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Klages, E. (2006).  The Green Glass Sea.  New York: Viking.

When almost-eleven-year-old Dewey Kerrigan thinks, “I’m not ready for this,” towards the beginning of this historical novel, she could be speaking for the entire world at that time.  The year is 1943, and Dewey’s grandmother has just died, leaving her in the care of a grouchy neighbor until Dewey’s scientist father can come for her.  Instead of a much-longed for reunion with her father, however, Dewey gets scooped up by a WAC and plunked unaccompanied on a train to New Mexico, where her father is working on a top-secret government project.  What she finds when she arrives at Los Alamos is a tightly guarded community made up of hard-working scientists and their kids, who are just trying to have normal lives under the exceptional conditions imposed by development of The Manhattan Project. 

On one hand, The Green Glass Sea is a straightforward book about childhood.  Dewey works on her engineering projects and pals around with some of the boys at Los Alamos, not because she prefers the company of boys to that of girls, but because the boys don’t tease her so relentlessly for her interest in science, her thick glasses or the special reinforced shoe she wears to correct her limp.  When she is forced to share quarters with budding artist Suze Gordon, another Los Alamos misfit, Dewey begins to learn that forming and keeping friendships can be hard work, but worth the effort.  Dewey misses her father, who always seems to be away doing something, and daydreams about her absent mother.  She takes pleasure in being part of a community where adults take an interest in and support her love of science, even though many of her questions are answered with an “I’m sorry, but that’s classified information,” rather than the more run-of-the-mill, “Because I said so.”

On the other hand, this is a book about a larger loss of innocence.  When Dewey and Suze ask for explanations of their parents’ long hours and worried faces, they are almost universally met with reassurances that the adults are working on a revolutionary invention that will end the horrible war overseas.  The only note of uncertainty is struck at the end of the novel, when the Gordons and Kerrigans take their children out to see the green glass sea, a large area of the desert where the sand has been melted into “Trinitite” by repeated testing of the atomic bomb. This climactic scene is incredibly powerful, not only because it visually demonstrates the destructive power of the Bomb, but also because it reveals the essentially childlike faith of the adults in the righteousness of science and the United States government.  Dewey’s father and Suze’s parents don’t believe that we will actually use their creation against the Japanese; they see the Bomb more as an idea, a powerful deterrent in an increasingly violent world.  The close of The Green Glass Sea makes clear how terribly wrong they were, and invites thought about how terribly wrong we may be in our continued support of conflicts around the world. 

Winner of the 2007 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, The Green Glass Sea is a both a warm-hearted look into a community of children never before explored in fiction for young people and an examination of innocence and accountability on a global level.  Klages works at Oakland’s Exploratorium Museum, which was founded by J. Robert Oppenheimer’s brother Frank.  Her experience as a science educator there, as well as the extensive historical and scientific research she undertook in support of this book, make The Green Glass Sea a moving fictional portrait of a historical time most of us would rather not think about.  This novel is a gentle reminder that it is the things we would rather avoid that generally need our attention the most.              

 Submitted by Sierra Logan on May 18, 2007

Patron, S. (2006).  The higher power of Lucky.  New York:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Recommended grades 4-7.

Ten-year-old Lucky Trimble, a budding young girl scientist, lives in a small desert town with a guardian, Brigitte, she fears is going to leave and turn her over to become a ward of the state.  At times impatient and quick to conclusions, Lucky's relationships are less than perfect but in many ways quite positive. Searching for her higher power and control in her life, Lucky decides to run away first; however, in the process she finds the answers she is seeking.  The Higher Power of Lucky is a quirky and charming tale of an imaginative girl who wants what every child should have -- a secure and happy life with loving, supportive parents and friends.  Lucky’s intelligence and personal strength make her an excellent protagonist.  While at times older than her years and seemingly very much in charge, Lucky’s adventures prove that we only have limited control of the timetable in our lives, no matter how much we wish to change our course.   Newbery Medal Winner 2007

Submitted by Anne Snyder  5-5-07

Gutman, D. (2006).  The homework machine.  New York:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Recommended for grades 4-6.

What kid doesn’t wish for a machine to do all his homework freeing up time for the pleasurable pursuits of childhood?   In The Homework Machine the contraption is a reality invented by a geeky fifth-grader named Brenton and shared with his three classroom groupmates (the teacher’s pet, a wise-cracking military brat, and an unmotivated slacker girl).  All the characters, but primarily the four students, recount the story in first-person as if they were being interviewed by the police, indicating from the beginning that the benefits of the invention do not last.  This story of unlikely friendships, the burden of secrets, and the value of honest work is both funny and touching (especially when one student experiences the loss of a parent).  The Homework Machine is a fast-paced, imaginative story with reasonably likeable characters that can be found in some form or another in nearly every school in America. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy this story which gives new meaning to the phrase “I’ve got to get my homework done first.”

Submitted by Anne Snyder 5-5-07

Han, Jenny. (2006). Shug. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Seventh grader Annemarie (known as Shug to her family because of her mother's love of Alice Walker's book, The Color Purple) grows into herself as she begins junior high. Shug is very aware of the people around her and how they differ from the past. She has a big crush on Mark, her best friend from childhood. Her parents’ marriage is falling apart and her new best friend is consumed with her new boyfriend. Many complications arise with friendships, boys, teachers and family. Han's writing is authentic, fresh and full of emotion.

Jill Russell, November 29, 2006

 Avi. (2006). Crispin: At the Edge of the World. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. In the long-awaited sequel to Avi's Crispin: The Cross of Lead we are back in 14th century  fuedal England with all of it's cruelty and injustice. Crispin, the boy who had always been known only as "Asta's son," has traded his claim on nobility (he is the bastard son of a nobleman) for the life of his friend and surrogate father, Bear. They are running away from Great Wexly after Bear is released from prison; hungry, sick, tired and emotionally drained. Despite their unfortunate circumstances, Crispin is thrilled to have liberated Bear and is ready to begin life as a free person. They run into the forrest until Crispin convinces Bear to stop for food. At this point the story takes an unfortunate turn when Bear is accused of being a traitor to John Ball's brotherhood, despite having previously been a member. Though Bear is not really a traitor to Ball's cause (ending fuedalism in England) the pub-owner shoots him with an arrow and nearly kills him. Crispin and Bear stumble back into the forrest and are discovered by an old woman (Aude) and a little girl (Troth) with a facial disfigurement. The two women nurse Bear back to health but when Aude is murdered by an angry mob, they must take Troth and flee. Once again Avi gives us a fascinating history lesson on the period and the persecution of anyone judged to be abnormal that was so common during this time. This story is at once terrifying and moving though ultimately does not come to a satisfactory end. There is another installment in the future, I'm certain of it!

Lindsay Negrello, November 14th, 2006

Carman, Patrick. (2006).  The Tenth City: The Land of Elyon Book 3.  New York: Orchard Books.  The final volume in this trilogy begins less than an hour after the second book ended, and it does not stand alone.  In fact, if the reader has not read the second book very recently, parts of this one will be very confusing indeed.  The action begins with Alexa and her companions on a ship, trying to avoid detection while racing to save her wee friend Yipes, who has been kidnapped by the evil Grindall and his mindless ogres and threatened with death unless Alexa turns over the last Jocasta to him.  A series of action-packed adventures ensues, culminating in a climax so steeped in Christian imagery that it almost seems like a biblical parable.  Think The Hobbit meets Narnia, only not nearly as well-written or original as either.  Die-hard fans of the first two books may like this one, but anyone else would be better off stopping after the first book, Dark Hills Divide.

 

 

Tawnya Dudash, November 12, 2006

 

Lord, C. (2006). Rules. New York: Scholastic Press. 

“Say ‘excuse me’ after you burp.”   

 

“No toys in the fish tank.”    

 

“Flush!”

The back pages of twelve-year-old Catherine’s sketchbook are filled with the rules she is teaching her eight-year-old autistic brother in order to ward off his embarrassing behaviors and help him function in the real world in case her someday-he’ll-wake-up-a-regular-brother wish doesn’t come true.

 

 

“Sometimes you’ve gotta work with what you’ve got.”

Catherine has rules for herself too. With her best friend Melissa at her dad’s in California for the summer, Catherine’s only hope is that Kristi, the new girl moving in next door, might be the friend she’s always wished for – one with whom she can swim in the local pond, watch TV, and send flashlight Morse code messages to at midnight.

 

 

“Sometimes people laugh when they like you. But sometimes they laugh to hurt you.”

While Kristi turns out to be pleasant enough, she is smitten with Ryan, whom Catherine despises for his persistent ill treatment of David. Between Kristi’s busy volunteer schedule and her weekend visits to her father, Kristi has little free time, and much of that is spent with Ryan, so Catherine, who prefers to avoid Ryan, finds few opportunities to build a friendship with Kristi.

 

 

“Leaving out isn’t the same as lying.”

In the clinic waiting room where David receives occupational therapy, Catherine begins to build a friendship with Jason, an almost 15-year-old non-verbal paraplegic who comes in twice a week for speech therapy. Catherine makes new word cards for his speech book – words that help Jason better express his emotions and words that allow the two of them to have broader conversations than the simple “Hungry. Eat. Pizza” choices his mother has made for him. But when Catherine and Jason leave the safety of the clinic waiting room and venture outdoors, Catherine is faced with the same treatment from strangers that she faces every day with her brother, and she realizes that a friendship with Jason is going to be as complex as her relationship with her brother. Catherine fails to mention Jason's disabilities to Kristi, and when Kristi invites Catherine and Jason to join her and Ryan at the community center dance, Catherine finds it easier to invoke one of her personal rules rather than face her discomfort with people staring at her, or worse, treating her like she's invisible.

 

 

“No dancing unless I’m alone in my room or it’s pitch-black dark.”

When Catherine’s rules get in the way of having an honest relationship with Jason, he helps her to realize that her rules might just be excuses, and she begins to evaluate what friendship means and what it really means to be “normal.”

 

 

“Sometimes things work out, but don’t count on it.”

The reader can count on Lord’s premiere novel working out. The parent of an autistic child, Lord is able to create an authentic character in Catherine. She is both compassionate with her brother, and frustrated that she cannot have a “normal” life free of the disruptions that David always brings. Lord eloquently depicts the family dynamics, including accurate portrayal of an autistic child and the actions of his parents who are coping as best as they can. This book is highly recommended for readers 10 and up who want an inside look at what it is like growing up with an autistic sibling.

-- Jessica Rothberg, 24 September 2006.

DiCamillo, Kate. (2006). The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press.  Edward Tulane is a china rabbit with real rabbit fur ears and tail. He is dapper and arrogant with an extensive wardrobe, and his greatest joy is catching his own reflection in a darkened window. His mistress, ten-year-old Abeline, loves him very much, but he is incapable of returning her affections. Then one day he is tossed off the deck of a ship by some mean boys, and suddenly Abeline and the comfortable life he has known are lost. He is adrift, literally and figuratively, for almost a year before being rescued by a fisherman and his wife. From there he travels far through time and space with several different owners, and with each he begins to learn what it feels like to have true emotions, including love in all its heartbreak and complexity. This book is beautifully written and illustrated, and would make a great read-aloud. I wonder, however, how many children will read it independently. It is aimed at 3^rd-6^th graders but the reading level is 6.9, making it challenging for the children who might be interested in a story about a toy bunny. And for young children who love toy bunny stories, the themes are somewhat mature and complex. Still, the poignant writing and magical, old-fashioned illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline are almost certain to make this book a classic.

 

Tawnya Dudash, September 20, 2006

 

DiCamillo, Kate. (2006). The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 076362589-2.

 

In DiCamillo’s story for 3^rd through 6^th graders, the reader encounters Edward Tulane – a cold-hearted and self-centered china rabbit. Edward belongs to 10-year-old Abilene Tulane and is loved and adored by her. However Edward cannot reciprocate love because he is vainly infatuated with himself.  Edward and Abilene become separated as Edward is accidentally flung overboard during the family’s ocean vacation. Thus begins Edward’s miraculous journey as best friend, confidant, and companion to numerous colorful and eclectic owners. As Edward’s life takes on new roles and new owners, Edward witnesses life’s joys and hardships through the eyes of the people he encounters. In the end, Edward’s journey is long and hard, but necessary as both Edward and the reader learn life’s most valuable and important lesson. DiCamillo’s writing is precise and touching, complimented by Ibatoulline’s glossy and bright acrylic gouache illustrations.

Deanna Blesso, 28 August 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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