A Norwegian spy in WWII

Did you know that during World War II, the Nazis invaded Norway?  It's true, and you'll learn about how some Norwegians reacted to the invasion in Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus.  Espen is 14, and life is rough as the Nazis place more and more restrictions on the lives of him and his friends, even taking over their beloved soccer team.  Espen joins the resistance movement: first, delivering illegal newspapers; then, passing messages; and finally, becoming a spy.  Two of his classmates join up with the Nazis, and soon Espen is real danger, trying to escape to Sweden by skiing through the mountains.  Will he make it?   The book includes a helpful map and glossary, and it's based on the real-life adventures of Norwegian Erling Storrusten.  

The Titanic: it wasn't JUST the iceberg

I'll admit that I've never been overly-fascinated with the story of the Titanic, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson.  The author did an amazing job at her research; the book's many photographs, quotes from survivors, and illustrations really drew me into the story.  By following a variety of individuals (such as a young boy excited to be on such a large ship, the two wireless operators who were sending and receiving telegrams as the disaster unfolded, and a mother with her two sons), the reader is able to put a very personal touch on the situation.  I learned a lot, too - there were all sorts of problems that made the shipwreck even worse.  Did you know there weren't even enough lifeboats for all the passengers and crew?  And some lifeboats weren't even full when they were lowered off the sinking ship?  And a ship that could have helped rescue those in the water didn't? A thoroughly absorbing book, even for those familiar with this tragic event.

Girls, this one's for you

Have you or your girlfriends ever done any of this? Discovered boys.  Tried a new style of clothes or shoes or make-up that just didn't work.  Agonized over a zit.  Messed up a friendship.  Gotten a crush. Really, really embarrassed yourself in front of someone special.  Slammed a door.  Spaced out in class because you're daydreaming.  Gotten bad cramps. Tried to become someone you're not.  Gotten your hopes up.  Yelled at your mom or dad or brother or sister and you don't truly know why.  Sulked. Gotten your hopes crushed.  Fixed a friendship.  Had a mom or aunt or grama dry your tears.  Given a friend a huge hug.  Yes? If a lot of this sounds familiar, check out Planet Middle School, a wonderful book written in free verse by Nikki Grimes.  I bet you share it with a friend.

What would you do if you knew you were going blind?

Accept it?  Deny it?  Learn to deal with it?  Any of these reactions would and DO make sense in Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings.  Natalie is 14, and she has a disease that is slowly robbing her of her sight.  Her parents enroll her in a boarding school for the blind so that she can be taught strategies to cope. She doesn't want to be there - she's sure she's different from "them" - and she fights against learning Braille or how to use a white cane.  But as she slowly makes friends, she develops both skills and an inner strength that she'll need when some scary events take place, with one event ending in a sad and unexpected way.  Not only does the story seem very real (the author spent time studying blindness; her detailed knowledge is evident in her writing), but the way the teenagers react and speak is authentic.  The book will appeal to many middle school (and possibly high school) readers; I'd especially recommend it to fans of Shark Girl or The Running Dream.

Not for the squeamish!

Oooh, something kinda gross, just in time for Halloween!  If you have a weak stomach, you may want to stay away from The Book of Blood: From Legends and Leeches to Vampires and Veins by H. P. Newquist.  No, it's not completely disgusting, but you will see a bit of the red stuff as the author discusses everything from what blood is made up of to the amazing things that blood does for your body, and from old-time medical treatment (leeches! blood-letting!) to creatures both real and imagined that want to drink your blood.  There's even some cool information about unusual blood that other animals have.  Did you know that the blood from an icefish is clear?  And blood from a horseshoe crab is blue??  Check this out...if you dare...and learn what rare disease can turn a person's blood...green.

For German shepherd fans!

There are a lot of different, interesting aspects to How I, Nicky Flynn, Finally Get a Life (and a Dog) by Art Corriveau.  Nicky's parents have divorced; he and his mom have moved to a not-real-great (or big) apartment.  Nicky's mom surprises him by bringing home Reggie, a German shepherd and former guide dog for the blind.  Initially kind of mad, Nicky ends up bonding with Reggie and trying to figure out why the dog was returned to the pound.  At the same time he's learning about guide dogs in general and Reggie in particular, Nicky is dealing with school bullies, a girl who's trying to be his friend, a mom who isn't dealing well with the divorce, and a dad who's ignoring him.  Told in Nicky's voice, the story is authentic; parts are a little funny, but when characters mess up...it still seems real.

Powerful and haunting

Wow.  I don't usually get drawn into stories that are sad, but A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness was absolutely riveting.  Conor is 13, and as long as his mom has been battling cancer, he's been having the same awful nightmare.  One night he's visited by an enormous monster formed by a nearby yew tree.  Over time, and as Conor's mom tries more and more treatments that don't work, the monster tells Conor three confusing stories and then demands that Conor tell him a fourth one - the truth, the story of his nightmare.  Conor's feelings of helplessness, grief, and anger are laid bare; the monster - frightening, caring, maddeningly logical - is one of the most creatively written characters I've come across in a long time.  Black and white artwork adds an extraordinary, eerie quality.  I couldn't put this book down....

A dystopian thriller with a touch of romance

In the fast-paced Legend by Marie Lu the action never stops!  The story takes place in futuristic Los Angeles - there's no "United States" any more, just an ending war between the Republic and the Colonies - and it's told in alternating chapters by the two main characters, both 15 years old.  Day is the Republic's most wanted criminal; he's trying desperately to find a cure for the plague that has infected his little brother. June is brilliant and wealthy, heading for a prestigious career in the Republic's military.  When June's brother is killed, Day is the prime suspect - she's out to get him, but when their paths finally cross...a lot changes.  Besides falling for each other, they learn something really nasty that the Republic government is up to.  How can they put a stop to it, when Day is captured and his execution date is set?  Younger middle schoolers may not like the violence, but older students (and, yes, high school kids), especially fans of "The Hunger Games"-type books, won't be able to put this one down.

What would YOU do for fresh water?

Think about it, next time you take a drink, and then read A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park.  This short and excellent book alternates between two stories in Southern Sudan:  In 2008, Nya has to walk eight hours every day to gather fresh water for her family; in 1985, Salva is separated from his family when soldiers invade his village. Based on the real life of Salva Dut, the stories of survival and the importance of fresh water (especially when it's hard to get) are mesmerizing; when the stories intertwine at the end of the book, you may not be surprised, but I bet you're inspired.  This book has been used by many schools that have a "One Book" program; it would be great for students looking for a service project.

But she's black - will they let her compete?

I loved the title character in Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts!  The year is 1963; Kizzy Ann is black, and she's nervous about starting at a new school that has just been integrated.  She's already faced hatred and bigotry, and she doesn't know what her white classmates will think of her.  Fortunately, KIzzy Ann has her beloved dog Shag.  Shag is a border collie, a type of dog that loves to work and is especially good at herding sheep.  With Shag at her side, she gets to know the others at her school a little better, but when she learns about a herding competition, she's not sure if she should go for it: what if a black girl isn't allowed to compete?  The story is told through letters to her new teacher and journal entries; although Kizzy Ann's voice sometimes sounds more like that of an adult than a child, she's a likable character and teaches us about an important part of our country's history.

"...the labyrinth was empty. Dean had disappeared."

Okay, time travel fans, The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin is a good one for you.  Dean's just goofing around as he walks through the labyrinth in Blackhope Tower, but poof!  He disappears, and his sister Sunni is shocked to see him IN a nearby painting, done centuries ago by the mystical artist Fausto Corvo.  So Sunni goes in after him, as does her classmate Blaise and (uh-oh) bad guy Angus.  Soon they're crossing through different layers of the painting, ending up in different lands, encountering some nasty creatures, meeting others "inside" the painting, and having one heck of an adventure as they desperately try to figure out how to get back home. Who can be trusted?  Parts of the story were a bit confusing, but many readers will enjoy the pace and action.

What's it like if you're homeless...and you're a kid?

I was all ready to be sad when I read Almost Home by Joan Bauer, but instead I was touched, impressed, and inspired.  Sugar Mae Cole and her mom, Reba, have lost their home and moved to Chicago to start over. But after the job Reba hopes for doesn't come through, she has a breakdown, and Sugar heads to a loving foster family.  With help from a book by her late grandfather, a puppy named Shush, and an understanding teacher from her previous school, Sugar strives to carry on.  She's a strong, likable character, and many of her feelings are expressed in emails and poems that she writes.  Even though the book is fiction, it puts a real face on the issue of homelessness in a compassionate way, and yes, there are touches of humor.  This is a mesmerizing, wonderful book - I'd love to hear a book club discuss it.

"...when you find your soul, you have to go"

And someone (something?) leaving is the trigger for the wildly creative fantasy Summer and Bird by Katherine Catmull.  Summer and Bird are sisters, and they wake up one morning to find that their parents are gone.  Trying to follow a picture-letter left behind by their mother, the girls stumble into Down, a place of magic.  They're soon separated, and as the narrator follows their individual journeys, the reader learns that Mom is actually the queen of birds and can change from woman into bird and back again by using the swan robe.  The girls encounter ravens, snakes, the evil Puppeteer, and so many other fantasy elements that your head will spin.  Imagery! Symbolism!  Metaphors!  The language is rich and the details are intricate, but the story gets so unusual (a World Snake?  a woman who eats live birds?) that I think this book is better suited to older readers.

Remarkably...odd?

Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind when reading Remarkable by Lizzie K. Foley, but it was so absurd that I had a tough time getting through it!  Ten-year-old Jane Doe is the only ordinary person in the town of Remarkable, where everyone has some extraordinary talent.  She's also the only student not admitted to the School for the Remarkably Gifted, and when she's joined at the public school (yes, shes's been the only kid there) by the trouble-making Grimlet twins, her life gets a little crazy.  Or perhaps things got out of hand because of the pirate who showed up, the argument over which town has the best jelly, the sea serpent named Lucky, the fifth-grade teacher who's oddly proficient at teaching pirate skills, the psychic pizza-maker, or the missing composer.  I thought there were too many strangely different elements for the story to come together, and the message that it's okay to be average gets completely buried...what's your opinion?

If you like the Wimpy Kid...

...you probably like books that are funny, and you can't much goofier than NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley.  With code names like Wheezer, Gluestick, and Pufferfish, a group of six 5th graders has been trained as spies, getting "upgrades" to their weaknesses.  Who knew that asthma inhalers and braces could help save the world from the evil Dr. Jigsaw?  The pace is quick, the action is totally absurd, the occasional illustrations are fun, and the reader has to pass several security clearances - but don't worry, your thumbprint, spit, or money will work just fine!  The first in a series that has its own web site (http://www.abramsbooks.com/nerds/), the fifth title is coming out in August.

A thoughtful book...good for the soul

If you've had enough of crazy action-packed stories and would like something a bit more thoughtful, a bit more lyrical, try Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor. Raine is 12, and she can't figure out why her mom decided to move the two of them to an artists' colony for a summer job, leaving her Grampa Mac back in Milwaukee.  And there are more mysteries and secrets to figure out: what happened to the orphans who lived in the main house of the colony, years ago?  Why is Viktor, the owner, so cold, and why does Raine's mom seem to know him?  What is the connection between Viktor and Lillian, the sweet, frail, elderly artist who keeps calling Raine an orphan?  And will Raine finally found out who her father is?  The importance of art, dreaming, and forgiveness all play a role in this quiet, contemplative story.

Three lives weaving together

The main characters in The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby definitely need to work together if they're each going to get their wish.  Giuseppe is an orphan who scrounges a living by playing the violin; he wants to escape his wicked master and go back to Italy.  Frederick is an apprentice clockmaker; if he can figure out how to complete the project he's secretly working on, he'll be able to be employed on his own. And Hannah, a lowly maid in a glamorous hotel, wants to find a hidden treasure so she can support her family.  Although I wasn't crazy about the ending - there's a fantasy element thrown in that I wish weren't there - I enjoyed the characters, and the author's description of the sights, sounds, and smells of the various settings really pulled me into the story.

A must-read for animal lovers

If you're concerned about animals and how they're treated, you've got to read The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  The narrator is actually Ivan, a gorilla who's lived for many years at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.  Living conditions aren't great, but Ivan generally accepts them as he makes clever observations of the animals and humans around him.  However, his friend Stella the elephant was injured and has been ignored (mistreated?) for too long.  Ruby, a baby elephant, joins the group, and as Stella is dying, Ivan promises that he'll help Ruby have a better life. But how will he do it?  Winner of the 2013 Newbery Award and inspired by a real gorilla who's now living at Zoo Atlanta, the story is heart-warming, funny, and thought-provoking.

"They'd never suspect the secret I was hiding"

If you're looking for a good book for the beach, try Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker. After her mom leaves her (again), Stella is sent to live with her Great Aunt Louise, who tends to a cottage colony on a beach in Cape Cod.  Foster child Angela is living there, too, and even though she and Stella are about the same age, they do NOT get along.  When Louise suddenly dies, the girls are afraid they'll be thrown back into the foster care world; they secretly bury Louise and decide to team up and manage the cottages, surviving on the vacationers' left-over food and tips.  The story is told in Stella's voice, and her descriptions - from families tumbling out of their cars to begin vacation to her on-again, off-again friendship with Angela  - are spot on.  But how long can the girls keep their secret?

Is it possible to be TOO safe?

You might think so when you read Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner.  Goldie, like all children in the city of Jewel, has been chained to either a parent or Blessed Guardian since the time she could walk.  She's always been bold, though, and when the ceremony on Separation Day is disrupted, she takes the opportunity to run away.  She ends up at the Museum of Dunt; the four keepers take her in, teach her how to survive (she's been so overprotected that she can do little on her own), and show her how to navigate the mysterious, shape-shifting rooms and stairs.  She soon learns that the leader of the Blessed Guardians is power-crazy - he has plans that will destroy not only the museum, but Jewel and all of its residents.  Can Goldie stop him?  Lots of action and adventure in this book, the first of the Keepers Trilogy.  

Get out your Kleenex

I hardly ever, ever, ever get choked up at a book, but One for the Murphys by Lynda Mulally Hunt was an exception.  After being horrifically betrayed by her mother and abused by her stepfather, Carley is placed in a foster home: Mr. and Mrs. Murphy and their three sons.  She really doesn't want to be there and is convinced that she's not worthy of the love and respect shown to her, especially by Mrs. Murphy, who seems (to Carley) too good to be true.  Carley eventually warms up to the family and even makes a friend at school, but then...but THEN...she visits her mom in the hospital and no longer is sure of where she belongs - with her mom (stepdad is now out of the picture), whom she still loves but who got her in this foster situation?  With the Murphys, who offer a warm, safe environment?  Short chapters keep this book moving quickly, and Carley's first-person narrative will tug at your heart.

Secret upon secret in this page-turner

I could NOT put down my copy of Four Secrets by Margaret Willey!  Katie, Nate, and Renata are all in the juvenile detention center - they're in a ton of trouble for kidnapping Chase, the star athlete at their school and a major bully.  The story is told both through the journal entries they're required to make (three very different styles) and through a narrator who describes social worker Greta and her attempts to put together the pieces of a very confusing puzzle. It's obvious that the three have made a pact to not give away something huge; it's also evident that each has a serious secret.  And so does Chase.  And you'll go nuts trying to figure them out, and you won't know everything until the end of the book.  (Don't peek!) The ending is a bit rushed and not 100% satisfying, but still...I dare you to read this slowly.

Advice to artists: learn from the best!

If you're in the mood for something a little different, take a look at Drawing from Memory by Allen Say. Part graphic novel and part biography, Mr. Say tells his story of growing up in Japan and his desire to be a cartoonist, despite objections from his father.  At the age of 12, the author sought out Noro Shinpei, a famous Japanese cartoonist, with hopes of working for him and learning the art of cartooning.  Through a combination of drawings and sketches from the past and the present, the reader learns how Shinpei became Mr. Say's sensei, or teacher.  The format of the book takes getting used to, with the styles of drawings and the page lay-outs varying quite a bit, but the story is intriguing and gives good insight into the hard work required to excel as an artist.

Seriously sinister

Okay, if creepy, crawly bugs give you bad dreams, don't even THINK about reading The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand!  Victoria is 12 years old; she's a perfectionist and likes everything to be exactly right and just so.  She doesn't have any friends except Lawrence, who's really more of her "project," as she constantly tries to correct him into being a better person.  They live in Belleville, which is a little too eerie in both it's perfect-ness and the way it doesn't seem to notice the local orphanage.  Then Lawrence disappears, Victoria's parents start getting weird, and these BUGS keep crawling out of everywhere (even with occasional bug illustrations right in the middle of the page you're reading), so Victoria checks out the orphanage.  She finds Lawrence - which is good - and a nasty gardener, a shape-shifting house, and the reason scary Mrs. Cavendish is keeping the kids there - which isn't good.  And did I mention bugs?  Yuk. If you're brave enough, get out your bug spray and find out if Victoria can learn what friendship is truly all about.

I'm back!

I obviously haven't blogged for quite a while because...well...it doesn't really matter, does it?  I'm back, and I'm reading, and I'm blogging. Enjoy!