Larson, M.A.. Pennyroyal Academy. New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 2014. 978-0-399-16324-1. 314p. $16.99. Gr. 4-8.
A fantastic leap for readers who enjoy fairytales, magic and adventure. The author has created a fantastic world that combines a variety of fairytales and a school for princesses and knights where they must learn to fight witches and slay dragons. The princess to be must complete their training and must conquer their own fears and dilemmas on the way. It is an entertaining read for leisure reading and will delight those readers that still love princess stories and the classic fairy tales with a new twist. The dialogue flows and there is adventure and action. The princess characters are depicted as strong warriors to be, not the typical princess character which is a dynamic difference for readers.
Fiction: Fantasy Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary
Nordling, Lee. Bird Cat Dog. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe, 2014. 978-1-4677-4522-2. 32p. $125.99. Gr. K-3.
Told in panels, three separate stories develop depending on the perspective of the bird, the cat or the dog. All three of the characters interact with each other in their own panels and create a bridge between stories. The bright colors and engaging graphics encourage readers to move forward. Wordless, it is an excellent creative writing experiment to allow students to develop their own characterization and dialogue. Each character gets to ne the “hero” of their story in their own way. A dynamic and fun book that has potential to be used in unlimited ways.
Fiction: Graphic Novel Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary
Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes and the Kiss Goodbye. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. 978-0-3758-87055-2. 236p. $16.99. Gr.5. In this powerful final chapter of the 18 book series, Sammy lies in the hospital after being pushed from a third story fire escape. Wendelin answers many long pondered questions…who is the Nightie Napper? What is the real story with her absentee mom and newly discovered dad? What happens to her friends, her enemies? And most importantly: Who would try to kill Sammy? As Officer Borsch and Sammy’s friends try to figure it out, we find out what an impact this spirited gumshoe has had on the entire community.
Mystery Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary
Hills, Tad. Drop It, Rocket! New York: Schwartz and Wade Books, 2014. 978-0-385-37248-0. $12.99. Gr. PK-1.
For every parent, teacher and child who loved How Rocket Learned to Read and Rocket Writes a Story, get ready to shout “Hooray!” Rocket returns in this beginning reader that will have early readers building their confidence with the great repetition and of course the adorable Rocket and his friends. This time, Rocket is finding items for the new word tree. As he brings them to the yellow bird, she tells him to “Drop it, Rocket!” Until he finds an item that is just too good to let go… This adorable addition to the Rocket books will delight young readers. Here’s hoping that there are lots more to come!
Beginning Reader/Animals Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy
Blakemore, Megan Frazer. The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill. New York: Bloomsbury, 2014. 978-1-61963-348-3. 310p, Gr. 3-6.
Twelve year old Hazel Kaplansky isn’t fitting in. Her best friend Becky has moved away, her music teacher continues to give her the triangle instead of the glamorous glockenspiel, and now a new boy has joined their class and he is smarter than her! Maple Hill is a quiet town, but mysteries are everywhere. Hazel spends lots of time alone and has a great imagination. As a result, she observes some events that she feels are just not right. Senator McCarthy is questioning union members at the local factory who are suspected to be Communists. She suspects the new gravedigger of being a communist spy as well. As Hazel watches and takes notes in her journal strange things begin to happen. When she befriends the new boy, Samuel, he tries to get her to see that some of these strange events may just be innocent after all. But Samuel himself is a bit of a mystery .
Hazel and Samuel’s quirky personalities will resonate with any child who has ever felt as though they don’t fit in. She worries about world events, as well as the Russians bombing their town (a real fear in that time period). Readers will learn about the Cold War era and the time after the war, when people tried to get back to living their lives in the midst of the losses of the war, fear and suspicion.
Mystery Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy
Macauley, Jo. Inferno (Secrets and Spies Book #3), North Mankato, 2014. 978-1-4342-9595-8. 220 p. Gr 4+.
In this third book of the series, young Beth Johnson, a rising star in the London theater continues to spy for the infamous Alan Strange. The young spy and her friends are to report any suspicious behavior and protect the king at all costs. When a friend’s sister is kidnapped, the evil Groby returns and tells John, a fellow spy, that he will not see his sister again unless he helps to kill the king. Beth, John and their friend Ralph must find the young girl, trick the villains into believing that they are going along with the plot against the king, and avoid a fire that is now raging through London.
These books are well written, action packed and very believable. Readers will love the action, suspense and quick thinking of this cast of characters, all while learning about London during that time. A great series to hook those reluctant readers!
Mystery/Historical Fiction Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy
Klimo, Kate. Dog Diaries: Dash (Dog Diaries series). 978-0385373388. New York: Random House, 2014. $6.99. 150p. Gr. 2+.
Klimo brings us another delightful story, told by the dog in the title of actual events in history. Dash was aboard the Mayflower and brings the experience home to young readers. Klimo’s stories fill the reader with the story with the sounds, smells, senses and emotions of the period in history the book describes, while building empathy for the animal, reminiscent of Black Beauty. In the back of each volume is an appendix with actual photographs pertaining to the story, in this case more in depth information about the English Springer Spaniel. As soon as new Dog Diaries and Horse Diaries volumes are released I buy them and my eager readers snap them up.
Historical Fiction, Dogs Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Palacio, RJ. 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts. 978-0553499049. New York: Random House, 2014. $14.99. 432p. Gr. 5+.
For all your readers who loved Wonder, RJ Palacio has assembled this wonderful book of precepts – words to live by. Ostensibly by Mr. Browne, Auggie’s favorite teacher, this book has a nugget a day – from everyone from the Dalai Lama to John Lennon and over 100 fans of the book who sent in their own inspiring words, some with illustrations. We hear from Mr. Browne and other favorite Wonder characters in brief passages that precede each month. This would be a fun companion book for a literature circle and discussion group. Recommended for all those who treasured Wonder and want that feeling to linger.
Realistic Fiction Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Lloyd, Natalie. A Snicker of Magic. Scholastic, Inc. 2014. 9780545552707. 320 pages. $16.99. Ages 8-12.
Felicity is able to see words! And she sees them everywhere, especially around the people she knows. She writes these words down in a journal so that she always has them. When her ‘wandering’ mother finally decides to head back to her hometown of Midnight Gulch, Felicity’s words begin to provide the hope that she has longed for, a home of her own. She finds out that Midnight Gulch use to have a magical history and is hoping that with her new friends, she is able to bring that magic back to life and that her mother will find the happiness she once had.
Fiction Krista Goodzinski, Mars Area Centennial School