The Books of Elsewhere: The Shadows

Reminiscent of Gaiman’s Coraline, Olive is a curious lonely girl that falls into a magical situation. Her parents decide to ditch dull generic apartment living for a kooky odd house. Sure enough the house has plenty of secrets mainly that it was formerly owned by accomplished witches that have figured out a way to remain immortal in order to keep their home. Their power has been stored in paintings, which Olive eventually figures out how to enter. There are helpful felines, long ago kidnapped characters now trapped in paintings and enchanted spectacles. All the supernatural elements blend well with reality and Olive is instantly likeable as the hero. The narrative is well written, evenly paced and fun. Jacqueline West has created an imaginative story filled with adventure and the main character never even leaves her house!

Turtle in Paradise

I am not usually a fan of kid's historical fiction. It is often trying so hard to illustrate life at that given point in time that it makes for tedious reading. This novel is nothing like that. This story loosely based on Jennifer L. Holm's own family history is quite entertaining. Turtle is 11 years old and living in New Jersey with her mom in 1935. She learns some things quick being the housekeeper's kid mainly that other kids can be really cruel. After her mother takes on work for a demanding woman who detests children, Turtle gets shipped down to her mom's home town in the Florida Keys to live with an aunt she has never even met. There she is surrounded by cousins-- all boys who due to their unique babysitting talents are known on the island as The Diaper Gang. She quickly experiences a completely different way of life and finds herself encountering people that know a lot about her even though she has never heard of them. The writing is excellent, detailed and interesting. Turtle seriousness is contrasted expertly with the island kids' wit and savvy. The ending is abrupt and a bit unbelievable, but the overall story is so strong that it is enjoyable just the same.

Falling In

Author: Frances O'Roark Dowell

Ages:9-12

On a scale of 1-5 this book is a 5

Eleven-year-old thrift-store-loving, dumpster-diving Isabelle Bean is different. The kind of different that makes other children avoid her and teachers suspect her of always being up to something. So, when she is again sent to the principal's office for inattention, she goes quite happily. Perhaps she will find the source of the mysterious buzzing coming through the floor of her classroom and up her feet, legs, and body to her ears. Reaching the principal's office she hears a squeak coming from the closet and upon opening the door falls in...to another world; a world of frightened villagers, dense, scary woods, and a child-eating witch. A world where Isabelle, in her favorite dumpster-rescued, pointy-toed, red boots is mistaken for the witch.

A fairy tale adventure that addresses universal themes of acceptance, fear of those who are different, and the destructive power of gossip and rumor.

Cicada Summer by Beaty

Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty. 2008.
Audience: Grades 4-6
My Rating: 2*s of 5
Summary: Twelve-year-old Lily, believing she could have prevented the accident that caused her brother's death, has quit speaking leaving everyone to think that she is brain damaged, but in her silence she sees everything, and when sly newcomer Tinny comes to town, Lily suddenly has a lot to talk about--if only she can make herself speak the words.

Comments: A debut novel that has many of the right ingredients, but somehow the recipe is off. Lily's vow of silence is a strong concept, but it gets lost until the end of the book. The flashback chapters are unclear as is the unfolding timeline of the climax. Drama of Tinny's criminal ties seems forced.

Awards:
Read-alikes:

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

What? Seriously, Printz committee!?! I quit listening to this contrived literati mess half-way through then skipped to the final disc and really didn't miss all that lie between.

This must be a love-it or hate-it book. I hated it. If you loved it, please explain.

Booooo....moooo....booooo. Did anyone on the committee even read Wintergirls???

1* out of 5

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce. 2010.

Audience: Grades 5-8, ages 10-14.

My Rating: 4*s of 5

Summary: Twelve-year-old Liam, who looks like he is thirty and is tired of being treated like he is older than he actually is, decides he is going to pose as the adult chaperone on the first spaceship to take civilians into space, but when he ends up in outer space with a group of kids and no adult supervision, he must think fast to make things right.

Comments: Another Cottrell Boyce winner. This one is so different from Millions that there is no need to compare. A rare juvenile book that is a positive portrait of a dad. Funny, warm, great dialogue, and fantastic views of space.

Awards:

Read-alikes: George's Secret Key to the Universe by Hawking

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies (audio)

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies by Mick Cochrane. 2009.
Audience: Grades 5th-9th. Ages 10+.

My Rating: 4.5*s of 5
Summary: Eighth-grader Molly's ability to throw a knuckleball earns her a spot on the baseball team, which not only helps her feel connected to her recently deceased father, who loved baseball, it helps in other aspects of her life, as well.
Comments: A wonderfully written book--so much so that even this monotonous narrator (Maria Cabezas) can't ruin it. Captivating, real character development, well balanced, and subtly yet satisfyingly ended. A story as delicate and interesting as the butterfly pitches Molly throws. Impossible to resist the urge to play catch after reading this one!

Awards:
Read-alikes: Zen and the Art of Faking it by Sonnenblick, Dairy Queen by Murdock