NOVEMBER 23, 2009
Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone by Dene Low
Petronella is the spunky, funny, but very proper hero of “Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone.” Set in the Victorian age, the wealthy British orphan Petronella is faced with several dilemmas on the event of her coming out party. First of all, her guardian, Uncle Augustus, swallowed a beetle and is now trolling the bushes for insects to consume. Then, during the party, two guests are kidnapped. And, most disappointing, the handsome James has no romantic interest in Petronella. Petronella, with her family and friends, is plunged into an international mystery, with insects as clues. Written in first person from Petronella’s point of view, this book is pretentious language made funny and an old-fashioned mystery made fresh and new. Great read aloud for older children. Ages 10 and up.
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NOVEMBER 23, 2009
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
On the surface, this family is enviable. Teen identical twins, Kaeleigh and Raeanne are beautiful, and live in a lovely home in a prosperous neighborhood with their father, who is a lawyer, and their mother, who is a well-known politician. But ever since their family was in a severe car accident, things have been terrible at home. Their mother is always gone. Kaeleigh is being sexually abused by her alcoholic father and won’t allow herself to get close to kind Ian. Raeanne is sleeping with guys in exchange for drugs. Both sisters have eating disorders and rarely communicate with each other. Every family has secrets, but this family has a huge one, which is revealed as a shocking plot twist near the end of the book. “Identical” is written in verse, like Ellen Hopkins’ other novels. She effectively uses poetry to create an emotional, suspenseful page-turner, as well as reflecting on what it means to be a twin. Ages 14 and up for language, sexual content, and drug use.
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NOVEMBER 22, 2009
The Georges and the Jewels by Jane Smiley
Set on a horse farm in California in the mid-1960's, this novel centers around the seventh grade year of Abby Lovitt. At her small school she tries to remain best friends with classmate Gloria despite new girl Stella's efforts to intrude. At home she is responsible for a great many chores as well as riding/exercising the geldings and mares being prepared for eventual sale - the sooner, the better. All are named George or Jewel by Abby's father to discourage formation of attachments. He is an elder in a fundamentalist church, is a strict disciplinarian and has rigid expectations and rules. A slight "chink in his armor" occurs when a mare unexpectedly gives birth to a foal and then dies. He allows Abby to name the colt, Jack, and with the help of an old and wise cowboy she begins his training. Surprisingly, she finds that many of the methods she learns for dealing with horses assist her in personal relations as well. Although aimed at ten to fourteen-year-olds, anyone with an interest in horses will appreciate the many details of caring for and training them shared by author, Jane Smiley.
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NOVEMBER 22, 2009
Under Siege by Andrea Warren
In an unusual use of three young persons as primary sources, author Andrea Warren gives readers a comprehensive look at the 1863 battle of Vicksburg, midway through the Civil War. After a series of frontal attacks on the well-fortified city guarding the heights above the Mississippi River, Union General Grant had settled on a siege as the only way to take control of the city and thus the river. Extensive quotations from the writings of Vicksburg residents Lucy McRae aged ten - daughter of a prominent businessman and Willie Lord aged eleven - son of an Episcopal minister, provide a description of the 47 day encirclement from the Confederate point of view. The Northern army's actions are well-described in the diary writings of Frederick Grant, the general's twelve-year-old son who accompanied his father throughout the campaign. Lucy's journal recounts that in order to withstand harm from the nearly constant shelling by Yankee batteries, many Vicksburg residents resorted to living in caves dug into the hillsides. She reported that as time passed the inconvenience of muddy, damp caves paled when compared to the lack of food. Finally on July 3, Vicksburg surrendered. Young Frederick Grant rode into the fallen city at first in triumph and then in dismay at the destruction he saw. The use of the memoirs of Lucy, Willie and Frederick will be appreciated by those who are ages ten through fourteen since they give a unique insight into the effect of war on children now as well as then.
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NOVEMBER 19, 2009
Paper Towns by John Green
This book is by the same author who wrote "Looking for Alaska" and "An Abundance of Katherines". Similar to both those stories, this one also involves a nerdy high school boy in love with an elusive girl. Senior Quentin Jacobsen, or 'Q' to his friends, lives next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman, his childhood friend and now popular girl at school. When she suddenly appears one night at his window asking for his help in a series of pranks and pay-backs to her friends and boyfriend who have done her wrong, Quentin reluctantly goes along, thinking that it might change their now non-existant relationship. The night is wild and exciting and full of hilarious moments. But when Margo comes up missing the next day, Quentin is worried. Her parents are furious and change the locks on the house, while Quentin and his quirky friends follow a series of clues left behind in a attempt to find her, hopefully alive. This book is much more philosophical than the others, with Quentin spending a lot of time thinking about we imagine people to be as opposed to how they really are, and how little he really knows about Margo. Recommended for serious readers in grades 9 and up. This book was chosen as the winner of the Teens Top 10, their favorite book of the year.
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