Your source for literary information
Hatter M., by Frank Beddor. I had really been looking forward to this graphic novel spinoff of “Looking Glass Wars” and “Seeing Redd” — which are excellent “alternate fantasies” to “Alice in Wonderland.” This was a bit disappointing. There were some bright spots of dry humor with Hatter M, one of the neatest characters Beddor [...]
“A Faraway Island,” written by Annika Thor and translated by Linda Schenck. 2010 Batchelder Award winner. A touching book. Two sisters, Stephie, 12, and Nellie, 7, are sent to Sweden as part of a children’s refugee program to escape the Nazi occupation and repression in Austria. Nellie adapts to her family quickly, embracing the language [...]
“Eidi,” written by Bodil Bredsdorff. 2010 Batchelder Honor Book. The sequel to “The Crow-Girl.” Those who haven’t read “The Crow-Girl” (or who haven’t read it in a while) may find the first chapter or two a bit hard to follow. Not a lot of background is covered in “Eidi.” But after that, the story finds [...]
Peace, by Richard Bausch. 2009 W.Y. Boyd award. A small army patrol in Italy has been charged with the task of scouting around and finding any straggling enemy soldiers towards the end of World War II. This is much harder than it seems. The fast-paced novel mostly follows three of the soldiers and their Italian [...]
Tallgrass, by Sandra Dallas (book on CD — narrated by Lorelei King). ALA’s 2009 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. A provincial Colorado town is changed forever during World War II when a Japanese internment camp opens nearby. The murder of a young girl further fuels a tense situation. The events are seen through the eyes [...]
Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan. 2009 Alex Award. It’s hard to believe reading this that “Mudbound” is Jordan’s first novel. It skillfully weaves an interesting story, told from several different points of view. From the very first chapter, we realize something bad has happened — the not-so-accidental death of the father-in-law of a married couple. The [...]
Marilyn Weymouth Seguin of Cuyahoga Falls has published her 14th book, No Ordinary Lives: Four 19th century teenage diaries. According to information provided by Seguin, the diaries in this collection include the writings of four young people between the ages of 12 and 20—a boy growing up on a lake in Maine, a sea captain’s [...]
City of Thieves, by David Benioff. 2009 Alex Award. An interesting read, especially for those who like World War II topics and historical fiction, but it is NOT for the weak of stomach. 17-year-old Lev is arrested and imprisoned after he and his friends discover the dead body of a paratrooper and take things off [...]
Jerk, California, by Jonathan Friesen. 2009 Schneider Family Book Award. When Sam, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, graduates from high school, he also closes a painful chapter in his life, although he doesn’t realize it at first. Same grew up, hating himself for his condition, hated by his stepfather and taunted in school. Sam is most [...]
Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson. 2009 ALSC Noteable Children’s Book Award. Another great work of historical fiction, this one taking place right before and during the Revolutionary War. Isabel, after her former mistress dies, looks forward to being freed. However, through some shady dealing, Isabel and her younger sister Ruth are sold to cruel owners. [...]