Book Reviews

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For my most recent reviews, go to my blog

Van de Ruit, John. Spud. RazorBill, 2007 [978-1-59514-170-5 // 0-14-302484-1]

"Spud" Milton is a prepubescent choir boy who is going on scholarship to an elite residential school in South Africa.  It is 1990 and apartheid is falling apart.  Spud's flaky family is not only loony but also prejudice.  This book is written in diary form seen through the eyes of a 13 year old boy, confused about  girls, living a  elite private school with a group of wild boys called the "Crazy Eight" and being a member of a strange family.  Everyone in the school has a nickname.  Spud gets the lead in the school play as Oliver. This is a wildly funny diary seen through the eyes of a 13 year-old boy.  Of course sex is on his mind along with classmates.  This 331 page book is listed at for ages 12 and up.  Be aware while VERY funny, there are many sexual discussions.  For just a few examples... the boys compare their "willies" in the shower.  The narrator gets his nickname because his "willie" is small and his balls have not yet descended.  One boy has to go to the nurse for being sore from playing with himself too much.  A teacher advices the students not to read a certain group of female authors who are "carpet munchers."  You may want to read it first to see if the community you serve would appreciate the humor.  There is a second book planned, "Spud: the madness continues."

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Flipped. Knopf, 2001 [0-375-81174-5]

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Runaway. Knopf, 2006 [0-375-83522-9]

Holly is in foster care and has run away before.  This time when she runs away, she takes a journal with her and begins to write of her adventure, addressing it all like a letter to the teacher who gave her the journal. This 250 page book depicts the harsh way of life for a runaway and homeless people in our country.  It is not a happy run away book, but rather on a lone teen trying to survive in the real world all alone by not trusting anyone.  The only thing that concerned me about the book was the journal thing.  Would someone with so many troubles take the time to keep up with the journal? Who knows?  Maybe this would not bother the student readers.

 

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keys and the curse of Mustache Mary. Knopf, 2000 [0-375-80265-7]

Once again Sammy Keys gets herself and friends wrapped up in another mystery when she goes with her friends father to deliver some flowers to a funeral. There is a family feud going on between two neighbor for almost 100 years. Suddenly the log cabin of Mustache Mary burns down. Sammy Keyes helps to solve the problem when she solves the mystery. This 239 page book follows along in the good fashion of the other Sammy Keyes books.

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood mummy. Knopf, 2001 [0-375-90266-X]

After finding her address, Sammy and her best friend Marissa travel to Hollywood to see her mother. They find her in a producers home with other aspiring actresses. The producer is about to marry her mother. Things get more interesting when one of the actresses are found murdered. Sammy tries to solve the case because too many things point towards her mother as the murder. This 256 page book is another good child mystery in the series.

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy, 1999 [0-679-88852-7]

This is another in the Sammy Keyes mysteries. In this one things begin disappearing at her church, the "Sisters of Mercy" show up for a fundraiser, she meets a homeless girl, and she has trouble with another girl on the opposing softball team. Once again the author has written a good mystery with well developed characters and a good plot. I figured out the mystery near the beginning but it was still fun to see how the whole thing turned out. I enjoyed this 210 page book.

Van Leeuwen, Jean. Cabin on Trouble Creek. Dial Books, 2004 0-8037-2548-5] 

It is summer of 1803 and Daniel and Will are brought to the wilds of Ohio to build a cabin and hold it while the father goes back to Pennsylvania to get the rest of family. Little do Daniel and Will realize that their father would return until almost a year later. They have to finish the cabin as best they could and survive the harsh winter. This 219 page book is a great survival adventure in the frontier.

Vande Velde, Vivian. Companions of the night, 1995

A teenage girl, Kerry, goes back to the Laundromat late at night and runs into what looks like someone being mugged. She ends up helping that person and later gets entangled in his vampire life. There are many plot twists at the end. Once again Velde related a great tale of suspense and vampires. This 212 page book has very small print so someone would really want to have to read it. I am sure that once you read one Velde book, you will want to read the others.

Vande Velde, Vivian. A coming evil, 1998 [0-395-90012-3]

During World War II in France some parents send their daughter, Lisette to live with a cousin in the country. They are hiding some Jewish and Gypsy children from the Germans. Meanwhile Lisette meets a ghost from the 1300s who slowly, over a few days begins to materialize. Eventually the Germans come and the now fully materialized ghost helps save everyone because he can speak Frankish and understands the Germans. The ghost had been a Knight Templar and the author mixes the evil of the German invasion and killing of the Jews with the terrible persecution and eventual downfall of the Knights Templar. This 212 page book is a clever mixture of two time periods (a kind of double historical fiction) while also being a wonderful suspenseful story. It is more historical fiction than an eerie ghost story. There are some historical notes at the end of the book.

Vande Velde, Vivian. The conjurer princess, 1997

This is a great adventure fantasy in which a girl learns magic from a wizard to go and save her sister. On the way she meets to friends. The story really holds your attention, and there are many plot twists that you do not expect. A great read! I ordered this 228 page book because I enjoyed her "Dragon's bait" but this is even better. A sequel does follow but the story is very complete. As a sideline, I love the sound of the author's name and wonder whether it is her birth name.

Vande Velde, Vivian. The Changeling Prince, 1998

This is the story of an evil lady, who through magic, staffs her household with people she has made from animals by magic spells. She is a cruel person and terrorizes her servants. The Prince (made from a wolf) tells the story and eventually wants to try and stop her but sees no way to do it until he meets a thief in town. The story is very good and suspenseful but also violent and full of cruelty. The cruelty bothered me for the first two thirds of the book until the whole story pulls together at the end. Because of these aspects, I would say this book is for at least a 7th grader. I chose this 290 page book because I like the author. I will continue to read her books.

Vande Velde, Vivian. Dragon's bait, 1997

A girl is falsely accused of being a witch and staked out for a dragon to eat her. Before the dragon comes, she frees herself and when it arrives, it befriends her. They go on an adventure to punish the town who accused her of witchcraft. It is a fun story with the two working with each other, never really trusting each other but eventually becoming friends. The way it ended, there could be a sequel. The edition I had was 131 pages with very small print. It is a fun story, full of adventure for dragon- magic fans.

Vande, Velda, Vivian. Ghost of a hanged man, 1998

Jake is hanged for a murder and puts before he dies puts a curse on everyone who turned again him. Gypsies also make scary predictions. A year later the town floods and coffins float out of the ground. Jake is not in his and the threatened people begin dying mysteriously. There is a big struggle at the end of the story and the ghost of the mother of a young girl comes back to save the day. This is change of pace from other Vande Velde books that I have read which are more intense and for older readers. This 95 page book is a scary ghost story for the younger set.

Vande Velda, Vivian. Magic can be murder. Harcourt Brace, 2000 [0-15-202665-7]

A teen witch, Nola, and her befuddled mother are wandering around trying to stay out of being found out as witches. Nola, using a spell sees a murder being committed but accidentally leaves the spell in place and has to go back to cancel it out. Well, that starts a series of adventures for her in which she gets entangled in the murder investigation. This is a fun witch story but be aware it centers around spells -- if that is a problem in your area. I really enjoyed this 196 page book all except the very ending which could have been left out. Even so, it is a good solid purchase for libraries with witch readers.

Vande Velde, Vivian. Never trust a dead man, 1999 [0-15-201899-9]

The story opens in the middle ages and a young man is accused of killing another by stabbing him in the back. He is placed in the catacombs with the dead man to die. A witch finds him and gives his a chance to solve the crime by taking the spirit of the murdered man and putting it in a bat. She changes the young man to appear as a girl from the town and they go back to solve the crime. The story is essentially a murder mystery with the reader going along with this unlikely pair as they try to solve the crime. It is full of humor. This is a great 194 page book and will be very popular but you must be aware of the essential place that witchcraft plays in the story -- if that is a problem in your local situation.

Vande Velde, Vivian. Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the sisters weird, 1995

This is a collection of parodies of folktales. As usual with these types of books, some are great and others are ho-hum. I especially like Jack & the Beanstalk where he gets drunk and imagines the whole thing so his mother throws him out and changes the locks. Hansel & Gretel is pretty good also. They are not all short stories: there is poetry and other things as a one-page APB for Goldilocks. If you have teacher who do lessons having kids write parodies or their own folktales, this 128 page book would be a good addition to your collection. Obviously, they are only funny if the reader knows the original tale.

Vande Velde, Vivian. There's a dead person following my sister around. Harcourt Brace, 1999 [0-15-202100-0]

A ghost starts appearing to his younger sister and Ted can't figure out why. After discovering a diary he finally establishes that there are two ghosts, slaves, and his house used to be on the Underground Railroad. One ghost tries to get the diary and disrupts the whole household. The ghosts end up taking over the bodies of live people so they can communicate. Eventually the ghosts' problems are solved and they move on. While the story gets a little scary at the end, this a fairly light supernatural story for this author. This 143 page book will be popular with kids who like ghost stories. I enjoy this author.

Vande Velde, Vivian. A well-timed enchantment, 1998

Deanna drops her watch in a wishing well and gets sent back in time to recover it. This a fantasy with high-brow humor such as in "The Princess Bride" or Wrede's "Dealing with Dragons." The humor surprised me after the other heavy fantasies of hers that I have read. Velde can hand both the heavy, serious fantasy along with the humorous equally well - a versatile author. I purchased this 228 page book because I like her others.

Vande Velde, Vivian. Witch dreams.Marshall Cavendish, 2005 [0-7614-5235-4]

Nyssa is a sixteen year old orphan girl who can see other peoples dreams.   The people of her medieval town would not take well to this if they knew - they would brand her a witch.  Nyssa always assumed she knew who killed her parents but he was from a rich family and he disappeared soon after he was declared innocent.  Suddenly he reappears in town and she wants to make sure he is the guilty one by reading his dreams.  She sees strange things in this young man's dream which will turn her life around.  Vande Velde writes good tales (about witchcraft, vampires, ghosts, etc) that kids want to read and are not too over the top for me to feel uncomfortable having in my middle school library.  Most of her books are always off my shelves and  I am sure this 120 page one will be no different

 

Van Draanen, Wendelin._Sammy Keyes and the hotel thief_,1998

Sammy's mother has gone away and left her to live (illegally) with her grandmother in a senior apartment building. One day while looking out the window with binoculars she sees a robbery across the street in a room in a hotel. The police don't believe her and they aren't working very hard on the case so Sammy goes at it. Meanwhile she had problems at her school as a 7th grader. This is a fun mystery/detective story with girl solving a mystery. The only thing I have against this 163 book are the simple block illustrations throughout and on the cover. They make the book look more juvenile than it actually is.

Van Steenwyk, Elizabeth. A traitor among us, 1998 [0-8028-5150-9]

This is the story of life in the Netherlands during the WWII German occupation. Twelve-year-old Pieter gets involved in working for the resistance, first doing small things, then bigger. The tension builds as he becomes more involved. The author really shows how the people learn that they can not trust anyone -- even their dearest friends. Pieter is aware of a traitor in the town and at the end finds out who it is. This 130 page book gives a feeling for the period without using violence or horror - just tension.

Vanasse, Deb. Out of the wilderness, 1999 [0-395-91421-3]

Josh and his father move to the wilds of Alaska to find his long lost step brother. All three move out to a very isolated location and the step brother "becomes one" with the wilderness and ends up moving out and living totally on his own, sometimes in a nearby cabin and sometimes elsewhere. Josh wants his father to move back to a town and leave Nathan their cabin. At the end of the story Nathan gets attacked by a bear and the whole family rushes him to the hospital. There Josh does a lot of thinking and realizes that he will miss the wilderness but still like living in town with other kids. This is the story of a boy and father's relationship changed by the introduction of the step son/brother. This 165 book is well written and you feel the hidden tension within the family. It may be a problem for those who like neatly wrapped up stories because it ends in the hospital with Josh thinking and the reader not knowing how the brother survives from the vicious bear attack.

Venokur, Ross. The amazing Frecktacle, 1998 [0-385-32621-1]

This is a fun story about a fifth grade boy, Nicholas who is teased because of his freckles. One day he meets a man who wants his freckles and makes a deal with him to remove them magically. If he lets Nicholas have the freckles he will make everyone sorry who teased him. Well, it turns out the freckles are magic (that's why the man wants them). The man uses the freckles and magic to turn everyone at school into mutants. Of course at the end of the story Nicholas figures out a way to get his freckles back and save the day. In the process he learns to appreciate his freckles. I should mention that this cute 135 page book deals with magic and casting spells -- it even mentions using black magic once.

Voigt, Cynthia. On fortune's wheel, 1990

This the third in a group of loosely related books which also include "Jackaroo" and "Wings of a Falcon." In this a girl ends up traveling with a run-away Earl, they get stranded, rescued, sold into slavery, escape, go back to his kingdom, and leave it for her simple life. It is the story of how people deal with what comes up on "fortune's wheel", hence the title. This 289 page book is an advanced adventure story. All three books are well written but if I had to chose my favorite, it would be "The Wings of a Falcon."

Voigt, Cynthia. The wings of a Falcon, 1993

This is an adventure/quest story which is on of two books that are loosely connected to Jackaroo. The story opens on a of boys kept as slaves. Two of them escape and go to live in a twon which is worried of cruel invaders called "wolfers." Eventually these two are captured by the wolfers and live with them for more than a year as slaves. They escape again to "The Kingdom" (where the Jackaroo was) and one of them pursues fighting in a contest to become the Earl. He wins and is killed right after and his friend becomes the Earl. Cynthia Voigt know how to weave a story. This 467 page book is an excellent adventure story of honor and friendship through much pain and difficulties.

Waddell, Martin. The kidnapping of Suzie Q, 1997

A fifteen-year-old girl goes shopping with her mother in Ireland and gets in middle of a robbery and ends up getting taken hostage by a group of first-time thieves. The book creates a great amount of tension. It is told in past tense by the girl and really sounds like her sitting down and telling you about the traumatic incident. I also acquired this 168 page book at our book fair. It is a surprise great book - I never heard of the author. (I will order another copy tomorrow.)

Wallace, Barbara Brooks. Cousins in the castle, 1996 [0-689-80778-3]

In London, at the turn of the century eleven-year-old Amelia's mother had died a long time ago and now she was living with a wealthy friend of the family because her father had gone on an extended business trip. Suddenly they receive word that her father has perished a hotel fire and she is to go live with her closest relative, Cousin Basil in America. Cold and grim cousin Charlotte comes to escort her by ship. On the ship Amelia befriends a girl in an acting troop. Once she gets off the boat in America things happen fast. This 152 page book includes kidnapping, gambling, running away, and false imprisonment. The whole convoluted situation is explained in the last few pages but before then, the reader is left to try and figure out what is happening.

Wallace, Barbara Brooks. Peppermints in the parlor, 1980 [0-689-71680-X]

Eleven-year-old Emily's parents die in an accident around the turn of the century and she is sent off to live with her aunt and uncle in San Francisco. When she arrives, her uncle is missing and the house has become an old age home in which strange things are happening. Her aunt is a servant to the cruel people running the place and Emily becomes one also, both living in terrible conditions. Emily goes about trying to help the old people in the home while trying find out what has happened to her uncle and his elegant mansion. This 198 page book keeps the reader tense until then end when all questions are answered.

Wallace, Barbara Brooks. Secret in St. Something. Atheneum, 2001 [0-689-834640]

After their mother's death, Robin and his baby brother are living with their cruel step-father in New York city of the 1800s. Robin can't take it any more and runs away, breaking into a church for shelter where he meets some other run-aways. He gets entangled with a mystery which involves his step-father and the underworld of the city. This 149 page book is a good historical fiction for upper elementary students.

Wallace, Barbara Brooks. Sparrows in the scullery, 1997 [068981718-5]

In Victorian England, Colley's rich parents are killed in an accident and while he is waiting for his aunt and uncle to come and take care of him, he is kidnapped from the house. He is taken to the Broggin Home for Boys where the boys are treated horribly and forced to work in factories for the owners. With his rich upbringing, can Colley make friends with the other boys? Why was he kidnapped? Why was he sent to this home? This 161 page book is a winner of the Edgar Award for mystery and also good historical fiction depicting a slice of Victorian life.

Wallace, Bill. The backward bird dog, 1997

This is an adorable animal story -- what makes it so good is that it is told by the dog. It is not a talking dog, but rather you get into his mind. The book tells his thoughts and feelings. Its describes how much information he gets from odors and it tells the story of him trying to be accepted by his owners as a bird dog. He wants to much to sense the odor of pride from his owners. I picked this 101 page book up at our book fair. It is good for lower middle school students.

Wallace, Bill. Journey into terror, 1996

While going to visit his father and step-family, Samuel takes some pictures at the airport. He doesn't know that he has photographed a major crime. They see him but don't catch him before he gets on his plane. The criminals track him down and that starts the big adventure. It is a good tale of suspense and adventure. One thing that bothers me was a description of kids shooting matches from a BB gun in the beginning. This leads to an important part of the ending but I was concerned about readers experimenting with this trick. I got this 168 page book at our book fair and thoroughly enjoyed it with the reservation mentioned above.

Wallace, Rich. Wrestling Sturbridge. Knopf, 1996 [0-679-87803-3]

It is his senior year on the wrestling team in a town that lives for wrestling. The problem is that there are three slots for him and his three friends and they are all good so Ben gets on second string. This is the story of someone living through his last year in a one business town (cement block factory) that's civic pride is centered on its HS wrestling team. This along with his growing interest in girls, make it a very challenging year for Ben. This 133 page book tells of a young man who doesn't want to be stuck in this Pennsylvania town for the rest of his life. He has to make good on his wrestling. It is a wrestling story with so much more -- holds your interest right up to the final match against the probable state champion. There is a strong wrestling team in our town and I try to get wrestling books -- at least this one is not about a girl joining a boys team.

Wallace, Rich. Takedown [Winning Season]. Viking, 2006 [0-670-06096-8]

Seventh grader, Donald just joined the wrestling team and he is not doing as well as he expected.  The physical strain on his body is rough and he is not winning any matches.  Will he ever win?  Will he stay on the team?  This 118 page book could be used as a low-level/ high interest book.  Although it is shallow, and not much to it, the book will be good for wrestlers or kids just starting out in any sport.  I purchased it because we have a very active wrestling team.

 

Walpole, Peter. The healer of Harrow Point. Hampton Roads, 2000 [1-57174-167-4]

This is the warm story of an eleven-year-old boy who grows up in a matter of a few weeks after meeting a healer. This healer can touch animals and heal them and Thomas sees this happen one day and befriends this unusual person who decides to train him as a healer also. Through all this Thomas is about to get his first rifle for his 12th birthday and now suddenly no longer wants to hunt. This is a powerful story dealing with many things in a spiritual fashion. I really enjoyed this 131 page book but it will be interesting to see which students will.

Wardaw, Lee. 101 ways to bug your parents, 1996

This is an entertaining school story about a boy (and his friends) who are enrolled by their parents in a summer writing course at the end of their 6^th grade year. Sneeze (the boy's nickname) needs to raise money go to the invention convention so he decides to write a book called "101 ways..." in class and sell it. He and his friend also get a summer job. They of course get in trouble trying to sell their book. There are many interactions between the parents, teachers, and friends. Lee Wardlaw knows her nitch. She did a similar good job in the "Seventh Grade Weirdo." This 199 page book is a fun, light read.

Waugh, Sylvia. Earthborn. Delacorte, 2002 [0-385-90060-0]

Twelve-year-old Nesta suddenly learns that her parents are aliens doing research on Earth, making her one two although he is Earthborn. For security reasons they are being recalled back to their home planet and must leave at a certain time on a certain day or never be able to leave another time. Nesta decided to run away and miss the flight. Will her friend Amy help her? Will her parents leave without her? What about the mysterious disappearance of two people north of her town? This 273 page book is a good introduction to Science fiction.

Weaver, Will. Memory boy. HarperCollins, 2001 [0-06-028811-6]

A chain of terrible earthquakes and volcanoes destroy the Cascade Mountains and the airborne ash changes life in the entire United States. Cities are a mess, fuel and food are rationed, and there are gangs looting and murdering. Two years after the eruptions Miles and his family decide to leave their suburban Minneapolis home to go live in their summer cabin. When then get there on a bicycle contraption, they find it occupied - what will they do. This 152 page book is an interesting twist on survival fiction. I could not put it down.

Weeks, Sarah. Jumping the scratch. Harper/Collins, 2006 [978-0-06-054109-5 // 0-06-054109-1]

After his aunt has a brain injury, his mom and Jaimie move into the Aunt's trailer to help her get along until as the doctors say, her memory can "jump the scratch."  While there, Jaime meets a friend, Audrey who helps him find his own "scratch" in his memory.  This 167 page book is a powerful story which is a good read.

 

Weeks, Sarah. So B. It. HarperTrophy, 2004 [0-06-441047-1//9780-06-441047-2]

Heidi doesn't know much about her life..who is her father... when is her birthday?  She lives with her severely mentally disabled mother with the help of a neighbor.  Heidi's mother has a vocabulary of only 27 words/phrases, one of which is "So B. It."  Heidi becomes more and more inquisitive about her mothers past so when she starts to gather some facts, she goes on an across the country trip to find out more about her mom.  Will knowing more about her mom be better for Heidi?  This 245 page book is a very touching story which is a wonderful read.

Wells, Rosemary. Red moon at Sharpsburg. Viking, 20097 [978-0-670-03638-7]

It is at the start of the Civil War and India’s school closes.  Because she is a smart girl, her family gets her a tutor.  Eventually her father turns up missing so India goes to find him.  She eventually finds herself in the midst of the Battle of Antietam. This book is very descriptive in telling about the horrors the Civil war, the medical practices and how it divides the people.  It is not for the light-hearted.  This 236 page book is great historical fiction for middle school.  It includes a bibliography and author notes at the end.

 

Werlin, Nancy. Black Mirror. Dial, 2001 [0-8037-2605-8]

Frances's brother Daniel is dead from an apparent drug overdose. They bother were at an exclusive private school.. and she can't look in the mirror because she did not notice her brother's pain. Frances decided to start working in a charitable group in which Daniel had worked. Things are strange.. what is happening at the school? This 249 page book is an excellent mystery dealing with the heartbreak of the death of a sibling.

 

Westerfeld, Scott. Uglies #1 . Simon Pulse, 2005 [0-689-865384]

Westerfeld has created an alternate world in this first of a trilogy where at the age of 16 people are given an operation to change their appearance and thought from "ugly" to "pretty."  After the operation they live in a paradise where life is fun.  Tally is approaching her 16 birthday and suddenly becomes friends with Shay does doesn't want to become "pretty."  Shay runs away to a mythical place where everyone is not pretty and because Tally was her friend, the authorities give Tally a choice, either go after her and betray her friend Shay and her new world or never to get the "pretty" operation.  This 425 page book is a great science fiction tale centered around everything teenagers are concerned about... appearance.. and fitting in.  This is one of those books that I purchased because I saw several 8th grade girls walking around with it before I even hear of it.  Note that one of my copies has a page order problem after page 380.  You may want to look at yours if no one has read it yet.

 

Westerfeld, Scott. Pretties [Uglies #2] Simon Pulse, 2005 [0-689-86539-2//978-0-689-86539-8]

In the second of this trilogy, Tally has had the pretty operation along with Shay.  They are now living in the city world of pretties.  David and his parents are still free and living with some other people outside the city.  Tally has fallen in love with a new pretty, Zane.  One of David's gang smuggle in the double-pill "cure" which the plan all along.  In a rush to prevent capture, Tally and Zane each swallow one pill.   They have fun becoming bubbly and finally escaping from the city (and Dr. Cable's gang of Specials.)  Will Zane's headache's stop?  Will Zane and Tally find David?  What about Shay?  This 370 page book once again has its high and low points.  It took me a while to get into the story for a while..but then again I had read other books in between.  This is a adventuresome sci-fi trilogy which appears to be REALLY a trilogy with the final book, "Specials."  Several kids in my school are already into it and mostly because they got the books on their own.  Next year I will promote it more.

 

Westerfeld, Scott. Specials [Uglies #3] Simon Pulse, 2006 [0-689-86540-6//9780-689-86540-4]

In book three, Tally has been totally modified as a Cutter (a super Special Circumstances person.)   Zane is still recovering from his brain damage from "the cure" and she wants him to also be  modified as a Cutter.  For that he has to prove himself so she and Shay set up a plan for Zane to prove himself to Dr.Cable.  The plan does not go as it was set up because of  behind the scene activities of Dr. Cable.  Although a little slow in places, this 370 page book is an exciting end to the trilogy (finally a defined triology.)  There is a slight opening for another book or series.. but this one is definitely over and one you should look at for your middle school and High School.

Westerfeld, Scott. Extras [Uglies #4]. Simon Pulse, 2007 [1-4169-5117-2//978-1-4169-5117-9]

After book 3 we skip ahead a few years to begin book four.  Now the people live in a community where the economy is based on prestige. Everyone has a rank which changes constantly with cameras and everyone spying on everyone, especially the more famous people.  (In today's terms.. the more people who watch videos of you on Youtube, the better rank you have.)  The better rank you have the better place you have to live in and so on.  Well Aya's rank is low until she meets a group of girls who do risky stunts.  While secretly filming them she comes across a bigger story which has huge implications for the world.   Suddenly Aya shoots the group of highest ranks.  Just as this all happens, Tally, from the last book appears to "save the world" again.  Aya, Tally, and the risk-taking girls all have different ideas about what is happening.  Can any of them trust anyone?  Who is right?  Is anyone right?  This 417 page book is a great addition to this popular series.  I am not sure if it is the end.  The author is about to publish a "Guide to the Uglies" which also might be a good purchase if this series is popular with your students.

 

Whelan, Gloria. After the train. HarpeCollins, 2009 [978-0-06-029596-7]

It is 1955 and Peter is happy with his family and looking forward to a summer in after-war Germany. The country is rebuilding but there are still some hard feelings towards the Jews. One day while going through some papers, he finds a letter... from his birth mother and it appears that he was passed to his parents family as a baby as his mother was put on a train to a concentration camp. Peter doesn't know how to approach his "parents", questioning them if they are his parents. He starts meeting with a Jewish man who works for his father, to find out about the Jewish religion. This 152 page book is short, but deals with a heavy topic. Should Peter tell people he is Jewish when there is still much prejudice in the country? How should he confront his parents? I am not aware of any other book written in this time period. I good addition to your collection.

 

Whelan, Gloria. Homeless bird. HarperCollins, 2000 [0-06-028454-4]

In India, thirteen-year-old Kolby gets married off to a sick young man because family needs money. He soon dies and she is a sick young widow left in a big city. There she meets up with a group who takes care of young widows and is befriended by a young man. In this 125 page book the reader learns about another culture which is very different than our own. It is easy to get wrapped up in the story.

White, Ellen Emerson. Voyage of the great Titanic. [Dear America series], 1998

I have now read three fiction books about the Titanic and each has a different feel. In this one an orphan girl is hired as a companion to a rich woman going on the Titanic. The author weaves a great deal of description into the tale and makes you feel as a first class passenger would have possibly felt. All of this series is good except that they all read like actual diaries and the reader wonders whether it is non-fiction. This 297 page book has a wealth of historical information in the back (as do the others in this series.)

White, Ruth. Belle Prater's boy, 1996 [0-440-41372-9]

Woodrow has to move in with his cousin after his mother, Belle Prater disappears. He has been greatly effected by that disappearance and tells various strange stories about it to his cousin, Gypsy. They become very good friends -- Gypsy is dealing with nightmares which we eventually learn have to do with her, as a very young child, being the person who found her father after he committed suicide. This 196 page book is a wonderful story of two children dealing with uncomfortable circumstances and becoming good friends in the process. They both realize that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

Wiles, Deborah. The Aurora County All-Stars. Harcourt, 2007 [978-0-15-206068-8

Twelve-year-old House Jackson lives in rural Mississippi, in a county too small for a Little League team.  The next county also does not have one but they get together every Forth of July for a big game.  This year, there is also a big county anniversary scheduled for the same day and everyone is to participate.  This is a 242 page book of rural sports, friendship, family, and growing up.  I enjoyed the story and the interaction between the characters…unfortunately I think the illustrated cover looks juvenile and may turn away some middle school readers.

Wiles, Deborah. Each little bird that sings. Harcourt, 2005 [0-15-205113-9]

As as 10-year-old, Comfort Snowberger knows a lot about death because her family runs the only funeral home in her small southern town.  First her grandfather dies, then her beloved great-great aunt dies soon after.  Everyone loved Aunt Florentine so a big gathering is expected.  Even though Comfort usually handles things well (she even write obituaries for the local paper), things aren't looking good Aunt Florentine's funeral.  First she finds out she has to babysit her pain-in-the neck relative, Peach.  Then her best friend starts acting weird and they have a fight.  Then there is the big flood where her dog goes missing.  This  247 page book is a heart-warming story about friendship and life in a small town.  While it sounds depressing, the story is writen in a lighthearted, friendly way.  An enjoyable read.

 

Williams, Carol Lynch. If I forget, you remember ,1998 [0-440-41420-2]

This is a touching story about a girl and her family dealing with a grandmother who has Alzheimer's disease. It is Elyse's summer after 6th grade and she is having troubles getting along with her sister and is just getting interested in a certain boy. Her favorite teacher says she has a real talent for writing so she plans to try writing a novel this summer. Everything changes when her family has to admit that granny can't live alone and has to move in with them. This 201 page book is a multi-level story, not just one about Alzheimer's disease. It is a warm, caring story about life.

Williams, Laura E. The executioner's daughter. Holt, 2000 [0-8050-6234-3]

Laura lives in medieval England and is the daughter of the town executioner. It is a lonely life since the people of the town do not like what her father does. It is assumed that Laura will follow in her mothers steps and assist her father in his grizzly job. Will Laura do what every one expects her to do? What is the mystery in her mothers past? While this 134 page book is short, it is not an easy subject and might be a good hi interest read.

Williams, Laura E. Up a creek. Henry Holt, 2000 [0-8050-6453-2]

Thirteen-year-old Starshine has a mother who's activism constantly embarrasses her. This time her mother climbs one of a group of historic trees that the town wants to cut down. She stay up there while important things happen to Starshine. She has the arrival of her first period and her grandmother who lives with them is injured and has to go to the hospital. Will Starshine ever understand her mother? Does she love her causes more than her family? This 135 page book is a warm story about family relationships.

Williams, Mark London. Ancient fire [Danger Boy #1] Tricycle Press, 2001 [1-58246-032-9]

Eli's father is a scientist who works on time experiments. Earlier, his mother disappeared in one of his experiments so his father ends it all and drives with Eli to California. Unfortunately when you work for a government agency you don't just quit so Dad is convinced to work again. Unfortunately Eli gets sent back into time to Alexandria Egypt when the library is burning where he an Egyptian girl and a lizard boy from another time and dimension. This 167 page book is the start of a series which deals with time travel and alternate dimensions. The book is a little higher than Bruce Coville science fiction but not written to be as humorous. Although the story does end, it is very evident that it will continue through a series. This is just the kind of series I do not like... although kids often do.