"The Castle Corona" by Sharon Creech

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 3rd-5th grade list for the 2012-13 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).

The Castle Corona
Author: Sharon Creech
Genre: Fairy Tale
Age Level: 8-12 years

SUMMARY
Once upon a time, there was a royal family who lived in a castle high on a hill. King Guido and Queen Gabriella had three children: Prince Gianni, the aspiring poet; Prince Vito, the swordsman; and Princess Fabrizia, the spoiled. Below the castle lay a village where two young peasants named Pia and Enzio lived a miserable existence with their master. The two youngsters would dream of a better existence, but were always brought abruptly back to reality. One day, however, the peasants do meet adventure when they discover a stolen pouch bearing the King's seal. The pouch, and its contents, ultimately lead them to the castle where they find their lives suddenly intertwined with those of the royal family.

CRITIQUE
I wanted to like this book, but it was ultimately a big disappointment. The beginning was promising, but I kept waiting for something to happen, and it never did. The plot was predictable and full of holes, while the climax of the story was anything but captivating. I assume that this novel was supposed to be about self-discovery, but the only character who genuinely seemed to learn something and change was the Queen. Like the story, the illustrations were promising, but then the reader realizes that many of the images are recycled throughout the book. I appreciated that there was very little objectionable material (see below) and, therefore, did not regret reading it. Overall, though, this fairy tale was disappointing and forgettable.

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

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-The master calls Pia and Enzio 'dirty beetles,' 'idle hogs,' and 'lazy turnips.'

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Pia and Enzio are kidnapped by the King's Men and taken to the castle. They believe they are going to be thrown in the dungeon.

Profanity:
-One use of the word 'idiot.'

Substance Use:
-Several of the characters drink ale or wine.
-Pia says the master will come home drunk. "He'll be wobbling and stumbling and cursing."
-The Count sleeps soundly after drinking "too much wine."

Violence
-Pia and Enzio talk about what will happen if the King's Men catch the thief saying, "If they catch him they will slice off his head and chop him to bits!"
-Pia and Enzio realize that daydreaming may do you harm, "especially if your master is impatient with such daft dreams and will whack you on the back of your knees with a leather strap."
-The Wordsmith tells a story where a young servant boy dies after tasting the king's poisoned soup.
-The Wordsmith tells a story where the young prince captures a thief, "throwing him to the ground and stabbing through his tunic."

"The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones" by Rick Riordan

I chose to review this book because it is included on the 3rd-5th grade list for the 2012-13 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).

The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, Book 1)
Author: Rick Riordan
Genre: Mystery/Adventure
Age Level: 9-12 years

SUMMARY
When Grace Cahill dies, her relatives are invited to the reading of her will where they are each given an unusual choice: to walk away with one million dollars or to be given the first in a series of clues that will eventually lead them to a mysterious treasure. Grace's grandchildren, Dan and Amy Cahill, decide to accept the challenge. What begins as an intriguing treasure hunt soon becomes a perilous adventure as Dan and Amy soon realize that some of the other teams will stop at nothing to win.

In this first novel (in a ten-book series written by a variety of authors), Dan and Amy follow the initial clues left by their forefather Benjamin Franklin. The two orphans travel with their college-aged au pair to Paris where a string of clues and adventures finally leads them into the Catacombs where they find the second big clue.

CRITIQUE
I am sure that many children in the targeted age range will enjoy this book, but don't expect this book to be great literature. The characters were not very well-developed nor, in my opinion, were they even very likable. I wearied quickly of the sibling protagonists' acrimonious relationship. The plot was very predictable and the clues were not very sophisticated. It was a fun adventure for the younger reader, but nothing at all deep or thought-provoking. If you are looking for a good mystery for your child to read, I would instead recommend The Westing Game or even The Mysterious Benedict Society (see my other blog - link below - for reviews of these books).

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

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Dan says his sister "has a face like a baboon butt."
-Dan tells Jonah, "If your head was any bigger, we could use it as a hot air balloon."
-Amy says to Dan, "Why don't you go fly a kite in a storm and see if you get electrocuted?"

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Suspenseful scene where Dan and Amy are trapped in the secret, underground library when someone sets fire to the mansion. They manage to escape unharmed.
-Paragraph describing how creepy the Catacombs are with all the human bones stacked like firewood.
-Suspenseful scene where Dan is nearly run over by an express train. Amy pulls him to safety at the last moment.

Profanity:
-Words/phrases used include stupid, dweeb, idiot, weirdo, loser, git, shut up, fool, wimp, dummy, creep, doofus, poop.

Violence
-Madison and Reagan drop Dan on his head.
-Dan wants to "kick Ian in a soft spot" but doesn't.
-Dan tries to trip Ian and Natasha, but they step over his leg.
-Amy boxes Dan on the ear.
-Dan finds a stone dagger. Grace describes how the Aztecs would use it for ritual sacrifice. "They would cut off the parts of their enemies that they believed held the fighting spirit."
-Amy considers strangling Dan, but doesn't follow through.
-Amy is tempted to whack Dan with a book. She doesn't do it.
-Amy wants to hit Nellie with the jewelry box, but doesn't.
-Natalie is carrying a poisoned silver dart gun and points it at Irina's chest.
-A bomb explodes and part of the ceiling collapses. Dan and Amy are upset because they believe the Starlings have been killed in the blast. Later Dan and Amy learn that no one was killed, but there were serious injuries that sent the Starlings to the hospital.
-Dan and Amy hear that Alistair Oh has been attacked. He ends up with a black eye and cracked ribs.
-The Holts are "strangling each other" fighting over the ice cream.
-Eisenhower Holt remembers how he "accidentally Tasered himself in the rear end."
-Holt family fights a group of thugs that were trying to bury Dan and Amy alive.
-Dan throws a concussive grenade that knocks everybody out.
-Amy electrocutes two thugs by charging a metal fence with a battery.
-Nellie "whopped Alistair Oh upside the head with her backpack."

"The Circuit" by Francisco Jiménez

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).

The Circuit: Stories From the Life of a Migrant Child
Author: Francisco Jiménez
Genre: Autobiography
Age Level: 10+ years

SUMMARY
This collection of autobiographical short stories tells of a Mexican family's continual migration between labor camps as they search for enough work to support their growing numbers. It is told from the perspective of Panchito, a young boy, who struggles with the competing desires of wanting to help his family and wanting to attend school.

CRITIQUE
I have experience teaching the children of migrant workers and found this book to be both captivating and heart-wrenching. Sr. Jiménez was able to highlight the extreme challenges faced by these families without sermonizing. It was tender to witness this family hold onto hope and cherish one another in the midst of despairing circumstances. I would highly recommend this book.

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

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Neighbor boy refuses to let Manuelito, younger brother, play because he is "too slow."
-Kids make fun of Panchito because of his strong accent.

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Disturbing scene when Torito, the baby, is very sick and eventually has to be taken to the hospital.
-Scene where stove bursts into flames and sets fire to entire house.

Profanity:
-Words/phrases used include 'tonto' (stupid), 'mocoso' (snotty), 'idiot', 'damn'.

Substance Use: 
-Several mentions of cigarettes and chain smoking.

Mature Themes:
-Extreme poverty.
-Illegal immigration.

Violence
-Roberto mentions "being hit on the wrists with a twelve-inch ruler" for not following directions in school.
-Panchito fights with a boy on the playground.
-Kids "killed snakes and threw them in the garbage hole when it was burning and watched them sizzle and squirm."
-Father kills pet parrot by hitting it with a broom.
-Contratista pushes worker down and kicks him "in the side with the tip of his boot."
-Neighbor boy pushes Panchito who falls flat on his back.

"Who Were the Beatles" by Geoff Edgers

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).

Who Were the Beatles?
Author: Geoff Edgers
Genre: Biography
Age Level: 8+ years

SUMMARY
This easy-to-read, illustrated narrative covers the lives of each of the four Beatles. It begins with a description of their childhoods in Liverpool, England. It talks about how they were introduced to Rock 'n' Roll music. It describes Beatlemania and illustrates what it was like to be a rock star. It also explains why they broke up. Scattered throughout the book are brief informational summaries covering many topics including Rhythm and Blues, the Vietnam War, and The Sixties.

CRITIQUE
Parents should be aware that due to the lives of these individuals and the times in which they lived, this book touches on many mature themes. It doesn't go in to a lot of detail, and is dealt with in a very straightforward manner, but be aware that there is content that may be inappropriate for the targeted audience.

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

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-John Lennon made fun of his teachers, sometimes to their face.
-Paul McCartney's brother called him "fatty" when he was a young boy.

Sex: -Talks about how Elvis wore his shirt unbuttoned, and his jean tight, and swiveled his hips when he sang and the "girls went crazy."
-Mentions that Paul liked girls and bragged to all his friends when he had his first kiss.
-Explains Yoko Ono's experimental style as an artist by giving the example of how she "made a film of a fly walking up and down a naked person's body."
-Drawing of John Lennon and Yoko Ono kissing.

Substance Use:
-Mention of fans who had "too much beer and got into fights." (accompanied by drawing)
-Mentions LSD as being a drug that some people were using at the time.
-John Lennon "began to drink too much. He also took drugs."

Mature Themes:
-Custody battle.
-Death of parent: John and Paul both had a mother who died when they were teenagers.
-Abandoned by father.
-Extended illness.
-Racism.
-Discussion of how the sixties was a generation filled with anger.
-Vietnam War.
-Political assassinations.

Violence:
-John Lennon got into fights, as a child and as an adult.
-John's mother dies after being hit by a car.
-States that John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. were all shot and killed.
-George Harrison is stabbed.
-Mentally ill man shoots John Lennon with a gun and kills him.

"Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry

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).

Number the Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 10+ years

SUMMARY
This historical fiction brings to life the efforts of the Danish Resistance during World War II as they smuggled nearly the entire Jewish population of Denmark (nearly 7,000 people) across the sea to Sweden. Lois Lowry tells this story through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen, whose family harbors her best friend, Ellen Rosen, and then helps Ellen and her family to escape the country.

CRITIQUE
This is another powerful and moving tale set in the context of the horrors of World War II. Ms. Lowry speaks of the pride and courage of the Danish people as they risked their lives to save their friends and neighbors. I appreciated that Ms. Lowry was able to address some difficult themes and yet keep the content appropriate for younger readers. This book certainly deserves its Newberry Medal and I would highly recommend it.

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

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Soldier tears up baby photographs, drops them on the floor, and grinds his boots into them.

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-German officers storm into the Johansen apartment in the middle of night looking for the Rosens, their Jewish neighbors.
-Germans barge into a "wake" wanting to know why they are all gathered together at night.
-Annemarie hears a growl up ahead on the path.
-Annemarie runs into German soldiers when she is attempting to deliver an important package to her uncle on his boat.

Profanity:
-Words used include 'dumb', 'dope', 'idiot', and 'stupid.'

Substance Use:
-Discussion of smoking and shortage of cigarettes.

Mature Themes:
-War
-Death
-Genocide of Jews

Violence:
-Mention on numerous occasions of German soldiers patrolling with their guns.
-Description of Danish Resistance activities including damaging trucks and cars and bombing factories and railroads.
-Mention that sometimes the Resistance fighters were "caught and killed."
-Annemarie's older sister "dies in an accident" two weeks before her wedding. At the end of the book we discover that she was "run down" by a German military car.
-A soldier slaps Mrs. Johansen across the face causing her to stagger backwards and leaving a mark.
-Peter Nielsen, a Resistance fighter, is captured and executed in the public square.

"On the Wings of Heroes" by Richard Peck

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).

On The Wings of Heroes
Author: Richard Peck
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 10+ years

SUMMARY
This story begins with a description of an era when neighbors spent time playing games, telling stories, and pulling pranks on one another. Then their quiet world is shattered by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Davy Bowman's beloved older brother enlists and soon begins flying B-17s over Germany.

Much of the novel is devoted to a description of what it was like on the home-front during World War II. Davy and his best friend, Scooter, experience food rationing, milkweed collecting, scrap metal drives, black-outs, and substitute teachers. Every aspect of their lives is overshadowed by the fear of being attacked and worry about loved ones who are stationed far away.

CRITIQUE
Although this book includes some mature subject matter, it was a delightful book to read. Mr. Peck has a wonderful sense of humor and weaves his tale in such a way that you find yourself laughing and crying at the same time. In this tender historical novel, he has created some endearing characters and a realistic portrayal of the American home-front during World War II. Although Davy's heroes are obviously his father and his brother, this book invites readers to appreciate the heroism and sacrifice of those on the home front as well.

On the Wings of Heroes is the first book I have ever read by Richard Peck and I look forward to reading others. I would highly recommend this book.

RATINGS
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: Mild
Frightening/Suspenseful: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Sex: Mild
Substance Use: Mild
Mature Themes: Mild
Violence: Moderate

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Boys on Halloween night come out to "soap your windows, shave your cat, pull siding off your house, do something nasty down your mailbox, knock over pumpkins."
-Davy is threatened by the school bully who tells him "at noon you'll be picking up your teeth all over the school yard...and you'll wonder where your nose went."
-Class bullies terrorize the students and the teacher.
-Older boys, including Davy's Cubmaster, steal the paper that Davy and Scooter have collected for the paper drive.

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Mrs. Hiser, Davy's neighbor, tells a ghost story about a man who is searching for his missing hand. Mr. Hiser plays a practical joke on her and reaches out to her with a wooden arm with a hook on it.
-Miss Mossman, Davy's teacher, tells them of the dangers of the Germans dropping incendiary bombs that could "burn you to a crisp."
-An explosion leaves Davy and Scooter thinking they are being bombed. In actuality, it is buckshot out of a gun hailing down on the roof.

Profanity:
-Words used include 'brat,' 'bozos,' and 'dadburn.'

Sex:
-Mentions a good-looking girl wearing a "real low-cut prom dress."


Substance Use:
-Mention of a still used for making corn liquor.
-Mention of a factory worker being on her "cigarette break."

Mature Themes:
-War
-Death

Violence:
-An elderly neighbor tells gruesome stories. She describes the exploding Hisenberg: "passengers burning alive staggered on fleshless feet through its melting steel skeleton." Or again, a nephew who "skidded on his sled...shot under an International Harvester truck and scalped himself." Another story involves a man having his arm ripped off by a cornpicker.
-A snake is "dead in the road with a red smear where a car had run over its head."
-Janis, one of the class bullies, gets her hand caught in a rat trap when she attempts to steal the teacher's pocketbook.
-Beverly, another class bully, knifes the tire on the teacher's Chevy.
-Davy's dad wrings the necks of two chickens.
-Chicago mobsters hit Davy's father in the side of the head with a monkey wrench.

"Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

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).

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
Author: Bruce Coville
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 9-12 years

SUMMARY
Jeremy Thatcher is having problems in school. His art teacher hates him, a girl in his class threatens to kiss him, and the other boys tease him unmercifully. When he stumbles upon Mr. Elives' magic shop, and he leaves with a dragon's egg, Jeremy finds that an entirely new set of problems await him. Where will he keep the dragon? Will he be able to keep his new pet a secret as he has been instructed? How will he feed the dragon? How will he prevent the dragon from disturbing his father's animal patients? And ultimately, how will he bring himself to send the dragon back home when the time comes?

CRITIQUE
A good fantasy author, such as J.R.R Tolkien or J.K. Rowling, creates an entire world into which the characters and their actions come into existence. In this respect, Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, was a failure. There was an extreme lack of depth and sophistication, not to mention character development. In my reading, I did not get the sense that the story took place within a larger framework. I realize that this book is part of a series, but still maintain that the author did not successfully create a coherent fantasy world.

I was also disappointed with the implicit message of this novel. It would have been more satisfying to watch Jeremy grow into a stronger person - after his adventures with the dragon - who was more equipped to deal with the problems he faced. Instead, to a large extent, Jeremy used his relationship with the dragon as a form of escapism (e.g. midnight flights, dreams, magical connection). While there was some character growth and development, it was very minimal compared to what we see, for example, is C.S. Lewis' The Silver Chair.

The bottom line is that while there is nothing highly objectionable in this novel, it is pretty superficial reading. I wouldn't recommend it.

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

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-Mr. Kravitz, the art teacher, gives Jeremy a "smug, nasty smile."
-Jeremy calls Mr. Elives an "old fruitcake" behind his back.
-Jeremy calls a cat "rotten" and then sticks his tongue out at him.
-Mr. Kravitz refers to one of his students as a "little weasel."

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-When Jeremy sets out to return Tiamat to her home on Midsummer Night, the fog becomes very dense and neither boy nor dragon know what to expect. Then a hooded figure steps out of the mist toward them.
-On several occasions, Jeremy fells unexpected pain and realizes that he is sensing Tiamat's pain and emotions.

Profanity:
-Words used include 'creep', 'shut up', 'fathead', 'stupid', and 'jerk.'

Sex:
-Mary Lou, a girl in Jeremy's class, writes him a note saying, "I think you are incredibly cute...I am going to kiss you after school today if it's the last thing I ever do."
-On several occasions, the boys in Jeremy's class make "loud, wet, kissing noises" when he walks past them on the playground.
-Students chant "Jeremy Thatcher and Hot-Stuff Hutton - the Ro-o-o-o-mance of the Century" every time they see him.

Violence:
-Tiamat, the dragon, sets fire to Mr. Kravitz's foot.
-A boy torments a cat by tying its legs together and then poking it with a stick.
-A boy gives Jeremy "a ferocious kick" that sends him "sprawling face first into the dirt."
-Tiamat, who is invisible to the boy, begins to claw at him. During the ensuing struggle the dragon becomes entangled in a thorn bush and her wings get scratched.

"The Last Newspaper Boy in America" by Sue Corbett

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).

The Last Newspaper Boy in America
Author: Sue Corbett
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10-13 years

SUMMARY
Wil David can't wait to turn 12 years old because it means that he will inherit the role of newspaper boy from his older brother, Sonny. Wil has been looking forward to this for a long time and has all but spent his first paycheck. Unfortunately, the day before Wil's birthday, the newspaper informs him that it plans to end its deliveries to the town of Steele, Pennsylvania. Now Wil is on a mission to save his job. Wil is encouraged by the support he receives from the local residents and soon learns that more than just his job is threatened by the newspaper's financially-driven decision. Along the way, Wil also manages to expose a scam at the carnival and, in the process, an enemy becomes an ally.

CRITIQUE
I applaud the author's portrayal of a small town struggling during an economic downturn and the fact that the residents learned a lesson about fighting for their own survival. The characters were interesting and believable with the exception of the older brother, Sonny. He provided much comic relief in an otherwise fairly depressing set of circumstances. While at times he was very funny, the humor felt a little forced. He was sometimes too outrageous in his simple-mindedness.

Overall, I enjoyed the storytelling. However, I was left puzzled by the carnival scam subplot. It was as if the author realized that a story about a boy trying to save his paper route wasn't very interesting and decided to throw in a story line about a carnival scam to add some excitement. I think her evaluation was correct. However, despite being entertaining, the carnival subplot felt like a distraction. In my opinion, the author failed to weave the story lines together effectively. Young readers may not notice, but more sophisticated readers will be left feeling dissatisfied at the end.

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

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude:
-In a rough draft of a letter, Wil calls the editor of a newspaper a 'nitwit' and a 'dweeb.'

Profanity:
-Words used include 'heck', 'booger', 'darn', 'knothead', 'jerk', and 'dang'.

Sex:
-Girls at fair described as wearing "itty-bitty shorts and bathing suit tops...one polka-dot top with only enough fabric for about six dots."

Substance Abuse:
-Wil smells cigarette smoke on a man's breath.

Violence:
-Scene described in newspaper as "an angry mob of fairgoers seized both men, first covering them in powdered sugar...then forcing them to act as targets in the water pistol 'balloon bust' booth."

"How Oliver Olson Changed the World" by Claudia Mills

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).

How Oliver Olson Changed the World
Author: Claudia Mills
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 8-10 years

SUMMARY

Oliver Olson was very sick as a young child. Ever since then his parents have been extremely protective. They won't let him ride his bike out of the cul-de-sac. They won't let him go to sleep-overs. They won't even let him do his own homework. Now that Oliver is in third grade, he is ready to exert a little more independence. His teacher tells her students to design a diorama of the solar system. They can work alone or with a partner. When Oliver shows the assignment to his parents, they immediately begin to take over. However, Oliver has some creative ideas of his own. He decides to risk his parents' disapproval and informs them that he is going to partner with Crystal to create a diorama. To his astonishment, they agree. The next step is to convince his parents to let him go to the third-grade space sleepover at school. In the meantime, his teacher has given them another assignment for which his mother, of course, has provided the "perfect" answer. In the end, Oliver may not have discovered a way to change THE world, but he certainly comes up with an idea that will change HIS world.

CRITIQUE

This is an enjoyable and humorous book for the early reader. It would also be a good read aloud for primary students. While the story is not particularly profound, it does touch on several themes that could lead to some interesting discussion. I appreciated the absence of the puerile talk that permeates so many books written for young readers. I also liked that the author portrayed Oliver exerting some independence without becoming disrespectful toward his parents. I would recommend this book.

RATINGS

Disrespectful/Bad Attitude: None

Frightening/Suspenseful: None

Profanity: Mild

Sex: None

Substance Use: None

Mature Themes: None

Violence: None

SPECIFIC CONTENT

Profanity:

-Uses the word 'stupid' on one occasion.

"The Magical Ms. Plum" by Bonny Becker

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).

The Magical Ms. Plum
Author: Bonny Becker
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 8-12 years

SUMMARY
Every child at Springtime Elementary hopes to be in Ms. Plum's third grade class, because there is no denying that there is something extraordinary about Ms. Plum. It's not just that she loves her students, nor even that she teaches interesting things like fencing and turban-wrapping; Ms. Plum is magical. In each chapter of this book, one of Ms. Plum's students is invited to go into her supply closet to retrieve something for her. When he emerges from the closet, an animal accompanies him. Over the course of the day, the animal helps teach the student a lesson about his character and personality. For example, Eric is taught not to interrupt by a parrot. A raven teaches Jeremy not to take such a gloomy outlook on life. Even though Jovi is shy about not knowing English very well, he learns to speak up in defense of his falcon. Each child is given a chance to improve himself. By the end of the story, Ms. Plum can sincerely say that this has been her best class ever.

CRITIQUE
This is a simple and entertaining story. The chapters are quite brief which makes it a good read aloud. I appreciated that the author addressed some character flaws that are a bit more unusual, like the girl who sees life through rose-colored glasses. As I read, I couldn't help comparing this story to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and came to the conclusion that I prefer the latter. The brevity of this story leaves little room for character development. Similarly, the solutions are unconvincing and the morals/lessons are sometimes vague. The bottom line is that while it is an entertaining read for the elementary-aged child, this book is certainly not very thought-provoking. 

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:
-A student tells another to "shut yer trap."
-A girl refers to another as "Mindy Miss Priss" and is unkind to her because she likes pink.
-Student throws eraser bits at another child to try to get in trouble.
-Children taunt and tease one another on several occasions.
-A boy begins prying and peeking at other students' possessions.

Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Falcon dive-bombs students who begin to "fear the bird would bury its pointed beak in the back of their necks."
-Alligator threatens to attack students and eventually does grab one boy by the pant leg and attempts to pull him out of his chair.

Profanity:
-Words/phrases used include 'poop', 'dag nab it', 'shut up', and 'butt'.

Violence:
-Fifth grader gets hit repeatedly in the face by snowballs.

"Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

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).

Earthquake Terror
Author: Peg Kehret
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9-12 years

SUMMARY
Jonathan Palmer is camping on Magpie Island with his parents and younger sister, Abby. When Jonathan's mom unexpectedly breaks her ankle, his parents leave to rush her to the hospital on the mainland. While Jonathan and Abby are on the island alone, a devastating earthquake hits. Their camper is smashed. The bridge connecting the island to the mainland is destroyed. They are all alone. Then, to make matters worse, Jonathan discovers that the island is quickly flooding. The children begin a struggle for survival that will use up every last ounce of courage and strength that they have.

CRITIQUE
This book would certainly be suspenseful for a young reader, as one disaster after another occurs to the Palmer children. However, as an adult, it was difficult to look past the unrealistic circumstances of the novel. In my opinion, books such as Island of the Blue Dolphins, My Side of the Mountain, or Julie of the Wolves are much more compelling tales of survival.

Another aspect of this book that made it very difficult to enjoy is the character of Jonathan's sister, Abby. She is incredibly annoying as she whines her way through the entire novel. If the author hadn't told us she was six years old, one would have to assume she is a three-year-old whose favorite song is "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and favorite book is "Go Dog Go".

The bottom line is that if you are looking for an adventure/survival story, there are much better books out there.

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

SPECIFIC CONTENT
Frightening/Suspenseful:
-Children are left behind at a campground when Mrs. Palmer breaks her ankle and goes to the doctor.
-Jonathan thinks they are being shot at, then bombed, then finally realizes it is an earthquake.
-A giant redwood tree nearly falls on Jonathan.
-Jonathan finds the bridge snapped in two and realizes that a fast rescue will be impossible.
-The island quickly begins to flood and the children have to hang on to tree trunks.
-Jonathan and Abby get separated in the river.
-While swimming in the river, Jonathan gets hit in the head by a floating tree stump and is knocked unconscious. Moose, his dog, fights to save him by repeatedly pushing him up out of the water for air.
-Abby has to crawl through the water toward shore. Then she barely misses being seen by the rescue helicopter.

"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.