Cast Off: The Strange Adventures of Petra de Winter and Bram Broen by Eve Yohalem.

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Published by Dial Books

Summary: When Petra de Winter’s wealthy father threatens to kill her, she runs away and hides on board the Golden Lion a ship sailing from the Netherlands to the East Indies.  Bram Broen, the mixed-race son of the ship’s carpenter discovers her and helps her stay hidden.  She disguises herself as a boy, which turns out to be fortunate when she is eventually discovered.  After surviving a keel hauling, she is put to work as the surgeon’s assistant, using skills she learned back home in Holland.  Told in alternating voices, Petra and Bram relate a story that includes piracy, mutiny, and lots of adventure.  Grades 5 and up.

Pros:  While more of a middle school book, good fifth grade readers will enjoy this page-turning adventure.  It would also make an exciting read aloud.

Cons: Pretty much every aspect of life for anyone living in 17th century Europe who wasn’t  wealthy, white, and male.

Ice Cream Summer by Peter Sis

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Published by Scholastic Press

Summary:  A boy writes a letter to his grandfather, assuring him that he is working hard over the summer, practicing his reading, writing, math, and history.  The pictures show that all his studies center on ice cream.  He is reading lists of ice cream flavors and solving math problems involving scoops of ice cream.  He is researching the history of ice cream, starting with its creation in ancient China and tracing it to the United States.  His grandfather rewards all his hard work with a trip to the top of Ice Cream Peak.  Ages 4-8.

Pros:  There’s nothing wrong with focusing on ice cream during the summer months (or any other months for that matter).  Award-winning author and illustrator Peter Sis has fun with the folk art-inspired illustrations.

Cons:  The story is a bit trite.

The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry

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Published by Disney-Hyperion

Summary:  Wyatt’s on his way from Miami to Washington, DC for an eighth-grade-class trip when his friend Matt notices some strange behavior from a couple of guys on the plane.  Thinking he may be intercepting a terrorist attack, Matt grabs one of their backpacks and manages to steal a dangerous-looking device from it.  This gets both Matt and Wyatt in a heap of trouble from their teachers, and it also makes them the target of the two men who proceed to chase them through DC, trying to get their device back.  Before long, Victor, Cameron, and Wyatt’s crush, Suzana, have found out what’s going on.  When the two men take Matt hostage, the adventures really begin, and don’t end until Wyatt has flown into the White House on the inside of a dragon kite.  Grades 4-7.

Pros:  I knew this would be a light, funny story from humorist Dave Barry, but I didn’t expect it to actually have an exciting plot.  Wyatt’s voice is perfect for narrating this middle school tale, and readers will enjoy the humor and adventure.

Cons:  I found the humor more of a chuckle than laugh-out-loud.

Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre & His World of Insects by Matthew Clark Smith, illustrated by Giuliano Ferri

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Published by Two Lions

Summary:  Back in the early 1900’s, an eccentric old man lived in a village in France.  His neighbors observed him squatting in the sun for hours to watch beetles, and marveled that he would pay children to gather dead moles and lizards to attract flies.  Imagine their surprise when a procession of cars arrived at their quiet village one day, and out of one of them stepped the President of France!  Turns out the old man was Jean-Henri Fabre, a scientist whose lifelong passion was studying insects.  Other scientists had written about dead insects from faraway places, but Fabre was more interested in the bugs he saw in the fields and woods around him.  He liked to study the live ones to learn about their behavior.  Then he wrote about them in books so beautiful that the President of France came to his house to let him know he had been nominated for a Nobel Prize in Literature.  While Fabre is little known today outside of France, his work influenced Darwin and inspired generations of naturalists.  Grades 2-5.

Pros:  This is an engaging biography of a little-known scientist, which includes a lot of interesting information about insects.  The illustrations capture the amazing creatures Fabre loved as well as his wide-eyed wonder of them throughout the nine decades of life.

Cons:  This is long for a picture book; probably best suited to older elementary students.

A Penguin Named Patience: A Hurricane Katrina Rescue Story by Suzanne Lewis, illustrated by Lisa Anchin

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Published by Sleeping Bear Press 

Summary:  When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2008 many of the animals at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas did not survive.  Patience was the oldest of a group of 19 penguins who were rescued and sent to the Monterey Aquarium in California.  This book tells the story from Patience’s perspective, from the day she senses something is wrong to the grand re-opening of the aquarium when the penguins strut down a purple carpet to the sound of “When the Saints Go Marching In”.  The author’s note at the end provides interesting additional information.  Grades K-4.

Pros:  This is a great introduction to Hurricane Katrina and ways that people across the country reached out to help the city of New Orleans.  The large, cheerful illustrations add an upbeat note.

Cons:  The story mentions 19 penguins, and the author’s note talks about a group of 18 penguins.

Completely Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Marla Frazee

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Published by Disney-Hyperion

Summary:  Changes are afoot for Clementine as she finishes up third grade and gets ready for a new baby sister or brother.  There are typical Clementine struggles, as she avoids saying goodbye to her third grade teacher because she is too sad and stops talking to her father because he refuses to give up meat.  Margaret’s mother is getting remarried, and Margaret and her father and brother invite Clementine to join them for an overnight at the Boston Park Plaza.  Being away for the night gives Clementine some perspective on her disagreement with her father, and in the morning, she finds there’s a surprise waiting that brings the family together again.  Grades 1-4.

Pros:  I haven’t read many of the Clementine books…okay, fine, I’ve only read the first one, but they are a fantastic series, perfect for beginning chapter book readers.  Clementine is a force to be reckoned with, a worthy successor to Ramona Quimby and Junie B. Jones.  Marla Frazee’s illustrations add to the delight.

Cons:  Rumor has it that this book, the seventh in the series, is the final one.

Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure by Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio Garcia Sanchez

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Published by TOON Graphics

Summary:  It’s the first day at a new school for Pablo; his sixth, and he’s decided it’s just too hard to keep trying to make new friends.  Alicia has other ideas, though, and volunteers to be his partner on the field trip to the Empire State Building.  Before they leave, their teacher, Mr. Bartle, gives them an engaging lesson on the history and layout of New York’s subway system.  In spite of this, Pablo and Alicia manage to get themselves on the wrong train, and eventually the two of them get separated.  Armed with his new knowledge, Pablo manages to negotiate the subway system to get to the Empire State Building, where he’s reunited with the rest of the class and his new friend Alicia.  Grades 3-6.

Pros:  This is an engaging story of friendship with a lot of interesting information about NYC and its subway woven in.  But the real treasure of this book is the artwork.  When Mr. Bartle teaches about the subway, a map springs to life in their classroom, allowing kids to perch on New Jersey and Queens, surrounded by historical photos.  When the kids are lost in NYC, readers could spend an hour poring over the details of each page, with its dozens of diverse characters. There’s even a Where’s Waldo-type challenge, as Mr. Sanchez included pictures of himself and a police officer in every spread.  You will definitely want to visit New York and ride the subway after seeing these marvelous illustrations.

Cons:  There may be a bit too much technical detail for non-engineering types.

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff

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Published by Philomel Books

Summary:  Trent is about to start sixth grade, but he can’t get past an event that happened to him six months previously: while playing hockey, he a puck off his stick hit a boy in the chest, killing him.  The boy had an undiagnosed heart condition, but Trent is burdened by the guilt that he killed someone.  His guilt manifests itself as anger, at his divorced parents, his new stepmother, his teachers, and his classmates.  His only friend is Fallon, a girl with a scar slashed across her entire face.  As the school year progresses, Trent grows increasingly convinced that he is unlovable and worthless, and his behavior starts to escalate out of control.  But Fallon and a few understanding adults in his life refuse to give up on him, and he begins to understand that others around him are dealing with difficult emotions as well. Grades 4-7

Pros:  Mature elementary school students will find Trent’s story compelling.  All the characters are realistically drawn and sympathetic in their own individual ways.  Discussing this book could help readers understand that behavior is not always an accurate reflection of a person’s character, and that sometimes those who seem most unlikeable are the ones who need the most compassion.

Cons:  There’s a little PG language.

Book Categories

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

I’ve recently finished adding categories to all the book review posts.  You can see the categories on the right-hand side of the screen (you may need to scroll down).  If you click on a category, you will get all the books I’ve reviewed from that genre.  This suggestion came from a reader.  Please let me know if there are other ways I can make this blog more helpful or easier to use!

Billy’s Booger: A Memoir (Sorta) by William Joyce and his younger self

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Back in the days of black-and-white TV and color Sunday comics, Billy has trouble fitting in at school.  Dubbed “my most challenging student” by his principal, Billy’s creative attempts at making math and P.E. more fun are not appreciated by his teachers.  When the school librarian announces a book-writing contest, Billy gets right to work, researching meteors, mythology, and…mucus.  The latter topic wins out, and Billy creates a book about a super booger, which is included in its entirety as an insert to this book.  When prizes are announced, Billy’s entry is overlooked, and he’s discouraged for the next several days.  Finally, whe goes to the library to return all the books he used for his research, he hears laughter.  A group of kids is gathered around a table, and they’re all reading his book!  The librarian tells him that she put all the contest books in the library, and his has been checked out the most.  Billy’s career is launched.  Grades K-4.

Pros:  This would be a great mentor text for memoir writing.  And of course, every 7-year-old boy will be clamoring to read a book entitled “Billy’s Booger”.

Cons:  The “be yourself” message is a bit heavy-handed.