"Becoming Naomi León" by Pam Muñoz Ryan

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 3rd-5th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).

Becoming Naomi Leon
Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10-12 years

SUMMARY
Naomi and her younger brother, Owen, live with their great-grandmother in a trailer park in Lemon Tree, California. They have their own set of issues, but are generally quite happy due primarily to Gram's emphasis on positive thinking. Then one evening they get a surprise visit from their mother who had abandoned them seven years previously. At first, the children, particularly Owen, are excited about becoming reacquainted with their mother. Unfortunately, their mother is not the nurturing type and has plans for Naomi that leave her feeling scared and insecure. Gram comes to the rescue with a desperate flight to Mexico in an attempt to find the children's missing father.

CRITIQUE
This was a very well-written, moving story. The characters were extreme, yet believable. I also enjoyed the introduction to Mexican culture. However, I was surprised that this was assigned to 3rd-5th grade students. In my opinion, the subject matter was too mature, and frankly a bit frightening, for younger children. Therefore, while I would recommend this book for its great storytelling, parents need to be aware that there are difficult themes they may want to discuss with their children.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: None
Sex: None
Substance Use: Mild
Mature Themes: Moderate
Violence: Mild

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Naomi rolls hers eyes at something her grandmother has said.
-Other students at school call Naomi "trailer trash" and Owen a "retard."
-Owen's mother calls him a "blem" (with flaws).

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Naomi is so scared of being kidnapped by her own mother that when someone knocks on their door, she runs to the kitchen and begins to cry.
-Naomi wakes up and thinks that they are experiencing an earthquake.

Substance Use:
-Mother is an alcoholic. She is seen with beer in the back of her car and taking sips of rum from a bottle she keeps in her purse.

Mature Themes:
-Child neglect and abandonment.
-Custody battle.

Violence:
-Naomi's mother yanks her hair, slaps her hard across the face, grabs her arm digging her nails into her skin.
-Skyla makes vague threats about harming Gram.

"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 3rd-5th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB). At first I thought that most people would already be familiar with this title, but then I decided that perhaps I assumed too much, so here is my review.

Charlotte's Web
Author: E.B. White
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 8-12 years

SUMMARY
Wilbur was raised by Fern who refused to allow her father to kill the runt pig. Now Wilbur lives on the farm of her uncle, Mr. Zuckerman, and at first he is quite lonely without his playmate. But then Wilbur becomes friends with Charlotte, the spider who lives in a corner of the barnyard door. When Wilbur discovers the terrible fate that awaits him in the fall, Charlotte vows to save his life. She concocts a clever plan to convince the Zuckermans that Wilbur is no ordinary pig and should be spared.

CRITIQUE
I loved this story as a child and appreciate it still as an adult. In this classic tale, E.B. White addressed serious themes of friendship, loyalty, and death in a manner that is accessible to children. His descriptions of the countryside and barnyard bring these places to life for the young reader who may not otherwise be familiar with these settings. He filled the story with memorable characters whom we love despite their various faults. As always, the illustrations by Garth Williams are wonderful.

Although this book is probably written to an elementary-aged audience, I think it is an enjoyable read aloud for younger children as well. Also, don't forget to check out Stuart Little and Trumpet of the Swan, found in this E. B. White Box Set.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: None
Profanity: None
Sex: None
Substance Use: Mild
Mature Themes: Mild
Violence: Moderate

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-A lamb tells Wilbur, "Pigs mean less than nothing to me."
-Templeton says, "Let him die" when he hears that the others are trying to come up with a plan to save Wilbur.

Substance Use:
-One mention of Lurvy smoking a pipe.

Mature Themes:
-Death.
-Killing of animals for food.

Violence:
-Mr. Arable heads to the barn with an ax to kill a runt pig. He doesn't go through with it when Fern begs him not to.
-Charlotte describes to Wilbur how she kills the fly and drinks its blood.
-Goose threatens to give Templeton "the worst pounding a rat ever took" if he goes near the goslings.
-Wilbur learns that Mr. Zuckerman plans to kill him and eat him.
-Avery tries to knock Charlotte out of her web with a stick.
-Charlotte tells a story of a struggle to the death between her cousin and a fish.
-Wilbur has a dream that "men were coming to get him with knives and guns."
-Templeton tells Wilbur that Mr. Zuckerman "will take the knife to you, my boy."
-Templeton bites Wilbur's tail to revive him from his faint.

"Calvin Coconut" by Graham Salisbury

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 3rd-5th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).

Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet
Author: Graham Salisbury
Illustrator: Jacqueline Rogers
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9-11 years

Calvin Coconut, who lives in Hawaii with his mother and sister, is about to start fourth grade. He is really looking forward to being in Mr. Purdy's class, but he just can't seem to stay out of trouble. For one, he has managed to catch the attention of the middle school bullies. Then he gets off to a bad start with Stella, the teenage girl who has come to live with his family for a while. To top it all off, after letting loose a giant centipede in the classroom and disrupting the class in a variety of ways, Calvin is in trouble with Mr. Purdy.

This book is certainly not great literature. There is not much character development, and the story is more episodic than plot-driven. However, Calvin is likeable and, although he frequently gets into trouble, seems to be a well-intentioned boy. Also, there is plenty of local color which is an enjoyable variation. I do think it is unfortunate that so many authors of children's books today feel it necessary to make disrespect the basis of their humor. Whatever happened to comedy based on irony or even slapstick?

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Moderate
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use: None
Mature Themes: Mild
Violence: Moderate

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Characters use the following words to refer to each other: dork, knuckleheads, doof, fool, buster, dumb, loser, punk, and twerp.
-On the first day of school, Julio tells his younger brothers to "scat" and find their own classrooms.
-Mr. Purdy, the fourth grade teacher, tells one of his students: "Looks like you got a little smarter since I saw you last."

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Calvin is chased by bullies and is forced to hide in a dumpster until they go away.
-Mildly suspenseful scene when Calvin searches for his younger sister whom he forgot to walk home from school.

Profanity:
-Words and phrases used include idiot, dang, stupid, butt, and "shut your yaps."

Mature Themes:
-Calvin's father has abandoned his family to pursue his music career.
-Stella, a teenage girl, is sent to live with Calvin's family because she and her mom need a break from each other.
-Bullying.

Violence:
-Calvin is dragged along the sand by a kiteboard until he is cut and bleeding.
-Tito threatens Calvin by saying he would "mess you up."
-Students push and shove each other in the lunch line.
-Students start a food fight.
-Tito shoves Calvin a couple of times then, when he realizes a teacher is watching, he bangs past him, bumping Calvin with his shoulder.
-Stella says to Calvin, "You're going to pay for this." and When I get out of here, you're dead."
-Tito tells Calvin, "I owe you a broken face."
-Tito slams Calvin in the chest with the palms of his hands.

"The White Giraffe" by Lauren St. John

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 6th-8th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)

The White Giraffe
Author: Lauren St. John
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 10-14 years

SUMMARY
When Martine's parents are killed in a house fire, she is sent away to live with a grandmother she never knew on a game reserve in South Africa. Martine senses that her grandmother does not desire her presence and is keeping secrets from her. Nor does Martine feel that she fits in at school, particularly when she inadvertently discloses her strange gift of healing. Martine is very lonely. Then one night she meets the white giraffe, whom everyone has insisted is only a myth. Martine quickly falls in love with her new friend, Jemmy, and is troubled when it becomes obvious that Jemmy is being hunted by poachers. Martine must learn to make the right choices in order to save her friend.

CRITIQUE
With regard to the writing style, this is probably one of the better children's books I have read in recent years. The author uses wonderfully descriptive language to make the African bush and its inhabitants come alive for the reader: Pale spike thorn trees and ragged shrubs dotted the long yellow grass, which glowed beneath the blazing summer sun as if it was lit from underneath.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the character development. The characters and their relationships would have benefited from further elaboration. When I compare this novel to other books that involve an attachment between a child and an animal such as Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls or The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the bond between Martine and Jemmy is not nearly as powerful.

The plot, also, was underdeveloped. On the one hand, it was fairly predictable. On the other hand, several occurrences were left unexplained or were inconsistent within the story and with reality. The reason appears to be that the author intends for us to read the sequel. This is the fourth children's book I have read recently that does not have an intact ending. The author leaves the plot unresolved so that one has to read the sequel in order to obtain an explanation. With a few exceptions, I find this strategy rather unappealing.

Overall, I would say this was a good book, but could have been much better. While many children may enjoy it and not be bothered by the plot and character deficiencies, I believe the sophisticated reader will not be impressed.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: Moderate
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use:  None
Mature Themes: Mild
Violence: Moderate

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-When Martine is informed by the family lawyer that she is to go and live with her grandmother, she responds by saying, "I'm not going and you can't make me."
-Martine rolls her eyes at an adult.
-Martine is rude (speaks "cheekily") to her grandmother and argues with her.
-Grandmother calls Grace a "crazy old magic woman."
-Children at school are mean to another child and call him "Bonkers Ben."
-Martine speaks rudely to Alex, the game warden. Alex is cruel in return by saying to her, "My girl, you are playing with fire now...and you know what happens to people who play with fire."

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Martine has a frightening dream from which she wakes up screaming.
-Martine wakes up to discover that her house is on fire. She escapes through the window, but her parents perish in the blaze.
-Suspenseful scene where Martine walks through the game reserve at night and narrowly avoids being bit by a Cape cobra.
-Kids chase Martine, threatening to "eliminate her" because she is a "witch."
-Suspenseful scene when Martine rides on the giraffe's back to escape the poachers.
-Suspenseful scene when Martine goes onto the ship by herself to find Jemmy and rescue him.

Profanity:
-Children call others: stupid, witch, nutcase, loony, freak, mongrel, idiot.

Mature Themes:
-Violent deaths.

Violence:
-Martine's grandfather is killed in an encounter with some poachers.
-Lucy gives Martine a "friendly punch that almost knocked her over."
-Tendai tells Martine the story of being beaten with a rhinoceros hide whip until he lost consciousness.
-Tendai pushes Martine back "so hard that she slipped and grazed her bare knee" in order to prevent her from stepping into a nest of adders.
-Alex shoots a kudu in the throat. "Blood spurted from his neck in a fountain and he dropped to the ground and lay still."
-Tendai has "two ugly gashes on his face caused by ricocheting splinters" when Alex shoots the tree right above Tendai's head.
-Martine finds cave paintings depicting bloody giraffes laying dead on the ground.
-Martine imagines horrible fate for Jemmy: "being skinned and used as a rug...or being whipped and made to perform tricks in a circus, or even freezing to death in some Siberian zoo."
-Martine fights back when Ben unexpectedly grabs her from behind and they both fall to the ground.
-Martine finds Jemmy and "his white and silver coat was covered in cuts and matted blood. He seems to be dead."
-Jemmy gives Alex a "glancing blow with his hoof" as he runs across the deck of the ship.

"Tiger" by Jeff Stone

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 6th-8th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).

Tiger (The Five Ancestors, Book 1)
Author: Jeff Stone
Genre: Action/Adventure
Age Level: 12-14 years

SUMMARY
Fu (which is Catonese for "tiger") is one of five young monks who have been trained in the secret Cangzhen Temple under the strict guidance of the Grandmaster. The story begins with an attack on the temple by the emperor's army led by their traitorous brother, Ying. After Ying and his soldiers slaughter all the monks, including the Grandmaster, Yu and his brothers must find a way to defeat Ying and recover the sacred scrolls that he has stolen. This is the first book in a planned five-part series. Click here to watch an interview with the author.

CRITIQUE
This is a fast-paced, exciting adventure to read. The main characters, who each take on the persona of a different animal, are well-developed and the reader will be anxious to discover whether the young monks can defeat the powerful and sinister Ying. Although the setting of the book is 17th century China, it is not historical fiction and does not feel very authentic, particularly with regard to the dialogue. Also, please be aware that this book is inundated with violence that was often quite graphic (see Specific Content below for examples).

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use: None
Mature Themes: None
Violence: Extreme

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Characters call each other "lizard face," imbecile, fool, "fat boy," "ignorant oaf," and "monkey brains."

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Yu nearly drowns inside the water barrel with his brothers piled on top of him.
-Description of Ying: toenails and fingernails sharpened into points, like talons; deep grooves and intricate scales carved into his face and filled with green pigment; teeth ground to a sharp point; forked tongue.

Profanity:
-Words/phrases used include stupid, butt, idiot, and "shut up."

Mature Themes:
-Death.
-Use of violence.

Violence:
-Grandmaster smacks Fu on the head.
-Malao remembers the time Ying broke Fu's arm because he woke him up.
-Cangzhen Temple is full of lifeless bodies and fallen horses. "He could see orange robes everywhere, filled with dead monks. Hundreds of armor-clad soldiers lay flat on their backs with long spears extended straight up into the air from their throats. Fu choked on smoke and the stench of burning bodies..."
-Soldier reports that one hundred monks have been killed.
-Ying's "long fingernails pierced the soldier's skin, and he ripped his hand away with a brutal, flesh-stripping twist...four streams of blood ran down his forehead, into his eyes."
-Grandmaster kills a soldier with a "knife-hand chop to the back of the soldier's neck."
-Ying has fingernails with "bits of bloodstained flesh dangled from their tips."
-Grandmaster knocks Ying over with a vicious leg swipe.
-Extended fight scene between Yu with tiger-hook swords and soldier with straight blade.
-Fu bites Ying's arm to break his grip on his robe.
-Ying swipes Fu's face with his chain whip and "blood poured across his jaw, down the side of his neck."
-Ying shoots Grandmaster with a qiang. "There was a terrific BOOM! and Grandmaster stumbled backward as a hole opened in his chest. He slumped to the ground, dead."
-Ying beheads Grandmaster. "The sword dug deep into the earth, and Grandmaster's head rolled away from his lifeless body."
-Young kung fu fighters receive bamboo whacks as punishment.
-Yu remembers how he would wake Ying with a "powerful punch or kick."
-Ying attacks soldier. "The fist clamped down on the man's throat. Four long fingernails sank deep along one side of his larynx. A razor-sharp thumbnail sank in on the opposite side. The fist squeezed until sound no longer came from the soldier's mouth..."
-Ying shoves Commander Woo to the ground.
-Description of tiger traps: "It would fall into the pit, landing on the spikes, impaled and stuck at the bottom...hunters would slash tiger repeatedly with the razor-sharp metal tips of their long spears, tormenting the tiger for hours until it slowly bled to death."
-Extended scene where Fu attacks tiger hunters.
-Ma throws rocks and spits at Fu while he is in the cage.
-Ma playfully punches one of Ho's arms.
-Horse tramples on villagers' legs and feet.
-Governor "kicked Ma in the backside as hard as he could, sending him flying out of harm's way."
-Governor is "beaten down by the second mob of ruthless soldiers and left barely conscious."
-Drunkard crushes a soldier's shoulder.
-Ma kicks a villager square in the knee.
-Drunkard is hit with shot from qiang.
-Fu fights with soldier while escaping from cage: "There was a sharp crack as the soldier's nose shattered against a large stone...ripped his head away and screamed as a fistful of his hair remained in Fu's hand. A chunk of scalp dangled from the clump of hair."
-Monkeys attack soldiers; clawing, scratching, and biting.
-Fu breaks soldier's collarbone with spear, then pins him to the ground by his throat until he is unconscious.
-Ying grabs Malao's neck with his eagle-claw grip and paralyzes him temporarily.
-Ying orders Tonglong to kill the monks.
-Tonglong slaps Yu on side of head.
-Extended fight scene between young monks and soldiers.
-Tiger cub attacks soldiers.

"Dying to Meet You" by Kate Klise

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 3rd-5th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).

Dying to Meet You
Author: Kate Klise
Genre: Mystery/Humor
Age Level: 9-12 years

SUMMARY
Mr. I.B. Grumply, a famous children's book author, has not published a book for twenty years. In an attempt to overcome his writer's block so that he can finally complete the next installment of his Ghost Tamer series, he rents an old Victorian mansion where he hopes to find some peace and quiet. He is thwarted, however, by a young boy, Seymour, and a ghost named Olive who already occupy the house and are not happy about his presence. As the three main characters interact with one another through letters and notes, they each learn something about themselves and what they must do to alter their life (and death) circumstances.

CRITIQUE
This was the first book by Kate Klise that I have read and, honestly, I was not all that impressed. The letter format was an agreeable variation, the illustrations were enjoyable, and the character's names were clever; but the plot was uninteresting and predictable. At the conclusion, Mr. Grumply supposedly recognizes his selfishness and changes his ways, but his character transformation was completely unconvincing. While young readers may enjoy stories where the characters demonstrate contempt for one another, I can't condone a book that models this type of mutually disrespectful humor.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Moderate
Frightening/Suspenseful: None
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use: None
Mature Themes: Mild
Violence: Mild

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Mr. Grumply calls children "little monsters." He continually refers to Seymour as a "liar" and a "brat."
-Seymour puts up signs around his house that say "Keep Out!" and "Go Away!"
-Mr. Grumply writes to Ms. Sale about her "stultifying ignorance" and states that she is an "illiterate imbecile."
-Behind his back, Ghastly residents call Mr. Grumply "grouchypants" and "grumpy old Grumply."
-The rules that Mr. Grumply and Seymour establish for each other are full of disrespect.
-The Ghastly Times constantly reports people's comments even though they have specifically asked the reporters not to include their remarks.
-Mr. Grumply talks about giving Seymour a spanking.
-Olive refers to Mr. G as an "old coot" and a "dreadful bore" and tells him he has a "sourpuss attitude" and is an "insufferable bore."
-Olive and Mr. Grumply refer to Seymour's parents as "wretched weasels" and "rats."
-Mr. Beans refers to Mr. Grumply as a "poor slob."
-Mr. Grumply calls himself a "very insufferable pig" when apologizing to Olive for his behavior.

Profanity:
-Words/phrases used include "what bunk," stupid, fart, brat, and "what the Sam heck."

Mature Themes:
-Seymour is abandoned by his parents.

Violence:
-Olive causes a chandelier to crash down on Mr. Grumply. He steps on several shards of glass and has to get stitches in his feet.

"Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 3rd-5th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).

Among the Hidden (Shadow Children #1)
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Level: 9-12 years

SUMMARY
It is the future and there has been a worldwide famine. The Government, in an attempt to control the population, has passed a Population Law that decrees families can have only two children. However, some families have chosen to disobey this law.

Luke Garner is a "third child" who has spent his entire life hiding from the Population Police. Life hasn't been too bad for Luke since his family lives on a farm where there is no one around to see him. But then the government forces the Garners to sell some of their land, and the woods behind their house are torn down to build a subdivision. Luke is forced into the shadows. He quickly becomes lonely and bored.

Then one day he discovers another "third child" living in a nearby house and he summons up the courage to make contact with her. Unlike Luke, Jen has experience of the outside world and she is committed to changing the status of shadow children like herself. Luke has to decide whether or not to join her cause and risk the potentially serious consequences.

CRITIQUE

I was not impressed with this book. The plot and character development were lacking, and the author failed to construct a believable futuristic society. I would describe this book as a "lazy" attempt at science fiction. The author tried to depict a society in which a totalitarian government reigned supreme, but the scenario was inconsistent with reality as well as overly simplistic. Also, considering the amount of time spent on character development, the characters and their relationships were not very compelling. Furthermore, an effort was made to create moments of suspense, but the plot was too predictable to make this very effective.

It is apparent from the writing style that this book was intended for young children. In my opinion, the author both underestimated the ability of children to understand complex issues if fully explained and, at the same time, introduced material that is perhaps unsuitable for young children.

The bottom line is: If you are looking for a good science fiction book for your upper-elementary-aged child, this is NOT one I would recommend. Try The Giver by Lois Lowry or A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use: None 
Mature Themes: Moderate
Violence: Moderate

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Luke's brothers call him a "baby" when he doesn't blow out all the candles on his birthday cake.
-Luke's dad and brothers refer to the barons' style of dress as "sissy clothes."
-Luke briefly considers what would happen if one of his older brothers were to die and wonders if that would mean he could come out of hiding. He feels guilty for having these thoughts.
-Luke tells Jen his brothers talk about bras when they are "being dirty."

Frightening/Suspenseful:

-Suspenseful scene when Luke sneaks across the yard over to Jen's house for the first time and isn't sure what he will discover.
-Suspenseful scene when the Population Police show up at Jen's house and Luke has to hide in a closet.

Profanity:
-Words used include idiot, shut up, dopey, and stupid.

Mature Themes:
-Death and grief.
-Mass infanticide.
-Totalitarian government.
-Luke leaves his family, after obtaining a fake ID, in order to find a way to free the shadow children.

Violence:
-Luke's dad "grabbed Luke by the arm and jerked him back a good three feet" when Luke tried to look out the window.
-Jen "knocked him down. Then she pinned him to the floor, his arms twisted behind his back, his face buried in the carpet."
-Jen's dad points a gun at Luke, a gun "meant to kill humans."
-Jen and forty other children are gunned down outside the president's house. "The blood flowed into his rosebushes."
-Luke and Jen's father wrestle for the gun. Luke points it at Mr. Talbot, but eventually allows him to take it and set it on the desk.

"Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 6th-8th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).

Red Kayak
Author: Priscilla Cummings
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 12-15 years

SUMMARY
Brady, a 13-year-old, is grief-stricken when the young son of his new neighbors dies despite his best efforts to save him from the cold waters of a creek. His family tries to help him as he, in turn, seeks to comfort the grieving mother and deals with feeling abandoned by his best friends. Then, as discoveries are made and the details fall into place, Brady realizes that perhaps this horrible tragedy was not an accident after all. Brady faces an extremely difficult decision: Does he tell the truth even when he knows that it will forever change the lives of his family and friends?

CRITIQUE

At the beginning of this book, the author quotes Sophocles as saying, "Truth is always the strongest argument." The obvious message of this book is that one ought to do the right thing (tell the truth, in this case) even when it is difficult. As Brady's father tells him, "Doin' what's right is not always the easiest thing...it's just that sometimes, even when the right answer is smack in front of you, you got to reach deep inside yourself to act on it."

I appreciated the author's underlying worldview, particularly in an age when the moral fabric of our society appears to be unraveling. The writing style itself is average and the ending leaves a couple of story lines unresolved, but the characters are authentic and compelling.  This was a heart-wrenching story with many individuals dealing with some very difficult circumstances. Parents may want to interact with their children about some of the mature themes (see "Specific Content" below) that are addressed in this book.

Another story that discusses the themes of death and telling the truth (without the additional issues presented in this book) is On My Honor, a Newberry Honor book by Marion Dane Bauer.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: None
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: Moderate
Sex: None
Substance Use: Mild
Mature Themes: Moderate
Violence: Moderate

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Frightening/Suspenseful:

-Brady finds Ben hanging from a piling, his eyes half shut and his lips blue. Brady has to perform CPR to try to revive Ben.

Profanity:
-Words used include ass, damn, stupid, shut up, hell, bastard, shit, idiot, and frickin'.

Substance Use:
-Digger smokes a cigarette and pressures his friends to join him. J.T. takes one puff, while Brady refuses.
-Several comments about Digger's father drinking too much.

Mature Themes:
-Death of toddler due to drowning and infant due to SIDS.
-Adults struggling to deal with their grief and the marital problems that ensue.
-Financial hardship and poverty.
-Young teenagers being accused of second-degree murder.

Violence:
-Several references to Digger's father getting drunk and beating up his wife. No specific details given.
-Boys punching and sparring with each other. Described as friendly fighting between friends.
-J.T. culls out dead birds from the chicken house on his farm.
-Couple of brief references to J.T. being hit by a bully at school.
-Digger wishes harm to Mr. DiAngelos. He and J.T. drill holes in the bottom of Mr. DiAngelos' kayak.

"All the Broken Pieces" by Ann E. Burg

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 6th-8th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books.

All The Broken Pieces
Author: Ann E. Burg
Genre: Historical Fiction (written in verse)
Age Level: 12-16 years

SUMMARY
It has been two years since 12-year-old Matt Pin was airlifted out of war-torn Vietnam to be adopted by a loving American family. Matt is haunted by his memories of a father who abandoned him, a brother maimed by a mine, and a mother who gave him away. Even as he seeks comfort in his music, he encounters hostility from his teammates on the baseball field. It is not until he learns to forgive others and accept forgiveness in return that the healing process can truly begin.

CRITIQUE

All the Broken Pieces is a haunting tale written in spare verse. It is a story of forgiveness and redemption. I appreciated that there were many positive adult role models who were present to help Matt as he grappled with difficult emotions from both the past and present. This novel touches on various aspects of the Vietnam war and its aftermath, without being too graphic. As such, I believe it would be an appropriate book to use to introduce youth to the various consequences of war. However, I suspect that this book will be more fully appreciated by adults, particularly those who lived through the Vietnam era.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: None
Sex: None
Substance Use: None
Mature Themes: Moderate
Violence: Moderate

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Matt's baseball teammates call him "Frog-face" and "Matt-the-rat." They bully him when the coach isn't around.

Frightening/Suspenseful:

-Mildly disturbing scenes of Matt's Vietnamese mother pushing him into the helicopter to be taken away by the American soldiers.

Mature Themes:
-The novel speaks extensively about the ugliness of war and its aftermath.
-Matt deals with the negative feelings resulting from his biological father abandoning his family.
-Matt struggles with the fact that his biological mother gives him up for adoption even though she said she loved him. He fears that it will happen again.
-Coach Robeson gets cancer and Matt has to come to terms with the fact that his coach may die.

Violence:
-Repeated brief images of war with blood, screaming, and the smell of burnt flesh.
-Description of Vietnam veterans who have been maimed and/or disfigured in some way.
-Several scenes describing Matt's Vietnamese brother losing his legs and fingers after stepping on a mine.

"11 Birthdays" by Wendy Mass

I chose to review this book because it was a nominee for the 2011 Oregon Readers' Choice Award. It is also on the 3rd-5th grade list for the 2011-12 Oregon Battle of the Books.

11 Birthdays
Author: Wendy Mass
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 9-12 years

SUMMARY
Amanda and Leo have known each other since the day they were born. They are best friends and have celebrated every birthday together. But at their 10th birthday party, Amanda overheard Leo say something hurtful and she hasn't spoken to him for an entire year. Now it is their 11th birthday and Amanda discovers that her important day isn't nearly as special without her best friend. She is relieved when the day finally comes to an end. However, when she wakes up the next morning, she discovers that it is her birthday all over again...and again...and again. Amanda worries that she might be going crazy, until she discovers that Leo is also trapped in the same time loop. As they repeatedly relive their birthday, together they learn some important lessons about family, friendship, and making good choices.

CRITIQUE

I didn't know anything about this book when I began reading it. At the beginning, I was skeptical that this was going to be another tale filled with pre-teen romance and angst. I was wrong. Although the main idea is certainly not original (think Groundhog Day) and the plot was a little thin in parts, I thought it was an enjoyable story. It was refreshing to read a book about tweens who love and respect their families and who try to be kind even to their enemies. This book touches on many of the difficulties facing children this age without being too precocious. The main characters are charming because they act their age. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to readers in the 9- to 12-year old range, although I expect that girls would be more likely to enjoy this story.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: None
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use: None
Mature Themes: None
Violence: None

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:

-On different occasions, Ruby rolls her eyes, glares, and laughs at Amanda.

-Brief mention of Ellerby and Fitzpatrick destroying each other's property during their infamous feud.

Profanity:
-Use of words such as lame, dumb, heck, and stupid.

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney

I chose to review this book because this series has been so popular over the last several years.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Author & Illustrator: Jeff Kinney
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10-13 years

SUMMARY
Greg Heffley keeps a journal of his experiences during one year of middle school. Through Greg's voice and cartoon drawings, we get a glimpse of the drama and traumas of middle school life. He has to learn how to deal with many things from having a best friend who isn't very cool to having parents who he thinks are a bit too strict. In his quest for a place to fit in, Greg tries running for Treasurer, he tries out for the school play, he tries being a safety patrol, and he tries for the cartoonist job in the school paper. Greg experiences the humiliations of a wrestling unit in gym class as well as being picked on by high school students.

CRITIQUE

Many of the reviews I read interpreted Greg as a basically good kid who is oblivious to his faults. Supposedly that's the basis of the humor.  I did not interpret Greg's character that way and, therefore, thought he was very offensive. Greg is selfish, unkind (to his younger brother), disloyal (to his friend Rowley), deceitful (to parents and teachers), and cowardly. He is a very unappealing character. As I read, I continued to hope that Greg would to do something to redeem himself, but he does not.

The bottom line is that I would NOT want my child to read this book. There is far better literature available. If you are looking specifically for a story about a boy who often gets into scrapes, I would recommend Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary. He is not "perfect" but at least he is a well-intentioned and honorable character.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Heavy
Frightening/Suspenseful: None
Profanity: Mild
Sex: Mild
Substance Use: Mild
Mature Themes: None
Violence: Moderate

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Greg's advice is to "set people's expectations real low so you end up surprising them by practically doing nothing at all."
-Pulls pranks on his best friend, Rowley.
-General, and constant, complaining about his parents and their style of parenting.
-Deceives his father by running through the sprinkler to make himself look sweaty when, in reality, he has been playing video games at his friend's house.
-Sneaks downstairs at night to listen to music that is forbidden.
-Greg kicks over his younger brother's toys while he is playing with them.
-Tricks Rowley's father into letting them play a video game by switching the case.
-Makes campaign posters disrespecting his opponent.
-Refuses to sing during school play. Throws apples at girl instead.
-Forces younger brother to eat a pretend spider.
-Writes a form letter for his thank-you notes.
-Greg makes fun of Rowley's father.
-Kicks over his younger brother's snowman.
-Hides some other kids' comics under a pile of papers on the teacher's desk so they won't be considered for the cartoonist job.
-Greg chases kindergartners (for whom he is responsible) with a worm. Lets Rowley take the blame. Tells his mom he did the right thing and lets her take him out for ice cream as a reward.
-Acts nicely toward Rowley just so that he will be invited to Six Flags.

Profanity:
-Jerk, sissy, stupid, morons, nerd, dumb, runt, dork, poop, idiot, and fart are some of the words used.
-Boys in independent study make a list of all the swear words they know, but you don't see them.
-Greg listens to his older brother's music that is labeled with a parent advisory for language. Again, you don't hear any of it.

Sex:
-Roderick has a magazine that shows a girl in a bikini draped over the hood of a car. Roderick gets in trouble when his younger brother, Manny, takes it to day care for show and tell.

Substance Use:
-The school has an anti-smoking poster contest. The boy who wins, according to Greg, smokes at least one pack of cigarettes every day.

Violence:
-Kids are shown being bullied (e.g. punched, tripped, shoved, kicked) at school.
-Greg hits Rowley in the face as a joke.
-Boys practice professional wrestling moves on each other at school.
-Boys throw apples at a girl and knock her glasses off during a school play.
-Greg breaks Rowley's hand playing a dangerous game.
-Comic shows skater boy having head sliced off by telephone wire.
-Kids throw snowballs at each other.
-High school boys force Rowley to eat something disgusting off the playground.

"The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

I chose to review this book because it is a Newberry Honor book as well as a nominee for the 2011 Oregon Readers' Choice Award.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Author: Jacqueline Kelly
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 10-14 years

SUMMARY
Calpurnia Virginia Tate, affectionately called Callie Vee, is eleven years old and the only girl in a family of seven children. With so many brothers, it is not surprising that she is a tomboy. With the help and encouragement of her grandfather, who is an amateur naturalist, she discovers that she has an interest in and aptitude for science. While her mother wants her to dedicate her time to learning how to knit and cook, Callie prefers to be romping through the woods, Notebook in hand, searching for new specimens to collect.

Over the course of the novel, we learn how science and technology are changing rapidly, yet social mores remain relatively stagnant. Callie struggles to find her role as a young woman living at the turn of the twentieth century. By the end of the story, Callie has an increased understanding of the conflict between her true interests and society's expectations for her.

CRITIQUE
I had varied opinions about this book. I enjoyed the writing style. The beginning of the novel, in particular, had some great descriptions of the hot Texan summer. It was also intriguing to read a novel set in this time period. There were many changes happening and the author captured the excitement and sometimes bewilderment that accompanied these rapid technological advances. Having said this, while there were some genuinely interesting and entertaining parts, I also found myself on a couple of occasions feeling indifferent about finishing the book. I had to force myself to keep reading and then the ending was disappointing. There was very little resolution to the various plot lines. We are given hints about the future of the Tate family, but overall it was a bit unsatisfying.

The character development was also inconsistent. For the most part, Callie was a compelling character and I hoped that she would find the strength to break free from her social bonds and pursue her scientific interests. Most of the other characters, however, were not well developed enough to generate much interest. Others may disagree with me, but I thought that the character of Callie's grandfather was unappealing. He was detached, selfish, and uncaring toward his family. The only individual he showed interest in was Callie, and he set her up for a big disappointment by encouraging her to pursue science without the approval, or even full knowledge, of her parents.

The bottom line is that there is nothing objectionable about this story. It is a good book, but probably not the best story I have read. If you are looking for a tale about a young, strong-willed female character, who is resisting the social pressures of approximately the same time period in history, I would recommend Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: None
Profanity: Mild
Sex: Mild
Substance Use: Moderate
Mature Themes: Mild
Violence: Mild

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-On numerous occasions Callie complains and/or argues with her parents. No serious disrespect, but it is pretty constant.

Profanity:
-Grandfather says "damn" and "hell" a handful of times.

Sex:
-Fairly innocent descriptions of Callie's older brother courting two different girls.
-Three of Callie's brothers "fall in love" with her best friend. There is an entire chapter dedicated to describing their attempts to get Lula's attention. She is completely ignorant of their feelings.

Substance Use:
-Grandfather is trying to find a way to distill liquor from pecans, so there is quite a bit of sampling of alcohol. At one point, he has Callie try it, and it makes her sick.
-There is smoking of cigars on various occasions. At the fair, there is so much smoke in the tent that Callie gets sick and faints.
-Callie's mother regularly drinks Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound for Women, ostensibly for her headaches. The reader discovers later that it is 20% alcohol.

Violence:
-Grandfather briefly describes the aftermath of a battle scene and an amputation of a boy's leg.
-Callie narrates that a man, after discovering that his wife was an octoroon, “pitch-forked her to death.”

"Heart of a Shepherd" by Rosanne Parry

I chose to review this book because it appeared this year on the 6th-8th grade list for Oregon Battle of the Books.

Heart of a Shepherd
Author: Rosanne Parry
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9-12 years

SUMMARY
Ignatius, affectionately known as Brother, is going on 12 years old. With four older brothers either in school or military training camp and a father who has been deployed to Iraq, it becomes Brother's responsibility to take care of the family ranch in Eastern Oregon. He has the help of his grandparents and a hired hand, but it is still a tough job. Brother is not sure he even likes ranching - there is too much death and suffering - but he is anxious to prove that he can handle it. In the end, he experiences an unexpected trial that points him in the direction of his calling in life.

CRITIQUE

This coming-of-age story is refreshing in the sense that most of the characters are committed to doing the right thing, even when it is difficult. Brother, in particular, is a boy of true integrity - honest, hard-working, dependable, and loyal. The author also paints a wonderful picture of true community, both physical and spiritual.

Ms. Parry is a first-time novelist, and at times the writing betrays her inexperience. The narrative tone and pacing of the book are awkward in parts. I also felt that the character development was a bit inconsistent.

The bottom line is that, despite some difficulties with the writing style, I would recommend this book because it is a healthy picture of a boy with good male role models guiding him on the path toward becoming a man of character.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: None
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use: Mild
Mature Themes: Mild
Violence: Mild

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Brother, Ernesto, and Grandpa are threatened to be engulfed by a wildfire. 

Profanity:
-One use of the word "s--t." 

Substance Use:
-Older brothers drink some whiskey.
-Paco's mother smokes a cigarette. 

Mature Themes:
-War

Violence:
-Father is sent off to Iraq war where reports come back of people dying.
-Paco's father returns from Iraq having lost a leg.
-Brothers get into a fight which ends with one of them needing stitches.
-Brother and other children play "war" in schoolyard and kids "die."

"Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

I chose to review this book because it has won several awards and appeared this year on the 6th-8th grade list for Oregon Battle of the Books.

Fever 1793
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 12+ years

SUMMARY
This historical novel is a gripping account of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. It is told from the perspective of fourteen-year-old, Mattie Cook, whose widowed mother and grandfather own a coffeehouse in the capital city. As the novel opens, Mattie wants to be treated like an adult, but isn't yet mature enough to act like one. However, she is quickly forced to handle cares beyond her age when the yellow fever strikes close to home. On her way to the countryside, where she hopes to escape the deadly disease, Mattie herself becomes ill. She is fortunate enough to survive the fever. However, when she returns to the city, which has become almost a ghost town, she faces many other hardships which test her ability to survive.

CRITIQUE

This was a very exhilarating tale based upon true events in our nation's early history. The main characters were compelling and I was emotionally invested in their well-being. I couldn't put the book down, wanting to discover what their future would hold. The only thread in the story that I found uninteresting and unnecessary was the relationship between Mattie and Nathaniel.

I predict that most young readers today would have very little conception of what an epidemic is. Before assigning this book, I would recommend teaching children about epidemics, in general, and yellow fever, in particular, in order that they might fully understand and appreciate the horrors Mattie must have experienced. In the novel, Ms. Anderson alludes to many effects of the epidemic, but with no prior knowledge, I suspect that much of this may be lost on the uninformed reader.

The bottom line is that I would highly recommend this book to readers aged 12 or older.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: Moderate
Profanity: None
Sex: None
Substance Use: None
Mature Themes: Moderate
Violence: Mild

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Some mild disrespect and bad attitude exhibited by Mattie toward her mother at the beginning of the story. For example, she makes faces behind her back and calls her "horrid."

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Many images of death.
-Robbers enter an unlocked window when Mattie is sleeping downstairs in the coffeehouse.

Mature Themes:
-People leave their sick family members outside to die.
-Individuals who are suspected of being infected with the fever are not allowed to enter any villages and are left at the side of the road to fend for themselves.

Violence:
-In a scene with robbers, Mattie and her grandfather are both hit and kicked. Grandfather fires a rifle at them, although no one is shot. Mattie cuts one of the robbers in the shoulder with a sword.
-Nell bites the hand of a drunken sailor who has grabbed her.

"Alvin Ho" by Lenore Look

I chose to review this book because it is a nominee for the 2011 Oregon Readers' Choice Award.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
Author: Lenore Look
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8-12 years

SUMMARY
Despite the fact that he comes from “a long line of farmer warriors who haven’t had a scaredy bone in their bodies since 714 AD,” Alvin Ho is afraid of practically everything: elevators, thunder, wasabi, heights, shots…but especially school. He is so afraid of school that he has never spoken a word there. His family is doing their best to try to help him learn to manage his fears. Along with his therapist, his parents believe that what he really needs is a good friend. There is a girl in his class who is nice to him, but Alvin is afraid of girls. By the end of the book, Alvin still struggles with many fears, and still gets into trouble, but he does make progress towards finding a friend.

The story is followed by Alvin's glossary of unfamiliar words as well as historical people and events. 

CRITIQUE

To be honest, when I began reading this book, I was pretty skeptical that it would be worthwhile, but I was pleasantly surprised. While there is some material that parents may find objectionable (see below for a thorough preview of the content), this book was pretty humorous. What I appreciated most about this story was the author’s depiction of Alvin's family. Alvin has an older brother and a younger sister and, while they have their normal sibling squabbles, they generally support one another and enjoy each other’s company. Alvin’s father is portrayed favorably as a man who loves his children and who is trying to teach his son to be a gentleman. Alvin also has grandparents who are a loving and supportive presence in his life.

The main character has fairly extreme fears. In fact, according to his therapist, he has performance anxiety disorder. While this is treated with humor, it may still raise some questions for your child that you may want to discuss. With this in mind, even though the intended audience is 7 to 10 year-olds, I would suggest that this book is more appropriate for 10 to 12 year-olds. The bottom line is that I probably wouldn't purposely choose this book for my child to read, but would not object to her doing so if she were to discover it on her own.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Sex: None
Substance Use: None
Mature Themes: None
Violence: Mild

SPECIFIC CONTENT

Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Brothers call each other “weird” and glare at each other.

-Alvin says his dad is “old and beastly and has sausages for fingers.”

-Alvin curses Shakespeare-style at his psychotherapist. For example: “Sit thee on a spit, then eat my sneakers, thou droning beef-witted nut hook.”

-Pinky says to Flea, “Cyclops are losers.”

-Pinky orders Alvin to stick his tongue out at the bus driver, which he does. Then he dares Alvin to yell a bad word at the bus, jump off the roof of his house, and then watch a scary movie.

Frightening/Suspenseful:

-When Alvin is hanging upside down in the tree, he describes himself almost blacking out.

-Alvin gets scared touring the houses of famous people in his town because he thinks that, although they are dead, they still live there.

-Jules scares Alvin by telling him that his piano teacher is like the witch in Hansel and Gretel.

-Alvin and gang are in the back yard when a Horrific Thing comes charging toward them. It scares the boys so badly that Pinky pees his pants.

Profanity:
-Calvin calls his brother's emergency plans “stupid” and dumb.”

-Alvin calls Flea “stupid.”

Violence:
-Alvin talks about wanting to give his sister a thumping.

-Children in second grade class are shoving and tripping over each.other.

-Mrs. Ho gave Alvin looks that said “she would make dragon’s beard out of me” and that “she would have broken my legs”.

-Flea punches Alvin after he calls her “weird”. Alvin describes it as an uppercut which is “when you curl your arm like you’re picking up a pail of rocks and you send your fist into your opponent’s jaw from the bottom up.” Alvin feels certain that they would have “battled to the death” if a police car hadn’t rolled by right at that moment.

-Children at recess play Redcoats and Minutemen and pretend to shoot each other dead.

-Alvin briefly remembers one of his dad’s stories about when his yehyeh died and then everyone was so sad that they forgot to feed his bird, which also died.

-Sam kicks Pinky after Pinky grabs his library book.

"The Willoughbys" by Lois Lowry

I chose to review this particular book for two reasons. First, although I have not read many of Lois Lowry's works, I thoroughly enjoyed her two Newberry award-winning books: The Giver and Number the Stars. Second, as a winner of the 2008 Parents' Choice Gold Award, The Willoughbys appeared this year on the 3rd-5th grade list for Oregon Battle of the Books.

The Willoughbys
"Nefariously written and ignominiously illustrated by the author"
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9-12 years

SUMMARY
The Willoughbys is a parody of old-fashioned children’s literature, and it has all the required elements: orphans, a rich benefactor, a nanny, a long-lost heir, even a baby abandoned on a doorstep. Essentially, the story is a very simple one. It is about four siblings whose parents do not love them. The children, in turn, dislike their parents so much that they would prefer to be orphans. Unbeknownst to the other party, both parents and children are concocting plans to get rid of each other.

While Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby go on an exotic vacation, the children (with the help of the nanny) try to prevent their house from being sold. Down the street, a miserable candy bar tycoon finds happiness - after years of grieving the loss of his wife and son - when he finds a baby left on his doorstep. The two story lines interweave when the children are ultimately compelled to find a new home and the presumed-dead son of the billionaire reappears. As with all good, old-fashioned stories, (almost) everyone lives happily ever after.

The story is followed by a humorous glossary of “old-fashioned” words. There is also a bibliography containing a list of the “old-fashioned” children’s books to which the author alludes throughout the course of the book.

CRITIQUE
I loved Ms. Lowry’s award-winning books, The Giver and Number the Stars. I also thought the premise of this book sounded interesting, so I looked forward to reading The Willoughbys. Although there were some genuinely humorous parts, overall I was disappointed. Ms. Lowry attempts to create 'more realistic' characters than those found in classic children's literature but, in my opinion, only succeeds in making them less appealing. Furthermore, in her attempt to entertain rather than instruct, she fails to convey anything of lasting value which ultimately is what gives those "old-fashioned" books their intrinsic worth.

As I mentioned in the summary, this book is intended to be a parody of “old-fashioned” children’s literature. Specifically, Ms. Lowry alludes to classics such as Mary Poppins, James and the Giant Peach, and The Secret Garden. However, unless children have read these other books, they will not understand the allusions and the humor will be lost on them. Ms. Lowry herself, in an interview she gave with Time For Kids, admits that kids today “are not going to rush to read those books,” and if they do, they are “not going to like them much” because they are “kind of outdated.” (To see this interview in its entirety, click here.) For this reason, I consider The Willoughbys to be an example of a children’s book that is probably more appropriate for an older audience.

The bottom line is that, while I would highly recommend some of Ms. Lowry’s other works, reading The Willoughbys is probably not worth your time. For a thorough preview of the potentially objectionable material in this book, please see below.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Heavy
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Sex: Mild
Substance Use: Mild
Mature Themes: None
Violence: Mild

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-The oldest brother, Tim, is extremely bossy and dictates to his siblings what games they can play, what food they can eat, and even what they should think and feel.
-Tim calls his younger siblings and parents “dolts” and “dodos.”
-Tim calls a baby “disgusting” and beastly.”
-Tim tells his younger sister, Jane, that she will “never be called upon for important work because she is a girl.” This makes Jane cry.
-Willoughby parents and children do not like nor respect one another and plot to get rid of each other.
-Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby write, “The crocodile river was such fun. Two tourists were eaten…but it was not sad at all because they were French.” Later they write, “Only the pilot was lost and it didn’t matter because he was a Presbyterian.”
-Commander Melanoff says. “That is how we billionaires exist…we profit on the misfortune of others.”
-Mrs. Melanoff calls her husband an “old goat” and an “old fart.”
-Willoughby children are not saddened in the least by the death of their parents.

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Mrs. Willoughby talks about wanting to see the frozen bodies of several famous climbers littering the side of the mountain.

Profanity:
-Mr. Willoughby calls fondue “fon doo-doo.”

Sex:
-Nanny poses as a nude statue to camouflage herself when prospective buyers come to view the house.
-Hans-Peter von Schlusseldorf, the Swiss postmaster, finds himself thinking about Mrs. Melanoff’s hair and “the way it fell around her shoulders in soft, luxuriant waves. And her lips! The redness, the moistness, of them!”
-Commander Melanoff hears Nanny in the kitchen and imagines her pulling something out of the oven and being tempted to “pat her large behind affectionately as she bent over.”
-Commander Melanoff looks at Nanny with a “lovesick gaze.”

Substance Use:
-Mentions beer drinking as part of the wedding ceremony in Switzerland.

Violence:
-The twins suggest that they should “murder the villain” when discussing what they should do about the fact that their house has been sold.
-Tim suggests that Jane should die a slow and painless death, Nanny should get lost in the jungle looking for heathens, and the twins should drown in a whirlpool.
-Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby die in the Swiss Alps and their bodies are frozen on the mountainside.