The 21 Balloons by William Pene du Bois

When does science become most appealing? One arguable answer could be: when it is told through a story that is half based on verifiable principles, and half on utter, beautiful nonsense. The 21 Balloons, by William Pène du Bois, won the 1948 Newbery Medal with its equal parts of science and absurdity combined in a story about a runaway mathematics teacher, a ballooning adventure, and a castaway saga that one-ups Robinson Crusoe.

          When Professor William Waterman Sherman is discovered floating in the Atlantic Ocean in the midst of wreckage that appears to have once been a platform attached to 20 balloons, the American public is shocked. The professor was last seen sailing out of San Francisco in a house attached to one giant, hot-air balloon, having sworn off teaching obnoxious grade-school boys in favor of a year of leisurely exploration. No one can guess how he ended up in the ocean between Europe and the U.S., and Sherman himself refuses to part his lips on the subject until he can tell his story in front of the Western American Explorer’s Club in his hometown of San Francisco! However, his account upon this occasion is so fantastical as to be almost unbelievable. The erstwhile arithmetic teacher spins a tale that involves disaster over the sea, sharks, unexpected rescue, an unbelievable discovery, an unimaginably large fortune, and the explosion of the mysterious Krakatoa, a volcanic island that hid more than coconuts in its tropic depths.

          In this award-winning book, du Bois adeptly mixes the science of ballooning with a sly wit akin to Roald Dahl. Prepare to be entertained.

Mister Orange by Truus Matti

What is as uniquely amazing as a book that simultaneously explores art, music, immigration, patriotism, staying true to one’s roots, superheros, and the American World War II experience? Truus Matti’s Mister Orange won the 2014 Batchelder Award for best children’s book originally published in a language other than English, and considers how much of what we fight for is tied to our dreams for a better future.

When his older brother Albie leaves to fight in the war, Linus consoles himself with the thought that Mr. Superspeed, Albie’s comic-book creation, will keep his brother safe from the bullets of the front line. There’s not much time to worry, though, since Albie’s departure means many new duties. In order to help keep his family’s grocery store running, Linus takes up the role of delivery boy, charged with shuttling packages from his father’s shop window to the customer’s hands. The most interesting delivery order is made by Mister Orange, an older gentleman who buys a whole crate of oranges every two weeks, loves to play the newest boogie-woogie music, and always smells of paint. Linus grows to enjoy his twice-monthly trip to Mr. Orange’s unique apartment, where the walls are decorated with vibrant, changeable patterns, and where the elderly artist always has time to answer even the most unusual of Linus’s questions.  The war’s reality cannot be ignored however, and one day Linus discovers something about Albie’s circumstances that make him question the importance of curiosity and imagination as well as the benefit of keeping his childhood hero, Mr. Superspeed. It is up to Mr. Orange to help Linus find the value of his dreams for the future, and to encourage him to share those dreams with others.

          It would be interesting to know the inspiration behind Matti’s story, particularly considering the choice of language. Although first written in Dutch, the story is set in 1943 New York City, without much mention of ethnic background. Overall, Mister Orange provides an upbeat, well-worded and unique portrayal of both the American World War II experience, and of the imagined life and character of the lesser-known artist Piet Mondria

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

Which is more important – what you say or how you say it? Author Vince Vawter addresses this question in his 2014 Newbery Honor book Paperboy. Set in Memphis, 1959, this story offers a unique perspective on segregation and the disability experience from the viewpoint of a very original hero.

          Born with a speech impediment, Victor loves words but has difficulty expressing his thoughts and can’t even say his own name. With the encouragement of his beloved housekeeper Mam, he takes on his best friend Art’s paper route for a summer while Art goes on vacation. At first daunted by the prospect of having to talk with customers, he begins to take an interest in the lives of those he services, especially pretty Mrs. Worthington, whose drinking habits hint at private unhappiness, and Mr. Spiro, who collects books and talks to kids as if they are adults. As the summer progresses, however, Vince realizes that even Mr. Spiro can’t answer all of his questions, especially those raised by a surprising discovery about his birth records and the strange behavior of the neighborhood junkman, Ara T. When a series of thefts exposes Ara T’s suspicious behavior and puts Mam in danger, Victor has to use all of his courage and resources to save them both.

          Vawter’s junior-fiction novel offers an insightful perspective on a lesser-publicized disability, particularly as the circumstances of the story are partly autobiographical. In his ending notes, the author briefly describes his lifelong experience with stuttering and offers resources for those wishing to learn more about speech impediments. The inclusion of many of his personal observations and struggles makes Paperboy a heartfelt account of coping with and thriving despite adversity.

How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinks

Did you think that monsters only hide under beds or in closets? You are so wrong. Catherine Jinks’ How to Catch a Bogle provides a fun and creepy dramatization of a common childhood fear, and features a pint-sized heroine who confronts her circumstances with courage and attitude.

          Tiny Birdie McAdams has the voice of an angel and a job way bigger than she is. Apprenticed to Alfred the Bogler, her task is to lure bogles, or monsters, out of their hiding places in abandoned wells and dark chimneys – without being caught and eaten, of course – so that Alfred can kill them. Sassy and smart, Birdie is right proud of her apprenticeship, although being the bait for a child-eating, nightmarish beast secretly gives her the willies. Monsters aren’t the only threat to boglers, however, as Birdie and her master soon discover. When the clothes of disappeared children begin to appear on the backstreets of London, covered in bogle slime and a mysterious man demands Alfred’s help in unsavory activities, Birdie feels helpless to prevent disaster. It takes new and unlikely friends to show her that even the toughest bogler’s apprentice occasionally needs backup.

          Jinks’ junior fiction novel admirably hits the right balance between creepy atmosphere and wry humor. Both the historical and fantastical elements of Birdie’s world are well imagined and brought to life through vivid descriptions and well-timed character development. The street slang used by Birdie and her cronies is also a nice touch. Read if you enjoy a well-paced story – but be aware that you may never want to look inside a dark closet again.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl

Let’s just agree right now that having watched the movie is not the same thing as having read the book. As delightful as the cinematic experience often is – unless, of course, the moviegoer sitting behind you spends the entire film dribbling popcorn down your neck – there will always be some elements of the book that a movie adaption just can’t capture. In the instance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the uncaptured element is summed up in one title: Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight. How can a two-ish hour film hope to encapsulate the tremendous experience of unbelievable goodies described in Roald Dahl’s classic novel?

          Charlie Bucket’s little house, stuffed to the rafters with relatives, is within shouting distance of the most glorious candy factory in the world. For years the factory has churned out marvelous creations such as ice cream that never melts, chewing gum that never loses its flavor, and of course, delicious chocolate bars like the Nutty Crunch Surprise and the Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight, while refusing entrance to any of the public. Now, however, the mysterious owner Willy Wonka, has hidden five golden tickets inside five bars of chocolate and declared that whoever finds them will be permitted a very special tour of his factory. Charlie’s family is so poor that he knows he has no way of buying any candy in search of the ticket, but a miraculous occurrence lands him a spot in the tour with four other children. What will happen to him inside the factory? What marvels will he see, and how will meeting Mr. Wonka change his life forever?

          Ranging from breathtaking inventiveness to sheer silliness, Dahl fully imagines a fascinating world in which candy reigns supreme. The charismatic and endearingly goofy Mr. Wonka serves as a tour guide for both his fictional companions and all readers, who will be engrossed in the descriptions of the chocolate factory’s workings. The text scampers along with italics and exclamation points galore, which aid the humor of the plot line and characters’ speech. Those who enjoy Charlie’s story should also check out the book’s lesser-known sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

 

 

 

 

Relish by Lucy Knisley

As tasty a read as the myriad of foods it celebrates, Lucy Knisley’s Relish is a treat for many age groups. Recipient of a 2013 Alex Award, an honor conferred on outstanding adult books that appeal to teen audiences, the twenty-something author generously shares her memories of food and life in a wholly entertaining graphic novel.

          Daughter of a chef and a self-proclaimed gourmet, Lucy has grown up loving almost all foods, from salmon en papillote to McDonald french fries. Born in New York, raised in the country near the Catskill Mountains, and educated in Chicago, she considers her life to be one long culinary encounter, which she relates via amusing pictures and wry prose. Whether it’s being attacked by killer geese, picking bugs off mushrooms for a summer job, serving celebrities at catering events or attempting to solve the puzzle of whether a college student can afford to eat anything other than ramen noodles, Lucy describes each experience with a compelling mixture of zest, humor, and practical reflection. Neither advocating poor-quality edibles nor encouraging her readers to swear off donut chains (her advice about procuring the best croissant is to use prepackaged crescent rolls), she infectiously shares her view of food as an important and festive aspect of life.

          As the publishing company did not see fit to include a warning, herewith some advice: Do not read this book on an empty stomach. It will make you ravenously hungry. Knisley, however, shows remarkable foresight by including a simple, delicious-looking recipe in every chapter, making each section of her story doubly delightful.  

A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz

What would you do to get what you want? Author Laura Amy Schlitz takes a sweet and unique perspective on this question in her debut novel A Drowned Maiden’s Hair, which gets its title from an old folk song.

Orphaned Maud Flynn is neither pretty nor desirable enough to interest foster parents, so she compensates by being talented at mischief-making. She, therefore, is as surprised as anybody when Hyacinth Hawthorne, a visitor to the Barbary Asylum hears Maud singing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” while locked in the outhouse for misbehaving and immediately decides to adopt her. Captivated by her new caretaker, Maud vows to be as angelic as possible, and does not even complain when she is bossed around by Hyacinth’s sisters Judith and Victoria and told to stay out of sight in the house’s attic. Soon, she learns that the Hawthorne women are involved in a mysterious moneymaking scheme and need Maud’s help. Expert at creating fake séances, they plan to convince a rich, grieving woman that they can contact her drowned daughter – with Maud acting as the girl’s ghost. As Maud struggles to please the Hawthornes, she becomes increasingly unsure about her future with the sisters. When, she wonders, will she know that her love for them is returned? And what will she do to secure that love?

          Featuring a deliciously creepy setting, A Drowned Maiden’s Hair combines historically sound details of a popular scam of the early 20^th century with the excitement of a ghost story. Schlitz incorporates thought-provoking themes regarding the ethicality of lying in order to please another person, as well as the true nature of happiness. The author is especially adept at revealing each character’s motivations to ensure that their actions are always believable. Both haunting and heartwarming, Maud’s tale of loneliness and love is well worth reading.

Houdini the Handcuff King by Jason Lutes and Nick Bartozzi

What would it be like to be able to escape from inescapable, often horrendously dangerous situations? No, this does not refer to chemistry exams or other finals – this means extricating yourself from a straightjacket while hanging upside-down from a multiple-story building, or removing confining chains from your body while swimming out of a river. Cartoonist team Jason Lutes and Nick Bartozzi pay tribute to the foremost of escape artists, Harry Houdini, in their graphic novel Houdini the Handcuff King.

          Self-proclaimed as the “Handcuff King” due to his incredible knowledge of and ability to escape from all kinds of restraining devices, Harry Houdini is all about self-promotion. His latest stunt is specifically meant to draw interest in his stage performances, but will not be executed anywhere near a stage. With the help of his wife Bess, Houdini plans to dive off the Harvard Bridge in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while fully shackled and in front of a tremendous crowd, and miraculously free himself to swim to the surface. Will the icy water and the securely locked irons prove too much for his mysterious powers? And, if he defeats these obstacles, how on earth will he do it?

          Lutes and Bartozzi provide fascinating speculations as to how the legendary magician succeeded in constantly baffling his audience by his spectacular feats as well as a charming depiction of the early 20^th century. The mostly black-and-white pictures and witty text are a fantastic combination that work together to introduce readers to a fascinating figure of American showmanship. For readers who are interested in further information, the end pages of the book give explanations as to the history and culture of Houdini's time period, accompanied by relevant illustrations from the story.  

 

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

This blog post aims to share with you an author who truly ought to be nominated One of the Best Young Adult Authors Ever EverEverEverEverEver (surely this award exists). In his novel The Lightning Thief and its subsequent bestselling series, Rick Riordan riotously reimagines the world of Greek mythology as set in the modern-day United States.

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is used to dealing with difficulties – he’s been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, saddled with an unpleasant stepfather, and kicked out of almost every school in New York for various and occasionally spectacular accidents. Despite these unfortunate circumstances, his first real hint that something in his world is seriously abnormal occurs during a class field trip when his pre-algebra teacher turns into a monster and tries to destroy him (we’ve all been there). Percy learns that not only are all the Greek gods, goddesses and legends real and alive, but that he himself is a demigod, a child of a god and a human, whose destiny is to become a hero if he can make it to adulthood without getting killed in a nasty way. The only safe place for people like him is Camp Halfblood, a special camp that trains demigods, or halfbloods, to be heroes. But when the lightning bolt belonging to the king of the gods is stolen and the evidence points toward Percy, he and two new friends must accomplish a quest that leads them across America to recover the missing bolt and restore peace among the gods.

          The Lightning Thief is one of those rare books that seems to have everything a reader could possibly want from a novel: a spellbinding plot, action, danger, unexpected twists and buckets of humor. Arguably, the very best part of this book is Percy himself. Narrated in first person, his account of his adventures is realistic, warmhearted and consistently funny. This book is accessible to anyone without a working knowledge of Greek mythology as the author explains any character or concept that needs clarification. The series is continued with The Sea of Monsters, The Titan’s Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian; each book contributes to the development of Percy’s character and leaves readers wishing they could meet him in person. Happily for them, Percy’s adventures are furthered in a second series called The Heroes of Olympus, which currently includes The Lost Hero, Son of Neptune, The Mark of Athena, and, most recently, The House of Hades. The next book is due in the fall of 2014! Go ahead and read them all – you won’t regret it.

Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith

Tired of (fill in the blank: work, school, suburbia) or just want to experience a wild adventure in an exotic location? Try Roland Smith’s Cryptid Hunters, a junior fiction novel that is part travel narrative, part sibling story, and part Jurassic Park minus the chewed-off arms – although man-eating crocodiles do make frequent appearances.

The 13-year-old O’Hara twins are so dissimilar that they don’t even seem to belong to the same family. Quiet Grace is tiny and bookish, smarter than a computer and fond of writing in her huge collection of journals. Impish Marty is a daredevil adventurer, with a talent for gourmet cooking and survival tactics and a genius for causing trouble at the prep school at which they are both enrolled. When their parents, travelling photojournalists, are reported missing after a helicopter crash, the stunned twins are hurriedly bundled off to the care of their mysterious uncle Wolfe, who lives on an uncharted island and is obsessed with searching for cryptids: rare animals like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster whose very existence is questionable. Wolfe, however, can’t spare much time for socializing with his niece and nephew – he is absorbed in a hunt for dinosaurs amidst the mysterious African jungles. After an accident strands Grace and Marty in the Congo, they become more involved in their uncle’s quest than they ever expected to be. Fighting off everything from mosquitos to giant crocodiles to the henchmen of Wolfe’s cold-blooded nemesis Dr. Blackwood, the twins discover their hidden strengths as well as several startling family secrets.

          Cryptid Hunters is a well-paced, humorous, and engaging story that incorporates enough adventurous elements to be highly gripping, but also contains enough research and judicious detail to encourage suspension of disbelief. The story also contains a great example of sibling relationships in the interaction between Grace and Marty, who tease, prank, and often frustrate each other, but who also appreciate each other’s differences and champion each other’s desires and interests. This action-filled tale is an especially good choice for reluctant readers; boys especially will be drawn to the intrepidity of Marty, although girls will also follow Grace’s exploits with enthusiasm. Smith’s series continues with Tentacles and Chupacabra.

Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes

An entire book about daydreaming? It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Nikki Grimes’s junior fiction Words With Wings is a 2014 Coretta Scott King Honor book as well as a beautifully written tribute to the importance of the imagination.

          Gabby’s favorite hobby has been daydreaming ever since her parents first began to fight with each other. Words excite her, capture her fancy, and pull her along with them to a thrilling place in her imagination – but sometimes at very inconvenient times. Can she help it if her thoughts are more interesting than setting the table or paying attention in class? Gabby’s mother and her teachers seem to think so. When Gabby moves to a different school, she worries that the other kids will think that her pastime is bizarre, or that her instructor will be angry when her mind slips into space. Trying to stop herself from imagining things seems to help her focus in class and at home, but Gabby is miserable. It takes Mr. Spicer, her caring new teacher, to come up with an inventive solution to show her and her class the true power of daydreaming.

          Grimes’s novel is written entirely in short, graceful, free-verse poems that use simple but evocative phraseology to color Gabby’s flights of fancy. Often the author takes one fairly commonplace word as the subject of an entire poem to show how any object can be a thing of wonder. For instance, Gabby describes a waterfall as “liquid thunder” and thinks about what it would be like to jump into the pool all the way down at the waterfall’s end. In addition to its lovely verse, the book adeptly handles the subjects of divorce, parental expectations, friendship, and role models, making Grimes’s award-winner a truly worthy read.

Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell

What would it be like to be shunned for a physical quality beyond your control? For answering this question, Merrie Haskell’s junior fiction novel Handbook for Dragon Slayers won a Schneider Family Book award, which is given for excellence in portraying the disability experience.

          Thirteen-year-old Mathilda is determined to be a good princess to her people of Alder Brook. The trouble is that they don’t seem to want her to be their princess. Considered cursed for her crippled foot, Tilda tries to hide her hurt at the townsfolk’s hostility by immersing herself in her work as copier of important documents. When a rouge cousin steals Alder Brook’s sovereignty, she is relieved, gladly going on the run with Parz and Judith, two friends and would-be dragon slayers. But Tilda’s freedom proves to be more perilous than she expected. When dragons attack, supernatural forces threaten vengeance, an evil lord pursues a criminal plan, and Alder Brook is endangered, Tilda must decide whether her liberty or her duty, her hurt feelings or her peoples’ fates, are most important.

          Handbook for Dragon Slayers considers an impressive number of serious topics from a fresh and original perspective, neither straying from its classification as junior fantasy fiction nor turning into fluff. Haskell offers an empathetic look into facing life with a disability, and uses the suspicion that Tilda faces as well as her friends’ loyalty to suggest the importance of acceptance. However, Tilda is never portrayed as perfect; in fact, one of the novel’s greatest charms is the stress placed on the obligations of rulers. The plot traces Tilda’s journey in terms of her realization that the opinions of others are not nearly as important as doing what she knows to be right. This message is backed up by the good example of several acquaintances, including her kindly confessor Father Ripertus, who offers a refreshing change from the current prevailing fictional depiction of the medieval church as hopelessly corrupt. The story’s impressive range, however, does contribute to a kind of confusion about the climax: all the different villains, difficulties, and storylines seem to be about equal in terms of direness, making it difficult for the reader to see events building up to any particularly significant moment. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that steers clear of deadly stereotypes in its message of acceptance.

The War within These Walls by Aline Sax

In keeping with the World War II theme of the last blog post, this review concerns a book that commemorates a brave and bloody act of defiance that took place in Warsaw, Poland, exactly 71 years ago. A band of Jews resisted an attempt to exterminate them inside an imprisonment ghetto, fighting off the German troops from April 19^th to May 16^th, 1943, despite being appallingly outnumbered. The War within These Walls uses the imagined character of Misha to tell the haunting story of the will to live despite unspeakable brutality. Written by Aline Sax, illustrated by Caryl Strzelecki, and translated by Laura Watkinson, this fictional account of the uprising in the Warsaw ghetto won a Batchelder Honor as an outstanding children’s book originally published in a foreign language.

          Misha cannot remember ever feeling as Jewish as when the Nazis invaded Poland and began to single out his people for intensive policing. Facing harassments ranging from a mandated armband identifying them as Jews, to unprovoked murders, he and his family hope to remain unnoticed until the occupying forces leave. Instead, a wall appears to seal off a tiny portion of Warsaw in which all the nearby Jews are forced to live. When food runs out, his sister Janina disappears, and the Nazis begin to ship his neighbors to a special “resettlement village” called Auschwitz, Misha finds relief from his paralyzing desperation by joining young Mordechai Anielewicz’s underground resistance team. Soon, however, the group receives news that the ghetto survivors are in danger from a quicker death than starvation. The Nazis are planning to surround the ghetto and slaughter everyone still living. Misha and his friends begin their offensive during April of 1943, holding off the German troops with homemade bombs and a handful of firearms. But as the weeks limp by and the violence escalates, they begin to realize that the best outcome they can hope for is an honorable death.

          Sax’s prose is both sparse and direct, creating a somber feel that does much to evoke the book’s grim happenings. The text, printed on alternately black or white paper, is accompanied by Strzelecki’s ink drawings that capture the horror of the ghetto in just a few lines. Although the Batchelder award designates a children’s book, this work may be best appreciated by older junior and young adult readers for its powerful depiction of resistance in the face of a great crime against humanity.

Rose under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

One of the best things a book can do is tell you something you didn’t know in a manner that makes you wish you had known it all your life. Critically-acclaimed author Elizabeth Wein achieves this admirably in Rose under Fire, her award-winning novel about an American girl’s experience of the Holocaust.

          Eighteen-year-old Rose Justice works as an Air Traffic Auxiliary Pilot in England, doing non-combat flying and ferrying for the war effort. She and her fellow pilots, all female, share their love of flying as well as their hope that, now that the D-Day invasion has been successful, the pilotless bomb attacks on London will cease. The war’s reality becomes sickeningly close, however, when Rose chases one of these Doodlebugs over enemy territory to deploy it and ends up captured by the Germans. Imprisoned in Ravensbrück, the infamous concentration camp, she is befriended by fellow prisoners, including a group known as the Rabbits who were used as medical guinea pigs by the Germans. Together they endure brutal treatment, clinging to hope when they can and receiving comfort from Rose’s talent for poetry. But as the Allies draw closer and the Germans desperately seek to hide their crimes against their hostages, Rose fears that none of the Ravensbrück prisoners will leave the camp alive.

          In Rose under Fire, Wein delivers a gritty and gripping depiction of one of history’s most brutal massacres; her extensive research on the plight of the Polish Rabbits gained her the Schnieder award for depiction of the disability experience. Rose’s candor creates immediate interest and performs the double role of giving a graphic insider’s view of the concentration camp while engaging readers’ sympathy to make them want to keep reading. In particular, Rose’s love of poetry is shown as a bonding force for the weakened prisoners and delivers a heartening commentary on the power of literature. The result is a book that offers a moving tribute to the human spirit as well as a worthy addition to Holocaust literature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross

What is it about the French that makes them so fascinating? Perhaps it’s their language, which guarantees a classy accent. It could be their country’s vivid history. Or maybe it’s just their croissants. Whatever the reason, author Elizabeth Ross capitalizes on the French appeal in her novel Belle Epoque, a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award, creating a tale of determination, desperation, imagination, and the Eiffel Tower.

Runaway Maude Pinchon is finding it more difficult to survive in glamorous Paris than she had originally thought. With her savings dwindling and an angry landlady to satisfy, she snatches at Monsieur Durandeau’s unusual job offer despite the ignominious duties it requires. The Durandeau Agency services the cream of Paris society by supplying wealthy ladies with repoussoirs – plain young women meant to make their employers more attractive by comparison. Maude is instantly hired by the calculating Countess Dubern for her prickly daughter Isabelle and assigned the daunting task of befriending the girl while keeping her hired status a secret. Enthralled by the glamor of her life as Isabelle’s companion, Maude is nonetheless faced with the contradictions of her employment, her new friend’s startling opinion on the possibilities of women scholars, and the worker, and the artistic philosophies of her new friend Paul Villette. Caught in a web of deception and betrayal – her own and others’ – Maude is forced to question how much of her dignity she is willing to trade for pay.

          Ross’s novel provides a unique discussion of the snowball effect of compromising one’s values. Maude is brought to see the stark difference that a lack of self-respect creates between the role she plays and the person whom she wants to be; in this regard, her shortcomings as well as her internal dilemmas make her a relatable character. However, much of the book’s characters and action have a highly manipulated feel, which often detracts from its interesting central theme. Maude and several other main characters often come across as one-dimensional, performing predictable actions and speaking words that sound highly scripted or downright implausible. A striking example of this can particularly be seen in Isabelle’s large-scale scientific hobby, which she has somehow managed to keep hidden from her domineering mother in her family’s fashionable town house. Fortunately, the glamorous plot and historical setting do help to compensate for these problems. Readers willing to devote extra effort to suspending disbelief will find Belle Epoque to be an enjoyable read.

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

          Admit it – you still have a soft spot for the fuzzy, somewhat loudmouthed heroine of Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse with her sunglasses, spunk, and several thousand ideas about what she wants to be when she grows up. Author Kevin Henkes, creator of Lily, offers a slightly older but still happily inventive protagonist in his 2014 Newbery Honor book The Year of Billy Miller.

          Billy Miller is worried. This fall he will be starting second grade, but after an unexpected fall during a summer vacation gains him a goose egg on his head, he wonders if he will be smart enough for this year of school. And that’s just the start. Second grade brings him lots to think about and more questions than he ever thought possible, including: what should he do when he accidentally gets off on the wrong foot with his nice teacher? Will that obnoxious girl sitting next to him EVER be quiet? And can he work a reference to vampire bats into an assigned poem about his mother? Despite his worries, Billy finds that many of these questions develop into great experiences – so great, in fact, that this might just be the Year of Billy Miller.

          Billy’s story is split into four sections, each of which focuses on a specific relationship in his life: Teacher, Father, Sister, and Mother. This narrative style highlights what Billy learns from each of these people, quietly teaching the important lesson that anyone, even your sometimes annoying baby sister, can teach you to look at the world in a new and exciting way – for instance, Billy learns about the necessity of creative thinking from his father, and from three-year-old Sally he discovers that glitter in a boy’s school project is not always a bad thing. Henkes’s story is a quick, lighthearted read, and is good choice for younger readers, read-aloud story time, or anyone wishing to remember their middle-school experience.

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

What happens when a cynic meets a furry superhero? Minnesota author Kate DiCamillo answers this burning question using donuts, creepy shepherdess lamps, comic books, and exclamations such as “Holy bagumba!” in her Newbery Award-winning book Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures.

          Flora Belle Buckman is a self-professed skeptic whose favorite pastime is reading The Illuminated Adventures of the Amazing Incandesto!, a comic book about an unassuming superhero. Therefore, when she observes a squirrel getting sucked into a vacuum, she instantly recognizes its extraordinary new powers. The squirrel, which she names Ulysses, can fly and write poetry due to his encounter with the vacuum, but this superhero clearly needs his own champion against Flora’s mother, who is determined to keep her daughter from keeping such an odd companion. As Ulysses’s adventures encompass everyone with whom he comes in contact – including Flora’s father; neighbor-lady Tootie Tickham; Tootie’s temporarily blind great-nephew; and Dr. Meecham, a philosopher with a slippery couch – he also begins to draw them together. As for Flora, she begins to realize having hope is better than being a cynic.

          DiCamillo’s novel uses both quirky narration and comic-book-style illustrations to cover an astounding range of topics, including divorce, friendship, imagination, poetry, and forgiveness. Its originality is captivating and the humor keeps the characters alive. However, the eccentricity also occasionally lends a disjointed feel to the plot, making the story seem like separate episodes about unusual events, rather than a connected narrative. Bizarre happenings often appear to substitute for character development as well. Although definitely enjoyable for its novelty and its adorable squirrel illustrations, readers may wish that its pithy sayings and sage life wisdom were accompanied by a more organized storyline.

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl

What do you get when you mix a beautiful and determined heroine with a ruined family estate, Cinderella-worthy stepsisters and a jumble of potential suitors? The answer is: a hilarious parody of a Jane Austen novel, obviously! In her young-adult novel Keeping the Castle, author Patrice Kindl gives readers a good-humored, feathery romp with a loveable protagonist through an England that is familiar in many ways and endearingly amusing in others.

          Althea Crawley is bound and determined to catch a wealthy husband. Her family’s ancestral home, a dilapidated castle, is literally falling to pieces around their ears and her twice-widowed mother, not to mention her young brother and several servants and tenants, are looking to her to snag a plump-pocketed suitor. Delighted by the news that the handsome Lord Boring has returned to his nearby country home, she immediately directs all of her ingenuity toward charming him into a proposal. What she hasn’t reckoned on, however, is their new neighbor’s friend Mr. Fredericks, an outspoken, quirky, quarrelsome man with a terrible propensity to provoke Althea into bickering with him. Complicating this mess are Althea’s peevish stepsisters and Miss Vincy, a quiet new friend who appears to have a sad and dire secret. Althea’s solutions? To marry off everyone in the vicinity – not forgetting herself!

          What makes this book such a hoot are the many tongue-in-cheek tributes to common plot elements in 19^th-century-based British fiction. In an original twist on the theme of a young girl forced into an advantageous match, Althea is decidedly in favor of marrying for money and does all she can to meet this goal. Kindl also good-humoredly spoofs traditional English shire names in her development of setting: Althea lives in the region of Lesser Hoo, which is near Hoo-Upon-Hill, Hasty, and Little Snoring. Several of the characters’ names are also purposefully silly, including Lord Boring, the inappropriately named stepsisters Prudence and Charity, and Doctor Haxhamptonshire (pronounced Hamster). And these jokes are only the start! Readers who enjoy Jane Austen and/or a good laugh will certainly appreciate this humorous tribute to a fascinating era.

         

Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer

The author Joan Bauer stands out as a creator of funny, smart, and strong heroines, who face tough issues such as divorce, alcoholism, and teenage self-discovery with humor and heart. In Rules of the Road, the focus is on a tall protagonist whose drive to be taken seriously in an adult world is role-model worthy.

Jenna Boller is sixteen and loves her job at a Gladstone’s Shoe Store in Chicago – she’s an excellent saleswoman and a favorite with customers, plus the work provides a distraction from the fact that her alcoholic and estranged father has recently reappeared. When the president of the Gladstone Shoe Company, Mrs. Gladstone, hires her to be her personal driver on a trip to Texas, Jenna is dubious – the elderly executive is infamous for her brusque manner. Once on the road, however, they must conquer difficulties ranging from traffic problems, to business politics, to treacherous employees, ultimately cementing an unusual and delightful friendship.

          I must admit, I am more likely to enjoy a book if it is humorous. Jenna’s narration is therefore a true treat; her witty observations and down-to-earth jokes keep readers thoroughly entertained. In addition, Mrs. Gladstone is a riot – just the sort of woman you might want to have as a grandmother (albeit a peppery one). Add this to an inspiring plot based on the power of work and self-confidence and you have a story that you’ll want to read over and over again. Other excellent books by this author include Best Foot Forward, the sequel to Rules of the Road; Hope Was Here; Squashed; and Peeled. Her junior fiction novels Stand Tall, Sticks, Close to Famous, and Almost Home are also highly worthwhile.

 

 

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Rita Williams-Garcia’s junior fiction novel One Crazy Summer is plastered with so many awards that the jacket illustration is practically covered. A National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor book, as well as the recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award, One Crazy Summer narrates the experience of three young girls during California’s civil rights movement in 1968.

          Eleven-year-old Delphine is convinced that her mother Cecile is downright crazy. Her father, wanting them to be acquainted with the woman who left them just after the birth of her youngest daughter, has sent Delphine and her two sisters all the way to Oakland, California to visit. It soon becomes evident, however, that Cecile doesn’t want anything to do with them. Forbidden to disturb Cecile’s poetry-writing sanctum, the girls are turned loose to explore the streets of Oakland, and to join a confusing civil organization called the Black Panthers. Delphine can’t help but be interested in the Panthers’ message of rights and recognition for African-Americans, but she’s been charged with taking care of her sisters, drama-queen Vonetta and forthright Fern. As militants within the Panthers demonstrate their discontent, the police push back, and Cecile refuses to act like a normal mother, Delphine tries to decide how to keep her sisters safe.

          One of the most interesting elements to this story is the way the Black Panther’s cause is filtered through the impressions of a young girl. Rather than offer a history lesson disguised as a character’s experience, Williams-Garcia shows readers the revolutionary group as it relates to Delphine’s primary concerns, such as taking care of her sisters and trying to show an obnoxious boy that he’s really not as great as he thinks he is. In fact, the civil rights movement often serves as a background for sister squabbles and Delphine’s frustration with Cecile. Because of this, One Crazy Summer isn’t exactly a comprehensive source for learning about the Californian Black Panthers, but it sure makes for a realistic and entertaining read. Delphine’s story is continued in the sequel P.S.: Be Eleven.

 

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

What would be worse than not reading this book about Penny, an 11-year-old with a sassy streak bigger than her home state of New Jersey? Maybe eating her grandma Me-me’s pot roast, from the way she tells it. Jennifer L. Holm, author of the Boston Jane trilogy, links the spirit of a good summer with questions about cultural prejudice in this Newbery Honor-winning book.

          Penny’s life is defined by her Italian American heritage, which is backed up in spades by her crazy extended family. She lives with her mother and her mother’s parents, and visits her grandma Nonny’s home to eat the best food in the world and be spoiled by her uncles. Life is pretty close to perfect, but Penny can’t help wondering why her mom doesn’t get along well with her Italian in-laws, almost as if there is something Penny doesn’t know about her father’s death when she was a baby. Then her mother starts to date again, her best friend and cousin Frankie gets into trouble with his criminal mastermind ways, and a terrible accident suddenly reveals more about the past than her family might be able to handle. Will Penny be able to reconcile the two sides of her family, and will their love for each other pull them through difficult times?

          Penny from Heaven is a unique and cozy tribute to the importance of family as well as a thought-provoking glimpse into a time when ethnicity could cause societal fear. Although Penny was too young to remember the effects of World War II in America, her life was irrevocably altered by the widespread distrust of Italian Americans and others whose mother countries fought against the U.S. While keeping the plot brisk and fresh, Holm adds just enough historical detail for readers to appreciate both the 1950s context and Penny’s interesting heritage.

 

 

Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

A delightful mesh of The Chronicles of Narnia meets "National Treasure," Over Sea, Under Stone is also a thrilling introduction to Arthurian legend. Award-winning children’s author Susan Cooper creates a cast of lively characters in a captivating setting, making this reader very upset that an immediate spelunking expedition at the English seaside simply isn’t possible.

          Siblings Simon, Jane, and Barney are visiting their mysterious Great-Uncle Merry at the seaside town of Cornwall when they uncover an ancient map in the floorboards of their rented house. Overjoyed to find the cryptic artifact, they soon realize that they are not the only ones to take an interest in the discovery. The most innocent of inquiries into the map’s history gets the children the attention of Cornwall’s sinister vicar, the enigmatic owners of a sailing yacht, and an unpleasant older boy, each of whom clearly want the map for their own purposes. Guided by Great-Uncle Merry, who knows more than he will tell, the children embark on a desperate attempt to solve the map’s message while fending off all those who want it for their own questionable purposes. Their enemies, however, are unscrupulous and seem to be aided by a dark power as strong as evil; as the pursuit intensifies, Simon, Jane, and Barney slowly lose almost all those whom they thought they could trust and the story climaxes in a chase that takes place over sea and under stone.

          A good choice for readers who enjoy C.S. Lewis’s Narnian series, Over Sea, Under Stone capably presents the allure of a favorite legend. Rather than retell the entire myth, however, the story focuses on elements such as the power of ancient tales to affect the present and the importance and magical influence of history in contemporary life. The series continues with The Dark Is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King and Silver on the Tree. The fourth novel, The Grey King, was the recipient of the 1976 Newbery Medal.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Are you in the mood for a tale set in an entertainingly imagined realm and featuring a spunky heroine with enough wit and grit to tame a pack of ogres? (You think I’m speaking figuratively.) Look no further than Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted, one of those valuable books that is truly worth the popularity it has garnered.

          Ella has been cursed since babyhood, when a decidedly short-sighted fairy bestowed on her the “gift” of obedience, meaning that whenever Ella is given a command, she must immediately comply. Besides the obvious downside of having to obey adult commands to eat her vegetables and do household chores, Ella’s curse puts her in constant danger from unscrupulous people who would exploit her unusual compulsion. Ella is possessed of many other gifts, however, and has more than enough courage and humor to face her difficulty. As best she can, she hides her curse and searches for a means of breaking the spell. But how can she fend off the manipulation of her nasty stepfamily? And how can she hope for a happily-ever-after with the prince she loves, knowing that she could be forced to do him harm?

          As a retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella, Ella Enchanted goes beyond retelling to become an excellent original story. Ella is a thoroughly likeable, zestful narrator, with both sympathetic flaws and good points. The kingdom of Frell and the surrounding geography feature prominently in the plot almost as characters themselves and are just as interesting; Ella’s interactions with them and their people while on her travels include meeting giants, ogres, elves, and fairies, each with their own personalities. As for her friendship with Char, the novel’s “Prince Charming,” it is warm and humorous and yes, romantic. Named a Newbery Honor book in 1998, this novel definitely deserves its hype.

Boston Jane by Jennifer L. Holm

What if, in order to be a heroine, you had to lay aside everything you thought was most important? In her young adult novel Boston Jane, author Jennifer L. Holm presents her readers with a protagonist as feisty as she is unique.

Running amok on the streets of 19^th-century Philadelphia, doted on by an affectionate father, Jane Peck has always considered herself to be the luckiest girl in the world – that is, until she runs afoul of Sally Biddle, the resident mean girl, who mocks Jane’s tomboy habits and makes it her mission to cause Jane all kinds of misery. Her father’s apprentice, the handsome William, encourages Jane to attend finishing school, and she quickly embraces the task of becoming a proper young lady as being the solution to her troubles. When William leaves for the Washington Territory to make his fortune and subsequently writes to Jane, asking for her hand in marriage, Jane eagerly sets out on the hazardous sea voyage to join her fiancee. But what place can her refined accomplishments find on board a smelly ship and among the unwashed, uncouth, decidedly male population of Shoalwater Bay? Also, her beloved etiquette handbook says nothing about the propriety of falling in love with a sailor…

          Jane is an uncompromisingly loveable heroine: endearingly bullheaded, determined to always behave as if she were in a Boston parlor, yet constantly surprising herself with her resourcefulness and grit. This book admirably confronts the question of what constitutes manners, good breeding, and ultimately being successful; Jane must decide which of the values she learned at Miss Hepplewhite’s Ladies Academy are superficial, and which are truly necessary for being an accomplished young woman. The secondary characters are both well-drawn and riotously funny, and many are based on real people who lived in the Washington Territory during this time period. Thanks to her extensive research and captivating storytelling, Holm provides a fascinating glimpse into a little-known chapter of American history that also explores issues such as American Indian culture, discrimination, and the necessity of living in harmony to promote the good of society. Jane’s adventures continue in Boston Jane: Wilderness Days and Boston Jane: The Claim. Read them all – they are way too good to miss!

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

With the outdoor temperature at an indecent temperature of negative 60 degrees, books about warm foreign countries are a delightful alternative to booking an immediate flight to Hawaii. Padma Venkatraman’s young adult novel Climbing the Stairs is much more than just an escape to better weather: her character Vidya’s narrative is both lively and thought-provoking, telling an absorbing story of spirit sustained despite all odds.

          Fifteen-year-old Vidya still prefers climbing trees with her older brother Kitta over thinking about her dowry. At an age when most other girls would be having their horoscopes presented to the families of prospective bridegrooms, Vidya rejoices that her parents are willing to send her to college once she finishes school. When her father is seriously injured, however, her family must move to her uncle’s house, where the extended family lives under one roof and the women are strictly confined to the kitchen. Frustrated at the loss of her home and dreams, bullied by her aunts, and harboring a miserable secret, Vidya seeks refuge in her grandfather’s forbidden library, where she makes a good friend in Raman, a handsome young family acquaintance. In the face of the approaching World War II and the avocation of change as made by figures such as Gandhiji (Mahatma Gandhi), Vidya begins to realize that fulfilling her ambitions requires both effort and personal cost.

          One of the best things about this Climbing the Stairs is that it is decidedly three-dimensional. In her story about a young girl negotiating her future, Venkatraman does not neglect any of the essential elements of family, friends, historical consideration, developing romance, and straight-up girlish mischievousness. Vidya is an excellent protagonist, intelligent and logical yet tempestuous and sharp-tongued, and has realistic hopes and affections due to the well-imagined plot. Furthermore, it is worth noting that in her ultimate decision over her future, she discovers that although education and romantic relationships are both vital parts of life, neither can replace the other. Readers will enjoy Vidya’s verve as well as her thirst for knowledge, and may even gain an appreciation for homework. Maybe.

          This book is currently on display in the young adult section of the Fitzgerald Library.

 

         

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

Interested in a book with a plot as outlandish as the wildest action-adventure movie, yet is astoundingly prompted by a true story? Margi Preus’s Newbery Honor biographical novel, Heart of a Samurai, is based on the life of Manjiro, the first Japanese person to set foot in America and arguably one of the most influential people in Japan’s history.

          Manjiro, a bright young teenager, finds very few answers to his myriads of questions in the simple fisherman’s life to which he was born. When he and his fishing companions are shipwrecked on a barren island, they are rescued by a whaling ship from the United States: a fate that nearly all Japanese people believed was worse than death, as foreigners were viewed as nearly demonic and a fatal influence on those with whom they came into contact. Encouraged by the friendship of the ship’s captain, Manjiro stays with the crew as they hunt whales on their way back to America. He attends school in the States and embarks on adventures that vary from panning for gold in California to aiding a mutiny onboard another whaler. Despite the possibilities that open to him, Manjiro longs to return to his family and dreams of helping his isolated homeland embrace the future.

          In her Historical Note, the author states Manjiro was a crucial contributor to the opening of the Japan to interaction with the West – no small feat, as Japan had been self-isolated for 250 years. Preus spins an excellent story that portrays both the harmful effects of discrimination and fear and the good influences of determination, acceptance, and healthy curiosity. Although the tone of the book is more modern than its topic, this is a worthwhile work about an amazing historical figure.

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan

India’s rich history and colorful culture is a fascinating subject for a novel – this reader is always hoping to find a book that describes exactly how Indian women are able to manage their saris so gracefully. Although she does not directly address this curiosity, acclaimed author Gloria Whelan does an excellent job of combining culture, history, and character in her award-winning young adult novel Homeless Bird.

          Koly is thirteen years old, bright, curious, and about to be married to a man she’s never met. When they do meet on their wedding day, it’s too late – Koly discovers that her bridegroom is a sickly boy whose parents are primarily interested in her dowry money as a means of paying his medical bills. When their marriage abruptly ends and she is cast off by her resentful in-laws, Koly summons all her courage to meet a precarious future and to use her talents to make her way.

          Although spirited-girl-forced-into-dreadful-betrothal/marriage is a fairly common plot nowadays, Gloria Whelan keeps this storyline nicely fresh. Neither downtrodden nor inaccurately feminist, Koly’s perspective is open and courageous. Although she has much reason to feel misused, she blessedly does not allow musing about her wrongs to take precedence over her imagination and prospective plans. Additionally, this National Book Award winner offers a captivating look into the life of an “ordinary” Indian girl, giving readers an enhanced appreciation of life in a different country.

 

 

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristine Levine

In honor of the recent celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and the current Black History Month, this next book gives a wonderful insight into the struggle involving Civil Rights as it played out in Arkansas. Author Kristine Levine creates a unique and sympathetic heroine in her second novel The Lions of Little Rock.

          Twelve-year-old Marlee can’t emphasize enough how uncomfortable she feels talking with people outside of her immediate family. Painfully shy, she tends to classify people as types of beverages (unlikable people are, of course, nasty drinks like cough syrup) and is happiest doing math. So it’s a surprise to her and everyone who knows her when she becomes friends with Liz, an exuberant new addition to her grade at West Side Junior High. When Liz suddenly stops coming to school, Marlee is desperate – especially when rumors begin whispering that Liz was actually a colored girl pretending to be white. It’s now up to nervous Marlee to stand by her new friend and speak up in her defense, even if continuing their relationship threatens both of their families.

          This book provides an intense picture of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, and is particularly moving due to the fact that the narrator is a young girl. Readers receive a clear depiction of the animosity aimed at African Americans, a rancor so fierce that it extends to even white people who sided with them. Despite Marlee’s youth, she is not exempt from being targeted for potential violence by racist groups and although her narration is sweet, often lighthearted, and eventually ends happily, the effects of her experience are sobering. Levine’s novel is a stellar fictional work based on the real-life Little Rock Nine. Another excellent book by this author on a very similar subject (my favorite, actually,) is The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had.

Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples

Interested in the mating rituals of camels? Not really? No worries – you’ll probably still enjoy this book. Suzanne Fisher Staples’ Newbery Honor book Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind packs a punch as a captivating narrative of a young girl’s life in 20^th-Century Pakistan.

          11-year-old Shabanu and her family are desert people, nomadic and well accustomed to dealing with sandstorms, dry wells, and the occasional hostile tribe. Yet any inconveniences that come with travelling the desert land are more than made up for in Shabanu’s eyes by the freedom of their life and her love of caring for her father’s camel herd. She knows, however, that her current happiness will not be permanent. Her older sister Phulan is months away from being married, which means that Shabanu’s own wedding will follow a year later. While Shabanu speculates hopefully about her future bridegroom, a boy she barely knows, disaster rips her world to shreds. A greedy and licentious landlord’s vendetta against her family forces her betrothal to the landlord’s wealthy brother, a man twice her age who already has four wives. Desperate, Shabanu must decide between two evils: whether to lock her heart away and obey, or to rebel against her father’s decree and endanger her family.

          Reader, beware: this is not an uplifting story about a girl who finds an unconventional answer that allows her to embrace her culture while retaining her freedom. It is still, however, a worthwhile story particularly due to the fact that it does not fit this plot trajectory. Shabanu’s coming-of-age narrative is a poignant illustration of the ability to love those who hurt you, the power of sacrifice, the necessity of compassion, and ultimately the gift of inner freedom. The heroine’s fate is not the ideal destiny wished by the sympathetic reader, but is still triumphant due to the understanding of personal dignity that she achieves through great struggle. 

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Geroge Speare

Sometimes a book is astonishing simply because it takes a subject that you’ve never before considered and presents it to you as a topic quite worthy of a story. Set in first-century Israel, Elizabeth George Speare’s novel The Bronze Bow is a wonderfully unique work due to its fiery hero, whose outlook on his times gives, among other things, a fascinating impression of the historical character of Jesus.

          Daniel hates the burgeoning Roman Empire as the cause of Israel’s captivity and as the reason his family is in shambles. Chafing under its conquering hand, he joins a band of rebels who hide in the hills of Galilee and embark on raids against those whose wealth affiliates them with the Romans, until the death of his grandmother forces him to return home and care for his sister Leah. Daniel is not content to be only a village blacksmith, and he and his friends Joel and Thacia make a pact to seek out like-minded allies to work for God’s Victory. Frustratingly for the ardent Daniel, this victory turns out to be elusive. His search for a worthy commander in the struggle against the Romans leads him to an itinerate preacher named Jesus, whose compelling persona is coupled with a surprising creed. Daniel, however, must decide whether his vendetta is worth keeping despite the havoc it must necessarily wreak on those closest to him, or whether he will accept Jesus’ unusual promise of deliverance.

Speare’s novel is clearly worthy of the Newbery Medal it won in 1962 for both its beautifully clear voice and its engrossing depiction of a pivotal time period. The Jewish culture with its detailed religious heritage is a central element to the story and certainly adds to its realism; also, the picture of Jesus as he might be seen from the eyes of an “ordinary” Jew of his day is quite captivating. Daniel’s other relationships with figures such as his sister Leah, his friend Samson, and Simon the Zealot contribute to a multifaceted plot. The character of Thacia is interesting as a strong feminine character who is comfortably herself within the customs of the time. These elements culminate in a coming-of-age story that presents a hero with passions and struggles that readers will appreciate.

Jemmy by John Hassler

For some reason, while books set in the lushly warm California or the historical East Coast are fairly plentiful, stories located in Minnesota – the Land of 10,000 Mosquitos and 10,000 Different Kinds of Frostbite – are less common. This blog writer consequently gets very excited to find resident authors who take great pains to work their home state into their fiction. In his young adult novel Jemmy, John Hassler uses his knowledge of Minnesota to tell the fascinating story of a member of a rarely-mentioned minority group.

          The daughter of a Chippewa woman and an Irish house painter, Jemmy (short for Gemstone) is a stoic and practical teenager used to being treated with indifference or mockery due to her dual lineage. Her mother has been dead for a few years and her alcoholic father now demands that she quit high school to take care of her younger siblings. Jemmy resigns herself to her loss of education, but her future takes an unexpected turn when sheltering from a blizzard introduces her to Otis Chapman, an artist commissioned to paint a mural of the legendary Maiden of Eagle Rock. Otis sees Jemmy as both a kindred spirit and exactly the inspiration he needs for his work. Posing as his model opens Jemmy’s eyes to the world of art and to possibilities for herself and her relationships that she had never before considered.

          One of the most enjoyable aspects to this novel is Jemmy’s rich character. Neither a histrionic heroine nor a surly, disaffected delinquent, she faces her considerable difficulties with what can best be termed grace. The ultimate message this story offers is also valuable: while learning to appreciate the lives of her father, Otis Chapman, and the Maiden of Eagle Rock, she recognizes the need to make her own choices that will lead her to her own unique future. This is a wonderful story to read if facing personal difficulties or if seeking to be inspired by an engaging story of hard-won strength.

         

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

A wittily educational book that’s jam-packed with puns and is a pleasure to read? Of course such a thing exists! Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth is a literary treasure, able to engage even the most skeptical of audiences and leave them wishing, just once, to hear a blindfolded octopus unwrap a cellophane-covered bathtub. 

                Milo is a young boy who spends every minute of every day being bored out of his skull: every occupation seems like a waste of time to him, as he considers both school and play to be equally pointless. So when a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, Milo drives through it simply because he has nothing better to do. This turns out to be the best thing he’s ever done, for the strange and captivating land in which he finds himself has just lost its two princesses and needs a hero to rescue them. Milo takes up the quest with the aid of some queer new friends such as Tock the Watchdog and the Humbug and sets off through a land of dodecahedrons, Doldrums, dissonance, and subtraction soup. As adventures abound and his sense of wonder grows, he realizes that this country has as much help to give him as he has to offer it.

          If every person was required to read this book at least once in his or her life, the world would doubtless be a more adventuresome place. The Phantom Tollbooth is filled with characters and situations which are both riotously funny and heartwarmingly wise, lending a quirky moral to every chapter; furthermore, the lessons offered are such that both adults and younger readers can appreciate their wisdom, including the value of knowledge, the importance of choosing the right word, the perils of jumping to conclusions or lazing around, and the necessity of imagination. Milo himself is delightful; readers will be affected by his mounting excitement as the book progresses and encouraged by his new sense of purpose at the conclusion. Perhaps they will begin waiting for magic tollbooths to appear in their bedrooms in addition to looking for Narnia in their closets. 

Welcome to the Freelance Librarian

Welcome to The Freelance Librarian! This blog is dedicated to reviewing books from the junior fiction and young adult section of the Fitzgerald Library on the Winona campus of St. Mary’s University. Its purpose is to provide enjoyable, objective, and informative reviews of a wide range of children’s and young adult literature. Each post will include a brief plot summary of a designated book – no spoilers permitted – as well as a short evaluation. These evaluations are meant to consider the literary merit of the book in such areas as plot and writing technique, as well as assist readers in selecting books suited to their interests, essentially striving to inform you whether a certain book may or may not be worth your while.

          The aim of The Freelance Librarian is to be a helpful resource for readers who wish to reserve their valuable time for reading a good book, rather than fruitlessly browsing through shelves or forcing their way through a boring novel. Booklovers, however, should bear in mind the important fact that there is absolutely no book in the world that will unconditionally delight all readers. This blog will attempt to provide reviews based on standard literary criteria, but does not expect to conform to every individual taste. For this reason, the 50-Page Rule is an excellent rule of thumb for choosing a book to read: if, after 50 pages, you are bored to tears and would rather read the washing instructions on the tag of your new sweater than peruse another page (“99% Lithuanian Albino Yak wool, 1% recognizable fiber: Hand Wash Only If You Want It to Shrink Beyond Recognition”), put it down without regret. After all, the purpose of a book review is to guide you to a work that you will find enjoyable. May this blog help you to find many new friends.

          Happy reading!