Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections: Castle

Biesty, Stephen. Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections: Castle. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994.

Plot: The book takes an in-depth look at medieval castles - literally. Throughout the book, sections of the castle and castle life are displayed through cross-sections of the buildings. Castles offered surprisingly complex methods of waste disposal, protection, and craftsmanship. However, food availability, social order, and justice methods were cruel. A work like this allows readers to appreciate the luxuries of the post-twentieth century.

Reading Level: Ages 8-11

Genre: Non-Fiction, History

Similar Titles: Eyewitness Books: Castle, Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections: Man-Of-War

Personal Thoughts: I was surprised by the complexity of the book. The illustrations offer excellent descriptions and thorough details of medieval castles. They also offer humor. To keep readers' attention, an enemy spy also lurks the castle. Sharp-eyed readers discover a story within the descriptions through the antics of this mysterious man.

Mythbusters: Don't Try This at Home

Packard, Mary. Mythbusters: Don't Try This at Home. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.

Plot: The creators of Mythbusters present some of their favorite myths in this book. Such myths include discovering if a duck's quack echoes, if running in the rain keeps you drier, and if a child could be lifted into the air by a cluster of balloons. As the title suggests, readers are not recommended to copy the mythbusters. However, the book also includes experiments scientists-in-the-making can do at home without loosing an eyebrow.

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Genre: Non-Fiction, Science

Similar Titles: Mythbusters television series, Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Implements of Spitball Warfare

Personal Thoughts: I love Mythbusters. It combines my open interest in science with my secret pyromania. The book reads quickly, but, like many non-fiction works for tweens, it tends to be too brief or too repetitive in various sections. Still, like the television series, it manages to spark interest in the everyday with creative uses of ordinary objects and the occasional explosion.

Holes

Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998.

Plot: Stanley, like his father, grand father, and great-grandfather always manage to be in exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. After he is accused of stealing, he finds himself at Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention facility devoid of water. The warden and councilors are sadistic and the other boys are not much better. He blames his luck on the curse brought by his great-great-grandfather's theft of a pig. Yet, despite his misfortune, he finds someone with less luck than himself. Much to surprise (and secret) of them both, they contain the means of breaking the curses on Stanley and Green Lake itself.

Reading Level: 9-12 years

Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Survival

Similar Titles: Maniac Magee

Personal Thoughts: The book won a Newbury Award and National Book Award. It deserves them. Billy is a believable boy in unbelievable circumstances. He suffers from bullies, people who do not understand him, and people who do not want to understand him. Yet, he still wants to be a good kid.
My favorite aspect of the book comes from the "set-up." Billy and his companions do not suffer at random. Their situations arise as the results of the actions of their ancestors. It inspires thought on why things are the way they are in a humorous way.

Where the Red Fern Grows

Rawls, Wilson. Where the Red Fern Grows. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1961.

Plot: Billy desperately wants a pair of dogs. However, he does not want the typical sheepdogs or mutts common near his farm in the Ozarks. He longs for a pair of raccoon-hunting hounds. His parents cannot afford them, though. After finding a hunting catalog offering two dogs for fifty dollars, he begins to save money with work and a prayer. Eventually, he buys his dogs, and the three become inseparable. The dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann, manage to out-hunt every other hound in the area and eventually perform excellently in a hunting contest. However, like many animal stories, the dogs cannot last forever...

Reading Level: 9-12 years

Genre: Fiction, Animals, Coming of Age

Similar Titles: Shiloh, Because of Winn-Dixie

Personal Thoughts: I had to read this when I was about 11. Although I remember liking it as a tween, it made me almost cry as an adult. The result is typical of dog books since, to paraphrase Marley & Me, dogs don't live as long as people. While the sad ending may discourage younger readers, the novel provides a story about patience, hope, love, and loyalty.

Head of the Class: A Teen Dog Expert Teaches You to Raise and Train the Perfect Pal

Eldredge, Kate and Debra. Head of the Class: A Teen Dog Expert Teaches You to Raise and Train the Perfect Pal. Hoboken, N.J. : Howell Book House/Wiley Pub, 2006.

Plot: The book, written by a teenager, describes the process and methods for selecting, training, and keeping a dog. Written by a young dog owner, it views the joys and trials of keeping a canine companion. It also discusses activities kids can do with their dogs, including showing, trials, and community services.

Reading Level: 7th grade and older

Genre: Non-Fiction, Animals

Similar Titles: Puppy Training For Kids, 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog, The Beginner's Guide to Agility Training

Personal Thoughts: An ideal book for a new dog owner. The book encourages tweens and teens to take responsibility for their animals without relying too much on their parents. However, it does include sections "Just for Parents" offering advice to the human caretakers of the canine caretakers. In addition to dog advice, the book also contains an extensive reading list, fundraising activities, and canine-based crafts. Also, each section contains a biography of a teen/tween owner and his/her dog.

Side Note: PHOTOBOMB DRAGON!!!

Smith of Wooton Major/Farmer Giles of Ham

Tolkien, J.R.R. Smith of Wooton Major/Farmer Giles of Ham. New York : Ballantine Books, 1949.

Plot: A two-story book. The first story describes the adventures of a young man in the town of Wooton Major. He unknowingly becomes the heir to a remarkable passport to the land of fairies. Unlike the pixies of today, the fairies contain great power, but subtle gifts. The second story is the saga of an unlikely hero. When a farmer manages to drive off a giant, he becomes a local celebrity. However, the hero status has unexpected demands, especially when a dragon shows up.

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction

Reading Level: 11 years and older

Similar Titles: The Hobbit, Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Unicorn, The Reluctant Dragon

Personal Thoughts: The stories are a "lite" version of Tolkien. Even though they are less involved, they still contain Tolkien's solid storytelling abilities. The first story bears a surreal, bigger-than-life setting of the average moving alongside the extraordinary. By contrast, Farmer Giles of Ham reveals a popular unexpected-hero vs. cowardly villains saga. Overall, they provide a heavier read than a fairy tale, but a lighter story than most fantasy novels.

Random Post

Okay, this is a random post. So far, I've mostly used my Raichu and Toothless plushies in my blog. However, to vary things a little, I've added this fellow. I bought him a few years ago at a Fourth of July Celebration at the park. I don't feel as comfortable using him in my pictures since I did not actually make him. Anyway, if you like the other plushies, I got the patterns for them at http://renegar-kitsune.deviantart.com/art/Raichu-Sewing-Tutorial-153382876 and http://katy-a.deviantart.com/art/How-to-Plush-your-Dragon-161986356. This concludes my random post.

The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Fictional Account of the Most Valiant Marshal in the West

Paulsen, Gary. The Legend of Bass Reeves: Being the True and Fictional Account of the Most Valiant Marshal in the West. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2006.

Plot: The historical fiction tale follows Bass Reeves, a young Texan slave in the 1830's. Warned by coyotes that "Things will change," Bass obeys his mother and avoids trouble. However, as his master becomes more and more dependent on whiskey, Bass finds himself maintaining the ranch with little supervision. When the master attempts to cheat Bass out of his freedom in a poker match, Bass confronts him. While he manages to survive the fight, he flees the ranch, fearing for his life. He manages to survive in the dangerous "Indian Territory" for years. At the end of the Civil War, he sets up a ranch of his own. However, when Issac Parker calls for marshals to "clean up" the Indian Territory of murderers, thieves, and other criminals, Bass proudly joins and becomes one of the most successful marshals in U.S. history.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure

Reading Level: Grades 6-8

Similar Titles: Hatchet, Shane

Personal Thoughts: Paulsen wishes to bring attention to a largely-ignored hero. Many western novels favor heroes that were not, in fact, heroic. Bass Reeves is the opposite. He escaped slavery, became a successful rancher, and fought for the law. Yet, terribly few people know about him. The book attempts to amend this injustice by providing a solid, interesting read about a genuine hero. However, only one chapter is dedicated to what made him heroic. I do not mean to disregard the other aspects of his life. Avoiding capture, maintaining values, and building a business are remarkable in their own right. Yet, Reeve's life as a marshal, his titular roll, only gets 31 pages in a 137 page book. The focus of the novel seems a bit skewed. Nevertheless, the book offers insight to a historic hero.

Baron: The Cat Returns

Hiiragai, Aoi. Baron: The Cat Returns. San Francisco: VIZ, LLC, 2005.

Plot: Nothing is going right for Haru. She arrives to class late, ruins her shoe, forgets her wallet, and gets embarrassed by the teacher. Even worse, Machida, her crush, has a girlfriend already. After her terrible day, she saves a cat from getting run over by a truck. That night, a parade of cats visits her. Apparently, the cat she saved is the Cat King's son. The cats pledge to return her good deed. Unfortunately, Haru does not appreciate the gifts of catnip, cattails, and mice offered by the grateful felines. They still attempt to thank her, and offer her the greatest gift in the kingdom. They will make her marry the cat prince! Warned by a strange voice, Haru finds the Cat Office, run by a noble toy cat, fat stray, and stone magpie. Can the Cat Office save Haru from an early marriage?

Genre: Manga, Animals

Reading Level: Rated A for all All Ages

Similar Titles: I cannot think of any...maybe Beauty by Robin McKenley

Personal Thoughts: A well-written, well-illustrated manga. Many readers assume the book is a sequel, but it is not. The name is a mistranslation. A more accurate title would be "The Cat Returns a Favor." Apparently, it is based on a Japanese folktale where a young girl saves a cat and receives gifts from the cat as thanks. The manga provided a basis for a movie by Studio Ghibdi  in 2005. While the manga and movie are not, perhaps, as elaborate as the more popular Spirited Away, they do provide an interesting story with a believable teenage girl.

The Misfits

Howe, James. The Misfits. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001.

Plot: The Group of Five (which actually consists of four members) in Paintbrush Falls Middle School links four undeniable misfits. Addie is a tall, intelligent, liberal, political activist. Joe is the only (openly) gay in school. Skeezie never really cared for anyone after his father left. He also dresses like Elvis. Bobby's mother died when he was young, so he and his dad work to earn a living. However, the band of misfits, under Addie's supervison (or forced cooperation) decide to create a "Freedom Party" for the school's upcoming elections. The party quickly collapses without a solid political platform, but Bobby discovers a hidden talent for finding and addressing issues in a thought-provoking novel.

Reading Level: 5-8 grade

Genre: Fiction, Coming of Age, Society

Similar Titles: Totally Joe

Personal Thoughts: Like its sequel, Totally Joe, the novel studies surprisingly deep concepts. While some aspects of the novel, such as the tweens' dating lives, seem typical, they eventually lead to more intense ideas, such as racism and self-image. Other aspects start as intense and only become more so. The new party's platform, to eliminate name-calling, reflects a tolerated but devestating aspect of the tween years. Apparently, this book was the inspiration behind No-Name Week, a school-sponsored week when the students stop calling each other insulting names.

As a side note, I like how believable some of the characters are, particularly Addie. She strikes a nerve, because some of my companions, like her, are very politically-minded. While their hearts may be in the right place, some of their actions and mannerisms make me want to quote Bobby and scream "Stop making everything into a federal case!"

Day of the Djinn Warriors

Kerr, Philip. Children of the Lamp: Day of the Djinn Warriors. New York : Orchard Books, 2008.

Plot: Following their adventures in India, Phillipa and John Grant, djinn twins, discover that their mother has left their household and mortal father to fulfill an oath to become the Blue Djinn, the supreme leader of the djinns. To become the Blue Djinn, she is forced to abandon all previous relations and emotions, so she can judge completely without bias. The twins, with their uncle Nimrod, set out to find Faustina, the true heir of the Blue Djinn. In the process of finding her, though, the twins discover something strange occurring in the world of spirits. Meanwhile, Dybukk, Faustina's brother, finds himself working his way into fame and fortune as he uses his magic to amaze Las Vegas and the world. Yet, his stunts may be used by a foe of the twins to commit an atrocity never before witness by the world of mortals or spirits.

Reading Level: 11-14 years old, but enjoyable for older readers

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction

Similar Titles: Harry Potter, Dragon Chronicles, Percy Jackson

Personal Thoughts: Like most of the series, Day of the Djinn Warriors provides a solid, over-the-top action story. The locals and humor remind readers of Indiana Jones, while the concepts and characters recall Harry Potter. While the read is enjoyable, the length and the diction may be daunting to younger readers. Still, it manages to provide a good story.

Zits

Scott, Jerry and Borgman, Jim. Zits. Kansas City, Mo. : Andrews McMeel, 1998.

Plot: A newspaper comic strip following the (mis)adventures of Jeremy, a fairly average 15-year-old boy. He shares his story with his understanding but clueless mother, his strict but goofy father, his best friend Hector, his on-again-off-again girlfriend Sara, and a host of other high school characters. Most of the comic focuses on strange, over-the-top situations, but it also brings up important issues such as peer pressure, school pressure, parental pressure, and life in general pressure. Still, it manages to focus on the real-world concerns of teens while allowing them to realize the strangeness and humor in this weird stage of life.

Genre: Comics

Reading Level: Ages 11 and older

Similar Titles: Foxtrot, Luann

Personal Thoughts: I like how the situations remind me of my teen years while messing with my expectations of the time. By this, I mean that it plays on the stereotypes while exposing more likely outcomes to the situations. True, with his high grades, good looks, band ability, and technological wizardry, Jeremy does have the potential to become a Mary Sue (see my notes for Seekers for further details), but his impatience, spaztic behavior, insecurity, and tendency to get in trouble quickly remove him from the danger. As a side note, Charles Schultz, the author of Peanuts, apparently said "Zits is the worst title for a comic since Peanuts" (he never did like the title given to his work by newspapers). It may take some work to get readers over the misconception of the comic's title, but it is well worth the effort.

My Neighbor Tototro

Miyazaki, Hayao. My Neighbor Totoro. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2006.

Plot: The film follows the everyday adventures of Satsuki and Mei, two young girls who recently moved to the country with their mother and father. While exploring, Mei discovers Totoro, an owl-eared, bear-bodied guardian of the forest. Mei and Satsuki discover the magic and power within their own backyard. Yet, their mother's health continues to fall. Can the girls and their unseen friend help her?

Genre: Anime, Fantasy

Reading Level: Rated G

Similar Titles: Ponyo, The Cat Returns, The Iron Giant

Personal Thoughts: This movie features what is probably the most iconic of all anime scenes - a little girl standing next to a fluffy monster with an umbrella. As bizarre as the mental image is, the film provides a good story with believable characters. The newer dub, featuring Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, captures the interactions between the two sisters wonderfully. Some older tweens may dismiss the film as too childish, but due to the film's influence in more popular culture (such as the Studio Ghibi logo and cameos in Futurama, Sandman comics, and Toy Story 3), it is definitely recommended.

Spirited Away

Miyazaki, Hayao. Spirited Away. Burbank, CA : Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2003.

Plot: After following her parents into what appears to be an abandoned theme park, Chihiro meets a strange boy who warns her to get out before sunset. She fails and finds herself trapped in the world of spirits with her parents transformed into pigs. With the help of the boy, called Haku, she manages to solve the mystery of No-Face, escape the imprisonment of Yubaba, discover Haku's real name, and rescue her parents.

Genre: Anime

Reading Level: Rated PG

Similar Titles: Alice in Wonderland, My Neighbor Totoro, Never-Ending Story

Personal Thoughts: Considered by some to be the archtype of Anime movies, Spirited Away received several awards, including the first Oscar for an Anime movie. The themes of the movie include environmental concerns, growing up, accepting challenges, and generation changes. The last theme begs for consideration. At the time of the movie's creation, Japan was in the aftermath of the "bubble economy," a time of high economic value that abruptly ended. The generation following it had the expectations for wealth of the adults, but lost the faith and traditions of the older generations. Chihiro lives between the economic expectations of her parents and the traditional demands of the spirit world. Her struggles, in some ways, mirror the current economic and political situation in the United States.

Samurai Jack

Tartakovsky, Genndy.  Samurai Jack. Burbank, CA : Warner Home Video, 2001-2004.


Plot: A samurai armed with a legendary sword attempts to defeat Aku, an evil shape-shifting wizard. However, before the warrior can kill Aku, the wizard knocks him into the future. In the future, Aku is the supreme ruler of the planet. With the help of characters of myth and literature, the samurai, named "Jack" by occupants of the warped future, must defeat Aku and his servants to return to the past and undo the evil of Aku.

Genre: Animation (with a strong Anime influence)

Reading Age: If I recall correctly, it was rated TVPG, although the DVD sets are not rated

Similar Titles: Naruto, Dragonball Z

Personal Thoughts: An interesting, if too brief, TV series. Jack's adventures bring him to locations such as Wonderland, a futuristic old west, blue ape-inhabited jungles, snowy mountains, and mechanical fortresses. Many episodes are influenced by science fiction, fantasy, or anime movies. For example, "Jack and the Spartans" contains a plot similar to 300, a graphic novel that eventually became a movie. In addition, the series won the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation and Outstanding Animated Program several times. Rumors state that, since the series ended with Jack still lost in time, Tartakovsky will make a feature-length movie showing how Jack will return.

Azumanga Daioh: The Animation

Azumanga Daioh: The Animation. ADV Films.

Plot: This 5-disc DVD set follows the story of presented in the manga. The series follows the exploits of a group of teenage girls as they work their way through high school and plan for their futures. Yet, not all of their situations are quite as standard as they appear to be. The voice actors manage a remarkable job of bringing 5 girls, their teachers, and their school to life.

Genre: Anime

Reading Age: Rated TVPG for language

Similar Titles: School Rumble

Personal Thoughts: Why are cartoons for little kids, and anime for grown-ups? The world may never know.

Anyway, this is a pretty good interpretation of the original manga. The version I watched has the original Japanese, English, and subtitles. The subtitles offer a different experience than the English version, since they use a more literal translation. Overall, the series offers a new way of looking at the everyday.

Liō

Tatulli, Mark. Liō series. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing.


Plot: A newspaper comic book series known for its minimal dialog. Liō is a self-described "weird kid" who lives with his father pet spider, snake, cat, and giant squid. A host of zombies, monsters, and creatures interacts with Liō on a daily basis. Referred to as "sweetly dark" by other comic artists, Liō combines the disturbing, macabre, and strange with the perils of being in elementary school.


Genre: Comic books


Reading Level: 8 and older


Similar Titles: Pearls Before Swine, Zits


Personal Thoughts: I really like this series. It has received criticism for its dark nature, but in a world of Goosebumps, horror films, Emily the Strange, and Nightmare Before Christmas, it is wise to consider non-traditional appeal. Also, Liō manages to always win against the bigger, tougher bullies and frequently assists the downtrodden. In other words, it is, indeed, "sweetly dark."

Azumanga Daioh Omnibus

Azuma, Kiyohiko. Azumanga Daioh Omnibus. Yen Press; 1 Edition, 2009.

Plot: Chiyo-Chan is a 10 year old prodigy. Tomo tends to be loud an clumsy. Sakaki-San manages to amaze the entire student body, but she really wants cats to like her. Yomi tends to be the "straight-man" of the group, but she worries constantly about her weight. Kasuga is an all-sport who has trouble in school. Osaka remains...one of a kind. The four books follow the five students in their high school years.

Genre: Manga

Reading Level: 12 an older

Similar Titles: Yotsuba&!, School Rumble

Personal Thoughts: Much like its successor, Yotsuba&!, Azumanga Daioh does not focus on extraordinary circumstances with superheroes. Instead, it displays the everyday with a minor twist. Important issues, such as concerns with school, relationships with friends, and worries about personal appearance also manage to slip into the story arcs. The title is included in the top 25 manga at the 2006 Japan Media Arts Festival. An anime version of the books is available. I may review it later.

King of the Wind

Henry, Marguerite. King of the Wind. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1948.

Plot: The story follows Sham, a golden bay from the royal stables in Morocco, and Agba, a horseboy, as they travel to Europe. Dismissed by the King of France, sold by the royal chef, abused by local horsemen, and doomed to work as a carthorse, Sham seems to never reach the potential Agba knows he has. However, when the Earl of Godolphin watches Sham's son race, the earl realizes Sham's may change horse races forever.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Animals

Reading Level: 10-13

Similar Titles: Black Beauty, Black Stallion, Misty of Chicoteague

Personal Thoughts: A winner of the Newberry Medal. This is a very good book for animal lovers and people who enjoy hard-won and slightly bittersweet happy endings. Apparently, the book was made into a movie with some positive reviews in 1993. 

On a completely different note, yes, that is my foot holding the book upright.

Yotsuba&!

Azuma, Kiyohiko. Yotsuba&!. New York : Yen Press, 2009.

Plot: When 5-year old Yotsuba moves in, the neighborhood will never be the same! Living with her adopted father, Koiwai, Yotsuba experiences and shares the process of growing up with her neighbors and her friends.

Genre: Manga

Reading Level: 8 and older

Similar Titles: Azumanga Diaoh

Personal Thoughts: Like Azuma's previous project, Azumanga Diaoh, Yotsuba&! celebrates the glory of the everyday. The plot seems perfectly realistic with just a twinge of the unexpected. Still, it reminds readers of the discoveries and the fun that exist in living and growing. It also mentions issues such as concerns with appearance (especially from Fuuka, Yotsuba's teenage neighbor) and worries about the environment. Most of the art, especially the backgrounds, are more detailed than Azumanga Diaoh. As a side note, the "door" in the picture is the cover of my favorite book, 3. In this book, Yotsuba goes to the zoo, acts as the "flower cupid," and sees a fireworks show for the first time. Also, the book used to be published by ADV Manga.

Little House in the Big Woods

Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House in the Big Woods. New York : Harper & Bros., 1953.

Plot: An autobiography of Laura Ingalls, a six-year-old girl growing up in the pioneer days of the United States. Throughout the year, Laura experiences preparing for winter, listening to her father's stories, helping her mother, and trying to get along with her sister.

Reading Level: 9-11

Genre: Non-Fiction, Autobiography, History

Similar Titles: Little House on the Prairie

Personal Thoughts: While Little House on the Prairie has been dismissed by most school districts due to racist undertones, I'm surprised schools haven't pushed Little House in the Big Woods more. It really is an enlightening book. It reminds readers that history was not built solely on the backs of politicians, warriors, and rebels. The book also makes readers realize how much has changed since those times.

Young readers can easily relate to Laura's relationships with her older (and much-admired/resented) sister, "wild" uncle, and spoiled cousin. At the risk of sounding like a museum commercial, the book does make history come alive. Just be aware, though, that a pig is butchered and the bladder is used as a ball. That part of the book kept me from reading it for years.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenwieler

Polette, Nancy. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenwieler. O'Fallon, MO : Book Lures, Inc., 1995.

Plot: Tired of the chores and small allowance at home, Claudia makes the perfect plan to run away with Jamie, her younger brother. Claudia is not the type of woman to run to the woods, though. She and Jamie successfully escape to New York's Museum of Art. Barely a day into their escape, they discover a mystery. Is the beautiful angel in the Renaissance wing really by Michelangelo? Only the statue's seller, Mrs. Basil E. Frankenwieler knows.

Reading Level: 9-11

Genre: Mystery, Fiction

Similar Titles: The Phantom Tollbooth, Nancy Drew series, My Side of the Mountain

Personal Thoughts: My parents read this to me when I was about ten. If Amazon.com is any sort of indicator, I was not the only one. The book addresses children's desire for success, to run away, and to discover secrets.

Seekers: Great Bear Lake

Erin, Hunter. Seekers: Great Bear Lake. New York : HarperCollins, 2009.

Plot: A black bear meets and travels with two brown bears in attempt to reach the place "where the spirits dance." At the same time, an orphaned polar bear unknowingly seeks the same location. Their paths meet on the Longest Day, when a band of rogue polar bears threaten the survival of all bears by encroaching on the black bears' forest. The second in the series.

Genre: Animals, Fantasy, Fiction

Reading Level: 11-14

Similar Titles: Hunters series, Firebringer, other titles in the Seekers series

Personal Thoughts: This is the first book I read for the project I did not like. While the author is justifiably popular, especially for her Hunters series, most of the characters seemed a bit too much like a Mary Sue. For those unfamiliar with the fanfiction term, a Mary Sue is, according to the Urban Dictionary, "typically beautiful, intelligent, kind, and in all other ways "perfect". She usually serves as an important part in a pivotal plot element (ie: a prophecy)." In addition, a Mary Sue often has a tragic and painful past (but no scars, emotionally or otherwise) and unrealistic abilities. All of the protagonists are orphans, cubs, and stronger/faster/smarter than all other bears, especially adult bears. In addition, while the author taps into environmental issues, the problems are not discussed in a way that encourages readers to become involved. Also, the bears do not really act like bears. While I know this is fiction and such animals are not supposed to act like their real counterparts, most of the behaviors vary so wildly from actual bear behavior that it's difficult to "get lost" in the story.

Totally Joe

Howe, James. Totally Joe. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, ©2005.

Plot: For a school project, Joe has to write an autobiography from A-Z. His project focuses on the challenges, humorous and otherwise, facing a middle school student. Middle school is a harsh place, particularly for a gay student. He also discovers how to respond to peers, teachers, family, and adults.

Genre: Gays & Lesbians,  Realistic, Fiction

Reading Level: 12-13

Similar Titles: None I can think of; I need to read more.

Personal thoughts: Howe has come a long way in his writing. He identifies most of Joe's project as "ammunition" for middle schoolers, a sad but very true fact at this age. I was pretty surprised by how much I liked this book. Usually, I avoid realistic fiction, since it tends to either be depressing or sugar-coated. Howe manages to avoid both through a balance of humor and emotion.

Stage Fright: A Sebastian Barth Mystery

Howe, James. Stage Fright: A Sebastian Barth Mystery. New York : Atheneum, 1986.

Plot: Shortly after he receives a leading roll in the civic center's play, Sebastian Barth meets a famous actress (and close friend of his mother's). The famous and superstisious actress soon discovers she has a secret admirer. However, the admirer's notes soon take a sinister theme as a series of accidents affects the actress. Can Sebastian discover what the admirer's next move will be...and still learn his lines?

Genre: Mystery, Fiction

Reading Level: Ages 9-11

Similar Titles: Hardy Boys series, Nancy Drew series

Personal Thoughts: A reasonable mystery. Some of the references to actors may feel dated to younger readers. Howe does discuss the mix of confidence and low self-esteem present in teen years briefly.