Mogo, The Third Warthog by Donna Jo Napoli

It's time for Mogo, a warthog and his two brothers to go out into the world and find a house of their own. Sound familiar? This time the folk tale takes place in the savanna with three warthogs, Mathani and Kebiro and Mogo who have been pushed out by their mother to make room for new piglets set to arrive soon. Mogo, the runt and is brothers who taunt and tease him soon find out that their world centers around mere survival. His brothers don't always want to take his advice but it is his quick yet cautious thinking that keeps him alive. The big bad wolf comes in the form of wild dogs, cheetahs, and lions. Mogo must also deal with his mother not wanting him around anymore, loneliness and being afraid much of the time. To make life more bearable, Mogo befriends a baboon and giraffes as he strives to overcome each conundrum (his favorite word). The reader can learn a great deal about the animals as the story is laden with facts about the animals of the savanna.

Audience: 3-6th graders

Comments: This story was like an episode of Animal Kingdom with The Three Little Pigs folk tale thrown in to make it a story. The verdict is still not in as to whether the facts overshadow the story. Children who won't mind a fact heavy story that does not forgo the harsh realities of living in the savanna will like this book.

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

There is a flashing red light at the intersection of County Route 13 which crosses Connecticut State Highway 31. And at one corner stands a gigantic oak tree. Years ago a tragic accident killing 41 people occurred involving a greyhound bus, a police officer, and a speeding Thunderbird. The Thunderbird crashed into the oak and for years it has harbored the spirit of Clint Eberhaut. When lightning strikes and splits the tree, it releases Clint's evil spirit. He begins to go about town taking care of some unfinished business. Zach, age 11, is part of that business as Clint plans to kill him because Zach's grandfather the sheriff at the time accidentally killed his son. Zach, his father, and stepmother Judy move into a new house in which the oak can be seen from their backyard. As Zach and family encounter people and ghosts in the town and at the crossroads, we learn how their lives are all intertwined in the mystery behind the tragic accident. Short chapters with lots of action and an interesting friendship with a neighbor boy named Davy help move this ghostly story along.

Ages: 11 and up

Comments: At first I had trouble keeping the characters straight as far as their relation to each other and whether or not they were a ghost. This ghost story is somewhat dark with adult situations. Recommend this one to older juniors and teens.

BONECHILLER by graham mcnamee

Summary: Danny and his father constantly move to escape the pain and loss after the death of a mother and wife. His father takes a job managing cottages in a marina in a small remote town Harvest Cove in Ontario, Canada. When the coldest of winters settle in there, a centuries old nightmare, a ravenous roaming monster comes alive. It taunts its chosen prey until it sucks out their spirit and soul. Danny and friend Howie are its latest victims. Once bitten, you become ill, and it is only a matter of time before you succumb and go to the monster. Danny, Howie, Pike (Howie's brother) and Ash (Danny's love interest) join together to destroy the monster.

Comments: I felt the interactions, reactions, and actions of the individualized teen characters were true even in their unrelenting determination to rid the town of the monster. I had no problem believing in the existence of this monster.

I'm glad the author included some Native American folklore. The stories about Windigos told by Ash's father adds more chill, mystery, and depth to the monster.

Danny has another monster, another nightmare that he must face. He has to come to grips with the death of his mother from a brain tumor. This story hit close to home for me as my mother died from the aftermath of a brain tumor. I got a little teary-eyed at times reading this book. It is nice to see his father heal a bit too.

I will definitely recommend this to horror fans. It is fast-paced, with short chapters, and lots of intense action.

Audience: I would say older teens. SLJ says grades 9 and up.

The Floating Circus by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Summary: In this historical fiction which takes place in the 1850's we meet 12 year old orphaned Owen. Leaving his younger brother, Zach behind to be adopted Owen is saved and befriended by a freed slave, Solomon. Solomon lives and works on the River Palace, a circus on a riverboat. The two work side by side cleaning animal stalls and performing other manual labor. Owen's new family consist of Solomon, the circus performers, and the Greene family who have a son Caleb. Caleb teaches Owen how to set type in a printing press. When the riverboat suffers a great fire and all of the contents are auctioned off, Owen must decide whether to return to his brother, go and live with the Greene family or remain in the circus business.

Comments: I liked Owen. I was rooting for him to survive not only his harsh life but to survive this frightening time during history. Reviews suggest that Owen seems too insightful for his age. The setting was fascinating. I experienced it through sight, sound, and smell.

There are some violent scenes. Men pay Lord Hathaway, the owner of the floating circus money to board the boat to feed live animals to ravenous lions. In another scene a runaway slave boards the riverboat and is hunted down by slave catchers. Owen gets caught in the middle. He sees the slave and when questioned he lies to the slave catchers about his sighting. Had he been charged for aiding a slave under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1950, he could have faced 6 months in prison and a hefty fine.

Author's note includes history of the floating circus, general history of the circus including Dan Rice "whose distinctive looks were the inspiration for the "Uncle Sam" figure", slavery during that time and the break out of yellow fever in New Orleans.

Audience: 5th-6th grade and up

Bloody Jack, book 1 (audio)

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer. 2007.

Audience: 6th Grade and up; 12 and up

My Rating: 5*s of 5

Summary: Jacky Faber,having secured a position as ship's boy aboard the HMS "Dolphin," welcomes the respite from the desperation and hunger of life on the streets of eighteenth-century London, and now has only one thing to worry about--keeping the crew from learning that he is actually a girl.

Comments: The only complaint I can muster for this fantastically narrated story is that I want more, more, more! I bloody loved this book! Jacky is a capable, likable, ingenious girl and I enjoyed taking this voyage with her. I can't wait for the next audio! http://www.jackyfaber.com/

Awards:

Read-alikes: Pirates! by Celia Rees, Bloody Jack adventures books 2-5 by L.A. Meyer

Jinx by Meg Cabot (audio)

Jinx by Meg Cabot. 2007.
Audience: 7th Grade and up; 12 and up
My Rating: 4*s of 5
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Jean "Jinx" Honeychurch, the descendant of a witch, must leave Iowa to live with relatives in Manhattan after the first spell she casts goes awry, but she will have to improve her skills to stop her cousin from practicing black magic that endangers them and the boy they both like.
Comments: With a mediocre narrator, this book was slow to hook me. But once the magic kicked in, I was hooked. Jinx herself reminds me of the character from Dairy Queen in that she often cannot manage to speak her mind or insist that she be treated with respect or fairness. This clearly becomes purposeful at the end of the story when she *finally* stands up for herself and comes into her own.
Awards:
Read-alikes: Avalon High by Cabot

The Nina, the Pinta, and the Vanishing Treasure by Jill Santopolo

Summary: A new detective is on the scene, Alec Flint: Super Sleuth. In his first mystery, Alec a fourth grader investigates the disappearance of a Christopher Columbus exhibit at a local museum. He reluctantly names Gina his partner even though she is a bit bossy. Before joining Alec, she is in the middle of her own investigation into the disappearance of an art teacher at their school. Never the twain shall meet?
With knowledge about the voyage of Christopher Columbus, a new friendship, some pizza, and a little poking around, Alec and Gina crack their cases.
To keep the investigation top secret, Alec and Gina write in code. Readers can decode on their own or if they just want to keep to the story, the code translations are in the back of the book.

Comments: I like this new series. The prose is lively and kept my attention. 2nd mystery, The Random Blue Notes is due out in June 2009.

Audience: Perfect for 3rd-4th graders and up.