Tweens 2007

Curtis, C. P.  (2007).  Elijah of Buxton.  New York: Scholastic Press.

A sweet and touching novel about Elijah Freeman, an eleven-year-old boy from Buxton, Canada, a settlement of free slaves just over the border from Detroit.  Elijah is the first child from Buxton born into freedom.  As he narrates his story, we follow him through his daily life of Buxton as he goes fishing, attends school, and helps folks out around town.  That is, until someone steals the money Mr. Leroy was saving to buy the rest of his family out of slavery.  Elijah, feeling partly responsible, agrees to cross over to America with Mr. Leroy to try to get it back.  This well written and well-paced book is humorous, sad, and touching with an ending that speaks plainly and puts Elijah in a position to view the stark realities of slavery.  Some strong language and violence.

-Mike Salerno, December 12, 2008

Selznick, B. (2007). The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

New York: Scholastic Press.

Amazing drawings pull the reader into this mystery about a young boy living in a train station in Paris. After his father's untimely death, Hugo uses his father's notebook to repair the object that was his obsession. He steals parts to repair the machine from the toy maker who has secrets of his own. The  mysterious manner in which the story unfolds will inspire adults and children to read to the finish despite the books' daunting outward appearance. Book talks and a perusal of the illustrations will encourage the timid.

Posted by: April Gilbert 4/2/08

Avi. (2002). Crispin: The Cross of Lead. New York: Hyperion Books.

An intense and gripping tale of friendship, faith, loyality, courage, integrity and keeping promises, the book had me (who can never stand fiction) glued to it until I was done with it. Crispin's faith in God is all that he has once he has lost the only person he had in life-his mother. Inspite of the odds against him, he prays with his mother's cross in his hand. He prays, inspite of being told contrary by the Bear- prays and seeks guidance and protection. His friendship with the Bear, that first started as a servant-master relationship, matured into a relationship of faith and loyality. The Bear protects Crispin from his enemies and all sorts of dangers, and Crispin pays it back by rescuing the Bear from john Acliffe and his men. Though, John Aycliffe betrayed, and broke his vow to let Crispin and the Bear out of the town safely, but Crispin( and the Bear) fought Aycliffe and his men bravely, and kept his own vow of giving his mother's cross to John Aycliffe once they were out of the gates of the town.

Posted by Maninder Ghuman on 08/10/2007.

Abbot, Tony. (2007). Firegirl. Little, Brown Young Readers; Reprint edition (June 1, 2007). 160 pages. $5.99. ISBN 0316011703

Protagonist Tom Bender is a seventh-grader at St. Catherine’s.  He’s not exactly Captain Popular; he goes unnoticed by his peers, and he has one best friend, Jeff, an emotionally exhausting kid with a dysfunctional family.  Tom, being a reject, is good at observing and bad at speaking up.  He has a crush on Courtney Zisky, and he spends hours daydreaming about saving her from outrageous, life-threatening situations.  This is Tom’s life.

Then there’s Jessica Feeney, the third-degree burn victim that enrolls at St. Catherine’s while she receives treatment at the local hospital.  The seventh-graders of St. Catherine’s are collectively frightened, repulsed, and mildly curious about Jessica’s “melted” appearance.  Rumors spread about Jessica’s past.  Tom is increasingly uncomfortable with the way his classmates, and especially Jeff, talk about Jessica.  By chance, Tom is asked to take Jessica’s homework to her.  And that act starts an unlikely and short friendship that, in small ways, changes everything.  Being nice can go a long way.

Posted by: Courtney Diputado. 08/10/2007

Avi. (2002) Crispin: The Cross of Lead. New York: Hyperion Books. 262 pages. Tr.$15.99. ISBN 0-7868-0828-4.

In medieval England, a young boy known only as “Asta’s son” becomes an orphan and discovers his true name, “Crispin”. Falsely accused of theft and declared a “wolf’s-head”, or one who can be killed on sight, Crispin flees his village, pursued by the villainous steward Aycliffe. With a cross of lead as his only possession, Crispin embarks on an adventurous journey to survive. Along the way, he meets the juggler Bear, who acts as Crispin’s protector and guide, but has his own mysteries to hide. A rousing adventure story with classic chase sequences and sword fighting, this coming of age tale brings to life vivid characters and settings. As Crispin learns from Bear that there is more to the world than being owned by another person, and that he has the ability to take action, Crispin becomes free – both of his nameless past and his apparently doomed future. The action/adventure/mystery aspects of the story keep the pace moving and the well-drawn characters are both interesting and identifiable.

Posted by: Margie Llinas 8/8/07 

Howe, James. (2001). The Misfits.  New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 284 pages. Hd. $16.00. ISBN 0-689-83955-3.

Four friends in a small-town middle school who have never fit in (except with each other), decide to take a stand and run for student council on a “no-name calling” platform. The well-drawn characters, funny dialogue, and empathetic situations are appealing, and Bobby’s Runyon-esque narration is both clever and insightful. The four friends reach out beyond their comfort zone not only as a group, but in individual ways, leading to greater understanding of themselves and the middle school world around them. Regardless of the election’s outcome, the novel's humor, its matter-of-fact handling of sensitive situations, and its message of acceptance and individuality make it truly a winner.

Posted by: Margie Llinas 8/8/07 

Hesse, K. (1997).  Out of the Dust.  New York: Scholastic Press.

The story is compelling and gut-wrenching. It is structured as a journal written by a teenage girl named Billie Jo who reveals the dreadful realities of living during the years of constant dust storms in Oklahoma. Billie Jo loses her mother and unborn brother and injuries her hands badly in an accident which both her father and Billie Jo are partially responsible of. She grows more and more distant from her father after the accident.  Finally, she decides to run away but discovers that there is no escaping the dust of her home because she is part of it and it is part of her.  She learns that her anger at the dust storms have strengthened her spirit and will to survive. And both Billie Jo and her father realize that they must continue as a family and learn to forgive themselves.

Posted by: Lori Chan.  07/30/2007

Park, L.S. (2001).  A Single Shard.  New York: Clarion Book.

This is a tale of courage and devotion. It is about a thirteen-year-old orphan, who lives under a bridge in a potters' village in 12th century Korea. He has become fascinated with his master's craft and longs to learn how to throw delicate celadon ceramics. And a single shard from a celadon vase changes the life of his and his master. The story is rich in the details of life and art in ancient Korea. It gives readers insight into an unfamiliar time an place.

Posted by: Lori Chan.  07/30/2007

Creech, Sharon. (2003).  Granny Torrelli Makes Soup. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. Joanna Cotler Books. 141 pages. 16.89. ISBN 0-06-029291-1

The warm smells and tastes of the kitchen seem to drift out from between the pages while reading Rosie’s story. Granny Torrelli listens patiently as Rosie relates her difficulties with friend since birth and next-door neighbor, Bailey. While making meatballs and cooking pasta Granny relates some of her own childhood experiences and wisely allows Rosie to reach her own conclusions. When Bailey comes over to help with the cooking Granny’s wisdom helps heal the rift between the two friends. Short chapters and delicious details make this a pleasant addition to any collection.

Posted by: Christel Henson.  08/04/2007

Peck, Richard (2000).   A Long Way from Chicago: A Novel in Stories..  Read by Ron McLarty. Listening Library. 4 hours, 18 minutes. $19.95. ISBN 0-307-20739-0

Looking back on his summer visits to Grandma Dowdel, during the depression years, Joe vividly describes her eccentric ways. Joe and his sister Mary never know what to expect when they arrive by train each summer. Whether grandma is blackmailing the local bank manager, poaching catfish or making homebrew each tale displays her sharp wit, cleverness and soft heart, (even though she tries to hide it). Each of the seven stories is funny, sharp and believable, no matter how outrageous. Ron McLarty’s narration paints a vivid picture of grandma and the happenings in her small town.

Posted by: Christel Henson.  08/04/2007

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