Grounded: Family, Funerals and Forgiveness

February 21, 2011 | Tasha

Grounded by Kate Klise

For a girl who never liked dolls, Daralynn sure had a lot of them. She had gotten over 200 dolls after her father, brother and sister were killed in a plane crash. She had also gotten her nickname, Dolly, because of them. Dolly lived with her mother and next door to her grandmother. After the funeral for her family, Dolly’s mother became the hairdresser for the local funeral home. Later, she branched out to owning her own salon and doing hair on the living. It was Dolly who had the big idea to start doing living funerals at the funeral home to make more money. But then a crematorium was built in town and started taking business from the funeral home, and even worse, started doing living funerals themselves! Dolly thought there was something strange about Clem, the man who owned the crematorium, and it was up to her to figure out what was really going on. A mystery with small-town charm, this book is about family, funerals and forgiveness.

Klise’s writing has a folksy cadence to it here that echoes the sounds and feeling of a small town. There are wonderful transcendent moments where the main character realizes something and Klise writes it with such clarity and perfect pitch. The conversations between characters feel real and true, giving the book a strong foundation to put a mystery upon. It is also a very funny book, thanks to Dolly’s wry humor.

Klise has created a small town in this novel that makes the perfect setting for a mystery. The town and the people who live there are more than a backdrop for the story, they are a real community. The most fascinating characters are those related to Dolly. Each of them shows how to deal with life and tragedy in a different way. They are subtle and tangible reminders of what grief can become.

Dolly is a marvelous character who strives to be good, but is still alive because she was grounded for going fishing without permission. She is a girl who fishes, does hair, hates dolls, and never quite manages to obey the rules. In other words, she’s a delight.

Highly recommended, this book would make a wonderful class read-a-loud. Where it sings is in the relationships it shows, the laughter it provides, and the recovery from loss it allows us to witness. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from copy received from Feiwel & Friends.

Also reviewed by Kids Reads.

The Secret River: Luminous Loveliness

February 18, 2011 | Tasha

The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

Luminously illustrated by the Dillons, this new version of a classic children’s book truly shines. The only children’s book written by the author of The Yearling, this story is about Calpurnia, a young girl who is a poet. She woke up one gorgeous morning and found that she had a journey ahead of her. Her father told the family that he had no fish to sell in his fish market. So Calpurnia decided to catch some fish herself. She made roses out of crepe paper for bait and then headed to get advice from Mother Albirtha, the wisest person in the forest. When Calpurnia asked Mother Albirtha where she could catch big fish, Mother Albirtha told her of the secret river that was full of fish and advised Calpurnia to follow her nose. So off Calpurnia went with her dog at her side to find the river. Eventually, Calpurnia found the river and caught some large fish to help her father. But that was just the start of her adventures in the forest, because she had to get back home.

Rawlings’ writing is filled with such depth here. While the story is written for children, it will ask them to stretch, to imagine and to dream. The writing is filled with small touches, turns of phrase that add such beauty to the text. Rawlings also had a poet for a main character, so Calpurnia’s poems are throughout the book. One of my favorite passages happens early in the book where Calpurnia creates a poem and after her mother criticizes one of the phrases turns right around and creates a new poem that focuses on that phrase. Just that one piece is a testament to writing and creativity, as is the entire book.

Dillons’ illustrations take the book to an even higher level. They are illustrations that are celebrate the beauty of light on skin, the depth of dark in a forest, the shine of wisdom on a face, and the blackness of animal fur. The illustrations vary in size, ranging from full page images to smaller illustrations in the margins of the text. There are illustrations so lovely here that one lingers on the page long after the words have been read, just absorbing the image. It is simply beautiful.

This is a treat of a new version of a classic. It is a perfect marriage of illustration and writing that celebrates both. Appropriate for ages 6-8.

Reviewed from copy received from Simon & Schuster.

Family Pack: Poetic Nature

February 17, 2011 | Tasha

Family Pack by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Alan Marks

This book captures the real-life story of wolves being reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. The focus of the story is one young female wolf who finds herself suddenly separated from her pack and alone in a new place. Her tracks are the only wolf tracks she sees, she is the only wolf she smells. Without a pack, she cannot hunt the way she is used to, so she survives mostly on mice. As she becomes an adult, she discovers another wolf, a male. The two of them become a mated pair and eventually have a family in Yellowstone. One lone wolf has created her own pack.

Markle’s verse in the book really shines, illuminating the loneliness of this young wolf’s new life, her troubles with hunting larger game, and her growth into an adult wolf. The poetry is filled with imagery that enlivens the book, making the cold and loneliness tangible to readers.

Marks’ illustrations are equally successful. He captures the setting beautifully from the towering trees to the wide open spaces. In his illustrations, Yellowstone becomes just as real as the wolf herself, almost another character in the story. The vistas and close-ups he has created here give readers a very unique perspective on the life of this wolf.

Highly recommended, this book will work well for slightly older children because of the depth of the verse. It will work well in units about preservation and ecology. Appropriate for ages 6-8.

Reviewed from copy received from Charlesbridge.

Jam & Honey: Natural Sweetness

February 16, 2011 | Tasha

Jam & Honey by Melita Morales, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

This quiet, gentle book tells the story of a visit to an urban berry patch from two points of view, a girl and a bee. The girl is headed to the berry patch to pick berry to make into jam. Her big worry is running into bees, which she does. But she remembers what her mother told her about staying still and that the bee was interested in nectar not in her. The bee is heading to the berry patch for nectar to make into honey. He is worried about running into a human there, which he does. But he remembers that humans are interested in the berries, so he just flies past. This parallel story offers a glimpse of urban gardening and emphasizes the importance of our food and other creatures.

Morales has written the book in a verse format that has enough rhyme to make it friendly and bouncy. There is a rather jaunty tone to the book, making the encounter with the bee less scary than it could have been. The emphasis is on making food, whether it is by the girl or the bee. The two halves of the book are written in very similar verse, often repeating patterns from the earlier one. This ties the two stories together even more firmly.

Bryant’s art makes sure that the reader knows that the book is set in an urban setting without covering it in graffiti or garbage. Instead, we see a warm friendly neighborhood filled with flowers, pigeons, and bees. She imbues the illustrations with a natural feel, always having the reader look past greenery and through plants.

A great pick for insect units or story times or ones about food. It could also happily be used as a late summer story when the berries are plump and ripe. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House.

I’m Not: Funny Friendship

February 16, 2011 | Tasha

I’m Not by Pam Smallcomb, illustrated by Robert Weinstock

Evelyn is everything that the narrator is not. Evelyn is not ordinary. She is fast, jumping, fashionable, artistic, and imaginative. Our narrator is not. But when Evelyn slows down, our quiet narrator discovers that there are things that she herself is good at and Evelyn is not. Evelyn cannot spell well; she can’t do karate; she’s scared of the dark. And what Evelyn needs most is a best friend. Now that is something that our narrator definitely IS.

Smallcomb has captured the tension of friendship between an outgoing person and a quieter person. I appreciated that Evelyn is not a pushy person or a bully. Rather she is loud, gregarious and fun. Our narrator could be read as shy or as quiet, which many children will relate to. Smallcomb writes with a clever voice, allowing readers to really experience Evelyn with the wonder and thrill that our narrator feels. Readers will happily take away the lesson that we all have something to offer, whether we are in the spotlight or not.

Weinstock’s illustrations add to the humor of the book. His style is similar to the beloved James Marshall of George and Martha fame. Thanks to the illustrations and writing style, this book has a timeless feel that will welcome young readers.

Highly recommended, this is a perfect addition to friendship units or story times. It will read aloud well and young readers will connect with the characters easily. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Schwartz & Wade Books.

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Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party

February 15, 2011 | Tasha

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt

The fifth in the very popular Scaredy Squirrel series has Scaredy planning his own birthday party. He wants it to be quiet and private, because that’s how he can avoid any surprises. Surprises like Bigfoot, confetti and ponies must be avoided! He carefully plans his solo party with lists and charts, but even then he is surprised by what he finds in his mailbox. It’s a birthday card from Buddy. So Scaredy decides that he will invite just one guest in addition to himself. Now he has to rethink the entire party! There has to be a schedule, topics for small talk, and a list of dos and don’ts. But even with all of his planning and worrying, Scaredy is sure to be surprised at his birthday party!

This is a great addition to the series. I love how Watt takes events that can have children worried and allows Scaredy to worry for them. And Scaredy is so much better at worrying, that he’s sure to show how silly all that worry really is. Heck, some parents could take a lesson from Scaredy about birthday parties that are more about structure and less about fun.

Make your own plan to read this book! But don’t worry, you are sure to love it. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Kids Can Press.

Cryer’s Cross: Thrilling Fun

February 15, 2011 | Tasha

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

The tiny community of Cryer’s Cross has been witness to a tragedy when Tiffany disappears without a trace. Because the town is so small, 16-year-old Kendall knew Tiffany though she was several years younger. Returning to their one-room high school, Kendall needs to tidy the desks and room before a new school year begins thanks to her OCD. Kendall returns to her areas of comfort, playing soccer, dreaming about leaving Cryer’s Cross for Juilliard, and her boyfriend Nico. When Nico begins acting strange and then disappears, the community enforces a curfew. After Nico disappears and soccer is cancelled, Kendall’s OCD becomes much worse. She only finds relief when playing soccer with Jacian, a new boy in school who manages to both bother and intrigue Kendall. When Kendall starts hearing Nico’s voice when she sits at his desk and receiving messages through the graffiti scratched into its surface, she is drawn into the horror that lives in her small town.

This thriller has great teen appeal. It is creepy, frightening, but not fully horror. Just right for teens who want a little scare but not too much. The romance is nicely built in the book as well. I liked that it was not instantaneous but rather built as they got to know one another better.

The pacing is well done, drawing out the scary moments and allowing the story time to build. I found it nearly impossible to put down, my mind kept working on unraveling the mystery even when I was not reading. The conclusion was exciting, frightening and great fun to read. It was also nicely foreshadowed in the book, making it very satisfying.

A thrilling, fun read that is sure to appeal to McMann’s fans. The cover is eye-catching and will welcome additional readers too. Get this in the hands of teens who want a jolt of terror in their reads. Appropriate for ages 14-17.

Reviewed from copy received from Simon Pulse.

Also reviewed extensively throughout the blogosphere.

2010 Cybils Winners Announced!

February 14, 2011 | Tasha

Congratulations to all of the Cybils winners! It was my pleasure to work on the final judging panel for the YA category this year. I’m afraid with my new job, I was not as involved as I usually am, but I know we came up with a great pick! The panel was a treat to work with and I thank them all for their patience in dealing with my divided attention.

Here are the winners:

Fiction Picture Books

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein (my review)

Nonfiction Picture Books

The Extraordinary Life of Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley (my review)

Easy Readers

We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems

Short Chapter Books

Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Miguel Benitez

Poetry

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Josee Masse (my review)

Graphic Novels

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga (my review)

Middle Grade Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Shadows by Jacqueline West (my review)

Middle Grade Fiction

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Young Adult Nonfiction

The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing by Suzanne Jurmain

Young Adult Graphic Novels

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy duBurke (my review)

Young Adult Science Fiction & Fantasy

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry (my review)

Young Adult Fiction

Split by Swati Avasthi

No Passengers Beyond This Point: A Wild Ride

February 14, 2011 | Tasha

No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko

When three siblings discover that their mother has lost their house to foreclosure, they have only a few days to pack up and get ready to move to live with an Uncle they barely know. To get to his home, they have to take a plane to Colorado. But that is where everything starts to get odd. India, Finn and Mouse find themselves getting off the plane and entering a world that makes little sense. No one has heard of Uncle Red, they are met by a pink taxi with feathers, and each of them seems to have their very own house to live in that was designed just for them. As they struggle to figure out where they are, the clock starts ticking and the book becomes a race against time in a world that none of them understands.

Choldenko has switched genres here, away from the historical world of Al Capone Does My Shirts and into a magical alternate reality. However, she continues to write compelling characters living ordinary yet extraordinary lives. Though the book often has readers trying to figure out the rules of the alternate world, Choldenko’s characters never leave one in doubt. They are well drawn, their reactions make sense, and their motivations are consistent.

The crispness of her writing continues as well. I found myself immediately drawn into the relationship of these three siblings, which is beautifully complex. Each of them has their own point of view and the chapters rotate between them. The deeper disputes and issues between them are explained throughout the book, often becoming pivotal in the book’s resolution.

Choldenko’s pacing is also well done. She gives readers a chance to get to know the three main characters at their home first, before they are drawn into the alternate world. There the pace slows and then races, driven deftly by the writing. At moments where the children are lingering, the book slows too. Then when the story begins to fly, the pace matches that as well.

I can see this book being one that readers will either love or hate. One has to be willing to follow a beloved author down a new path and take a wild ride of a journey with her. I was happy to take this trip. Get this in the hands of fans of The Kneebone Boy. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from ARC received from Dial Books.

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