The Revelation of Louisa May and Club CSI

MacColl, Michaela. The Revelation of Louisa May
April 14th 2015 by Chronicle Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Louisa May Alcott's family is being torn apart for three months- her mother is taking a job to increase the family finances, since her charismatic but selfish and irresponsible father won't bother himself about money. Louisa is not happy that she will have to take care of her father and sister when she could be writing, but she knows how dire the situation is. She does not know the full extent of the family's involvement in the Underground Railroad, but when an escaped slave shows up at the house right before her mother leaves, she is put in charge of him, too. Luckily, there is some fun to be had-- Fred, a boy who lived in the area but went away to college, is back and interested in Louisa, even though she is intelligent and opinionated and more likely to burn dinner than not. Given her father's oblivion to reality, Louisa has her work cut out for her hiding the fugitive, especially when slave catcher Finch shows up, asking too many questions. When Finch shows up dead, and suspicion is thrown on her father, it is up to Louisa to clear his  name.
Strengths: This was a good story about a girl trying to take care of her family. Since there is a little romance involved as well as a mystery, this might be an easier sell than many historical novels. It would be great if they would read this book and then pick up Little Women, which is a really, really hard sell to middle school readers.
Weaknesses: It would help to have some background information on Alcott-- Whelan's Fruitlands would help younger readers a lot. I was a bit bored by the relationship between Henry David Thoreau and the wife of Emerson, so I think teens might not like that part as much.
What I really think: I'm a HUGE Alcott fan (my daughter's middle name is Louisa!), and I enjoyed reading this. I think I will buy a copy in the hopes that it will entice readers to look at Alcott's work. I liked this a lot more than the author's other works.

Lewman, David. The Case of the Mystery Meatloaf (Club CSI #1)
April 24th 2012 by Simon Spotlight

When they get a new science teacher who is interested in forensics, Hannah, Ben and Corey are thrilled with Miss Hodges' class, since the curriculum is changed to accommodate her speciality. They learn about different techniques of investigating, but have no mystery to use them on until the meatloaf incident that sickens people in their school cafeteria. Miss Hodges is concerned that the food that Mrs. Collins prepares isn't healthy enough, and offers some suggestions, as well as a recipe for vegetarian meatloaf. Reluctantly, Mrs. Collins prepared it. After the principal and swim team come down with what appears to be salmonella poisoning, Club CSI investigates. It doesn't help that Mrs. Collins' son, Ricky, is the school bully and doesn't take kindly to his mother being held under scrutiny, but using the techniques learned in Miss Hodges' class, the group solves the mystery.
Strengths: Decent plot, good detection techniques, great cover-- I can see this being appealing to middle grade readers, especially since it is a series. However...
Weaknesses: Not a lot happens. The mystery is kind of weak. Also, there are large problems with some of what occurs-- a school can't change its curriculum to forensics because they hire a teacher who is interested in it, and I don't think the cook would be buying groceries at local stores. Does Ricky have a study hall right after lunch and that's why he can help his mother? These small things make the book seem like it was written in the 1960s, when these things might have been possible.
What I really think: I bought the first one, but want to see how it does before investing in more. (Went over very well, and seems to be a quick read, as I've had about three students pick it up in a month AND ask for more. Okay then!)

List from Goodreads.com

	The Case of the Mystery Meat Loaf (Club CSI #1)  by David Lewman  3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 69 ratings — published 2012 — 5 editions book 1
	The Case of the Missing Moola (Club CSI #2)  by David Lewman  4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions book 2
	The Case of the Disappearing Dogs (Club CSI #3)  by David Lewman  4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions book 3
	The Case of the Ruined Ram (Club CSI #4)  by David Lewman  4.29 of 5 stars 4.29 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions book 4
	The Case of the Digital Deception (Club CSI #5)  by Ellie O'Ryan  4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions book 5
	The Case of the Plagued Play (Club CSI #6)  by David Lewman  3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions book 6

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Wednesday

Mehmoud, Tariq. You're Not Proper.
March 19th 2015 by Hope Road Publishing (UK)
Copy received from the publisher

Karen is part of the Willow Tree Mob in Boarhead East, Manchester, UK, even though the leader, Donna, is anti-Islamic and Karen's father is from Pakistan. After Donna taunts fellow classmate Shamshad and takes the hijab from her head, Karen sticks up for her, even though Shamshad frequently calls Karen an "Oreo" and gives her a hard time for being "white". It turns out that there have long been issues between the two girl's families, although the exact nature of them is a bit vague, but it doesn't help that anti-Mulsim feelings in their neighborhood run high. Karen starts to feel that since she looks more "foreign" than British, she might be more comfortable embracing her Muslim side. She asks her father to help her learn how to say Muslim prayers, and buys herself a hijab. It's not an easy process-- her father is more interested in football and beer than in praying, her mother is rather at a loss as to what to do, and Karen has trouble getting others to accept her as Kiran, a Muslim girl. Luckily, after unpleasantness with Shamshad and her father at the local mosque, Shamshad's friend Laila helps Kiran learn how to dress and pray, and offers kindness and understanding that Kiran sorely needs. Both Shamshad and Kiran's lives are about to be upended, however, when family trips back to Pakistan bring unexpected surprises that make their feud seem pointless.

Mehmood does an excellent job of describing what every day life is like in Manchester for Kiran, which will be fascinating for US readers. Too many times, the only British books that make it across the pond are about middle class, white children whose main concern is saving the world from some fantasy villain! This read quite a lot like a Jacqueline Wilson book with Pakistani characters, now that I think of it.

Kiran and Shamshad both start the book as very quick tempered, prejudiced characters who are concerned mainly with themselves. As the book goes on, they learn to deal with others' problems a bit, but it isn't until the very end that they really begin to be understanding of others, and at that point, the transformation is brought about very quickly by an extreme circumstance.

This was an excellent book, even though the characters were a bit overwrought. There are some turns of phrase and situations that won't be as easy for US readers to understand, however, and the fact that Kiran and Shamshad's grandfathers came to the UK makes them a bit further along in their quest for  cultural identity than many of my immigrant students from Muslim countries are. Many of my students were born elsewhere, or at least have parents who came more recently to the US, so there is less of a chance for many of them to deviate from their family's wishes.

Even so, I gave this to one of my students, an avid reader who recently took to wearing a hijab, and her eyes lit up when she saw the title. "That's exactly what MY family said!" Her background in Somali, but her grandparents came to this country about 30 years ago, which is more in line with the teenagers' experiences in You're Not Proper rather than the experience of many of my students.


Perkins, Mitali. Tiger Boy
April 14th 2015 by Charlesbridge
ARC from Kidlitcon!

Neel lives in the Sunderbans of West Bengal, and his village is next to a tiger preserve. His family is struggling after his mother's recent bout with dysentery, and his father's fishing business has been negatively impacted by bad weather. Mr. Gupta is a local entrepreneur who is trying to take over the entire village, and has the money to do so, so when one of the tiger cubs escapes from the preserve, he offers the local men lots of money to find the cub and turn it in to him. Neel knows that Mr. Gupta will sell the cub for its fur, so wants to find it himself. His family could use the money; Neel is in the running for a scholarship because he is the smartest boy in the village, but his math skills are not improving and he needs a tutor. If he finds the cub, will he be tempted to turn it in to Mr. Gupta for the money, or are some things more important.
Strengths: This offers a very vivid picture of what daily life is like for people in another part of the world. I loved the attention to detail-- how Neel's sister has to sweep the floor, how Neel and his friends play in the river and get in trouble for not studying, and how thrilled Neel is to get books and magazine to read. The adventure of hunting down the tiger cub will make this appealing to younger readers, but I loved that slice of life and think it is important to share with students. The glossary and appendices offer additional information, although most things are well explained within the text of the story.
Weaknesses: The drawings make this seem like a book for younger students, but is perfect for middle school. I am hoping that the short length will encourage my students to pick this up!

Accidentally Evil/ Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

Chapman, Lara. Accidentally Evil 
April 14th 2015 by Aladdin (first published January 6th 2015)
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline.

In this sequel to The XYZ's of Being Wicked, Hallie returns for her second year at Dowling Academy. She is now a Crafter rather than a Seeker, and gets to room with Ivy again, to her great relief. She is still e mailing Cody, and making plans to see him when his school comes to Dowling for the Samhain celebration. She still has the gift of inheritance, and tries to be very careful not to absorb any more powers from other people, although she does pick up the ability to see people's auras from one of her teachers. Kendall and Zena are still up to no good, at one point turning Hallie's eyes bright blue and doing away with her need for corrective lenses! They have even more evil plans up their sleeves (even though they are supposed to be good witches and Hallie is supposed to have the ability to do black magic), and things come to a head at the school's Samhain celebration. There is a third book in the offing, but no date available for it.
Strengths: A decent amount of magic, a boarding school, and lots of girl drama with a touch of romance make this a good choice for readers who loved Harry Potter but want something a little girlier. There are supportive adults, good friends, and the romance is middle school appropriate.
Weaknesses: I don't feel like I have a good handle on Kendall's motivation. Her character is not developed much at all, which makes her a less threatening adversary.
What I really think: I prefer my friend drama without magic, I think, but I definitely have readers for these books.

Shurliff, Liesl. Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk
April 14th 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Netgalley.com

When I saw the ARC of this, it occurred to me that there are a lot of fairy tale themed middle grade novels that feature princesses, but not as many that have action and adventure. Since our sixth grade is currently doing a fairy tale unit (and because one of my favorite Gene Kelly movies is his made-for-tv coverage of this story), I had to take a look.

Odd things are happening around Jack's farm, and whole shops and houses are going missing. Surely, it can't be giants, because they haven't been seen in years. When Jack sees his father (as well as a new calf) pocketed by a giant and spirited up into the sky, leaving only a sprinkling of dirt behind, he knows that he must do something. He sells the family cow to Jaber for the magic beans, grows the obligatory bean stalk, and ends up in the care of the giant Molly, who has no intention of eating him. The giant community is beset by a lack of food that seems to be exacerbated by King Barf's overuse of the golden goose, and humans are used to process the human food that the giants take in raids. There are some attempts to grow food, but nothing seems to work. Jack gets put to work alongside Tom, but also tries to find his father. There is lots of humorous adventure-- Jack almost gets eaten in a pudding, pixies bedevil the humans, and the golden goose must be stolen in order to help food grow again in the land of the giants. Jack's young sister makes her way up the beanstalk, complicating Jack's search. Can Jack and the other humans reverse the giant's food issues so that the giants no longer need to steal from them?
Strengths: There are some good explanations for events in the original story. It's fun to see fairy tales fleshed out with some interesting details, and the inclusion of lots of running about and fighting is perfect for this story. I'll have to buy, just because there are so many fairy tales about female characters and so few with males!
Weaknesses: I got sort of muddled with the whole reason behind the giant famine, but at least that premise gave the giants reason to come down and wreak havoc on earth.

Rad American Women A-Z/ Gone Crazy in Alabama

Schatz, Kate and Stahl, Miriam Klein. Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries who Shaped Our History . . . and Our Future! 
April 14th 2015 by City Lights Publishers

E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Covering 25+ American women who influenced a wide variety of public arenas, this book is a great choice for middle grade readers to introduce them to a diverse group of women they may not have heard of! From the somewhat well known (Billie Jean King, Bessie Coleman, Nellie Bly) to women of whom I had never heard, each entry gives a brief overview of the woman's life and how she influenced the world. Accompanied by brightly colored illustrations, this would be a fantastic book to use in the classroom for Women's History Month. Since the entries are short, teachers could read one a day. I wouldn't be at all surprised if teachers bought an extra copy to cut up and laminate for a bulletin board. In fact, I think City Lights should consider packaging the illustrations this way-- on one page with the text!

If my youngest daughter ever has children, this would be the sort of thing she would take to the hospital to read to a newborn, in much the same way I read her D'Aulaire's Greek Myths! In fact, I may have to go buy multiple copies for just such gift giving purposes!

What a great book for #WeNeedDiverseBooks. And I particularly appreciated how the title specified the descriptive "American", although "US" would have been even better. Maybe there will be a "World" edition next!

Williams-Garcia. Gone Crazy in Alabama.(Gaither Sisters#3)
April 21st 2015 by Amistad
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

In this final book in the trilogy (One Crazy Summer, P.S. Be Eleven), Delphine, Vonetta and Fern are sent on a bus to visit their Big Ma, Ma Charles, and Uncle Darrell in Alabama. They are glad when they get there to find that the outhouse is a thing of the past, and that Mr. Lucas has added some rooms to the house. Their cousin, James Trotter, is there to help them adjust and to help them navigate the treacherous waters surrounding their grandmother's relationship with his grandmother, her half-sister. There are several issues within the family-- Vonetta refuses to trust Darrell, who stole money from the sisters to buy drugs after he came back from Vietnam. Fern has very strong feelings about the dietary differences between generations. Delphine is unwilling to starch and iron the heavy cotton sheets that Big Ma thinks are essential. These differences seem petty when a tornado hits town, and the local constabulary is less than helpful, since the sheriff is most likely also the KKK leader. The rest of the family, including the girls' mother from California and father and pregnant step-mother from New York City, comes to help out. The tornado's aftermath leads to more family understanding, as well as some unexpected alliances.

Strengths: The differences between life in the north and life in the south are explained nicely, and the girls struggle with the differences. Clearly, they have been influenced by their "hippie" mother, as well as their "libber" step mother. I especially like the inclusion of the Apollo 11 moon launch; I was allowed to stay up late to watch the moonwalk. Of course, I remember playing with my Silly Sponge set more than I remember watching the television; the two are inextricably joined in my mind!
Weaknesses: While I understand why Williams-Garcia included information about the grandmother's differences, I found it hard to get too interested in the old family drama when so much new stuff was going on.
What I really think: I really, really, really want to read Soul Brothers and Sister Lou now!  All three of these books are so rich with details of life during this time period. The cover is perfect! I think I had the pink dress!

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and What Are You Reading? day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

Dear Hank Williams

Holt, Kimberly Willis. Dear Hank Williams
April 14th 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Tate lives in Louisia with her Aunt Patty Cake and Uncle Jolly in Louisiana in 1948, and when her class has an assignment to write to a pen pal, Tate picks Hank Williams. In letters spread over a many months, she tells Hank about the goings on of her family and community. Others in her class write to relatives, or to students in Japan, although there are still bad feelings about the Japanese. Uncle Jolly frequently has his heart broken, Aunt Patty Cake sells door-to-door cosmetics, and Tate gets into a fair amount of trouble with her brother, Frog. The circumstances leading to her not living with her parents are mysterious, but we eventually find out the fate of her mother and father. Hank sends several autographed pictures, and Tate eventually gets to see him perform.
Strengths: I liked how several historical occurrences were woven into the story, and the details of daily life are quite good.
Weaknesses: Like many younger MG books, this one is more anecdotal than plot driven. This leads students in middle school to claim that "nothing happens". While the mystery involving Tate's mother drives the story a bit, I would have liked more of a focus for forward development and less atmosphere.
What I really think: Way too sad. Unnecessary to kill the character who dies. It's almost an afterthought, and brings down an otherwise serviceable book. I was contemplating buying it because it is a good historical novel, but now I think I'll pass.

Cody and the Fountain of Happiness

Sprinstubb, Tricia. Cody and the Fountain of Happiness
April 14th 2015 by Candlewick Press
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Cody is ready to enjoy summer even though her mother is up for a promotion as head of footwear and works long hours, and her father is a long distance trucker and not home all that often. She gets to stay with her older brother, Wyatt, who is pretty nice as far as older brothers go. She also meets Spencer, who has come to stay with his grandmother, when his cat Mew Mew runs away. Cody is not looking forward to going to summer camp, so is glad when it is canceled, but she has to have a babysitter when Wyatt goes to a science camp. Her sitter turns out to be the sparkly Payton Underwood on whom her brother is crushing! Cody tells Spencer that she will hypnotize Mew Mew so he won't run away again, but the cat does take off and is lost, but luckily Cody finds him in her back yard. Her mother is a bit stressed and beset by the "whim whams" on occasion, but Cody has a strong family, good friends, and is generally a happy and well adjusted little girl.
Strengths: The had a very B is for Betsy vibe to it, with the simple text and cute pictures, and I can see it being very popular with emergent readers. I would almost classify this as an Early Reader book more than middle grade. Very pleasant and happy book.
Weaknesses: Not a lot happens, and for my demographic, Cody doesn't have as much independence as is usually required. I worried about the mother's stress level-- cradling an ash tray in times of stress seems like a plea for help! Cody doesn't worry about her too much, so I will try not to as well!

McDonald, Megan. Stink Moody in Master of Disaster
10 March 2015, Candlewick Press
Copy from Young Adult  Books Central and reviewed there.

The books in this early reader series featuring characters from the Judy Moody books are set up very much like I Can Read Books. Each two page spread includes illustrations and no more than one page of that devoted to text. This might seem like an odd and picky thing to address, but this is often the "sweet spot" for reluctant or beginning readers.

There are just three chapters in this book, and each one deals with a different situation in Stink's life. As such, there is not a lot of character development, although Stink does learn a lesson about patience when he misses seeing a comet because he is rummaging through a backpack and looking at a book. He also learns that it is more of a threat to his well-being to blow a fuse by using too many appliances in his basement Asteroid Shelter than it is to get hit by an asteroid, and struggles with indecision when naming a star.

The big draw to these early readers is the humor with which the characters approach the situations. The illustrations help a lot with this. In bright, clear drawings, Stink is shown with his tinfoil cape, camping in the backyard, or just working at the kitchen table. The bright colors and vivid expressions on the characters' faces give struggling reads clues as to what is being said in the text. Since illustrations appear on every page, I can see prereaders "telling" these stories to caregivers using the pictures, since there are enough details for children to use to pull information from them.

While the market for these is clearly emerging readers, I have found these books to be just right for some of my 6th grade students who are struggling with reading. Again, the balance between pictures and words is crucial, the large print is helpful, and the humor makes this a book that even older children can enjoy.

Guy Friday- Big Game

Smith, Dan. Big Game
24 February 2015 by Chicken House Ltd
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central and Reviewed there

Oskari lives in a small town in Finland where boys are sent on a trial on the eve of their 13th birthdays. They are sent into the wilderness with an antique bow, and whatever game they manage to bring home presages what their future will be. Oskari's father was an accomplished hunter, but Oskari himself is so weak he couldn't even draw the boy. Nonetheless, he is taken out into the wilderness with his bow and an ATV. He manages to damage the SUV and injure himself right away, but he also comes across an odd, metal pod in the forest that ends up containing the president of the US! Bill (as he wants to be called) thinks that something must have malfunctioned and that his people will be there for him soon, but Oskari has seen men talking and knows that the president is in grave danger due to a plot by members of his secret service. The two must survive not only the elements, but the men who are attempting to kill them. Oskari obviously will not be able to complete his mission, but is the President a worthy "trophy" to bring home?
Strengths: Outdoor adventure/survival books are perennially popular, and this has the added bonus of snow and an exotic, wintery setting. The president is just clueless enough that Oskari looks like an expert, and the two work well together. The plot against the president is well explained and plausible. Oskari's father's lack of faith in his abilities seemed realistic as well.
Weaknesses: Only available in paperback. Since there is a movie coming out, I know a lot of my students will be asking for this, so I wish it came in a hardcover edition.
What I really think: While there were some things that had me scratching my head (really? They would send a small and weak boy out into the wilderness to fight wild animals with a bow he can't draw?), this was an interesting enough adventure story. Saving the president? Why not.

The Detective's Assistant

Hannigan, Kate. The Detective's Assistant
April 7th 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

E ARC: Edelweiss Above the Treeline; Book: Young Adult Books Central

When young Cornelia loses her last immediate relative in New York, a local minister hunts down her deceased uncle's wife, Aunt Kitty, who is working for Pinkerton's Detective Agency in Chicago. Kitty (who now goes by Kate) is not happy to see Cornie, whom she rechristens Nell, because she reminds the aunt strongly of Nell's father, who was responsible for the death of his brother, her husband. Since Kate can't find any organization who will take Nell, she lets her move in to her room in a boarding house. Nell manages to keep the landlady happy by helping out with shopping and other chores. She also manages to get sucked in to many of Kate's cases, where she makes herself invaluable, playing with the children of people Kate needs to interview, and keeping her eyes and ears open for information. The two manage to break several cases, and get to travel to Philadelphia and other cities, much to Nell's delight. They meet the rich and famous, including a young presidential candidate named Abraham Lincoln. Nell continues to correspond with her friend, Jemma, whose family had to leave quickly for Canada. They were free African Americans, but ran the risk of being shipped to the south. Jemma's father is still in the States, and when Nell hunts him down, she learns some secrets about her own family that make Kate feel a little more warmly towards her.

While Nell starts the book as a rough and tumble, rather unlikeable character, we quickly see that she has had to raise herself, and her built-in survival defenses serve her well while Kate is trying to find somewhere else to put her. Once Nell knows that Kate won’t abandon her as well, she is able to become more pleasant, and show her intelligent, enterprising side. Kate also thaws a bit, and both evidence the difficulties that women must have had at the time when left to care for themselves, which was not an easy task. The incidental characters in the various mysteries are amusing and add a lot of flavor to the stories.

While much of the book revolves around the cases that Kate takes on, the biggest mystery is the one that Nell has to solve concerning her friend Jemma and her family. This was a fascinating treatment of the issue of slavery, and my only objection was that the story seemed somewhat skimmed over because of the in-depth descriptions of the cases. I wanted to know a lot more about Jemma, and would have liked to see her in more than Nell’s letters.

Hannigan has clearly done her research, and uncovered a fascinating woman in Kate Warne, who really did work for Pinkerton. Nell is a fabrication, but a good way to interest younger readers in this period of time. The two characters are an excellent way to meet the rich and famous of the day, and the details of ordinary life are finely drawn. The fact that there is plenty of action and adventure will lure readers who are not usually drawn to historical fiction, and delight those who are. Fans of Chibbaro’s historical mystery Deadly, as well as readers who enjoy action-packed mysteries such as Beil’s Red Blazer Girls or Runholt’s Kari and Lucas books, will find plenty of clues to follow and mysteries to solve with Kate and Nell.

The 150^th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination will no doubt be covered in a wide variety of books for young people about this famous president’s career, but this engaging mystery offers a refreshing perspective of the time period before the Civil War. Not a lot is written about Pinkerton’s Detective Agency, and the fact that Hannigan introduces readers to this unique business with a healthy dose of girl power makes this a fresh and engaging historical novel.

Zink, Michele. Lies I Told
April 7th 2015 by HarperTeen
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Grace spent years in foster care, so she is glad to be in a family now, even if her parents are hardened criminals who are constantly running a scam. In their newest one, the family has moved to a swanky California neighborhood and want to steal gold bars from a wealthy but mentally unstable man. To accomplish this, Grace is supposed to befriend the son and get him to divulge passwords, locations of the gold, etc. Her brother is supposed to do the same, and the parents cozy up to the parents and case the joint. Grace's brother Parker is done with being a criminal, and Grace falls for the son, so is conflicted about the whole job.
Strengths: Crime novels are interesting, especially when they involve romance and a wealthy lifestyle. This was certainly well written and fun to read.
Weaknesses: More of a YA novel, this had a lot of drinking and swearing.
What I really think: Voting with my dollars against random f-bombs and NOT BUYING THIS. Didn't appreciate the drinking, but not having a book in my library that has vulgar language. Nope.

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Wednesday

Volponi, Paul. Game Seven
March 10th 2015 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Julio's father defected from Cuba when he was playing a game in the US. Julio was devastated by the loss of his father, but still loves baseball and would like to get onto the junior Nacional team. Everyone knows about his father, though, and thinks that Julio is a bad flight risk, so the manager doesn't particularly want to take him on. With the help of his uncle, he and his cousin escape to Florida in a reworked vintage car. Will Julio's father come to his aid in the US? When Julio is on his journey, his father is pitching a crucial game for the Marlins. How will the father and son baseball players rekindle their relationship in the US?
Strengths: Volponi writes a great sports book that also includes social issues. Such a great mix for my avid sports readers. The game going on as Julio and his relatives are crossing the waters to the US is a spellbinding touch, and the views of modern day Cuba are really interesting.
Weaknesses: It helps to have background information on the Cuban situation, and I imagine many of my readers lack this, so a little more description of the political climate would have been helpful, but not strictly necessary.
What I really thought: I was so glad that this was middle school appropriate and will definitely buy a copy. Volponi can be a bit... looser with language than I like, so I always read his books before buying them.


Remember, #WeNeedDiverseBooks doesn't just cover race, religion or sexuality. It also covers a variety of lifestyles, mental conditions, and people who are just... different.


Hubbard, Kirsten. Watch the Sky.
7 April 2015, Disney-Hyperion
E ARC from Netgalley.com

Jory's mother suffers from migraines and is possibly agoraphobic. She met Caleb, Jory's stepdad, when he helped her when she was waitressing. A former military man, Caleb is controlling and convinced that something like an alien invasion mya take place, and he sees signs everywhere. He is also very paranoid about the govenment and anyone in authority. Even so, the family took in Kit, a girl with selective mutism that Jory found eating pumpkins out of the family's field. Add to the mix Jory's toddler half brother, and it's an interesting group. Jory has been homeschooled, but to deflect the interest of the government, he is sent to public school, where he enjoys being able to express himself a little. He even makes friends with Alice, and is intrigued by her easy going family life. When Caleb starts digging a pit in the canyon in preparation for whatever event he is fearing, Caleb gets little sleep and starts to fall behind in school. His teacher notices and calls home, bringing down Caleb's wrath. Things go from bad to worse. Highlight if you want spoilers: Kit meets Alice's mother, who calls children's services because Kit seems ill and Jory has indicated she isn't getting medical treatment; when they show up at the house, Caleb turns her over to them claiming they JUST found her, even though she had been there for years. The family heads down to the canyon; everyone starts to realize that Caleb is really bat shit crazy unbalanced, and he ends up pulling a wall of rocks down on himself, leaving the family to survive without him. 
Strengths: Girls who like problem novels may like this one. Jory is not quite abused, but certainly not cared for well. Survivalists might like this because of Caleb's preparation. Does cover possible mental illness, although perhaps not in a constructive way.
Weaknesses: Really not sure who the audience for this is. Honestly, I just read it because it is realiztic fiction and might be nominated for the Cybils next year. I like this author's Ripple and You Wish, but this...
What I really think: Interesting, but sad, and offers no hope of redemption for anyone. Will probably not purchase, although I like this author. 

Don't Stay Up Late

Stine, R.L. Don't Stay Up Late
April 7th 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin
E ARC from Netgalley.com and Young Adult Books Central

Lisa is a rebellious teenager who acts out and disobeys her parents… until her bad behavior lead to a car crash that kills her father. Lisa and her mother are injured, but Lisa's injuries seem to be more psychological. She hallucinates quite a bit-- seeing her dead father, her missing dog, and other odd things. She sees a therapist, who suggests that Lisa would benefit from constructive work. The therapist knows a woman who is looking for a sitter for her son, so Lisa ends up babysitting Brenda's son, Harry, at their house on Fear Street. Harry is a delightful child, but Brenda cautions Lisa that he should not be allowed to stay up late. Lisa hallucinates while watching Harry, thinking that she is seeing a creature in the house, and later other teenagers turn up dead. Lisa's boyfriend Nate tries to help Lisa, but it turns out that he has known Brenda and Harry for longer than he will admit. In the end, there are deep secrets behind Brenda's family life that are not unusual for someone who lives on Fear Street.

While Lisa slowly figures out her own mental state, she is also able to throw some light on the other characters around her, who are definitely not what they seem. The fact that her friends have hidden their pasts from her makes the situation more sinister and serious.

Certainly, readers who read the Goosebumps books when younger will be attracted to more titles by Stine, but the Fear Street books are a good choice for any teen who likes paranormal books, ghost stories, or even reluctant readers who would rather be watching a horror movie or CSI-type television show. As a librarian, I am beyond thrilled to see these books published in hard cover format, since I still have prebound copies of the original, early 1990’s Fear Street books in my library, and they are crumbling like a vampire caught out in the morning sun!

Stine is the master of the unbelievable scary situation. Or is what he describes really unbelievable? For readers new to the Fear Street sagas, Stine gives a bit of background information on why there seem to be so many odd occurrences on that street, but the new books (this one and Party Games) can be understood on their own. In Don’t Stay Up Late, Lisa is caught up in a variety of horrible things going on around her, but she is powerless to do anything about them until she can figure out why she has so many hallucinations. We know that the two things are connected, but she doesn’t, giving an eerie thrilling quality to every murder and monster sighting. If the monsters aren’t real, are the murders? But if the murders are real… are the monsters?

Strengths: Stine in hardback. Sort of a can't lose book. I saw the "twist" coming miles away, and students might as well, but the majority of the scary parts are unlikely, which is what draws readers to Stine. Will definitely purchase.
Weaknesses: Killing Lisa's father was unnecessary and seemed cruel. Again, plot fairly transparent. Not the best quality of writing I have ever read.
What I really think: Meh. Not my sort of thing, and more painful than other Stine books, but I'll buy it for that small but loyal section of readers who make me keep almost two shelves full of rotting, twenty year old paperbacks because they love Stine so much!

Harkey, Faith. Genuine Sweet
April 7th 2015 by Clarion Books
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Genuine lives in the very small town of Sass, Georgia, with her grandmother and her drunken father, Dangerous Dale, who is always out of work. Genuine's grandmother informs her that she is a wish fetcher, and shows her how to get magic from the stars to grant people's wishes. Genuine doesn't know enough not to go telling people; it's not forbidden, but frowned upon. She tells Jura, who is from the big city but would like her mother to get a job in Sass. Genuine bakes magical biscuits, and Jura's mother gets a job fixing cars in town. Realizing that she should be able to get some benefit out of the wishes for herself, Genuine starts trying to trade wishes for things she and her grandmother badly need, like food. This works out fairly well until the sister of a woman Genuine's mother didn't save from dying stirs up trouble for Gen. While some people in the town turn against her, others don't, and with Jura's help, Gen tries to spread her wishes internationally, even curing hunger in Africa. There are some things that Gen can't change, however, and when tragedy hits home, she is glad to have the support of those around her.
Strengths: This was a surprisingly readable book with fairly solid magical realism. We don't have any explanation for why Genuine and her family are wish fetchers until the very end of the book, but the suspension of disbelief is not that hard. There are some good characters, and the plot moved quickly even though there wasn't much action.
Weaknesses: This is VERY quirky/Southern, and I'm not sure how my readers would react to that. I'm sure that people who liked A Snicker of Magic will like this one a lot. (Including Melissa over at Book Nut, who likes quirky Southern a WHOLE lot more than I do.)
What I really think: Probably won't buy this for my school library, because I don't think my readers will pick it up. I can see this being very successful in libraries with a lot of requests for magical realism, however.

MMGM- Willie and Me

Last week, Picky Reader (who is a junior in high school now) and I went to Universal Orlando to see Harry Potter World. It was quite the trip, as we are intrepid, devoted travelers who got on the first hotel shuttle to the park, might have done a bit of light jogging to be at the beginning of lines, and got into Diagon Alley at 7 a.m. and did not go on the Gringotts ride-- we wandered about while everyone else was in line, so got very rare uncrowded moments at Olivander's, where I might have talked to a shop assistant about getting my wand tuned up, and at Madame Malkin's, where both of us tried on robes. That said, we are lousy at taking pictures, so this one of me impersonating Barney at the VERY deserted Barney World is one of the few. More travel tips later this week. 

Back at work, putting together stuff for my OTES evaluation. A bit of a challenge, but okay.

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe and What Are You Reading? day at Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. It's also Nonfiction Monday.

And it's Opening Day for Major League Baseball! What better way to celebrate than to say goodbye to a series that has been around since Honus and Me, published in 1996. Wow. Almost 20 years! I love these, and they have a loyal following, but twelve books is a lot, even if they're short. This won't stop a few of my baseball fans from having a misty moment in the stacks over this one!


Gutman, Dan. Willie and Me
March 3rd 2015 by HarperCollins
**SPOILER ALERT** Quit reading if you don't want to know!

Stosh's father takes him to a sports memorabilia event, since his father is thinking of getting into the business. The two buy a plaque that has cards for Ralph Branca and Bobby Thomson on it, since the two were involved in "The Shot Heard 'Round the World", when Thomson got a hit off of Branca and the Giants won the National Pennant in 1951 . The two men didn't have very interesting careers otherwise and would have sunk into obscurity otherwise. When Branca travels through time (thanks to a hint from a teammate Stosh had visited), he asks Stosh to come back and undo the events of the day so that he wouldn't be forever considered the guy who lost the game. Stosh is unsure about whether messing about in the past is a good idea, even though he had taken his coach, Flip, back to the past where he had met his wife Laverne. It doesn't help that Flip has fallen at practice and broken a hip, and his chances are not good. When Stosh goes to the past, just to watch the game, mid you, he finds out that Leo Durocher is actually cheating, and Branca doesn't deserve what happens. Of course, Bobby Thomson also appeals to Stosh, since that hit was the only highlight of his career. When Stosh decides that Branca deserves a break because of the cheating, he finds out that Willie Mays, who was on deck when the game concluded, drops out of baseball after his first and only season because he didn't do well when he had to hit. Stosh can't see condemning Mays to lifelong obscurity working in a laundry (and dying in 1970), so figures out a way that the Branca/Thomson interchange will still go as planned. (Highlight for spoiler) When Flip passes away, Stosh decides he is done messing with the past, and even though Flip leaves him with a lot of cards, he is content to stay in the present. 
Strengths: The history in these is always good, and the vehicle for time travel great. Stosh's previous journeys being remembered is a very fun part of this. I love that the books are short and accessible to elementary and middle grade students. Hope these stay in print for a long time.
Weaknesses: Stosh's great uncle is 100? Seems like a problem with ages, but okay.
What I really think: While I will miss these, I am always happy to see something new by Gutman and can't wait to see what wonderful thing he will write next!

The Tapper Twins Go to War

Rodkey, Geoff. The Tapper Twins Go to War
April 7th 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline

Claudia and Reese live in New York City with their busy and over achieving parents, watched over by Ashley, a nanny who lets them watch inappropriate tv shows. They go to a private school, and when Reese embarrasses Claudia at lunch in front of "fembots" and a boy she likes, the war is on. Not wanting to get stuck with the nickname "Princess Farts-a-lot" after her brother's assertion that she was responsible for a particularly odoriferous omission, Claudia first hides a fish in her brother's back pack, which causes all manner of problems. Things escalate from there, and Claudia keeps track of all of the texts, pictures and "interviews" that she compiles to form the story. Eventually, the war escalates and takes over Reese's online gaming universe.
Strengths: Notebook novel. Fish in backpacks. Sibling war. All good.
Weaknesses: Privileged NYC setting might be hard for a lot of students to understand.
What I really think: If students read these in moderation, they'd be great. However, since some students ONLY want to read books with pictures, this sort of book irritates me. Not great literature, but not horrible, either.

Old School Saturday-- The Little White Horse

I gave a copy of the School Library Journal list of the 100 Best Children's Novels that Betsy Bird helped compile back in 2010 to one of my students, and while glancing over it, realized that while I really thought I had read all of the books, I had no memory of these two. Had to read them!

Goudge, Elizabeth. The Little White Horse
University of London Press, 1946

Maria Merryweather is an orphan, since her mother died when she was small and her soldier father recently passed away, leaving her with tremendous debts, but luckily with governess Miss Heliotrope, dog Wiggins, and a great uncle who can take her in. The carriage is a horrible shambles, but Maria takes an instant liking to Moonacre Manor and Sir Benjamin. Also amusing are Wrolfe, a lion like dog (Illustrations show a lion; I thought it was a dog?); Digweed, the man of all work, and the fractious cook and housekeeper, Marmaduke Scarlet, who is a dwarf. In the charming village, Maria meets Old Parson, Robin and Loveday Minette, and the other rosy-cheeked and cheerful inhabitants. She learns some secrets about her family, and realizes that they are partly to blame for the Black Men who inhabit the area and terrorize the residents. In general, though, life is mostly fairy cakes and cream teas, as well as enchanted animals, and Maria is able to return part of the manor to God and soothe the difficulties between the village and the Black Men.
Strengths: This was rather like Louisa May Alcott meeting Tolkien. The descriptions of clothing and meals, as well as the enchanted animals and family retainers made this rather delightful for me. It has been mentioned as a favorite fantasy book of many bloggers, and I can see why.
Weaknesses: A bit like gargling with honey. I know I've been saying that I want happier books, but Maria was so dang happy all the time that I want whatever she's on. It also made me positively itchy when Robin threw a fit when she said that she would marry a boy from London-- he wanted to marry her! And they eventually do get married, after everybody else in the book seems to. And she's 14. And Robin is a cousin of sorts. Things were different in the 1840s, I guess.
What I really think: Interesting to read, and I did enjoy it despite my snarkiness, but I wouldn't buy a copy for a school library.

DiCamillio, Kate. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
February 14th 2006 by Candlewick Press

Edward Tulane is the large china rabbit owned by Abilene. He has a custom wardrobe made by her grandmother, Peregrina, and waits for Abilene to come home each day, but he doesn't love anyone but himself. When the Tulanes travel from England to the US on a ship, Edward gets thrown overboard by some bad boys and ends up on the bottom of the ocean for almost a year. Relieved to be rescued, be ends up with a fisherman's family, then with a hobo and his dog, and finally Bryce and his very ill sister. When Edward is badly damanged, Bryce takes him to a repair shop, but the owner will only repair Edward if he can own him. Edward reflects back and realizes that he does love all of the people who have taken care of him, and at the end is reunited with one figure from his past after the dolls advise him to "open his heart".
Strengths: Moralistic tale with pretty pictures and a sentient toy. Good for fans of Rumer Godden, and for teachers who want read alouds.
Weaknesses: Rather on the sappy side-- we know that Edward will eventually learn to love.
What I really think: There are just some authors whose work doesn't jive with what I like to read, and DiCamillo is one. This seems too young for my students, and I can see why teachers like it, but it just wasn't for me.

Saturday Morning ART

Pitamic, Maja and Laidlaw, Jill
Modern Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On Projects Inspired by Artists from Monet to Banksy
April 1st 2015 by Chicago Review Press
Copy received from the Publisher

In this beautifully printed and ambitious book, different types and styles of art are not only discussed, but they are dissected as to technique, and directions are given to recreate the style of the art and to reinterpret the themes of it. For example, when discussing Munch's The Scream, we are told the back story behind its creation, shown how different artistic techniques were used to manipulate our emotions, and given two different projects that recreate the style of the painting or show the emotions behind it. The artist, year, and country of origin are given for each work of art, and each project includes a list of supplies that will be needed. Tips for working with certain equipment or materials are included, and there are short biographies of the artists featured in the back of the book.
Strengths: This was laid out in a really coherent way, with complete lists of supplies, descriptions of the art and what the pieces are supposed to communicate. Clearly, there is a lot of scholarship behind this book. For parents who are upset there is less art taught in the schools, this would be a great supplement to home instruction.
Weaknesses: The print is on the very small side-- I might have preferred a slightly larger format. This is also one of the rare instances when a spiral binding might be good, since the high quality paper doesn't lend itself to the book being kept open for reference while the art is being done.
What I really thought: This is great for my school's art teacher-- I really think he may pull some of these projects for his classes. If I had to do this with children, however, I would be a very unhappy person! I don't have much patience for crafts that aren't useful in some way, which is why the only "art" I ever do is knitting and quilting!

Tides of War: Honor Bound

London, C. Alexander. Honor Bound (Tides of War #2, but stands alone)
January 6th 2015 by Scholastic Paperbacks

Felix is in charge of Sly, a sea lion. His job is to teach Sly to retrieve equipment, tag enemy ships with trackers, and to keep Sly safe. This is difficult when the SEAL unit with which Felix works gets called to help a Navy ship that is attacked by Somalian pirates, lead by the evil Surfer Boy. Felix and his unit have to try to get back some captives, and take out Surfer Boy so that his reign of terror ends. Things get complicated, and lots of people are injured. Sly does his job, but also suffers some injuries, leading Felix to believe that the Marine Animal program might not be in the best interest of the animals. Notes at the end discuss the reality of a similar program.
Strengths: Lots of good details about fighting, and the information on Somalian pirates is great. The only other book I can think of that addresses this recent concern is a Carl Bowen Black Ops title.
Weaknesses: This wasn't nearly as good as Blood in the Water. In that book, Cory has some back story and some things that make him a more realized character-- aside from his concerns about Sly, Felix was pretty flat and uninteresting. I do like London's Dog Tag books-- this one just wasn't my favorite.
What I really thought: This is still a great book for boys who like to read about military action. I have several waiting for this.



Ford, John C. The Cipher.
February 24th 2015 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Smiles is the son of the founder of Alyce Systems, a computer security company that has earned his father wealth and renown. It's been a bad year, though: his step mother was killed in a car accident, Smiles' father has brain cancer and is slowly fading away, Smiles has flunked out of high school and is trying to get his GED, and his father doesn't intend to leave him very much money. His girlfriend Melanie thinks they need "a break". Smiles neighbor, the quirky and perhaps autism spectrum affected Ben, is a brilliant 16-year-old student at MIT. Smiles occasionally drives him places, and when he takes him to a computer conference, several things happen. Smiles sees his estranged mother, Alice; he meets a girl to whom he is attracted but who has a boyfriend in tow; Ben makes an astonishing discovery that will revolutionize the computer security field. Smiles, always willing to get something for nothing, offers to help Ben sell this information to the government, but Melanie (whose father works for Alyce Systems) uncovers some unsettling information about the past dealings of Alyce Systems as well as interesting information about Ben. Will Smiles end up losing more than he gains, in just about every aspect of his life?
Strengths: This was a well crafted mystery with some good math and computer information, an intriguing back story, and lots of twists. It moved along fairly nicely, and the characters were well developed.
Weaknesses: We start with a suicide, go on to Smiles' father in the hospital, and nothing much really happens until 100 pages in. This is the biggest complaint students have when the check books out and bring them back later in the day saying "I just couldn't get into it." Too sad and too slow for most middle school students.
What I really think: A fantastic book for high school students, but too sad, moody, and slow paced for my middle school students, who like a bit more goofiness, as well as explosions, with their mysteries.

Mystery Thursday- Some Kind of Magic

Fogelin, Adrian. Some Kind of Magic
April 1st 2015 by Peachtree Publishers
ARC received from the publisher

Ben and his young brother Cody, whose birthday is in a week, wonder what happened to their Uncle Paul, who is supposedly traveling but hasn't been heard from in years. Cody finds a hat that belonged to his uncle, and decides it has magic, so he wears it around during this first week of summer break. Along with his friends Justin, who plays the piano, and Jemmie and Cass, Ben is looking forward to a relaxing summer in Tallahassee, even though he has to watch Cody. The group finds an abandoned shed in the woods, and clean it up for a hideout. They find Paul's comic books, a half made dress, and other things that make them investigate the area. It turns out that a family perished in a fire there about 2000, with the exception of a teenage son-- who was Paul's best friend. Paul dated the girl who died, which explains his reluctance to return to town. Complicating Cody's birthday celebration, there is drama that unfolds, a little romance, an unfortunate accident, and family secrets that are revealed.
Strengths: Nice cast of diverse characters, very evocative setting (even though it's -10 here, I could feel the heat and humidity!), and a decent mystery. Paul's situation is sad, but the kids are fairly upbeat.
Weaknesses: The timeline seemed wrong to me. Paul was a teenager in 2000, but he had a fedora? (Which is NOT magic, by the way.) A girl is sewing a dress in 2000? It seemed like the house fire was meant to take place in the 1960s or 70s, but that didn't work with the age of the uncle. This will not distract the target demographic, but it distracted me.
What I really think: This had an oddly detached style of older books that made it hard for me to feel invested in the characters.

Child, Lauren. Ruby Redfort Catch Your Death (Book #3)
February 10th 2015 by Candlewick Press
Copy received from Young Adult Books Central and reviewed there.

Ruby is still working hard to train for Spectrum, this time taking wilderness survival training. She doesn't do especially well, and is worried that she will be let go, but there are several mysteries going on in Twinford. Jewelry is missing, and odd wild animals are seen around town. When Ms. Swann, a famous perfume maker, has a launch at the Twinsford department store, Ruby is assigned to go and watch for criminal activity, and just finds odd things. With her friend Clancy Crew, she hunts down a man who lives just outside town, who used to have a lot of exotic animals, incuding the cyan wolf, which is supposedly extinct, but whose musk is absolutely intoxicating. Ruby and Clancy find (to their peril) that there are others who want this wolf and will go to any extent to get their hands on it.
Strengths: This had very interesting descriptions of animals, some of which exist, and some which don't. The style, which included cryptic scenes with several other shadowy characters in between Ruby's adventures, made this seem very mysterious indeed. Ruby's parents have their own interests, so are around but not overly concerned with what she does, although she also has beloved housekeeper Mrs. Digby to keep her fed, watched over, and happy. Clancy is a good sidekick, and the agents at Spectrum run the gamut from supportive to bound to get Ruby kicked out. A fourth book has been published in the UK already.
Weaknesses: Still not sure on the time frame of this one. One character is described as being a "key player back in the 1920s", but he's 88, which would put his birth at 1927 if this were contemporary.
What I really think: Interesting, but awfully long (500+ pages) for middle grade. I only have them in my library because I keep getting free copies. Not many readers pick them up.

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Wednesday

Saeed, Aesha. Written in the Stars
March 24th 2015 by Nancy Paulsen Books

Naila knows that her parents won't be happy with her if they find out she's dating Saif. Not only has his sister brought disgrace to his Pakistani family, but Naila's traditional parents have forbidden her to date because they intend to arrange her marriage. She's counting down the days until she can go to college and live her own life, but makes the mistake of going to Prom with Saif. Her parents find out, and before she can blink, they are all visiting family in Pakistan. She enjoys it at first, especially getting to know her cousin Selma, but things soon take an ugly turn, and Naila realizes that her parents have not only arranged a marriage for her but set a date. She tries to escape, but they have taken her documentation, and bring her back after her one attempt. Even though Amin is a good guy, being forced into a marriage she doesn't want makes Naila understandably angry, but given her circumstances, there are few ways out. Can her cousin and Saif helf her escape?

Rich with cultural details, and brilliantly straddling the expectations of both US and Pakistani cultures, Written in the Stars offers a gripping portrayal of a girl who wants to make her parents happy, but realizes that this will not be possible, given their cultural differences. While Naila's parents, as well as her in-laws, are unwavering in their beliefs, we see Naila wondering what the best options are when her circumstances become dire. Is the best course of action to give up? Can she learn to be happy in a situation she can't control? Amin is also sympathetic as the husband who has great hopes that Naila will love him, but who eventually realizes that his family lied to him. However, he remains invested in the traditional culture not necessarily because he believes in it, but because he has seen few other otpions.

This is a slow paced  novel, mirroring Naila's isolation and waiting. We see few glimpses of the world outside of the homes, because Naila is not afforded them, although the descriptions of the life inside the homes, from the food to the clothing to the awkward teas with prospective bridegrooms, are vibrant and detailed. The few moments when she does make attempts to flee punctuate the novel brilliantly, and make her continued captivity all the more poignant. The afterword assures us that she eventually is able to better her situation, and the notes from the author help to understand why she has written such a polemic against arranged marriages, even though she herself is in a happy one.

While readers who want happier stories about arranged marriages might prefer the ambiguity of Kavita Daswani's Lovetorn, Written in the Stars will appeal to those who like their romances with a side of problems. There are some details of Naila's married life that are disturbing, but they are described in such a way that a reader without prior knowledge will not grasp the full impact of what is occurring, so this would be appropriate for 6th graders and older.


Hurwitz, Laura. Disappear Home
March 1st 2015 by Albert Whitman & Company

Shoshanna Ebersole has lived with her mother, Ella, and her sister, Mara, at the Sweet Earth Farm commune for years, but the three finally escape when Shoshanna's father, the drug addicted Adam, is overheard offering her to one of the other commune members as a "gift". Taking the commune's run down station wagon and $10 for gas, the three make it to San Francisco and find Judith still living in a house (pad) where the family once crashed. She's fed up with the drug addiction and unseemly types that have moved into Haight-Ashbury by 1972, and wants to move to Half Moon Bay, where some friends run a store that sells hippie artwork. When visiting, the Ebersole's car is identified as stolen and involved in a few crimes, including a hit-and-run. Luckily, the store owners know a farmer, Avery, who needs help and they move into Avery's barn and help him out. It's good that Judith is with the girls, because Ella is depressed and ill. When she becomes unable to care for her daughters, what will happen to the?
Strengths: This reminded me a bit of Norma Klein's Sunshine, and I think it is probably the best coverage I've seen of commune life at the time. I'm sure that there were (and are) some very lovely communes, but this one showed the negative side of communal living while still having supportive, helpful people around for the girls. This will be great for the 1960s/70s unit my 7th grade teachers do.
Weaknesses: There's a lot of drug use mentioned, and there is more sex alluded to (including a description of what 5 year old Mara saw, which is... borderline for me), but that was a big part of the hippie culture. Since it's not overly descriptive, I think I'll buy this. Very sad, but hopeful.
What I really think: This will circulate with girls who want books about abuse as well as for the historical unit, so I'll be very pleased to get a copy of this.