Book Reviews

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For my most recent reviews, go to my blog

Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. [#1] Knopf, 2003 [0-375-82668-8]

WOW! This is an incredible fantasy (first of a trilogy) written by a young man in his late teens. Eragon is a young man who finds an unusual stone which hatches into a dragon. This starts a long adventure of magic, dwarfs, an evil Empire and King, an army of monsters, and a kingdom which must be defended. There is just so much to this 509 page book from a long adventure where interesting characters are met to a must-win battle. Although the number of pages would have been daunting to many readers in the past.. what is 500 pages after Harry Potter? This is a must-read book for upper elementary up through adult. I can't wait for the next installment!

Paolini, Christopher. Eldest [#2]. Knopf, 2005 [0-375-82670-x]

In book two of this series Eragon, the young rider and his dragon go north for training. Meanwhile his cousin, still in their hometown tries to defend the village against the Empire and the dreaded Ra'zac. They end up leaving the village heading south we the entire village along with Eragon, his dragon Saphria, the dwarfs and other characters try to fight off the terrible King Galbatorix. Will the king be able to stop the resistance? Will Eragon and Saphira escape? This is a VERY meaty fantasy..680 pages of difficult reading. I had to stop and look up words in the dictionary. For your high level readers who like high fantasy, this trilogy is for them! Thank God it has a defined number of books. I hate endless series. (After another series of big books.. kids will pick up thick books now.) By the way.. a movie is under production as we speak. I always like to see how dragons are visualized in book illustrations and movies.

Park, Barbara. The graduation of Jake Moon. Atheneum, 2000 [0-689-83912-X]

Fourteen-year-old Jake recounts the last four years of how he has dealt with the progressing Alzheimer's disease of his grandfather. This is a touching 115 page book of a young man's increasing responsibilities and how he must learn to deal with the many embarrassing situations his beloved grandfather causes and how is changes his friendships. What will happen if his grandfather comes to his 8th grade graduation?

Park, Linda Sue. The kite fighters .Clarion, 2000 [0-395-94041-9]

It is 1473 in Korea and two brothers enjoy kite flying in anticipation of the annual kite contest. One day the king (a boy of their age) shows up while they are flying their kites and they become friends. This annual kite contest is really kite battles where two kite fliers are pitted against each other. The two brothers figure out a new weapon in this battle. This 136 page book involves sibling rivalry, respect for parents, and preparation for a contest, all wrapped around the history of 15th century Korea.

Park, Linda Sue. A single shard. Clarion, 2001 [0-395-97827-0]

It is medieval Korea and Tree-Ear, and orphan, lives under a bridge with an old cripple. He begins watching, from a distance, a master potter, admiring his work, and ends up working for him. One day when two of his pots must be taken to the royal city to be approved for a royal commission, Tree-Ear volunteers for the long hard journey. Can he bring the pots safely to the royal city? Will Master Min get the royal commission? This 152 page Newbery winning book of a tale of a young man trying to prove himself, is a warm and memorable story of self-determination. There are some helpful historical notes at the end of the book.

 

Parkinson, Curtis. Sea chase. Tundra Books, 2004 [0-88776-682-x]

Fifteen-year-old Brodie and his father sail off across the Caribbean.  On board one morning when Brodie wakes up, he finds his father is gone ... man overboard.  He sails back over their trip and still can't find him so he decides to head for the nearest land, Colombia.  As he pulls into the harbor he sees his father being dragged off a trawler.  He has heard of the crime and kidnapping in Colombia so Brodie tries to find his father.  Eventually he makes a friend of a local kid playing soccer who decides to help Brodie with the help of his extended family.  Most of this 185 page book is the adventure of trying to find Brodie's father and getting involved with this family.  The ending of the major part of the story is a little predictable but the very end of the book adds a twist which I did not find believable.  The cover makes the book look like a sea adventure, while most of it is not.  Most readers should like the adventure in Colombia.

 

Paterson, Katerine. Preacher's Boy, 1999. Clarion [0-395-83897-5]

It is the summer of 1899 and there was so much that Robbie had wanted to do before the world ended in 1900 (as some people said it would.) It was not easy being a preacher's son in the Vermont town but eleven-year-old Robbie got along okay -- well at least until he got so mad at a neighbor that he nearly drown him all because he was teasing him about his retarded brother. Robbie runs away and meets a girl and a drunken father living in an abandoned cabin. That starts the beginning of an adventure which ends in Robbie riding in a motor car. This 168 page book is a good historical fiction piece, at time humorous, and reminded me a lot of the author's "Jip." Robbie reads Huck Finn in the story and the reader may even see a lot of similarities between the two boys.

Paterson, Katerine. The same stuff as stars. HarperTrophy, 2004 [0-06-055712-5]

Angel and her younger brother, Bernie, live in a very dysfunctional family. The story opens with Mom taking the kids to visit their father in jail. Right after that their flaky mom drops they off at their father's grandmother's house. It is hard. They have lived in foster homes and now with someone else. Grandmom has sit in a chair all day for years and only eats canned beans and peaches. The kids have to help her while they try survive on her Social Security check. Will these troubled kids ever get in a stable home? This 270 page book is a touching story of two kids trying to survive against a great many odds.

Patron, Susan. The higher power of Lucky. Atheneum, 2006 [978-1-4169-0194-5/1-4169-0194-9]

This 2007 Newbery winner is a warm comfortable read about an 10-year-old orphan girl living in a small town (population 43) in California.  After her mother died, her father convinced his first wife, who lived in France, to be her guardian so he could take off.  Lucky, the girl, has a friend of a boy her age and another around five.  This 134 page book tells of life in a small town with its share of colorful characters.  Someone mentioned here that the word scrotum is written early in the book and worried about teachers having to define it.  At the end of the book, the word is defined appropriately in the summation of the story. While it is a wonderful book, because of the age of the main character (10) and the illustrations, I don't think it will be very popular in the middle school but will be great for elementary students.

 

Patterson, James. The Angel experiment [Maximum Ride #1]. Little Brown, 2005 [0-316-06795-4/978-0-316-06795-9]

A group of kids are living in a house, alone in the desert.  They have escaped from "The School" where they were part of genetic experiments (they are 98% human and 2% bird.]  They are hiding because a "friend" helped them escape from the school.  Now a group of half-wolf and half-humans from the school are after them.  Angel (one of the group) is captured and taken back to the school for testing.  Max must lead them back to the school to rescue Angel along and find out the story behind the school, their development, and their parents.This 422 read, the first in a series,  is a great roller coaster of emotions.. a great science fiction/adventure and a must read.  As a note: I had not heard of this story until a student requested I order it.

 

Patterson, James. School's out -- forever [Maximum Ride #2]. Little Brown, 2006 [0-316-06796-2//978-0-316-06796-6

WOW what a roller coaster!  This is book two in this series of kids/avians who are genetic experiments.  The flock has saved Angel in the previous book and now end up in the home of a senior FBI agent in Virginia.  There they have a chance to function as a family with a real life.. going to school.. having Thanksgiving diner. Max knows they can't stay there forever because that voice in her head keeps telling her she has to save the world.  I can't tell you what happens at the end of this 409 page book because I don't want to ruin the many plot twists that happened at the end.  Yes this book does end but it leads you into 3rd book.  There are little bits of information (clues) at the end of this book to give you ideas what may happen in the next book (ala Lemony Snicket.)  This series MUST be in your middle school and HS collection.

 

Patterson, James. Saving the World and other extreme sports [Maximum Ride #3]. Little Brown, 2008 [0-316-15560-8//978-0316-15560-1]

In this final book, Max and the gang are chased around the country and finally around the world by robotic Flyboys.  Will Max be able to save the world from the evil plans of the people who made them.  Will the gang be able to do it on their own?  How are they being traced?  There are several plot twists at the end of this book so I don't want to mention anything that will ruin the great read for you.  Let it be said that this 404 page book is a wonderful conclusion of the trilogy although an opening is left for something further.  The web site gives a clip from the movie which I can't wait to see.

 

Pattison, Darcy. The wayfinder. Greenwillow Books, 2000 [0-06-029157-5]

This is a great fantasy/quest story. Win is a "finder" and ends up on a quest to find the "Water of Life" to cure the heartland of a plague. In this 200 page book we have talking royal dogs, a huge eagle, a race of wolf people, and huge rift (canyon), and a secret land. The storytelling is very visual - I can see a movie! It also finishes with the possibility of a sequel but does not need it. It would be wonderful to revist this place and the characters.

Paulsen, Gary. Brian's return. Laurel-Leaf, 2001 [0-440-41379-6]

Brian gets in a fight at school and defends himself like a wild animal. He is sent to a counselor. Both Brian and the counselor realize that Brian has to return to the woods. After a major discussion with his mother he supplies himself and takes a canoe back to the woods.. absorbing himself once again in the wilderness. Will he come home. Paulsen writes at the end of this 115 page book that it is the last of the Brian books but... there are excerpts of the next book, Brian's hunt (published three years later) at the back of this book. Faithful Brian fans will love this book too.

Paulsen, Gary. Call me Francis Tucket [#2], 1995 [0440-41270-6]

This is the second in this series and while it still is a pretty good frontier adventure, it does not have the charm of Mr. Grimes with Francis. In this one Francis continues his trek westward where he gets involved with various challenges and characters and ends up with two deserted children joining him on his journey. The direction this series is taking reminds me of "Star Trek: Voyager" on a continuing journey with adventures along the way. Although not as good as the first one, students who liked the initial book (which was excellent) will also enjoy this 97 page one.

Paulsen, Gary. Mr. Tucket, [#1]1994 [0-375-80680-6]

Fourteen-year-old Francis Tucket is on a wagon train going to Oregon when he is captured by Indians. He is then rescued by a colorful trapper. This is the start of Francis' (now called Mr. Tucket) growing up and adventure on the frontier. There are many humorous situations in the story along with the violence of fighting Indians. If you are looking for an exciting frontier story, this 166 page book is it. It has a follow-up called "Call me Francis Tucket." By the way, I picked this up in a local book store off the summer reading shelf. It was selected by another school. This is a great way to pick up good reads with which you are not familiar.

Paulsen, Gary. Sarny, 1997

This is a "companion to NightJohn." Sarny was one of the slave girls who NightJohn taught to read and this is the story of the rest of her life. She makes it through the Civil War, is freed, loses her children, finds them through the help of a wonderful lady who she ends up working for. Later in life she becomes a teacher and dies happy at an old age. I think I will remember more about this book than I do of NightJohn. This mysterious rich woman at times is unbelievable and helps out Sarny a great deal but there is plenty of hardships that balance this help. The two books are very different.

Paulsen, Gary. The Schernoff discoveries, 1997

Paulsen has written some wonderful books in the more serious mode. He should leave the humor to others such as Coville and Peck. This book is a collection of stories of two boys growing up in the 1940's (date not clear.) I wonder if it is part autobiographical because of its feel and the time frame. The book went nowhere for me. It will be interesting what kids say about it when I put it on the shelf. [Afternote: After I posted this review on LM_net, I received several message from people who loved the book.]

Paulsen, Gary. Soldier's heart, 1998

This is a short, 104 page book, which is the diary of a young man who runs away to fight in the Civil War. Although short, this is not for younger readers - the descriptions of the battles, wounds, and bodies are graphic and very powerful. This would be a great hi/lo book. I am going to recommend it to our 7th grade special education classes who study the Civil War. It has a good prologue, descirbing the title and an epilogue (even a bibliography.) The only thing that gives me pause is the ending. It takes place when the boy is now 20 (old in his mind) and he goes on a picnic by himself and takes out and cocks his Confederate pistol war prize. Does he commit suicide - I don't know, but it is a possibility. This book is a definite must!

Paulsen, Gary. The Transall saga, 1998

Paulsen has done it again with another variation of what he does best - the survival story. In this one, a boy goes on a wilderness hike alone through the mountains and runs into a bright, blue light which suddenly takes him to a primitive world. He spends several years there surviving and having adventures with the primitive people. He eventually discovers that he has been sent far into the future of Earth. After several years he gets back to his generally original time frame. I REALLY liked this book. It is in the tradition of Hatchet and Brian's Winter. I purchased this 248 page book because of the reviews.

Paulsen, Gary. Tucket's gold [#4 in Tucket adventures].Delacorte, 1999 [0-385-32501-0]

Here we have Francis and his two befriended kids wandering the prairie, running into the dreaded Comanchero warriors, finding an ancient treasure of gold, discovering a hidden indian village in the hills, and having a run in with Dubs and Courtweiler. This series, set in the frontier days, is becoming more like a traditional series. The first few books were pretty good but with this 97 page book one I get the feeling that Mr. Paulsen is milking it. The whole thing could have been merged, with some editing, into a pretty good, larger book. I will not purchase any more of these (unless several students request them.) - oops noticed I said that with book three.

Paulsen, Gary. Tucket's ride [#3]. Bantam Doubleday, 1997 [0-440-41147-5]

This is the third book in "Mr. Tucket's" adventures in which he still has the two kids tagging along with him. It opens with them looking at a shack and hearing screaming. Mr. Tucket goes down and ends up killing an Army soldier who is molesting a lady. They take the body to the nearest fort and explain what happened and also find out that the war with Mexico has started. Soon after they leave the fort they are captured by a terrible band of Mexican outlaws. The reader will be surprised (but not too) by how they escape. As I said before, this series is starting to appear like a "Star Trek Voyager" in the wild west. While this 86 page book has an ending, he is still on his long journey west. I will not purchase any more in the series unless some students begin getting into it and request them.

Paulsen, Gary. The winter room. Laurel-Leaf, 1989 [0-440-22783-6]

The winter room is the room where Wayne and Eldon join their family on cold nights to listen to their uncle tell tales. The opening chapter is a wonderful word painting.. so pleasant to read. What follows is a description of life on the farm. Finally at the end of this 103 page book we hear some of Uncle David's stories. After all this "life on the farm" stuff suddenly the reader gets a gut-wrenching punch to the stomach which makes this book very memorable.

 

Paver, Michelle. Wolf brother [Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #1] HarperCollins, 2005 [0-06-072825-6]

It is 6,000 years ago and Torak and his father, who long ago left their clan, are attacked by a demon-possessed bear.  His father's dying words are to the Mountain of the World Spirit and kill the bear.  Torak, a 12-year-old boy is on his own and knows little of his background.  He befriends a wolf cub and realizes that he can communicate with the wolf.  This starts a perilous adventure where the pair is captured by  another clan and Torak finds more of his background.  The epic journey is told with wonderful excitement.  Unfortunately the climax battle will be less than satisfactory for students looking for a violent fight scene.  This 295 page book is a wonderful adventure story taking place in ancient times.  I can't wait to read the next one.

 

Pearsal, Shelley. Trouble don't last. Knopf, 2002 [0-375-81490-0]

Samuel is a slave boy in Kentucky and one night he is awaken by the old man who cared for him.. and was taken on a run to Canada. The reader learns of the perils of the underground railroad, what a loosely set up it was, and the many aspects of such a trip. The old man and Samuel make it to the banks of Lake Erie and suddenly get caught... will they make it? what will happen when they are returned to their master? This 230 page book showed me aspects of the underground railroad of which I was not aware. The author includes notes and a bibliography.

Pearson, Kit. Awake and dreaming, 1996

This is a warm and wonderful book that is so very hard to describe. It involves a young girl with so many troubles in her life who reads and dreams a lot. She gets involved in her dreams and even the spirit of a dead author. Initially the book is confusing (as Theo is confused.) The story starts out with a ghost wandering a cemetery and then drops the ghost until the end of the book. The only criticism I have is that I wish the girl were older. She is 9-10 and I think it would have been better if she were a little older. This 228 page book is one to add to your collection.

Peck, Richard. Fair weather. Dial Books, 2001 [0-8037-2516-7]

Rosie's family gets an invitation from their Aunt in Chicago it visit the World Columbian Exposition. They leave their Illinois farm for the first time and head to the fair. In Chicago they get involved with the problems of their aunt and eventually meet Buffalo Bill. This 139 page book is a good piece of historical fiction showing what this fair must have been like. The end of the book has a bibliography for readers who are interested in further reading about the fair.

Peck, Richard. The great interactive dream machine, 1996 [0-14-038264-X]

In this sequel to "Lost in Cyberspace" Josh's friend, Aaron turns his computer into a dream granting machine -- except it is not quite in control. It activates on its own accord sending Aaron and Josh to various places and times, creating strange situations. Meanwhile they get a email from "The Watcher" who says he knows what they are doing and that creates more problems. The whole story wraps up at the end, very nicely pulling things together the reader didn't realize needed to be pulled together. The one thing that bothered me with this 149 page book is that some of the "techno-babble" seems to be used incorrectly (I know it is science fiction.) At times is seems like an effort just to string computer terms together. This may also bother some computer literate kids. In the end though, the story overrides all.

Peck, Richard. Here lies the librarian. Penguin, 2006 [978-0-14-240908-4]

Richard Peck has once again crafted a humorous tale of that time just before World War I (as he did in "A year down yonder", and "Along way from Chicago".)  This story opens with a tornado upearthing some people in a graveyard so the graveyard is mentioned throughout the story.  The 142 page book is mainly about a brother a sister having a garage at the start of the car era and as usual, is full of humor and interesting characters.  Four girls rich girls come right out of library school to revive the town's closed library.  This colorful story involves a rivalry between the two garages in town, a car race, and these girls setting up and promoting their newly reopened library.  It is a colorful and enjoyable piece of historical writing.

 

Peck, Richard. A long way from Chicago. Dial, 1998 [0-8037-2290-7]

Here we meet Joey, his sister, Mary Alice, and their grandmother. This book is told as a series of stories that happened over their many summers of visiting their colorful grandmother on the farm during the Depression years. I n this 148 page book, the reader gets a close feeling for these three and the interesting people who live in Grandmother's town. You can see why the author wrote A year down yonder which covered only one summer. That Newbery book is a much tighter, closer knit story, but both of these books are an excellent addition to most collections.

Peck, Richard. The river between us. Dial, 2003 [0-8037-2735-6]

It is the days just before the start of the Civil War when a elegant woman and her servant step of a river boat on the Mississippi to land in a small town in Illinois. Being in a northern town, these southern women create a stir in town and not being able to find lodging, end up staying with Tilly and her family. Their actions create jealousy in the town and worry about these soon to be enemies. This 164 page book is a wonderful story about a small town meeting southern elegance and a foreign life-style during the Civil War.

Peck, Richard. The teacher's funeral. Dial Books, 2004 [0-8037-2736-4]

It is 1904 in rural Indiana and the long-time school teacher for the local one room schoolhouse has died. Fifteen-year-old Russell is hoping the school will close but the school board appoints his older sister as teacher. Can she guide the varied group of eight students? Will she be able to keep the school running in the middle of vandalism, snakes in desks, and a fire in the outhouse? Once again Peck has painted a homey picture of rural America in the early 1900's. The 190 page book starts out slow but soon becomes a colorful and enjoyable read.

Peck, Richard. A year down yonder. Dial, 2000 [0-8037-2518-3]

This year's Newbery winner is a pleasure to read. It is 1937 and fifteen-year-old Mary Alice's parents can't afford to keep her in Chicago so they send her to live with her Grandmother on the farm in Illinois. Grandma is a shotgun-toting colorful character who lives by herself. This book tells of Mary Alice's year with her grandmother and how she gets to know this interesting and sometimes scary community character. This is a sequel to "A long way from Chicago" which probably deals with a summer spent with the Grandmother. Since this 130 page book is a Newbery winner, I am sure you will not miss purchasing it but be sure to read it also.

Peel, John. The book of names [Diadem trilogy #1], 1997

Three youth from different worlds are transported to a fourth world where they must battle a magician with their newly found magic. This is the first in a trilogy and I have no desire to get the other two (unless requested by a student.) The book is shallow and feels stretched out to make it into the trilogy. As an individual book it does have its own story but it does not feel complete. I got this 184 page book at our book fair and would say it is about a 6th grade level.

Perkins, Lynne Rae. All alone in the universe. Greenwillow, 1999 [0-688-16881-7]

This is the tale of Debbie which starts out, "Last summer Maureen and I were best friends." The book proceeds through the cooling of their relationship, the loneliness that follows, and the new friendships which develop. The story is told with humor but I did not like the ending which, in a poorly disguised fashion, tries to become philosophical about friendship. This 139 page book is needed in middle schools where friendships are always changing -- I just wish it had a better ending.

Perkins, Lynne Rae. Criss Cross. Greenwillow, 2005 [0-06-009273-4]

This book is a collection of occurrences in young people's lives. There is a not a great deal of plot in the book just mostly disjointed musings which I hoped would come together at the end. This 336 page book is beautifully written in a series of stream of consciousness from the characters. There is a lot of description and it makes the reader feel comfortable and warm but.... what's the point of the whole thing. Once again I feel the Newbery committee has chosen a book that will only be popular because it has won the medal.

Peters, Julie Anne. Define "normal". Little Brown, 2000 [0-316-73489-6]

Good student, Antonia is excited to participate in her middle school's peer counseling program but has some doubts whether she can work with Jazz, a punk looking girl with dyed hair and piercings. As it turns out, Antonia has more problems at home with her clinically depressed mother. Jazz doesn't get along with her parents but lives in a huge house with an indoor pool. This 196 page book is perfect for middle school kids as it explores what it means to be "normal."

Peters, Julie Anne. Keeping you a secret. Little, Brown, 2003 [0-316-00985-7]

It is Holland's last year in High School and she is having a physical relationship with her boyfriend which does not appear to be going anywhere.  Then a new girl transfers into school who wears gay pride t-shirts.  Holland is fascinated by her and eventually falls in love with her.  This is the story of a passionate first love affair which happens to be between two girls.  This 250 page book is the story of a girl falling wildly in love and also discovering her sexual identity.  There is some description of the physical relationship but I was more uncomfortable with the descriptions of the boy/girl activities than the passionate romance between the two girls.  The difficulties and implications of coming out are explored.  For example Holland it thrown out of her house by her mother and ends up living in a shelter.  This is not an easy book and I would only give it to mature students, but I think it is an important book to have.

Petersen, P.J. Rising water. Aladdin, 2002 [0-689-86356-x]

Tracy and her brother work at an animal shelter. Kevin has been assigned to do community service there. It has been raining hard for several days when the town's levee breaks so the three of them go out on a rescue mission in a boat (not trusting Kevin because of his past.) They rescue a couple of animals and one person when suddenly they get mixed up with a pair of criminals who are robbing homes. Will they make it home? This 120 page book would be a good high interest book.. full of suspense.

Pfeffer, Susan Beth. Devil's Den. Walker, 1998 [0-8027-8650-2]

Joey knows nothing about his biological father but gets along with his stepfather of several years until they take a trip to the Devil's Den in Gettysburg. There the stepfather springs on Joey that he is going to adopt him. He is shocked and upset that he was never consulted about deserting his biological father (who he has never met.) While there are other smaller subplots, this is really a one-theme 115 page book about a topic very common to many of our students.

Philbrick, Rodman. The fire pony. Scholastic, 1996 [0-590-56862-0]

Roy and his older brother Joe are drifters. Joe has a way with horses so when they happen upon Bar None Ranch which raises horses, they work out fine. The owner takes to them, especially Roy to whom he gives a horse. Unfortunately Joe has a problem with fire ... that is why they are drifters. Will Joe's problem surface again at this new farm where everyone likes the two brothers? This 175 page book builds tension as the reader moves further into the story to the point where it can not be put down.

Philbrick, Rodman. The last book in the universe. Scholastic, 2000 [0-439-087589]

In this future world, everything has been destroyed and people live in chaos. Spaz is told by the gang leader to steal everything an old man has. When he arrives the man gives him everything except a book he is writing -- Spaz has never seen a book before so he leaves it. One day he gets a message that his sister is dying on the other side of the city -- He and the old man are joined by a feral child as the go on an incredible journey to find his sister. This 223 is page-turning science fiction ( I had trouble putting it down.) Here see a world which as been destroyed by a massive earth quake which leveled everything. Most of the people live in this mess of rubble but there are some genetically engineered people living in an Eden in the middle of the whole thing. This book is fascinating, has a strong message, and is a great read. Wonderful, meaty science fiction for the middle school and upper. Don't miss this one!

Philbrick, Rodman. Max the mighty, 1998

This is a kind of sequel (or maybe a spinoff) of "Freak the Mighty." Be careful because the covers are VERY similar; so much so that I thought this was a movie edition of "Freak..." Max is back and saves a girl while her stepfather is beating her mother. The girl wants to go to her real father in Montana so Max decides to taker her not realizing that her stepfather has reported to the police that he has kidnapped her. This starts off a grand adventure as the they hitchhike and steal rides on trains like hobos until they reach their goal which ends up being a deserted town. Max realizes that the girl knew that her father was dead and just wanted to see his grave. The stepfather shows up with the police and the police eventually realize what is happening and they live happily ever after. This is a great adventure story, some of which is unrealistic, but who cares? I think I liked this 166 page book better than "Freak the Mighty."

Philbrick, Rodman. REM world. Blue Sky Press, 2000 [0-439-08361-1]

Arthur needed to lose weight so he sends away for a REM sleep device which claims to help you loose weight in your sleep. When he puts it on, part of him he gets whisked away to another world while his body remains. There he goes on an incredible adventure to stop the "nothing" from overtaking the universe. (Yes it does sound a little like "the Never-ending story") On the way he meets many colorful characters. This is a very visual story and would make a great motion picture. It is a cute 192 page book which I am sure many kids will like.

Philbrick, Rodman. The young man and the sea. Blue Sky/Scholastic, 2004 [0-439-36829-4]

Skiff lives alone with his drunken father since his mother died. His father's drinking began when his mother died. His father once was a great fisherman and harpooner. Now their boat has sunk from lack of maintenance. Skiff is teased at school by one of the rich kids at school. When he hears of a contest to catch the biggest fish, Skiff takes their small boat to sea to catch the winning fish. It is a major trial at sea (hence the book title.) Will he catch the fish? With the money to fix the boat will his father face his problems? This 191 page book is a good read.

Pinkwater, Daniel. The education of Robert Nifkin, 1998

Daniel Pinkwater has a very strange sense of humor ( I would like to meet him) and this one follows right along with it. The book is funny in a Pinkwater kind of way. It is written in the form of a rather long essay for a college application describing his 1950's HS education. Everything is rather strange and exaggerated. Teachers run the gamut from anti-communist, antisemitic, and creative. The situations are bizarre. This will be right up the alley for Pinkwater fans at the upper Jr. High or HS level. I will not put this book in my middle school library -- it is too strange and High School oriented along with containing some possibly offensive language. The cover of this 167 page book looks too cute for upper level reading so it may not reach its proper audience.

Pinkwater, Daniel. Fat Camp Commandos. Scholastic, 2001 [0-439-15527-4]

Here we have a bunch of fat kids sent off to a fat camp. They break out two weeks early and hide back at their town (very unrealistic.) While they the make war on thin people, weight-loss doctors, and weight-loss programs. Claiming that they are beautiful as they are. At the end they are caught by the police and given an unusual sentence. If you like Pinkwater's strange sense of humor you might like this 88 page book with EXTREMELY short chapters (many less a page or less.) I found the first third of the book to be hard to get into and also, at times, I thought Pinkwater was trying too hard to get his "thin is not always beautiful" message across. Kids who like Pinkwater's zany brand of humor, may like this one too.

Pinkwater, Daniel. Looking for Bobowicz. HarperCollins, 2004 [0-06-053554-7]

Once again we enter the strange world of Daniel Pinkwater's mind (I would love to meet him over a drink sometime.) Nick and his family move from the suburbs to urban Hobokan. There his bike is quickly stolen by a mysterious Phantom (who no one will talk about), he meets two friends, a diskjockey at a independent radio station, and reads of Bobowicz in old newspaper clippings. Bobowicz had a 6 foot chicken who once terrorized the neighborhood. Nick sets out to find the mysterious Phantom (and his bike) and this Mr. Bobowicz and his strange chicken. This 200 page book is a fun read with Pinkwater's zany sense of humor.

Pike, Christopher. The last vampire, 1994

[Pike books are a bit more mature, violent, and bloody than Stine's Fear Street series.] This is the story of teenage vampire. The tale breaks attempts to break the stereotypes we think of when we imagine vampire; it is mixed up with East Indian folklore also. In the story our main character has been found out by her creator and they are the last two vampires. Krishna has ordered her creator to eliminate all the vampires. The story has violence, gore, friendship, and love. Normally I do not like this genre but I enjoyed this book. I would not recommend this book to all students. While this 398 page book is readable by many kids, but because of is mature themes I would not give it below a very mature 6th or 7th grader.

Pike, Christopher. Black blood [Last vampire #2], 1994 [0-671-87266-4]

[Pike books are a bit more mature, violent, and bloody than Stine's Fear Street series.] This one opens with Alisa and Ray thinking they were the last vampires but one day read of a series of brutal murders in LA. When Alisa goes to check it out she meets a vampire more powerful than herself which could only mean he was created by her creator who she thought was dead. This starts a gruesome adventure to kill this new vampire and his gang. Alisa calls on her gods of India (where she was a human many years ago) and realizes what she must sacrifice to kill this new vampire. This 196 page book ends in a "to-be-continued" fashion although the story line is completed. Although I do not care for this genre, I find myself really getting wrapped up in the head of this strong female character and vampire. This book is gruesome, with a lot of blood flowing.

Plum-Ucci, Carol. The body of Christopher Creed. Harcourt, 2000 [0-15-202388-7]

Chris Creed is the school freak - the person at the HS and growing up through school that everyone beat on. Suddenly one day he disappears and a email is sent from a library computer which reads like either a running away note or a suicide note. Everyone is wondering if Chris has run away from his overbearing mother, whether he committed suicide or whether he was murdered. This 237 page book is mostly a document written by Torey to help him get over the horror he has to deal with - the reader doesn't know what this horror is until the end of the book. This is a powerful book. Although they talk about "doing the nasty" on and off, it is not inappropriate in content for a middle school but I am sending it over the our HS just because the plot centers around a High School and just concerns more High School things. It is a must- read book though.

Pope, Elizabeth Marie. The perilous gard, 1974

I picked up this 1974 Newbery Honor book off my shelf during inventory because it looked like an interesting work of historical fiction. The book starts out slow as one gets comfortable with the characters but it quickly descends into a whirlwind. A young girl is sent to a castle and notices strange things happening there. She gets involved in a conspiracy which protects a group of Druids, living underground. The story contains magic, folklore, character development, a love story, plus so much more. This 280 page book would take some selling but once the readers get by the slow beginning, they should thoroughly enjoy it.

Powell, Randy. Is kissing a girl who smokes like licking an ashtray? Farrar/Straus/Giroux, 1992 [0-374-43627-6]

Biff is in his senior year and has never had a relationship except this girl, Tommie whom he as loved from a distance for 23 months. Just recently he has taken to saying hello to her in the hall. Then he is invited to his aunt's home who is taking care of a HS girl, Heidi, a smart-mouthed girl who has been suspended from school. Being polite, he takes gives her a tour of the town and they strike up a friendship. We soon find out that this troubled girl also admires a guy from a distance. By the end of the book, Biff comes closer to dealing with the friendship of these two girls. This 199 page book closes, but doesn't really end -- which is appropriate because Biff will continue to grow (as we all do.) There could be a sequel, but I felt comfortable the way the story closes. This is a well-written book displaying the confusion of relationships.

Powell, Randy. Run if you dare. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2001[0-374-39981-6]

Fifteen year old Garnder's life is a mess along with his room. His sister is dating an older man and seems to have lost all of her common sense. His mother is working hard trying to pay the bills because his father is out of work. Gardner's father begins to confide in him about his feelings of insecurity and how he feels that his own life is a failure - how he wants to run away from everything. In the middle of all this Gardner begins to chop wood. This 185 page book shows a family trying to deal with a depressed father.

Powell, Randy. Three clams and an oyster. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2002 [0374375267]

Three High School friends need to search for a replacement for an unreliable friend on their flag football team. In the process on deciding who to choose, they have to examine their friendships with each other and how their different roles interact on the team. These are High School boys so in this 216 page book there is some discussion of drug and alcohol use and relationships with girls. This is an excellent examination of friendship.

Powell, Randy. The whistling toilets. Farrar Straus Giroux, 1996 [0-374-38381-2]

Stan is a 16 year-old who teaches tennis at a rec center when he gets a phone call from a big time tennis school that his former neighbor's game is slipping so she is coming home for a local tournament and he is to coach her. Ginny arrives and stirs up a lot of feelings that they both have to work out. This is a story of friendship and tennis while growing up and facing life. While this 243 page book is not inappropriate for younger kids, I think older students will be able to identify with the characters much more.

Pratchett, Terry. The amazing Maurice and his educated rodents. HarperCollins, 2002 [0-06-001233-1]

Taking place in the fantasy world, Discworld, Maurice, a talking cat, has befriended a bunch of talking rats and a boy to work a scheme. Then go into a town and the rats become very visible and then the boy arrives with his pipe and for a fee will lead the rats out of town -- a great scam until they arrive in a strange town where they can't find any local rats. Why is there evidence of traps, and poison, but no live rats? This 241 page book is told with a lot of humor and satire but gets quite dark in the third quarter of the book. The tone changed and I actually was getting scared. (I know.. I am a softy.) The book ends on an upbeat note. I am not familiar with this author's work but he has written many books and his fantasy world and there is a video game series about it. If anyone is familiar with his work, could you please let me know if his other books are more geared for adults and/or also enjoyed by children such as this one? It never fails to amaze me that no matter how much I read, I still run across prolific authors of whom I have never heard.

Prose, Francine. Bullyville. HarperCollins, 2007 [978-0-06-057497-0]

Although they work in the same office, Bart's parents are separated in their marriage.  One day Bart is sick so his mom stays home from work.  That day is 9-11 and his dad dies in attack on the World Trade Center.  Not only do Bart and his mom have to deal with the death of his father, they also have to deal with that his parents had separated.  A local, exclusive private school offers a scholarship for Bart to attend.  Around town the kids know Baileywell School as Bullyville.  Bart does'nt want to go but
his mom thinks it is a great opportunity.  Sure enough Bart gets secretly bullied.  How much can Bart take?   If he acts out against the Bully, who will the school punish?  When Bart volunteers at a hospital he gets very friendly with a young girl.  Who is this girl?  I had thought this 260 page novel would be a simple story of bullying but it is so much more.  This is a wonderfully written, multi-dimensional novel.

 

Prue, Sally. Cold Tom. Scholastic, 2001 [0-439-48269-0]

Tom was one of the "Tribe" and he was becoming blind so they wanted to get rid of him.  He wanders away from them and goes into the town of the "demons"  Where he hides out with two young demons.  When others came he would call down the stars and become invisible.  The two demon friends were trying to figure out what he was... he could make himself invisible and his body was ice cold.  One day when one of these demons (the reader now realizes they are human beings) tries to force Tom to become invisible, he blows up a house instead.  Should Tom run back to the tribe where they want to kill him or should he stay with the demons where they just don't understand and are scared of him.  This 187 page book starts out confusing the reader who slowly starts to figure things out.  It is an interesting tale of people who are different and whether they can get along.

 

Pullman, Phillip. Clockwork, 1998 [0-590-12999-6]

This is a wonderfully written, yet unusual tale. It opens with a man in the middle ages reading a story a bar that he had written. It involves a magical clock maker who makes clockwork people. In the middle of the reading this clockmaker shows up with two clockwork people. One an iron knight who kills whoever says the word "devil" and the other a beautiful young boy. The iron knight ends up killing someone and the young clockwork boy becomes a real boy because a young girl gives her heart to him. This 107 page book reads like a classic fairy tale (and is much more complex than I have described.) The cover is sinister looking along with parts of the story. This short book could be used at many levels -- don't be mislead by the few number of pages. It would be a great read-aloud.

Pullman, Philip. Count Karlstein, 1998

Count Karlstein has made deal with a evil hunting spirit and means he must supply two humans by midnight. This is the tale of what happens when the friend of two girl cousins of the count find out that they are "the ones." This is a tangled web of mystery written in a humorous light. For example, one police man is named Sergeant Snitch. At times it almost feels like one of those old Bing Crosby & Bob Hope movies. Everything miraculously ties together at the end, the Count dies and everyone lives happily every after. I enjoyed this 243 page book although the first third is pretty slow. It really picks up toward the end.

Pullman, Philip. The Golden Compass [His Dark Materials #1] Knopf, 1996 [0-375982345-x]

I had heard so much about this book and series that I had to purchase it and read it and I am so glad I did. Lyra, an orphan living at Oxford, sets off with her daemon to rescue kidnapped children from being used in terrible experiments in the far, frozen north. This 399 page book is a strong fantasy which wraps the reader in an alternate reality. I could not put the book down and am sure it will be grabbed by students who want the next step past the Artemis Fowl books. Don't miss this one.

Pullman, Philip. I was a rat! 2000 [0-375-80176-6]

This book is a riot! It is full of adventure and wit. One day a young boy turns up at a childless couple's door saying, "I was a rat." They lovingly take him in and try to do the best for him but he gets taken away and then runs away several times. He doesn't know the ways of the world and is very trusting. This part of the book reminded me of Pinnochio. At the start of each chapter is a newspaper front page from the "Daily Scourge." These are incredibly witty -- I laughed out loud at several of them. The end of this 164 page story wraps up with a logical conclusion to the boy's past history centered around a fairy tale. I don't want to ruin the surprise. This book reminded me a lot of Napoli's "Frog Prince" and will be going on my "favorites of all time list." It is such a refreshing change of pace from the many heavy fairy tale adaptations of late. Don't miss it!

Pullman, Philip. The scarecrow and his servant. Knopf, 2005 [0-375-81531-7]

One day a scarecrow gets hit by a bolt of lightening and he becomes alive.  He starts out on an adventure with a boy who becomes his servant.  As they travel across the countryside many of there adventures of course have to do with birds since that is the expertise of the scarecrow.  This is 229 page book is a very enjoyable story which is cross between Don Quixote and the Wizard of Oz.  It will be fun for elementary through Jr. HS.

 

Quarles, Heather. A door near here, 1998 [0-385-32595-9]

This is the heart-wrenching story of four children who are trying to survive after their mother loses her job for drinking and continues drinking in her bed, not getting up. The three older children make a plan for survival and for the welfare of their younger sister Alisa. They all lie and try to hide from the rest of the world what is happening at home. Alisa writes a letter to CS Lewis to find out if there is "a door near here" that would lead to Narnia. She is sure that Aslan can help them. This 231 page book is about alcoholism, survival, and a caring teacher who gets in trouble when he tries to help the family.

Quintana, Anton. Baboon King, Walker & Co, 1999 [0-8027-8711-8]

Morengaru is a half breed, Masai and Kikuyu. He lives with the Kikuyu, a farming vegetarian people in Africa but is an outcast of sorts because he is a hunter and meat eater. They leave him alone until a leopard starts raiding their village and he is sent to kill it. He does, and becomes a hero until he accidentally kills a young man for which he is banished. No longer a member of any tribe, he wanders until he meets a group of baboons and the leader challenges him. After a vicious fight, the leader is killed and he is severely wounded. He recovers as a cripple and becomes a member the the group. Everything is fine until another leopard starts raiding the group of baboons. He has to do something but can a cripple with essentially no weapons fight a leopard? And what then? This 182 page book is excellent. It shows the politics and realities of life in an African tribe as being complex and sophisticated -- more so than usually portrayed. Life with the baboons is fascinating, showing what they are really like and how social they are. This book has small print and unfamiliar vocabulary which defined contextually. It will be a challenging read for most middle school kids, but worth it.

Randle, Kristen D. The only alien on the planet, 1995

Wow! What a powerful book! The story centers around a HS kids who does not talk at all (exhibiting autistic tendencies)-- everyone at school calls him "the alien", thus the unfortunate title (not SiFi.) Two of his classmates become involved in his situation and create a crisis which start bringing the boy out of his shell. It is a tale of mental illness, abuse, friendship, and love. The back cover compares it to "I never promised you a rose garden." I don't think students below 7th graders would understand much of what it happening and I also know many 7th graders who wouldn't. This would be a great book for a HS and selected students in a middle school. This book was a book fair bonus or I would have never heard of it and I am so glad that I did.

Raskin, Ellen. Figgs & Phantoms, 1974

Notice the date (I found this book on the shelf and decided to read it.) Wow! I do not get the point of it at all. It is a strange story about a strange family with a silly sense of humor and strange dreams. The humor is sillier than Pinkwater and even the Bagthorpe saga books (both of which I like) but this one is not for me. The book also has a "Charlie and the Chocolate factory" feel to it. It won a Newbery honor. Has anyone read this and liked it?

Rees, Douglas. Lightning time, 1997

A well-written piece of historical fiction wrapped around John Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry. The story is told by a fictional boy who gets entangled in the whole mess. It is not a "forced" historical fiction where the history overpowers the story but rather a great story intertwined in an historical event. The book is 166 pages at about a 6th grade and up reading level.

Rees, Douglas. Vampire High. Delacorte, 2003 [0-385-90143-7]

Cody and his family move to Massachusetts and he does not work out in school so his father puts him in a private school. It turns out to be a special school for vampires (or jenti as they preferred to be called.) The school maintains some non-vampire (or gadje) students so they can keep their water volleyball team - you see jenti can't go in water. The community has learned to live with the to kinds of residents.. until Cody stirs things up. This 226 page book is not the usual dark and evil vampire story. It is more like a cross between "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Sneetches" The two groups learned to live segregated in the same town until Cody arrives.

Regan, Dian Curtis. Monsters in cyberspace, 1966

This is a typically cute story which is the third in the "quartet." A girl is a member of the "Monster of the Month" club where she receives a stuffed monster every month. Of course they eventually come to life and they have silly adventures together. There is not much back tracking so you are in trouble if you didn't read the first two books and this one doesn't really end - you have to get the fourth. I hate books like this. Maybe 4^th or 5^th graders will like this book IF YOU HAVE THE OTHER BOOKS but I am not sure with 178 pages! As you can see this one is not high on my recommend list.

Rennison, Louise. Angus, thongs, and full-frontal snogging [#1] . HarperCollins, 2000

Georgia is growing up with many questions and this is her diary. This book is a riot but not appropriate for elementary students. Junior High girls will love this. There are discussions of things such as kissing techniques, and since she hasn't kissed a boy yet, could she be a lesbian. She has a cat which terrorizes the neighbors, and a funny three-year-old sister. This 247 page book was written by a British author and there are many non-American expressions in the story but there is a glossary at the end of the book.

Rennison, Louise. Knocked out by my nunga-nungas [#3] . HarperTempest, 2002 [0-06-447362-7]

In this third book, 14 year-old Georgia returns. She is now the girl friend of the Sex God but her parents decide to take the family vacation to Och Aye land (Scotland). Can her relationship stand the separation? What about Dave? One doesn't read these books for the plot but rather for the experience. It is one of those books that you will actually laugh out loud while reading. Sure, it has sexual situations and discussions (nothing very descriptive).. but it is about a 14 year old girl (and for 7th graders and up.) If your girls are anything like mine, they will devour this 183 page book as with the others and you won't see them on the shelves.

Rennison, Louise. On the bright side I'm now the girlfriend of a sex god [#2]. HarperCollins, 2001 [0-06-028813-2]

Georgia Nicolson is back in this second book. Here we have the British version of a Valley Girl dealing with the problems of growing up. There is a great introduction explaining some of the British language for example "In England a fag can mean cigarette also.. hence lighting a fag is not the cruel act you might think." The story opens up with Georgia bemoaning that her family will be moving to New Zealand to see her father and she will miss out on her sex god who she has been trying to catch. We then deal with her situations involving snogging (kissing) and breasts (and the pencil test) along with other teenage girl concerns. No, this 243 page book is not "To catch a mockingbird" and yes there are some sensitive (but not very descriptive) sexual references but... you will not see this book on your shelf as your Jr. High girls fight over it along with the other books about Georgia. This series is definitely (in my eyes) for 7th grade and up.

Rennison, Louise. Dancing in my nuddy-pants [#4] . Avon, 2003 [0-06-075961-5]

What can I say? In this continuing saga of Georgia Nicolson she is up to her silly antics. In this book she goes on a trip to France, deals with her cat, Angus, tries to decide if the Sex God is really right for her.. or is it Dave the Laugh. You will not be able to stop laughing while reading this "bubble gum for the mind" 202 page book. I just love they way she play with language. Middle school girls love this series.

Rennison, Louise. Away laughing on a fast camel [#5]. HaperTempest, 2004 [0-06-058936-1/978-0-06-058936-3]

Well, here we go again on a wild ride with Georgia.  Her boyfriend (Sex God) has gone off to New Zealand and has broken her heart.  The band finds a new lead singer from Italy who is dreamy and of course Georgia wants him (has the "general horn" for him.)  There is the usual goofiness of her family, neighbors, friends, and Angus (her cat.)  I am not sure if I would call this a complete book but then again, what kind of story do we have in the wild ride of silliness.  This 275 page book will never be on your shelf, along with the others in the series.  The older girls just love these books.  Just be aware that she is a HS girl and talks about sexual things in a light fashion.

 

Rennison, Louise. Then he ate my boy entrancers [#6]. HarperTempest, 2005 [0-06-058937-x]

Once again, for the 6th time,  we enter the strange and hilarious mind of Georgia Nicolson, a teenage HS girl.  I just love how she plays with language.  Not only is the reader dealing with the many "Britishisms" but also the many clever twists on words in Georgia's mind.  In this story she goes to "Hamerger-a-go-go land" (the USA.).  This series is an absolute riot and middle school girls just eat it up.  Just be aware the main character is a HS girl and talks about descriptive"snogging" and other things such as "red bottomosity" so this book is not for elementary students.

 

Rennison, Louise. Startled by his furry shorts [#7 Confessions of Georgia Nicolson]. HarperTempest, 2006 [0-06-085385-3//0-06-085385-9]

The girls in your library who have been loving this series will just eat up this one also.  Once again Georgia is falling in and out of love the Dave the Laugh, and two other love gods.  Her fascination with the opposite sex and snogging continues as she continues to gossip about her and her friends escapades with her girl friends.  Rennison continues to write in the fun and inventive way which has a way of hooking her readers.  This book 278 page book though, I was about to say amounted to nothing until the l reached the last five pages.  The largest bulk of the book is the silly rambling of Georgia and her wacky mind until the reader reaches the last few pages and the plot suddenly twists in several directions making you die for the next book. Louise Rennison has me (and I imagine all her readers) wrapped around her finger with her inventive writing.

 

Reiss,Kathryn. Paper quake, 1998 [0-15-201183-8] Harcourt Brace

Living in California, Violet, one of a set of triplets, begins having dreams about an earthquake. Suddenly she finds an old letter from just before the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and it coincidentally may have links to her. She is assigned a report on earthquakes at school and she begins finding more old letters which have strange possible links to her and her dreams become more intense. First she thinks the letters predict her impending death -- but later she is sure they predict another big earthquake. All the similarities and the dreams are to close to be a coincidence! Can she get anyone to believe her. This 264 page book is unusual. If you accept the premise that someone from the past is sending messages to Violet, it is a great mystery, full of suspense. If you think that is strange --- you will not like the book. I did like this one.

 

Reuter, Bjarne. The boys of St. Petri, 1996

I acquired this book from our book fair. It is the tale of a group of boys who harass the German troops in World War II Denmark. Then they take it a step higher to sabotage. One would think there would be a lot of action in such a tale, but there is not. There are only really two such situations. The rest of the tale is the head-trips the kids get entangled in, patriotism, honor, should they do it, why shouldn't do it. I thought the book was pretty good but slow in places but I am not sure one kids would like. The book has 215 pages of which probably 75 could have been removed to "tighten it up."

Reuter, Bjarne. The ring of the slave prince. Dutton, 2003 [0-525-47146-4]

It is the 1600s and Tom is diving for sunken treasure when he rescues a Spanish boy about his age and a black youth. They have survived a shipwreck and since the black boy is the son of a King in Africa, Tom agrees to help him get home so he can claim half the reward. After they get separated, Tom searches for this pair, starting a series of adventures (almost separate stories) where Tom works for a blacksmith, then a boomba on a plantation, a boy on a Spanish ship, and then on a pirate ship. The first third of this book starts out slow, but as Tom gets involved in his adventures, the pace picks up fast. There is not a lot of white space on the page, so this 372 page book is a long read. Also, it is translated from the original Danish and I found a lot of grammar irregularities which may have appeared in the translation. Good readers who like sailing adventure stories (with a little gore) will enjoy this book.

Rifkin, L. The nine lives of Romeo Crumb: life one. Stratford Road, 2004 [0-9743221-0-5]

This is a wonderful animal story about two groups of cats in a fictional city.  The "sticks" (Domestic Cats) and the "alleys" (Alley cats.)  I would have preferred if the "sticks" were called "stics" but that was the author's choice.  The sticks every day leave their home and go to a deserted building for training on how to survive in the city and stay away from the alleys and the dogs.  The head alley, Fidel becomes jealous of a new stick, Romeo.  What is interesting, the cats have nine lives.  When they die (for various reasons), they lose a life and come back with one less life.  This first story is the innocence of Romeo as he lives through his first life.  This tells the hard life of cats and is not your usual "cutesy" animal story.  I enjoyed it and have ordered "Life two" and "Life three."  I hope the kids will like it.

Rifkin, L. The nine lives of Romeo Crumb: life two. Stratford Road, 2005 [0-9743221-1-3]

We continue the story of Romeo and the other Sticks (Domestic cats) and their struggle with the Alleys (alley cats.) This time the Alleys trick Romeo and his gang to get on a boat to the Statute of Liberty just before a boat-worker strike so they are stuck there. On the island they meet a strange cat who has had experiments done on him. Several of the group get hurt and/or sick and even lose a life. Life gets harder and harder for them on the island. Finally they figure out how to build a raft to get back. When they get back they see that their hideout has been taken over by the Alleys and the Sticks are all taken prisoner. Another battle ensues. And of course, Romeo loses another life. This 277 page book has gotten darker and more evil than the first one. I don't care for the weird cat they find on the island. Although I enjoy the books, I am getting concerned about how dark they may get by Romeo's last life.

 

Rifkin, L. The nine lives of Romeo Crumb: Life 3. Stratford Road Press, 2006 [0-9743221-2-1]

This is the story of the cat, Romeo Crumb's third life (out of nine.) Now the city is going through depression, everyone is short of money. The Alley cats have taken over the deserted factory where the sticks (domestic cats) used to hang out and are holding some sticks hostage. Romeo has to unite the cats to fight Fidel and the alleys to get back control but that will not be enough. Romeo succeeds to going down to the "vents" below the city were mutant animals (because of pollution) thrive. He unites them and some dogs to have a big battle and take back the factory. Romeo is a hero but when he gets very sick, is it so good to have nine lives? Each of the books have gotten harsher. The descriptions of the mutant cats and dogs in this 276 page book can be gross and the battles between the animals are bloody. It is not a cutesy cat story. I have several 8th grade boys who are into this series.

 

Rinaldi, Ann. An acquaintance with darkness, 1997

This is by far the most engaging of her books that I have read. It takes place in Washington, D.C. around the time of Lincoln's assassination and also deals with grave robbing for medical purposes. I learned a great deal of history that I never knew (a strong point for reading historical fiction) and was wrapped up in the story. As with all of her books this is a solid read for upper 6th grade and beyond.

Rinaldi, Ann. Amelia's war, 1999 [0-590-11744-0]

This is the story of Amelia, a young lady who lived in Hagerstown during the Civil War. One gets a good feeling for what it must have been like to live in a town that's control went constantly back and forth between the North and South. Neighbors and friends were sympathizers of both sides. This 264 page book is a little lower reading level than Rinaldi's usual books and as a result will have a larger audience. There are the usual historical notes at the end of the book.

Rinaldi, Ann. The coffin quilt, 1999 [0-15-202015-2] Harcourt Brace

This is the story of the Hatfield and McCoy family feud as told by Fanny McCoy (ages 7-16 in the book.) Although there had been bad blood for years, the feud begins in earnest when Ro McCoy runs off to marry a Hatfield. What is shown nicely by the author is the young girl's perceptions about what is happening about her and how those perceptions change as she gets older. Family honor and loyalty are very important to these people -- Fanny frequently says in the book, "Lie to father, lie to God." At the end of this 228 page book there are a great deal of historical notes by the author. This is not a happy book but it does show how arguments can get bigger and bigger and take on a life of their own if there is not an effort to resolve the situation.

Rinaldi, Ann. Mutiny's daughter. HarperCollins, 2004 [0-06-029638-0]

This is historical fiction with the emphasis on the fiction. Rinaldi paints a "what-if" tale after the Mutiny on the Bounty. Fletcher Christian has returned on England in hiding and has brought his half Polynesian daughter who is masquerading as his brother's (her Uncle) daughter. The daughter (Mary) ends up attending an exclusive private school for girls and one girl finds out who Mary really is and begins blackmailing her. Meanwhile Mary is trying to find her father who is in hiding. The opening of this 218 page book is slow but the story picks up considerably near the end. It is not one of Rinaldi's best works.

Rinaldi, Ann. Numbering all the bones. Hyperion, 2002 [0-7865-0533-1]

Eulinda is a house slave in 1864 on a Georgia plantation very close to the Andersonville prison. Her brother has run off and joined the Yankee Army and she suspects he may he in the prison. When the war ends, Eulinda ends up working at cleaning up the horrors of the terrible prison and eventually meets and becomes Clara Barton's secretary. This 169 page book is not as long as most of Rinaldi's historical fiction but is just as good. The first third of the book tells the story of the house slave and could be slow for some readers.

Riordan, Rick. The lightning thief [Olympians #1] Hyperion, 2005 [0-7876-5629-7]

WOW this is an incredible mixing of current fiction with myth.  The story opens with Percy being thrown out of yet another private school because of strange thing happening around him.  He slowly realized that his non-present father is someone special.  He ends up in a camp for children of Greek Gods and his father is one of the three major Greek gods who are about to have a war with each other.  It is Percy's quest to return a stolen treasure and stop the war.  This 375 page book is the first of a page-turning trilogy.  And yes, it is a trilogy, only three books are planned (and I think already written.) OOPS - just found out book 4 is in the works. This book may grab your Harry Potter fans.  It also may start a real interest in Green Mythology so hopefully you have the materials to support it.  Don't miss this one!

 

Riordan, Rick. The sea of Monsters [Percy Jackson #2] Hyperion, 2007 [1-42310334-3//978-1-142310334-9]

The book opens with Percy's 7th grade year at his exclusive private school as going well until the end when he is once again drawn back to Camp Half-Blood.  It appears that the Tree of Life has been poisoned and someone has to go on a quest to get the Golden Fleece to save it.  Of course, Percy is not chosen but because of terrible dreams he is having, he and a friend decide to go anyway to get the fleece and save their friend Grover, the satyr.  This modern day adventure mixes Greek Mythology with current characters.  In this 279 Percy gets to learn how to use the powers has been granted from his father, Poseidon.  This is a fun series which may spur a student's interest in Mythology.   The Sea of Monsters is number two in a series which I don't know if has been defined.  So far book 1 and 2 are great reads.

 

Riordan, Rick. The Titan’s Curse [Percy Jackson #3] Miramax/Hyperion, 2007 [1423101456//9781423101451]

Once again Percy and his friends go out on a quest to deal with the growing tension between the Olympian Gods and the Titans. The camp sends out a group but Percy is not officially included although he follows Grover, Annabeth, and others unofficially. At the end of this 312 page book, there is a great battle between them and Atlas, Luke and the allies of Kronos. Rick Riordan has created an incredible alternative world in which the Greek Gods, Titans, demigods, and monsters are still around in current day. The stories are written with humor and a great sense of adventure. The books encourage readers to gather more information on Greek Mythology and are very popular in my library

 

Riordan, Rick. Battle of the Labyrinth [Percy Jackson #4]. Hyperion, 2008 [978-142310146-8]

In book four of this exciting series, Percy and his friends must figure out the secrets of the Labyrinth so they can enter it to prevent the Evil Kronos and his minions from entering it to make an secret entrance to the Camp and defeat the Gods and demigods. Along the way they must locate his friend Grover. This fantasy series based on the characters of Greek mythology living today is very hot with my 8th grade boy readers.  There was a long waiting list for this book when it first came out.  Some were so impatient that they went out and purchased their own copies.  Not only are the readers treated to a great story - classical fantasy quest - but they are learning about classical Greek Mythology.  My books on mythology are now going out for independent reading.  If you are in a middle school and HS, you must have this series.

 

Roberts, Diane. Made you look. Dell/Yearling, 2003 [0-440-41854-2]

Sixth-grader Jason has always wanted to appear on the ultimate game show, "Masquerade Mania." Finally one day his family plans a trip to California to see various things along with the show. Jason is already to get on the plane when his father says it would be a great way for the family to get to know each other by driving to California using their Aunt's "Camp'otel." The first third of the story is about fun stuff at school but the bulk of it a fun adventure story of them driving to California, stopping at camp grounds. Of course there is a rich bully at school who picks on Jason who in turn tries to hide his goal from him. This is a fun 150 page story.

 

Roberts, Willo Davis. Don't hurt Laurie!, 1977 [0-689-71206-5]

The story opens in a hospital emergency room where 6th grade Laurie is being treated for a cut on her hand which she got being careless with a knife. We soon learn that her mother did it along with other things to Laurie. This a sad tale of child abuse. The mother harms the girl and the stepfather is salesman -- away a lot. Every time someone gets suspicious, the mother convinces the stepfather to move. Finally her stepbrother is involved in a beating and they run away to their grandmother. The mother ends up getting treatment while the kids live with their grandmother. The reader feels the anguish and fear of Laurie. Thankfully laws have changed since 1977 but I feel this 166 page book is worthwhile not only because it gets people thinking about child abuse, but it is also a good story.

Roberts, Willo Davis. Megan's Island, 1990 [0-689-71387-8]

Megan, her sister and mother have always moved suddenly. This time when they do it again, Megan begins to wonder why. They are now living up at a lake with their grandfather and strange people start appearing and searching around -- Megan begins to question and learns the reason why they have been moving. Their rich paternal grandfather has been trying to get to the children and even try to take custody. Now two men try to kidnap the children and another wants to talk. This 187 book has a lot of suspense mixed in with the mystery. I enjoyed this as I have other books by this author.

Roberts, Willo Davis. The kidnappers, 1998

One day Joey Bishop sees one of his rich classmates from an exclusive boy's school get kidnapped. He tries to tell everyone but no one believes him. Eventually they do and the police arrive. Suddenly Joey is mixed up in the whole thing and gets kidnapped himself. This 137 page book is a great suspenseful mystery which I had trouble putting down.

Roberts, Willo Davis. Twisted Summer, 1996

Cici's family had gone to the lake every year for the summer. She had grown up there. Last year they couldn't go and when they return this year things were different. There had been a murder and one of the group was in jail. Cici tries to find out what really happened and in the process reopens the whole thing and stirs up the lake community. This is a great mystery -- slow to build but has thoroughly grabbed you by the end. I thought I had it figured out but by the end of this 189 page book, things were not what they seemed. I have liked other books of hers so now I will have to find more!

Roberts, Willo Davis. The view from the cherry tree, 1975 [0-689-71784-9]

Rob was sitting in his cherry tree when he sees his elderly neighbor get pushed out of a window and fall to her death. His family is preparing for a wedding on the next day so they don't listen to him and everyone (including the police) thinks it is an accident. After the killer tries to shoot and then poison him, he gets really worried. Still everything at his house is so hectic, no one will listen to him so he runs away. This 181 page book ends when the killer corners Rob in the house next store. This is Roberts usual good mystery (and her first children's book according to the book cover); the are three sub plots going on and the suspense keeps building. One thing that you may want to know, his father hates his cat and is nicknamed S.O.B. -- the cat (and its name) is featured prominently in the book.

Robinet, Harriette Gillem. Twelve travelers, twenty horses. Atheneum, 2003 [0-689-84561-8]

Just before the 1860 presidential election Jacob is one of 10 slaves sold to a rich man who will be heading out west. As they travel Jacob finds out his new master may be a murderer and also may be plotting to steal the Pony Express payroll which would stop the delivery of the election results to California. This 192 page book is a excellent adventure story with great plot twists but sometimes I felt that the slave, Jacob, who narrates the story, has 20th century thinking about freedom.

Robinson, Barbara. The best Christmas pageant ever, 1972

An infamous family gets involved in the church's Christmas pageant at end up showing a new slant on the Christmas story. This book can be taken at several levels: as a funny story or as one with religious significance. This 80 page book is listed for ages 8 and up.

Robinson, Barbara. The best school year ever, 1994

This is a sequel to "The best Christmas pageant ever" which was enjoyable and well written. Unfortunately this one does not make it! "The best school year ever" is just a collection of anecdotes about the unusual family that was presented in the previous book. Some of the individual tales are good but the book has no real story throughout. It probably will be enjoyed by readers who read the first book.

Rocklin, Joanne. For your eyes only!, 1997

This is a comfortable book about friendship. A class at school gets a long-term substitute who encourages writing in a journal and writing poetry. Lucy's friendships change as she pours her heart out in her journal. Her perception of the class bully changes also. I picked this 135 page book up at our book fair and it would probably be good for 4th-6th grades.

Rosen, Michael J. Chaser: a novel in emails. Candlewick Press, 2002 [0763615382]

When Chase's family moves away from Columbus, Ohio to an old house on a farm, he uses emails to his friends to help him cope with the many challenges of country life such as cicadas, hunters shooting his dog accidentally, and the culture shock of moving out of the city. The 152 page story is told through his emails. He designs a clever email keyboard pictures. It is fun trying to interpret these throughout the book.

Rosenbloom, Fiona. You are so not invited to my bat mitzvah! Hyperion, 2005 [0-7868-5616-5]

Stacy is in the process of getting ready for her bat mitzvah.  She has to pick out a dress, decide on who is coming and most of all, she has to decide what to do with her crush on Andy.  What does she do when her best friend betrays her? This 190 page book is a fun book about the concerns of a Jewish middle school girl.  I found it to be very enjoyable.

 

Rosoff, Meg. How I live now. Wendy Lamb Books/Random House, 2004 [0-385-74677-6]

This is a powerful book and I am not sure how I feel about it.  Fifteen-year-old Daisy travels to England to visit her cousins.  Right after she arrives, the Aunt leaves to give a lecture in Oslo, leaving the children along.  While she is gone war (some fictional war) breaks out and they children are left to survive and live in their own morality.  Daisy's interest in her cousin, Edmond breaks into true love.  While nothing is descriptive about this incestial affair, it is VERY evident.  They children are separated during the war and see the gruesome atrocities which happen in such a situation.  After a period of time Daisy gets back to the US and after several years, returns to see Edmond.  The style of writing draws the reading right into the story but there are long run-on sentences and there are no quotation marks when people speak within a sentence.  It is a difficult read.  This 194 page book is only for your mature and good readers.  Because of the incest, I have decided to send it to our HS.  I find it interesting that very few of the reviews mention the incest at all.  I think that is irresponsible.  Even if you don't purchase book, you should read it. 

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [#2], 1999

This book sat on my dresser for a while because I was worried it wouldn't live up the hype. I was also worried whether I would remember the wizard terms and the many characters -- well I should not have waited. After many months, it was like picking up an old friend! Harry goes back to his second year at Hogwarts. There were many very similar situations as to the first book but this is also a great book. The ending is great -- and I thought I had it all figured out! After finishing this 341 page book, I am excited for the 3rd in the series -- can Rowling keep it up?

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [#4], Scholastic, 2000 [0-439-13959-7]

This book is a tidewater in the series and jumps it up to the next level. It opens with everyone going to an international Quidditch match. (This section was longer than it needed to be.) After which Harry and the gang return to school and find out that instead of the school's Quidditch contest they are to host the reinstated International Triwizard Tournament. Harry is sucked into the contest at the end of which he is drawn into a fearsome battle. This book is definitely written for middle school kids. It is a little more dark and evil (especially the ending) and the wit throughout is geared for that age. The names of wizardry books cited, and spells given are quite humorous. The banter of the kids is even characteristic of middle school kids --- there is a line about the planets and joking about Uranus. I found myself laughing out loud several times. I am not going to repeat the comments that I am sure most of you have read except to say that I found this 745 page book the best yet of the series. Allow time to read it --- I am impressed with people (especially kids) who said they read it in one or two days. It took me five, but then I am not a fast reader. Enjoy!

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Scholastic, 2005 [0-439-78454-9]

As he turns 17 Harry and the gang enter their 6th year at Hogwarts. In this book we learn much of the early history of Voldemort through a system of Dumbledore gathering people's memories so that he and Harry can experience. In between that, Harry and his friends are growing up and are having the relationship struggles of early teens. Early in this 652 page book, Harry needs to borrow a used copy of the Potions text book and gets one that has a lot of handwritten notes in it, signed by "The Half-Blood Prince." As you probably know by now, a significant character dies in this book. I will not ruin it by telling you who (although someone did tell me.) After such a long time between books, I was worried about not being able to get into the story and characters again, but Rowling starts out the book reminding the reader of previous happenings in an easy and not over-done way. The climax scene is a visual and heart-wrenching experience for the reader. What I say here, will not influence whether you buy the book, but I also encourage you to read this series since you can be sure your students will be reading it.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [#5]. Scholastic, 2003 [0-439-35806-X]

Just before his arrival at Harry's 5th year of Hogwarts, Harry finds out about the Order of the Phoenix which is monitoring "He who must not be named." There is not much I can say about this 870 page book which will make you purchase or not purchase it. It is darker than the previous ones and a major character dies. This fact has caused at least two readers I am aware of to have less than favorable reactions to the book. I have noticed that the style of this book's writing is much more visual.. like she is writing for a movie.. hmmmm...... I prefer to let the reader fill in some of the visual blanks.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban [#3], 1999

Harry Potter is now at his third year of Hogwarts. Not only is he maturing but the story line is also. This plot is much more complex and younger kids may not grasp it as easily as the earlier two. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed returning to all the characters and locations of the Harry Potter saga. They are all familiar yet the story line is different enough so the reader is excited to read on. Near the end of this one there is a large "Perry Mason" type wrap up (like confession) where the whole plot is straightened out and the reader goes "aha." According to the author (on 60 Minutes) there will be seven books and Harry's hormones will begin flowing soon -- he will notice girls. If you have the others, you must have this 435 page book.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Porter and the Sorcerer's Stone [#1], 1998

Harry's parents had died and he was raised by his Aunty and Uncle not knowing that his parents had been great Wizards. When Harry comes of age he is sent to a Magic School (much to his surprise.) There he gets involved with an evil presence who is out to get him. The story at times is a fun school story (ie. Korman's Boots and Bruno stories) although the school is a Wizard/Magic school. Other times the story gets very serious as Harry and his friends fight the evil - even when serious the author keeps a light touch. I really enjoyed this 309 page book but found it a slow read at times.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows [#7]. Scholastic, 2007 [978-0-545-01022-1 / 0-545-01022-2]

The story opens up with the reader finding out that "He-who-must-not-be-named" and his organization have essentially taken over everything.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione wander throughout the book looking for some items which will help with the final battle with "He-who-must-not-be-named."  Enough of plot summary... this book is definitely the darkest, evil and most violent of all the books and is not for young kids -- for those reasons and also some of the ending stuff gets pretty philosophical and heady.   I am concerned about elementary kids reading the book (and even understanding some of the ending stuff.)  One must remember that the kids who first picked up volume one when it was first written would now be 19 or 20 years old.  This book will satisfy them.  I think (but don't know) Rolwing wrote the epilogue to wrap it all up for younger kids.

 

Rubalcaba, Jill. The Wadjet Eye. Clarion, 2000 [0-395-68942-2]

As the story opens Damon's mother dies and he must prepare her for burial in ancient Egypt. He decides he must tell he father, who is a Roman soldier in Spain, of her death so he and his good friend Artemas begin their long adventure where they get shipwrecked at sea and even meet Cleopatra on their way to his father. This 156 page book is a good piece of historical fiction which looks appropriate for 5th or 6th graders but be careful. While short, the book contains graphic descriptions of the boy performing the mummification of his mother and the battle scenes in Spain. It would he a good high interest/low level book.

Rushton, Rosie. Friends, enemies.Hyperion, 2003 [0-7868-5177-5]

Tory and her three girl friends have been friends for as long as they can remember.  One day a friend of Tory's mom moves into town after a nasty divorce.  Since the moms are friends, Tory's mom insists that she include Hannah in the things that Tory does with her "forever friends."  Unfortunately, Hannah is a sneaky liar and while acting sweet to school officials and parents, she begins to pit the "forever friends" against each other without them realizing it.  She even tries to interfere with Tory's newly developing relationship with a boy, Alex.  Hannah is so skillful that Tory ends up looking like the evil one in the group.  Can Tory straighten things out?  Will she end up with Alex?  Can all the girls be friends?  This 225 page book is a story of how girls can be friends and enemies.

Russell, Barbara T. Last left standing, 1996

The book opens with a family not getting along and the reader soon finds out it is because of the very recent death of one son. Josh, the remaining son, spends the summer wandering alone and finds a cabin in the woods in which lives an elderly land and a young girl. He discovers that his now dead brother used to visit them and they don't know of the death yet. He keeps coming back, not telling them, hoping to maintain an unreal world in which his brother could come back. Josh gradually begins to deal with his grief and tells them at the end of the book. This is a touching book about grief (not so much about death.) The 132 pages are easy to read but the topic is not one for 5^th graders. I would be a great read-aloud and discussion book.

Ryan, Mary Elizabeth. Alias, 1997

I don't know how to classify this book - maybe mystery, maybe suspense, maybe family relations, maybe historical fiction; whatever it is, is good. The story tells the tale of a high school boy and his mother who keep moving and changing their identities. They never stops to think about why until he has to do a report and finds his mother on the Internet. She is on the lam! She was in a protest group that planned to blow up an ROTC headquarters during the Vietnam War. They were raided and most were arrested. She has been running and hiding for 20 years. I thought she was in the witness protection program. In the first 2/3's of the book, the son is just accepting the constant moving and not questioning. After it clicks in his head, the book really picks up. I could not put it down for the last third. Don't miss this 170 page book. The great ending is worth the gentle, slow beginning. Great story writing.

Rylant, Cynthia. The heavenly village, 1999 [0-439-04096-5]

The Heavenly Village is a place between Earth and Heaven where people go who have died but are not ready yet to go to the permanent Heaven. They stay there doing things they need to do and even popping back to Earth (invisibly) periodically. The book tells of seven people living in the Heavenly village. This is a very strange book but very comforting. It gives the reader a relaxed feeling about death. I purchased this 95 page book at our book fair and am not sure whether I would recommend it to a school but know some staff that would love to read it.

Rylant, Cynthia. I had seen castles, Harcourt Brace, 1993 [0-15-200374-4]

John was 17 in 1941 and now at as an older man looks back on the war and how it changed him. This is a beautifully written, anti-war story and would be a wonderful discussion starter. The horror of war is vividly described and John meets his first love before he goes off to war where a sexual encounter is described. While this 97 page book is short, it is not for younger readers. Although stark at time, the writing is beautiful. There should be several copies of this in every HS library. Be sure to read it for yourself also.