November 11th 2009
Who would like this book? Readers, grade 8 and up, interested in Asperger’s Syndrome, music, law firms, or justice, OR are looking for a great story told from a unique point of view.
Why? Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old on the high end of the autism spectrum, comes of age in this insightful, moving novel by Francisco S. Stork. Stork’s first person narration provides a clear window into Marcelo’s character; readers share in his thinking process, his unique observations, his intense struggles, and his marvelous range of reactions to people and events in the “real world.” The book starts with Marcelo’s excitement about his perfect summer jub caring for the ponies at his beloved private school. Then, his father, a high-powered attorney, demands that Marcelo work at his law firm for the summer so that he can experience the “real world.” The people that Marcelo meets at the law firm and the disturbing, difficult situations that he encounters form a riveting, moving story that kept me turning pages well into the night and brought me to tears at the end.
(Be aware that Marcelo’s narration does not censor the ugly, sexist comments of Wendell, the son of his father’s law partner.)
312 p. 2009 Review by Samrarian;
My longer review of this book for the Register-Guard is available in the library.
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 13th 2009
Review by Mr. Cantwell
Summary: When Blue Baker’s father dies, the school counselor tries to help by having Blue write down his feelings and emotions. It doesn’t work. Instead, Blue starts writing a story about a wild boy living in the woods. When the boy who’s been bullying Blue ends up in the story, things get ugly. The savage seems to be coming to life, and Blue starts to wonder where he ends and the savage begins.
Opinion: At only 80 pages, and with a lot of those pages filled with cool illustrations, this book is a fast read. While the story about Blue is pretty good, it’s the story Blue is writing that really gets your attention. These are the pages that are illustrated, and they read like a graphic novel. The savage is quite savage, so some of the content might be a little too intense for some young readers. Perhaps the best part of the book (besides the cool illustrations) is watching how these two completely opposite characters – Blue and the savage – each come to realize that they have more in common with the other than either would have imagined. It makes you wonder if such opposites don’t exist within all of us.
The details: 79 p. 2008 Submitted by Mr. Cantwell
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
July 26th 2009
Who would like this book? Read this book if you are interested in the Latino culture of Los Angeles, if you want to be inspired, or if you like this quote: “Remember this thing – any small goodness is of value.”
Why? In Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio, eleven-year-old Arturo Rodriguez tells about his life with his family, friends, and school in the barrio of Los Angeles. Each chapter – with names such as Corn Fungus, The Lunch Box, and The Green Needle Gang – gives the reader a distinct story about a character or event in his life. Some of the stories are hilarious and moving, such as the one about Hitalacoche, the family cat. The inter-related snapshots of Turo’s life introduce us to his Papi, Mami, brother Luis, sister Rosa, grandmother Abuelita, along with a colorful assortment of other people in the barrio such as Leo Love, Coach Tree, and Ms. Cloud. There are also the low-life punks who try to make life bad for the Rodriguez family. Johnstone, through Arturo (“Turo” for short), writes with warm prose that is sprinkled with Spanish. A handy glossary at the end helps the English-only reader. I fell in love with Turo and his family – especially his Papi – as I read this book. I could smell the tamales and see the bright eyes of Rosa. It’s a quick read; every page is delicious. Battle of the Book participants! Don’t miss this book! It’s a selection for 2009-2010.
The details: 128 p. 2001
A Battle of the Books selection for 2009-2010
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
June 29th 2009
Who would like this book? Anyone (5th grade and up) who wants a riveting fantasy-adventure that brings Tolkien and Arthurian legends to mind.
Why? At fifteen, Will has joined the other wards of Castle Redmont to learn what his vocation in life will be. His dream of going to Battleschool is dashed when the Baron points out that he is too small; Will is devastated about Battleschool but curious about the secret message that the mysterious Ranger hands to the Baron. His determination to find out what the message says determines that he will be the Ranger’s apprentice. In this role, the story takes off as Will attempts to prove himself to the dour, demanding Halt. The details of this process provide a fitting backdrop for the evolving relationship between Will and Halt, the central focus of the story. The minor characters, especially the kinght Sir Rodney and his apprentice Horace, are also satisfying. Though some readers might think that the plot twists at the end strain credibility, I was completely taken by them and happily moved to tears. From the first pages, the story picked me up and carried me away with it, and I was rooting for Will all the way. I’ll be reaching for The Burning Bridge, the second book in the series. (Book 6, The Siege of Macindaw will be released August 4, 2009.) Ruins of Gorlan is a 2009-2010 Battle of the Book selection.
The details: 249 p. 2005 Submitted by Samrarian
Battle of the Books selection for 2010
May 26th 2009
Review by Margo
Schuyler Van Alen (Sky) never could seem to fit in the High Fashion and dirty rich world at her prestigious New York City private school, Duchesne. While her classmates wear designer clothes and drive sleek black town cars, Schuyler wears baggy vintage clothes. But after her fifteenth birthday, things start to change. Jack Force, the richest and most popular guy in school, starts to show an interest in her and Mimi Force hates her more than ever.
With the arival of a invitation to join the committee, Schuyler discovers who she realy is — a Blue Bood, an ancient group of vampires who play an important part of American history. But with the death of a popular student, (who is a blue blood) Jack and Schuyler discover that something is now preying on them.
The details: 302 p. 2006 Submitted by Margo
May 17th 2009
Who would like this book? Anyone (including adults) who want to laugh about the trauma of being a guy without muscles in middle school.
Why? Greg Heffley has just started 7th grade, and things could not be much worse. Greg estimates that he is 52nd or 53rd in the popularity race. His first-person journal (he emphasizes that it is NOT a diary) tells about his disgust with the morons at school and his attempts at getting the attention of these morons. Every part of this book made me laugh, but his lack of self awareness, his seriously demented brother Rodrick, and his ill-fated friendship with Rowley are the best. Be ready to grab the two sequels, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. It’s also worth checking out www.funbrain.com. Diary of a Wimpy Kid debuted on this website, and you can still catch it there. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a Young Reader’s Choice nominee for 2010 in the Junior Division.
The details: 217 p. 2007 Review by Samrarian