GRANDPA'S QUILT

Author (last name first): Franco, Betsy

Publisher, Date of Publication: Children's Press/ 1999

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 1-2

Classification: Fiction

Grandpa lives with his grandchildren, Anna, Ben, and Lily. He sits in his bed all winter long and reads stories to them. He had a favorite red and yellow quilt that was to short, so his toes stay cold. Each child tries a different way to lengthen the quilt, and finally Lily succeeds. Grandpa's toes stay warm. A word list of 62 words is given at the end for level C. It is excellent to use for vocabulary building.
Humorous and animated drawings tell the story on their own. A very pleasing book that is a must to own as it will certainly hold any child's attention.

Reviewer: Barbara Adams

DUST FROM OLD BONES

Author (last name first): Forrester, Sandra

Publisher, Date of Publication: Morrow

Pages:

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 5-9

Classification: Fiction

DUST FROM OLD BONES is written in diary form by a thirteen- year-old girl. Simone Marguerite Racine is of mixed blood and is the child of free persons of mixed rase in 1838 New Orleans. In her diary we learn of her increasing understanding of the societal structure of pre-Civil War New Orleans. Simone's father is a stonemason. both of Simone's brothers work for him. The elder son, Gabriel, is unhappy but has no other choice but stay with his father. His father says Gabriel is gifted. The younger brother is Celeste- Tin Tin. He cannot wait to have a chisel and mallet in his hands. Simone's beautiful cousin, Clare-Marie cannot wait to attend a quad roon ball so that she may also have a protector. Delphine, Tante Vivienne and Tante Madelin, who arrives from Paris after being away for many years. Simone sees a slave auction and is very traumatized. Then she learns that her Tante Vivienne's two slaves must be sold. Simone helps them escape through the underground railroad to Canada. This novel is filled with humor, sadness and provides a greater understanding of the free and enslaved citizen of pre- Civil War New Orleans.

Reviewer: Deanna Schroeder

KEEPING THE MOON

Author (last name first):Dessen, Sarah

Publisher, Date of Publication: Viking/Penguin Putnam/ 1999

Pages: 228pgs.

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 7-12

Classification: Fiction

For Nicole"Colie" Sparks being fifteen, the former fat girl and having no friends is not easy. Added to that, she walks in the shadow of her famous mother whose name is synonymous with fitness. Because her mother is on tour, Colie is sent to spend the summer with an aunt she barely knows. There she meets Norman, a young man who lives with her aunt, and two girls, Isabel and Morgan. Morgan is nice to Nicole but Isabel goes out of her way to be mean. However, even Isabel learns to like Colie.
Colie finds a job as a waitress where Norman, Morgan and Isabel work. Together, the three girls discover new things about themselves, which changes their attitudes towards life and people in general. Colie recognizes she is as beautiful as she wants to be and all she needs in life is high esteem and confidence.
Dessen also looks at boy/girl relationships and how society ridicules those who dare to be different. Once the reader gets pass the sketchiness of the first chapter, KEEP THE MOON is a good book for teenager readers, especially those who have problems fitting in and making friends.

Reviewer: Shirlan Williams

BUD, NOT BUDDY

Author (last name first): Curtis, Christopher Paul

Publisher, Date of Publication: Delacorte/ 1999

Pages: 243pges

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 4-7

Classification: Fiction

With his very popular book about portion of his childhood, THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM--1963 for which he won the Newbery Honor award and a Coretta Scott King Honor award, Christopher Paul Curtis established himself as an accomplished author.
In Curtis' new book, BUD, NOT BUDDY, taking place during the year of 1963, ten-year-old Bud is taken from the Home(orphanage) again to live in another foster home. He takes his suitcase with all his belongings: five flyer's of Herman E. Colloway and his band, five smooth rocks with writing on them, a blanket, and a picture of his mother when she was young. He has his own rules for a better life tucked inside his head. Bud's mother died four years ago. He has run away before, but this time he runs away from the terrible treatment at the Amoses and finds himself with no one to help after he discovers his friend, Miss Hill the librarian, has married and moved to Chicago.
Bud decides to walk from Flint to Grand Rapids and find Herman E. Calloway because he thinks that Calloway must be his absent father( as he thinks his mother has kept all of the hand bills advertising his band for this reason). A kind hearted man picks him up, takes him home for the night, and delivers him to the Log Cabin, Herman E. Calloway's Club the next day. He is accepted by the band and the singer, Miss Thomas, but not by Calloway until by accident Bud finds out about all of the smooth rocks Herman has and shows him his five rocks. Herman is so devastated that he goes off by himself and cries because it becomes apparent that Bud's mother was Herman's daughter who ran away 14 years before. Bud, Not Buddy has found a real home.
Curtis has won the Newbery award for this outstanding book and also the Coretta Scott King award, both for the year 2000.

Reviewer: Sara Easter

STRONG TO THE HOOP

Author (last name first): Coy, John

Publisher, Date of Publication: Lee & Low/1999

Pages: Unpaged

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 2-5

Classification: Fiction

James is eager to prove his skills on the basketball court, but at ten is still too small to play with Nate, his brother, and Nate's friends. James goes to the court to practice anyway and hopes to pick up a game with the kids his own age. No one else is there, so James practices by himself on another court. A few minutes into their game, one of Nate's friends twists his ankle. Since James is the only extra person around, they ask him to join their game.
James has to guard Marcus who is a head taller and much heavier then he is . Nate gives James pointers to improve his game. Marcus doesn't take James seriously and trash talks, but James manages to keep up with Marcus through the game . A crowd gathers to watch, and James overhears a man say that he plays well. Another team is waiting to play the winner, and the game is tied 14 to 14 (15 points wins). When Marcus leaves James to double team another player, James makes the game-winning shot. Everyone congratulates him including Marcus. James says that he is as "happy as the last day of school."
Coy has constructed a fun story that many kids can relate to- being the youngest and having to prove yourself. Jean-Bart's collage illustrations of photographs and scratch board are unique and add an element of excitement to the story. Although the book will definitely appeal to boys, girls, too, will enjoy the idea that size isn't a barrier to doing well. If you practice hard and learn your moves, you can compete against a bigger opponent.

Reviewer: Dana Wood

FINN MACCOUL AND HIS FEARLESS WIFE

Author (last name first): Byrd, Robert

Publisher, Date of Publication: Dutton/1999

Pages: Unpaged

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 3-6

Classification: NonFiction

The Mighty Finn MacCoul, the most famous of the Irish giants is raised by his gran in the great oak tree because the kin is so jealous of the child's size and strength. When Finn is a young man, his gran takes him further into the wood and bids him farewell. The deep forest is guarded by faeries who tell Finn he must have courage and wisdom as well as size to survive. The king of the faeries tells Finn that he must from Fintan, the salmon of knowledge.While Finn cooks the fish, he burns his thumb. Finn sucks his thumb to ease the pain. Fintan, the salmon of knowledge tells Finn that whenever he needs to see the future to suck his thumb, and there it will be. Fintan also tells Finn that a woman's wit and courage will win him the day. Finn marries a woman giant named Donaugh. Donaugh was also given gifts by the faeries when she was a child. She uses these gifts to help Finn defeat his enemy Cucullin, another giant with a gold finger.
This tale shows the mysticism of the Celtic culture. The intricate detailed illustrations bring the story to life. With earth tones and muted primary colors, the pictures are soft and appealing. Included at the end of the book are two pages of background information about the legends on which the story is based. Also included is a page of proper Gaelic pronunciations of the names.

Reviewer: Rebecca Cory

MY BRIDGE OF HOPE: SEARCING FOR LIFE AND LOVE AFTER AUSCHWITZ

Author (last name first): Bitton-Jackson, Livia

Publisher, Date of Publication: Simon & Schuster/1999

Pages: 258pgs

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 8-12

Classification: NonFiction


MY BRIDGES OF HOPE is a sequel to I HAVE LIVED A THOUSAND YEARS, Bitton- Jackson's story of her imprisonment in Auschwitz. A World War II concentration camp. She was 14 when she was liberated in 1945, and she and her mother and brother returned to Czechoslovakia, thinking they would be reunited with their father in their home. What they found was a bare house, a town full of strangers, and the news that they would not see their father again. Deciding to immigrate to America, it takes six long years of living in temporary shelters, facing ever-present dangers, anti-Semitism and adventures before finally arriving in America. Along the way she builds"bridges of hope" for others as well-rescuing Jewish orphans, Jewish refugees, and even teaching in a Jewish school. This is a powerful, first-hand look at post-war Europe through the eyes of a Jewish survivor.

Reviewer: Judy Berry

SCHOOL TROUBLE FOR ANDY RUSSELL

Author (last name first): Adler, David A.

Publisher, Date of Publication: Gulliver/Harcourt 1999

Pages: 118pgs

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 3-6

Classification: Fiction

Andy Russell is a trouble magnate. No matter how hard he tries, trouble seems to seek him out and almost always finds him. Andy doesn't help himself because he neglects his work when he finds it boring. His teacher, Ms. Roman, assigns him extra math homework over the weekend because she catches him daydreaming instead of paying attention during the math lesson. But Andy doesn't do everything he gets blamed for either. When Ms. Roman gets sick, the class gets a substitute. One of Andy's classmates is intent on embarrassing the sub. Andy gets blamed for his antics and is sent to the principal's office with another friend,Stacy Ann. The other student eventually confesses, and Andy and Stacy Ann are allowed to go back to class. The substitute teacher apologizes to Andy for accusing him of something he did not do. Andy's friends stick up for him and try to help him stay out of trouble. Andy spends a lot of time in the world of his imagination instead of the real world. Many young readers will see themselves in Andy- they really want to be good and follow the rules, but the things that happen in their own minds are much more interesting than school. Andy survives his run in with the substitute and learns that even grownups apologize when they make mistakes. Hillenbrand's black and white drawings enhance Adler's realistic tale. SCHOOL TROUBLE FOR ANDY RUSSELL would be an entertaining book for those students- both boys and girls- who can't seem to avoid trouble no matter how hard they try.

Reviewer: Tammy Henderson

STORMY THE BABY DOLPHIN: A GULF COAST RESCUE

Author (last name first): Adamson, Deb.

Publisher, Date of Publication: Eakin/ 2000

Pages: Unpaged

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 2-3

Classification:Non Fiction

Adamson tells the story of Stormy, based on a real dolphin. During a storm off the coast of Texas, a baby Atlantic bottlenose dolphin becomes separated from his mother. He is attacked by a shark but escapes injured and finally makes it to shore. Two people find him and call the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network for help. Volunteers care for him and veterinarians tends to his wounds. Stormy is transported to a new aquarium home, Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. He has since developed a bone infection and is still being cared for. More information about dolphins and what people can do for them is included.
The author is the public relations director for Mystic Aquarium and the illustrator spent her childhood visiting the aquarium. Her passion for painting animals is shown in her illustrations of Stormy, giving a demonstration of caring for injured sea animals.

Reviewer: Sara Easter

YOU ARE THE EXPLORER

Author (last name first): Aaseng,Nathan

Publisher, Date of Publication: Oliver/ 2000

Pages: 160pgs

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 7-12

Classification:Non Fiction

Beginning with an introduction about exploring and explorers of new lands and what it entails, Aaseng gives the reader an insight into certain time periods from 1492 to 1911. He includes Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Herman Cortes, Ferdinand Magellan, Samuel de Champlain, James Cook, Meriwether Lewis, and Robert Scott. Each concludes each chapter with an analysis. An excellent source for research of these certain explorers written in such a way to cause the reader to think and consider reasons for the decisions made. Included are maps, photographs. source notes, a bibliography, and an index.


Reviewer: Sara Easter

Skeleton Creek Ryan’s Journal Book One

 









Author (last name first): 

Carman, Patrick

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

 Scholastic Press/ January 2009

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

6th and Up

Classification: 

Fiction

Ryan and Sarah embark on a mystery in their home town called Skeleton Creek. When Ryan nearly dies on one of their adventures to the Drudge, he is forbidden to see or come in contact with his best friend, Sarah. For Ryan it was the worst thing that could ever happen to him because he and Sarah have a deep connection. Lonely and desperate for something to help his friend who wouldn’t give up trying to find out who pushed him over a railing at the drudge breaking his leg, Ryan tries to recall what happened the night he nearly fell to his death and writes it down in his journal. All he can do is watch the video link that Sarah sends him . Most of the videos are disturbing to him and bring back his paranoia that is going to kill him. This story also allows you to interact with Sarah’s web site to let you experience what Ryan watched on his computer as Sarah risked her life.

Reviewer: Lila Davis

SPHINX'S PRINCESS

Author (last name first): 

Friesner, Esther

Publisher, Date of Publication:

Random House/2009

Grade Level/ or Age Level:

 7 and Up

Classification:

Historical Fiction

This book is about Nefertiti as a child before she became Queen of Egypt. When Queen Tiye, Nefertiti’s aunt, summons her family to Egypt. Queen Tiye's secret attempt to marry Nefertiti to her son will keep the throne from going to the Pharos’s other children. Nefertiti has to decide where her loyalties lie in order survive her aunt's vindictive threats to use her family to get what she wants. 

Reviewer: Lila Davis