 05/01/11
• Kirkus Reviews 09/15/10
• Library Media Connection 01/01/11
• School Library Journal 10/01/10
• Wilson's Children 09/01/11

Review: San Souci chronicles yet another chapter in the heroic life of the legendary characters Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. In this tale, illustrated with beautiful watercolor paintings by E.B. Lewis, the Sheriff of Nottingham has devised a scheme to trap Robin Hood by luring him into town with an archery contest. The prize, a golden arrow, is irresistible--or so he is convinced. But Robin is as clever as he is skilled with a bow, and he and his men come up with a counter plan, not only to attend the contest in disguise and foil the Sheriff's plan, but to make a public mockery of the law as well. Readers will cheer for Robin's feat and laugh at the humiliation of the evil Sheriff as he realizes he has failed once again to capture Robin Hood.

Opinion: The tale is short, but the suspense is high during the archery contest. Robin and the Merry Men are presented in very life-like paintings, dashing and heroic in appearance. San Souci's narratives are never over-the-top with embellishments--he keeps it simple and accessible. Could be great for tweens up to age twelve.

Ideas: This looks like a good fit for either a "Guys Read" display or a "Heroes and Legends" display at the library. Also a super pick for an all-ages story time, as the length is good for a read aloud.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minnish Cap

The Legend of Zelda: The Minnish Cap (video game)
Nintendo, 2005 (ESRB rated E for Everyone)

Genre: Adventure, RPG (role play game), Video Game (handheld)

Honors: unknown

Review: For fans of the Legend of Zelda game series looking for yet another adventure or for some back story, Nintendo has released another retro Zelda story for the Gameboy Advance that puts a young Link on a quest to restore a broken sword needed to vanquish an evil mage. The gameplay is typical of previous chapters in the Zelda series released for a handheld device, only Minnish Cap expands on previous capabilities by blending features such as screen scrolling and cliff jumping (from A Link to the Past for SNES) with miniquests, collectible items (such as the seashells), and the ability to equip two weapons or items of choice from the item menu, a feature seen only in handheld Zelda games. While there are many unique graphics, features, and songs in this new game, The Minnish Cap pays homage to past Zelda games with remixed music from A Link to the Past for SNES and The Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64, plus game controls and sound effects similar to games from the Gameboy, NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64 Zelda releases.

Opinion: One thing that makes this game a bit simpler than past Zelda games is that the Minnish Cap character is like the paper clip help icon in Microsoft Word: he guides you through nearly every step of your quest, giving you pretty obvious hints and what you need to do to solve puzzles and find hidden objects. That is something that previous Zelda games did not have and which made them more difficult to complete. This game is not quite as exciting in that respect, but at the same time, it reminds me of the light version of Final Fantasy (Mystic Quest), an SNES game that was in the same style as other Final Fantasy quests but much easier for gamers who aren't as quick with a controller or as used to solving brain teasers. So Minnish Cap has a tamer side that may appeal both to hardcore fans who can appreciate any new Zelda game and also those who want to enjoy the series who aren't as adept. My overall guess is that nine- and ten-year-olds may be more likely to enjoy playing Zelda on the handheld device.

Ideas:

Promises to Keep

Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America
by Sharon Robinson
Scholastic Press, 2004

Genre: Sports Non-Fiction, Biography, African American History

Honors:

• Book Links 09/01/04
• Booklist 02/15/04
• Booklist starred 02/15/04
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 04/01/04
• Five Owls 07/01/05
• Horn Book 10/01/04
• Kirkus Reviews 01/15/04
• Publishers Weekly starred 02/09/04
• School Library Journal starred 03/01/04
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10
• Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10

Review: With loving praise, family photographs, and a personal interpretation of Jackie Robinson's life, his daughter Sharon recounts some of her favorite memories of the man who became the first African American baseball player to be recruited to a National League team and be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. Sharon Robinson describes the history and climate of the United States up to the development of the Civil Rights movement, and she explains the somewhat reluctant role her father played in the movement to de-segregate the blacks from the whites in public spaces and in professional sports by playing in areas where he was threatened, boycotted, and heckled based on his skin color, and by refusing to lose his temper and strike back at those who insulted him.

Opinion: This book is tender, touching, and powerful. I loved how Sharon Robinson tied her father's work in professional baseball to the spirit that prevailed in the 60s to end segregation in America and improve the public's image of African Americans by bringing them into public arenas with white Americans to cheer for an African American pitcher. Her personal recollections bring Jackie Robinson to life not only as a national figure but as a model father, man of religion, and hero, whose struggles young boys and girls can identify with.

Ideas: Aside from being a great introductory resource for the Civil Rights movement, this book has an excellent index in the back and would be a good tool students can use to practice their index-referencing skills.

My Librarian is a Camel

My Librarian is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children around the World
by Margriet Ruurs
Boyds Mills Press, 2005

Genre: Reference Non-Fiction, Geography Non-Fiction, Multiculturalism

Honors:

• Booklist 07/01/05
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 12/01/05
• Catholic Library World 03/01/08
• Horn Book 09/01/05
• Horn Book starred 04/01/06
• Kirkus Reviews 08/01/05
• School Library Journal 08/01/05
• Science Books & Films (AAAS) 03/01/06

Review: From libraries on the backs of animals, to mail-order libraries, to libraries on wheels--including a library wheelbarrow!--Margriet Ruurs guides readers through a geographical tour of all the many ways in which libraries bring books to children in remote parts of the world, where access and space are limited. Her alphabetical list of countries features color photographs from each library showcased, a side bar telling where each country is located (with population, culture, and language statistics), and information about how each library is used by its patrons. Ruurs brings home the message to children in American that a library is a special privilege and a great gift, whatever form it takes.

Opinion: I really like the way information is organized in this book. It is useful on so many levels, teaching about books, organization, and people from other countries. One of the best parts of Ruurs' work is that she provides a list of references in the back, making this a great model for presenting accurate information. Interesting and appropriate material in the book for younger tweens, and in my own experience, general reference books for juveniles can be useful for up to eighth-graders as well.

Ideas: As I mentioned above, there is a list of references in the back of the book, which would serve as a good tool for modeling fact-checking strategies in the classroom or a workshop. If a librarian has access to the books and articles mentioned, then he or she can present the references page here and demonstrate how to follow the information provided back to the original sources and verify the information in the book by reading the articles used for research.

You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!
By Jonah Winter & Andre Carrilho
Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009

Genre: Sports Non-fiction, Picture Book, Biography

Honors:

• ALA Notable Children's Books 2010
• Book Links 10/01/09
• Book Links starred 03/01/09
• Booklist starred 12/15/08
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 02/01/09
• Horn Book 03/01/09
• Kirkus Reviews 01/15/09
• Multicultural Review 06/01/09
• Publishers Weekly starred 01/05/09
• School Library Journal starred 02/01/09
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: "What was THAT?" is the question that many batters ask after coming up against the power of Sandy Koufax's pitching. Born to a Jewish family, Koufax surprises everyone from his hometown when he decides to go into professional baseball, and he faces a lot of prejudice based on his ethnic heritage. But Koufax proves himself to be the LA Dodgers' greatest asset for six years of baseball history, according to Winter and Carrilho, risking his pride and the health of his elbow while giving it his all. The story of the rise of star Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax is presented in lively cartoon sketches, with statistical charts comparing his feats with the top pitchers of all time.

Opinion: The young protagonist in The Aurora County All-Stars, House Jackson, is an avid fan of Koufax--so much so, that he jeopardizes his own elbow trying to save his team from another loss in their yearly baseball game. The author spoke so highly of Koufax, that when I found this book I really wanted to know: Who the heck was Sandy Koufax??? I am not surprised that this book listed online as recommended for K-to-third-grade, and yet I think it is just as appropriate for younger tweens looking for an engaging look into the life of a famous baseball player. One of the greatest assets this book offers is in the back: there is a very useful glossary of baseball terms, plus a list of websites where baseball statistics can be found. For older children and teens doing baseball research, this book provides a really good starting point.

Ideas: This book is definitely going into a "Greatest Ball Players" display some day.

Kirby's Return to Dreamland

Kirby's Return to Dreamland (video game)

Nintendo, 2011 (ESRB rated E 10+ for mild cartoon violence)

Genre: Adventure, Platform, Video Games

Honors: unknown

Review: Building upon the original Kirby's Dreamland, a two-dimensional platform game released by Nintendo for the NES in 1992, Nintendo recently released a sequel story arc, with more game play features, for the Nintendo Wii. Along with a new quest, Kirby fans will have the opportunity to share in the adventure with some new features such as multi-player (up to four players at a time), old enemies become Kirby's allies, and each character has never-before-seen skills.

Opinion: As a veteran gamer, I can say that this game requires some pretty well-developed hand-eye coordination for successful game play. My brother introduced me to this game and we played it through to the end, but he did most of the legwork and I did a whole lotta laughing. I feel confident that Nintendo console fans of any age would like this game, from older kids to young adults.

Ideas: If I ever get a chance to hold a video game contest event, this would be on my list of games to choose from. It is accessible and fun for such a broad range of ages, and both boys and girls will find it interesting, so I think it would attract a lot of different people to compete.

The Patchwork Path

The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom
by Bettye Stroud; illustrated by Erin Susanne Bennett
Candlewick Press, 2007

Genre: African American Historical Fiction, Picture Book

Honors:

• Book Links 06/01/10
• Booklist 02/01/05
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 01/01/05
• Horn Book 10/01/05
• Kirkus Reviews 12/15/04
• Library Media Connection 01/01/06
• Library Media Connection starred 04/01/05
• Publishers Weekly 01/03/05
• School Library Journal 01/01/05
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: 10-year-old Hannah is the daughter of two slaves living on a plantation. Before passing away, Hannah's mother gives her a quilt and teaches her the secret meanings in the patterns: together, they spell out a map to Canada and freedom, with guideposts for finding help along the way. Then, when the time feels right, Hannah and her father escape their plantation and set out on the path to Canada, and Hannah uses the symbols on the quilt to check their progress. While Hannah's story is imaginary, Bettye Stroud learned of the patchwork quilt from a story that was orally passed on from the granddaughter of an escaped slave, and many slaves did escape and head to Canada, using quilts and rhymes like the ones in Hannah's quilt.


Opinion: While this book is recommended for younger readers, it offers an adventure and a history lesson ten-year-olds living far removed from the experience of slavery can learn from.

Ideas: I would include this book in a series of narrative accounts during a lecture on African American history; it would also be great to pair this book with a non-fiction title about real escaped slaves and the stories they passed down.

Despicable Me

Despicable Me (Motion Picture)

Universal Pictures, 2010

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Animated Films

Honors: unknown

Review: Viewers will laugh at Gru, a washed out, down-but-not-out criminal mastermind wannabe who refuses to let the international media spotlight go to a recent up-and-coming villain who unexpectedly steals the great pyramids and replaces them with whoopie-cushion-like facsimiles. When three orphans selling girl scout cookies shows up at his door, Gru gets an idea for a master plan that will enable him to pull off the greatest heist ever: Gru is going to steal the moon! The humor is tart and childish, but it makes for great laughs, and the minions--Gru's faithful mini sidekick clique--are cute and silly additions to Gru's secret underground lair.

Opinion: While this story seemed a bit lacking and uninspired for me, I could see the humor striking a chord with youth. There are some particularly funny moments, such as when Gru's scientist helper invents a fart gun when Gru had asked him to invent a dart gun, and when the girls come to live in Gru's mansion and start meddling with some of his dangerous evil gadgets.

Ideas: I'm not sure whether Universal offers the right to screen this film in a public place other than a theater, but since it is based on a story, it would be cool to include it in a based-on-the-book/story series of film showings.

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare

Cirque Du Freak #1: A Living Nightmare...
by Darren Shan
Little, Brown & Co., 2002

Genre: Horror

Honors:

• Booklist 04/15/01
• School Library Journal 05/01/01
• Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 04/01/01

Review: This is the first volume in the saga of Darren Shan's diary chronicling his journey into the world of the night dwellers: vampires. When Darren and his friend, Steve, score tickets to an illegal freak show, Darren discovers that his friend knows a little too much about the world of vampires, as he is able to spot one working in the show--and that he wants to join them! But before Darren can face Steve's dark intentions, another problem arises: a telekinetic spider at the show becomes the object of Darren's intense obsession, and his desire to possess the spider for a pet causes him to go down a path that alters the lives of him and Steve in ways he never in his wildest dreams would have imagined, forcing Darren to give up his humanity in order to protect the humanity of others. In the tradition of gothic novels and thrillers, Shan draws readers into the dark world of a nightmare-come-true with suspense, gore, and a little bit of humor and fun.

Opinion: Okay, I have been getting requests from students for this series for many months, and while the library I ran did not have any titles in the collection, I considered for a long time whether or not to put Cirque Du Freak in the library and give all students access to it. It sounded like a very mature and gruesome series, but now that I have read the first book I feel that it is a series that is like a step up from Goosebumps. The thrill of the suspense and the sense of evil lurking around the next corner is what makes the series a page turner and a fun and easy read for tweens or all ages.

Ideas: Cirque Du Freak would make a great contemporary depiction of a freak show to include in a lecture about the history of freak shows. The novel makes some strong claims about the conditions of freaks that performed in these circus-like shows, and I would get a kick out of researching the subject and comparing the characters in Shan's story to those that have been documented in past shows.

The Door in the Hedge

The Door in the Hedge
by Robin McKinley
Firebird, 2003

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Adaptations

Honors:

• Booklist
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
• Elementary School Library Collection 06/01/00
• Horn Book starred 09/01/96
• Kirkus Reviews
• School Library Journal
• Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10

Review: Robin McKinley flourishes as a weaver of epic fantasy and fairy tales with hints of romance. In The Door in the Hedge, McKinley introduces two unique fairy tales of her own invention, as well as two adaptations of the classic fairy tales The Frog Prince and The Twelve Dancing Princesses. In The Stolen Princess, a kingdom situated too close to what the people refer to as "Fairyland" falls victim to the fairies' practice of stealing young boys and seventeen-year-old girls to assimilate into their population--but only in families that are sure to have more than one child. One princess, Linadel, is an exception to the rule--her parents are likely to have no other heir after their daughter is taken, and unlike other kidnappings of the past, this one will not go ignored, as they are determined to find a way to get her back. The Hunting of the Hind is a tale of a curse, an evil wizard, and a princess who risks her life in order to free three people: a woman bewitched, the woman's brother, and the princess' own brother, who fell victim to the curse of the wizard. McKinley's tales focus on the power of love, family, and bravery.

Opinion: I feel that, with Robin McKinley, readers have to have a deep appreciation for her stories in order to be able to read her fiction comfortably. She is a brilliant writer and wonderful story-teller; however, her use of language is rich and extravagant--essentially, she uses very large words and often. Her language is somewhat colloquial and formal as well. For some this is a novelty, for me it can be a bit of a turnoff, like talking to someone who has their nose in the air. Without these characteristics, her novels would be much shorter. This is a lengthy read, though the paperback packaging with small print inside was deceptive when I picked it up. Great for older tweens, maybe a bit too much for the younger ones.

Ideas: I like doing tributes to great authors for their birthdays. A display for Robin McKinley's fantasy on or around her birthday would be my favorite way to exemplify this book.

Monkey High! Volume 1

Monkey High! Volume 1
by Shouko Akira
VIZ Media, 2008

Genre: Manga, Romance

Honors:

• Kliatt 05/01/08
• Publishers Weekly 01/07/08
• School Library Journal 09/01/08
• Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10

Review: Shouko Akira's first manga series is about a slowly blossoming love between two unlikely high schoolers. Haruna Aizawa, who just transferred from a prestigious school to one where everyone seems to her like monkeys, is determined to stand outside of the crowd and remain friendless. But the one boy in school her reminds her of an actual baby monkey, Macharu Yamashita, manages to put himself on Haruna's radar, and the two of them become friends. And then, when reminders of her father's professional scandal follow her to her new school, Haruna immerses herself in the perceived safety of childlike Macharu's playful antics, only to find herself forming a confusing romantic attachment to him. Akira's two characters confront issues of size, beauty, and popularity when faced with their extremely obsessive, assuming, and judgmental peers.

Opinion: A pretty cute and fun manga. Normally I do not go for high school romance stories, and yet I liked the way Akira creates a balance of innocence and intensity in her characters' interactions. There are several strips that focus on the facial expressions of Haruna and Macharu that aim to express those moments where words and ideas are being passed between two people through their stares. There are a few minor sexual references to making love and using condoms in the manga, and for that I might avoid recommended this to a tween that is under thirteen.

Ideas:

The Wizard of Oz: The Graphic Novel

The Wizard of Oz: The Graphic Novel
Adapted by Michael Cavallaro
Byron Preiss Visual Publications, 2005

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy

Honors:

• Book Links 05/01/08
• Kirkus Reviews 07/15/05
• School Library Journal 11/01/05
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: Blending traditional cartoon sketching with state-of-the-art digital graphic technology, Cavallaro takes readers on a visual path through the story of the Wizard of Oz, staying as close to the original story as possible. His only real spin on Baum's classic is to modernize the image of Dorothy, her hometown in Kansas, and the land and people of Oz. For those who are unfamiliar with the story, Dorothy is an orphan who goes to live with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on their farm in Kansas. Everything about her world is gray, and yet Dorothy finds happiness in her pet dog, Toto. Then one day, a cyclone whips through the farm, and Dorothy is too late to join her aunt and uncle in their cyclone hole underneath the house. She and the house, along with Toto, are swept away to a magical land where there are small people named Munchkins, good witches and bad witches, a talking scarecrow, and a mysterious and powerful wizard. The Wonder Wizard of Oz may be the only person who can help Dorothy return to Kansas, but she will have to go on a dangerous journey to reach his beautiful Emerald City, and there is one enemy in the land who would like more than anything to get to Dorothy before she reaches her destination.

Opinion: This was a neat find. This new version of Dorothy and her friends in Oz has a very urban feel to it, and it is easy to identify with the story through Cavallaro's angular and lively drawings. I can see tweens up to age thirteen liking this book and others like it.

Ideas: The Wizard of Oz definitely has a cult following. There are a number of ways to celebrate the original series by L. Frank Baum: the library could hold an Oz Festival, have oz-based story-times, an oz character dress-up event, and several displays, including one showcasing the many adaptations and spin-offs created since the popularity of Oz rose.

Naruto: The Tests of the Ninja

Naruto, volume 1: The Tests of the Ninja
by Masashi Kishimoto
Viz Media, 2007

Genre: Manga, Adventure

Honors:

• Wilson's Senior High School 10/01/07

Review: From the Shonen Jump manga collection comes a translation of Kishimoto's manga series, Naruto, originally published in Japan in 1998. With a blend of fast-paced comic strip depictions of action and ridiculous slapstick humor, Kishimoto illustrates the story of an orphan ninja-in-training named Naruto, the butt of every joke in his village. Appealing to the only person in town who has any faith in him, his teacher, Naruto trains to be accepted by the Ninja school and earn the respect of the townsfolk who have shunned him--until the day a rival student reveals an evil secret about Naruto's past that threatens to shatter Naruto's dream and uncover a demon that should never be released from its prison.

Opinion: I was excited to finally get a chance to get into the manga. I'd heard about it many years ago, from the anime, and at the time I was into other shows and didn't get around to it. Then I took a long break from mangas. But for the purpose of this class I am giving them another go and finding they are one of my favorite formats to read. I can see why tweens and teens would get into mangas so easily: they are shorter reads than novels, they have imaginative and artful drawings and depictions of action sequences, and sometimes the facial stills capture emotion and convey unspoken words in a way that written language can't. So far there is nothing that flags my attention that this series would be more appropriate for one age or other: I know of many nine- and ten-year-olds who enjoy comics and cartoons and would like the style present in Naruto, as well as thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds who like anime and graphic novels of all types and who most likely will have already heard of this one.

Ideas: As I have witnessed in my work in public schools, many tweens love books that teach you how to draw anime and manga characters. Naruto would serve as a good model  as the characters are not very complex in appearance. I'm betting a manga workshop for tweens would be a real crowd pleaser and would draw in many young adults interested in learning how to draw comics in the manga style.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minnish Cap

The Minnish Cap (The Legend of Zelda Manga Series, volume 8)
by Akira Himekawa
VIZMedia, 2009

Genre: Manga, Adventure

Honors: unknown

Review: This is one of a series of prequels to the original Legend of Zelda story arc, the tale of a Hyrulian knight named Link who rescues a princess from the clutches of an evil wizard named Ganon and retrieves the stolen artifact of power, the Triforce. In The Minnish Cap, a young Link and Princess Zelda are taking part of a 100th-year celebration in Hyrule, when a sorcerer named Vaati crashes Hyrule's gathering, attempting to steal the Light Force, a power that Hyrule has protected for centuries. Princess Zelda is turned to stone, and the sword that is used to seal the Light Force and protect against intruders is broken by Vaati's magic. Link volunteers to go on a dangerous quest: with the help of a strange, talking cap, he must find the original creators of the sword, the elf-like Pecori people, and get the sword repaired. And then--he must stop Vaati and break the curse that Vaati put on Zelda. The action is fast-paced, the dialogue witty, and the story filled with slapstick fall-on-your-face moments.

Opinion: As a die-hard LoZ fan who played some of the games through too many times to count, I loved this manga immensely. It is great both for fans of the series and for younger tweens looking for a clean graphic novel. I wouldn't count the older tweens out of the picture, as many older teens like the Zelda series, but the comics are drawings are very goofy and child-like, more in the vein of Hamtaro than Ranma 1 1/2 or another series for young adults.

Ideas: Bringing video game and movie characters to life in a comic is a fun project, one that would be great for an art workshop at the library: bring in your favorite [movie, novel, video game etc] and draw your own version of a character or scene. There is also a big fan base for fan fiction on this and other well-known series. Having a share-a-story of fan fiction relating to video games or manga would also be fun.

Bird

Bird
by Angela Johnson
Dial Books, 2004

Genre: Ficion

Honors:

• ALA Notable Children's Books 2005
• Book Links 10/21/10
• Booklist 09/01/04
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 12/01/04
• Christian Library Journal 09/01/05
• Horn Book 09/01/04
• Kirkus Reviews starred 07/15/04
• Kliatt 09/01/04
• Library Media Connection 03/01/05
• Publishers Weekly 10/18/04
• School Library Journal 09/01/04
• Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 02/01/05
• Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) starred 02/01/05
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: Young Bird is not a runaway, but she has left her mother's home to search for her step father, Cecil. Following the only clue he left behind, Bird travels to Acorn, Alabama, where she tries to hide out in the barn of the other family that is connected to Cecil. As the summer days pass and school draws near, Bird finds is harder and harder to blend into the background, and she becomes acquainted with two boys in town who share an unknown connection. Her presence helps them both deal with difficulties in their own lives, and in the end, Bird realizes she has a difficult decision to make of her own. There is a gentle hint of romance and a lot of beautiful, simple dialogue shared by Bird and the two boys who make a connection with her: Ethan, Cecil's nephew whose genuine smile and easygoing nature masks his worries that he will never be able to fit in when he returns to school after a long hiatus, due to heart trouble; and Jay, whose family ties have loosened in the wake of his little brother's death from a brain aneurism.

Opinion: I noticed on the cover of this book that Angela Johnson received the Coretta Scott King award for the year that this book was published; however, the book itself is not listed as an award-winner. I wondered at this, as I thought the book was so delicately and thoughtfully written, touching on the aftermath of death, separation, broken families, and finding a sense of home and friendship. I found a copy of Bird housed in the Juvenile Fiction area, but I feel like, were I a librarian, I would like to be able to put a copy in the Young Adult collection as well, as children and young adults alike could benefit from reading of Bird's experiences and her journey to find the missing half of her family.

Ideas: If I had had this book in my collection when I worked at Peninsula, I would have included it in a Coretta Scott King Award Winners display, or a display of African American authors for Black History Month.

The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye

The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye: An Enola Holmes Mystery
by Nancy Springer
Philomel Books, 2010

Genre: Mystery

Honors:

• Booklist starred 05/01/10
• Horn Book 10/01/10
• Horn Book 07/01/10
• School Library Journal 06/01/10
• Wilson's Junior High School 09/01/11

Review: The smart-spoken younger sister of Sherlock Holmes is still in hiding from her two older brothers, evading boarding school and the bleak possibility of being married off to the first taker. While treading through the streets of London in disguise, Enola becomes part of a search for a missing--possibly kidnapped--duquessa. Meanwhile, Sherlock has happened upon a parcel addressed to his sister that may have a clue to the whereabouts--or the fate--of their mother, who disappeared, abandoning Enola and leaving no word with her brothers. This novel is filled with suspense, humor, and two enthralling mysteries involving two entirely different missing women. Will both be found? Will Enole be reunited with her mother? And will she be found out by her brothers and have to face her doom as a young woman?

Opinion: I feel like I am finding more novels recently that turn out a female counterpart to classic fairytale and literary characters, or vice versa. I figured sooner or later there would come along a Holmesian female detective, but I didn't imagine that that detective would be written as a sassy sister of Sherlock himself, or that she would appear in a series for children. I think, even though the original detective has been around for quite a while and his stories are written for older audiences, Springer does a great job uniting his stories with the mysteries solved by Enola Holmes, bringing the two siblings together, and designing detective stories that are more fitting for a younger audience. I had a lot of fun with this book and would love to read the rest of the series thus far.

Ideas: I like it when libraries do a Guys Read theme and one for female heroes as well. This book would definitely go in the female heroes display.

The Dragon of Lonely Island

The Dragon of Lonely Island
by Rebecca Rupp
Candlewick Press, 1998

Genre: Fantasy

Honors:

• Book Links 03/01/07

Review: This is a simplistic story revolving around the lives of three dragons--or, rather, a three-headed dragon. Three children visit Lonely Island, the home their aunt Mehitabel, one summer, and discover the clues she left behind lead to the cave where Fafnyr Goldenwings has been living in peace for many many years. As Hannah, Zachary, and Sarah Emily come to know the dragon and return a second and third time to visit, Fafnyr shares stories about its past that, while innocently told, impart a lesson for each of the children that speaks to their current feelings: Because of her role as the elder sister, Hannah, who is twelve and on the threshold of young adulthood, struggles to hold on to the child inside of her; ten-year-old Zachary is particular about many aspects of his life, a vice that tends to keep him from being able to share his things and enjoy being with others; being the youngest and reliant on the wisdom of her siblings, Sarah Emily fears taking initiative and believes there is nothing special about her--according to Hannah, she has low self esteem. In the novel, Rupp defines a dragon as very human-like in many ways, immortal but easily succumbing to the same character flaws--selfishness, greed, loneliness--as the humans it has come to know.

Opinion: This book could definitely be more appealing for nine-to-eleven-year-olds, as it speaks directly to issues of that age range, but like many other fantasy books, the story of a living three-headed dragon is one that carries across to all ages. I really enjoyed this story, and as I've learned that it has a sequel, I would love to find a copy and see what else happens with Fafnyr Goldenwings.

Ideas: This year's Summer Reading Program across many libraries in California is related to dreams and fantasy, and a book like Rupp's would fit in nicely in the Summer Reading Program displays. At my local library, some of the story times over the summer are being devoted to fairy tales, some of them involving princesses and dragons, and there are live performances and singing. It sounds like so much fun: I would really enjoy organizing programs that include dragons and other fantasy elements into puppet shows and mini plays, and I am sure even older kids would get a kick out of it. One of the nice things about putting on performances is you can get local performers involved, and in some cases there are children's acting groups. I could see older kids putting on a play at the library for younger kids, perhaps about meeting a dragon or acting out some of the stories Fafnyr tells the children.