Confessions of a Closet Catholic

Littman, S.D. (2005). Confessions of a Closet Catholic. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books.

Plot Summary:
Justine is having doubts about being Jewish. Her friend Mac’s family seems to be so much closer and more fun than hers; Justine thinks it might have to do with them being Catholic. She decides to turn her closet into a confessional, wearing her long black skirt and mother’s dinner napkin on her head, her large stuffed teddy bear is “Father Ted,” and matzo crackers and grape juice as her communion. Justine is also having a difficult time being the middle child in her family. She feels that her mother likes her older sister the best and her father likes her younger brother. Suddenly, Justine's grandmother, Bubbe, has a stroke and must come live with Justine's family. Justine is horrified when her mother finds out about her wanting to become Catholic and reveals this to Bubbe, a Holocaust survivor. Through her Bubbe's wise words and the help of a priest and rabbi, Justine begins to understand God and her own identity.

Review:
This book has so many wonderful levels to it. It discusses religion, self-identity issues, and the middle child syndrome, all very heavy subjects, but it does it in a very lighthearted way. Justine is a very likable character, she's smart and very funny, and is sadly pretty self-deprecating as well. As she struggles to understand her parents, God, and herself, Justine starts to appreciate herself. The author does a wonderful job of understanding and demonstrating the questioning nature of tweens in their discovery of self-identity, especially on the topic of religion.

Genre:
realistic fiction, humor

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
religion, self-identity, middle child, the Holocaust, family

Character Names/Descriptions:
Justine Silver (Jussy): Justine is an eleven year-old girl; she is Jewish, but would like to be Catholic; she is a middle child; her grandmother is a Holocaust survivor
Bubbe (Zofia): Justine's grandmother; suffers a stroke; is a Holocaust survivor
Mary Catherine McAllister (Mac): Justine's Catholic friend, lives in Justine's new town
Shira: Justine's Jewish friend; lives in Justine's old town; has known her since birth

Annotation:
Justine has decided to give up being Jewish for lent. Through her grandmother's wisdom and the help of a priest and rabbi, Justine begins to understand God and her own identity.

Zombiekins

Bolger, K. (2010). Zombiekins. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Plot Summary:
Stanley Nudelman lives in a town no different than any other, except for the witch living on Shadow Lane, or at least that's what Stanley thinks she's a witch. He stops by her garage sale one day and finds a little stuffed animal in a box. The stuffed animal is unlike anything he's ever seen; it's part bunny, part teddy bear, and part lizard, with fangs. Mrs. Imavitch, the woman holding the garage sale, tells Stanley that he must pay attention to the instructions on the box and gives him some taffy telling him, "you never know vhen it might come in handy." Of course he doesn't read the box and he takes the stuffed animal to school. It immediately runs off and starts biting children, who then bite other children, creating an entire school of zombies. It is up to Stanley and his best friend Miranda to find the stuffed animal and reverse what's been done.

Review:
This is a very funny and quick read. Young readers will enjoy all of the jokes about the teachers in the book. It's full of clever names, such as "Mrs. Imavitch," the scary widow, or "Jacques Straap," the P.E. teacher. I think that this book would snag a lot of readers who are not typically interested in reading with its humor and horror. The illustrations are a fun addition to the book; the author using these illustrations at times to tell the story, rather than write it out. I think this would definitely be a winner among reluctant readers because of its popular subject and the fact that it is a quick read.

Genre:
Humor, horror

Reading Level:
Ages 8 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
zombies, bullies

Character Names/Descriptions:
Stanley Nudelman: young boy who finds Zombiekins at a witch's garage sale, best friends with Miranda, gets bullied by Knuckles Bruzkowski.
Miranda: Stanley's best friend, tries to get Stanley to stand up for himself, helps him with the zombie situation
Zombiekins: stuffed animal found by Stanley at garage sale; part bunny, part teddy bear, part lizard, with fangs; turns all the stuffed animals at Stanley's house and the kids at his school into zombies
Knuckles Bruzkowski: big sixth grader, bullies Stanley, gets turned into a zombie

Annotation:
Stanley finds an odd little stuffed animal at a garage sale, but when he doesn't follow the instructions on the box the stuffed animals begins turning all of Stanley's classmates into zombies. It is up to Stanley to rescue his classmates and capture the zombie toy.

Breathe: A Ghost Story

McNish, C. (2006). Breathe: A Ghost Story. London, England: Orion Publishing Group Ltd.

Plot Summary:
Jack and his mom moved into an old house after the recent loss of his dad. This house was supposed to be a happy change, one that would breathe new life into their little family. What his mom didn't know was that the house was already occupied by five ghosts, one woman and four children. Jack had always been able to sense strange things, but after his father's death, he seemed to have a connection to people who had died. He was immediately aware of ghosts in the house, eventually being able to see them. He meets the ghost mother, a woman whose own daughter died in the house and has been longing to be a mother again. But, when Jack refuses to treat her as a mother, she forces him to by possessing his own mother. This feat isn't easy and the ghost mother must feed off of the souls of the ghost children in the house to do so. This is too much for Jack and his frequent asthma attacks to bear, will he be her next victim?

Review:
This was a haunting story. The spookiness of it would definitely appeal to young people. I ripped through it eager to discover what would come of Jack and his mother. The story was imaginative, the author providing interesting descriptions of "the other side" and "the Nightmare Passage." The author also weaves in the history of the ghost mother and her life with her daughter in the 19th century, who suffered from Scarlatina.

Genre:
Horror, Fantasy

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
single-parent, loss, death, asthma, ghosts

Awards:
Rhode Island Teen Book Award

Character Names/Descriptions:
Jack: recently lost his dad, moved with his mom to old farmhouse, asthmatic, can see and speak to ghosts
Sarah: Jack's mom, recently widowed, becomes possessed by the Ghost Mother
Ghost Mother: died in the house in the 19th century, mother to Isabella who died of Scarlatina, possesses Sarah, wants to be mother to Jack, feeds off of the souls of the ghost children who live in the house

Annotation:
Jack has a special gift of being able to sense the dead, but this gift becomes a nightmare as he and his mother move into an old farmhouse along with five ghosts. Jack and his mother must fight to escape the evil Ghost Mother who is desperate to be a mother once again.

Waiting for Normal

Connor, L. (2008). Waiting for Normal. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Plot Summary:
Addie has only ever known glimpses of normal. Her family is full of twists and turns; her father died when she was young, leaving her with just Mommers, and her paternal grandfather. Then came along Dwight, her stepfather, followed by her half sisters, "the littles." When her mom and Dwight split, Dwight got custody of Addie's half sisters and she went to live in an old trailer with Mommers. Addie tries to make a normal life for herself living in a trailer on a busy street corner. She befriends the employees of a mini-mart on the opposite corner, who become more like family as her mother spends increasingly more nights away from the trailer. Addie begins to get glimpses of a normal home life as she visits Dwight, his new girlfriend Hannah, and the littles at their home in upstate New York, but the pain of having to go home to an empty trailer becomes too much to bear. But there is another twist in store for Addie's life, she may know normal yet.

Review:
Whenever I read books like this, they make me so unbelievably sad that there are children experiencing situations similar to Addie's. This is a sad, yet inspiring story of a 12 year-old girl and her incredible resilience to overcome a self-absorbed and neglectful mother and create wonderful bonds and family with an odd mix of people. The author succeeds in creating a bond between Addie and the reader, witnessing her navigating the already tumultuous tween years with the added strain of her unfortunate family situation. The reader is rooting for Addie throughout the entire book and almost when her case seems hopeless, there is a glimmer of hope and the most happiest of endings.

Genre:
realistic fiction

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
single-parent, loss, family, relationships, divorce, depression, dyslexia

Awards:
New York Public Library's "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing"
School Library Journal Best Book
ALA Notable Children’s Book
ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults
Schneider Family Book Award
ALA Best Book for Young AdultsTexas Lone Star Reading List
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice

Character Names/Descriptions:
Addison Schmeeter (Addie): 12 year-old girl, lives with her mom in a trailer on a street corner, has an incredibly positive attitude
Mommers: Addie's mom, disappears for days at a time with her new boyfriend, suffers from depression
Dwight: Addie's step-dad, father to her little half-sisters, loves and supports Addie, becomes her adopted father
Soula: works at the mini-mart across the street from Addie's trailer, has cancer, becomes a close friend to Addie

Annotation:
Addie must overcome the twists and turns in her life, attempting to find normal among her life that is anything but.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

Swanson, J.L. (2009). Chasing Lincoln's Killers. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Summary:
The book begins with President Abraham Lincoln's inaugural speech on March 4, 1865, of which his eventual assassin, John Wilkes Booth, an actor, was present. It continues on to discuss the end of the Civil War with the fall of the Confederate Army on April 3, 1865. Booth, furious with Lincoln for his success in ending the war and his belief in the rights of black people, had been plotting harm to the president for some time. It was on the night of April 14, 1965, when Mr. Lincoln and his wife were to see a play at the Ford Theater that Booth took his chance to assassinate the president. The book details Booth's plan, as well as his plot with several accomplices to assassinate the Secretary of State and the Vice President as well. It discusses the events that took place that night and the weeks following as the manhunt for Booth and his accomplices ensued.

Review:
This book was fascinating. It is full of authentic quotations from the events that took place, as well as maps and photographs of the victims, assassins, and weapons used. This is a riveting historical account of one of the most horrible events in American history. I learned things I had never known about Lincoln's assassination, as the book goes into great detail into the plot. It was fascinating to read about the manhunt for Booth and to see how divided the country was, with all of the people willing to aide Booth in his escape to the South. The photographs are a wonderful accompaniment to the book, providing spooky photographs of Booth's accomplices as they waited their execution aboard prison ships.

Genre:
Non-fiction

Reading Level:
Ages 10 - 15

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
Civil War, racism, history, Abraham Lincoln, assassination

Awards:
YALSA Best Book for Young Adults

Annotation:
Furious over the fall of the Confederacy, the actor John Wilkes Booth assassinates President Abraham Lincoln in the Ford Theater. What ensues is a chaotic manhunt, full of deception, narrow misses, and those willing to aide a murderer in his escape.

Professional Reading #3

Dotinga, R. (2006, August 16). ‘Tweens’ Curl Up with Graphic Novels. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from: http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0816/p16s02-bogn.html

Krashen, S.D. (2004). The Power of Reading: Insights from the research (2nd ed.). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Until reading the book, The Power of Reading: Insights from the research, for my LIBR 271 class, I would never have thought to offer a comic book or graphic novel to a struggling reader. This book helped me to realize that graphic novels should not be overlooked in helping children to become lifelong readers. This particular author felt that comic books could help lead students to read more, eventually choosing to read novels. A librarian quoted in the article, “‘Tweens’ Curl Up with Graphic Novels” states, “there’s a value in and of themselves, not just as a bridge to reading ‘real books.’” Graphic novels contain vocabulary often at the same level as children’s and teen’s books, in addition, they are many more pages than their comic book predecessors. In fact, the article mentions that including the word “novel” in the title of this new genre has helped to elevate the status of the comic book.

Graphic novels are being produced for all types of genres, from fantasy to history. Popular books are even being reproduced in graphic novel format. My mom, a fifth grade teacher, has collected many Classics Illustrated comic books for her classroom library. Reading these articles prompted me to pick up a few graphic novels myself. I was instantly hooked. American Born Chinese was able to take difficult topics, such as self-identity issues and racism, and develop an incredible story with illustrations making these topics a little easier to digest. In Hereville: How Mirka got her sword, the artist was able to provide a smart and interesting girl role model as well as educational information on the Orthodox Jewish culture. These graphic novels were incredible, satisfying my intellectual and creative needs. I will definitely recommend graphic novels to tweens in the future; I believe that they would not only peak a reluctant reader’s interest, but also provide a different type of reading experience for a lifelong reader.

Professional Reading #2

Kim, V. (2009, December 13). For Students, a Right to be Mean Online? Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/13/local/la-me-youtube-schools13-2009dec13

Cyberbullying is such a hard topic to digest. The article gives a few cases of cyberbullying and schools that have jumped in to act against the aggressor through suspensions and other disciplinary actions. What has resulted from these disciplinary actions are lawsuits where the aggressor comes out on top. According to the judges in these court cases, by punishing the bully the school has violated their First Amendment rights.

It has been determined that unless the cyberbullying act has caused a "substantial disruption" to the school, the school has no right to punish the bully. In addition, the courts state that simply because students are able to broadcast cruelties over the Internet does not mean that they shouldn't be able to say these things. They are protected under their right to free speech. It is also mentioned that this is nothing new, students have been harassing one another forever, but it has become more of an issue because they can spread these cruelties to a larger audience.

This is so tough to read about. On the one hand I agree that once we start punishing students for the things they write or say, where do we stop. There is no line drawn for what is or isn't considered free speech, there can't possibly be. But, it is horrible to think that the victim has no rights against these attacks. This is new territory, I am sure as more and more of these cases occur, including those so terrible as where suicide results from them, we will hopefully develop a better system for handling these situations.

Coraline

Gaiman, N. (Adapted & Illustrated by Russell, P.C.) (2008). Coraline. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Plot Summary:
Coraline and her family move into an old house that is divided up into four flats. Miss Spink and Miss Forcible live below her with their little dogs; they were both once actresses. Mr. Bobo and his mouse circus live above Caroline's family. The apartment next to hers is empty. While exploring on a rainy day, Caroline discovers a door in her family room that has been blocked by bricks. One day, she tries the door again to find that the bricks are gone. Coraline enters into the doorway and travels down a hall that leads her back into the room from which she came, except it's not quite the same. Two people similar in appearance to her mom and dad are there, but their eyes have been replaced by buttons. She finds out from the woman that she is her "other mother." In addition, there is an other Miss Spink, Miss Forcible, and Mr. Bobo. Her other mother wants Coraline to stay with them rather than go back to her own life, but she decides to leave. Back in her own home Coraline discovers that her parents are missing. She realizes that she must go back into this other world to find them. Once there she understands that is not all that she must find and getting back to her own world will be harder than she thought.

Review:
This is an excellent graphic novel. The story itself is very bizarre and spooky and lends itself well to being made into a graphic novel. Coraline is an interesting little girl, clever, courageous and curious and scared and needing her parents all at the same time. The story was incredibly imaginative. The illustrations are wonderful. Russell captured the spookiness of the "other" characters and their button eyes, while also making Coraline and her real world very comfortable and average looking.

Genre:
graphic novel, fantasy, horror

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
family, courage

Awards:
ALA Booklist Editors' Choice
School Library Journal Best Book
Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice


Character Names/Descriptions:
Coraline: Young girl, only child, just moved into a new house, clever, curious, courageous, finds her "other mother" while exploring

Miss Spark and Miss Forcible: old women living below Coraline's family, former actresses, give Coraline the stone that helps her defeat the other mother

Other Mother: the spooky woman who creates the other world and tries to keep Coraline in this world

Annotation:
While exploring, Coraline happens upon a door that leads to another world, an "other" world. Initially she finds the warmth and comfort of home in this other world, but soon realizes that she must leave, which will be no easy task.

Girl's Life Magazine

Bokram, K. (Ed.) (2011, February/March). Girl's Life Magazine.

Summary:
This magazine is meant for girls between the ages of 10 and 15. It is released six times a year and contains several standard features in each issue. These standard features are on topics such as, fashion, beauty, bodies, boys, life, and exercising. The magazine featured a lot of articles on pop stars and also one on a female athlete. Quizzes, free giveaways, horoscopes, and numerology were also featured in the magazine. Girl's Life also has a website where girls can ask questions or comment on topics.

Review:
This magazine had some really interesting articles. The special report section featured an article on girl-on-guy abuse and signs that a relationship is becoming abusive. A very interesting article was on brain functions and why tweenage girls feel certain ways at certain times. There were two articles that stuck out for great reasons, they were both very empowering, one entitled "Love Yourself" discussed 15 ways girls can take care of themselves on a mental and emotional level. The other article was called "Get Up, Stand Up" and gave six suggestions for asserting yourself around your friends. There were also a lot of articles on ways to look cute and what girls can do to make guys like them. These articles were not as empowering as the others, but they did try to send the message that guys like girls who just act like themselves. With the exception of the feature on fashion for different sized bodies, I felt that the full figure girls were lacking representation in the magazine, but alas, that is every magazine for women. I also felt that the fashion choices they featured were rather expensive for tweens.

Reading Level:
Ages 10 - 15

Subjects/Themes:
beauty, fitness, fashion, boys, celebrities, advice

Annotation:
Interested in advice on beauty, fitness, fashion and boys? This magazine has it all.

Molly's Craft Book: A Look at Crafts from the Past With Projects You Can Make Today

Bernstein, R.S. & Evert, J. (1994). Molly's Craft Book: A look at crafts from the past with projects you can make today. Middleton, WI: Pleasant Company Publications.

Summary:
Molly McIntyre is a fictional character from the American Girl book series. She was a young girl living in the 1940s during World War Two. This book discusses what was going on in America, especially for young people, and provides crafts that kids like Molly would have made at that time and are fun to make for today's young people as well. The history of the era is discussed through the crafts, such as paper, plastic, and metal shortages because of the war and projects young people created for soldiers away at war. The book provides simple craft projects which captures the spirit of that time, such as a patriotic pinwheel or miniature victory garden.

Review:
I enjoyed the history provided in the book more than the crafts themselves. But, the crafts are age appropriate and follow along the lines of possible crafts created during this time, which makes them interesting. An example of this is the felt photo holder, which is something Molly would have created in the 1940s and given to a soldier to carry with him on his voyage. I liked that any theme used in a particular craft is explained in the text, such as the Scottie dog bookmark and how Scottie dogs became popular due to Franklin D. Roosevelt's own, named Fala.

Genre:
nonfiction

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Series:
This book is part of the American Girl Series, which contains novels of historical fiction, craft books, cookbooks, and more.

Subjects/Themes:
crafts, World War II, history

Annotation:
During World War II, children were urged to donate metal toys and do without paper, plastic, and new clothes and shoes. The simple crafts in this book reflect this resourceful time in American history.

Gross Universe: Your Guide to All Disgusting Things Under the Sun

Szpirglas, J. (2004). Gross Universe: Your guide to all disgusting things under the sun. Toronto, Ontario: Maple Tree Press, Inc.

Plot Description:
This book is about many of the functions of the human body. The book contains features such as a black square on a page as a "Dandruff Launching Pad" to inspect one's own flakes. Through the explanations of substances, such as mucus and urine, the author compares them to those created by other animals and insects. For example, just as humans produce sweat from our skin glands, the hippopotamus' skin glands also produces a substance, but it is red and sticky and protects the animal from the sun. The book covers topics such as the types of substances and gasses produced by humans as their uses and quantities.

Review:
This book manages a funny and informative way of educating young people on many physiological functions of the human body. It was nauseating to read at times due to lots of facts about mites and bacteria living in our bodies or on the pages of the library book itself. The facts accompanying each topic are fascinating and put into terms that children would be able to understand. For example, most humans pee about one and a half liters a day, the author then explains that that is the equivalent of one and a half large soda bottles. The illustrations are also entertaining and make the subjects a little more palatable rather than showing photographs.

Genre:
nonfiction

Reading Level:
Ages 8 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
physiology

Annotation:
A interesting beginner's guide into human physiology. The book ties human body functions to other animals and insects and provides simple explanations for each.

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword

Deutsch, B. (2010). Hereville: How Mirka got her sword. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Plot Summary:
Mirka is an eleven year old girl living in Hereville, an Orthodox Jewish community. Mirka has less interest in knitting and the responsibilities of a girl her age and more interest in fighting dragons. While on her way to school one day Mirka discovers a house she had never seen before, at the house is a floating woman (a witch) and a pig (pigs are strictly forbidden in Hereville). Mirka is chased down by the pig for stealing a grape from the house, but then saves the pig from bullies in her neighborhood. For this, the witch gives Mirka an award, a sword for battling dragons. Mirka must battle a troll in order to win her reward. With the wisdom of her stepmother and the guidance of her deceased mother, Mirka seeks out the troll.

Review:
Mirka is a wonderful female role model. She is witty, intelligent, and strong. Like many girls her age, she constantly has the internal battle of doing what she wants and what her family expects her to do. This book integrates Orthodox Jewish traditions and Yiddish words, providing meanings and an explanation for each. It is wonderfully educational and entertaining at the same time. The illustrations are great, especially the way in which many are oriented on the page. I have never read or seen anything like this graphic novel. I loved it.

Genre:
graphic novel, fantasy

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
Jewish, family, loss, bullies

Character Names/Descriptions:
Mirka Hirschberg: eleven year old girl, dreams about slaying dragons, likes to argue with her stepmother, strong willed, and intelligent

Fruma: Mirka's stepmother, smart woman, likes to outwit her children

Zindel: Mirka's younger brother, tries to keep Mirka in line

Annotation:
The strong willed Mirka struggles between living out her fantasies of battling dragons and trolls and living up to her role within her Orthodox Jewish community.

American Born Chinese

Yang, G.L. (2006). American Born Chinese. First Second Books.

Plot Summary:
This graphic novel contains three stories which ultimately diverge into one. The stories are of the Monkey King, who is trying to be recognized by heaven, Danny and his cousin Chin-Kee, and Jin Wang, a Chinese American elementary school student. The Monkey King attempts to do everything possible to be recognized by heaven, including being able to transform himself into different forms. Danny is a white high school student who is embarrassed by his cousin Chin-kee who visits him from China every year. Jin Wang is a Chinese American elementary student who struggles to fit in with his predominately white classmates.

Review:
This is an incredible graphic novel. The three stories run along side one another until they merge at the end and you are hit with the reality that they were not all that different from one another. This book tackles racism and identity issues in a very creative way. Jin and the Monkey King are both dealing with issues within their own selves as they have a hard time relating to the world around them. These two characters realize that their identity issues have just as much to do with themselves as the world around them. The storyline of Jin is sadly very realistic and could easily be seen within our schools in America.

Genre:
graphic novel, fantasy

Reading Level:
Ages 12 - 14

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
racism, self-identity

Awards:
Michael L. Printz Award
National Book Award Finalist

Character Names/Descriptions:
Jin Wang: Chinese American elementary school student, has issues fitting in to a predominately white school

Wei-Chen Sun: Jin Wang's friend and classmate from Taiwan

Monkey King: King of Flower-Fruit Mountain, born out of a rock, longs to be recognized as a deity, has issues with being a monkey

Danny: white high school student, cousin to Chin-Kee

Chin-Kee: Chinese cousin to Danny, visits every year from China, is every possible negative Chinese stereotype in one character

Annotation:
This graphic novel contains three stories interwoven by each character's self-identity issues exacerbated by the racism they must endure.

Maniac McGee

Spinelli, J. (1990). Maniac McGee. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Plot Summary:
Jeffrey Magee was orphaned as a baby. He immediately went to live with his aunt and uncle who never spoke to one another. When Jeffrey was eight he could no longer take living with his aunt and uncle and he decided to run away. Jeffrey just kept on running and running. He ran into the town of Two Mills and kept running. Along his run, Jeffrey performed many feats, such as hitting every ball off John McNab, the record holding strike out pitcher. Magee also ran into a practice football game, while continuing to run he caught a punt and ran it in for a touchdown. These were the stories that made Magee into a legend and caused his name to become Maniac Magee. But to the town his most impressive act was to cross the tracks that divided the white East End with the African American West End, in this town, that just wasn't done. Through his homelessness Magee befriends an African American family, an old man, and a poor white racist family. Through his running and lack of awareness of the hate going on around him, Magee helps to bridge the divide between the two sides of town.

Review:
I thought this was an interesting way to discuss racial issues. The author managed to take some very heavy subjects, such as racism and homelessness, and discuss them with some humor and lightheartedness. A lot of times I would not really understand where the book was going, but I think that was how the author intended it because Maniac himself did not know where he was going one day to the next.

Genre:
realistic fiction

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
racism, homelessness, friendships

Awards:
Newbery Medal Winner
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award
Mark Twain Award

Character Names/Descriptions:
Jeffrey Lionel Magee (Maniac Magee): orphan, homeless, is constantly running. Magee is good at playing football, baseball, and untying knots.

Amanda Beale: Lives on the West End of Two Mills, has two younger twin siblings, befriends Magee and has him move in with her family

Earl Grayson: Older man, Magee lives with him for awhile, used to play baseball in the minor leagues

Mars Bar Thompson: Tough kid on the West End of Two Mills

John McNab: Tough kid on the East End of Two Mills, Magee lives with he and his brothers and dad for awhile

Annotation:
Maniac Magee has become a legend in Two Mills. This boy, without a home or parents, has tackled incredible feats and managed to begin to bring the divided town together.

The Dark is Rising

Cooper, S. (1973). The Dark is Rising. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElerry Books.

Plot Description:

It is the eve of his eleventh birthday and Will Stanton notices that things around him are a little strange. The animals are acting funny, there was a strange man on the road, and his neighbor gave him an unexpected gift of a bronze circle with a cross in it to wear on his belt. Will wakes up on his birthday to find the outside of his home covered in snow, but the outside has changed, it no longer looks like it typically does, instead his house is on the edge of the woods. Will attempts to wake his siblings, but they keep sleeping. Will leaves his house to check out the snow. On his walk he sees that where his neighbor’s house once was is now a blacksmith shop, and his neighbor is a blacksmith. He is putting shoes on a black horse for a man dressed all in black. The Black Rider scares Will and he feels as if he shouldn’t trust him. The blacksmith advises will to get on a white horse that appears and he is taken by the horse to ornate wood doors. It is here that Will meets Merriman Lyon and the Lady and is told his fate. He is the seventh son of a seventh son and although he is only 11, Will is told that he is the last of the Old Ones, born to conquer the Dark. Will’s duty is the sign seeker and he must find all of the six signs (such as the one given to him from the blacksmith neighbor). As the days progress Will learns more of his fate, his powers, and sees that he can live in between time, moving from one era to another to find the signs. With the help of Merriman and the other Old Ones, Will must find the six signs and battle the Dark.

Review:

I really wanted to get into this book, but just as with the first book in the series, it didn’t completely grab me. I felt that it was a little slow at times and very dark. There was a lot going on and I often found myself confused. Aside from that, it is well written. Susan Cooper uses vocabulary above what one would typically find in a tween novel encouraging tweens to read up. I believe that my issues with the book have less to do with how it was written and more about me and what I look for in a book. I know plenty of people who loved this book as a tween and it is a Newbery Honor book, but I personally didn’t really enjoy it. In books about good versus evil, I prefer there to be more of a balance between the two. I felt that this book was overwhelmingly dark, I would have liked some relief from that as I read.

Genre:

fantasy, mystery

Reading Level:

Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Harry Potter series; Over Sea, Under Stone series

Subjects/Themes:

good versus evil, family, siblings

Awards:

Newbery Honor Book

Character Names/Descriptions:

Will Stanton: Eleven year old boy, he is the seventh son of a seventh son, he is the last born of the Old Ones who are meant to conquer the Dark, he is the sign seeker

Merriman Lyon: Older man, Old One, assists Will on his quest to find the signs

Series Information:

This is the second book in Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" series. This series consists of five books, one of which won a Newbery medal and one which received a Newbery honor.

Annotation:

On his eleventh birthday Will Stanton discovers that there is more in store for him in his life than he could have dreamed imaginable. His destiny is to be an Old One, the sign seeker, he must work with other Old Ones to defeat the Dark.

After Tupac and D Foster

Woodson, J. (2008). After Tupac and D Foster. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Plot Description:
Growing up in Queens, the unnamed narrator and her neighbor and best friend Neeka are confined to the safety of their block by their parents. Out of nowhere the girls meet D Foster, as she drifts into their lives with a lot of holes in the story of her life and a freedom that the girls have never known. D has never known the boundaries that the girls are restricted to, having wandered her entire life, in and out of foster homes, always waiting for her mom to come back for her. The lives of their girls are so different, but also so much the same within their changing tween lives. Interwoven into their daily lives is the constant news updates of the rapper Tupac Shakur, and his being shot, put on trial, jailed, and finally killed. These girls, specifically D, identify with the rapper telling about a life not too unparalleled from their own and being able to put a voice to their feelings. Eventually D's mom does come for her, separating the girls from a friendship they had hoped would never end.

Review:
This is a very well written book about the awkwardness and unknown of being a tween. The girls are struggling through each of their lives, trying to be who they want to be and find their "Big Purpose," but also trying to remain as they are with each other. The interaction between the girls is very sweet and real. I love how the author shows the different perspectives of the lives of the girls, each wanting what they don't have, not knowing exactly what they do want. She did an excellent job of capturing that age and the uncertainty that goes along with it.

Genre:
Realistic Fiction

Reading Level:
Ages 10 - 14

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
friendship, single-parent, family, foster care

Awards:
Newbery Honor Book

Character Names/Descriptions:
Unnamed narrator: Tweenage girl, living with her single mother in Queens, NY. She is very smart and grew up across the street from Neeka, her best friend. She also becomes best friends to D.

Neeka Jones: Tweenage girl, lives with her mom, dad, twin brothers, twin sisters, and older brother. Has a gay older brother in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Lives across the street from her best friend, the unnamed narrator. Becomes best friends with D Foster.

D Foster (Desiree Johnson): D is a tweenage girl living in a foster home. She doesn't know her father and her mother is initially not around. She is a wanderer, becomes best friends with Neeka and the unnamed narrator. She loves Tupac and has a special bond with him and the similarities between their lives.

Annotation:
Three girls living in New York bond and become best friends over their shared love for Tupac, uncertainties of their lives, and their quest to find their "big purpose."

Little Audrey

White, R. (2008). Little Audrey. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Plot Description:
It is 1948 in Jewell Valley, a coal mining town in Virginia. Audrey is eleven and lives with her mom, dad, and three little sisters. The town is made up of all coal miners and their families. Audrey's mom comes in and out of a deep depression brought on by the death of Audrey's littlest sister four years ago. Audrey is recovering from a recent bout with scarlet fever where she very nearly died, this sickness left her very skinny and having to wear glasses. Audrey's father has a drinking and gambling problem and often leaves his family with no money for food. Audrey struggles to get by amongst the problems at home, bullies, and the hard life of living in a coal miner town. In the end, Audrey's life gets even harder when tragedy strikes her family and she realizes that she must work harder than ever to help her family.

Review:
This book was interesting to me because even though it is fictional, the story was written about the author's family. It is a true account of what her family went through in 1948 through the eyes of her eleven year old sister Audrey. It is a bittersweet story of a little girl dealing with friendships and the typical problems of an eleven year old girl, but also having much more grown up problems to deal with as well. Problems such as not having enough food to eat or bringing her mom out of her depression or hoping her dad doesn't spend all their money on alcohol. I enjoyed the book because my great-grandfather was a coal miner and the town my parents grew up in had company towns such as these nearby. It was interesting to read a first hand account of the lives of the coal miner families, it was obviously a very hard life.

Genre:
Historical Fiction

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
poverty, family, death, siblings

Character Names/Descriptions:
Audrey: Eleven year old girl, has three younger siblings, wears glasses and is skinny due to having scarlet fever, narrates the book

Annotation:
With a mother suffering from depression and an alcoholic father, Audrey, an eleven year old in 1948 in a coal mining town in Virginia, faces more than just the typical problems of a young girl growing up. Sadly, Audrey must grow up even faster as tragedy strikes her already suffering family.

Professional Reading #1

Hesse, M. (2009, October 13). At Girl's Summit, an Image Betwixt and Be Tween. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/12/AR2009101202869.html

Moffit, D. (2009, October 14). What do Tweens Want to Tell the World? Shaping Youth. Retrieved from http://www.shapingyouth.org/?p=8764

As I am taking my Materials for Tweens class I am really trying to get a good grasp on tweens; who they are, their likes/dislikes, etc. I'm reading books written for them and I'm reading books and articles about them. At the same time I'm really trying to think back to my tween years about what I was like: things I liked, things I hated, what were my main concerns at that time, how did I feel about myself, etc. After reading these two articles about the First National Tween Girl Summit, it appears that I am not the only one trying to figure out more about tweens.

I’m a little bewildered after reading these articles. On the one hand it was incredible to read the insightful remarks from the tweens during their breakout groups and nice to see that the summit had female athletes and nonprofit organizers in attendance. On the other hand, I was appalled at the mention of games such as Dream Phone and Charm Girls Club and representatives from the Junior Miss Pageant being present at a summit for girl tweens. Here is a chance to get rid of all of the junk being pushed at them and find out what it is they really are about and they have exhibitors pushing this stuff? It seems that the organizers were less interested in finding out about tweens and instead pushing their own ideas of what they should be into. I'm not saying that these girls can't have fun. But, having such a positive event and then pushing a game where girls can find out whether a fictitious boy likes them? Talk about giving a mixed message.

The Wall Street article focused more on the deficiencies of the summit, while the Shaping Youth article focused on the positive aspects and the wonderful things said by tweens in attendance. But both hit on the same point, tweens are not the boycrazed sexting maniacs they are made out to be. They are not like their counterparts on Teen Nick or Disney either. Instead they are just starting to become aware of things beyond them in the world. Many of these girls were aware of major issues they face as Americans and many were concerned about people suffering in other countries. They are just starting to get their footing on these issues. Their developing minds are taking them places they've never been before, including, but definitely not limited to boys.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

Curtis, C.P. (1995). The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

Plot Description:

The Watsons, consisting of Kenny (the middle child), Joetta (his younger sister) Byron (the oldest) and their parents, Daniel and Wilona are an African American family living in Flint, Michigan in the 1960s. The book is told from Kenny’s perspective. The majority of the book is Kenny recounting funny stories of the day to day lives of his family, the “Weird Watsons.” He and Byron don’t get along very well, his older brother is much too cool to hang around with Kenny. Some of the stories include Byron getting his lips stuck on their family car’s mirror while kissing his reflection when he was supposed to be scraping ice off of the car with Kenny. Another is about Kenny and his lazy eye and how he befriends Rufus, a new poor student just moved from the South. Kenny thinks that Rufus is his "saver", sent to save Kenny by taking all the attention from the bullies away from him, but when Rufus starts tagging along with Kenny, his plan backfires. A lot of the stories are about the trouble Byron gets himself into through playing with matches or getting his hair relaxed. Finally, his parents decide the best thing for him would be to take him to Birmingham, Alabama to spend the summer (and perhaps longer) with his Grandma Sands. The family readies their old car, the “Brown Bomber,” and prepares to make the trip to see their Grandma to leave Byron. With the upcoming trip, some discussion arises in the Watson family about the differences between their lives in Flint and those of African Americans living in Birmingham. Through his tragic experiences in Birmingham, including the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, Kenny faces a really difficult reality which only his older brother’s toughness can help him through.

Review:

I truly loved this book. I laughed out loud in parts and sobbed in others. It was incredibly written, especially seeing such a horrible act as the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham dealt with through a 10 year old boy’s eyes. Through Kenny’s descriptions and tales of his family you fall in love with the “Weird Watsons” seeing similarities between them and each of our own families. I love how the author starts off keeping the book very light and funny; as the family is preparing and then traveling to Birmingham he introduces some heavier subject matter, such as racism and the differences between Michigan and the South. Then, once in Birmingham the book takes a very serious and tragic turn with the bombing and the author takes the reader into a much deeper understanding of Kenny and the Watson family. The interactions between the family are funny and touching. The relationship between Kenny and Byron is very well written, that strange tug of war siblings have between loving and hating one another. I loved how the epilogue discussed that although this is a fictitious story, the bombing did happen and young girls did die, young girls like Joetta, who the reader had come to love while reading the book. This gives a very personal, real, and emotional meaning to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing and the civil rights movement for the reader.

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Reading Level:

Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:

Civil Rights Movement, Family, Siblings, 1960s

Awards:

Newbery Honor Book

Coretta Scott King Award

Character Names/Descriptions:

Kenny Watson: Kenny is the middle Watson child. He is ten years old and narrates the book.

Byron Watson (By): Byron is the oldest Watson child. He is a bit of a rebel and is the reason the family must go to Birmingham.

Joetta Watson (Joey): Joey is the youngest Watson child. She is very protective of her brothers.

Annotation:

The Watsons are an African American family living in Michigan in the 196os. The family decides to take a trip to visit family in Birmingham, Alabama. It is through this trip and one particular tragic even that the Watson children learn about the harsh realities of racism in the South and become even closer as a family.

Over Sea, Under Stone

Cooper, S. (1965). Over Sea, Under Stone. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Company.

Plot Description:
Barney, Simon, and Jane Drew are on vacation with their parents to visit their Great-Uncle Merry in Trewissick, a harbor village in Cornwall, England. In a game of exploration the Drew children uncover what appears to be an ancient map in the house their family is renting. As their rented house is burglarized, apparently in search of a map, it quickly becomes clear to the children that they are not the only ones in Trewissick aware of their discovery. They disclose the finding of the map to their Great-Uncle who lets them in on its history, dating back to King Arthur and dealing with the battle of good versus evil. They also realize that if they are able to decode the map, it will lead them to find the holy grail. Unfortunately, the evil forces within the village realize the children have the map and will stop at nothing to take it from them and find the grail themselves.

Review:
This is a great tale of good versus evil. Although it can be somewhat slow at times, the book can also be quite thrilling in parts. It is exciting to see the Drew children decipher the ancient map and stay one step ahead of the evil villagers after the grail. Susan Cooper uses vocabulary above what might be expected in a tween book, which encourages the reader to contextually determine the definition of these words. The natural curiosity of the Drew children along with the prompting of their Great-Uncle helps to lead the reader along with them on their adventure. The book becomes pretty scary in parts with the evil characters stopping at nothing to intercept the children in the search for the grail.

Genre:
Mystery, Adventure, Fantasy

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
Good versus Evil

Awards:

Character Names/Descriptions:
Jane Drew: Jane is the middle Drew child.

Barney Drew: Barney is the youngest Drew child.

Simon Drew: Simon is the oldest Drew child.

Merriman Lyon (Great-Uncle Merry, Gumerry, Professor): Merry is the Great-Uncle of the Drew children, but not by blood, he was a friend of their grandfather. He is a professor. He is an elusive character, always disappearing and no one really knows very much about him.

Series Information:
This is the first book in Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" series. This series consists of five books, one of which won a Newbery medal and one which received a Newbery honor.

Annotation:
On vacation to a seaside village in Cornwall, England, Jane, Simon, and Barney Drew discover an ancient map dated to the time of King Arthur, which will lead them to find the holy grail. Along with their Great-Uncle, the children must quickly find the grail before the evil forces of the town beat them to it.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Stewart, T.L. (2007). The Mysterious Benedict Society. New York, NY: Little Brown and Company.

Plot Description: Through a short series of exams, four gifted children are selected to form a mysterious society run by a man named Mr. Benedict. After a brief introduction and training, the children are informed of what they have been formed to do. These children must go on a secret mission and work together to thwart an evil plan that threatens the world. Each of the children bring their own special talents to their mission and depend on each other and their new found friendships to help them succeed.

Review:
This book is a wonderfully mysterious adventure. I was easily to form an attachment to the four members of the Mysterious Benedict Society, each with their own insecurities and quirky talents. Each child is extremely gifted, but in varied ways, which made it fun to read about their exploits. The book is full of riddles the secret society (and reader) must solve to uncover the evil plan they are meant to destroy. I was entertained the entire way through.

Genre:
Mystery, Adventure, Fantasy

Reading Level:
Ages 9 - 12

Similar Books:

Subjects/Themes:
Friendship, Orphans, Good versus Evil

Awards:

Character Names/Descriptions:
Reynard Muldoon (Reynie): Reynie is an extremely gifted orphan. After answering an ad for gifted children and passing the exams, Reynie meets the other members of the Mysterious Benedict Society and feels for the first time in his life that he has a family. Reynie is especially gifted with deciphering the riddles from Mr. Benedict.

George Washington (Sticky): Sticky, who ran away from home, has the ability to remember anything he sees or hears. He is a very nervous child, constantly fidgeting or polishing his glasses. The duties that he must do as part of the society are more than he can bear at times, but the comfort of feeling as if he is needed is enough for him to continue.

Kate Wetherall: Kate, having been raised by the circus, is extremely talented in getting in or out of any situation. She always has a bucket of handy tools attached to her belt which help her being extremely resourceful in any situation.

Constance Contraire: Constance, also an orphan, is very small and initially thought to be not as gifted as the other members of the society. She is incredibly stubborn and has the habit of complaining about everything.

Annotation:
The young Mysterious Benedict Society members must use each of their gifted, yet quirky, talents to answer riddles, solve puzzles, and uncover the evil workings of a madman.