Sam and CY students & staff are reading…

Who would like this book?  Not only fans of Wimpy Kid books, but people looking for a story that is funny and ultimately moving and life-changing will like this book.

The goods on this book: Milo lets the reader know right from the start that he is having a very bad time, indeed. Through words and simple pencil illustrations, he lays out the brutal facts: his dad has moved them to yet another house (the fifth in his life so far), he has no friends, the creepy old neighbor lady has taken an interest in him, and the love of his life would not know he exists except that he sneezed all over her. Milo gradually gets his footing with a best friend, the ultimate nerd Marshal, aka “One Eyed Jack,” and his neighbor Hillary, the most persistent friend anyone could imagine. As their friendship grows and changes, Milo realizes that the neighbor lady is maybe not as creepy as he thought, and the reality of the loss of his mother to cancer can’t be ignored. This book had me laughing out loud in parts and needing many kleenexes for my tears in other parts. First appearances aside, Milo’s story is a profound and inspiring story of dealing with grief and loss.

The details: 275 pp. 2010   Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Fantasy fans of all ages would love this book and the series.

The goods on this book: Silas Heap, a magician, is a seventh son and was overjoyed when he and his wife, Sara, had a seventh son, Septimus. They are devastated when he dies, but comforted by the baby girl that Silas has been told to raise. He and Sara name the baby Jenna, and when the Queen is assassinated, her newborn daughter is missing, and the Extraordinary Wizard Alther Mella is killed, they realize that Jenna is the missing Princess but keep this knowledge to themselves. The story fast-forwards ten years to Jenna’s tenth birthday party, which is interrupted by a frantic Marcia, the new Extraordinary Wizard, who has learned that the evil Supreme Custodian has dispatched an assassin to kill the princess. What follows is a suspenseful chase full of entertaining characters, surprising plot twists, and some marvelous magic. The chase pulls along a number of characters, including a nearly frozen guard from the Young Army, Boy 412. They eventually arrive at their hiding spot, the Marram Marshes, home to the colorful witch Aunt Zelda, where the suspense continues along with the humorous interplay between the characters. The adventure through this fantastical world makes for fun, satisfying reading, with an ending that gives closure while leaving questions for the next book in this series of seven (of course). The last book in the series, Fyre, has just been published. Magyk is a 2013-2014 selection for Battle of the Books.

The details: 564 pp. 2005      Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? People who like adventures with an environmental twist would love this book.

The goods on this book: Julian Carter-Li is in a tough situation. His dad was killed in a motorcycle crash, and his mom is in China on a grant to take photographs. Julian has been left in San Francisco with his wealthy and obnoxious uncle, Sibley Carter, and his cold and calculating wife, Daphne. They make Julian feel as welcome as Harry Potter felt at the Dursley’s. When Julian is left alone for hours in Sibley’s office, Julian happens to see his name on the subject line of an e-mail, and he can’t resist reading it. Julian goes on to read the next e-mail which happens to be from a girl, Robin, whose family lives next door to a grove of old growth redwoods that Sibley’s company has just purchased and plans to clear cut. Julian begins to correspond with Robin and joins her in the effort to make Sibley change his mind. Julian’s rambunctious friend Danny, Julian’s young cousin Preston, and Robin’s family and her old friend Ariel all get in on the action that unfolds with a great combination of mystery, suspense, humor, and drama. This page-turner drives to a satisfying conclusion, giving some important information about ancient redwoods along the way. It’s an excellent Battle of the Books selection for 2013-2014.

The details: 368 pp. 2011    Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Football fans and people who like books about triumphing over adversity would like this book.

The goods on the book: Nate Brodie, 13, seems to have everything going for him. He’s quarterback of his 8th grade football team and has a great coach and great teammates. He is best friends with the irrepressible Abby McCall and gets along well at school and at home. His parents are struggling financially, though, and have put their beloved house up for sale. As they juggle multiple, unsatisfying jobs, Nate gets knocked off balance. He is really thrown for a loop when Abby tells him that she has a degenerative eye disease that will cause her to go blind. Then, Nate wins the opportunity to attempt a million dollar throw during halftime at the New England Patriots’ Thanksgiving football game. What will Nate do with this opportunity, especially when his football game goes awry? Nate narrates his own story with honesty, bringing the reader along with him to insights and courage. There’s some good humor along the way, and football fans will appreciate the play-by-plays of Nate’s important games. Though some plot developments are predictable, the inevitable climax is still moving and satisfying. This book is a great selection for Battle of the Books 2013-2014.

The details: 272 pp. 2010   Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Fans (5th grade and up) of survival adventures based on true events would like this book.

The goods on this book: It’s 1975 in Hilo, Hawaii, and Dylan is looking forward to a rugged camping trip to Halape with his Boy Scout troop. He is upset when he finds that a new member, Louis, will join them, since he recalls being bullied by the rough, older kid when they were younger. Louis lives up to his “tough guy” reputation by giving Dylan a bad time, and Dylan must watch his back as the troop embarks on the treacherous hike. A white dog which appears on the cliff adds to the ominous sense of the adventure, and Dylan becomes especially worried when some Hawaiian cowboys interpret the dog’s appearance as the Goddess Pele foretelling trouble. When an earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit in the middle of the night, Dylan and Louis are brought together in a heart-stopping quest for survival. Graham Salisbury writes in the afterword that the story is based on the actual experience of his cousin. Salisbury brings the harrowing brush with death to life through vivid descriptions and excellent characterizations. His spare writing style is once again welcome as a Battle of the Book selection for 2013-2014.

The details: 191 pp. 2009   Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? People, 6th grade and up, who like riveting nonfiction about the American Revolution and/or the story of the transformation of a war hero into a traitor.

The goods on this book: In a labor of love, Steve Sheinkin tells the compelling and deeply disturbing story of the most famous traitor of the American Revolution, Benedict Arnold. Defying the odds at birth by surviving a treacherous snowstorm, the young Arnold grew up as a daredevil and hyperactive show-off. When he came of age as the Americans went to war against the British, Arnold used his immense energy and fearlessness to become a brilliant though mercurial commander who saved the war effort for the colonies. His ego and lack of political skill undercut his military victories, though, and as he won battles for the war he acquired so many enemies that his military career was cut short. Newly married to a beautiful, conniving socialite, Arnold’s need for money escalated just as his means for acquiring it evaporated. What he does to solve his financial problems and how closely he comes to succeeding is a suspenseful story that I couldn’t put down. Sheinkin’s short chapters and the perspective of Arnold’s British contact heightens the drama. The book includes copious source notes, quotation sources, maps, and an effective index, making it a valuable text for research in addition to its value as a powerful story. It’s an awesome nonfiction selection for the Battle of the Books for 1013-2014.

The details: 337 pp. 2010   Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? People, 5th grade and up, looking for a first-person mystery/coming-of-age/historical novel set in Berlin just after the Berlin Wall came down.

The goods on this book: Jodi, daughter of an officer stationed in Berlin in 1990, tells the story of her adventure with Giselle and Vivian, also from army families. Their love of classical music has brought them together, and they are anticipating the competition in Paris that their trio has entered. They are totally distraught when their German instructor tells them that he cannot take them to Paris. Devastated, they meander along the river as they slowly make their way back to the base. As they mull their fate under a bridge, they witness a Russian soldier being savagely beaten and thrown into the river. After his assaulters leave, they rescue the soldier and discover that his identity must be kept a secret. Their decision to help him launches them into an adventure of deceit, espionage, and danger. As their good intentions lead them into deeper and deeper trouble, the three girls use their talents and ingenuity to save themselves. It’s a thrilling mystery with colorful characters and much insight into an important but largely forgotten historical period. It’s great that this book is a Battle of the Books selection for 2013-2014.

The details: 223 pp. 2011   Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Girls who are 11 years old and up would like this book about a girl whose parents are having marital problems.

The goods on this book: Rebecca doesn’t have a perfect life in Baltimore, but she has a best friend and knows the routine. Her father has lost his teaching job and responds by curling up on the couch with beer. When her mother loses patience with him and takes Rebecca and her little brother Lew to their grandmother’s in Atlanta, Rebecca is devastated. She hates her mom and misses her dad, though her grandmother does her best to keep things positive and Lew is a jewel. Rebecca seeks solace in her grandmother’s attic and discovers a special bread box. She takes it back to her bedroom and casually wishes for sea gulls, birds from Baltimore that she misses. When two gulls appear in the bread box, she knows that she has some magic, but will it help her with her family trouble and problems at school? The blend of real life with magic adds an interesting “What if?” dimension to this book, and the magic is critical for the plot. I thought that this combination put some strain on the plot, but it is Rebecca that makes the book worthwhile reading. Her honest and heartfelt struggles pulled me in to the story and held me there.

The details: 226 pp. 2012   Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Fans, ages 9 and up, of seafaring adventures and plucky female characters would love this book!

The goods on this book: The year is 1832, and Charlotte Doyle is a prim, proper young lady who has been educated at a private school in London. She must return to her upper-class family in Rhode Island and, despite warnings, boards the Seahawk for the passage across the Atlantic. Charlotte overcomes her shock at her cramped quarters and terrible seasickness, only to discover that she is the only passenger and the only female on a ship seething with bad omens. The cook, Zachariah, tries to befriend her and warns her about the brutality of Captain Jaggery. Charlotte tells her own story as she discovers who she can trust and what her true qualities are in the midst of wild adventure on the high seas. Avi’s descriptions through the eyes of Charlotte made me feel as if I were on the ship. The plot turns kept me in suspense right up to the final page. A Newbery Honor Book when it was published in 1990, this book holds up well and is a totally satisfying read for lovers of adventure, historical fiction, and 1st person narratives. I hear that a movie is due out in 2014.

The details: 229 pp. 1990        Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books or Charley Joe Jackson books would like this book.

The goods on this book: Rafe Khatchadorian tells the story of his horrendous experience being a 6th grader at Hills Village Middle School. He has no friends except the mysterious Leo the Silent, who influences him to embark on a quest to break every rule in the school’s oppressive Code of Conduct. “Operation R.A.F.E.” quickly takes over Rafe’s life as he works out the points earned for each rule broken. As he proceeds toward his goal, Rafe must face trouble from every turn: the 8th grade bully, the pretty girl he crushes on, his mom’s terrible live-in boyfriend, teachers who try to be understanding. Leo the Silent expresses himself through entertaining black-and-white drawing that give a different perspective on the events. This book gets serious as Rafe’s situation unfolds. It’s an easy read that’s funny, moving, and meaningful.

The details: 281 pp. 2011   Review by Samrarian

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