Missing Parents

Townsend, Wendy. The Sundown Rule.
Nominated for the Cybils by Nancy Hogan.

Louise and her father live an idyllic life in a small house in the woods, where Louise is free to roam and commune with animals. The only rule-- anything she has caught needs to be released at sundown. When her father gets a job in Brazil, she is sent to live with an aunt and uncle. She misses her cat, who has been left at the house, but soon makes a friend and manages to find animals to tend even in the suburbs. After the death of her cat, her father's attack of appendicitis, and the death of a crow at the hands of a friend's father, she relies on the help of her family and friends (as well as a new pet tortoise) to get over all the bad things life has thrown her way.
Strengths: Lots of good details about working with wild animals-- Louise even stitches up a bird's leg!
Weaknesses: A very, very sad book.

Steinhoefel, Andreas. The Spaghetti Detectives.
Nominated for the Cybils by Jen Robinson.

Rico lives with his mother, who works in a nightclub. She refers to Rico as her "proddity" because he has trouble with math and paying attention, but is good at other things. He fancies himself a detective, and frequently pays visits on the other residents of his apartment building. He befriends Oscar, who loves music and wears a helmet to protect his special brain. Rico's uncle is dying of cancer, so his mother leaves him alone to go visit him. During this time, Oscar goes missing, and Rico suspects the Aldi kidnapper (aka Mr. 2000, because he demands only 2000 Euros for the children he kidnaps, under $3000), Rico checks out everyone in the area to try to save his friend.
Strengths: Fairly interesting mystery, and the German setting (and mention of Aldi!) is new.
Weaknesses: This looks like a lighthearted book for younger readers, but is filled with mature content-- the mother's appearance, the fact that she leaves him alone, the Aldi kidnapper threatening to return body parts of his victims to their families-- maybe this is something that European children revel in, but this is definitely not for elementary students.

Acampora, Paul. Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face.
Nominated for the Cybils by nanmarino.

Zachary and his father live in a rusted out trailed in Colorado, but after Zachary's mother runs off to work on a cruise ship, the two decide to move to Connecticut, where Zachary's father gets a job as the local policeman. The Spinellis are new neighbors, and Zachary soon takes to Rachel, even though she is harboring a lot of anger about her developmentally delayed brother Teddy and has a habit of getting into fights. There are many interesting people in town-- Rachel's family runs a diner in town (where her mother's ashes are kept in a coffee pot), there is a local ice cream parlor run by a Polish couple, and the mayor and teachers are friendly and accessible. Teddy, Rachel and Zachary spend the summer hanging out together and getting into various scrapes. When Zachary's mother wants to come back to visit, Zachary is enjoying his life so much that he doesn't want to see her.
Strengths: Nice humorous book with a romantic interest. Small size and funny cover will encourage boys to pick this up.
Weaknesses: There is great character development, but the plot suffers because of it. At first, the book is one introduction to a new character after another.

Avi. City of Orphans.
Nominated for the Cybils only in my mind!

In 1893 New York, Maks works as a newsboy. When the Plug Ugly gang threatens him, he is saved by the plucky but homeless Willa, whom he takes back to meet his hard working Danish immigrant family. Unfortunately, this is the night that they find his sister Emma has been arrested for stealing a watch from a guest at the Waldorf Hotel, where she works as a maid. Maks sister Agnes is studying but ill with tuberculosis and Agnes and the father are going to lose their jobs when the shoe factory closes down, so Maks and Willa try to find a detective to help them prove Emma's innocence. They find Donck, a former Pinkerton detective also dying of "consumption" who helps Maks get a job at the Waldorf so he can find the watch and the real thief. Willa helps the family out by taking over Maks news job, but the gang continues to threaten the two. Some odd coincidences help the two figure out the real culprit, and the family's fortunes improve.
Strengths: A fast-paced writing style and compelling mystery, combined with a few fun illustrations, make this one historical novel that students won't mind picking up.
Weaknesses: The persistence of teachers to overuse this author's older titles make him a hard sell. This is too bad, since some of his books are really great.

Wallace, Rich. War and Watermelon.
Nominated for the Cybils by Beth Mitcham (pending approval- thank you!)

In the summer of 1969, Brody is dreading junior high while looking forward to playing on the football team. His older brother, Ryan, has just graduated from high school and is stocking shelves at a grocery store, which makes Brody worry that Ryan may soon be drafted. The brothers attend Woodstock, follow the popular rock songs and the Mets baseball season, and try not to have too many generation gap fights with their (shocking!) mother AND father. Brody and his friends also spend a fair amount of time hanging out at the swim club checking out the girls, and the dance there is a highlight of the season. As the summer draws to a close and junior high looms large, Brody realizes that the summer, while busy and filled with some difficult moments, has helped him prepare for his future.
Strengths: Rich Wallace writes fantastic sports fiction, and this book makes it clear that his writing is so good because he remembers clearly what it is like to be a junior high school student. The historical details are spot on in this one, but set against a more interesting story line than a lot of other 1960s books. Boys will pick this one up for the baseball, football and girls and not even care that it is "historical". If books like this won awards, more children would read them! Has a sports book ever won a major award?
Weaknesses: There's almost too much going on, and I wish that Brody had not eaten the chicken salad that had been out all day and missed the moon landing! I would have loved to read Wallace's description of that, although maybe he, too, had some bad chicken salad that day! I barely remember being allowed to stay up to watch that; I had just turned 4!

Still need to nominate for the Cybils?

Ack! I FINALLY found a copy of Rich Wallace's War and Watermelon to read, and it was great! If anyone still needs to nominate for Middle Grade fiction, it involves history, football, baseball AND Woodstock. Another one that was really good was Avi's City of Orphans. Mystery and a historical time period. I was also really excited to see that John Wilson has a new book out about World war I. Any author who firmly believes that all books for boys should start with explosions is number one in my book! It's been nominated already, but there doesn't seem to be a copy anywhere in the state of Ohio. Drat.

Obsessed? Why, no, I wouldn't say that the Cybils books have taken over all of my non school hours at all!

Tuesday

Woods, Brenda. Saint Louis Armstrong Beach.
Nominated for the Cybils by Nancy Paulsen.

Saint (whose name forms the title) is happy in his life in New Orleans in the summer of 2005. He is an avid clarinet player saving for a new clarinet, he has a neighborhood dog for whom he cares, and his network of family and neighbors is strong. When hurrican Katrina approaches, his family is late leaving town because of his mother's work in a local hospital, but his family has an evacuation plan. So does Saint, and it includes rescuing Shadow, the dog. When he can't find the dog, he runs off to look for him and also finds that an elderly neighbor, Miz Moran, has stayed behind. As the storm rages and the water rises, Saint helps Miz Moran deal with her health problems and survive. After Miz Moran is evacuated, Saint is taken to the area of the Superdome, where Shadow is instrumental in helping him reunite with his worried family.
Strengths: This is a good story of Katrina, especially the parts of Saint's life before the storm hits. I don't think that students in my area have a good idea of how the culture in that town is different from our Northern one.
Weaknesses: It would have been good to have a bit more action. I am going to look at Hurricane Song (2008) by Paul Volponi, which I had somehow missed.

Hilmo, Tess. With a Name Like Love.
Nominated for the Cybils by Amanda Snow.

Ollie's father is an itinerant preacher in 1957, and his last stop lands the family of five girls in Arkansas. They set up their tent and go around the town passing out flyers. Ollie meets Jimmy Koppel, whose mother has been accused of murdering his father. Ollie quickly learns that Jimmy's mother was abused and probably did not kill anyone, and enlists her family to help her prove this. The locals are not thrilled with this, killing Jimmy's frogs and setting fire to the family's tent, but some are nice. Mrs. Mahoney takes the family in and even offers the father an abandoned church in which to set up a local ministry. The family stays on long than planned, and do help to set things right for Jimmy's family.
Strengths: A little bit of a mystery, and a strong family support system make this fairly interesting.
Weaknesses: Rylant's A Fine White Dust (1986) and Tolan's Save Halloween (1993), the two books with religious themes that came to mind first, have very few circulations in my library. Other libraries might have more call for books on this topic.

Marsden, Carolyn. Starfields.
Nominated for the Cybils by Sarah Wones Tomp.

Rosalba lives in a traditional Mayan community in rural Mexico. When scientists come to the area to investigate why frogs are dying of fungus, she makes friends with the daughter of one of them. Alicia tells Rosalba about the ancient prophecy that the world will end in 2012, and the two believe that this is somehow tied to the death of the frogs. When the construction of a road further endangers the frogs, Rosalba is convinced that it must be stopped. She has been having dreams about a boy from 600 AD who suggests that if she can stop the frogs from dying, she can stop the world from ending. The boy is used in his time by the shaman's to deliver visions after being drugged; he also sees Rosalba in his visions. When Rosalba's visions work their way into her weaving, the elders in her village are alerted to the trouble and attempt to stop the road.
Strengths: Like this author's other works (Take Me With You), this book covers a unique place in the world. Ancient Mayan civilization is part of our 6th grade curriculum.
Weaknesses: I know that differentiating between fantasy and reality is difficult, but this one may come down more heavily on the side of fantasy. If Rosalba had only dreamed about the boy, that would be one thing, but someone the boy dreaming also about her made it seem more like fantasy.

Nonfiction Monday

Brown, Don. America is Under Attack: The Day the Towers Fell.

My daughter was 3 when 9/11 occurred, so when she had to do a project on it for 8th grade language arts, she had no real memory of the event. This slim volume is aimed at children who would not know any of the details. It follows the time line of events from the point of view of several people involved, showing that some people survived but many others did not. Paired with other books, such as Valerie Bodden's The 9/11 Terror Attacks or Mitch Frank's Understanding September 11th, this will be a valuable resource.

Strengths: This was very informative, and presented in a way that would make sense to even younger students. For older students, it gives a quick overview of the main events, which they need for projects such as my daughter did. Will definitely buy this one for the collection. I can see this being used as a read aloud as well.
Weaknesses: The illustrations make this less scary for younger students, but I would have preferred some photographs.

Various Weekend Reads

Howe, James. Addie on the Inside.
Nominated for the Cybils by Tasha Saecker

Companion to The Misfits. Addie doesn't fit the mold in her middle school-- she's outspoken and embraces views others don't necessarily accept, in part due to her family influence, especially that of her grandmother( a former hippie), who is visiting for a length of time. Addie has a boyfriend, but she can't really see why he likes her. Addie's friends are mainly boys, which also causes her some grief. Addie tries to support her friends in the best way she can, even if she gets in trouble for observing a day of silence on behalf of GLSEN, and tries to remain true to her own beliefs even when it is difficult.
Strengths: For a novel in verse (a form which I usually dislike), this is fairly well done. I can see the reasons for using this format, but would have found Addie's story more compelling in prose.
Weaknesses: I cringed when Addie made her life more difficult than it needed to be, but that is a daily occurrence for most middle schoolers, and is therefore true to life.

Schroeder, Lisa. Sprinkles and Secrets.
Nominated for the Cybils by Kristen Harvey

Sophie is thrilled when she gets an audition for a role in a television commercial-- the summer camp has paid off, and maybe she can use the money she earns to get more training. The problem? The role is in a commercial for Beatrice's Brownies, the chain that is threatening the It's Raining Cupcakes shop of her best friend, Isabel. Instead of coming clean to her friend, Sophie lies and says the commercial is for bran cereal, but when Isabel comes back from New York (after winning a baking competition) and finds out, how can Sophie repair their relationship?
Strengths: Cupcakes and acting. The stuff of tween girl fantasies. This was even better than the first book, which has been widely read in my library. Friendship issues are always something girls want to read about, and this was a nice twist.
Weaknesses: A national commercial and winning a baking competition? Stretches the bounds of my credibility, but students shouldn't mind.

Dionne, Erin. Notes from an Accidental Band Geek.
Nominated for the Cybils by Jason Walters

Elsie wants to follow in her father and grandfather's footsteps and become a professional French horn player. In order to do this, she wants to get into the Shining Waters music camp, but because of family scheduling problems, the only music group she can get into her freshman year is marching band. It's bad enough that she has to put down her French horn for the mellophone, but even worse that band keeps her so busy that it is hard to practice for the Shining Waters audition. Elsie feels that her father doesn't believe she is a good player, so their once close relationship is now strained. Once she gets used to the people in the band, Elsie starts to form close relationships with them and to realize that while she is serious about music, she is also enjoying the fun and companionship of marching band.
Strengths: This is a great book for any student wanting the dirt on what marching band is really like. Clearly, Dionne spent a lot of time with one-- the details are tremendous. The light romance is a nice touch as well.
Weaknesses: I wanted to encourage Elsie to find another career choice. Like teaching Latin, I would think that wanting to be a professional musician in today's economy would be a very bad choice!

Haworth, Danette. Me and Jack.
Nominated for the Cybils by Joan Carr.

Joshua is used to moving around for his father's job as an Army recruiter during the height of the Vietnam conflict. When the two get a house away from a base, his father wants Joshua to have a dog. The dog they pick up from the pound is a bit odd, and turns out to be a rare breed. The dog is not terribly well-behaved, and when trash cans are knocked over and other mischief is done, neighbors start to blame Jack. It doesn't help that anti-military feelings in the town are running high after a local boy is MIA. Joshua tries to find out what animal is causing the problems, a task that becomes even more important after a valuable horse is savaged.
Strengths: This was an interesting way to approach the political feelings of this era, and boy-and-dog tales are something we need more of.
Weaknesses: I was distracted by the anachronisms. In the late 60s, dogs would have had dog names-- there would have been lots of people named Jack. At one point, Jack knocks over garbage cans with diapers in them-- disposables were available then, but rather rare. There is also some channel flipping on tv, pizza, and a dollar for a lost tooth. Students will not notice this, but historical fiction, especially when it involves recent history, needs to be accurate.

Atinuke. Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus.

Anna is leaving her close family in Africa to go visit her grandmother in Canada. She is accompanied on the plane by a family friend who helps her understand some of the differences she will face, but when she gets to Canada she is surprised by the cold, the different food, and the fact that her grandmother keeps a dog in the house. The two spend lots of time bonding, and Anna meets another girl who is going to go visit her father in Africa. This is the fourth book in the series, and I would have sworn it was nominated for the Cybils. Maybe it was moved to early chapter books.
Strengths: A good look at another culture in a way that even younger students can understand. Does not favor one culture over another but presents both as equal.
Weaknesses: I fell that I need to read the others in the series to get a good feel for the character's family in Africa.

Carman, Patrick. Floors.

Leo and his father live in the basement of the Whippet Hotel, where they work as janitors and help the quirky residents with the unusual rooms. The owner has gone missing, and boxes start appearing that instruct Leo to investigate certain clues. With the help of Remi and Blop, a robot, (as well as some of the ducks that live in the hotel), Leo works his way through the clues. There are people interested in the property, and someone is sabotaging the hotel, where things are breaking down more quickly than Leo and his father can fix them, so it is important that Leo figure out the mystery of the boxes, and the disappearance of the owner, as quickly as possible.
Strengths: Well written and engaging. Saw this compared to Ellen Raskin and definitely have to agree there. This may appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket as well.
Weaknesses: This must have been moved to middle grade fantasy. It's hard to tell-- aside from the talking robot, it could have been realistic fiction, but it also had a definite Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibe to it.

Priestly, Chris. Mister Creecher.
Billy is a pick pocket who falls on hard times and is rescued by a tall, scary man, Mister Creecher. Creecher takes care of him while he is recuperating from a fever, and helps him gain some economic stability. Billy's job is to follow two men, Frankenstein and Clerval, and find out what they are doing. That's right-- Creecher is Frankenstein's creation, but he has run away. He has a deal with Frankenstein that a companion will be made for him, so follows the scientist to make sure this happens. Along the way, Billy and Creecher spend time in a freak show and help out an old man on his property, where Billy falls in love with a girl. Will the scientist keep his end of the bargain for the sad and lonely monster he has created?
Strengths: Along with Victorian London, Frankenstein seems to be a new trend, and this is an interesting twist on the tale, certainly much more readable for middle school students than Shelley's work.
Weaknesses: I was hoping this would be scarier. The cover is good and spooky, so maybe students will pick it up thinking that it is and gets sucked into the story. I will certainly look for this author's The Dead of Winter.

Also looked at Cohen's Leverage, which looked really good but was more of a high school book about steroids and bullying.

Guy Friday-- Hawaii Guy-O

Salisbury, Graham. Calvin Coconut: Hero of Hawaii
Nominated for the Cybils by Deb Nance

Calvin is helping to prepare for his sister Darci's birthday party, which involves a huge water slide, but the weather is not cooperating. Soon, there is a major tropical storm causing the drainage canal right near Calvin's house to rise alarmingly. When Calvin and his friend Willy are out in the storm, Willy falls into the canal and gets swept out to sea, leading to a very suspenseful rescue. Book five in this series.
Strengths: I can see younger students really enjoying Calvin's family and his adventures. The Hawaiian setting is exotic for those of us living in Ohio, and the details about life there are interesting.
Weaknesses: For my collection, this is too young. The cartoonish cover and odd character name make it a less attractive choice for an easy read than Shredderman or Hank Zipzer. This author's Eyes of the Emperor is hugely popular in my school, though-- Salisbury does such good books for older students that I just wished this one would be a bit older.

Klise, Kate. Grounded.
Nominated for the Cybils by Bigfoot.

Daralynn's father, brother and sister are all killed when her father's airplane crashes; the only reason Daralynn was not on the plane was because she had been grounded. Life is difficult for Daralynn and her mother, but slowly improves. Her mother gets a job at a local funeral home doing the hair of the deceased, but when a new crematorium opens up, Daralynn is afraid that fewer people will need her mother's services. With the help of the funeral home, Daralynn tries to start a trend for "living funerals". Daralynn's grandmother starts to slide into senility. Her quirky aunt, who runs a sort of rest home for elderly men, gets involved with the man trying to get the crematorium started, and soon problems emerge that affect the entire town.
Strengths: Imaginative and well-written. Can't think of other books about funeral homes, and students might be interested in the gross details about the crematorium.
Weaknesses: This is set in the early 70s, and it would have helped a lot if a specific date had been mentioned. Instead, there are passing references to an uncle who came home from Vietnam 6 years before, haircuts costing a dollar, Dippity-do, etc. While I could place this in time, students might be confused by these details, because most of the story seems modern.

Vernick, Audrey. Water Balloon.
Nominated for the Cybils by Sally Gee.

Marley's mother and father are separated, and she will be spending the summer with her school teacher father. This was not her plan-- she would much rather hang out with her friends Jane and Leah. Instead, she is babysitting twin girls every day and has no computer at her father's. After a disastrous water balloon prank that Leah and Jane do not find amusing at all, Marley starts to doubt that her summer can be anything but horrible. When she meets the boy next door, Jack, things get a little better, until she realizes that her father is dating the woman for whom she is babysitting. Marley begins to realize that her life is going to change a lot: her parents are going to divorce, her friendship with Leah and Jane is not going to be the same, and boys like Jack are going to become more than friends.
Strengths: Love that her father is supportive but also gives her room to be on her own. There is a wonderful scene where Jack and Marley have to get home from New York City on the train. It's that whole orphans-in-middle-grade-fiction thing; there are so many orphans because middle grade children are often annoyed with their parents! There aren't as many books where kids are annoyed by their parents even though they love them. I also liked Marley's struggles with lack of technology; it is a hard balance to strike in fiction today.
Weaknesses: I didn't like Marley at the beginning of the book, although I did warm up to her later. She was too whiny.

Animal Books

Blom, Jen K. Possum Summer.
Nominated for the Cybils by Astrid P Mochtarram ; copy received from the author.
P. (short for Princess, which she hates), saves a small possum when her father's dog, Blackie, kills its' mother. With the help of her friend Mart, she manages to keep it alive, feeding it, massaging it so it can eliminate waste, and carrying it to school with her inside her sports bra! There are other problems that P. is having, however. School is a constant struggle for her. Her father has been injured in Iraq, and she has promised to keep their Oklahoma farm in good shape until he comes back. Several tragedies occur with the animals, and she tries to make the best decisions she can. She also knows that she can't keep the possum forever, even though she would desperately like a pet. Preparing for her father to come home, P. tries to get everything pulled together.
Strengths: There has been a resurgence in interest in books about animals. Like Nuts, this is a realistic portrayal of the difficulties in caring for a wild animal.
Weaknesses: Holiday House did not do the author justice with the formatting of the book. The cover looks like something from 1987, and the type is far too small for the target demographic.

Barrow, Randi. Saving Zasha.
Nominated for the Cybils by Margo Tanenbaum.
Russia at the end of WWII was a perilous place to be, especially for German types of dogs. When Mikhail finds a dying man and his German shepherd near his house, he gets help. The man dies, and Mikhail begs to be allowed to keep the dog, Zasha, safe, because he knows that soldiers will shoot the dog otherwise. He manages to keep this secret even with the prying of the daughter of the local newspaper man prying into his business. When he finds out that Dmitri, a former soldier, has a refuge for dogs and is trying to breed a "Russian" dog to help replace the thousands of dogs that were killed in the war, he is reluctant to turn the pregnant Zasha over until it becomes too dangerous to take care of her himself.
Strengths: Always looking for books on different facets of WWII. I had no idea that so many dogs were used by the military, or that so many were killed. The historical note at the end is helpful.
Weaknesses: Students looking for books about war usually wan

Publish Post

t a bit more excitement. While the problems at the end are suspenseful, this could have used more action at the beginning.

How to Die of Embarrassment Every Day: A True Story

Hodgman, Ann. How to Die of Embarrassment Every Day: A True Story.

Dear Ms. Hodgman,
Would you like to have lunch? My treat. I can tell you all about the time that my parents, fearful that my new teddy bear would meet the same fate as my old one (i.e. having to be slip-covered in beige double knit polyester in order to retain some semblance to a bear), got me not one but two nearly identical bears and would switch them periodically. But one had a chipped eye and the other didn't, making me think that I was imagining things.

Your memoir was an absolute delight to read. I especially liked your bird poem sequence, or rather, your comments about it (page 37): "But in most ways, they're EXTREMELY TERRIBLE FOR ANYONE OF ANY AGE... I was just loving the idea of myself as a Great Bird Poet. It makes me want to go back into the past and slap myself."

And that's the beauty of your entire book. Middle school students can remember the times before 6th grade when they did things they don't wish to remember. Reading about someone else's mishaps, however, is funny. And I intend to buy several copies of this for adult friends.

So please, Ms. Hodgman, come to lunch. As an appetizer, I will serve saltine crackers with peanut butter and Smarties, which is what my father inexplicably fed me when I would wake up in the middle of the night. We would sit at the Formica table and look out at the lawn, and the moon would make it look as if there were snow on the ground, even in July. We will plan the sequel to this, even if the embarrassment does cause the pages to burst into flames. Modern middle school students cannot imagine the sheer horror of an adolescence spent in micromini plaid polyester dresses and Far Side glasses, taking home ec, listening to antiques called records and talking to friends on a telephone that was permanently mounted on the kitchen wall.

Sincerely,
Ms. Yingling

Trouble Fitting In: Cybils Nominations

Donovan, Gail. What's Bugging Bailey Blecker.

Nominated for the Cybils by Gail Gauthier.

Bailey has chosen to go to school on the mainland near her small Maine island, and misses her friend Olivia and her class activities. Her single mother (by choice) and aunt (who is fighting cancer) are supportive of her, but she is still having trouble fitting in. When she gets head lice, her life becomes a constant see saw of ups and downs. Few students come to her birthday party, during which her beloved bird escapes, but her class is invited to the island for the yearly historical reenactment. She temporarily loses her babysitting job but gains some new friends. Most wrenching is the thought that she might have to cut off her hair, which she is growing in order to donate to an organization that makes wigs for people with cancer. In the end, Bailey's determination and supportive family help her through.

Strengths: Bailey is a very likable character, and her struggles are realistic. Can't think of any other books about dealing with lice! There is a lot in this book, which elementary students should enjoy very much.

Weaknesses: Most lice policies indicate that students with actual lice are not permitted to come to school. Used to be nits, but that's changed. Bailey continues to go to school with lice. Also, mayonnaise has not been proven an effective method to deal with lice.

Urban, Linda. Hound Dog True.

Nominated for the Cybils by Kate Messner.

Mattie and her mother, after moving a lot, have come to stay with Mattie's Uncle Potluck until he has knee surgery. Mattie enjoys the quiet, rural house where her mother grew up, but has trouble fitting in to her new school, where her uncle is the janitor. She helps him, is forced to hang out with an older neighbor who makes her feel young and uncool, and keeps her thoughts in a journal. She is also trying to overcome previous hurts from friends and come to term with her mother, who has problems of her own. In the end, her new support network helps her through.

Strengths: Beautifully written and descriptive. It's nice to see an extended family and neighborhood drawn so positively.

Weaknesses: Uncle Potluck? Definitely a quirky book.

Hanigan, Katerine. True (...sort of)

Nominated for the Cybils by The Brain Lair.

Delly Patterson has trouble fitting in because she is obnoxious and ill-behaved. She can't seem to get through a school day without getting herself in trouble. If she has one more incident at school, she will be sent to a school for troubled students, but then she meets the troubled Ferris Boyd, who doesn't talk and refuses to be touched. Ferris is often mistaken for a boy, and plays a lot of basketball with Brud, which fascinates Delly. In the end, Delly's supportive brother, R.B. and the need to assist the troubled Ferris help get her through.

Strengths: Inventive use of language, interesting and different characters.

Weaknesses: I had a lot of trouble like Delly, and the fact that Ferris was abused by her father should have been apparent to all of her teachers. Delly makes up a lot of words, which are listed in the back, and I found this to be very annoying. Some people will not.

Holm, Jennifer L. The Trouble with May Amelia.

Nominated for the Cybils by Jone MacCulloch

In Washington State in 1900, May Amelia has trouble fitting in. Because she is surrounded by brothers, she doesn't like to act "ladylike", preferring overalls to dresses. She finally has a chance to prove to her father that girls are not useless by translating for him when he is working with a man interested in buying the family's land. Her brother loses a hand, cousins move in and then move away, and the family loses its money and are hated by the community when the man buying up local land turns out to be a criminal. In the end, May Amelia's spunk and determination help get her through.

Strengths: Based on events in the author's own family, this is a different look at life during this time period. I adore Holm's Boston Jane series.

Weaknesses: I found The Use of Capital Letters to be very annoying. The first book, Our Only May Amelia has only been checked out ten times in the last ten years, and once in the past five.

LaFleur, Suzanne. Eight Keys.

Nominated for the Cybils by Susan Kusel.

Elise, who has lived most of her life with her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents, has trouble fitting in as she starts middle school. Her good friend Franklin shares a lot of her interests, but their friendship and those interests (playing "ghost knight" and fighting with wooden swords, hanging around outside) make the other girls look at her as child like and "uncool". On top of that, she cannot cope with the amount of homework in middle school. She is habitually tardy, doesn't do the work, and is bullied by her locker mate. An aunt and her baby daughter move in with her family, complicating her life. When she finds a series of keys that were left for her by her father, they lead to a series of discoveries that teach her the importance of knowing herself. In the end, Elise's family, both living and deceased, help her through.

Strengths: Elise's family is very supportive, and her struggles, while extreme, are realistic and well-drawn.

Weaknesses: This is a rather bleak picture of middle school that will scare off students who are looking ahead to starting. Plenty of girls wear jeans and sweatshirts, and no one makes fun of them!

A Note: These books, which randomly arrived from different libraries, are all very similar, with their strong family depictions and quirky characters. Middle school students tend to prefer children on their own, and no one ever asks for quirky. They are also all about girls: the covers, while beautiful, will scare boys off. (I tested the array of them yesterday.)

Small as an Elephant

Jacobson, Jennifer Richard. Small as an Elephant.

Nominated for the Cybils.

Jack wakes up in his tent at Acadia National Park to find that his mother is gone. At first, he believes she has just gone for supplies, but as the day wears on, he begins to realize that she has run off... again. He is afraid that if he turns himself over to authorities they will permanently separate him from his mother and probably turn him over to his hated grandmother, so he decides to travel to an animal sanctuary in York to visit an elephant. Thinking about elephants is his mental escape from the reality of dealing with a mentally ill mother. He meets a variety of people along the way, scrounges for food, and spends the night sleeping in the L.L. Bean store. Eventually, he must stop running, but what will happen to him when he does?

Strengths: Like The Secret of Rover or The Runaway Twin, the detailed description of life on the run will appeal to many students.

Weaknesses: I couldn't quite believe that Jack wouldn't turn himself in.

***Sigh*** I picked up a really good and funny book that I really can't see myself having on the shelves. Alan Lawrence Sitomer's The Upside of Being Down was really funny, but just go look up the description and the subject headings. If you are an uncle and have preteen and teen nephews, by all means, stock up on this title and hand them out to all and sundry, but it would just be creepy for me to hand it to anyone. And remember, my students can't handle books with the word "boobs" in them, so I don't want people to randomly pick it up, either. This is not banning a book! If students have a public library card, they can have it sent right to school. This is me spending taxpayer money on books that are appropriate for all of my readers.

Will boys love this one? Oh, yeah. Donalyn Miller has a really good discussion of it.

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/book_whisperer/

Various Reads

Pearson, Mary E. The Fox Inheritance

This sequel to the very good The Adoration of Jenna Fox does not disappoint. Locke and Kara are put into new bodies after their minds are kept in a small box for 260 years. Dr. Gatsbro had gotten the boxes after a series of mishaps had kept the two in limbo, and not only has put them in bodies but is grooming the two... to be floor models for his business of selling people the service of "replanting" their minds into BioPerfect bodies. Kara and Locke escape into the strange new world and are aided by a cab driving bot who helps them navigate through new security measures. They travel back to Boston where they find most traces of their former world completely erased, but learn the Jenna is living in California. They head there, but because they are being chased by Dr. Gatsbro, split up. Locke arrives first at Jenna's home and learns a lot about what has gone on in the years he has been imprisoned, but once Kara shows up, things become dangerous.

Strengths: Very, very good. It was interesting to see the world from Locke's perspective.

Weaknesses: I would have liked to know more about how the world is in 260 years, but the story is more about Locke, Kara and Jenna's role in that world. Also, the print is tiny. Both books are small and thick-- I would have preferred a bigger book with bigger type. (See discussion of pictures yesterday; sometimes these things just do matter!)

O'Connor, Sheila. Sparrow Road.

Nominated for the Cybils.

Raine and her mother have always been alone except for Raine's grandfather, but when the two go to spend the summer at an artists' camp where Raine's mother is working as a cook and maid, Raine learns that she has a father. Unfortunately, her father made choices that rendered him a less than appealing choice for Raine to be around, although he has changed. The house where the artists' camp is held has some secrets of its own, since it was an orphanage at one point, and some of the residents are still around. Raine gathers a community around her to figure out all of these problems.

Strengths: Well-written and has an intriguing premise. The idea of personal identity is one which students like.

Weaknesses: A bit too philosophical, with not a lot happening. My students would have loved to read more about Raine's father's problems with alcohol. (Again, inexplicable but true.)

Ray, Delia. Here Lies Linc.

Nominated for the Cybils.

Linc's mother is a college professor who specializes in burial customs, so he has spent a lot of time in cemeteries-- they even live next door to one! His father dies several years ago, and this is still something which both of them are working through. When Linc's mother gives his class a tour around the cemetery and the class is supposed to adopt a grave for a project, Linc chooses to investigate the person buried under the "black angel" monument, which has quite a local legend attached to it. With the help of Delaney, a girl in his class who is working through her own grief, an elderly neighbor who once met the person who put up the black angel, and an odd assortment of fellow students, Linc manages to finish his project and come to terms with some of the mysteries in his own life.

Strengths: This was quite an enjoyable read. I thought it would be like Grabenstein's The Crossroads, with some spooky ghosts, but it wasn't at all. There was enough humor, and enough discussion of fitting in to middle school that I think students will enjoy it.

Weaknesses: Having spent way more time that I would have liked in cemeteries in Iowa, I wonder if I liked this more than my students will! I think the cover will attract readers, and once they meet Linc they will like him.

Dooley, Sara. Livvie Owen Lived Here.

From the Publisher: "Olivia "Livvie" Owen, an autistic girl who suffers from destructive outbursts, learns her family is going to be evicted once again because of her behavior and decides they should move back to the one place where she believes they were all happy, but that house was burnt down by Livvie and her parents and sister struggle to understand her plan."

We have a unit serving students on the autism spectrum at my school, so I am always looking for books that might help other students understand some of the differences that these students show. It can be very hard for middle school students to deal with people who are different, and I really like Nora Leigh Baskin's Anything But Typical because it helps make sense of the autistic character's world. Livvie Owen is a fairly interesting book, but even Livvie's parents are usually annoyed with her, so this is just not quite what I need.

Teen Book Review Blog, Abby the Librarian, Sophistikatied Reviews (I've been citing her a lot recently!), Granny Sue's News and Reviews, and Kiss the Book all liked this better than I did.

Nonfiction Monday-- Tanya Lloyd Kyi

Kyi, Tanya Lloyd. The Lowdown on Denim.

E-ARC from Netgalley.

This is a reworking of much of the material in The Blue Jean Book by this same author, but it will appeal to many more students because of the addition of a large number of cartoon illustrations of various points of history. This does cover the history of fashion a bit more completely than the other book. I was especially amused by the story of Bing Crosby's

Strengths: I had conversations about pictures in books with several students this week, and the opinion was that pictures just make any book better. Hence the love of graphic novels, etc. If the pictures get children to read history books, all the better. Denim tuxedo, even though this incident could be considered the start of the fall of modern society.

Weaknesses: Cartoons are great, but to mention Bing's denim tuxedo and not show a picture of it-- that's criminal! Maybe Ms. Kyi will write a third book about the history of denim and include all the catalog photographs of different styles that I would like to see!

Kyi, Tanya Lloyd. 50 Underwear Questions: A Bare-all History.

The E-ARC for this wouldn't load, so I will have to see if the public library has a copy. It looks good, since the 2007 Kathy Shaskan book, How Underwear Got Under There: A Brief History is one of the most popular choices for the 8th grade nonfiction unit.

2011 Cybils Middle Grade Fiction

I'm thrilled to be able to say that I will be a first round judge for the 2011 Cybils Middle Grade Fiction division! Being on the committee for middle grade science fiction and fantasy last year was not only tremendously fun but really interesting. There were so many great books and so many great bloggers! I'm really excited to be working with the following: hop on over and visit them. You might find a good new source for recommendations!

Round One:
Colby Sharp of Sharp Read

Jennifer Donovan of 5 Minutes for Books

Cheryl Vanati of Reading Rumpus

Grier Jewell of Fizzwhizzing Flushbunker

Michael Gettel-Gilmartin of Middle Grade Mafioso

Beth Gallego of Points West

Round Two:

Kerry Millar (also organizer!) of Shelf Elf

Melissa Fox of Book Nut

Jessalyn Pinsonault of Garish & Tweed

Karen Wang of Kidsmomo

Amanda Snow of A Patchwork of Books

Guy Friday-- Werewolves vs. Vampires

Moore, Peter. Red Moon Rising.
Dante Gray (or Danny), is in a difficult position. His mother and step-father are vampires, but his father is a werewolf. While the genetic treatments on his sister have removed all of the werewolf characteristics from her, they weren't successful for him, and he becomes more and more wolflike every day. This is a problem because werewolves are second class citizens, and must register with law enforcement and be sent to compounds during the full moon. Danny doesn't really want to face this, especially since he is in a relationship with Juliet, who is human, but being bullied by a vampire and struggling with the pain that the upcoming changes bring to his body are making everything difficult. Luckily, his family is supportive and tries to come up with a way to keep him safe from the authorities and himself.
Strengths: This was a great book combining werewolf and vampire lore. It's a little likeVladimir Todd, with the description of SynHeme and eating habits, but kicks it up a notch with the werewolf information. This will be very popular in my library.
Weaknesses: Personal pet peeves here: the book uses the spelling "wulf", which grated on my nerves, and also used misspellings of famous actresses and products. David Bo. E.? iPoddMax? Wulfghang Packe? Students won't mind, but each usage made me cringe.

There are definitely two different types of vampire books-- the romance ones the girls like, and the action-packed, blood sucking ones for guys. The best guy vampire books are:

Anderson, M.T. Thirsty.

Brewer, Heather. The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd.

Emerson, Kevin. Oliver Nocturn series.

Henderson, Jason. The Alex Van Helsing series.

Hill, Will. Department 19.

Shan, Darren. Cirque du Freak series.

And some werewolf books:

Cole, Stephen. The Wereling series.

LaFevers, R. L. Werewolf Rising.

Toft, Di. Wolven.

Stewart and Riddell, Barnaby Grimes and the Curse of the Night Wolf.

Scary Books

Grabenstein, Chris. The Black Heart Crypt.

Sequel to The Crossroads, The Hanging Hill, and The Smoky Corridor. (which I know I read at some point!)

Zack is back, and this time he is trying to get help for seeing ghosts. Part of this help arrives in the unlikely guise of three quirky aunts, in whose trunk Zack and his friends find a heart shaped puzzle. They unwittingly set free centuries worth of Ickleby ghosts when they take the puzzle apart, and they must put up with a gruesome cast of evil doers in order to redo the spell and save their town for being brutalized by the Ickleby criminals. Zack's stepmother Judy is supportive as always, and Zack's mother continues to make creepy appearances, although this time she is more apologetic and interested in making amends.

Strengths: Good, creepy story with great ghosts and a strong supporting cast of ghost fighters. A bit icky at times, and similar to John Bellairs in its creepy factor.

Weaknesses: I almost wish that these titles were not in a series, so that students could pick up the volumes independently.

Oppel, Kenneth. This Dark Endeavor.

In the 1800s, Victor Frankenstein is struggling with his twin brother Konrad's mysterious illness. When the doctor is unable to stop the fever and other symptoms, Victor and his cousin Elizabeth consult Polidori, an alchemist who supposedly created an elixir of life. Consulting the Dark Library, the two try to recreate this in order to save Konrad. This involves a great deal of action and adventure, as well as some grusome personal sacrifice. In the end, the two are unsuccessful, but I imagine this merely opens the door to another book that comes closer to the story of Frankenstein.

Strengths: If The Monstrumologist is popular in your library, this will be a good addition. The cover is great, the action is good, and the ties to classic literature are effectively used.

Weaknesses: My students have trouble with the 1800s setting of The Monstrumologist, and the print in this is rather small. Horribly enough, this does matter! That, combined with Victor's internal struggles over good, evil and his relationship with his brother make this more of a high school book. Still, this is the best Oppel book that I have read.

Taylor, Greg. Killer Pizza: The Slice.

Sequel to Killer Pizza.

Still reeling from their first adventure,Toby, Annabel and Strobe are put in charge of a monster who wants to defect-- the lovely Calanthe, who takes quite a shine to Toby as she tries to fit in to normal high school life. Hidden Hills seems like a perfect place to hide her in the Monster Protection Program, but the group is soon disturbed by the reappearance of The Tall Man, and also the many-teeth rukh, as Calanthe's people try to reclaim her so she can be sacrificed.

Strengths: Monsters have been a big interest in my school, and the covers of both of these books are enormously appealing. Good amount of action.

Weaknesses: These could both be better written. I'm not a literature snob by any stretch of the imagination, there were little things with descriptions, pacing, etc. that bothered me a bit. Will students notice? Probably not.

Sleator, William and Ann Monticone. The Phantom Limb.

E-ARC courtesy of Netgalley.

Isaac is having a hard time. His father has been killed in a car crash, and since his mother has been hospitalized for having seizures, he has moved into a small house with his uncommunicative grandfather. He finds a mirror box in the house, and starts having visions of the boy who used it-- a pianist who had his arm amputated because of cancer. When his mother seems to be in danger of the same fate, Isaac enlists the help of his friends and the spirit communicating with him through the box to thwart the plans of the evil nurse, Candi and save his mother from a similar fate.

Strengths: Good creepy cover, interesting premise, and a fair amount of action.

Weaknesses: For this author, the writing was rather wooden, and the beginning especially dragged. Hell Phone and The Boy Who Couldn't Die are hugely popular in my library, but this didn't even seem like it was written by the same author.

Whew! I'm ready for all of the October requests for scary books, although I must say that this is not my favorite type of book to read!

Not-What-I-Wanted-Wednesday

Why do I even mention books that I didn't like? There was something appealing enough about the book description that I checked the book out, but something that wasn't quite right for my collection. It might be right for other collections, or at least sound appealing enough that someone else will pick it up.

Kehret, Peg. Escaping the Giant Wave. (2003)
From the publisher: "When an earthquake creates a tsunami while

What I Wanted: A survival story similar to Earthquake Terror, or something with a lot of suspense. thirteen-year-old Kyle is babysitting his sister during a family vacation at a Pacific Coast resort, he tries to save himself, his sister, and a boy who has bullied him for years. Includes an author's note which provides factual information on tsunamis."

Why I Was Disappointed: In light of the 2004 tsunami, and the recent ones in Japan, this seemed somehow dated. This title is no longer available in hard cover from Follett.

People Who Liked It More Than I Did: Integrity Books for Boys, KMS Book Blog,and Middle Grade Mafioso (which is the review that made me pick the book up.)

Wynne-Jones. Tim. The Uninvited

From the publisher "Mimi leaves New York University following an unsettling first year and goes to stay in a cottage in Canada owned by her father, artist Marc Soto, but she arrives to find the place already inhabited by Jay, a musician, who it turns out is her half-brother, and the two are just getting comfortable with their relationship when someone starts breaking into the house and taking their possessions."

What I Wanted: Creepy ghost/murder mystery.

Why I Was Disappointed: Confusing beginning, tiny type (this matters a LOT to my students!), and a more high school story line.

People Who Liked It More Than I Did: Quill and Quire, Guys Lit Wire, and Yup, I Read That.

Tracy, Kristen. The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter.

From Horn Book: "On the eve of middle school, Bessica, deemed a bad influence by her best friend's mother, finds herself alone. Normally supremely self-confident--even to a fault--Bessica confronts loneliness and bullies at school. Despite her flaws, it's hard not to cheer for this spirited heroine whose voice and antics are reminiscent of Anastasia Krupnik."

What I Wanted: Well, Anastasia. A good, solid middle grade girl book. I think I will buy this, especially since Bessica Lefter Bites Back comes out in March 2012.

Why I Was Disappointed: I personally found Bessica whiny, and the situation with her friend not being allowed to talk to her unrealistic. I was also unreasonably irked by the name "Bessica" and the idea of reinvention. (I may have to do a bit of that myself here in a couple of months.)

People Who Liked It More Than I Did: Jen Robinson, Frugal WAHMS, and Reading Chick.

Elish, Dan. The School for the Insanely Gifted.

From the Publisher: "Eleven-year-old musical genius Daphna Whispers embarks on a global journey to find her missing mother, only to uncover a shocking secret about the Blatt School for the Insanely Gifted where she is a student."

What I Wanted: This seemed similar to The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Why I Was Disappointed: This was a Pilkey Line issue. The humor, names, and situations were more goofy. I read this one right after Coben's Shelter, which was dark but appropriate, which is what the majority of my students want.

People Who Liked It More Than I Did: GK Reading, The YA Bookcase, and Fresh Ink.