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.