Odd and the Frost Giants

A big guy, a little guy, and a bird

Gaiman, Neil. Odd and the Frost Giants. New York : Harper, 2009.

Plot: Odd, a strong-willed but crippled boy, always finds joy in the spring. As the winter lingers to obscene lengths, he runs away to his father's old hut, only to discover a strangely determined fox. The vulpine interloper introduces him to a bear and eagle. The three are the Norse gods Loki, Thor, and Odin. Odd must break their curse to summon spring, but he may find more than a change in weather during his quest.

Genre: Fantasy, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Loki's Wolves, Book of Three, The Raiders

Personal Thoughts: A light story by Neil Gaiman. The story focuses mostly on Odd, rather than his larger-than-life companions, but it also shows him his mother's fairly tragic past. Much like mythology in general, his story is an attempt to explain the unexplainable situations guiding his past, present, and future.

However, the title does not have quite the impact of some of Gaiman's other works, such as Coraline, which seems strange. Both heroes find themselves in strange situations. Both must accomplish seemingly impossible goals to save themselves and others. Both learn to appreciate their parents, especially their mothers, through their adventures. Coraline, ultimately, seems bettered developed, perhaps due to the presence of unsympathetic faults, such as stubbornness and selfishness.  The many unknowns surrounding her antagonist makes the heroine more intriguing as well. Unfamiliarity, after all, requires the readers to invest themselves in an attempt to understand the text. Ultimately, Odd is an interesting character, but not as interesting as some others popular heroes.

Side Note: I wonder how new readers will view the story in a post-Avengers movie society.

Varjak Paw

Two predators...

Said, S. F. Varjak Paw. New York : David Flicking Books, 2003.

Plot: While his family enjoys a pampered life as a Contessa's pets, Varjak is painfully ill-fitting for the life of a Mesopotanian blue. His eyes, the color of danger, denote his tendency to get into trouble and disturb his family's life of unruffled calm. He becomes suspicious of a Gentleman caller to the Contessa, especially after she disappears. Assisted by his grandfather, Varjak escapes to the outside world, where he immediately finds himself overwhelmed. Yet, in a dream, he is visited by his ancestor and instructed in the Way, a series of seven skills capable of helping him rescue his family. Varjak finds friends, including a pair of ally cats named Tam and Holly, as well as enemies during his training in the Way. Yet, his family, and all cats, remain in peril from the strange Gentleman and his deadly black cats. The Way alone may not be enough to stop the Gentleman's plans.

Genre: Animals, Fantasy, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Familiars, Savvy, The Outlaw Varjak Paw

Personal Thoughts: The title provides a typical martial arts-animal fantasy-zombie-street drama-coming of age story. Joking aside, the tale manages to utilize various tropes in a surprisingly pleasing manner. Varjak's identity struggles with his family and himself echo with readers, while the surreal meetings with his legendary ancestor appeal to tweens seeking something unusual. The story also includes a thoroughly unnerving undercurrent, much like Coraline. Readers immediately know something dangerously uncanny drives the story, although its true nature remains a mystery until the very end.

The title provided a basis for an opera and play. The Jim Henson Company reported plans to use the story for an animated movie in 2006.

Kensuke's Kingdom

Sprite refuses to let anyone see him cry

Morpurgo, Michael. Kensuke's Kingdom. New York : Scholastic Press, 2003.

Plot: Following his parents' layoffs from the brick factory, Michael's life dissolves into despair. His father, however, decides to make the family's loss into an opportunity. They will travel for a year by boat to discover the world beyond their English city. The first part of the trip goes well, but, one night, in a moment of carelessness, he finds himself and his dog washed overboard. Much to his surprise, he does not drown. Instead, he finds himself on an island...and at the mercy of its sole inhabitant. The island's hermit, Mr. Kensuke, a survivor of World War II, expresses a reluctance to rejoin humanity, due to the destruction of war. Still, he learns to enjoy Michael's presence, even if he cannot stay with the boy.

Genre: Adventure, Coming of Age, Survival

Reading Level: Grades 4-6

Similar Titles: The Cay,  The Swiss Family Robinson

Personal Thoughts: Most survivor stories have a bittersweet aspect. Kensuke's Kingdom injects the sorrowful tone into every plot point. The family fights depression and arguments, even as they find themselves needing to rely on each other. Michael's desire for rescue conflicts with his loyalty to Kensuke, while Kensuke's longing to find his son and wife clashes with his conviction of their death. As a result, a sad strain seeps through the entire novel. I mentioned previously, discussing somber topics in tween novels can be tricky, since tweens often view grief differently than adults. As such, some tweens may enjoy the adventure but be turned off by the sad aspects, particularly in the ending, when Kensuke can be viewed as more selfish than sympathetic. Recommend with caution.

Dumpling Days

I'm hungry!

Lin, Grace. Dumpling Days. Prince Frederick, MD : Recorded Books, 2012.

Plot: Much to her frustration, Pacy Lin finds herself on a long flight to Taiwan. While her parents insist the trip will teach her and her sisters about their culture, she doubts she will find anything of importance. The first jet-lagged days seem to confirm her fears. The customs, language, and lessons frustrate and alienate her. Eventually, though, she discovers the positive aspects of the country, such as its stories and food, especially its dumplings. She discovers herself as a Taiwanese-American, and learns to accept and enjoy both worlds.

Genre: Growing Up, Asian-American, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Year of the Dog, Turtle in Paradise

Personal Thoughts: While I enjoyed the title, it seemed to fall into the trap plaguing most mixed-culture novels. Typically, the books reflect exclusively on the difficult aspects of growing up in two cultures and, frustratingly, most of Dumpling Days focuses on the alienation facing Taiwanese-Americans. While a mixed background can be difficult, it can also be fun, which Lin's previous titles describe in detail. Unfortunately, only two pages of Dumpling Days address the benefits of both cultures. Still, it does offer a realistic view of a trip to Taiwan, as well as insight to Taiwanese traditions and lifestyles. As such, the title remains recommended, but not as recommended as Year of the Rat or Year of the Dog.

Babymouse: Queen of the World

Holm, Jennifer L. and Holm, Matthew. Babymouse: Queen of the World. New York : Random House Children's Books, 2005.

Plot: The imaginative Babymouse longs for the life of a queen. However, she lives with chores, messy whiskers, math, and evil lockers. Felicia Furrypaws, the most popular girl in school, definitely enjoys the royal lifestyle, and her slumber party offers a peek into a regal world. Babymouse must convince the school queen to let her join the party. However, the high life may not offer the pleasures or acceptance she expects.

Genre: Graphic Novel, Comics, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Grades 1-6

Similar Titles: Junie B. Jones series, Babymouse: Rockstar

Personal Thoughts: The titular character presents an unusually balanced view of a junior higher. While Babymouse suffers from bullies, school, and failures, she also enjoys friends, hobbies, and successes through trial, error, and an overactive imagination. Many novels tend to portray the world of tweens as chronically terrible (the Star Wars prequel model) or constantly ending happily ever after (the Brady Bunch method). Babymouse offers a view of someone with creativity, sarcasm, and hopes. Sometimes she wins, sometimes she looses, but she always survives the situations. As a result, the series is positive without becoming preachy.

The series recently published its 17th book.
 

Catwings

Le Guin, Ursula K. Catwings. New York : Orchard Books, 1988.

Plot: Mrs. Tabby shows little curiosity when her four kittens are born with wings. Yet, as they grow, the city becomes steadily more dangerous to any young cat. She eventually sends them off to find a better home away from the dogs, cars, and hostility. They find a green land with interesting smells and ample fish. Yet, their unusual gift causes fear among the local birds. Eventually, the owl attempts to take matters into her own talons, and the little cats must avoid her nighttime hunts. Still, their mother believed they could leave the city for a better life, and two farm children may lead the winged kittens to it.

Genre: Fantasy, Animals

Similar Titles: Jane on Her Own, The Warm Place, The Wizard of Oz

Reading Level: Grades 4-7


Personal Thoughts: Le Guin, also known for her Tales of Earthsea series, offers a delightfully fantastic story of strange animals in a familiar world. While cats' atypical trait finds mention, it does not form their primary motivation. They simply seek a better home, although they have a better means than usual to find it. The potential problems, such as finding food and avoiding predators finds realistic description without slipping into a depressing narrative. Lightheartedness and seriousness balance each other nicely in the title.

A total of four books make the Catwings series.

Brave

Brave produced by Pixar.

Plot: Princess Merida, a headstrong, athletic, intelligent seventeen-year-old, is determined to stop her mother's plan to betroth her. By contrast, Queen Elenor observes her daughter's reluctance, but insists the only way to maintain the kingdom comes through submission to tradition. After a chance encounter with a wood witch, the princess gains a spell guaranteed to "change her mother." The spell works, but instead of changing Elenor's mind, the magic changes her into a bear. After escaping the castle and feuding clans, the queen and princess discover the spell will be permanent after two days. Miranda and her mother must work together to break the spell before Elenor's mind is lost forever.

Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Movies

Reading Level: Rated PG for scary moments and crude humor

Similar Titles: Finding Nemo

Personal Thoughts: I am not sure why this movie gets the negative reviews it receives. Most sources site slow pacing, undeveloped characters, lack of surprises, and mixed plotlines. Personally, I found the pacing considerably quicker than other Pixar films, particularly Toy Story, Finding Nemo, or Cars. While the film includes many characters and plots, their interactions with each other define their personalities. The movie does not feature the monologues or personal speeches present in, say, The Incredibles or Ratatoullie, because the characters act on their intentions instead of stating them. Not too many twists appear in the film, but they did not need to, since the traditional "princess doesn't want to get married story" morphs into a "mother-daughter film," causing a subtle shift rather than a dramatic twist. Pixar seems to take everything it learned from prior films to create a solid offering.

Perhaps the favor or disfavor stems from the viewers, rather than the film itself. For example, the movie features more "cartoony" moments than prior features, so non-animation fans may find the film tedious. Also, background can influence the viewer. For example, my mother liked the film because she raised three teenage daughters. She understood Elenor's struggles in trying to raise a good kid in an unkind world of mixed messages. Non-mothers may have a very different view of the conflicts Elenor faces.

I like the movie, though, because like the modern tween, I grew up with The Little Mermaid. Nearly every movie I watched featured a strong, independent, female character instantly hailed as the ideal women...until actually viewed her outside of the movie. I will use Ariel as an example. She is an athletic, friendly, beautiful, independent women who, ultimately, is selfish, unwilling to learn, and irresponsible. Like Merida, she gains a spell to get what she wants, and ultimately threatens her family and her kingdom in the process, but still receives her desire without cost. She receives everything she wants without facing her own faults and, as a result, never really changes for better or worse. Real people do not live in consequence-free situations. Unlike Ariel, though, Merida eventually confronts her faults with tears, realizing her choices, not her situation, caused the problems. This, combined with her other qualities such as laziness and stubbornness may not make her a "strong female character" but, with her intelligence and athleticism, it does make her into a realistic, attainable one. Merida acts like a real person, not a caricature, bringing the fantasy movie to a new height.

A Monster Calls

Ness, Patrick. A Monster Calls. Somerville, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 2011.

Plot: Conor fearlessly meets the monster in his room. After all, it is not the one that haunted his dreams since his mother's diagnosis. Yet, the monster warns of greater danger. It will share three stories with Conor, then Conor must share his own story or be eaten. None of the stories make sense to the boy, but they inspire (or force) him to act strangely, violently, and monstrously. He abandons his best friend, destroys his grandmother's house, and injures his school's most popular student. As a result, he finds himself alone with a monster. The monster looms ever nearer, but so does the one thing the boy actually fears. Both meet when his mother's cancer treatments no longer work.

Genre: Horror, Coming of Age, Loss

Reading Level: Grades 5-12

Similar Titles: Pretty Monsters, Tiger Eyes

Personal Thoughts: Ness's novel offers a remarkably intense story of fear, loss, and horror. However, I am not sure if I would recommend it. The core aspect of the story focuses on the valid fear of losing a parent, and, as I mentioned in the review of Tiger Eyes, grief can be difficult to convey effectively to anyone, particularly when the target audience is as emotionally intense as tweens. The blend of two themes, monsters and grief, can also easily disappoint the target audience. Horror story enthusiasts will not find the monster "scary enough," while those attempting to cope with grief may view the story as callously mocking their loss. A Monster Calls offers an unusual and emotional view of grief's stages, but the intended goal may not actually reach the intended readers.

Attica

Kilworth, Gary. Attica. London : Atom, 2007.

Plot: After meeting their somewhat grouchy neighbor, Mr. Grantham, three step-siblings enter the house's attic to reclaim a watch he threw away in a fit of passion. Jordy, Alex, and Chloe soon learn that their attic fills more than the space between the ceiling and the roof, though. The strange, encased world of forgotten treasures, abused knicknacks, and lost souls quickly enthralls and captivates the trio. A mission of a few hours quickly becomes a quest of multiple days. While finding the watch remains their priority, they soon discover adventure, danger, and temptation within the country of the attic and its citizens. Strangely, the below world becomes very easily forgotten, especially by the curious and quiet Alex.

Genre: Fantasy, Coming of Age, Grief, Adventure

Reading Level: Grades 3-8; however, more sensitive readers should be cautioned due to the violence and intensity of danger presented in the novel.

Similar Titles: The Harry Potter series

Personal Thoughts: Harry Potter meets Finding Nemo. While the general setting, tone, and characters remind readers of a world of a certain teenage wizard, the plot follows the character development and plot of the Pixar film. Surprisingly, the combination works fairly well. The changes within the protagonists appear natural and understandable without becoming overly preachy. However, the mix is not perfect. Some of the characters, particularly Jordy, appear stinted in development, particularly in light of the additional adventures given to Chloe and Alex. Still, for readers fond of gradual development and growth, the novel provides a worthy read.

Urchin of the Riding Stars

McAllister, Margaret. Urchin of the Riding Stars.New York : Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children, 2005.


Plot: A strange, blond squirrel is born on a night filled with shooting stars. While he is fortunate that the creatures of Anemone Wood raise him as their own, the activities within the hedgehog king's palace indicate trouble in the future. When Crispen, the heir to the throne, chooses Urchin, the foundling squirrel, as his page, the protagonist finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery. The mystery appears to end with the banishment of Crispen. Yet, workloads increase despite the successful harvest. Culling of young continues, with potential extensions to the elderly. Strangest of all, Crispen's successor seems to hide a secret. A secret that links to the oldest and darkest tale in the island of Mistmantle's history.

Genre: Animals, Adventure, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Ages 9-12; however, references to a religion known as the Heart and savage fighting sequences may require caution for more sensitive readers.

Similar Titles: Redwall series

Personal Thoughts: The book is the first of the Chronicles of Mistmantle series.

Overall, the title reads extremely similarly to Jacques' series. Concepts such as heroism, coming of age, good versus evil, and heroes made abound. Yet, the series also displays a style of its own. Villains are not limited to predator species. Instead, heroes and villains share the same genus. As such, the story intrigues the reader, since the villain has no obvious distinction from the hero until he or she acts. The danger appears more "mature" than Redwall, since the majority of the danger comes from civil unrest and conspiracy rather than exterior armies and ancient threats. The series provides a good "next read" for fans of Redwall, since its core principles are similar while adopting more subtle, "real world" villains.

Poppy

Avi. Poppy. New York : Orchard Books, 1995.


Plot: Poppy, a young deer mouse, looses her boyfriend. Her friend does not fall victim to just any predator, though. He is devoured by Mr. Ocax, a great horned owl and the cruel "protector" of the deer mice. Despite her protests, her father insists on requesting permission to leave the field from the tyrannical owl, only to have the raptor refuse. Determined to save her family from starvation within their old home, Poppy attempts to reach the fabled New House. Her journeys lead her to question the supposed wisdom of the owl, particularly after discovering the trail of lies leading to the cornfields of New House. However, while a bully is dangerous, nothing compares to the peril of a frightened bully who can no longer hide his fears...

Genre: Animals, Adventure, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: Redwall series

Personal Thoughts: The novel inspired three sequels: Poppy & Rye, Poppy's Return, and Poppy and Ereth.

Much like the Redwall series, many of the characters are displayed in terms of good or evil, but unlike Jacques' novels, Poppy's world also houses a number of neutral characters with little concern for the mice or the owl. While this makes for a more callous world, it makes it  a believable one. Heroes do not always find friends, but they may find allies, much like Poppy discovers with the porcupine. Additionally, the novel explores the qualities required to make a hero, such as a sense of duty, curiosity, knowledge, independence, and respect. Much like the mice in Redwall Abbey, Poppy becomes the unexpected heroine through her difficult journey.

The Familiars

Epstein, Adam Jay Epstein and Jacobson, Andrew. The Familiars. New York : Harper, 2010.


Plot: In an attempt to escape a persistent exterminator, Aldwyn, a rough alley cat, inadvertently tricks a young wizard into choosing him as his familiar. While the wizard expects the cat to show his talents after a few days, Aldwyn meets his fellow familiars, an illusionist blue jay named Skylar and a soothsaying frog named Gilbert. However, the shallow lie begins to have drastic consequences when the the familiars' wizards are kidnapped by an evil queen. Saving them requires the every talent available to the familiars, including the cat's nonexistent powers. Aldwyn must face his old life, his own lie, and his new loyalty to save the wizard he loves.

Genre: Animals, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Adventure

Reading Level: Ages 9-12. Some scenes, particularly the death scenes of a wizard and a witch, may be intense for sensitive readers.

Similar Titles: Redwall series

Personal Thoughts: The book has already spawned a sequel and has two additional titles in the works. In addition, the book inspired an upcoming 3-D film produced by Sony.

While the title offers an alternative to Redwall and Harry Potter, the series differs radically from both. It lacks the world-building capacities of Jacques' novels. While the world of wizards is undeniably independent from the readers' own, it does not present itself as convincingly as Redwall Abbey. Much of the environment seems generic, without the descriptive geographical and cultural features of Redwall. Unlike Rowling's series, the characters' progression seems too simple, too given, and too instantaneous to really attract the reader. Many problems seem solved by consequence, rather than activity. Additionally, Skylar, Gilbert, and Aldwyn, appear as furry images of Hermione, Ron, and Harry. Variation from the scholar, slacker, and chosen stereotypes popularized by Harry Potter would allow the series to develop, rather than copy, previous titles. The novel fails to completely reach its potential.

Still, the popularity of the series is understandable. The use of quick dialog, appropriate humor, and near-constant action allows the reader to anticipate the trials and successes of the animals in their quest.

Peach Fuzz (Vol 1)

Cibos, Lindsay and Hodges, Jared. Peach Fuzz (Vol 1). Los Angeles : Tokyopop, 2005.

Plot: Nine-year-old Amanda gets the opportunity to have her own pet. Determined to find the most exotic pet available. She finds a ferret, which seems to meet her standards, despite its tendency to nip. However, her pet, Peach, quickly reveals she has an agenda of her own. The ferret, convinced she is royalty, immediately escapes and claims the household as her own. Eventually, the ferret's demands overwhelm her owner. Amanda must face her own fears and responsibilities if she wants to become friends with Peach.

Genre: Animals, Manga, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: Van Von Helsing, Hamtaro, Tama and Friends

Personal Thoughts: The novel is an example of an English-Language manga. English-Language mangas tend to be absolutely loved or absolutely hated by manga fans. Simply described, this variation of manga is written in English, but presented in the Japanese manga style. Personally, I think the saga of Peach and Amanda would not work in another medium. Text-based formats would shatter the story completely. Even traditional comic books would not convey the over-the-top emotions and situations quite as well as asymmetrical format and emoticon-based art in manga. So, while the genre will always have its critics, it also seems to have its place in storytelling.

The manga began as a 17-page winner of Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga competition. The comic also appeared briefly in North American newspapers in 2005.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004.

Plot: Moose's life has never been easy. It becomes even more complicated when his family moves to Alcatraz. While his parents hope to get Moose's sister, Natalie, into a highly recommended school, Moose wishes he could leave the criminals and crazy warden to return to Santa Monica. His wish intensifies when the warden's daughter gets him and nearly every other junior higher on the island in trouble. To further complicate things, his mother wants him to watch Natalie while she teaches piano. Despite her three year seniority over Moose, Natalie requires the utmost care, especially with so many criminals in their own backyard. Yet, Natalie is not the only one in need of help. Moose must learn how to grow despite his stunted relationships with his parents.

Genre: Coming of Age, Historical Fiction

Reading Level: Ages 8-16

Similar Titles: Al Capone Shines My Shoes, A Year Down Yonder, Budd, Not Buddy

Personal Thoughts: The book is interesting, but I do not think I would have liked it as a tween. It tries to include too much. The novel's main themes involve Natalie's autism, the history of Alcatraz, Moose's issues with his mother, and coming of age. As a result, the novel becomes skewed, focusing on so many topics it fails to adequately address any, causing much of the setting's potential to fall by the wayside with an abrupt ending. The issue of growing up in Alcatraz, the inspiration for the novel's title, seems especially muted. In addition, despite the title's implications, the book is not particularly humorous and is, in fact, rather depressing. True, the novel does provide the necessary service of addressing past grievances and current issues, particularly regarding society's response to older autistics. Yet, it is not fun or easy to read about.

Changes for Molly: A Winter Story

Well...I forgot to mention this last time, but we will look at American Historical Fiction this week.

Tripp, Valarie and Backes, Nick. Changes for Molly: A Winter Story. Madison, Wis. : Pleasant Co., 1988.

Plot: After waiting for several years, Molly's family finally gets the letter they have longed for. Molly's father will be returning safely after serving his country as a doctor during World War II. His letter expresses how he missed his family, and how he eagerly waits to see the changes in his children. Molly, however, has not changed. She is still plain old Molly. Determined to greet her father perfectly, Molly tries out for the dance show at the veterin's hospital. She receives the star role after changing her stick-straight hair into bright curls. She is convinced everything will be perfect. Yet, perfection often comes at a price.


Genre: Historical Fiction, Coming of Age


Reading Level: Ages 9-12


Similar Titles: The Struggle, Missing in Action, The Art of Keeping Cool

Personal Thoughts: A light read that offers a link between historical issues and perminent concerns. Many works of historical fiction focus on the participants of World War II, but this member of the American Girls series takes note of the majority of the families in the war. Molly never spies on the Germans, falls in love with the enemy, or works for the government. Instead, she struggles with growing up, learns to work in a strained situation, and participates in community services. Reading the novel provides insight to the life of the everyman (everygirl?) in WWII. Also, the novel looks into topics still facing girls, particularly the desire to be "grown up." Molly wants her father to see how she has grown, but her appearance does not reveal the maturity she has accomplished. People still struggle with looks and growing, so the novel can still be applicable post-war.


A section at the end of the novel provides a brief historical review of the story's setting.

Eragon

Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. New York : Distributed by Random House, 2003.

Plot: While on a hunting trip, Eragon finds a bright blue stone. Yet, it bears a secret for him on one clear night. The stone cracks to reveal a dragon hatchling. The dragon, later named Saphira, bonds with the teenager. Yet, the politics, legends, and fears surrounding dragons and their riders quickly overwhelm Eragon, costing him his home and his uncle. During his escape, Eragon encounters elves, dwarves, traitors, and rebels. Still, as Saphira reminds him, farmboys are not named after the original Dragon Rider for no reason. A much-needed revolution depends on the boy and his dragon.

Genre: Fantasy, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Ages 10-16, but older teens and adults may find it interesting as well.

Similar Titles: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Sea Trolls

Personal Thoughts: I was surprised by the book. Dragon stories, unfortunately, have a tendency to rely on the "novelty" of the creatures to define their setting. However, Paolini presents a realistic world with believable politics, traditions, and superstitions. The dragon, while exceptional, still meshes with the world in a natural manner. The book is highly recommended for fans of fantasy looking for something "lighter" than Tolkien but "heavier" than Rowling.

The novel provided the basis for a movie in 2006. While critics praised the graphics, the overall film received poor reviews.

Eragon is the first novel of a four-novel series. The final novel, Inheritance, will be published in November.

Tiger Eyes

Blume, Judy. Tiger Eyes. New York : Dell Pub. Co., 1981.

Plot: After the brutal murder of her father, Davey and her remaining family are locked in deep sorrow. Seeking assistance, her mother takes her two children to the safety of her brother's New Mexican home. Davey, with the help of Wolf, a young hiker, eventually faces her grief. Her journey through the mourning process faces challenges, as she faces her depressed mother, overprotective relatives, alcoholic friend, paranoid community, and racist neighbors. Life without her father will not be easy, but Davey may learn to grow into a woman capable of handling sorrow without losing herself in the maze of fears and escapism surrounding her.

Genre: Edgy, Coming of Age, Society, High School

Reading Level: Ages 10-13

Similar Titles: It's Not Summer without You: A Summer Novel, A Time for Dancing, Wrecked

Personal Thoughts: As an adult, I thought the novel portrayed the stages of grief in a clear and sympathetic manner. However, I hated the novel as a tween. To me, the story seemed to offer a mish-mash of alcohol, teen angst, rebellion, and anger issues, not a story of grief.  I am not entirely sure why I like the novel more as an adult than as a tween. Perhaps learning about psychology helped me understand Davey's actions better. Maybe age gave me the maturity necessary to recognize the logic behind the protagonist's responses. Experiencing some grief of my own may allow me to appreciate the story. However, the answer may be much simpler. Perhaps, despite the popular insistence that tweens are emotionally mature, they just do not understand things the manner way an older reader will.

I do not think I would recommend this book. For someone experiencing grief, the novel seems like a parody of sorrow under layers of social issues. If someone has not experience loss, an actual biography may be more beneficial. Overall, the book is good, but not particularly useful.

Treasure Island

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Treasure Island. New York : Scribner, 1981.


Plot: Jim Hawkins unintentionally becomes heir to a legendary treasure map when a sea-going stranger dies unexpectedly. He, with the local doctor and squire, set off to find the wealth. While the company eagerly seeks the treasure, they find themselves on board the Hispanola with a motley crew of questionable seamen, a strict captain, and a cheerful cook known as Long John Silver. The boat's occupants have their own agenda, though, and the island housing the treasure is not quite as deserted as initially thought.

Genre: Treasure Island, Adventure, Coming of Age, Historical Fiction

Reading Level: Ages 9-12; although some readers may be discouraged by the technical and old fashioned writing.

Similar Titles: Tales of Zorro, The Angel's Command, The Guns of Tortuga

Personal Thoughts: My ninja-loving bias will have to be suppressed this week.

Anyway, many consider this book to be the epitome of children's adventure literature. Due to the age and popularity of the novel, the belief seems justified. However, many modern books, such as Hatchet, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, also capture adventure, but in a more accessible manner. The story requires several chapters describing the setting of the novel, and the action waits until nearly a third of the book. I would recommend the title to active readers. However, reluctant readers will most likely find lengthy set-up of the novel discouraging or boring. Another title may offer a more satisfying experience for newer readers.

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

Henry, Marguerite Henry. Justin Morgan Had a Horse . Chicago : Rand McNally, 1954.

Plot: Joel Goss, much to his delight, is allowed to "gentle" Little Bud, a tiny foal given to his schoolmaster to cancel a debt. However, the realities of horsemanship mean Bub will work hard for other owners. Nevertheless, Joel is determined to one day own the horse that managed to out-work, out-pull, and out-race every challenger. His dedication eventually allows him to keep the foal he once cared for, and lead to the creation of a breed representing the United States.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Animals, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: King of the Wind, Black Beauty, Misty of Chincoteague

Personal Thoughts: The book won a Newbury Honor.

Like many of Henry's novels, the story focuses on a horse and how it affected its child caretakers. Unfortunately, it does not relay the actual history of the Morgan breed well. Apparently, the "first" Morgan was a stallion named Figure. Figure's lineage, as implied by the novel, remains debatable. However, he was not a random farm horse. Justin Morgan actually bred horses, including the stallion that eventually took his name. To learn more about the history of the Morgan horse, please view here and here.

The Year of the Dog

Lin, Grace. The Year of the Dog. New York : Little, Brown, 2006.

Plot: Lissy, Grace's older sister, proclaims the year of the dog is excellent for making friends, since dogs are loyal. Grace's mother also claims dogs are sincere, so this will be a good year for finding oneself. Grace manages to accomplish both throughout the year, especially when Melody, another Taiwanese-American girl moves into town.

Genre: Asian-American, Fiction, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: The Year of the Rat, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Personal Thoughts: I...actually read this and Year of the Rat out of order. While the second book has more polish and a less-standard story, I found myself relating a bit better to Grace in this novel, particularly when she encounters a group of other Asian-American girls. Like many Americans, I (and Grace) are of mixed cultures. Like Grace, I sometimes find I am too much of both cultures to really satisfy the standards of either. As a result, I occasionally wonder where I really fit in the scheme of things. That said, Lin manages to convey this feeling without swamping the book with a big black bush of emotion. Usually, books about "Insert minority here" - American books stress the differences to a point that the world becomes depressing, lonely, and miserable. Things usually aren't that way. True, there are moments when just being one or the other would be easier, but overall, mixed cultures are not bad. Just different. The novel portrays this and many of the other mixed-up experiences and emotions surrounding tweens quite well.