Would you survive on a deserted island?

I know of so many classes that have read The Cay by Theodore Taylor that I decided it was time for me to read it, too, and I'm glad I did.  Taking place during World War II, young Philip is on a freighter that is hit by a torpedo.  When he comes to, he's on a raft in the middle of nowhere with Timothy, an elderly black man, and his feline companion, Stew Cat. They eventually land on a small, deserted island; Philip's head injury leads to blindness, and he must depend on the knowledge and kindness of Timothy to survive.  Will they make it through the approaching hurricane?  Will they ever be rescued?  A lot of action and food for thought are packed into this relatively small book.  

For the new middle schooler!

Hopefully your school year won't start out like this one, but if it does, take heart - you're not alone.  How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart is pretty funny, but it has serious parts, too.  Eleven-year-old David Greenberg, inspired by comedian Jon Stewart, makes hysterical (and very good) videos that he uploads to YouTube.  Problems begin when his best friend Elliott abandons him, bully Tommy starts picking on him, and he just can't stop missing his mom, who moved away.  Fortunately, he gains a new friend, Sophie, and her efforts to get the word out on how awesome David's videos are propel him to stardom!  If you like the "Wimpy Kid" books, read this one, too, and find out why there's a hamster on the cover....

The realities of war

Since the U.S. is now pulling out of Iraq, it seemed like a good time to check out this book.  While not an emotionally easy book to read, Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers sheds some light on what war is really all about.  Robin "Birdy" Perry is a young African-American soldier heading overseas to be in the Civil Affairs unit for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Narrated in first person, Robin leads the reader through a wide range of his emotions - optimism in his letters home to his mom, the friendship and loyalty to his fellow soldiers, utter fear and confusion in trying to figure out exactly who the enemy and why they're fighting.  Appropriate for older middle schoolers and high school students, this would be an interesting companion book to the study of any war.

One feisty young lady

I was pleasantly surprised when I read Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman.  Based on the cover (I know, don't judge a book by its cover), I assumed the story would be about the Middle Ages (correct) and some lah-de-dah, prim and proper girl (way NOT correct).  I should've looked closer - she's getting ready to dump a bucket of water on a guy!  Catherine (nicknamed Little Bird or Birdy) is 14, and the year is 1290.  She's expected to learn her "lady lessons" and be married off in a year or two, but she would much rather join a crusade or become a puppeteer.  Told in a diary format, this book includes rich details of the daily life, beliefs, and customs of the medieval times.  Catherine has quite a bit of spunk, and I couldn't help but wonder how (or if?) she would escape her planned marriage to the abominable Shaggy Beard.  A fascinating story, this would be an especially good companion book to the study of the Middle Ages.

You look wonderful!

I'll admit that I don't know much about the practice of wearing the hijab (Muslim head scarf), and I'd never read a book on the subject, but I'm so glad I started with Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Amal is a 16-year-old Australian-Muslim-Palestinian (she freely states that she's "whacked with some seriously confusing identity hyphens") who goes to a prep school. She likes texting, fashion, and watching Sex in the City, and she's decided that she's ready to wear the hijab. The author does an amazing job of leading us through Amal's decision and consequences, staying true to a high-schooler's thought process and faith, without being preachy. Some parts of the book are funny and some are sad, but they all shed a beautiful light on a culture that's quite different from my own. Highly recommended for 8th grade and up.

Absolutely magical

So if a grown-up tells you not to do something, what do you do? If you're like Seth in Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, you figure nothing bad will happen, and wow - will you be wrong. Seth and his sister Kendra are taken to live with their grandparents, whom they hardly know, while their parents go on a trip. The kids eventually learn that their grandparents' estate is actually a sanctuary for magical creatures, such as fairies, satyrs, and imps. Seth has a hard time obeying his grandfather (his grandmother is mysteriously "away"); as a result of his actions, he not only meets some dangerous creatures, but unleashes them as well, and a big good vs. evil battle is underway. I loved the language the kids used - they really, truly sound like siblings - and the action kept me turning the pages. Another terrific Rebecca Caudill nominee!

Laugh out loud funny!

I know so many kids who have read Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney that I decided it was about time I checked it out. Kids - you're brilliant. I haven't laughed at a book this much in ages! Greg Heffley is in his first year of middle school, and he describes it perfectly ("You've got kids like me who haven't hit their growth spurt yet mixed in with these gorillas who need to shave twice a day"), with goofy friends, annoying siblings, and clueless parents. The illustrations on every page are priceless, and Greg's thoughts and actions are both authentic and supremely funny. This is the first book in the Wimpy Kid series, and I bet the rest are just as funny. Be on the look-out: the fifth book is scheduled to be released in November!

Next time I see a firefly...

...I bet I think of this book. The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle is as interesting as it is lyrical. Based in Cuba in the 1800s, the story is told in free verse in first person, alternating between Fredrika Bremer, a Swedish feminist visiting Cuba; Cecilia, a slave who misses her home in Africa and serves as Fredrika's translator; Elena, the slave-owner's daughter who lives in a "private world of silk and lace" but has surprisingly little freedom over her own life; and Beni, Cecilia's husband. A metaphor that is invoked repeatedly is that of cocuyos - fireflies. The natives catch them and put them into bottles to make lamps or weave them into their hair, while Fredrika and Cecilia buy the fireflies and set them free. I'd love to share this with a book club, taking turns to read aloud each very brief chapter, and talking about the freedoms and limitations of all the characters.

Know a good lawyer?

Author John Grisham is internationally know for the legal thrillers he's written for adults. I'd love to know what students think of his first book for middle schoolers, Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. Theodore is 13, and his parents are both lawyers. He loves everything about the legal world and knows a heck of a lot about it, too. He's fascinated by a local murder trial - it seems like the accused man is guilty but will get away with his crime. The dilemma arises when Theo learns of an eyewitness, an illegal immigrant, who can probably get the guy convicted. However, the young man is afraid that if he comes forward he'll be deported. What should Theo do? It's a great premise for a book, but some of the story and dialogue didn't seem authentic to me, and too much was unresolved at the end. There's a fun Theodore Boone web site, but I think Grisham should stick to writing adult books.

Interesting, yet sad

Have you ever read a book and thought you should be liking it better or getting something more out of it? That's what happened with me when I read Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells. The book received excellent reviews, but I had a hard time getting through it. You might love it, though! India Moody is twelve years old and lives in Virginia, the Confederate side of the Civil War. She balances the grief at watching her father go off to war and the horror at what she witnesses (war injuries and illnesses are never pleasant - even less so in the 1860s) with tutoring she receives from Emory Trimble in biology and chemistry, topics not deemed appropriate for young ladies of her day but for which she has a real love and talent. India grows and matures, assumes more and more responsibility for her family, and has difficult decisions to make when encountering some dead and wounded Yankee soldiers. Much research went into crafting this book, a very authentic telling of experiences during the War Between the States.