New December Books! (Part I)

We're winding down 2010 with some terrific books. There's so many that I want to tell you about, so I will break this into two posts. Here's a sampling of the latest books in our children's/YA collections:




The Adventures of Nanny Piggins

A widowed father searches for a competent nanny for his children. For reasons yet unknown to me, he ends up with a pig. A pig who considers school cruel and unusual punishment and eats only sweets for dinner. Recommended on James Patterson's Read Kiddo Read site, School Library Journal also recommends this for "reluctant and avid readers alike." That's pretty cool.




Animal Crackers Fly the Coop

"Why didn't the skeleton cross the road? He didn't have the guts!" If you know a kid who loves that kind of humor (hey, I think it's funny, too), you'll want to check out this take on the Bremen Town Musicians by the Brothers Grimm. No musicians in this story, though; the animals go into the stand-up comedy business. Yuk, yuk.




Arlington: The Story of Our Nation's Cemetery

I try to pick up any new Virginia or DC-related books that catch my eye. This looked intriguing.




Around the World in 100 Days

Now, THIS looks cool. The main character is the son of Phileas Fogg, the hero of Around the World in 80 Days. Young Harry wants to circle the Earth in a steam-powered automobile; his father, reluctant at first, wagers a bet with him: if he succeeds, he can pursue his automobile passion. If not, he has to join the family business. Kirkus calls this a " thrilling, thoroughly road-worthy joy ride" and School Library Journal says its "touch of humor and a great deal of heart" will make readers "feverishly turn pages." Harry is also multiracial, which you don't often see in historical fiction set during this era.




Clever Jack Takes the Cake

Candace Fleming is one of those few authors who create superb picture books, children's novels, and nonfiction. Jack bakes a cake in honor of the princess's birthday. On his way to bring the cake to the princess, however, various animals nibble at it until only the berry remains (to which the princess is known to be allergic). Upon his arrival at the castle, Jack has only the story of his cake's demise--to the princess's delight. Aww....all about the gift of storytelling. Can't wait.

(I also can't wait for Fleming's Spring 2011 biography of Amelia Earhart. Have you been following the latest news about Earhart?)




The Dark Game: True Spy Stories

This is a finalist for YALSA's Award in Excellence for Nonfiction. Looks intriguing, and reviews have been quite positive.




Don't Stop Believin': The Unofficial Guide to Glee

Gleeks unite! I've looked through several Glee-related books, and this one seems the best.




The Hardy Boys: The New Case Files I: Crawling With Zombies

The Hardy Boys are back, this time starring in their very own graphic novel series.




Hip Hop Dog

Kirkus Reviews says that this tale of a streetwise stray "begs to be read aloud," while Publishers Weekly praises its "upbeat, noncorny" rhymes.




Holler Loudly

When Holler Loudly was born, he cried so loudly that pecans fell from pecan trees. His enormous lung power ruins fishing trips, gets him escorted out of the movie theater, gets him in trouble at the library, and causes a stampede at the county fair. A barber shop concert teaches him that quiet times "could be just fine," but when a monstrous tornado threatens the town, Holler's the only one who can save the day. Reviews have been excellent.




Honda: The Boy Who Dreamed of Cars

Children's biographies of prominent Asians are difficult to find, which is why I was pleased to find this picture book biography of Soichiro Honda. Library Media Connection calls it "interesting and personable."




How to Grow Up and Rule the World

Written for those who want to be Darth Vadar over Luke Skywalker, The Joker over Batman, Lex Luthor over Superman, or The Green Goblin over Spiderman, How to Grow Up and Rule the World is a tongue-in-cheek guide for the aspiring supervillain. From choosing your costume, tips on evil laughter, and how to recruit enough people for your evil empire, Vordak the Incomprehensible tells all (even though he's not exactly the world's most successful supervillain). Sounds like major fun.



I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916

Dun Dun DUN. Great white sharks terrorize the Jersey Shore in 1916. If you need a quick historical fiction read, I'll bet this would be a good one to grab. School Library Journal says that this is a "gripping story that will hold the interest of reluctant readers."




Lafayette and the American Revolution

Why did a French nobleman risk everything to fight for American freedom? Russell Freedman, a giant in the field of children's nonfiction, explains how this young aristocrat played an enormously important rule in the American Revolution as well as the French Revolution (for which he was exiled) and the anti-slavery movement.




Love You to Death: The Unofficial Companion to the Vampire Diaries

Fans of the CW Network television program (based upon the YA series of the same name) will chomp at the bit to read this guide to the hit television series.



Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit

Everyone's favorite crime-solving cafeteria lady is back in her latest adventure. If you're not familiar with this series, you are missing out! There was talk last summer of a movie version starring Amy Poehler, but I haven't heard anything recently about it (hope that Poehler is still signed for the movie; she'd be great).




Mars Needs Moms

I don't know much about this other than a movie version is set to be released next year. In 3-D, of course.




Miss Brooks Loves Books! (And I Don't)

School librarians, this one's for you. Miss Brooks is the costume-wearing free spirited school librarian. Missy is not enthusiastic about reading; worst of all, it's BOOK WEEK, for goodness sakes, and she has to read a book, wear a costume, and tell her class why she likes the book. As a librarian who loves a challenge, Miss Brooks fills Missy's bookbag with books. Missy informs her mother that she doesn't like any books that are too "flowery" or anything girly. But look what Miss Brooks has put in Missy's bag....a copy of Shrek (yes, the movie is *loosely* based on William Steig's picture book of the same name). Reviews say that this is a hilarious read; really excited about reading it.

New December Books! (Part II)

Moving right along...




Miss Lina's Ballerinas

8 little girls take ballet with Miss Lina: Christina, Marina, Edwina, Nina, and friends walk in four lines of two everywhere they go. Everything is perfectly aligned. Trouble ensues when a ninth girl, Regina, joins the troupe. Eventually, the girls learn that "everything's perfect now there are nine/because dancing in three rows of three is divine." (You get a little math lesson thrown in, too.) If you're getting a Madeline-vibe, you're not alone, as reviewers have also pointed this out (not in a negative way; it's received lovely reviews). It looks like everything a ballet-obsessed little girl could want (it's also multicultural).





Mr. Elephanter

Mr. Elephanter spends his days caring for the elephants. He feeds them breakfast (banana pancakes) and takes them on field trips to the pool and the park. Kirkus Reviews says that the pages "melt with charm" and School Library Journal declares it "oddly charming." I need an elephant book for an elephant themed story time, so I'm eager to read this book.




A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea

Why is a pig parade such a terrible idea? Michael Ian Black will explain it to us: the only floats they really care about are root beer floats, and they prefer weepy country ballads to Sousa marches. Reviews call this book absolutely hilarious.




Taking Off

Ever since I heard about this book set in Clear Lake, TX in the days before and after the Challenger explosion, I've been on pins and needles waiting for this book (the release date should be early January). Clear Lake is the home of the Johnson Space Center; it's also where my cousins grew up. NASA influences a great deal of the area, and many NASA families also live in the community. Annie is more interested in poetry than space, and although her mother and her boyfriend are encouraging her to make plans for her future, Annie isn't really sure what she wants to do. Through an introduction by a friend, Annie meets Christa McAuliffe, training to be the First Teacher in Space. Annie, inspired by McAuliffe, and her father travel to Florida, her first trip outside of Texas, to cheer on McAuliffe.

Jenny Moss, author of the excellent Winnie's War, trained crew members for the Challenger launch. Her immediacy to the events makes this truly special. On a lighter note, Kirkus Reviews also notes her evocation of the 1980s. Very nice.




The Rooster Prince of Breslov

The Horn Book Magazine praises this Yiddish folktale for its "subtlety and humor" and its "witty, dialogue-based storytelling." I love folktales, so I'm happy when I come across some real finds.




A Sick Day For Amos McGee

Amos McGee takes very good care of the animals in the zoo; when he falls ill, the animals return the favor. Awwww.






The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis

Futurama's crew gets trapped in a Simpsons comic book. D'oh! Publishers Weekly calls this a "funny, intricately detailed story."




The Star Maker

Laurence Yep is one of my favorites; his depictions of Chinese-American history are gripping, occasionally heartbreaking, and magical. This looks like another winner; set in San Francisco's Chinatown during the 1950s, a young boy brags to a bully that he'll be able to buy Chinese New Year fireworks for his entire family, even though money is really tight.

Sugar and Ice



A rural girl with promising skating talent wins the chance to train with the elites, who look down on her country ways. Wait a minute; isn't that how Ice Castles starts out? (That movie is AWESOME. I don't care what anybody says, although it's a little disconcerting to hear Marilla from Anne of Green Gables swear like a sailor.) I'm guessing Claire doesn't go skating on a rink cluttered with tables and chairs (!) and go blind, though. It's received very nice reviews and praise for its realistic
depiction of competitive skating (Sugar and Ice did, that is. Not Ice Castles.) Books about competitive ice skaters are right up my alley, so I'm looking forward to this one! We just need something for gymnastics (or bring The Little Gymnast back in print)




Superheroes on a Medical Mission: Medikidz Explain Autism

I've been really curious about the Medikidz series for some time; when I finally had enough room in an order to include a Medikidz title, I decided to order the autism title. There's a bunch of these graphic novels, explaining everything from breast cancer to depression. The series originated in Britain, so I'm interested to see how much this affects terminology and whatnot.





Who Was Jim Henson?

I discovered the "Who Was...?" biography series while serving on the Jefferson Cup Committee. I really like these simple and chatty biographies.

Fantastic! What a great set of books. Happy reading!

3 For 3: Revolution

And finally, my third awesome read in a row. And, if I may say so, the most awesome one.

I've been a Jennifer Donnelly fan ever since I read A Northern Light. Her evocative and sophisticated writing immediately made her one to watch in the young adult historical fiction field (Donnelly also writes historical fiction for adults). I thought A Northern Light would be a hard one to follow up; I am very happy that I was wrong!

Mattie is a music prodigy and a student at one of Brooklyn's most rigorous and prestigious schools. She is dreadfully unhappy; an accident claimed the life of her beloved younger brother, leaving her family (parents are divorced) damaged and devastated. When her father discovers that she is in danger of failing her classes, he demands that he join her in Paris (where he lives) in order to work on her final research project involving a French composer.

While stumbling around in the attic of a family friend (and noted expert on the French Revolution), Mattie discovers the diary of a young actress who finds herself entangled with the fate of the doomed royal family.

I was as engrossed with this story as Mattie was with the secret diary; it is a powerful, heartbreaking, and moving story. There's so many twists and turns that I don't want to reveal much in this post, but it's truly one of those books that will send you on a head trip. Those with a passion for music or all things Parisian will definitely want to pick this up. It also touches on issues, naimly immigration and racial issues, that touch contemporary French society.

As the story deals simultaneously with the French Revolution and a family's devastating grief, Revolution is not for the most sensitive readers (there's also some strong language). The story will stay with you long after you finish the novel. Adult fans of historical fiction would enjoy this as well.

3 For Three: A Girl Named Mister

Once upon a time, Christian fiction for children and teens consisted mainly of books that either featured sweet pious little children or were fictionalized biographies of missionaries. The children's/YA Christian book market has changed (although you can still find sweet pious little children and fictionalized biographies of missionaries). The stories have changed, the marketing has changed, the covers have changed...the covers! Take a look at these covers. Which one do you think is the YA Christian novel?











Trick question!

They're all YA Christian fiction. Surprised?

Just as adult Christian fiction has modernized and diversified, so has YA Christian fiction. The essence of YA fiction is coming of age; the main character experiences a mark of maturity, whether it's realistic fiction, fantasy/science fiction, or adventure. The essence of Christian fiction is a challenge or change in the main character's faith; the story is how she/he grapples with this challenge or change, and the conclusion is a return to faith, albeit a more complicated, messy, and deeper faith. Just as modern adult Christian fiction doesn't shy away from contemporary problems (divorce, alcoholism, and so on), most modern YA Christian fiction doesn't shy away from problems and issues faced by real Christian teens. Such as popularity and fitting in. The opposite sex. And teenage pregnancy.

I was absolutely delighted when I read about Nikki Grimes's new relationship with Zondervan. Nikki Grimes is a well-known and well-loved author in children's literature (I am loving her new Dyamonde Daniel series). Her characters are authentic and believable; her writing has earned her awards and recognition, but remains appealing, realistic, and identifiable for all children, regardless of their heritage or background. Zondervan, with its children's and teen divisions, Zonderkidz and Youth Specialties, is one of the largest Christian publishers in the current market. I was eager to discover the fruits of this relationship, and I am very pleased to tell you that A Girl Named Mister is a strong and remarkable addition to YA Christian fiction.

Mary Rudine's real name isn't Mister, of course; it's just a nickname created from her initials. Mister's life has centered around her church for as long as she can remember; youth group and choir make up a major portion of her social life. That changes when she meets Trey. Trey is super fine; although he hangs out with the youth group from time to time, he's not really part of the group.

One thing leads to another, and Mary finds herself pregnant. Scared, confused, and feeling alone, she happens upon a book of poetry written from the Virgin Mary's point of view. Mary's initial confusion over her pregnancy, her fear about what her betrothed, Joseph, will say when she tells him the news, the gossiping neighbors, and wonder about her unborn child bring comfort to Mister as she struggles to tell her mother and decide about her baby's future.

A Girl Named Mister is a heartfelt and truthful look at teen pregnancy. It is not judgemental or preachy. And to address a criticism made in an Amazon.com review: Grimes does not compare Mister to the Virgin Mary in any way. She presents Mister's journey through pregnancy alongside Mary's journal, but this does not mean that she is comparing the two. Not at all.

It would also be a good book club discussion for teens, as the ending is rather ambiguous and ripe for discussion.





Coming up: My third awesome read in a row, plus December orders and my top 10 books of 2010. I'll also tell you about Shine, Coconut Moon. It's an excellent debut novel about a Sikh girl discovering her Indian roots and the Sikh faith after the events of 9-11.

3 For 3: The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie

I love it when I read one excellent book after another; it makes blogging so much easier! Even better when I read three terrific books in a row. That is *rare*, ladies and gentlemen.



I mentioned The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie when we first ordered it. I was really looking forward to reading it since it had already received very good reviews. Having been a Barbie fan when I was a child, and having read many of the Barbie histories written for adults, this book went to the top of my never-ending TBR (To Be Read) list.

Tanya Lee Stone never really played with Barbies during her childhood; she feels this gives her a more objective outlook on the doll's influence on popular culture. For the most part, I think this is true. When reading adult nonfiction books about Barbie, it's usually fairly obvious whether the author is a fan or not (admittedly, they usually declare themselves one way or another in their introductions).

Stone gives a solid introduction to Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie, and the initial history of Barbie. I was pleased that Stone discussed Mattel's workplace diversity at the height of segregation; not only in terms of racial diversity, but also religious, ethnic, ability, and age. The initial cold reception to Barbie at the toy industry's major exhibition, as well as the (mostly negative) reactions from mothers in a focus group were very entertaining to read.

Fortunately for Barbie, Christmas toy commercials featuring her lovely self were just around the corner. Barbie made her mark in 1959; television sets in the home were becoming more common, and the baby boom phenomenon meant that the children's toy industry was red-hot. Barbie become *the* toy for the Christmas season, and the rest, as they say, is history.



It's impossible to write a Barbie book without acknowledging her passionate critics; Stone is careful to show both sides of the Barbie debate. I appreciate that many of her quotes, both positive and negative, come from preteen and teenage girls. Stone also pays tribute to the multi-ethnic and multi-national Barbies, including the controversies surrounding several of these dolls. She also explores the many ways girls play with Barbies; not only in dressing the dolls, but involving them in destructive play (removing limbs or the head, especially if a brother manages to get a hold of a Barbie), romantic acts (the examples are hilarious and so true, but don't worry, nothing too bawdy for this book intended for preteen and teen readers), or changing her appearance (cutting her hair, drawing on her, etc).

There are plentiful color photographs illustrating Barbie's changing looks over the decade, including the more expensive collectible editions. Barbie's wardrobe was initially created with loving care; nothing but the best fabric and buttons for her (of course, that didn't last very long due to the expense and time involved). You will definitely linger over these photographs; they are fantastic (I had a blast from the past when I saw Barbie and the Rockers). I *did* notice that in the discussion and illustrations of Barbie's many careers, there is no mention of her stint as a McDonald's employee.

Don't believe me?



Oh, I want to know the story behind that one, and when Mattel decided to not make the McDonald's set anymore.

I also missed a discussion about Barbie and the Rockers and Hasbro's upstart, Jem. Anyone remember Jem?



(The boys at school would sing, "Germ, Germ, she's truly contagious, truly, truly, truly contagious!")



Poor, poor Jem.

Those are just minor quibbles, and to be fair, the most interesting part of Barbie history is really 1960s-1970s. Stone paid a lot of attention to the multicultural Barbies, which is more important, and more expansive than other Barbie histories that I've read. Stone also delves into Barbie-inspired art, which is very cool.

All in all, this is a fun and informative book for preteen readers and older. Even if you're quite familiar with Barbie's history, you'll still enjoy reading this terrific book.

In my upcoming posts, I'll discuss A Girl Named Mister and Revolution. Also look for a post about books that we've recently ordered.

Pearl Harbor

No new post today. Today is the 69th anniversary of Pearl Harbor; in honor of the day, I'm reposting a post from 2006.

Annexed

I don't remember when I first read The Diary of a Young Girl, but I'm guessing that I was in sixth or seventh grade. I've read other books and Holocaust-era diaries since then, but if you were to ask me to rattle off a list of Holocaust books, Anne Frank's diary would definitely be at the top of my list. Not only is her diary an extraordinary account of conditions that are unimaginable for most of us, it's also a universal exploration of teen girlhood--crushes, family issues, grand plans for the future--which is why it speaks to so many of the young girls who read it for the first time.

15 year old Anne Frank's diary is painful and yet, it is a miracle. Painful in that this intelligent and vivacious young girl's life ended so cruelly, miserably, and entirely too soon. A miracle in that it managed to go unnoticed when the residents of the Annex were arrested. Over the years, several excellent books about Anne Frank have been published (I'll list them at the end of this post), but Annexed is a novelization of Anne Frank, written from Peter van Pels's point of view.

Who was Peter van Pels? If you read Anne's diary (or saw The Diary of Anne Frank play/movie), you'll remember that Peter and his family were also hidden in the Annex along with the Franks. Peter and Anne didn't take to each other at first; his reticence was in stark contrast with her expressive nature. Eventually, they developed a romantic relationship of sorts, until they were separated after entering the concentration camps.

Sharon Dogar kept carefully to the events described in Anne's diary; only conversations are imagined, except for one character that she created to represent Peter's life before he entered the Annex (a former crush that he dreams about). Her strength is in describing the beyond-cramped conditions of the Annex, including the smells and sounds that were unavoidable. A longing ache permeates the story as the residents remember their former lives and gaze at those still living on the outside.

That longing suddenly turns into a living nightmare that the Annex residents could have never imagined; after a series of terrifying break-ins, the group is discovered and transported to the trains leading to Auschwitz. The unbearable conditions on the train, as passengers are forced to stand for days on end, are just the beginning; upon arrival at Auschwitz, the men and women are separated, never to see each other again.

The Auschwitz section of Annexed is the briefest section, but it is undeniably the strongest and the most terrifying. As little is known of Peter's life at Auschwitz and his fate, Dogar based this section on other Auschwitz memoirs, including Primo Levi's accounts. It is brutal, as you can imagine. It is extremely powerful. And heartbreaking.

Dogar ends Annexed with information (what little there is of it) on the fate of the Annex residents. Otto Frank, Anne's father, was the sole survivor. When he returned to Amsterdam to track down the whereabouts of the family, Miep Gies, their link to the outside world during their time in the Annex, brought Anne's diary to him. After making a few edits (an unedited version was published after his death), he made the decision to publish her diary, and the rest was history.



Annexed is an unsettling and powerful novel. It is not necessary to have read Anne Frank's diary before reading it, but you will probably want to read it (or reread it) after reading it. This is the definitive edition, which includes the entries that Otto Frank originally edited. There's also a critical edition of the diary, which includes essays on the history of the diary, critical receptions, the stage and screen versions of the diary, attacks on the authenticity of the diary, and authentication of the diary.

Miep Gies was a constant link to the Annex residents; she helped them survive during their time in the Annex and discovered Anne's diary hidden underneath a pile of papers. Anne Frank Remembered is a wonderful perspective on Anne and her family. She died this January at the age of 100.




Anne Frank Remembered is also the title of an outstanding documentary.




The Hidden Life of Otto Frank is a fantastic biography of Anne Frank's father. One of the most memorable biographies that I've read in recent years.

There are also several children's books about Anne Frank:

Anne Frank and the Children of the Holocaust

Anne Frank (a picture book biography) and A Picture Book of Anne Frank

The Anne Frank Case: Simon Wiesenthal's Search for the Truth

Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures

Anne Frank, Beyond the Diary

A CD of Anne Frank's other writings (I've read Tales From the Secret Annex, but haven't listened to this CD)

We Are Witnesses is a harrowing collection of diaries written by teenagers during the Holocaust.

The original 1959 movie and a 1995 BBC production (never heard of it until now; must watch).

Finally, the Anne Frank Museum has an excellent website.

Note: There was some controversy over Annexed shortly before it was published. Sharon Dogar addresses it here.