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.

Max Headroom

Max Headroom (TV Series)
Warner Brothers, 1987

Genre: Television Series, Science Fiction, Comedy


Honors:

• 2 Emmy wins and 1 nomination (1987)
• International Monitor Awards (1988)

Review: In a depressing look into the future of civilization, the world of news and television controls the population. In the pilot for the series, one reporter for a leading news corporation, Edison Carter, gets on the bad side of his corporate supervisors when he goes against his boss to investigate a murder caused by "Blipverts," a condensed series of advertisements designed to prevent viewers from channel flipping that has a deadly side effect for some viewers. When Carter gets too close to the truth, the head of his organization sets out to have him taken out of the picture. After Carter is injured and held captive, his boss' young genius inventor attempts to download Carter's memories and create a digital version of Carter inside the news network's main computer. Carter's computer persona takes on a life or its own, naming itself "Max Headroom" and escaping into the system, broadcasting himself live across the nation. While his appearance (and network ratings) resemble Carter, Max Headroom is a prankster with a satirical sense of humor and a desire to publicly embarrass his creators.

Opinion: I decided to give this show a view since it loosely fit the description of a dystopian series, and I was interested in getting an idea of what a tv show with dystopic qualities would look like (aside from the series Firefly, the only other dystopian series I have seen). There is some definite potential for this series to be interesting for a tween--namely, one of the smartest, goofiest characters in the series is the young prodigy and primary inventor for Network 23, Bryce. I laughed a lot watching the pilot episode, but most of my laughter was sympathetic as I understood that the portrayal of technological advancements in 1987's version of the future were extremely outdated, and I'm pretty sure tweens today would recognize how unrealistic the gadgets and networking capabilities used in the show seem to be now that we are experiencing some of these ideas in the present and they do not exactly mirror those in Max Headroom.

Ideas: I think this show would make for a good comparing and contrasting exercise. One can look at the ideas in Max Headroom, the projections of the future being offered, and compare them to the "future" that has come to be since the 1980s. In many ways this show, like many futuristic movies, attempts to identify what we are capable of progressing into, both for better and for worse, and it gives inspiration to inventors by offering them something to work towards.

The Blackout Gang

The Blackout Gang
by Josh McCall
Penguin Group, 2006

Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction

Honors:

• Booklist 07/01/06
• School Library Journal 07/01/06

Review: Monica, BB, and Kev1n are planning a breakout--breaking out of summer camp, that is. Their plans are nearly cemented when BB's tutor from school Newt Lizzard, sends him a vague SOS text. The gang follows the clues from his call back to his family's mansion, and from there a mystery blackout takes down the power of all of New York City, leaving chaos in the streets. With a frail attempt at suspense, McCall draws readers down the path of Monica, BB, and Kev1n--who call themselves the Blackout Gang--as they navigate the city in search of the source--or person--responsible for the blackout. The mystery thickens just slightly as the gang learns that their parents have been kidnapped in connection with the blackout and that they must risk their lives in order to stop a maniacal kid genius from taking over the world and creating a computer playmate using a surrogate body.

Opinion: This book is short and witty, and the plot is fully revealed fairly quickly. There is not a lot of guesswork to be done. This may be a nice read for those who do not want a lot of complexity or a lengthy cast of characters--there are shifts throughout the narrative between the kids from the Blackout Gang, Newt Lizzard, and his nanny, and only one or two other faces make a brief appearance. I was not very impressed with the book, but I think many 9-to-10-year-olds, especially those into computers and gaming, might like this as it has short chapters, making it feel like an easy read, and it has a simple mystery plot to resolve.

Ideas: Mysteries can be fun to reenact as a play or acting exercise. Another way this book could be used is in a book club, where members of the book agree to read a few chapters at a time and meet periodically to predict what is going to happen next or who might turn out to be the villain.

I, Freddy

I, Freddy: Book one in the Golden Hamster Saga
By Dietlof Reiche, translated from the German by John Brownjohn
Scholastic, 2003


Genre: Fiction

Honors:

• Booklist 04/01/03
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 07/01/03
• Christian Library Journal 06/01/03
• Horn Book 10/01/03
• Publishers Weekly 05/26/03
• School Library Journal 11/01/03
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: Who would have thought that a golden hamster would be clever enough to impress his way into the home of his choice, and from there learn to read and communicate with humans? Freddy certainly did. As soon as he learned from one of his elders that domesticated hamsters were doomed to the bland existence of pet to humans, Freddy decided that he would make himself the exception to the rule. Using a smile, a wave, and a few other tricks, Freddy stands out in his family of sitters and sleepers when little Sophie's father visits
the pet store. Freddy is sent away due to Sophie's mother's dislike for rodent pets, and then Freddy ends up in the hands of a writer named Mr. John and the company of two vaudevillian guinea pigs and a cat, all of whom befriend Freddy and aid him in his quest to find more reading materials and figure out a way to write the things he wants to say to Mr. John.

Opinion: This is the first in a series about one hamster's dream to escape to the outside world and be free from the restraints of pethood. It is filled with satire and comic relief, mainly provided by the guinea pigs, who have impeccable improvisational skills and who often come up with mocking songs to sing about how hansters are inferior to guinea pigs and so on. I wondered in the beginning if I would really enjoy reading the narrative of a hamster, who, honestly, is not my favorite animal, but by the end I was hooked and wanted to see what the next book in the series holds for Freddy the Golden Hamster. I am going to guess that tweens up to age 11 may enjoy this, but those in the teens are more likely to think that this series is silly and babyish.

Ideas:

The Aurora County All-Stars

The Aurora County All-Stars
by Deborah Wiles
Harcourt, Inc., 2007

Genre: Sports, Fiction

Honors:

• Booklist 09/01/07
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 12/01/07
• Horn Book starred 04/01/08
• Kirkus Reviews starred 07/01/07
• National Book Award Finalist
• Publishers Weekly starred 07/09/07
• School Library Journal 10/01/07
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10
• Wilson's Junior High School 11/01/08

Review: House Jackson, a quiet, reserved baseball pitcher, has a secret only his family knows about: after fourteen-year-old dancing student, Frances Shotz, crashes into House and breaks his elbow the previous year, he had to miss out on his team's yearly baseball game and spend every day reading to his dying neighbor, Mr. Boyd. After Mr. Boyd finally passes on, House finds himself in the center of a conflict between the Mamas and the Aurora County All-Star baseball team when the county decides to hold a special parade and performance on the day of the county's anniversary, which happens to be the Fourth of July and the same day the baseball team plays against their rival, the Redbugs. House faces off with Frances and decides that--anniversary pageant or no anniversary pageant--he is not going to miss out on his game for a second year in a row. With the help of some clues left behind by the late Mr. Boyd, House learns some important information about the significant historic ties between Aurora County and race relations in baseball in the last fifty years, and he gets an idea that just might work for everyone.

Opinion: This book is just spectacular on so many levels. It deals with prejudice, racism, death, sexism, fear of reclusive individuals in the community, and on top of that, Wiles provides some very rich and fascinating details about Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson, and other historic baseball players who were a part of the struggle for acceptance of black athletes in American sports. I was inspired by House's devotion to these two players and their fictional counterparts, Mr. Boyd and his African American friend, Mr. Shotz, whom was denied the right to play with Mr. Boyd in the 1960s when they were boys and shared a love of baseball. All of these lessons are very delicately woven into a dramatic story for boys and girls alike about doing what you love and standing up for your right to be what you want to be.

Ideas: I recently found a couple of picture book biographies of Koufax and Robinson at the library and I thought they would be complementary to this book for a biography research assignment. That way the fictional representations of these two baseball players can be tested via a biography.

Soldier Bear

Soldier Bear
by Bibi Dumon Tak
Eerdmans Books for Young Children, 2011

Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII Novel

Honors:

• ALA Notable Children's Books 2012
• Booklist 10/15/11
• Horn Book 11/01/11
• Kirkus Reviews 08/15/11
• Library Media Connection 01/01/12
• Mildred L. Batchelder Award 2012
• School Library Journal 11/01/11

Review: During an occupation in Iran, a group of Polish soldiers who've joined the British forces against Germany during World War II come across a boy begging for food, and they discover he is carrying a bear cub. They convince the boy to trade his bear, and one of the men, Peter, becomes an adoptive father to the bear, naming him Voytek. In order to keep the bear, Peter and his comrades have to convince several commanding officers that Voytek is worthy of being a part of the Polish army and is loyal to his soldier duties. At times the narrative is very humorous, especially when Voytek gets into scuffles with other animals at the army camps--there is a monkey named Kaska who has had it out for Voytek since day one, and a dalmation named Dottie becomes Voytek's best playmate, whom he loves to wrestle and race with. The story is based on true events, and Voytek ends up serving with Peter and his friends for five years, getting into trouble with the army cooks, performing stunts on vehicles to entertain the troops, and sniffing out spies. The Polish soldiers who served with the British were given special gear emblazoned with Voytek's image, to commemorate his invaluable contribution to the war effort.

Opinion: This books is really sweet and cute, with a colorful cast of characters. It is impressive how soft and child-appropriate a spin Tak puts on World War II, an otherwise very violent piece of history. The novel deals with death, both of fellow soldiers and of one of the animals, and there is bombing and fighting, but Voytek is always there to provide comfort and entertainment, easing some of the pains that the soldiers are experiencing.

Ideas: The story of Voytek reads well as a sort of "truth is stranger than fiction" novel. If one were doing a history lesson focused on World War II, it would nice to include some light-hearted stories from the war like Soldier Bear, stories that are either too strange to be true or are a humorous way to segue into more serious subjects.

I am J

I am J
by Cris Beam
Little, Brown, and Company, 2011

Genre: Fiction

Honors:

• Booklist starred 12/01/10
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred 02/01/11
• Horn Book 03/01/11
• Kirkus Reviews starred 02/01/11
• Publishers Weekly 01/31/11
• School Library Journal 02/01/11
• Teacher Librarian 02/01/12

Review: Cris Beam tells a very heart-wrenching tale of Jeni, who prefers to be known as "J," a transgender who was born a girl and grows up feeling more and more desperate to find a way to change his body to reflect the way he feels inside. As his efforts to stop his female body from developing, he struggles to fit in at school, where he is teased and called a fag by his peers. What's worse, he is afraid to even begin to try and articulate who he is to his family, who are openly opposed to the homosexual and transgender lifestyle. His best girl friend, Melissa, is his first love and the only one who shows any promise of being able to come to terms with his transgender identity. As J experiments with altering his appearance and attempting to "pass" as a male in a new area, his relationships with Melissa and his family begin to unravel so fast that he decides that the only course for him to take is to run away and live in a shelter while he sorts out his life and finds a way to become more masculine.

Opinion: This one may be best for either more mature thirteen and fourteen-year-olds who have the patience to get through it, or for older teens as it is pretty long and has a lot of complex language, some pretty descriptive text about body parts and detailed thoughts about romance.

Ideas: There are some really good resources for transgender youth, as well as the conveyance of a lot of basic information related to the transgender lifestyle. This novel could serve as the basis for an exercise in looking up the terms in the book for clarification, such as terms related to sex change and the hormones used in making one sex more like the opposite sex.

Putting Makeup on the fat boy

Putting makeup on the fat boy
by Bil Wright
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2011

Genre: Romance, Hispanic American Fiction

Honors:

ALA Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Award Literary Prizes - Booklist

Literary Prizes - Kirkus Reviews

Literary Prizes - Library Media Connection

Literary Prizes - Publishers Weekly

Review: Carlos Duarte is a gay teenager named who feels he is destined to become a famous makeup artist. When his best friend Angie suggests he channel his dream into an application for makeup assistant at a local Macy's store, Carlos resists at first, but when he hears about the number of well-known clients Macy's draws in, he decides to fake a resume and portfolio, with the help of his female friends, his sister Rosalia, and his high school first crush, photographer and punk rocker Gleason Kraft. Carlos uses his friends' support and trust to his advantage and some of his ideas land him the job, while others land him in big trouble, both with his new boss (otherwise known to Carlos as the archenemy standing between him and his dream) and some of his friends. He has other problems to deal with as well: his sister is dating an abusive, homophobic boyfriend who harasses Carlos frequently, and his mother and sister both have a hard time understanding his passion (and lack of girlfriend). When a famous actress appeals to Carlos for an emergency makeup job, Carlos lies, "borrows," and hopes for the best in order to make up for his prior mistakes. Readers will laugh aloud at some of Carlos' wild depictions of his clients and their pitiful, pre-Carlos-style makeup jobs.

Opinion: This is my first exposure to literature that is written from the perspective of a metrosexual teen, and for someone who is outside of that culture, Wright offers readers a chance to empathize with someone who is interested in culturally atypical activities for a male, while at the same time providing a positive image of a gay high school-aged boy who is able to be himself and follow his dreams (most of the time). I would recommend this book for older tweens based on some of the subject matter (there is a fair amount of violent encounters and some sexual references) and the fact that the protagonist is sixteen, but the language and plot are overall probably not too mature for younger tweens.

Ideas: Mainly I would love to put a book like this in an LGBTQ-themed display. It raises several questions about gay behavior that can be discussed in a group dialogue as well.

Did Fleming Rescue Churchill?

Did Fleming rescue Churchill? A research puzzle
by James Cross Giblin
Henry Holt, 2008

Genre: Mystery

Honors:

• Booklist 03/15/08
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 05/01/08
• Horn Book 10/01/08
• Kirkus Reviews 04/01/08
• Library Media Connection starred 03/01/09
• School Library Journal 04/01/08
• Wilson's Children 10/01/10

Review: Jason loses his chance to choose a scientist to study when he has to miss school for a dentist appointment. When he finds out he is stuck with Alexander Fleming, who seems to be the most boring subject possible, Jason asks his teacher for advice in conducting research. When she suggests he look beyond the usual reference materials available in the library, for an interesting story about Fleming's life, Jason decides to use a search tool on the Internet and, in doing so, he uncovers a fascinating tale involving Fleming and Winston Churchill. The only problem: any story he includes in his research paper must be verifiable as true, but unless Jason uses some critical searching and fact checking online, he risks both a bad grade and the label of plagiarist. Written in the style of a detective novel, Jason describes the tools he uses and his methods of deductive reasoning to get to the bottom of the mystery of whether or not Alexander Fleming rescued Winston Churchill when he fell into a bog and was rewarded by Churchill's wealthy father.

Opinion: One of the neat things about this story is that it is based on an actual myth Giblin himself uncovered and researched. All one has to do to retrace the story in real life is to conduct a search engine query using the two names involved in the mystery. Giblin also provides links to the original conflicting stories that Jason finds in the book. Overall it is not a particularly exciting read (as one 9-year-old reviewer on Amazon noted, why would anyone want to read a story about a kid doing research?); however, there are some useful, and fairly subtle, lessons about being a critical, cautious researcher when using the Internet. There are also some handy tips for using other print resources such as encyclopedias. I found, while working with middle school-aged youth, that reference tools are often not well taught to this age group.

Ideas: As I've already mentioned, it is important to teach older children and teens how to use reference tools effectively. This book can serve as a great starting point for lessons about using dictionaries, almanacs, encyclopedia series--even wikis and online databases. The important thing to emphasize is how to assess the credibility of sources used for research.

Old Yeller

Old Yeller
by Fred Gipson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Honors:

Literary Prizes - Book Links

Literary Prizes - Booklist

Literary Prizes - Child Study Children's Book Committee

Literary Prizes - Elementary School Library Collection

Literary Prizes - Horn Book

Literary Prizes - Newbery Honor

Literary Prizes - Reference and Research Book News

Literary Prizes - Wilson's Children

Literary Prizes - Wilson's Junior High School

Review: With his father away working out of the area, Travis is given the role of man of the house at his family's ranch in Birdsong Creek, Texas, a role which means he must look after the chores and take care of his mother and younger brother, Arliss. He is told he ought to think about getting a dog, for security, but when a mangy mutt with one ear missing appears in their hog house one night and makes himself at home, Travis feels nothing but contempt for the dog and tries to discourage the dog from sticking around despite his brother's protestations to keep him as a pet. The dog, nicknamed "Old Yeller," comes to Arliss' rescue and, over time, proves himself to be Arliss' most faithful guardian. His determination to help Travis be a good rancher in place of his father wins Travis over. Always honest and plain-spoken, Travis uses no exaggerations in his narrative of Old Yeller's transformation from uninvited guest to member of the family, and his audience will find it difficult to come to terms with the fatal consequences brought upon Travis' new friend when he puts himself between Travis and a pack of rabid hogs, eventually succumbing to the disease himself.

Opinion: It doesn't seem to matter how many times I had heard of this story or seen the movie. I was never as touched by the tale of Old Yeller until I picked up this Newbery winner during my work on Assignment 1. I felt my eyes mist up several times. I appreciated the tone with which Travis describes the characters of his mother and brother, and through Gipson's authorship, he does a fantastic job characterizing the unique behaviors of each of the animals on the ranch and the way they interact with each other. Some of the scenes were very amusing, and I couldn't help laughing at the ridiculousness of the hogs even when I had the feeling, in the back of my mind, that at least one of them was sick and that something bad was going to happen. This story balanced humor with the burdens of dealing with death very eloquently.

Ideas: It seems that this book is often used for literary lessons in public education. I can think of several good writing prompts that would suit this book. Since the ending is so sad, I would solicit alternate ending ideas for perhaps a better end for Old Yeller or to see what may have happened with Old Yeller's son as a sequel to the story.