City of Orphans - Avi

Avi is one of my favorite writers and his newest book does not disappoint. From the very first chapter, he draws you in. Just read it, trust me!

Welcome to 2012

Homeless Bird - Gloria Whelan

Title: Homeless Bird


Author: Gloria Whelan


Website: http://www.gloriawhelan.com/


Summary: Married at thirteen to a dying child she has never met, Koly's life begins a seemingly inexorable downward spiral into poverty and isolation. Abandoned in a city of temples and white sari-clad widows, the young girl discovers opportunities and savage crimes, those who would help her and those who would exploit her. It is a story told clearly and without extravagance, somber in the way in which it confronts the difficulties of Koly's life, and yet radiant with hope.


My take: A facinating story of the life of a young India girl, forced into marraige against her will, to help out her family who needs money. A sick husband, a terribly cruel mother-in-law and the loss of her own family are just some of the issues to befall young Koly.

Don't You Know There's A War On?

Title: Don't You Know There's A War On?

Author: Avi

Website: http://avi-writer.com/books/books/dontyou.html

Summary: World War II is on everyone's mind and in every headline, and Howie Crispers has a hunch that his school principal is a spy. With a little snooping around, Howie finds out something even more alarming. Principal Lomister may not be a spy, but he is plotting to get rid of Howie's favorite teacher. Howie's dad is fighting Nazis overseas, and his mom is working hard to support the war effort, so Miss Gossim is the only person Howie can depend on. With the help of his friends, and a plan worthy of radio show superhero Captain Midnight, Howie intends to save Miss Gossim!

My Take: A great book, not only well written (as always by Avi) but puts one right back in time historically. Howie Crispers is a kid with good intentions who sometimes doesn't exactly keep his word. Ask him best friend, Denny. Between the two of them they promise no secrets but when it comes to Miss Gossim, they find it hard to tell each other all that they know. A secret crush, by both of them, keeps them from revealing all they know.
another in a long line of classic Avi book. If you haven't read any of his books, do so now! They are just wonderful!

Crispin: The Cross of Lead – Avi

Title: Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Author: Avi

Website: http://www.avi-writer.com/books/books/crispincross.html

Summary:   “Asta’s son” is all he’s ever been called. The lack of name is appropriate, because he and his mother are but poor peasants in fourteenth-century medieval England. But this thirteen-year-old boy who thought he had little to lose soon finds himself with even less—no home, family, or possessions.

Accused of a crime he did not commit, he has been declared a “wolf’s head.” That means he may be killed on sight, by anyone. If he wishes to remain alive, he must flee his tiny village. All the boy takes with him is a newly revealed name—Crispin—and his mother’s cross of lead.

His journey through the English countryside is amazing and terrifying. Especially difficult is his encounter with the juggler named Bear. A huge, and possibly even mad, man, Bear forces the boy to become his servant. Bear, however, is a strange master, for he encourages Crispin to think for himself. Though Bear promises to protect Crispin, the boy is being relentlessly pursued. Why are his enemies so determined to kill him?
Crispin is gradually drawn right into his enemies’ fortress where—in a riveting climax—he must become a different person if he is to save Bear’s life and his own. He discovers that by losing everything, he has gained the most precious gift of all: a true sense of self.

My Take: WOW!  A great book, putting one right back into the time period as Avi can do so well. What Crispin goes through and endures in his life, and the way it is described, makes this book one of my all times best reads. Crispin's trials and tribulations are wonderfully told and a treasure to read.
And this is just the first in a trilogy of Crispin books!

Ebook or not Ebook, that is the question...

The Underneath - Kathi Appelt

Title: The Underneath

Author: Kathi Appelt

Website: http://www.kathiappelt.com/

Summary: A calico cat, about the have kittens, hears the lonely howl of a chained-up hound deep in the backwaters of the bayou. She dares to find him in the forest, and the hound dares to befriend this cat, this feline, this creature he is supposed to hate. They are an unlikely pair, about to become and unlikely family. Ranger urges the cat to hide underneath the porch, to raise her kittens there because Gar-Face, the man living inside the house, will surely use them as alligator bait should he find them. But they are safe, in the Underneath... as long as they stay in the underneath.

My Take: This book took me a little while to get into but once I did, it was worth. There were a lot of details and Kathi Appelt, takes her time, allowing you to get all the characters and learn all about them. There are tragedies all around but the spirit of this cat and dog, working together as a family, are worth reading. Appelt weaves a bit of fantasy into this book, something I don't usually like too much, but it works. The animals, trees, and river all have their own characteristics and it's made real to the reader.
One kitten's moment of curiosity changes each of their lives forever, but... oh, you'll just have to read it to find out.

Seedfolks - Paul Fleischman

Title: Seedfolks

Author: Paul Fleischman

Website: http://www.paulfleischman.net/works.htm

Summary: A 1997 children's book about the impromptu creation of a community garden in an inner-city Cleveland. As it comes alive, it breathes new life into an erstwhile sterile neighborhood. This book is not told from the perspective of a single character, but in a series of vignettes written from a first-person perspective of a very diverse group of characters. Some of the characters are young, some are old; some are new to America, some were born there. They all have their own reasons for coming to the garden and the significance it takes on for each of them is very different. They represent a variety of colors and cultures but come together to form a real community.

My Take: A good book for young and older adults, showing how tough it can be to become a real community but also showing that people really want it, just aren't always sure how to get it.
It points out that even in the myriad of differences of people, we all want the same thing: to be known and acknowledged. It really can only take something as simple as a community garden to accomplish this feat.

overdue book...

Word After Word After Word – Patricia Maclachlan

Title: Word After Word After Word

Author: Patricia MacLachlan

Website: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Patricia-MacLachlan/38022587

Summary: In Word After Word After Word, Newbery Medal winner Patricia MacLachlan weaves a gentle, funny story about five friends, their camaraderie and the words that ultimately stir each of them. Ms. Mirabel’s encouragement is a timeless—and well-stated—lesson in creative writing.
Even when kids feel they have nothing to say, there is a way to find their voice. Just write . . . and, as Ms. Mirabel says, “the words will whisper in your ear.” This short, easy-to-read book for middle grades is a perfect complement to a creative writing or literature class—and it offers inspiration on the writing process for both teachers and students.  

My Take: A reluctant group of fourth grade students are lucky enough to have a famous writer, Ms. Mirabel, to teach them about writing for six weeks. Reluctant at first, fearing they have nothing to say, the children find themselves increasingly not only looking forward to class, but finding out they really do have something to say. A short, but delightly read, once again, from Ms. MacLachlan.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Title: Bud, Not Buddy

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/christopherpaulcurtis/

Summary: Bud, Not Buddy is the story of the young orphan Bud, (not Buddy), as he travels across the state of Michigan in search of his real father. He does not know his father's name and only has a few clues, that he carries around in his beloved suitcase, given to him by his mother left him before she passed. Bud is doing this searching at an especially hard time, in 1936, right in the middle of the Great Depression. His journey takes him through many issues and places that were fairly common during this era. He stumbles upon the Flint version of a Hooverville, or shanty town, that had been set up due the economic hardships of the depression. He also meets a Union organizer who is deemed dangerous by the Flint police department, who turns out to be not as dangerous as Bud originally thinks. And he does all this while he's "out on the lam" from the orphanage.

Despite all the obstacles that are placed in Bud's way, he retains a very positive attitude and is very polite to everyone he encounters. Christopher Curtis has done a very good job of creating a character that is able to deal with serious issues lightheartedly. Bud seems to have an optimism that cannot be dimmed by anything. This is a very effective tactic seeing as his audience will more than likely be children. This being said the writing is at times simplistic, one has to remember the audience, and at other times extremely descriptive and imaginative. Through Bud, Curtis describes certain situations and events with the creativity that can only be from a child's point of view. The story, although intended for younger readers, leaves readers with a sense of contentment as to the summation of the plot and with a feeling of hope as to the future of Bud, not Buddy.

My Take: Grab a chair and start reading this book. The tale of a young boy, whose mother has died, placed in a orphanage. His trials and tribulations and finally his triumph. Christopher Paul Curtis is just one of the best children's authors ever, pulling you into the book right away. He keeps your interest and makes you care about his characters. Some of the characters in this book are based on family members, which makes it all the sweeter. This is one book you should not forget to read.

Beryl: A Pig's Tale – Jane Simmons

Title: Beryl: A Pig's Tale

Author: Jane Simmons

Website: www.iblist.com/author7888.htm

Summary: Tired of being mistreated and cooped up, Beryl the piglet escapes her farm and meets a group of wild pigs, whose settlement splits up over the decision of whether to let her stay, and with her new "family" she sets out to find a new home.

My Take: Loved this book. Striking out on her own, Beryl learns a lot about herself and others in her world. Her family and friends not only won't support and care for her, they're not very nice. Beryl heads out into the world in search for home and find herself.

Slob – Ellen Potter

Title: Slob

Author: Ellen Potter

Website: http://www.ellenpotter.com/

Summary: Twelve-year-old Owen Birnbaum is the fattest kid in school. But he’s also a genius who invents cool contraptions— like a TV that shows the past. Something happened two years ago that he needs to see. But genius or not, there is much Owen can’t outthink. Like his gym coach, who’s on a mission to humiliate him. Or the way his Oreos keep disappearing from his lunch. He’s sure that if he can only get the TV to work, things will start to make sense. But it will take a revelation for Owen, not science, to see the answer’s not in the past, but the present. That no matter how large he is on the outside, he doesn’t have to feel small on the inside.With her trademark humor, Ellen Potter has created a larger-than-life character and story whose weight is immense when measured in heart.

My take: It took me two times to read this book as the first time I wasn't sure I would like it. But boy, I'm glad I went back and read it again. It tells the agony of growing up overweight and how Owen works at it. He becomes friends with unique people and it all comes together in the end. I loved the inventions he came up with and for a while, was a little peturbed about how some of these worked. But (I won't spoil it) I was really surprised how it turned out in the end. This is a good book for kids from 9-14 and those who have trouble fitting in. What kid does NOT have problems fitting in with their friends? Enjoy this book.

Is that book overdue?

Because of Mr. Terupt - Rob Buyea

Title: Because of Mr. Terupt

Author: Rob Buyea

Website: http://www.robbuyea.com/because_of_mr_terupt

Summary:
It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School.

There’s Jessica, the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in;
Alexia, a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next;
Peter, class prankster and troublemaker;
Luke, the brain;
Danielle, who never stands up for herself;
shy Anna, whose home situation makes her an outcast; and
Jeffrey, who hates school.

Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone.

My take: This is one book that should be read by all elementary school teachers and students, who not like school or feel they are all alone. A wonderful first novel by Rob Buyea includes chapter after chapter of review of the school years as seen through the eyes of different students. Each person can identify a part of themselves in each of the seven unique points of view. I won't spoil as of this book for you but can highly recommend it to you. Truly one of my favorite reads in a long time.

The Watsons Go To Birmingham

Title: The Watsons Go To Birmingham

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/christopherpaulcurtis/

Summary: The year is 1963, and self-important Byron Watson is the bane of his younger brother Kenny's existence. Constantly in trouble for one thing or another, from straightening his hair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezing his lips to the mirror of the new family car, Byron finally pushes his family too far. Before this "official juvenile delinquent" can cut school or steal change one more time, Momma and Dad finally make good on their threat to send him to the deep south to spend the summer with his tiny, strict grandmother. Soon the whole family is packed up, ready to make the drive from Flint, Michigan, straight into one of the most chilling moments in America's history: the burning of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church with four little girls inside.

My take: A really nice book from an author that I hadn't heard about previously, (It pays to take a trip up and down the shelves looking for new books.)
The Watsons trip is taken to help Byron and provides quite an unforeseen adventure for the whole family. Grandma will do her best to straighten Byron despite his resistance. The give and take between the boys and the car trip down are a wonderful read.

Guys Read – Jon Scieszka

Title: Guys Read

Author: Jon Sczieska

Summary: The GUYS READ LIBRARY OF GREAT READING is a multi-volume set of original short stories and illustrations that will inspire boys to want to keep reading. Each volume will feature ten of the very best writers in different genres. Each volume will serve as an introduction to writers and illustrators guys will want to know better.
The entire collection will be the answer to the question, “What will help get my guy reading?”

Website: http://www.guysread.com/

My take: A wonderful assortment of short stories to keep your young boy (or girl) reading for days. Funny, touching, weird and wild. You'll love this book! And check out Guys Write for Guys Read too.
Our kids found another giant list of new authors by reading this book. That alone is well worth you're reading this book to and with your kids.

A Whole Nother Story – Dr. Cuthbert Soup

Title: A Whole Nother Story

Author: Dr. Cuthbert Soup

Summary: The three Cheeseman children, their father, and their psychic dog are all on the run. From whom? Well the CIA, naturally. But also corporate agents #5, #29, and # 207, plus two international superspies -- one of whom happens to be a chimpanzee. They all want Dr. Cheeseman and his late wife's greatest invention-a machine with unspeakable powers-OK, I'll say it. It's a time machine. But it's not working right yet, so put all ideas of time travel out of your head.

Author's Website: www.awholenotherbook.com

My Take: I loved this book! It is wacky, funny, and full of adventures. My two kids, aged 9 and 7, just loved it too and we laughed often. The agenies and spies who try to steal the LVR (I'm not telling, you have to read it), are stumblin' rumblin', bumblin' and it's hilarious. Our family quote the book on a daily basis, as the lines just great.
Take my unsolicited advice and have fun with this book!

Perloo the Bold - Avi

Title: Perloo, The Bold

Author: Avi

Author Website:  www.avi-writer.com

Summary:  The reluctant hero of this fantasy, Perloo, is a mild-mannered, shy, reclusive member of the Montmer tribe — animals that are a cross between jackrabbits, prairie dogs, and humans. Dragged unwillingly from his comfortable mountain burrow by his friend Lucabara and brought to the tribe's headquarters, Perloo is astonished to learn that he has been selected to become the new "granter," or leader, of the Montmers. Hair-raising adventures ensue as Perloo finds himself involved in a power-struggle with the villainous Berwig the Big, the jealous son of the former granter, Jolaine, who feels that the title should rightly be his. Escaping from the burrow, Perloo is captured by the Felbarts, a tribe of fox-like creatures against whom Berwig is planning to start a war. When Perloo is forced into the role of leader and peace-maker between the tribes, his qualities of modesty, honesty, and integrity eventually win through, but his biggest decision comes at the end of the novel when he must choose how to handle his new-found responsibilities while remaining true to himself.

My Take: A wonderful book, well-written, as all Avi books I've read have been. What would you do if lead was given to you and don't want it but if you don't take it, evil will triumph?

Good over evil. A must read for all kids 9-12, or even younger. I highly recommend this book!