Sam and CY students & staff are reading…

Who would like this book? Readers, grades 5 and up, who like adventures with great characters and a historical feel.

The goods on this book: Kennth Oppel’s newest book, The Boundless, invites readers on a fantastical adventure set in 1880’s Canada. What could be better than a story that weaves together a train robbery, a murder, and a circus with the coming-of-age experiences of a boy who is thoughtful, resourceful, and prone to danger?

As the story opens, Will Everett’s father has been away for three years working on the Canadian Pacific Railway. As Will prepares to meet him at the golden-spike ceremony, fortuitous events begin to unfold. First, Will meets Maren, a circus performer who steals Will’s heart and spirits away Will’s prized Sasquatch tooth. Next, Will catches the eye of Cornelius Van Horne, the manager of the railroad, and discovers the perks and risks of having friends in high places.

Three years later, Will’s father is an executive with the railroad. The magnificent train with 947 cars, The Boundless, is ready for its first trek across Canada, “from sea to sea.” One of the cars is carrying the remains of Mr. Van Horne, and the rumor is that the golden spike and other riches are with him, making this funeral car a kind of Pharaoh’s tomb. When Will wanders away from the train during its first stop, he stumbles upon the distinctive key to this car and witnesses a murder. Will and the murderer have a moment of mutual recognition, and then the race is on!

Will encounters a multitude of well-drawn characters and high adventure as he tries to keep one step ahead of the man who wants him dead. Maren gives him a good cover as a circus performer, and as Will deceives others, he tries to figure out whom he can trust. Deftly woven into the action is Will’s growing sense of self and the world around him. His journey from the back of the train to the front, traversing all the social classes, forges his sense of justice.

In The Boundless, Kenneth Oppel fulfills the vision of this magnificent train: characters come alive, history melds with fantasy, and the plot brims with suspense, surprise, and delight. As with all of Kenneth Oppel’s books, don’t miss it!

The details: 332 pages; 2014       Review by Samrarians

Share

Who would like this book? People who like basketball and/or love words would like this book. It’s a book for 5th grade and up.

The goods on this book: The words in this novel-in-verse move and flow with whatever action is happening at the time. It might be when Josh, 13, is making seriously great plays on the basketball court. He’s so good, especially with his crossover, that he earns the name “Filthy McNasty.” He’s tight with his twin brother, Jordan, who is also great at basketball. Not surprisingly, their dad had been a professional player when he was younger, until an injury and a refusal to have surgery ended his career. Some significant changes in Josh’s family complicate his life, and following these events and the change in Josh makes for very worthwhile reading. Add in the vibrant poetry and word play, and you’re in for a rich experience!

The details: 237 pages; 2014   Review by Samrarian

Share

Who would like this book? People, grades 8 and up, interested in historical fiction and especially about the situation in India and Pakistan n 1947, would like this book. It would also appeal to people who like fiction books that are written from multiple points of view.

The goods on this book: Who has any idea what it would be like to be a young woman in India in 1947? This book brings just such a situation to life. Margaret, a British cartographer’s daughter, has arrived with her mother, escaping an uncomfortable situation at home. Though Margaret is at first sullen about her new home, the influence of Anupreet, a beautiful young Sikh girl who works for Margaret’s family, begins to open Margaret’s eyes to the wonder of the culture. Her forbidden attraction to Tariq, a Muslim teen who also works for her family, adds to this growing interest. The narration shifts between the three very distinct voices of these characters. Following the same events through the lens of their different situations is fascinating, and the tensions between the Sikhs and the Muslims as it affects the lives of Tariq and Anupreet are riveting. This book works on the political level, portraying the violent reaction as Britain divides India and Pakistan. It also works on the personal level as these three young people try to work for their dreams in the face of impossible odds.

The details: 278 pages; 2013     Review by Samrarian

Share

Who would like this book? Fans (grades 7 and up) of dark fantasies with a strong female protagonist will want to take a look at this book.

The goods on this book: Alina, an orphan with no apparent talent or beauty, grows up as best friends with the handsome and talented Mal. Their country, Ravka, is threatened by a horrific darkness that is filled with flesh-eating monsters. When crossing this Shadowfold with Mal and their regiment, Alina manifests a great, special power that has not been seen in ages. This display of power catches the attention of the all-powerful Darkling, and Alina is whisked away to his court to be trained as a Grisha. Here, without her best friend Mal, she must not only learn to use and harness her power, but she must decide who and who not to trust. She is also plagued with the problem of how to get back to Mal. Full of intrigue, action, and just a bit of romance, Shadow and Bone is a book with a satisfying plot and a captivating protagonist. It’s a must-read for fans of dark fantasy.

The details: 358 pages; 2012      Review by Samrarain

Share

Who would like this book? People grades 7 and up who like alternative history and mash-ups of realistic settings disturbed by fantasy, in this case destructive dragons.

The goods on this book:

What if dragons were real – and loved fossil fuels? Driving a car or being close to carbon-burning industries would be very dangerous. If you put this scenario into a contemporary high school, you would have the setting for The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim. With the threat of dragons ever-present, it’s important to have a dragon slayer, but the days when every town had their own dragon slayer are long over. They get snatched up by the military and major corporations. Siobhan’s small industrial town gets lucky, though, when a legendary dragon slayer, Lottie Thorsgard, retires there after being injured, and brings her 16-year-old nephew, Owen, with her. For being a dragon-slayer in training, Owen has plenty of struggles, especially with algebra. He enlists the help of Siobhan, a musician and math geek who also narrates the story and becomes the “bard” for Owen, the one who will write and sing of his victories. The book is a significant and frequently funny story of friendship and high school life as well as a suspenseful fantasy adventure with an alternative history. How can all this work in one book? Read it and find out!

“Listen! For I sing of Owen Thorskard: valiant of heart, hopeless at algebra, last in a long line of legendary dragon slayers. Though he had few years and was not built for football, he stood between the town of Trondheim and creatures that threatened its survival.”

The details: 305 pages; 2014; Axis 360 eBook           Review by Samrarian

Share

Who would like this book? Anyone, grades 7 and up, who likes murder mysteries, basketball action, social issues, relationship issues, and/or meaningful history.

The goods on this book: In this ambitious book, Brian struggles to come to terms with the violent deaths of his girlfriend Amanda, her brother, and her mom. Their father has been charged with shooting them to death, but Brian saw another person close to the scene of the crime. He assumes that those in charge are following up on his lead, and he continues his senior year as leader of a basketball team that are tight as brothers but must work to keep their grades up. A unique assignment from their history teacher connects Brian with Todd, an outsider who has been the target of their bullying. They must research the 1913 Leo Frank murder case, which turns out to have disturbing parallels to the current murder trial of Amanda’s father. Another significant layer of this book’s engaging plot involves Julian, the star of the basketball team who encounters trouble only because he is African-American. The author does a great job of pulling all the different parts of the plot together, and Brian is an engaging, empathetic narrator. As the book drives toward its thrilling climax, I couldn’t put it down!

The details: 360 pages, 2006    Review by Samrarian

Share

Who would like this book? Readers grades 6 and up who are looking for books about overcoming unspeakable tragedy would want to read this excellent book.

The goods on this book? Henry K. Larsen, 13, has just moved with his father into a new apartment in a new city. They do not want to be known by IT and they do not speak about IT, but it looms over everything in their lives. Because of IT, Henry’s mother has had to move into a mental institution. The book reveals the event which becomes IT early in the story, but I want to keep it a surprise. The event itself is important, but what makes the book a total stand-out is the quirky combination of neighbors and friends that come into Henry’s life and how he deals with them as he and his family come to terms with IT. His family’s obsession with the Global Wrestling Federation event also adds a lot, including a feature illustration on the cover which might scare away some people who would actually really like the book. This book resonated with me in the same way as John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars in how it handles characters that are facing horrific situations, though it doesn’t include a romance. The subtitle explains a lot about the book: “who is only writing this because his therapist said he had to, which stinks.” Get to know Henry. Read this book!

The details: 243 pages; 2012            Review by Samrarian

Share

Who would like this book? People grades 5 and up who like books with characters and situations that grab you and move you and make you laugh and cry.

The goods on this book: Willow Chase, at 12 years old, has had way more than her share of tragedy and challenges. She’s a genius and on the spectrum, continually needing to devise ways to keep herself grounded, such as planting an amazing garden and counting by 7s. An orphan at a young age, she is adopted by an understanding and fun couple who allow Willow to follow her ingenious ideas. When they are killed in a car accident, Willow desperately needs help. This book is the story of where and how that help finds her. The characters that fill her life do so in unexpected and amazing ways that had me laughing one moment and then crying at the end. The narration rotates among these characters, and the reader benefits greatly from the multiple points of view. I highly recommend this book and think that it has appeal for both girls and guys.

The details: 380 pages; 2013          Review by Samrarian

Share

Who would like this book? Readers looking for a funny book that has something for everyone will find it in Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman with illustrations by Skottie Young.

The goods on this book: Narrated by the serious brother, the wacky plot starts out with a common family dilemma: they are out of milk. Unfortunately for this particular family, their highly capable mother has left, so their father must now take on the responsibility of going to the shop on the corner to pick up some milk.

The brother and sister wait and wait for “Ages and ages” for their father to return with the milk. When he arrives back home with the milk (fortunately), he must explain what took him so long. His explanation catapults the book into a convoluted, fantastical adventure in which the hapless father saves the world.

It turns out that their father, after purchasing the milk, was whisked up into the spaceship of globby green aliens bent on redecorating the Earth with plastic flamingoes. He escapes their threats and falls through the space-time continuum into a pirate ship, where he stands up to the Queen of Pirates, insisting that he must help his children with their breakfast instead of joining her. He demands to walk the plank, from which he is rescued by the time-traveling stegosaurus Professor Steg in the “Floaty-Ball-Person-Carrier.”

At this point in the book, the father’s wild ride has just begun. As he and Professor Steg try to return him to his children and their breakfast, they encounter a parade of preposterous characters that will delight any reader with a silly bone. The added complexity of Professor Steg’s Time Machine will captivate the reader who prefers to figure out puzzling plot twists that offer simple amusement on the surface but carry social commentary for those inclined to notice.

The imaginative pen-and-ink illustrations by Skottie Young also work on two levels, both as wonderful illustrations that complement the text and also as part of the story itself. One wonders about whether the text motivated the illustrations or vice versa.

It’s tempting to read this book quickly and be entertained by its hilarity, but rewards await those who take the time to savor the book’s language and consider its careful construction. Many satisfying discoveries hide in the humor of both text and illustrations in Fortunately, the Milk!

The details: 101 pages, 2013           Review by Samrarian

Share

Who would like this book? Anyone with an interest in knowing about segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, specifically Greenwood, Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964 needs to read this book.

The goods on this book: Revolution is the second book in Deborah Wiles’ Sixties trilogy, but you don’t need to read the first book, Countdown, to dive into Revolution since the only thing that they share is that they are each set in the sixties. Start with Revolution if you’re ready for a stark and honest view of Greenwood, Mississippi in 1964 from two points of view. Sunny, a white girl with a new step-mother and step-brother, struggles as she comes to know how ugly her town can get. She is drawn to one of the young women who have come from the North to volunteer to hep register African-American to vote in “Freedom Summer.” Raymond, a young and restless African-American boy, can’t stand the injustice of segregation and pushes his way into dangerous situations. Interspersed between their riveting stories is an extensive collection of primary sources of many types and summaries of people and events relevant to the time and place. All of this supporting material is excellent. Wiles’ brief summary of President Lyndon Johnson is especially noteworthy. At over 495 pages, this well-researched and documented book demands time and attention and would be a worthwhile text for a class about this turbulent period in U.S. history.

The details: 495 pages, 2014           Review by Samrarian

Share