Review: Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

April 18, 2013April 18, 2013 | Tasha

Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

From even before she was born, it had been decided that Emily’s destiny was to be a poet. Named after Emily Dickinson when her mother was inspired at a bookstore, Emily’s entire 11-year life has been documented in the margins of a first edition copy of Dickinson’s poems. When Emily discovers that her mother wrote her father’s name in the margin of one of the poems, she rushes to read the book but a mishap sends it off to be donated to Goodwill. This begins a search of several used book stores for the book and it quickly becomes apparent that destinies will not be rushed and that there is no way to force them. But along the way, new friends are made, great books to read are found, and destiny is eventually changed.

Fitzmaurice writes with a wonderful mix of light tone and richness. She carefully builds her story, creating additional storylines that serve as different strings in the story that are tied together by the end. Another source of the richness is the way she describes things in the story. Chapter 4 begins with “So I headed down the hall that Saturday morning with a hopeful feeling that came only on days I was opening a new box of Cheerios…” This is such a universal image and universal feeling. The Cheerios play into more of the story along with the prizes in their box.

Emily is an engaging character who struggles with learning patience and the frustration of being so close to the truth and then unable to grasp it. She comes off as a multidimensional person, again thanks to the richness of the world that Fitzmaurice paints for the reader. The secondary characters are also well drawn and solidly written. It is a pleasure to also see poems by Dickinson and her life tied so closely to the lives of modern-day children and families.

Fresh and joyful, this is a novel where storylines click into place like a puzzle. It will delight children who enjoy reading. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from copy received from HarperCollins.

Review: Rain! by Linda Ashman

April 18, 2013 | Tasha

Rain! by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Christian Robinson

The perfect book to lift your spirits on a soggy spring day! When an older man wakes up and sees the rain, he is not happy. But when a little boy looks out at the same rain, he’s delighted. The older man grumbles through his preparations to go outside, while the little boy puts on his green boots, green coat and frog hat still happy with the gloomy weather. The old man grumbles about puddles, while you can see the joy of the child. They end up in the same café, the old man still grumpy with his day and the young boy happy with cocoa and cookies. When the two bump into each other, it seems like the grumpiness rubs off on the little boy. But then he notices that the older man left his hat behind, and with a little joke and a shared cookie, a day is brightened.

Ashman has written this book very simply, just in snatches of dialogue. Despite the simplicity, the mood of each character is clear in their words. It is made even more clear by the cut-paper illustrations that display each person’s mood with just a few lines. Readers will notice that the pages with the older man have others with grumpy faces while the pages with the the child have others with smiles.

A book that is sure to have readers jumping merrily in puddles and dancing in the rain, this is an inspiration to look on the bright side of things and share your happiness. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: The Beatles Were Fab by Kathleen Krull

April 17, 2013April 18, 2013 | Tasha

The Beatles Were Fab (And They Were Funny) by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, illustrated by Stacy Innerst

This is a picture book biography of The Beatles that captures their humor and the way that they used it in their music and lifestyle. The book begins with the formation of the band and the fun they had naming themselves. The book talks about their use of silliness and jokes to keep their spirits up as they struggled to make it, looking for a record deal. When success came, it came quickly and with success came fame and fans. Then there was the Beatlesmania craze that swept the United States, nothing like it had been seen before or since. Krull includes some small details like American fans throwing jellybeans on stage because the band said they liked jellybabies, but jellybabies are soft where jellybeans are certainly not. She then has a section on each Beatle and some of the interesting responses they gave during interviews. This is a merry and fast-moving look at one of the greatest bands of all time.

Krull injects her nonfiction work with humor and zest. She tells specific stories that offer insight into the Beatles nature. It is a treat to hear their own words but it is also wonderful to read about moments in history that are revealing about their character. Krull and Brewer skillfully end the book before drug use became an issue for the band. Instead they focus on the early Beatles and their humor rather than the complexity of the later Beatles music and attitudes.

Innerst’s illustrations are just as humorous and playful as the stories that Krull and Brewer tell. The characters have a feel of bobble-heads and a strong modern vibe. He ~~she~~ uses bright colors that match the energy of the text. I have to say, I am particularly partial to Ringo’s nose in the illustrations.

This strong picture book biography is not made for research, but instead fans of the Beatles can share part of their story with children and everyone is sure to end up humming some of the songs. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka

April 17, 2013April 17, 2013 | Tasha

Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka

The two-time Caldecott Medalist returns with another exceptional picture book. In this book, a little girl learns to ride a bike. She first picks out the bike she wants to try, then watches other people ride their bikes. The training wheels are very helpful, keeping her upright and they steadily are moved upward so that she can start to balance on her own. Training wheels off, she tries riding in the grass but when she heads down a small hill, she tips over. It takes a lot of courage to get back on again and again and again after tumbling off. But then, suddenly and incredibly, she learns to ride a bicycle on her own!

Written in second-person, the book really allows readers to see themselves as the one riding the bicycle. Raschka’s text is simple and effective, encouraging readers to give it a try. When the tumbling begins, Raschka starts talking about courage, sure to inspire young readers to see that quality in themselves both in learning to ride a bicycle and in other endeavors too. As always, the art is the key with Raschka’s picture books. His style is loose and flowing, capturing movement and wobbles with easy watercolor strokes.

A great pick for spring when children are sure to be longing to be out playing in the warmer weather, this book is a quietly inspiring read. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: Slated by Teri Terry

April 16, 2013 | Tasha

Slated by Teri Terry

Kyla is just about ready to be released from the hospital after being Slated, her memory erased after she committed a crime. She is sent to live with a new family and in a new life, unable to find out about who she had been and what caused her to be Slated. But Kyla is different. She has horrible nightmares that may or may not be flashbacks to her past. She can draw, with both hands, something that she realizes could cause problems if discovered. She has a voice in her head, cautioning her about things and not revealing too much. But because Kyla is different, she may also be in more danger than anyone else. Can she continue to follow the rules and pretend to be just another happy Slated teen? Or will the truth she discovers be too much to maintain the façade?

In her debut novel, Terry has created a dystopian science fiction future that is dangerously possible. The setting is the United Kingdom, but one that has changed entirely to a police state where ideas that are dangerous to those in power are worthy of getting Slated. Against that already tense background, the drama of Slated teens plays out, struggling to learn to live, to think for themselves, and to find their way. Teens will see their own struggles here, relating quickly to the premise.

Kyla is an intriguing heroine, she realizes she is different, but has no perception as to why. Terry allows Kyla to be a true enigma to herself and to the reader. This makes for a compelling read, but the reveal is placed so close to the end of the book that it feels hurried. I would have liked to see either another chapter after the final one to help with that feel or for more hints to have been given ahead of time and along the way. But that is a minor quibble and I was happy to see that this is the first in a series.

This fascinating and dark look into a possible future is filled with foreboding and lifted by strong writing. Fans of Hunger Games will enjoy this new heroine facing different challenges in an equally ferocious world. Appropriate for ages 14-16.

Reviewed from copy received from Penguin.

Review: A Place for Turtles by Melissa Stewart

April 16, 2013 | Tasha

A Place for Turtles by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Higgins Bond

Another strong title in the A Place for… series, this book introduces children to turtles and the role that people play in keeping them safe and their habitats viable. Each page shows a different species of turtle in their specific habitat with the main part of the page explaining an overarching theme. The inset on each page talks about scientific facts about the turtles, often including ways that humans have helped turtles survive. The combination makes for an engaging way to present the information, giving readers the sense of digging deeper into the more specific information. The emphasis here is on being a good steward of the environment and the way that humans can ensure the continued survival of turtles.

Stewart writes with an engaging tone, inviting young readers to explore the subject. The insets on the pages are filled with dramatic examples, facts and scientific information. Yet they never feel heavy thanks to the fine selection of intriguing information provided. Bond’s illustrations reveal the lives of turtles, from the sea turtles escaping fishing nets to the lethal beauty of purple loosestrife. He captures the beauty of both the habitat and the creatures.

A fine choice for library nonfiction collections, this is a great introduction to turtles and an inspiring call to action for children. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from copy received from Peachtree Publishers.

2013 New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards Short List

April 15, 2013April 11, 2013 | Tasha

The New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards short lists have been announced. Here are the ones that pertain to teens and children:

ETHEL TURNER PRIZE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

The Ink Bridge by Neil Grant

Into that Forest by Louis Nowra

Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan (The Brides of Rollrock Island in the US)

Three Summers by Judith Clarke

Unforgotten by Tohby Riddle

PATRICIA WRIGHTSON PRIZE FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

A Bear and a Tree by Stephen Michael King

Blood Brothers by Carole Wilkinson

Brotherband 1: The Outcasts by John Flanagan

The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon by Aaron Blabey

Pookie Aleera Is Not My Boyfriend by Steven Herrick

The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King

2012 Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books

April 15, 2013 | Tasha

The American Library Association in their State of American Libraries report for 2013, listed the Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books. These numbers from from 464 recorded challenges to books that year:

Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey (offensive language, unsuited for age group)

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” by Sherman Alexie (offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group)

“Thirteen Reasons Why,” by Jay Asher (drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group)

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” by E. L. James (offensive language, sexually explicit)

“And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (homosexuality, unsuited for age group)

“The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini (homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit)

“Looking for Alaska,” by John Green (offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group)

Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz (unsuited for age group, violence)

“The Glass Castle,” by Jeannette Walls (offensive language, sexually explicit)

“Beloved,” by Toni Morrison (sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence)

The 2013 Crichton Award for New Illustrators Short List

April 12, 2013April 9, 2013 | Tasha

The Children’s Book Council of Australia has announced the short list for the 2013 Crichton Award. The Crichton Award is given to “recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children’s book illustration.” Here are the books on the short list for 2013: