Heroes of the Surf

Dive! Dive!

Carbone, Elisa Lynn. Heroes of the Surf. New York : Viking, 2012.

Plot: Young Antonio, passenger of the steamship Pliny, enjoys playing throughout the boat with his friend Pedro. After a day of make-believe pirates, the boys settle in for the night. A storm brews and relentlessly drives the ship aground. Too far from any waterborne help, the ship's crew send out flares. Someone sees them. Actually, an entire group of people sees them. Thankfully, despite the boys' fears, they are not pirates. They are the Life-Saving Service, and they bring every soul to the safety of land before the ship sinks.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Picture Books

Reading Level: Grades 1-4

Similar Titles: Dreamstones, The Two Brothers

Personal Thoughts: The text is based on actual events. The Pliny did sink in 1882 off the coast of New Jersey, and every person on board was safely rescued by the Life-Saving Service. The men of the service provided safety and rescue procedures, while their wives and children provided clothing and food to the victims of the wreck. The Service no longer exists, though. It was absorbed by Revenue Cutter Guard and became the United States Coast Guard.  A short, but insightful, view of one of the Service's most remarkable rescues.

Lizard Music

Pinkwater, Daniel Manus. Lizard Music. New York : Dodd, Mead, 1976.

Dragon glares...

Plot: Without his parents or older sister to tell him otherwise, Victor can stay up late and watch television. After news programs and B movies, the lizards arrive. They play music in a strange band for several hours, but no one else seems to see or even know about them. Mystified, Victor slowly finds himself seeking the lizards. Under the guidance of the Chicken Man and Claudia (the chicken), Victor becomes embroiled in a quest to discover the lizards and stop the pod people.

Genre: Science Fiction

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: My Cousin the Alien, Super Sasquatch Showdown, Fortunately, the Milk

Personal Thoughts: The text blends positives and negatives. On the positive side, the novel includes deadpan humor (similar to Coraline), intriguing characters, over-the-top situations, and creative concepts. However, it also includes dated diction, irrelevant pop culture references, and possibly racist undertones. Whether the positives outweigh the negatives relies heavily on the reader.

One other interesting aspect of the plot was Victor's role. He provides narration for the story, but he is not the primary character. He is absent from the major events throughout the plot, but the reader still only has his perspective. It is a strange sort of reversal from most other tween titles, and the variety adds a subtle, but intriguing, aspect to the text.

Captain Raptor and the Moon Mystery

 

It's just silly

O'Malley, Kevin. Captain Raptor and the Moon Mystery. New York : Walker Pub. Co., 2005.

Plot: A strange object crashes into Eon, a moon near Jurassica. Desperate for answers, the dinosaur inhabitants call on the great hero, Captain Raptor, to find the UFO and discover its intentions. He rapidly arms the Megatooth and its crew for the unexpected, which inevitably happens. The mission, however, ends with strangely familiar beings on the moon.


Genre: Science Fiction, Picture Books

Reading Level: Grades 1-4

Similar Titles: Oh no! Not Again!, If I Had a Raptor

Personal Thoughts: A story about space-faring dinosaurs is pretty original, but the illustrations and lettering make the title memorable. The text uses an Indiana Jones-like style to add dramatic flair. By contrast, the illustrations use a more traditional style, reminiscent of oil paintings. The combination results in a title similar to old science fiction movie posters. 

America is Under Attack

Brown, Don. America is Under Attack. New York : Flash Point, 2011.

Plot: The title recounts the events surrounding the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, focusing on New York's response. For many Americans, the day started as normal. However, four planes were hijacked and used as weapons. Two crashed into the Twin Towers in New York. Another attacked the Pentagon. The last was stopped in route to its intended destination. The title describes the confusion surrounding rescue efforts, as well as the damage caused by the collapsing buildings. It ends with the cleanup and aftermath of the attacks, including the discovery of victims.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 1-5

Similar Titles: September 11: Then and Now, I Survived: The Attacks of September 11

Personal Thoughts: This was hard to read. The language was accessible, the illustrations were appropriate, and the tone was appropriate. It was the memories that did me in.

Librarians, teachers, parents, and relatives need to start looking at titles like this, though. Today's tweens were not alive when the attacks happened. It is their elders' responsibility to teach them about the events surrounding the Twin Towers. Titles such as this can provide much-needed support in the process.

The Nazi Hunters

Bascomb, Neal. The Nazi Hunters. New York, NY : Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2013.

Plot: Adolf Eichmann, a prominent leader of the Final Solution, managed to escape the collapse of the Nazi Party. However, he was not forgotten. Through a series of surprising encounters, half-remembered facts, and unexpected contacts, he was discovered by the Israeli government. Spies, Holocaust survivors, government officials, and lawyers united across several countries to bring the man to justice.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Aimed at teens; some content, especially regarding the Holocaust and execution, may be intense for sensitive readers.

Similar Titles: Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, Lincoln's Grave Robbers

Personal Thoughts: The Holocaust has always scared me, so reading the title was difficult. However, it is also important.

Many of the Holocaust's facts are taken for granted. Modern readers know what happened. During the events of the title, though, few understood the disaster. Many of the victims refused to speak about them, both to spare others pain and move forward. Eichmann's trail drew the facts out before the world, giving victims permission to talk and acknowledge what happened. The title describes this change.

Bascomb's book also brings another fact forward: life does not behave like the movies. In most films about WWII, the villain suffers once the heroes find him. In the title, finding the criminal is only the first mission. Facts need to be found. Permission needs to be granted. International issues bleed into civilians, leading to riots. Legal issues limit and empower everyone involved. Each person participating in the capture, trial, and execution have to live with the consequences of what they and others did. While the trial ended in a victory, it did not end with fanfare, which is how real life works.

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh

Silly old bear

Walker, Sally M. Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2015

Plot: Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian during World War I, found an orphaned black bear for sale during a train stop. He bought the bear, claiming she would be the mascot for the military training camp in Quebec. Winnipeg, eventually called Winnie, quickly endeared herself to the men on the camp. When they were called to the other side of the Atlantic, the cub went with them. However, due to the dangers of the war, Winnie was settled at the London Zoo. She remained friendly, often letting children feed or even ride her. One particular child could not stop talking about her, so his father began to write adventures about the little bear...

Genre: Animals, History, Picture Books

Reading Level: Grades 1-4

Similar Titles: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel, Winnie the Bear: The True Story Behind A. A. Milne's Famous Bear

Personal Thoughts: A short book on the real history of a fictional bear. The text uses illustrations to highlight the whimsey of the story, but provides photographs to remind readers of the actual events. Walker provides further information about Coleborn, Milne, and Winnie at the end of the story.

Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble

Bad Kitty

Good Mosasaur

Bruel, Nick. Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble. New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2014.

Plot: A self-proclaimed handsome and skilled author/illustrator discusses the creation of a book with his readers. The subject of the novel, Kitty, finds herself at the mercy of the author's descriptions. And ink. As he discusses the various aspects of story-telling, Kitty abruptly gains weight, eats turnips (sort of), faces Puppy, and earns a mcguffin.

Genre: Animals, Writing

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Whales on Stilts!, Miss Suki is Kooky

Personal Thoughts: Some of my favorite moments were the explanations. While the humor was fast-paced and well-illustrated, Bruel did not rely only on it to create his story. He also introduced concepts such as themes, plots, and open endings. Additionally, he took several pages to describe the differences between copying a work and referencing a work. Such a distinction is very important for tweens to understand, especially as they approach high school research papers. While the novel is more information-based than some of the other Bad Kitty works, it still keeps the audience's attention through humor and an ultimately interesting story.

A Book of Magic Animals

It's more of a history book to him...

Manning-Sanders, Ruth. A Book of Magic Animals. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc. 1975.

Plot: The title offers a collection of tales featuring magical beasts. Some creatures, such as the small-toothed dog and Elsa's bear are actually enchanted humans. Others, like the dolphin king and Mainu the frog are genuine animals, but with extraordinary abilities. They all assist the protagonists to defeat overwhelming evil, conquer complex challenges, and earn fantastic rewards.

Genre: Animals, Fairy Tales, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Dragon Emperor, The Sea King's Daughter, The Seven Chinese Brothers

Personal Thoughts: While the title uses dated diction and has an annoying tendency to bounce between past and present tense, it also offers a pleasant blend of stories, mostly from Europe. A lot of the stories have similar counterparts in modern literature, particularly in the "beauty and the beast"-type of fairy tale. It also manages to offer different, less well known stories and can easily satisfy fans of folk and fairy tales.

Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat

Feeling well?

 Jarrow, Gail. Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat. Honesdale, Pennsylvania : Calkins Creek, 2014.

Plot: Starting in the early 1900's, people throughout the United States start showing signs of a dibilitating, deadly disease known as pellagra. No one knows the cause or origin of the illness, but it spreads rapidly. Doctors throughout the country try to counter it, but the government is eventually called in for assistance. With the support of the nation, Dr. Joseph Goldenburg examines the victims, locations, and effects of the disease. He discovers the cause. America's protein-poor diet lead to a deficiency in vitamin B3. Yet, finding the cause is not the same a creating a cure. Bias, economy, and ignorance continued to influence the situation, with deadly results.

Genre: History, Health

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Wedding, Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Deadliest Weapon, Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific

Personal Thought: The book shows not only medical history, but human behavior. Even though Goldenburg found the answer to the disease, it was not instantly eradicated. People resisted change, questioned the science, and ignored the facts. As a result, the sickness continued to claim many lives. This taps into an issue facing many tweens. Most people in the United States will never face a deficiency disease. However, they will need to decide what they do with knowledge. Will they acknowledge it? Ignore it? History is a great way of learning, and the title offers a great opportunity.

Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny

Anything you can do, I can do too!

Himmelman, John. Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny. New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2014.

Plot: Isabel, also known as the Bunjitsu Bunny, is easily one of the best martial arts students. However, being skilled does not excuse her from learning. Like everyone else in her class, she has to deal with lessons, trials, bullies, and friends. Her skills and willingness to be taught, though, ensures she will endure and thrive.

Genre: Animals, Adventure, Everyday

Reading Level: Grades 0-4

Similar Titles: More Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny, Karate Katie

Personal Thoughts: The title is a Zen Shorts for older readers. It combines old tales with new trials and realistic responses. 

The Minish Cap

Where is this guy?

Himekawa, Akira. The Minish Cap. San Francisco, CA : Viz Media, 2009.

Plot: After being snubbed for a yearly swordsmanship competition, Link meets a bizarre but strong man. The character, later known as Vaati, releases a casket full of monsters by destroying a sacred sword and turning Princess Zelda to stone. Link must seek out the legendary Minish, tiny, helpful folk capable of reforging the sword. Early in his journey, Link rescues Ezlo, a talking, bird-like cap capable of wielding magic. Link finds himself on a journey through the entire land, discovering more about Ezlo, Zelda, and Vaati in the process.

Genre: Manga, Graphic Novels, Video Games

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Majora's Mask, Kingdom Hearts, Pokemon Adventures

Personal Thoughts: The title offers rapid action, creative illustrations, and believable diction. However, it falls a bit flat. As previously mentioned, a lot of video-game based graphic novels expand on the story offered by the original media. However, instead of making the world more comprehensible and believable, the title chooses to fall on clichés such as the misunderstood teacher, transformed guardian, and sympathetic villain. While none of these are bad by themselves, they effectively smudge much of the game's original charm. Most of the changes seem to occur merely to add drama instead of expansion. For example, a helper character in the game becomes a hostile one in the manga to add more conflict. Unfortunately, he still looks and speaks like a helper, so the behavior does not match the portrayal. Yet, several "boss" characters are excluded, even though they could supply the necessary situations. As a result, while the title is beautiful to read, it lacks many of the actions and characterizations of the original title, leaving the reader bewildered by the missing characters and conflicting characters.

Fortunately, the Milk

I don't have a stego toy to go with the book. 

Maybe I should amend that.

Gaiman, Neil.  Fortunately, the Milk. New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2013.

Plot: A simple quest to get milk for his children's breakfast sends a father on an insane journey through time and space...apparently. While his children remain skeptical, the father relates his adventures with space aliens bent on redecorating the world and a benevolent stegosaurus scientist. In a desperate attempt to save the world from tacky knick-knacks and himself from pirates, volcanoes, and piranhas, the father skips through time, somehow always using the milk to fix the situation.

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Pi in the Sky, Cow of the Cowibbean

Personal Thoughts: Gaiman is perhaps best known for his horror or dramatic titles, such as Coraline and Odd and the Frost Giants. However, such titles often hint at his offbeat sense of humor. This title runs wild with his brand of comedy, displaying a playful, energetic side to the writer for the readers to enjoy.

Side Note: My father would definitely tell such a story to me and my siblings when we were kids.

AIDS

Maybe I shouldn't have taken a picture of a white book 

on a white background...

Sonenklar, Carol. AIDS. Minneapolis : Twenty-First Century Books, 2011.

Plot: Despite their infamy, HIV and AIDS remain little understood by the general public. The title seeks to enlighten readers by offering a study of the natural history, politics, causes, and symptoms of the diseases. Articles from USA Today supplement the book's chapters. Sonenklar also includes the stories of three victims of the disease and their responses, treatments, and acceptance of it.

Genre: Science, Health

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: STDs, Depression

Personal Thoughts: The understanding of AIDS and HIV changed a lot since I was a tween. While some transformations improve the situation for victims by providing prevention, treatment, and support, a worrying large amount of misinformation abounds. The title highlights how social bias still prevents many potential victims from seeking the help when they need it. It also limits the amount of support non-victims offer HIV positive individuals. Like so many diseases, knowledge leads to prevention. As much as parents, teachers, guardians, and librarians wish for the contrary, many tweens engage in behaviors making them vulnerable to HIV. Warning young readers with facts instead of scare tactics can protect them.

Mal and Chad: Volume 1 - The Biggest, Bestest Time Ever!

Now in 3-D Action*

McCranie, Stephen. Mal and Chad: Volume I - The Biggest, Bestest Time Ever!. New York : Philomel Books, 2011.

Plot: Mal, a fourth-grade super-genius, refuses to reveal his intellect to anyone except his talking dog, Chad. While the two enjoy everyday adventures of trying dog food, going to school, and testing jetpacks, Mal still needs to take care of school business. His teacher wants him to write about what he wants to be when he grows up. With Chad in tow, Mal tries to be a scuba diver and a paleontologist. However, the time machine he uses to study dinosaurs goes awry, sending Chad's crush back in time. Mal needs to rescue her before the tear in the space-time continuum closes on them forever.

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adventure

Reading Level: Grades 2-6

Similar Titles: Copper, Casebook: The Bermuda Triangle

Personal Thoughts: A well-written, nicely illustrated book, the title manages to offer a balance between the extraordinary and everyday. Chad makes rockets, jetpacks, and time machines, but he still deals with bullies, homework, and chores. His responses to such challenges reveal his positive qualities. Often, misunderstood genius characters rely on their social awkwardness to appeal to their audiences. Chad plays the stereotype, but then he overcomes it. He uses his genius to make Mal's dog food taste better. Despite his intellect, Mal still respects his teacher. He observes his classmates without belittling them. However, his greatest virtue is his display of what growing up means.

Like a lot of tweens, he starts the "what will I do when I grow up" assignment by focusing on a career. By the end of the title, though, he concentrates on what kind of person he intends on becoming. This change hit a nerve. Like a lot of graduates, I tend to spend a lot of time working towards a particular job. One of the hardest things I have learned is to focus on who I will be, instead of what I will do. This is a great lesson to learn early on, and the title offers it in a meaningful and entertaining manner.

*Not really in 3-D action.

Officer Buckle and Gloria

Someone describes important concepts while a cute animal maintains attention.

Why does this sound familiar?

Rathmann, Peggy. Officer Buckle and Gloria. New York : Putnam's, 1995.

Plot: Officer Buckle comes to Napville School for a safety assembly. No one really pays attention, until Gloria comes. Gloria, a police dog, sits obediently on command, then playfully acts out each of Officer Buckle's safety tips while he faces the audience. The officer is shocked when people begin to listen. He becomes even more excited when he receives an entire envelope filled with thank-you notes, all featuring Gloria. He begins to offer more and more assemblies, shows, and meetings without seeing Gloria's act behind his back. Then he and Gloria are filmed, revealing the truth. Unsurprisingly, Officer Buckle is hurt, but he is not the only one...

Genre: Picture Books, Humor, Friendship, Animals

Reading Level: Pre-K through Grade 3

Similar Titles: Miss Fox's Class Gets it Wrong; Speak Up, Tommy!

Personal Thoughts: While the title is intended for a younger age group than tweens, it still offers a relevant lesson. Teens often feel the pressure to look for an identity, especially among their peers and community. Many seek it by participating in projects or events. It can be devastating when someone seems to get all the attention, even when the tween contributed a lot of effort. However, much like Officer Buckle, their work carries as much importance as their more flashy partners, even if they feel it does not. Even though they might not be the star of the project, they are still important, and that is a lesson everyone needs to know.

The title received the Caldecott Medal.

Side Note: A book with a dog and an award sticker on the cover, but the dog lives. The Apocalypse may very well be upon us.

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Polar Explorer: An Expedition You'd Rather Not Go On

Dragons don't like Antarctica

Green, Jen. You Wouldn't Want to Be a Polar Explorer: An Expedition You'd Rather Not Go On. New York : Franklin Watts, 2001.

Plot: The title follows Captain Frank Worsley on the first overland crossing of Antarctica. The expedition, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton, offers fame and honor in the event of success. It also promises a hazardous journey. Still, it gives the opportunity to avoid enlistment in the coming World War I, so it could not be that bad.
It is arguably worse.
The ship becomes trapped and destroyed by ice, costing both the means of escape and the bulk of the trip's supplies. A small group, including Worsley, eventually strike out to find help at a nearby whaling camp. However, rough weather, worse terrain, and questionable directions plague the rescue team. Still, they make it, without ever even beginning their intended expedition.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 4 and up

Similar Titles: You Wouldn't Want to Be series, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance

Personal Thoughts: Everyone learns about explorers as heroes. However, not everyone gets the opportunity to learn what such heroism requires. The title does not dismiss Shackleton, his expedition, or his crew. However, it does provide a realistic assessment of the situation: due to the starvation, the work, the cold, and the anxiety, most people would not like to be a Polar explorer!

Love in the Animal Kingdom

I'm not sure if he wants to watch the birds or eat them

Love in the Animal Kingdom presented by Nature

Plot: While all animals need to get together to produce a new generation. However, some take extra care and consideration when choosing potential mates. Some consider elaborate dances, bright colors, and synchronized calls as good indicators for a beau. Nice territory or high social position attract loyal mates. Many species obediently follow protocol, then immediately flirt with a neighbor's mate. Still, a few remain loyal to each other exclusively for the breeding season, occasionally longer. No matter the attraction or fidelity, relationships provide a means of continuing the species.

Genre: Animals, Documentary

Reading Level: Aimed at all audiences. However, some scenes between mates may be awkward to explain to younger viewers.

Similar Titles: Animal Odd Couples, Why We Love Cats and Dogs

Personal Thoughts: With Valentine's Day on the horizon, this is a relevant documentary. However, some of the "private" scenes may prove too mature (or giggle-worthy) for tweens to appreciate. Also, the documentary ends with an unnecessary Bambi-esque narration.

Side Note: Birds of paradise are hilarious.

Special Report: Science Fair Resources

Well, faithful readers, Science Fair season approaches. Here are some resources for setting up a prize-winning project and display.

Let's make some plans

California State Science Fair 2013 Category Awards:
http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2013/Awards
The site lists the award-winning projects of the 2013 California State Science Fair. While images of the projects are not presented, the write-ups, including hypothesis, experiments, and results are included. The site can assist student seeking projects or ideas on how to write their reports.

Education.com’s Science Fair Ideas:
http://www.education.com/science-fair/#all
While the site has a lot of advertisements, it also offers free science fair ideas. Visitors can use the search bar to find specific projects or the side filters to select specific topics and grade levels.

Food science!

Energy Quest’s Science Projects:
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects
After a brief description of what makes a good project, the site offers a list of science fair projects focusing on energy concepts. Many projects require the use of high temperatures, sharp objects, and complicated topics, so adult supervision may be necessary.

Iconic Displays’ Science Fair Resource Guide:
http://www.iconicdisplays.com/Science-Fair-Display-Guide.html
Rather than focus on the project, this site shows how to display projects at a science fair. The website includes color selection, graph creation, title creation, and layout advice.

Science Bob’s Science Fair Ideas:
http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/index.php
This site does not present projects quite as clearly as some of the others, but it does provide selection advice and format recommendations. The site is a good resource for understanding the concepts behind a science fair project, rather than the projects themselves.

Garden science!

Science Buddies:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org 
This award-winning website provides project ideas, guides, and answers to visitor questions. “Help Me Find a Project” (http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml#helpmefindaproject) is especially useful for students with limited time and resources.

Science Fair Extravaganza: Science Fair Project Ideas:
http://sciencefair.math.iit.edu/projects
The website allows visitors to utilize household items to create science fair projects. It also lists additional resources and research recommendations.

Animal science!

Science Kids’ Science Experiments for Kids:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html 
The site offers over forty different science experiments students can perform with household items. Each project includes a list of necessary materials, an experiment description, and an explanation of the results.

Science Fair Projects World:
http://www.sciencefair-projects.org/
This website offers detailed outlines for elaborate projects. Some require difficult to find materials, so consider the projects carefully before committing to them.

Technology science!

Explore.org

Pay no attention to the fingers at the bottom of the picture

Explore.org

Plot: The site displays a series of webcams. The cameras focus on specific areas in aquariums, zoos, national parks, kennels, and animal rescue centers.

Genre: Websites, Animals

Reading Level: Suitable for all ages

Similar Titles: AnimalCams at the National Zoo, Live Web Cams at the Monterey Bay Aquariums

Personal Thoughts: The site offers an opportunity to watch live webcams about animals. The cameras are pretty relaxing, and they give a means of getting a critter "fix" when going to the zoo is not an option.

Ozma of Oz

She wants the Nome King to win

Baum, L. Frank, Shanower, Eric, and Young, Skottie. Ozma of Oz. New York : Marvel Worldwide, Inc., 2011.

Plot: Dorothy unexpectedly finds herself in in Oz again. This time, she joins the Princess of Oz, Ozma, in her quest to free the Queen, Princesses, and Princes of Ev, a neighboring kingdom. The royal family is now in the power of the Nome King, who proves not to be as amicable as he appears. Still, with the strength of a princess, Kansas girls, yellow hen, lion, tiger, tin man, scarecrow, and the army of Oz, the heroes are bound to succeed. Right?

Genre: Graphic Novels, Fantasy

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Marvelous Land of Oz, Delicate Creatures

Personal Thoughts:  A graphic novel interpretation of Dorothy's second adventure in Oz, the text captures the original spectacle of the book. Bright colors and loose lines give the cartoonish character designs a funky, Nightmare Before Christmas appeal. However, the text also stays true to the original tale, without adding or subtracting from Baum's story.

Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovery of the Coelacanth

Ancient Bro High-Five

Walker, Sally M. Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discover of the Coelacanth. Minneapolis, MN : Carolrhoda Books, 2002.

Plot: One day, a little over eighty years ago, a young lady sorted through a catch of fish for her museum. She found a hard-scaled, huge, blue fish that had not been seen for millions of years. The fish, known as the coelacanth, quickly captured the world's attention. In the process, political issues, technical limitations, and environmental concerns marked additional study of the fish. Even now, the fish's behavior and life cycle remain little known.

Genre: History, Animals

Reading Level: Grades 5-9

Similar Titles: Mystery Fish, Coelacanth: The Living Fossil

Personal Thoughts: The story of the coelacanth's discovery sounds more like something out of the fantasy section rather than the nonfiction genre. Walker does the story justice by steadily revealing the facts and the people surrounding the animal. Additionally, the title utilizes photographs and drawn illustrations to balance the text without overwhelming the reader.

Monster High: Hopes and Screams: An Original Graphic Novel

Pay no attention to the Nutella in the background

Nuhfer, Heather and Howard, Josh. Monster High: Hopes and Screams: An Original Graphic Novel. New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2014.

Plot: The Gory Gazzette, Monster High's online newsletter, needs a  new editor. Frankie Stien rises to the occasion with the help of her best friends. Creating a good newsletter will require everyone's talents in creativity, consideration, and organization. Other obligations continue, though. The monsters must maintain their grades, friendships, and work habits to create a truly horrific product.

Genre: Graphic Novels

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Monster High: My Monster Life, Monster High: Fearbook

Personal Thoughts: The title is based on a popular toy line, so fans of the dolls will most likely appreciate the graphic novel. Compared to some of the other products of the toyline, though, the graphic novel seem a bit lackluster. For example, the online videos (accessible via YouTube) balance the characters, the action, and the morals a bit better. While they certainly venture into "cheesy" territory, particularly when subjects such as acceptance and tolerance are involved, they have enough humor and characterization to maintain interest. Much of the "lessons" in the graphic novel are the sole focus of the stories, making the plot feel forced and stiff. Still, the images are appealing and the characterizations are consistent, so the title may still be worthy of a review.

Ruby Lu: Brave and True

Pay no attention to the almond butter in the background

Look, Lenore. Ruby Lu: Brave and True. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004.

Plot: Ruby is a young magician in Seattle, Washington. She proudly offers her skills in an almost daily show after school. Yet, she cannot trick herself out of approaching changes. She has to start going to Chinese School, where she struggles with ink, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Ruby also must deal with a bratty bully, cute brother, and competitive friend. Her biggest challenge, though, is on its way from China. Her name is Flying Duck, and she will live with Ruby and share her bedroom!

Genre: Everyday, Growing Up, Humor

Reading Level: Grades 1-3

Similar Titles: Junie B. Jones series, The Talented Clementine

Personal Thoughts: Much like her Alvin Ho series, Look combines everyday events, exaggerated reactions, and over-the-top situations to create a fun title. Additionally, the book references some aspects of Chinese culture, such as language and food, without loosing the characters or story.