Environment
One White Dolphin by Gill Lewis
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.09, 2015, under Adventure, Environment, Grief, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Sophie U.
Who would like this book? People who would like this book are people who like the ocean and dolphins.
The goods on this book: Kara is a girl who loves the ocean. When she realizes that fishers are going to tear up the her reef, she thinks there is nothing she can do to save it. Then a dolphin washes up on shore, tangled in fish nets. She begins to realize that she can do something. With the help of Felix, a strange new boy, Kara might just be able to save the reef. If Kara can save the reef, she will still feel connected to her mother, who disappeared. This book is very fun and exciting.
The details: 338 pages; 2012
Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.02, 2013, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2013-2014, Environment, Sam's Reviews
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
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.06, 2012, under Environment, Humorous, Mystery, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Anyone looking for a funny book with an environmental hook will like this book. If you enjoyed Flush, Hoot, or Scat, you will want to read Chomp.
Why? Wahoo Cray’s dad, an animal wrangler in the Everglades, has had a financial meltdown after being hit in the head by a frozen iguana that fell out of a tree. Wahoo’s mom has flown to China to make some money teaching English. Wahoo must care for the multitudes of animals on the Cray wildlife refuge, along with watching over his hard-headed dad. Things take a crazy turn when a reality television show, “Expedition Survival,” calls, seeking an alligator for their star Derek Badger to wrestle. Wahoo and his dad take a job as wranglers for the show, pick up a classmate of Wahoo’s named Tuna (yes, two kids named after fish), and plunge into the Everglades with the so-called survivalist star, Badger. Chomp is a rocking combination of colorful characters, crazy humor, suspenseful mystery, and a good message. It’s over-the-top absurd in places, and Hiaasen is such a good writer that I went for the whole wild ride willingly.
The details: 290 pp. 2012
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.17, 2012, under Adventure, Classic, Environment, Newbery, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? People interested in wilderness survival would love this book, as would people looking for an adventure classic.
Why? Sam Gribley hates living in his family’s cramped apartment in New York City. He loves his parents and his brothers and sisters, but he longs to live in the wilderness. The book opens with him accomplishing this feat, weathering a winter squall from the safety of his house in a hollowed-out tree. Once the reader knows that Sam will succeed in his plan to run away and live off the land, Sam doubles back in time to New York City and his preparations for running away. The first person narrative from Sam’s point of view is the best part of the book. His voice is curious and honest, effectively carrying Sam’s intelligent and innovative mind. Interspersed with the narrative are Sam’s journal entries, adding a different perspective that deepens our understanding of Sam. Written in 1959 when the pace of life was slower, the book might be a challenge to readers who are used to today’s fast-moving plots. Excitement in Sam’s life might be meeting The Baron, his neighbor weasel, or training Frightful, his pet falcon. For readers looking for a captivating story of living in nature, this book is the one to grab!
The details: 177 pp. 1959 (originally published) Review by Samrarian
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.05, 2012, under Battle of the Books 2012-2013, Environment, Real life, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? People who are interested in community-building, gardening, cultural understanding or just want a moving story with many voices.
Why? Seedfolks is a story told by 13 distinct voices, each from a different ethnic group. They all live in a Cleveland apartment building in a poor part of town. The vacant lot across from the building has been used as a dump until one day Kim, a young Vietnamese girl, distraught over the death of her father, plants some lima beans as a way to remember him. When Ana, an elderly Romanian woman watches Kim digging, she thinks that she is up to no good. When she investigates and discovers the beans, she decides to help Kim by watering them. Kim and Ana each tell their stories, and the garden has begun. Eleven more stories follow, relating the growth and significance of the garden in the lives of each of these residents. The result is an inspiring and moving story that had me laughing, crying, and wanting to grab a package of seeds. This book is a gift for all ages that calls to be shared and read aloud.
The details: 69 pp. 1997 Review by Samrarian
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jul.12, 2012, under Battle of the Books 2012-2013, Bullying, Environment, Real life, Sam's Reviews, Sports
Who would like this book? Readers grades 6 and up looking for a riveting 1st person narration by an underdog soccer player who has to navigate around a football-playing brother who is a terrible bully, clueless parents, and his new home in a problem-plagued subdivision in Florida.
Why? Paul’s family has just moved to a ritzy subdivision near Tangerine, Florida, and he is not happy when his mom points out his vision problem to the guidance counselor at his new middle school, getting him an IEP. Paul’s vision, with the help of strong glasses, is fine, but the origin of his eye problem hangs like a shadow over his life. This shadow is in the background most of the time because Paul’s life is full of a ton of other problems. He has an older brother who is an obnoxious bully but whose skill as a kicker in football makes him their father’s favorite. Paul excels as a soccer goalie but gets scant attention for it. As Paul struggles to find his place in his new school, their upscale subdivision is plagued by muck fires, smoke, lightning storms, termites, and a sinkhole. The latter turns out to be an opportunity for Paul, but of course this opportunity leads to more problems. Paul’s voice as the narrator works very well in this book, unifying the various plotlines and themes and giving meaning to the relentless challenges of his life. Without Paul’s voice, the story would implode on its disasters. His perspective and transformation elevate the story, making it more than the sum of its parts.
The details: 312 pp. 2006 Review by Samrarian
Fiendish Deeds: The Joy of Spooking Book 1 by P.J. Bracegirdle
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.28, 2012, under Environment, Horror, Mystery, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Readers, 8 and up, who would like a gothic setting for an environmental mystery. (Think Carl Hiassen’s books (Flush, Scat) meeting A Series of Unfortuante Events.)
Why? Joy Wells, a precocious 11-year-old, lives with her family in the deserted town of Spooking, up the hill from the new, glowing suburb of Darlington. Joy and her brother are bullied at school for being from the ghost town that’s full of crumbling mansions, but Joy loves her home and the stories by her favorite author, E. A. Peugeot, which she believes are set in Spooking. When the evil Mr. Phipps launches a plan to build a water theme park in the bog in Spooking, Joy must set about stopping the construction in order to save both Spooking and its endangered creature. The many colorful characters and Joy’s unique take on being odd makes this a fun mystery for fans of black humor and gothic settings.
The details: 215 pp. 2008 Review by Samrarian
The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John Ritter
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.15, 2012, under Environment, Sam's Reviews, Sports
Who would like this book? People 8 and up who like stories about baseball and who like to root for the underdog.
Why? Doc Altenheimer, 87, owns a huge tract of land in the rural town of Dillontown. The town’s baseball field happens to be part of this land, and developers have their eye on it. Doc is torn between helping the town grow and keeping the field for baseball. Young Tom Gallagher is surprised and very nervous when Doc decides to have the decision made by a baseball game: if the local team, the Wildcats, beats the hotshot neighboring team, the field is theirs. This wager sets Tom and his fellow players on a mad race to increase their skills and get a fighting chance at winning. Their chances increase when a mysterious boy, Cruz de la Cruz, arrives with the “secret of hitting” and a plan to get the retired, reclusive baseball legend, Dante Del Gato, to be their coach. If you’re looking for a funny, optimistic story about underdogs, look no further!
The details: 216 pp. 2003 Review by Samrarian
Wolves, Boys, and Other Things that Might Kill Me by Kristin Chandler
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.09, 2012, under Adventure, Animal, Bullying, Environment, Real life, Romance, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? People 12 and up interested in a story of how wolves live in the wilderness (Yellowstone) and raise the ire of ranchers told with a good dose of family drama and romance.
Why? KJ Carson, 16, lives with her dad in Yellowstone, working with him as a guide for fishing and hunting parties. Her love for the outdoors brings her up against the wolves in the park, and she decides to write about them for her school newspaper while the new guy in her small school, Virgil, becomes the photographer. KJ has always been bullied at school, and now that she and Virgil are drawing attention to the wolves, she becomes even more of a target of the guys from ranching families who hate the wolves. The politics of the wolves, the difficult dynamics between KJ and her dad, the frustrating attempts of KJ and Virgil to get something romantic started, and some surprising plot twists make this a rewarding book on many levels. Though people with a heart for wolves are the target audience of the book, the perspectives of the people on both sides of the issues are given strong – and equally eccentric – voices.
The details: 371 pp. 2011 Review by Samrarian
Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.07, 2011, under Adventure, Environment, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? People who have a wild sense of humor and adventure.
Why? Join the flock once again as Max saves the world in an environment outside her comfort zone – Antarctica. Spies, penguins, ships, and blocks of ice surround Max as she attempts her biggest job yet to save the world from the humans.
The details: 295 pp. 2008 Review by Abilgail
