November 15th 2009
Who would lke this book? 6th graders who like the mysteries of Ancient Egypt and the spookiness of creepy museums at night.
Why? It’s 1906 in London and Theo Throckmorton, the 11-year-old daughter of archeologists and curators of the Museum of Legends and Antiquities, has her hands full. Theo is uniquely gifted in that she senses the evil curses inscribed into the ancient artifacts that her parents naively bring to London from the ancient tombs in Egypt. Theo does everything she can to protect her parents and herself, studying ancient texts to learn how to ward off the dark magic. Her parents’ work keeps them constantly busy, an extreme frustration to Theo, and they do not recognize her talents. When her mother arrives from her most recent expedition with a priceless Egyptian artifact, Theo plunges into an intriguing adventure full of mystery, suspense, and captivating details about Ancient Egypt. The power of this particular Egyptian artifact weilds influence over international affairs, so the stakes are high for Theo and the two secret societies that are vying for control over the artifact. I had a great time reading this book, which felt like an Indianna Jones ride to me.
The details: 343 p. 2007 Review by Samrarian
October 29th 2009
Review by Spencer
Who would like this book? People who enjoy a sad story about a little girl growing up in China with unloving parents.
Why? A little girl named Adeline Yen is the child of a women who died a few weeks after Adeline’s birth. She lived with her Grandma, Grandpa, her loving Aunt Baba, her father and all of her siblings. Her father remarries to a 17 year old women who only loves her birth children. Adeline is separated from her aunt and joins many boarding schools. In each school she is one of the smartest children. She is inspired by her grandfather to write a play and submit it to a contest. After a few months of waiting to see if she won, her grandfather died.. and a few months later she won the contest. Her (normally not caring) father is so proud and he allows Adeline to go to medical school (unlike Adeline’s older sister). She grows up to be a doctor and a writer.
The details:205 p. 1999 Submitted by Spencer
October 29th 2009
Review by Madison
Who would like this book? People who like to learn about the past.
Why? I am actually still reading this book. I really like this book. I like this book because it is really interesting. This book is about a 12-year-old boy who takes his great-great-great-grandpa’s watch for money to go see his father. He soon gets trapped in the past when there were slaves. He then has to work as a slave. I really have enjoyed reading this book and haven’t been able to put it down. It’s exiting and fun, but a little bit sad. It’s also a Battle of the Books book, so anyone who is doing Battle of the Books, I definitely recomend this book to you.
The details: 184 p. 1999 Submitted by Madison
October 26th 2009
Who would like this book? Middle School age kids who want a new perspective on life from Death himself.
Why? In The Book Thief, a girl named Liesel is going to live with foster parents because she is poor. She lives in Nazi Germany. On the train ride to her foster parents her brother dies, so when she gets to the home she is very sad and will not take a bath. Then the father, Hans Hubermann, comes in and shows her how to roll cigarettes. Liesel likes her new father better than his wife, Rosa Hubermann, Rosa is very loud mouthed and likes to say bad words. If you read this book, you need to make sure you are not queasy. This is a very good story narrated by Death. I would recommend this book to everyone.
The details: 552 p. 2005 Submitted by Michael R.
October 5th 2009
Review by Amanda
Who would like this book? People who like reading about the past in the context of a daily diary.
Why? This book is based on a time when Texas was not a part of the United States yet. They wanted their independance from Mexico. Lucinda Lawrence’s brother Willis goes to help the army, and her father is hurt. She travels with her family in a wagon to get away from the oncoming Mexican army. Though she faces many tragedies, she still finds the strength to write in her precious diary.
The details: 221 p. 1998 Submitted by Amanda
October 1st 2009
Review by Samantha
Who would like this book? Someone who likes dark mysteries.
Why? This fantasy-mystery-thriller interwines the ordinary life of normal kids with the fantastical element of a covert war waged over a time-travel paradox….Haddix is just amazing!!!!
The details: 313 p. 2009 Submitted by Samantha
September 13th 2009
Who would like this book? Readers who enjoyed Found, the first book in the Missing series, will not want to miss this second book.
Why? In a fast-paced though sometimes confusing sequel to Found, Alex and Chip have been sent back to 1483 and discover that they are Prince Richard and Prince Edward V, the two young victims who were imprisoned in the Tower of London by their uncle, Richard III. If you are not familiar with this event in English history, I suggest that you start by reading the Author’s Note at the end of the book. It won’t give anything away and will make it easier to follow the plot. I also suggest that you first read Found so that you can get the background of the characters and why they are traveling through time. Jonah and Katherine from Found are back in Sent. They also plunge back to the fifteenth century, determined to bring Alex and Chip back home. Alex and Chip, though, begin to feel that medieval England is their home, especially as they become involved with the political intrigue that is keeping Chip/Edward V from the throne. I was intrigued by the fusion of their current and past identities, and by Haddix’s work with the vague historical events. It’s a worthwhile reading adventure, but be prepared to wade through some confusing scenes.
The details: 313 p. 2009 Review by Samrarian
August 27th 2009
Who would like this book? Anyone, grades 6 and up, who are interested in the history of Cuba, piercing free verse, or struggles for freedom will definitely want to read this short, powerful book.
Why? From 1850-1899, Cubans fought three wars with Spain in an attempt to gain their independence, only to be taken over by the United States in 1899. Engle chronicles these struggles using free verse in the voices of four narrators. Rosa, a traditional healer based on a real woman, tells the greater part of the story. She and her husband Jose, another narrator, provide shelter and care for runaway slaves and army deserters (Cuban and Spanish). One of these escapees is the young Silvia, another narrator who idolizes Rosa and learns the traditional ways from her. Rosa’s aid to the refugees makes her an enemy of the slaveholders and the Spanish. The fourth narrator, aptly named Lieutenant Death, acts for both these groups and desperately seeks to kill her. The alternating voices of these characters combine to tell a vivid, searing story of slavery and colonialism with powerful words. The book is worth reading both for its poetry and its history. Engle includes an Author’s Note, An Historical Note, a Chronology, and References. It’s not surprising that this book is a Newberry Honor Book (2009) and the winner of the Pura Belpre Award.
The details: 178 p. 2008 Review by Samrarian
July 25th 2009
Who would like this book? People grades 6 and up who are interested in slavery before the Civil War, inner-city gangs, or who like fast-paced historical fiction.
Why? Jordan Henning Scott, 12 years old and unhappy about his mom’s plan to move to the suburbs, decides to join a gang and stay in the city. Jordan misses his dad, who has disappeared, and is finding some excitement from the Cobras and their cool leader, King. Jordan has problems and they rapidly escalate when his need for money for the gang leads him to steal the family’s heirloom watch from his grandfather. When he arrives at the pawn shop, space and time shift and he is suddenly standing in tall weeds where a little black kid in a dirty burlap shirt is worrying about his “masta’.” This shift back to the plantation on which his great-great-great-great-grandfather was a slave asks a lot of the reader, but it only takes a page to get caught up in the difficulties Jordan faces as he realizes that he will be treated as a runaway slave. Whitmore includes much harrowing information about slavery, and the struggle of Jordan and his ancestors to be free is captivating. It’s a worthwhile book and a good addition to the 2010 Battle of the Books.
The details: 184 p. 1999 Review by Samrarian
A Battle of the Books selection for 2009-2010
July 13th 2009
Who would like this book? Readers interested in China, Chinese, and/or the true story of triumphing over adversity.
Why? American readers are all familiar with the story of Cinderella, but most of us are not aware that the Chinese Cinderella story of Ye Xian predates the earliest Italian version (1634) by eight hundred years. Adeline Yen Mah shares this information in an historical footnote at the end of Chinese Cinderella, her autobiography. She uses the Cinderella story as a lens through which to show her mistreatment as she grew up in China in the 1940s. Tragically, Adeline’s mother died of fever a few weeks after she was born. Her family blamed “Fifth Younger Sister” or “Wu Mei” (Adeline’s family names) for their mother’s death and scorned her. When her father soon remarried, her stepmother Niang escalated this mistreatment in ways that will bring the sensitive reader to tears. Wu Mei suffers one injustice after another but always seeks to rise above it by working hard at school and keeping hope of a better life when she is grown. She has some encouragement along the way from her Aunt Baba and her frail grandfather Ye Ye. Because she grew up during World War II and the communist takeover of China, her story touches on important events in China’s history. Adeline also has great reverence for the Chinese language and, through the voice of Ye Ye, describes the wonder of Chinese characters. As an inspiring story of triumphing over injustice and as an introduction to China’s history and culture, Chinese Cinderella is worth reading. It is also a Battle of the Book selection for 2009-2010.
The details: 205 p. 1999 Submitted by Samrarian
A Battle of the Books 2009-2010 selection