Horrid Henry

Biblio Bits Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Tony Ross, SourceBooks Jabberwocky, 2009 (ISBN 9781402217753)

Reading Level/Interest Age Ages 9-11

Genre Humor, Realistic Fiction

Plot Summary

In this, the first book in this series, we meet Henry and his family, including his brother, Perfect Peter; we also encounter Moody Margaret, Henry's arch-nemesis. In every Horrid Henry book there are four stories or installments; they are not chapters in a continuing story, but always follow Henry and his latest naughty capers. This book opens with Horrid Henry's Perfect Day, in which he spends the whole day being perfect, like Peter always is. Consequently, the family is late for Cub Scouts because the parents slept in (no sounds of fighting to wake them up!). This new and unexpected turn of events infuriates Perfect Peter, who doesn't quite know what his role is now and even tries out being Horrid himself! This story is followed by Horrid Henry's Dance Class, Horrid Henry and Moody Margaret, and Horrid Henry's Holiday. Horrid Henry is rude, disagreeable, disgusting, conniving, difficult, and manipulative, but somehow totally hilarious at the same time.

Critical Evaluation

This series is as perfect as Henry is horrid, particularly for reluctant readers, fans of humor, anyone who has a sibling, or as a classroom or family read-aloud (if you don't mind being interrupted by hysterics). It's Henry against the world, which is a feeling that we can all relate to: a perfect brother (Peter loves veggies, going to bed early, dance lessons, and he gets perfect grades); parents who make us do terrible things (dance lessons instead of karate, wilderness camping instead of cushy camping); and his rival, Moody Margaret, who is always out to thwart Henry at every turn. It's a little bit like the picture book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Viorst, 1972). The illustrations reminded me of Roald Dahl's books and sure enough, Ross illustrated my own copy of Fantastic Mr. Fox. There is always at least one anecdote per Horrid Henry episode that has my own family rolling off the couch with laughter (ages 7-35).

Reader's Annotation

He's awful, he's rude, he's disagreeable----He's Horrid Henry! What happens when Henry decides to try being perfect for a day? Can he do it? If Henry's being Perfect, where does that leave Perfect Peter?

Author Information

Francesca Simon was born in St. Louis (MO) and was raised in California. She majored in Medieval Studies at Yale and Oxford Universities, and then "threw away a lucrative career as a medievalist" to pursue a career in journalism. She worked free-lance for the Sunday Times, The Guardian, and The Mail (all British publications), and Vogue (US). Simon is a best-selling children's book author in the UK; over 12 million Horrid Henry books have been sold, in 24 countries around the world. Simon now lives in London with her husband, son, and dog. (Information in this author biography is from her official site.)

Challenge issues

Any responsible adult might worry about Henry's thoroughly reprehensible behavior and would surely hate to think that the children in their care adopting Henry's antics.

Booktalking Ideas

The Trouble With Siblings would be the theme of this booktalk and I would try to focus on books that are also funny. I would include The Penderwicks (Birdsall, 2005), Superfudge (Blume, 1980), Beezus and Ramona (Clearly, 1955), and Ten Ways to Make My Sister Disappear (Mazer, 2007).

Curriculum Ties

It would be a great writing prompt to ask students to develop their own Horrid Henry story, inspired by an autobiographical anecdote. Have they ever had one of those days when EVERYTHING goes wrong? At every turn, you are thwarted by your parents who want you to wash your hair or change your shirt, or siblings who insist on having that one LEGO piece that you can't live without?? I could create a character called Irritating Iris whose husband, Jesting Jacob, is constantly making jokes that are just not that funny if she's in a grumpy mood. Irritating Iris bothers Jesting Jacob by telling him that sometimes his jokes really stink! Anyway, it would be a good group activity to "brainstorm" the type of story that makes a "good" Horrid Henry installment: the element of cringing horror that the stories elicit in readers, the interaction between characters, the roles of each character and how that advances the plot, etc.

Why this book?
Isn't it thrilling to read about characters who are horrible and get in trouble? Who do things that we do (or wish we could)? It's satisfying to read about one who is so predictably devious as Henry. Since, chances are, we are not as bad as he is, we delight in his antics.

Series/Sequel

Yes, indeedy, there are plenty more Horrid Henry books. Check the website, here, for the full list.

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

No. (But we own others in the series!)

Ten Things I Hate About Me

Biblio Bits Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah, Orchard Books, 2009 (ISBN 9780545050555). Originally published in Australia in 2006.

Reading Level/Interest Age 720 lexile/Ages 13+

Genre Realistic Fiction

Plot Summary

Sixteen year-old Jamie is just your typical Aussie teenager: bleach-blonde hair, blue eyes, and now she's attracting the attention of Peter, one of the most popular boys in her school. She should be psyched about this social upgrade, right? Sure, except for Jamie is really Jamilah, an Australian of Lebanese descent who is a practicing Muslim (and sometimes wears colored contact lenses). Her dad forbids her to go out at night, her sister is a political activist who wears the hijab, and she has to attend Arabic school on the weekends. Since her mother died suddenly, Jamie's dad has become even more protective of her. Jamie has made the choice to hide her cultural identity in favor of blending in: she doesn't want the negative attention that she would get if she "came out" as who she really is. Jamie has never even told her closest friends about her secret. When racial tensions are running high at school, after the anti-Arab riots (based on true events of 2005), Jamie is as uncomfortable as ever in her assumed identity as racist comments fly among her peers.

Critical Evaluation

This title follows Abdel-Fattah's debut young adult novel, Does My Head Look Fat in This? (2007). As with her previous work, the multi-cultural lessons feel a bit overstated sometimes. While the author does a good job raising the issues, somehow the delivery falls a little flat: characters are either stereotypes or deliberately NOT stereotypes, they are pretty one-dimensional, and the plot development is predictable. The book feels needlessly over-long and creates a weaker impact since the essence of the story is distilled over more pages. That being said, this could be a powerful book for any tween who is contemplating their own identity, religious, cultural, or otherwise; what came off to me as rehashing of the same angst, could be just the right tone for a tween in a similar situation. We have all been in social situations in which we have obscured parts of ourselves, or in situations when another person's beliefs have been offensive; these are the universal themes of the book that will ring true for all readers.

Reader's Annotation

Jamie or Jamilah? Caucasian Australian or Lebanese-Australian? Jamie finds it easier to "pass" as a white in her racist high school. But when she continuously hears racist comments from her friends, will she dare to stand up to them?

Author Information

Randa Abdel-Fattah is an Australian of Egyptian and Palestinian heritage. She is a twenty-seven year-old lawyer who is married, with a young daughter. Abdel-Fattah grew up in Melbourne and now lives in Sydney. She is active in her local interfaith council and serves as a member of the Australian Arabic Council. Abdel-Fattah received Autralia's Kathleen Mitchell Award for Young Writers for this, her second, book. (Information for this author biography is from the book jacket, Wikipedia, and here.)

Challenge issues

Violent race riots and gang-rape are referenced. While nothing is explicit about this latter issue, it might raise further questions in readers.

Booktalking Ideas

This title would be a natural book to include in a booktalk about differences and how characters choose to deal with their own differences from the dominant culture. This could easily branch into questions of sexual identity, as in Parrotfish (Wittlinger, 2007) or My Most Excellent Year (Kluger, 2008). The theme of living with your own differences could even cross into various genres, including the supernatural books that are so popular (How do you blend in as a teen werewolf?), or into fantasy/sci-fi books like The Angel Experiment (Patterson, 2005). I would focus on the hidden identity part of this book of living a double life, and what that means in day-to-day life for Jamie/Jamilah.

Curriculum Ties

For older middle-school students this would be an interesting book to bring up in a social studies discussion about the historical context of "passing." Particularly in the post-Civil War era and the early 20th century, this phenomenon was common in the U.S. Discuss what this really means. Why would someone choose to do this? What is gained/lost? What does it mean for a person's family and extended family? Imagine a family in which a lighter-skinned sister chose to pass, while her darker-skinned sister doesn't have that option.

Why this book?
I was curious about where this author would go next, having read her first YA novel last year.

Awards
Oprah's Kids' Reading List, ages 10-12; Kathleen Mitchell Award for Young Writers, 2008.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Shiver

Biblio Bits Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, Scholastic, 2009 (ISBN 9780545123266)

Reading Level/Interest Age 740 lexile/Ages 13+

Genre Supernatural, Horror, Romance

Plot Summary

Grace, age 17, is sort of raising herself: her mom is a self-absorbed artist and her dad is usually absent with his own work. Grace has two close friends and has a strong connection with the woods behind her house and the wolf pack who inhabits it. She was attacked by wolves the winter she was nine, pulled right out of her back yard, but a wolf with curious yellow eyes intervened and Grace survived. Since then, that special wolf has become a bit of an obsession for Grace: she watches for him and frequently catches glimpses of him, watching her from the edge of the woods. When a youth at her high school is viciously attacked by, what appears to be, the wolf pack, the townspeople stage a hunt to exterminate the wolves. Grace discovers her own wolf, in human form, badly hurt from a shot to his neck and takes him in. There is strong tension in the story, both romantic (Romeo and Juliet go paranormal!), and when a new werewolf is running wild in the community, without the rules or protection of the pack.

Critical Evaluation

This book received starred reviews from both School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, so I was prepared to be wowed by a book that is being touted as the "next Twilight." This one has more elements of horror, more actual gore as well as some pretty scary situations that involve suspense. The narrative alternates between Sam and Grace, which works to give the story some perspective. Clearly, Stiefvater has worked hard to create a seamless world in which lycanthropes have a place, and some of the details seemed perfect (explaining the mental differences that Sam experiences in his two forms) while others seemed a bit forced (the elaborate emphasis on the permanent change to wolf form). Somehow I just couldn't get emotionally engaged with Grace's character. Sam's character seemed much more accessible and fully-formed; I got a clear sense of the emotional angst and the haunting troubles of his past, as well as the challenges of pack life. For fans of the emotionally-charged, doomed, paranormal romance story, this will be a sure bet.

Reader's Annotation

In the mood for a tense story of first love gone terribly wrong? Grace and Sam know their moments together are numbered; Sam will be changing into wolf form for good this year, and Grace is just a regular girl.

Author Information

Maggie Stiefvater was born in 1981 and has worked as a waitress, calligraphy instructor, and technical editor. She describes her current life as "eccentric" and lives in Virginia with her husband and two children. She has a pretty snippy tone on her bio page regarding questions that she won't answer (if it's something she has already posted on her FAQ page) and adds that she likes "plain English" instead of text-speak when fans write emails to her. I certainly wouldn't write her a fan email after reading that sort of condescension, and I don't even know text-speak! (Information obtained from her bio page on her official website.)

Challenge issues

Lots of romantic tension here (Sam's sleeping in Grace's bed!), some very passionate scenes, but nothing too explicit. What was more disturbing is the image of Sam's parents who attempted to slit his wrists and kill him when they found out what he was. And there are some explicit moments of graphic violence.

Booktalking Ideas

Paranormal romance for teens is pretty much the order of the day, since Twilight, so there are plenty of booktalking bedfellows for this title. I might also include it in an Adrenaline Books booktalk, since that covers both horror and suspense.

Curriculum Ties

I would love to do a comparison of various representations of werewolves in teen literature, from Professor Lupin of Harry Potter fame to the "shifters" of Cynthia Leitich-Smith's books to Jacob from Twilight. Each author has a unique take on the parameters, powers, and limitations of lycanthropes.

Why this book?
Another book that falls into the "If you like Twilight..." category. I saw the cover as a full-page advertisement on the back cover of Horn Book, so I decided to see where the Meyer-inspired literary explosion is going.

Awards
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2009; Amazon's Top Ten Books for Teens.

Rockport Public Library owns?

No.

Ripley's Believe It or Not Special Edition 2010

Biblio Bits Ripley's Believe It or Not! Special Edition 2010, Ripley Entertainment Inc. , 2009 (ISBN 9780545143455)

Reading Level/Interest Age Ages 9-12

Genre Nonfiction

Plot Summary

Everything you ever wanted to know about what's wacky, weird, and wonderful in the world. Chapter headings include "On the Road," "Take Off," "Way to Live," "Art and Minds," "All Shapes and Sizes," and "Call of the Wild." Ever wonder about great triumphs of toothpick-sculpting? A LEGO tower that is almost 100 feet tall? How about a ten-mile-long gum-wrapper chain that took 40 years to make? Glow-in-the-dark tattoos? The Human Jigsaw Puzzle who is covered with tattoos, has horn implants, body piercings, and reshaped ears? All of this plus many more weird facts, people, and strange things---believe it or not!

Critical Evaluation

This title, like The Guinness Book of World Records, has great appeal for tweens. There is lots of potential for gross-out and wonderment within these pages. It is a great choice for magazine-lovers, as the pages and format read like a magazine: brief "articles" and lots of sidebars and photographs. The reading level is not high, so it may also be a good selection for reluctant readers.

Reader's Annotation

The most miniature knitted gloves, the tallest LEGO tower, mosaic art made with fruit stickers, a Cooper Mini with a toupee, and a man who cured his cancer by eating sand---all this and more within these pages! A great book for browsing and flipping through.

Author Information

Robert Ripley lived from 1890-1949 and worked as an illustrator for The New York Globe. He collected and published the quirky real-life wonders in a cartoon for The Globe. The cartoon was so popular that Ripley began traveling the world in search of new stories. According to the preface in the book, he traveled to over 200 countries and covered over 464,000 miles. There are 30 Ripley's Believe It or Not! museums worldwide, it was a TV show, and it is an annual publication. (Information in this biography is from the book itself.)

Challenge issues

There are plenty of things one might object to in this book, both aesthetically and morally (see above for examples). The larger issue of spectatorship with regards to other human beings and their choices or anomalies, could raise some lively debate.

Booktalking Ideas

A perfect book to include in a booktalk that features the theme of gross, weird and wacky. Coupling this title with The Guinness Book of World Records, The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science (Connolly), and maybe featuring the magazine National Geographic Kids could make an appealing booktalk for reluctant (boy?) readers.

Curriculum Ties

A fun creative writing prompt for this title might be to choose a page at random and to create some sort of backstory for one of the entries listed. What's it like for the Chinese waitress whose feet are turned the wrong way? How did she learn to walk? How did the man who created the longest gum-wrapper chain get his idea? What was he like as a kid, when he started it? What would it have been like to be involved with making the world's largest donut sculpture, sculpted out of real donuts?
The options are endless. It could also be an opportunity for a social studies research project or teaching research skills, to examine some of the places and details of the events and locations that are mentioned.

Why this book?
I had to have some representation of the gross-out genre in this project!

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Eternal

Biblio Bits Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Candlewick Press 2009 (ISBN 9780763635732)

Reading Level/Interest Age Ages 14+

Genre Horror, Supernatural, Romance

Plot Summary

Miranda is having one of those days: tongue-tied during her try-out for Romeo and Juliet, laughed at by the popular girls, and then her secret crush gives his girlfriend a big kiss right in front of her. She's ready for a quiet night in with her friend Lucy to nurse her bruised ego. But Lucy has other plans: a trip to the graveyard to meet up with some cool, older boys. The creepy night is made scarier when the girls are separated in the graveyard; pretty soon it's clear there is menace nearby. What Miranda doesn't know is that she has a guardian angel on her side; just as she's about to take a fatal step, Zachary calls her name and shows his light-filled form. This is a big breach of the Rules and before he knows it, Miranda is gone and Zachary's having a stern talking to from the Angel Michael. He's punished, but not quite fallen. Meanwhile, Miranda is a neophyte vampire (excuse me, Eternal) princess, "living" outside of Chicago with the current reigning Dracula as his pet/daughter. Zachary's new mission leads him straight to the midwestern headquarters of the Eternals and back to Miranda. The two have a mutual attraction that seems impossible. Can Zachary save Miranda? Is there any soul there left to save? Does she even want saving?

Critical Evaluation

Told in chapters that alternate from Miranda's and Zachary's points of view, this book had many appeal factors: supernatural beings, romantic tension, and a glimpse into the vampire "good life." Smith's writing style is engaging: funny and glib, tautly descriptive, romantically tense (in a doomed Romeo and Juliet way), with references to popular culture (when Zachary is asked what he's doing, his answer: "I'm on a mission from God," clearly a reference to this movie). The pace is consistent, though the beginning had some slow parts. Readers may stumble, as I did, over certain turns of phrase and allusions to the supernatural world that I was unfamiliar with. Were the relationships between shifters (werebeings) and Eternals more fully explained in Tantalize (2007)? There were a few leaps of faith that Smith asked of readers, with regard to plot and details, such as the sentries that guard the castle. They take the form of wolves, but it seemed that they were Eternals in another guise. I wasn't clear about whether this was a form of punishment or an indication of their station in life. I also finished the book and didn't feel that certain details were worked out to my satisfaction; perhaps this means a sequel to come. These things aside, this would be a good recommendation for a bereft fan of the Twilight (Meyer) books.

Reader's Annotation

It's Romeo and Juliet all over again, except this time the two warring clans are Angels and Eternals. Will the love-struck beings find their way to eternal happiness?

Author Information

Cynthia Leitich Smith was born in Kansas City, MO. She has published works for children, teens, and adults. She teaches writing for children and young adults in the MFA writing program at Vermont College for Fine Arts. She has won awards for her works which often portray the lives of Native American children in a modern context. Smith is married to award-winning author Greg Leitich Smith and lives with him in Texas with their four cats. Smith is "a tribal member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation." (Information for this brief biography is from here and here.)

Challenge issues

Possible areas of challenge: sexual tension; violence; some swearing.

Booktalking Ideas

Another perfect one for that booktalk around Halloween or that booktalk called "If you liked Twilight, here's what you should read next." Of course the romantic themes could be a draw also, around Valentine's Day, to focus on stories of star-crossed lovers: Romeo and Juliet, Trouble (Schmidt, 2009), An Abundance of Katherines (Green, 2006) to name a few.

Curriculum Ties

Why this book?

Another one that has appeared on the "if you like Twilight..." lists and an author who was reviewed in a group presentation on the genre of horror for tweens for this class (LIBR 264-10).

Series/Sequel

This title is considered a companion book to Smith's "dark fantasy debut," Tantalize (2007).

Awards
Book of the month, Native America Calling; YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Twilight: The Movie

Biblio Bits Twilight, produced by Godfrey, Mooradian, Morgan, and Rosenfelt; screenplay by Rosenbery; directed by Hardwicke. Summit Entertainment 2009.

Reading Level/Interest Age Rated PG-13

Genre Pop culture, horror, romance, magical realism

Format DVD

Plot Summary

When Bella moves to Forks, Washington (from sunny Arizona and life with her mom), she expects a small, boring town and a quiet life with her dad. Bella reconnects with a childhood friend, Jacob, who lives on a nearby reservation. Her attention is captivated by the Cullen family: five gorgeous, adopted siblings who attend Forks High School with her, and keep to themselves. It turns out that Bella and Edward are assigned as biology lab-partners, but Edward is unbelievably rude and Bella is mystified. When Edward saves Bella's life with a demonstration of superhuman strength and speed, she begins to suspect that Edward might be something other than human. Romance, and plenty of complications, soon follow.

Critical Evaluation

Condensing a nearly-500 page best-selling novel into a feature-length film is a tough job. Overall, I was impressed with the choices the screenwriter made in selecting the most significant portions of the book to portray onscreen. I was also pleased with many of the casting choices (Bella, her dad, Jacob, James, Jessica), the visual "look" and filming-style, and the way the relationships played out onscreen. However, Robert Pattinson (teen heartthrob) just didn't do it for me, as Edward, particularly his flat-sounding voice. And I have tried to listen to this on CD and hated the sound of the reader's voice. In my mind, Edward has a timeless appeal (and not those ridiculously dark eyebrows!), like a younger George Clooney. I, and others, are eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment: New Moon (November 20, 2009).

Reader's Annotation

You've read all the books, you have to see the movie! The real question is: are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Author Information

Stephenie Meyer received her degree in English from Brigham Young University. The idea for the characters in this popular series came to her in a dream; she worked on the first installment at odd moments and late at night, while her three sons were little. All of the Twilight Books have appeared on bestseller lists and she was named one of the most promising authors of 2005 by Publishers Weekly. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons. (Information in this author bio is from the author's official site.)

Challenge issues

Mature themes like throwing yourself so wholeheartedly at a boy (vampire) that you exclude all other interests and friends are just one of the ways that viewers might object to this film. Also, giving vampires a place in our world---and having their world be attractive---is another shivery concept.

Booktalking Ideas

Another one you won't have to booktalk (movietalk?) because it will walk off the shelves and probably stay off the shelves. It would be natural to include this movie in a booktalk about the supernatural or a Halloween/spooky theme, but it would also work in a booktalk with a romance theme.

Curriculum Ties

Not really applicable unless it was in a language arts class where students were asked to examine the role of Bella as the unlikely heroine in this series, or perhaps what it means for feminism that this book has become so popular with teen and tween girls.

Why this movie?
I had to satisfy my curiosity about how the movie version would measure up to the characters and visuals I had in my head, after reading the books. I saw it first in the theater (with my husband and a bunch of teen/tween girls) and revisited it for this assignment.

Awards
No.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

3 Willows

Biblio Bits 3 Willows by Ann Brashares, Random House/Listening Library, 2009 (ISBN 9780739380420)

Reading Level/Interest Age 700 lexile/ages 12-14

Genre Realistic fiction

Format Audio book

Plot Summary

Ama, Polly, and Jo used to be best friends. Now, it's the summer before high school and each one has gone her seperate way. Jo will spend the summer at the family beach house with her mom, working as a busgirl. Ama will be attending a prestigious summer program on scholarship. Polly will be home, babysitting. But each neat plan is somehow disrupted: Jo's dad will not be coming with them this summer, since her parents are in a trial separation; Ama's summer program turns out to be a wilderness adventure course, not the academic acceleration she was hoping for; Polly becomes obsessed with her body image, convinced that she should attend modeling camp. Each story has its triumphs and heartbreaks as the girls make important self-discoveries, and over the summer they begin to understand the role their lost friendship has played in their lives.

Critical Evaluation

Geared towards a slightly younger audience than The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, this book (presumably first in a new series) was less cohesive. The story threads were engaging, but it seemed like unrealistic that the three girls would be able to find their way back to each other after so long an absence. The willow analogy felt a bit forced, with willow lore interspersed with the sections of the book. Each story thread had such a textbook teen problem (overcoming fears, dysfunctional families, and body image issues) that I felt a little preached to. Readers will enjoy the appearance of Effie (Lena's younger sister from the Sisterhood books), though she plays the mean girl here; her character is not explored, rightfully, as we see her from Jo's point of view. The reader of the audio book did a fine job conveying the various voices in a convincing way. But overall, I didn't feel the same level of engagement with these girls that I did with the Sisterhood.

Reader's Annotation

It's the summer before high school and so much has changed between Ama, Polly, and Jo: they used to be best friends but now have very different goals. How will they deal with the summer's challenges, successes, and failures without each other?

Author Information

Ann Brashares grew up in Maryland and studied philosophy at Barnard College in New York City. After graduation, Brashares took a job at a publishing house to save money for graduate school. It turned out she had a knack for editing and decided to stay in her position. Brashares wrote the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books which have become international best-sellers. (Information in this author biography was gleaned from the author's official website at Random House.)

Challenge issues

There is family alcoholism, depression, divorce, anorexia, and kissing a near-stranger on a bus in this title. Any of those might be cause for someone to have objections.

Booktalking Ideas

Chances are, as with any Sarah Dessen book, you probably won't have to booktalk this one: fans of Brashares will be eager to snatch this book of the shelf and get reading. And then they'll recommend it and booktalk it to their friends and you won't keep this book on the shelf for long. If I was forced to booktalk this book, however, I would probably link it to other titles in which fears and challenges are confronted in a contemporary, realistic setting.

Curriculum Ties

This title would be very much at home in a middle school health unit or perhaps a mother-daughter bookclub because there is a lot to discuss and talk about. Issues like body image and anorexia and imperfect families are played out in this story in an accessible way that tweens will relate to.

Why this book?
I was curious about how Brashares would create a new "sisterhood," in light of the success of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. Fans will be curious too. The simple cover was another appeal factor for me.

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Unfinished Angel

Biblio Bits The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech, Harper Collins, 2009 (ISBN 9780061430954)

Reading Level/Interest Age Ages 10-12

Genre Magical Realism

Plot Summary

Narrated in short chapters by an unfinished angel, this latest book by acclaimed author Sharon Creech, takes us back to the Ticino (the region in Switzerland you may remember from Bloomability). The Angel is an endearing character who is not quite certain about where s/he (gender neutral) fits into the grand scheme of things and is not sure s/he understands the rules and expectations of being an angel. When Zola and her father move into the Casa where the Angel has taken up residence, the Angel realizes that Zola is one of the few humans who can actually see her/him, and they fall into an unlikely friendship. Zola seems a little bossy at first, trying to tell the Angel how to be, and what to do, but eventually they unite in an effort to solve the problem of a small group of homeless children.

Critical Evaluation

A short book, told in short chapters, may appeal to some reluctant readers. The Angel's vivid observations about "peoples" and indignation about the trouble they cause are humorous and a great source for reflection. What is most enjoyable about this story is the dialect and invented language, malapropisms, and portmanteaus of the Angel ("surprise" + "please"="surplease"). Observing Creech's fun with language is truly a language-lover's delight! There are some areas of the plot that are not quite explored fully, such as why Zola's mother and brother come to Switzerland so much later, but readers will probably be distracted by the many other details of the story that are brought completely to life through the Angel's unique narration.

Reader's Annotation

Imagine I am not surpleased by the appearance of these peoples in my Casa, this Zola and her many layers of dresses in so many colors, who can also see me! Yes, she does, and I am thinking, could she also be an angel herself, here to teach me the better ways of being an angel?

Author Information

Sharon Creech is the Newbery award-winning author of Walk Two Moons (1994) as well as many other titles for tweens and teens. She grew up in South Euclid, OH with her four siblings and parents. She has taught high school English in Switzerland and England, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband. She is the mother of two grown children. (Information in this author bio comes from the author's website.)

Challenge issues

I imagine there might be people who are offended by an angel being personified as slightly unsure of the Plan and his/her role on earth. It is not a very dignified representation of an angel, and that might bother some.

Booktalking Ideas

The most obvious booktalking buddy for this book would be Cynthia Rylant's The Heavenly Villiage because it shares the sweetness and endearing comfort of The Unfinished Angel while introducing some philosophical and spiritual themes to readers.

Curriculum Ties

Religion, philosophy, and spirituality could be ties. But perhaps it could also have a place in a curriculum unit on Renaissance art, and the depictions of angelic beings who appear to have such human characteristics, as opposed to previous artistic movements which had less realism.

Why this book?
For Sharon Creech fans, just the name on the cover will draw them in. A great choice for those who enjoy playful language, those who are in the mood for a feel–good story, and those who are interested in questions of philosophy and spirituality.

Awards
Too new to tell.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Biblio Bits The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, Henry Holt, 2009 (ISBN 9780805088410)

Reading Level/Interest Age 830 lexile/Ages 9-14

Genre Historical fiction

Plot Summary

Three older brothers, three younger brothers, and Calpurnia Tate (Callie) smack in the middle. What’s a girl to do? Set in rural Texas in 1899, and narrated by Callie, we get a view into Callie’s life on her family’s pecan and cotton plantation, told with a good dose of humor. At twelve, Callie has a lively mind and is curious about her surroundings. She wakes up extra early (to get a little quiet from all those brothers) and takes a notebook outside to record her nature observations. It turns out she’s not the only odd-ball in her family when Callie develops a friendship with her grandfather, who had been a real mystery up until that point. He kept to himself, did mysterious things behind the closed doors of his laboratory, and had a library that Callie and her brothers were forbidden from. It turns out that Grandaddy is a scientist himself, an amateur distiller and naturalist, who takes Callie under his wing, including her on his rambles through their property, examining and collecting specimens of flora and fauna, and teaching her the principles of scientific inquiry. In addition to Callie’s adventures in the natural world, there are also moments when the inventions of the time period come to the small town of Fentress, where Callie lives, such as the telephone line and a horseless carriage, giving a taste of what an exciting time this was. But when Callie’s mother decides that it’s high time Callie focus more on her domestic arts, like knitting, cooking, and needlework, she knows that her days rambling at the river are numbered.

Critical Evaluation

Calpurnia's story is an enjoyable one on many levels. Kelly does an excellent job of evoking both a historical time period and a personal time period, including the details of the time and culture, as well as Callie's own self-revelations, self-doubt, and cusping maturity. The language of the book is appropriately matched to the period, without seeming pedantic or heavy, and the flavor of Callie's narrative sparks with her humor and sense of life. There are some excellent vocabulary words sprinkled throughout, which will please the language arts teachers, and just the right amount of context to sort out their meanings. Callie's relationships with her family members develop during the course of the story, as readers come to sort out all those brothers. Of particular interest, historically, is Callie's relationship with the family's quadroon cook; Callie respects her as an almost-member of the family, but Viola is reticent to be overly-familiar. The post-emancipation period is not addressed directly, but certain details (share-cropping, short hoes in cotton farming, etc.) emerge as supporting points in the story. The "trueness" of Calpurnia's character and her internal complexity brought Anastasia Krupnik (Lois Lowry) to mind—as well as her great sense of humor. Ultimately, the ending has some uncertainty, which leaves room for speculation.

Reader's Annotation

Is there a place for Callie in the Texas of 1899, outside of the limits of sock-making for all six of her brothers, her father, AND her grandfather? Smart, clever, and inclined towards science, Callie's breaking new ground, just like the lines for the telephone wire.

Author Information

Jacqueline Kelly was born in New Zealand, raised in Vancouver (BC), and eventually moved to Texas where she attended medical school and law school. She first practiced medicine, then law, before deciding to write fiction full-time, according to her website. The had a short story published in the Mississippi Review in 2001. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is her first novel. She resides in Texas. (Information in this author biography is from the author's website.)

Challenge issues

There are plenty of people who don't believe in Darwin's theory of evolution, just as in Calpurnia's time. Also, there is maybe one, minor swear word.

Booktalking Ideas

The historical, rural setting, family antics, and humor bring to mind some booktalking "friends" for this title, such as Harris and Me (Gary Paulsen) and Our Only May Amelia (Jennifer L. Holm). It could fit equally well with some nonfiction titles, such as Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith (Deborah Heligman) and Animals Darwin Saw: An Around-the-World Adventure (Sandra Markle). Women and science would be another logical category to fit this book into.

Curriculum Ties

Science—Darwin, natural history, nature observation

Social studies—Reconstruction era, critical inventions of the period, cusp of the industrial revolution

Why this book?
A smart and spunky girl main character who is fighting against the societal norms of her time, funny dialogue and a poignant plot, and evocative description and narrative will certainly appeal to many girls and boys (who don't mind a "girly" cover). An example of historical fiction at its best.

Awards
Starred reviews in several review sources, but no awards yet.

Rockport Public Library owns?

No.

Nick of Time

Biblio Bits Nick of Time by Ted Bell, St. Martin's Griffin, 2009 reprint (original publication date 2008) (ISBN 9780312380687)

Reading Level/Interest Age 10-12

Genre Adventure, historical fiction

Plot Summary

Nick lives with his lighthouse-keeping family on one of the Channel Islands in the late 1930s. Things are a little too quiet for Nick until he accidentally discovers a hidden drawer in his dad's desk; it hides a log book of German U-boat sightings, and strong evidence that his father is reporting his findings to none other than Winston Churchill. If this isn't enough, he and his sister discover an unusual sea chest on one of their favorite beaches and later that day a pair of sinister pirates literally appear out of thin air, demanding the return of something that, they say, belongs to them. With Nazis and pirates at every turn, Nick's bravery, cunning, and knowledge of his small island and its waters become an essential key to survival.

Critical Evaluation

While reluctant readers might get sucked into this book by the fast-paced action, the length of the book might inhibit them from attempting it, at over 450 pages. The characters seem deliberately caricatured: Nick is the brave boy hero who finds a time machine (made by Leonardo daVinci), with supporting cast members Billy Blood (kidsnatching, sinister pirate whose greed stops at nothing), Lord Hawke (reclusive and broody, former world-class detective, millionaire), and those darned Nazis who are filling up the Channel with their U-boats. The dialogue is often stilted, the action comes with too-predictable regularity, and the plot is just too neat, although the details never quite add up. Perhaps the author, who mainly writes for adults, thinks that kids won't mind these flaws. It felt a little like a comic book, which is not a slight on comics, but a reference to the Tintin-like theme of boy-hero-saving-the-world.

This being said, my own tween boy really loved this book for the action, the sailing lingo, the time travel, and swashbuckling adventure. It prompted him to want more historical fiction books on WWII.

Reader's Annotation

A boy adventurer of the old-school variety, spying on Nazis and fighting pirates, with a time machine on his side and action in every chapter.

Author Information

Ted Bell had a successful career in advertising at several large firms around the world. Since his retirement from this career in 2001, he has been writing full-time, primarily for adults. Given that one of his adult books is called Hawke and another Pirate, I have to wonder if this title was a clever marketing ploy to gain more readership (the kids that read Nick of Time might grow up to read his other books). Bell resides in Florida and Colorado. (Information in this author biography comes from the author's website and wikipedia.)

Challenge issues

None.

Booktalking Ideas

Nick of Time would be a great inclusion in a booktalk on fast-paced adventure books. It's unique in that it is has elements of fantasy (time travel) and a historical fiction (Nazis, pirates) genres. The key appeal here though is that the pace keeps a reader turning pages. So I could envision it in a booktalk that included other fiction and non-fiction titles in the adventure/adrenalin genre that fit this pace and style.

Curriculum Ties

If my son's experience is any indicator, perhaps this book could pave the way for more in-depth study of WWII and the complexities surrounding the English's involvement in the early part of the war. Perhaps readers of this book could be encouraged (or might be intrinsically motivated) to pursue research about what in this book was truth and what was fabrication.

Why this book?
The fast pacing and action-packed adventure will keep the attention of readers who have enjoyed the style of Riordan's The Lightning Thief or Patterson's Maximum Ride series. The historical components of the story might appeal to some, while the time travel machine might appeal to others.

Awards
None

Series/Sequel
According to Wikipedia, a sequel to Nick of Time is due out in early 2010, entitled The Time Pirate.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes

Bloomability

Biblio Bits Bloomability by Sharon Creech, read by Mandy Siegfried, Books on Tape, 2009 [1998], (ISBN 9780739385425)

Reading Level/Interest Age 850 lexile/ages 11-14

Genre Realistic fiction

Format Audio Book on CD

Plot Summary

Dinnie's from a nomadic family, always on the move to find better opportunities. When her teenaged sister comes home after a weekend away from home with a marriage certificate (and shortly thereafter shows signs of pregnancy) and her brother ends up in jail, Dinnie's aunt and uncle come to kidknap her (Dinnie's impression). They take her to Switzerland to the upscale boarding school at which they are both employed and Dinnie must come to terms with her new circumstances: away from her family for the first time, in a new educational setting, and in a new country. Dinnie's emotions are mixed, as she navigates a new group of friends and new experiences and begins to develop her own ideas and sense of self in this context.

Critical Evaluation

This is an engaging story that has periods of being more or less compelling. Essentially it's the story of Dinnie's self discovery, but sometimes it felt like self-absorption (completely age-appropriate, but sometimes boring to read). The secondary characters really shine here, especially Guthrie (lovable) and Lila (love to hate her), and their function in the story and in Dinnie's life were a way to explore the various ways to see the world. This volume was not as tightly constructed as Walk Two Moons or Chasing Redbird but fans of Sharon Creech will still enjoy her flair for dialogue and humor, as well as believable characters. The reader, Mandy Siegfried, did a good job of creating a wide variety of voices; at the beginning of my listening, I found her pace a little fast, but I became used to it.

Reader's Annotation

Getting whisked away to a Swiss boarding school never sounded so good. But will Dinnie just adapt into the woodwork, like she has in the other schools she has attended?

Author Information

Sharon Creech is the Newbery award-winning author of Walk Two Moons (1994) as well as many other titles for tweens and teens. She grew up in South Euclid, OH with her four siblings and parents. As a child, Creech visited her cousins in Kentucky and formed many happy memories there; she created the fictitious Bybanks, KY out of the memories of these years, which has appeared in several of her titles. She has taught high school English in Switzerland and England, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband. She is the mother of two grown children. (Information in this author bio comes from the author's website.)

Challenge issues

Passing references to marijuana and alcohol use, as well as the teen pregnancy of Dinnie's sister.

Booktalking Ideas

This could be a good selection for a discussion about nontraditional families; Dinnie's aunt and uncle serve as her parental figures, as well as the family she creates through her friendships at school. Other themes might be living abroad or stories set at boarding schools.

Curriculum Ties

Social issues like friendship would be the obvious tie or simply growing up and changing perspectives, perhaps in a health unit.

Why this book?
I remember reading and (I thought) liking this book from when it was first published. I still enjoyed it this time around but it wasn't quite all that I remember it to be; perhaps I was remembering Absolutely Normal Chaos. Still, an appealing read for the tween that is considering what it means to fledge the nest, whether through developing new ideas or physically being apart from ones family.

Awards
Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Award 1999

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes

Faith, Hope and Ivy June

Biblio Bits Faith, Hope, and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Random House, 2009 (ISBN 9780739380536)

Reading Level/Interest Age 10-13
Genre Realistic fiction

Plot Summary

Set in Kentucky, this book is about a friendship that develops between two girls who participate in a school exchange program. Ivy June is from a rural, mountain community where folks are used to living on the edge of poverty. Ivy June lives with her grandparents in a small cabin without indoor plumbing, but her parents and siblings are just down the "holler." Catherine is from Lexington and attends a local private school for girls. Her family lives in a large home (with multiple bathrooms) and they even have a household helper. Both girls are instructed to keep a journal of their experiences during the two weeks they spend with their host family (and the two weeks that they host) as well as being cautioned against making preconceived judgments about what they may encounter. The girls discover that they share certain commonalities but have some significant differences in their circumstances. Their friendship develops slowly, through some tricky situations at both homes, and ultimately they each find out a little about themselves and the world through the experience.

Critical Evaluation

This book explores some fundamental themes for tweens: friendship, self-discovery and reflection, family issues, and emotional development. The narrative is interspersed with the girls' journal entries, which makes their individual and unique voices shine through the text. This also adds a level of transparency, as we discover their private thoughts and feelings about the experiences they are having. The pace really picks up towards the end of the book when Catherine is living with Ivy June's family, and Ivy June's grandfather is trapped in a mining accident; the suspense and emotional content is quite strong and takes the friendship to a new level. Naylor does a nice job at taking this story beyond cliches to a realistic, believable, and engaging place.

Reader's Annotation

The great cover drew me to this book, depicting two girls struggling with a suitcase; in this case, the cover really does have a lot to do with what's inside.

Author Information

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is very prolific writer with over 135 published works to her name. She has authored the popular Alice series, the Boy/Girl battle series, and the Newbery Award-winning Shiloh. According to the author information on the jacket of this book, Naylor's interest in the small mountain communities in West Virginia and Kentucky was kindled during a road trip with her husband. She is the mother of two sons and a grandmother. Naylor currently resides in Maryland. (Author biography notes from the book jacket on Faith, Hope, and Ivy June.)

Challenge issues

None.

Booktalking Ideas

Friendship despite different circumstances is the strongest theme here, with many associated themes like prejudice and town vs. country. Also, this could fit into a booktalk with other books that have a journaling component.

Curriculum Ties

Social issues like poverty and prejudice would be good ones to tie in. But, as mentioned above, I see the best potential here for a mother/daughter book group reading choice.

Why this book?
The audio book's cover captured my attention as I was about to shelve it, and I decided to check it out. I was glad I did. It touches on many themes that are current for tweens: exploring and testing one's own limits, family and social issues, the ups and downs of friendships, and a little bit of boy/girl interaction thrown in in a very realistic way.

Awards

None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.