March 2007

The Indianhead Federated Library System presents

Starred Reviews

New and Notable Books for Young People

March 2007 * Eau Claire, WI

The books in this newsletter were given starred reviews by the following periodicals: School Library Journal (SLJ), Publisher’s Weekly (PW), Booklist (BL), Hornbook (HB), Voices for Youth Advocates (VOYA) and Criticas (CR). Library binding prices and ISBNs are noted. Quotations have been taken directly from the reviews. This selection tool has been created to assist IFLS library staff wade through the 5,000-5,500 children’s and young adult titles published each year. Librarians should consider which of the following books best fit their collection and clientele.

Note: VOYA reviews rank books by Quality (Q) and Popularity (P), with 5 being the highest rating, 1 being the lowest. For your convenience, I have included this code with each VOYA review. Books receive a 5Q or 5P are included in this edition.

Picture Books
Juvenile Fiction

Non-fiction

YA Fiction

Recordings

Picture Books

Arnold, Tedd. The Twin Princes. Dial, $16.99 (0-8037-2696-1)

(K-gr.3) “…folds a satisfying brainteaser into an original folktale starring a slaphappy cast of bug-eyed chickens…race between twin princes …vying to inherit their father’s kingdom…plenty of clever touches…poultry puns… smart furtherings of the chicken theme in the cheerful…artwork…will have everyone chuckling at the starting gate—and thinking all the way to the finish line.” (BL)

Banks, Kate. Fox. Illus. by Georg Hallensleben. Farrar/Frances Foster Bks., $16 (978-0-374-39967-2)

(PreS-gr.1) “Born on a spring day, a baby fox is taught the necessary survival skills by his patient parents...lyrical text reads easily...Rich saturated colors fill the spreads with the seasons’ deep hues...depict the young animal’s progress toward independence...tender tribute to family.” (SLJ)

Foley, Greg. Thank You Bear. Viking, $15.99 (978-0-670-06165-5)

(PreS-gr.1) “Bear has found something fantastic—a little box that Mouse will just love...everyone...pooh-poohed it...But...Mouse agrees that the box is ‘the greatest thing ever.’ Bear’s journey from euphoria to doubt to euphoria again is gently rendered ...Young listeners...will love this book...Absolutely charming.” (SLJ)

Friend, Catherine. The Perfect Nest. Illus. by John Manders. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-766-2430-9)

(K-gr. 2) “...highly comical yet heartwarming...Jack, a hungry farm cat, builds a perfect nest to attract...perfect chicken to lay the perfect egg for a delicious omelet...lures a chicken, a duck and a goose...appeals to their greedy nature...before Jack can enjoy the eggs...they hatch...chicks target him as mom...illustrations are a perfect complement to the text...wonderfully detailed expressions that can be laugh-out-loud funny...” (SLJ)

Gleeson, Libby. Half a World Away. Illus. by Freya Blackwood. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $15.99 (0-439-88977-4)

(PreS-gr.2) “Best friends Amy and Louie are never far apart…call to each other with a special word…Amy’s family moves ‘half a world away’…long for each other. ‘If I call Amy really loudly, she’ll hear me, won’t she?’…Louie…belts out his loudest…half a day later, Amy happily declares, ‘I dreamt about Louie and he called me.’…rhythmic, pare-down words…captures friendship’s intensity…concept of global distance…tender, realistic watercolors…subtle, direct, and profound…will reassure little ones…” (BL)

Henderson, Kathy. Look at You! A Baby Body Book. Illus. by Paul Howard. Candlewick, $15.99 (978-0-7636-2745-4)

(PreS) “...loving celebration of all things baby...lyrically commemorates a small child’s amazing feats...oversize...illustrations are warm and soft, with perfectly captured body movements and facial expressions...feelings are right on target...lovely book for group or individual sharing.” (SLJ)

Lehman, Barbara. Rainstorm. Houghton, $16 (978-0618-75639-1)

(PreS-K) “…lone child on a magical wordless journey…boy…listlessly kicks his ball…rainy day…finds an old key…locates the trunk…ladder leads down into a tunnel…sunny island lighthouse…greeted by three children…landscape emerges in sturdy forms and cheerful solid hues…unlike most magical journeys, this one can be repeated…recalls old-fashioned English adventure stories…” (PW) (SLJ)

McCarty, Peter. Fabian Escapes. Holt, $16.95 (978-0-8050-7713-1)

(PreS-up) “…Just as Hondo [yellow lab] returns from an escorted walk, Fabian the tabby jumps out a ground-floor window…parallel sentences and soft-focus pencil illustrations…one framed image and one sentence per spread slows the pace…” (PW)

Pearson, Susan. Slugs in Love. Illus. by Kevin O’Malley. Marshall Cavendish, $16.99 (0-7614-5311-3)

(K-gr.2) “...shy slug Marylou uses her slime trail to write love poems to...Herbie ...responds to each of her poems...but a series of unforeseeable circumstances prevents Marylou from finding them...characters are well developed through the increasingly expressive poems they write for one another...simultaneous drama and humor...clever and endearing love story...” (SLJ)

Schaefer, Carole Lexa. Dragon Dancing. Illus. by Pierr Morgan. Viking, $16.99 (978-0-670-006084-9)

(PreS-gr.1) “...children decorate dragons for Mei Lin’s birthday...excellent choice for storytime...just a few lines per page and many fun sounds...color...illustrations increases in brightness as the students transition gradually from the classroom into their imaginative fantasy...satisfying introduction of Chinese culture...” (SLJ)

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. Dog and Bear. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, $12.95 (978-1-59643-053-2)

(PreS-K) “…endearing animal friends…Bear is a multicolored stuffed toy; Dog is a playful, rowdy dachshund…solve problems, tussle, and enjoy the warm feelings that friendship brings…feel of a beginning chapter book…minimal text is perfectly paced for new readers…dose of humor…pictures as spare and charming as the text…focus squarely on the characters…” (BL)

Stock, Catherine. A Porc in New York. Holiday, $16.95 (978-0-8234-1994-4)

(PreS-gr.2) “…French farmer…animals…decide to take a trip to New York—on their own. Monsieur Monmouton gets wind of the idea…throws away the tickets…merry chase around the Big Apple as monsieur and his dog try to find the barnyard tourists… fun…expansive, exuberant artwork…Each spread brings a new chuckle…” (BL)

Timmers, Leo. Who Is Driving? Bloomsbury, $12.95 (978-1-59990-021-6)

(PreS-K) “......four animals dressed in various outfits parade across the verso toward a type of vehicle...on the right...text asks, ‘Who is driving?’ The next spread reveals the answer as the correctly outfitted animal is shown... behind the wheel...Readers have to notice minute details of each animal’s clothing...vivid acrylic illustrations...will delight toddlers...format is clear and simple. Children will love guessing...as well as helping to make each vehicle’s noise. A surefire winner for the youngest set.” (SLJ)

Ward, Helen. Little Moon Dog. Illus. by Wayne Anderson. Dutton, $16.99 (978-0-525-47727-3)

(PreS-up) “…Mischievous fairies, paying their yearly visit to the moon…entice Little Moon Dog away from the Man in the Moon…The furry fellow soon becomes the fairies’ toy-du-jour…surreal landscapes…quirky edge…enchanting, peaceful tone…Man in the moon devises a pedal-powered flying contraption and brings his beloved canine home…lyrical, often alliterative…” (PW)

Yee, Wong Herbert. Who Likes Rain? Holt, $14.95 (0-8050-7734-0)

(PreS-gr.1) “…evokes the simple joys of an April shower in a wonderfully childlike way…little girl…dons a slicker, a hat, and boots…discovers that the rain is welcome to many different plants and animals, though not to all…rhyming text tells the story as naturally as if the rhythm and rhyme just fell into place…fine strokes of color…simple and engaging.” (BL)

Juvenile Fiction

Alexander, Alma. Worldweavers: Gift of the Unmage. HarperCollins, $17.89 (978-0-06-083956-7)

(gr. 6-8) “…Thea is expected to achieve great things in terms of her magical ability…cannot seem to perform even the most fundamental of spells…parents send her through a Portal to the care of Cheveyo…ancient magician of the First World…does have great power…protect her own world from the encroaching Nothing…”(VOYA 5Q3P)

Harper, Charise Mericle. Just Grace. Houghton, $15 (9780618646425)

(gr. 2-4) “Grace…usual trials and tribulations of third grade…hilarious… intimidating next-door neighbor, Mrs. Luther…loves Mrs. Luther’s cat…when it goes missing she determines to find it, even if that means temporarily joining forces with Sammy…kids come alive…enhances the comical goings-on with sparkling cartoon sketches…” (BL)

Hemphill, Helen. Runaround. Front Street, $16.95 (9781932425833)

(gr. 5-8) “…Motherless Stasy, 11, has a crush on gorgeous Boon…angry that he’s…kissing her mean…pretty older sister Lula…Daddy preoccupied with his small tobacco plot in 1960s Kentucky…story is laugh-out-loud funny, but it is also a timeless tale of anger, grief, and love…surprising twists in plot and character that will break your heart…” (BL)

Jocelyn, Marthe. How It Happened in Peach Hill. Lamb/Random, $17.99 (978-0-375-93701-9)

(gr. 6-12) “During the First World War and the …influenza epidemic, Madame Caterina…art of the con…provided…contact with the departed…advice from the Other Side…daughter, Annie, fifteen…perfects her pose as an ‘idiot’ in order to listen in on the local ladies’ conversations…adopts a physically repugnant gait and expression, a perfect disguise until she meets Sammy Sloan…can’t please both Mama and Sammy…strong voice…” (HB)

Landy, Derek. Skulduggery Pleasant. HarperCollins, $17.99 (0-06-123115-0)

(gr. 3-7) “Stephanie Edgley’s uncle…dies and leaves her his fortune…odd, overdressed figure…appears at the funeral…back from the dead to avenge his family’s murder…Stephanie has also inherited the family gene for sorcery…teams with Skulduggery to defeat the villain. Violent clashes…Skulduggery…caustic and witty… excels at dialogue…Irish coast…reaches into Celtic lore…nothing old-fashioned about the way this story unspools…moves at warp speed…perfect for the Potter crowd.” (PW)

Parkinson, Siobhàn. Second Fiddle: Or How to Tell a Blackbird from a Sausage. Roaring Brook, $16.95 (978-1-59643-122-5)

(gr. 5-9) “Mags Clarke…often hilarious…irrepressible 12-year-old…wise and winning story plants truths about the frailty of life…fractious nature of friendship… friend Gillian…invited to audition for Yehudi Menuhin, a prestigious English music school…not having the funds to get to the audition…more complicated than that… Readers will quickly warm to this winning heroine and the quirky characters who surround her.” (PW)

Tarshis, Lauren. Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree. Dial, $16.99 (978-0-8037-3164-6)

(gr. 3 and up) “…compelling third-person narrative…eccentric seventh-grader who will quickly win over readers…Emma Jean…misses her father, who died…inherited an analytical mind…discovers kind, sensitive Colleen…decides to come to her aid…well-intentioned efforts…socially awkward, big-hearted outsider learns from her experiences…” (PW)

Voake, Steve. The Web of Fire. Bloomsbury, $17.95 (978-1-58234-737-0)

(gr. 6-8) “predictable sequel to The Dreamwalker’s Child…Aurobon is a Lilliputian world…steal insect eggs to create mindless insect cyborgs…Vermia wants to exterminate humans on Earth…Vahlzi does not…war…Earth boy…and…girl…prevent the Vermians from using parasites to invate military officers’ brains…nonstop action… high coolness factor…telling-not-showing prose, one-dimensional characters…simplistic morality…Buy where the first was popular.” (VOYA 3Q5P)

Wells, Rosemary. Red Moon at Sharpsburg. Viking, $16.99 (978-0-670-03638-7)

(gr. 6-8) “…novel of the Civil War, twelve-year-old India Moody…Virignia… excited by her discovery of science…despite her mother’s admonitions that she cannot learn…men’s work…aim for college…premise of an old world collapsing in the wake of new ideas…imagery…remarkable depth of feeling…abrupt ending…has the potential to become a classic.” (VOYA 5Q4P) (SLJ)

White, Ruth. Way Down Deep. Farrar, $16 (9780374382514)

(gr. 4-7) “…1944, a red-haired toddler appears on the courtroom steps in Way Down Deep, West Virginia…Miss Arbus…swoops down and brings her home…rest of the town takes her to its collective bosom…when Ruby turns 12, a desperate man tries to rob the bank…takes in the poor soul and his family…newcomers are the key to Ruby’s past…tender as a breeze and as sharp as a tack…cavalcade of idiosyncratic characters… dabbles a bit in magic realism…profound questions that readers will enjoy puzzling out…” (BL)

Wynne-Jones, Tim. Rex Zero and the End of the World. FSG, $16 (0-374-33467-6)

(gr. 3-7) “…summer of 1962…Rex…and his family move to Ottawa…tension between the U.S. and Russia permeates everything…It seems only Rex’s parents aren’t’ taking the threats seriously…Rex’s dog pulls him toward something hiding in the bushes…dangerous…believe it’s a panther that escaped from a zoo a few years ago…work on a plan to capture the beast…subtly draws a parallel between the intangible Cold War fear and fear of the elusive creature…often humorous…true to an 11-year-old’s perspective…” (PW)(HB)

Non-fiction

Barakat, Ibtisam. Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood. Farrar/Melanie Kroupa, $16 (978-0-374-357337)

(gr. 7-10) “…spare, eloquent memoir…military occupation….1981…bus bound for Ramallah...detained by Israeli soldiers…taken to a detention center…heart-wrenching memories of herself as a young child, a the start of the 1967 Six Days’ War…political upheaval is always in the background…immediacy of the child’s viewpoint…depicts both conflict and daily life without exploitation or sentimentality…” (BL) (SLJ)

Caldwell, Dave. Speed Show: How NASCAR Won the Heart of America. Kingfisher/Houghton Mifflin, $16.95 (978-0—7534-6011-5)

(gr. 6-12) “…details the history, basics, technology, fans, and future of NASCAR—the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing…factual information…anecdotes…origins…racers, pit crews, racetracks…fans…scoring… equipment… discussed in detail…will appeal to anyone…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Discover Beading. Leslie Weiss, Compiler. Kalmbach Publishing, $19.95 trade pb (978-0-87116-239-7)

(gr. 7-12) “…visually pleasing…smart purchase…generous number of color photographs…helpful information on the necessary tools…basic techniques…labeled photographs…a color photograph provides a close-up-view in each element of the step-by-step instructions…wide variety of styles from funky to elegant…will appeal to crafting teens and adults…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Issa, Kobayshi. Today and Today. Illus. by G. Brian Karas. Scholastic, $16.99 (978-0-439-59078-5)

(PreS-gr.3) “…elegant haiku…poignant illustrations guide readers through the seasons…translations of 18 works…18^th-century Japanese poet’s volumes come together…like delicate beads, tiny moments common to us all…small human figures appear against richly textured landscapes…memorable feast of images that portray both the joy and sorrow of existence.” (PW)

Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming. Adapt. By Jane O’Connor. Viking/Rodale, $23 (978-0-670-06271-3), paper $16 (978-0-670-062772-0)

(gr. 5-8) “...young readers’ version...cuts the page count by about a third but preserves the original’s cogent message...striking visuals...easy-to-grasp graphics and revealing before-and-after photos...profound climate changes...rephrases Gore’s arguments in briefer, simpler language without compromising their flow...intending to disturb readers rather than frighten them...facts and trends speak for themselves... polished, and persuasive as it can be.” (SLJ)

Janeczko, Paul B., selector. Hey, You! Poems to Skyscrapers, Mosquitoes, and Other Fun Things. Illus. by Robert Rayevsky. HarperCollins, $16.89 (978-0-06-052348-0)

(K-5) “…poems…are addressed to a mote of dust, a mosquito, an astronaut, and even a maggot in an apple…classic poems…well-known poets…most…are new and fresh, by modern poets…range widely in tone from the frivolous…to the heartfelt…flows beautifully from subject to subject…brush-inked and watercolor illustrations add visual appeal and gentle humor without overwhelming the words…” (HB)

GN Lutes, Jason and Nick Bertozzi. Houdini: The Handcuff King. Hyperion, $16.99 (978-0-7868-3902-5)

(gr. 6-9) “Following Houdini on the morning of his leap…into the frigid Boston River…remarkably complete picture of his world…wife, Bess…reporters…crowds… Houdini himself…extensive introduction…proud and obsessed…unprecedented talent for self-hype…clean, simple storytelling and crisp, clear black and white art…portrait… sense of suspense and anticipation…Endnotes linked to specific pictures offer background on everything from anti-Semitism…to handcuffs…” (BL)

Pardes, Bronwen. Doing It Right: Making Smart, Safe, and Satisfying Choices About Sex. Simon & Schuster, $14.99 trade pb (978-1-4169-1823-3)

(gr. 9-12) “Informative and candid…explanations, terminology and suggestions are practical…tackles the tough questions about sexual orientation, size, abuse, orgasm, pregnancy, STDs, and masturbation…frank information…clears up myths…text heavy… highly readable text…” (VOYA 4Q5P)

Pincock, Stephen. Codebreaker: The History of Codes and Ciphers, from the Ancient Pharaohs to Quantum Cryptography. Walker, $19.95 (978-0-8027-1547-0)

(gr. 6-12) “…fascinating book…codes and ciphers have been used…for at least 4,000 years…profusely illustrated…profiles of famous cryptographers…unbreakable codes…appendix containing seven codes to solve…Beautifully written, entertaining but never shallow…as appealing as a fast-paced thriller…essential purchase…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Prelutsky, Jack. Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing and More. Illus. by Chris Raschka. Knopf, $19.99 (0-375-93700-5)

(gr. 1-3) “…uses poetry to express the physical sensations and wide-ranging emotions of participating in sports…smoothly rhyming quatrains…team sports…individual…celebrate disciplined efforts as exuberantly as noncompetitive play…watercolors extend the high-energy verses without overwhelming them…” (BL)

Reef, Catherine. e.e. cummings: A Poet’s Life. Clarion, $21 (978-0-618-56849-9)

(gr.7 and up) “...engaging and informative chronicle...packed with details of cummings’s life and work, all carefully documented with source notes. Period photos and reproductions...cummings’s drawings and paintings...unique poetic style is explained and illustrated with well-chosen selections...financial hardships...failed relationships... excellent resource...solid example of literary biography.” (SLJ)

Treaster, Joseph B. Hurricane Force: In the Path of America’s Deadliest Storms. Kingfisher, $16.95 (978-753430863)

(gr. 7-10) “Journalist…reported on Hurricane Katrina…for the New York Times…gripping photo-essay blends particulars of the tragedy with an in-depth overview of America’s hurricane history…science of meteorology…grim human drama…not exploitative…detailed source notes…great science book for personal reading or classroom use.” (BL)

Williams, Marcia, retel. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Candlewick, $16.99 (978-0-7636-3197-0)

(gr. 4-8) “...energetic retelling of nine tales...Quotes in medieval English are featured in dialogue bubbles...stories themselves are told in clear modern prose with a poetic bent...elevated vocabulary that captures the original intent of Chaucer’s poetry, while elucidating the meaning of the unfamiliar words through the illustrations... juxtaposition of medieval and modern English adds to the comic feel... comic-book format is a perfect match for the raucous and sometimes-raw humor...essence of each tale is intact...A sure way to hook kids into reading classic literature.” (SLJ)

World Religions. Facts on File, $30 each.

Gordon, Mathew S. Islam. (978-0-8160-6612-4)

Hartz, Paula R. Baha’i Faith. (978-0-8160-6608-7)

(gr. 7-12) “...history, origin, fundamental beliefs, population of followers...rituals and ceremonies, sacred sites...current activities...general overview, scripture excerpts...well organized with easy-to-understand language...new terms defined...engaging reading...” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Worth, Valerie. Animal Poems. Illus. by Steve Jenkins. FSG, $17 (978-0-374-38057-1)

(ages 4 and up) “…exquisite poems…extraordinary, cut-paper illustrations…each poem…is a gem—full of crisp language, vivid images and thoughtful ideas…captures not only the look of each animal…wise perceptions about the world both animals and humans inhabit…artwork…contains astonishing shadow and depth…poem and illustration…work together to startle readers with their exactitude…” (PW)

YA Fiction

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Twisted. Viking, $16.99 (978-0-670-06101-3)

(gr. 9 and up) “…Tyler Miller…completely average and on the nerdy side… unnoticed by everyone except the occasional bully. But things are different since he was arrested for doing graffiti…physique is changed by a summer of hard labor…noticed by Bethany Milbury, the most popular of the popular girls…struggles with the new roles…voice…rich with humor, rage and despair…sympathetic protagonist surrounded by a deftly drawn cast of characters…compelling novel of growth…” (VOYA 5Q5P)

Antieau, Kim. Broken Moon. S&S/McElderry, $15.99 (978-1-4169-2932-1)

(gr. 9 and up) “…modern-day Pakistan…diary entries written by 18-year-old Nadira, addressed to her six-year-old brother, Umar…After her eldest brother was accused of raping a village girl, the sentence was that ‘the father and brothers of the girl got permission to attack’ Nadira…strong, often poetic voice softens the harshness of her situation…preserves the humanity in these events…realities in a poverty-stricken culture…”(PW)

Bajoria, Paul. The God of Mischief. Little, Brown, $16.99 (978-0-316-01091-7)

(gr. 7 and up) “…sequel to The Printer’s Devil…twins Nick and Imogene…living at Kniveacres Hall in the English countryside in 1828…surviving life as orphans…cold, shadowy guardian Sir Septimus Cloy…sinister servants…uncover their connection to Sir Septimus…clues and maps…secret passageways…frightful crypt…Besieged by evil and accidents, the twins bravely defy the odds against them…nonstop action, great characters, superb atmosphere, and tantalizing mystery…” (VOYA 5Q3P)

Beaudoin, Sean. Going Nowhere Fast. Little, Brown, $16.99 (978-0-316-01415-1)

(gr. 7 and up) “Years ago, Stan Smith won a chess championship…IQ of 165… Now seventeen, Stan works at a video store…eccentric parents….avoid being beaten up by Chad Tilford…hiding a feeling that he is wasting his potential…When Chad’s ex-girlfriend Ellen begins to show an interest in Stan, he must decide if he is ready to move out of his cocoon…Alternately hilarious and poignant…characters are well drawn…will appeal to many levels of readers…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Burgess, Melvin. Sara’s Face. S&S, $16.99 (978-1-4169-3617-6)

(gr. 7 and up) “…17-year-old Sara Carter…suffers more than a bit…terrifying thriller/morality play…Obsessed with both stardom and physical perfection…also accident-prone…encounter with a hot iron…Enter Jonathon Heat, billionaire pop star who endlessly reinvents himself, with the help of controversial plastic surgeon…chilling parallel…Michael Jackson…intermittent reality checks…Sara soon begins to see apparitions of a girl with no face…discover a locked room giving off the smell of rotting meat…transcripts of Sara’s video diaries…nightmarish, unforgettable story.” (PW)

Caletti, Deb. The Nature of Jade. Simon and Schuster, $16.99 (978-1-4169-1005-3)

(gr. 9-12) “Panic attacks are what Jade DeLuna knows best…medication and an understanding therapist…spends her more anxious moments gazing at the elephants…on Web cam…observes a young man…feels that she needs to meet him…volunteer at the zoo in the elephant enclosure… meets…young man…complicated…highly crafted, straight-to-the-heart prose…not for every reader, but the right readers will feel every word in this book.” (VOYA 5Q3P)

(GN) Castellucci, Cecil and Jim Rugg. The Plain Janes. DC Comics/Minx, paper, $9.99 (978-1-4012-1115-8)

(gr. 9-12) “…outsiders who come together…Relocated to suburbia after a brush with disaster in the big city…Jane rallies a small group of outcasts into a team of ‘art terrorists,’ shaking the town from its conservative complacency by putting bubbles in the city fountain…working the adults into a dither…has its share of stereotypes…but this is thought-provoking stuff…art…absolutely engaging…fresh, exciting use of the graphic-novel format.” (BL)

Felin, M. Sindy. Touching Snow. Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, $16.99 (978-1-4169-1795-3)

(gr. 7-12) “…powerful writing—exquisite in authenticity, courageous in its honesty…thirteen year old…Katu…Haitian family…mother, two sisters, two brothers, two nephews, and aunt, and ‘the Daddy.’… the Daddy’s near-fatal beating of Enid…stark realism…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Grant, K.M. Blaze of Silver. Walker, $16.95 (978-0-8027-9625-7)

(gr. 6-12) “Will de Granville prepares to deliver the ransom silver…to free Richard the Lionheart…Amal arrives bearing…silver Arabian horse…revenge…bloody seizure…last volume of the de Granville Trilogy…exciting, appropriate end…examines friendship, loyalty, betrayal…heartbreakingly authentic characters…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

Hoffman, Mary. Falconer’s Knot: A Story of Friars, Flirtation and Foul Play. Bloomsbury, $16.95 (978-1-59990-056-8)

(gr. 7 and up) “…Italy…14^th century…highly entertaining mystery-farce hybrid…Sixteen-year-old Silvano, a nobel…in love…Angelica, the wife of a wealthy middle-aged sheep farmer named Tommaso. When Tommaso is murdered, Silvano becomes the prime suspect…seeks refuge at…a Franciscan friary…several murders… uncover the identity of the murderer…” (PW) (BL)

Kostick, Conor. Epic. Viking, $17.99 (0-670-06179-4)

(gr. 7-10) “…set on New Earth…violence has been banned for generations and conflicts are settled in the fantasy computer game Epic…everyone plays…unjust treatment of his parents by the Central Allocations committee…ruthlessly rules the planet…Erik and his friends…perilous mission to challenge the committee…threatened by death in both the fantasy world and hardscrabble reality…action is nonstop, it’s easy to keep track of who’s who, and the story flows seamlessly…surefire winner with a sequel in the works…” (BL)

Moses, Shela P. The Baptism. S&S/McElderry, $15.99 (978-1-4169-0671-1)

(gr. 7 and up) “poignant and memorable voice…12-year-old Leon Curry… humorous observations…North Carolina…During the week leading up to his baptism …feels ambivalent about whether he can or really wants to surrender lying and sinning for salvation…defines the immutable rule of the town as ‘you can’t mess with these fine white folks and get away with it,’…various tensions bubbling below the surface…erupt…power of love and family ties proves truly transformational.” (PW)

Saldaña, Renè. The Whole Sky Full of Stars. Random/Wendy Lamb, $18.99 (978-0-385-90078-2)

(gr. 8-12) “…moving coming-of-age novel…perils of friendship and the burdens of parental expectations. Barry Esquivel is a high school senior…new man of the family in the wake of his father’s death…best friend Alby…has amassed gambling debts… convinces Barry…boxer…shady competition…focusing less on the fights and more on the boys’ imperiled friendship…” (BL)

Smith, Roland. Peak. Harcourt, $17 (978-0-15-202417-8)

(gr. 6-12) “Met at the top of the Woolworth Building in New York City by a SWAT team, fourteen year old Peak Marcello faces years of jail time…long-absent father swoops in…motives are self-serving, aimed at garnering advertising for his Thailand-based climbing company…opportunity to be the youngest climber… Mount Everest…Peak in the care of Zopa…Sherpa-turned Buddhist monk…Deftly developed characters…gritty story line packed with intrigue…serious mountain climbing…” (VOYA 5Q4P)

(GN) Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age. Ed. by Ariel Schrag. Viking, $18.99 (978-0-6700-6221-8)

(gr. 7-10) “…Comics artists visualize the anguish in this honest, acutely perceptive compendium of cartoon black humor…Occasionally repetitious…hit the mark in terms of emotional content…Wildly disparate in style…Kids going through adolescence will relate; so will those who have come out on the other side.” (BL)

Such a Pretty Face: Short Stories About Beauty. Ann Angel, Ed. Amulet/Harry N. Abrams, $18.95 (978-0-8109-1607-4)

(gr. 7-12) “…strong collection of engaging short stories… reflecting the many definitions and ramifications of physical beauty…powerful, thought-provoking…a few instances of profane language…sexual references.” (VOYA 5Q3P)

(GN) Vollmar, Rob. The Castaways. Illus. by Pablo G. Callejo. NBM/ComicsLit, $17.95 (978-1-5616-3492-7)

(gr. 6-9) “gorgeous hardcover edition. The art, filled with cartoon realism…originally in black and white…has been washed in greenish-gray hues that highlight the resounding melancholy of the story…swiftly paced story of 13-year-old Tucker, forced to leave home during the Great Depression…Details…effortlessly integrated into the story…Only the…epilogue, superfluous and overly sentimental, detracts from this beautiful, powerful vision of a different era…” (BL)

Recordings

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night. By Peter Spier. Read by Tom Chapin. 9 minutes. Live Oak, CS & paperback, $25.95 (1-59112-900-1) CD & paperback, $28.95 (1-59112-904-4).

(PreS-gr.2) “…1962 Caldecott Honor Book…pen, ink and watercolor drawings…comforting, soothing tones. Background sounds, including hooting owls, creaking gates, and crunching footsteps…sings the song in a vibrant, catchy manner that invites kids to follow along…Highly recommended…” (BL)

Life as We Knew It. By Susan Beth Pfeffer. Read by Emily Bauer. 9 hr. Listening Library, CD, $55 (9780739337899)

(gr. 7-11) “…impressive range of emotions…compelling reading…Sixteen-year-old Miranda’s diary…quickly escalates into terror…matter-of-factly chronicles the day-by-day deterioration of ordinary comforts as she and her family’s struggle to survive …most convincing adolescent…” (BL)