August 27th 2008
Who would like this book? Teens (and younger readers) who like otters and want to know about the process of saving them from the tragic effects of an oil spill.
Why? Roland Smith originally published Sea Otter Rescue in 1990, soon after the tragic Exxon Valdez oil spill. The spill was devastating to the wildlife in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and approximately 1,000 otters were lost. More otters would have died if not for the Sea Otter Rescue Center. As part of this effort, Smith offers first-hand experience about otters, the devastating effects of the oil spill on them, and the specific procedures developed to clean them and return them to the wild. Though his prose is sometimes overly simple and targeted toward a younger audience, the subject matter is so fascinating that reading to the end is never in question. Photographs accompany every page of the text, complementing Smith’s descriptions. Seeing the otters covered with oil is sad and disturbing, but following the steps in their cleaning is inspiring. These otter-cleaners were heroes. I hope that they won’t have to be called into service again, but if an otter rescue is ever necessary again, be prepared to want to go help after reading this book. It’s a Battle of the Book 08-09 selection, most likely because Roland Smith is an Oregon author.
The details: 64 p. 1999 (10th anniversary of the oil spill)
August 25th 2008
Who would like this book? If you have (or want to have) a ferret, read this book. It would also be a good read if you like the idea of being raised by three unique big brothers, and if you’ve ever wondered about the effect of an electrical shock.
Why? Minerva Clark is about to have the worst day of her life. Her mom has recently left the family to teach yoga in Santa Fe (New Mexico), her dad is always at work, and her three brothers trade off being BIC (Brother In Charge). The brothers – Mark Clark, Quills, and Morgan – do their best, and the dynamics of their surrogate parenting are hilarious. At the start of the story Minerva lives for her ferret, her rebuses (cool wordplays), and her friend, Reggie. Two significant events create a change for her, and her life takes a turn. Without giving too much away, I’ll share that it turns into a murder mystery. This combination sounds convoluted, but I think that Karbo makes it work. What do you think?
The details: 245 p. 2005
August 18th 2008
Gabcast! Library Podcasts #2
Who would like this books? Anyone – teens or adults – who read and enjoyed Beverly Clearly’s books (books like Henry Huggins or Ramona Quimby) when they were younger. It would also be a good read for people who are interested in becoming writers or for people who are interested in daily life in the 1920s and 1930s.
Why? Beverly Cleary is a very remarkable person and writer with an amazing memory. She is also honest and does not edit uncomfortable events out of this highly readable autobiography. I have to admit a special connection to her story. I grew up in Portland on 77th street a number of blocks south of her house, and I went to Camp Namanu and have visual memories of most of the landmarks that she describes. Even though I am a couple of decades younger than she is, her descriptions of neighborhoods, libraries, farms, and schools brought back personal memories for me. This memoir is not only engaging to read as the story of her life through her graduation from Grant High School and her move to California for college, it is also a valuable source of information about coming of age in the 1920s and early 1930s. The precision of her memory astounds me. Throughout the book, she sprinkles lists of the books that she and her friends were reading, along with their music, their dances, and their classes in school.Her assessment of the boys throughout the upper elementary grades is hilarious. Her honesty about a dangerous uncle and about other family difficulties are noteworthy. The story reminds me of her books, simultaneously heartwarming and heart-crunching,with hilarity woven into the telling of everyday events. My only wish is that she would have kep on going through her college years. I went to her website (http://www.beverlycleary.com/beverlycleary/index.html) for more of the story. This book is a great choice for the 2008-09 Battle of the Books list.
The details: 344p. 1988
August 16th 2008
Who would like this book? Teens and adults who have an interest in the 1933 Tillamook forest fire (in northwestern Oregon) and/or who are curious about life in a logging camp from the perspective of a thoughtful thirteen-year-old girl.
Why? Thirteen-year-old Storie (short for Estora) lives in a logging camp with her parents and younger brother, Johnny. Storie idolizes her dad, a veteran logger, though she’s starting to wonder about the relentless logging and also getting restless with her dad’s authoritarian approach to her. As she becomes thoughtful about her situation, she has growing opportunities for experiences in both work and fun. The descriptions of her surroundings and the unfolding of these experiences are great. Linda Crew also gives us the wider context of their logging camp by shifting the focus to a nearby logging camp in which a small fire has broken out. The ensuing chapters, marked by location and time, alternate between Storie’s experiences and the fight to put out the forest fire. Of course, the two converge in an exciting climax that does not disappoint. I grew up with my mom’s vivid stories of the Tillamook Burn and her participation in planting new trees, so this book has special meaning for me. Even without a personal connection, I predict that readers will like Fire on the Wind. Linda Crew’s first sentence sets the mood: “A nervous little breeze skittered through the mountain canyons…”
The details: 198 p. 1995
August 10th 2008
Who would like this book? If you like a good detective story with humor and school-yard politics thrown in for good measure, this book just might be a good fit for you. All the better if you like Eoin Colfer!
Why? Eoin Colfer takes the point of view of 12-year-old detective Fletcher Moon (aka “Half Moon”), and it works. We feel Half Moon’s pride at being a certified detective with a badge and his insecurity over being less than popular at his school, Saint Jerome’s Elementary and Middle School in Ireland. Colorful, unpredictable characters, surprising plot twists, and uncomfortable situations make this a laugh-out-loud read. It’s also a riveting mystery in which things are not as they seem to be at first. It’s a great choice for a 2009 YRCA nominee in the Intermediate Division.
The details: 290 p. 2006
August 10th 2008
Listen to a Bookcast by Sam!
Who would like this book? Do you have relatives who came to Oregon via the Oregon Trail? Are you curious about what life was like for these pioneers? Are you interested in the conflict between the Native Americans and the new white settlers? You’ll want to read this book.
Why? The Stout-Hearted Seven tells the story of the Sager family, who leave Missouri in the spring of 1844 with the hope that a good life awaits them in the Willamette Valley. It’s amazing to read a story such as this one and realize that these people went through unbelievable hardship to get to the land where we now live. Ms. Frazier did lots of research to gain the perspective of the eldest Sager daughter, Catherine. She writes with a sense of fairness, balancing the family’s good and bad times. The excruciating and tragic situation with the Native Americans (referred to as either Indians or by their specific tribes) starts out in the background, but is thrust to the foreground dramatically. Frazier gives a fair but limited context for the tragic events in the last part of the story. There are a number of unfortunate typographical errors throughout the text, but they are minor. This selection for the 08-09 Battle of the Books is an excellent telling of a riveting pioneer story.
The details: 193 p. 1973 (reprinted 2006)
August 10th 2008
Who would like this book? If you like James Bond, try this book or any in the Alex Rider series. (Ark Angel is the 6th one in the series.) Usually it’s best to read a series in order, but in this case it is not necessary. Each adventure makes sense on its own.
Why? Alex Rider, a teenage secret agent with the British secret service, M16, is once again trying to give it up and get on with a normal life. It’s not to be. While recovering from the wounds which almost killed him in his last adventure, he becomes embroiled in a new one. I do not like to give a plot summary of a book such as this one. It’s much better to read it without knowing what the title means or what the plot will be. Dont’ read the back of the book, either. Just get on the ride at page one and shove off. Be ready for fast action, clever plot twists, and unrelenting suspense. Ark Angel is on two lists this year: it is a 2009 YRCA nominee in the Intermediate Division, and it is also a 08-09 Battle of the Books selection.
The details: 326 p. 2006
August 10th 2008
Watch a 30-second trailer for Peak by Sam!
Who would like this book? Anyone who likes mountain climbing, adventure, or survival stories would appreciate this book by Oregon author Roland Smith.
Why? The title Peak has a couple of significant meanings. I won’t say anything more about these meanings (and don’t read the back of the book) so that you can discover them for yourself. The main character starts out by getting in trouble for illegally climbing skyscrapers in New York City and escapes juvenile detention when his father, a famous mountain climber, comes to take him to Mount Everest. Peak is a multi-leveled adventure with heart-stopping climbing challenges, gut-wrenching family problems, and mind-bending political turmoil. Whether or not you’re part of the 08-09 Battle of the Books, this book is a worthwhile read.
The details: 246 p. 2007 Review by Samrarian
August 10th 2008
Who would like this book? Readers who like fairy tales and ALL fans of Kate DiCamillo.
Why? Kate DiCamillo is a master at writing fairy tale adventures. If you haven’t read The Tale of Despereaux, put it at the top of your list. In this book, DiCamillo introduces us to Edward Tulane, a proud rabbit made of china and dressed to the nines by his admiring mistress, 10-year-old Abilene. His life is one of predictable comfort and smug self-satisfaction until he is lost overboard on an ocean cruise. This mishap begins a long, moving process of disaster, self-discovery, and redemption. DiCamillo’s style is perfect for the fairy tale sense of Edward’s adventures, and his experiences and realizations pulled at my heart. A beautiful book, it’s a 2009 YRCA nominee in the Junior Division. The illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline are exquisite.
The details: 200 p. 2006
August 10th 2008
Who would like this book? The cover is very pink, a good indicator that this book is primarily for girls. If you like funny books about problems that girls have, this book is for you. It’s very different than Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Princess Academy, but they both have the “princess lessons” angle. Those lessons are much funnier in this book.
Why? Mia Thermopolis, Meg Cabot’s main character in The Princess Diaries, writes in her diary obsessively. It’s a good thing for us because the story of her life as a Greenwich Village (New York’s avant garde community) high school student is a fun read. She lives with her mom, a sometimes famous painter, and keeps in touch with her dad, a diplomat from the small European principality of Genovia. Mia’s main concerns are her crush on a very handsome senior, passing algebra, and her best friend Lily, an aspiring activist and psychoanalyst. When Mia discovers that she her father is actually the king of Genovia, making her Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, she is devastated, especially when she must start princess lessons with her grandmother. Being a royal also brings about some unexpected changes with her friendships. Cabot hits the right note with this diary. I laughed out loud and appreciated the implied wisdom about friendships and family. Don’t miss this series if you like “girl problems” and you like to laugh. Good news: There are plenty of sequels.
The details: 304 p 2001