February 15th 2010
Who would like this book? If you like sailing and/or survival stories, this book is a sure bet. Grades 4-8.
Why? The story starts in England, where Michael’s dad has lost his job and their lives are at a dead end. His dad’s solution is to buy a saliboat and sail around the world with his family. Michael, his parents, and their dog Stella embark on a dream journey full of adventure. After a good time in Australia, they encounter a storm in the Coral Sea and Michael and Stella go overboard, washing up on a seemingly uninhabited island. When food and water mysteriously appear, keeping Michael and Stella alive, Michael knows he is not alone. The story of his secret benefactor and their growing friendship unfolds with a captivating combination of tension and resolution. It’s a great story of friendship and survival with a significant historical hook.
The details: 2004, 176 p. 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 29th 2009
Review by Madison
Who would like this book? People who don’t exactly like fun books. In other words, boring books.
Why?I did not like this book because it was very boring, in my opinion. Although most of it was boring, there was one chapter that was not too bad. It was about the cat he lost and how it was special to him and how someone found it and he got his cat back. This book is basically about how a town comes together to help everyone in all different types of situations. This book really has nothing too exiting. It is almost like you were reading a whole bunch of little stories in one book. There was an ending in each chapter. This book probably would have been more exiting if it had a better plot. I think what the plot was and what the moral of this story was just like what the books name is. I think the moral of this book is “do good things and help each other no matter how small it is”. I think that’s what the author was trying to tell readers. The thing that most annoyed me about this story was that so many of the words were in SPANISH, but when I took it back to the library, Sam told me there was a GLOSSARY IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK!!!!!!! I did not realize that, so people who choose to read this book, don’t forget to look in the back of the book for the glossary.
The details: 128 p. 2001 Submitted by Madison
October 23rd 2009
Review by Madisyn
Who would like this book? People who like to learn about other country’s religion and how hard it is for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Why? I liked this book because I thought it was fun, and I learned a lot about Afghanistan. This book is about a family who lives in Afghanistan and how the Talib had changed their lives dramatically. This book has a surprising ending. This book is about how hard it is for women and girls to live in Afghanistan. Women and girls can’t go outside without a man or a boy with them. I thought this book was a really interesting book to read.
The details: 170 p. 2001 Submitted by Madisyn
A 2009-2010 Battle of the Book selection
October 5th 2009
Review by Michael R.
Who would like this book? People from 12 to very old would like this book.
Why? Mau is the only person left on his island when a tidal wave hits. He was on Boy Island when it hit, so he does not have a soul. The Sweet Judy crashes on the island and the only person left alive is a girl named Ermintrude (Daphne). Mau and Daphne start to learn each others’ languages and are soon able to understand each other fairly well. I think everyone should read this book.
The details: 367 p. 2008 Review by Michael R.
August 30th 2009
Who would like this book? Readers, grade 6 through adult, curious for a remarkable adventure story set on a small island in an ocean somewhat like the Pacific written by a master of character, plot, style, and ideas will want to grab this book.
Why? The book opens with Mau, a boy in the midst of his Nation’s coming-of-age ritual. As he returns to his island home in a dugout canoe, anticipating the great feast and welcome that will include everyone on the island, a massive tsunami hits. Mau, alone in his boat, is the only survivor from his Nation. The tsunami has also driven a ship aground on the island, and the sole survivor is a young girl from what seems to be 19th century England. She quickly dispenses with her given name, Ermintrude, in favor of Daphne, which she likes much better. Though she tries to shoot Mau when she first sees him, they overcome their suspicions of each other, learn to communicate, and use their wits to help the odd assortment of refugees that arrive from nearby islands. Their efforts to understand each other and each other’s cultures lead each of them to greater knowledge about themselves and what is valuable in living. Daphne expects to be rescued by her father, a governor with an explorer’s heart and a distant claim to the throne, but as she settles into her new life as a nation builder, her hopes and dreams go through a change. Pratchett is a master story-teller, and with Nation, he is in top form. It is one of the ALA’s 2009 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults. I agree whole-heartedly that it belongs there!
The details: 367 p. 2008 Review by Samraian
August 27th 2009
Who would like this book? Girls, grades 7 and up, who like books that make them laugh out loud, think about their identity and spirituality, and follow the ups and downs of a year in high school (friends, romance, bullying, parent problems, teacher problems…). If anyone is interested in what it would be like to be a Muslim in a predominantly non-Muslim school, don’t miss this book.
Why? The smart, feisty, funny narrator of Does My Head Look Big In This? is 17-year-old Amal Abdel-Hakim. Amal is wondering about her head because she is totally preoccupied with her looks and style, and she decides at the beginning of the book (inspired by Jennifer Aniston on a rerun of Friends) to wear the Muslim headscarf, the hijab, full time. In the book’s opening pages, her observations about this process and other aspects of her life made me laugh out loud and read passages aloud to my family. As her story grows more complex, laughter continues to lighten the load as she takes on many serious issues. Amal is an Australian-Palestinian-Muslim attending an elite private high school in Melbourne, Australia, making this book a window into both Australian teen life and Muslim culture. She sometimes uses Australian slang, which I loved since I went to Australia recently. (Tip: a “jumper” is a jacket) Amal’s story is both hilarious and deeply moving; she is a captivating, believable character attempting to live fully in the contemporary world without compromising her faith. I highly recommend that you follow her journey. I loved this book! It’s a Young Reader’s Choice nominee in the Senior Division for 2010.
The details: 360 p. 2007 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
August 19th 2009
Who would like this book? Older teens (8th grade and up), especially girls, who are interested in a beautifully written, totally riveting story about a sixteen-year-old girl struggling with beauty, family problems, and a relationship dilemma. If you’re interested in China, art, or geocaching, you will really like this book!
Why? Terra, sixteen and headed for early graduation, is on the run. She wants to get away from her family, her unsatisfying relationship with Erik, and her port-wine birthmark covering her left cheek. She feels responsible to protect her fragile mother from her overly-critical, emotionally abusive father, who has no interest in Terra’s art or her hopes to attend an art college. A minor car accident opens the way for Terra and her mother to meet Norah, a snappy middle-aged woman, and her son Jason, a Goth Chinese teen who cuts through all dishonesty. Subsequent events pave the way for the four of them to travel to China, a place that gives each of them (especially Terra and her mom) new perspectives on themselves. Terra’s experiences open her mind to insights and discoveries about herself, her goals, and what she values. Headley’s description of this process captivated me with striking prose, rich characterizations, and intriguing details that move the plot forward. For instance, both Terra’s collages (her main art medium) and Jacob’s geocaching are fascinating in their own right, but they are also integral to the plot. For a deep read about important issues, live in this book for awhile.
The details: 373 p. 2009 Submitted by Samala