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."

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.

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.