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.