Smith, Tamara Ellis. Another Kind of Hurricane. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2015. 978-0-553-51193-2. $16.99. 326p. Gr. 4-7.
Henry and Zavion both know misery and despair. While Henry mourns the death of his best friend, Zavion grieves the destruction of his house, demolished by Hurricane Katrina. But fate, or magic, unite them in an unlikely series of events. Henry travels to New Orleans with Jack in search of his marble, lost in a pocket of jeans his mom donated to the hurricane victims. He and Wayne used to pass the marble back and forth for luck, and it’s the last connection he has to his friend. While searching through donation boxes, he meets Zavion, who returned to pay a debt and find some absolution. Told in alternating chapters, interspersed by other characters, the boys tell their story, one of torment, desolation, dreams, and of an enchanting magic. Only the magic of a marble, the attachment that creates a bond of friendship strong enough for both boys, could allow each to find healing. THOUGHTS: While the boys are very different, they both have the “same sad blue thing” and “the same scared gray thing” that only a friendship supported by a loving family can help them overcome.
Historical Fiction Christine Massey, JWP Middle School
Pearce, Jackson. The Double Cross: And Other Skills I Learned as a Superspy. New York: Bloomsbury, 2015. 978-161963-4145 291 p. $ 16.99 Grades 5-8.
Hale Jordan is destined to be a spy. His parents are “The Team” working for SRS (Sub Rosa Society) and have been on more successful and secret missions than anyone. No matter that Hale is twelve and younger sister Kennedy is just nine years old, both are committed to passing the junior officer training and becoming spies. Hale has the brains, but his body is holding him back: extra weight makes him slower, earning hurtful “Hale the Whale” nicknames, even from former best friend Walter, who has recently gained big muscles and a big head. When his parents leave for another mission, Hale heard them call it “Groundcover”, they disappear. Hale believes SRS is doing little to aid their safety or return, so he sneaks out of SRS and into headquarters of arch-enemy The League.
The message of “Villians don’t always look like villains” (and heroes don’t always look like heroes) is nicely shown, not told, in a variety of ways as Hale discovers SRS are not “the good guys” and The League are not “the bad guys” and individuals in both agencies can play many roles, especially if they’re trained as spies. Hale routinely does the right thing and is ready to risk himself for his parents, sister, and even forgive his friend Walter. His sense of humor is refreshing and the highlight of the book. The action and the double-crossing surprises keep readers guessing, and while not everything is perfect by the end (Hale’s parents are alive but believe it is too dangerous to return), Hale is part of a new team of former SRS and League upstarts who are ready to (try to) take on evil. Expect sequels. THOUGHTS: This story rocks the underdog motif with a clever and extremely likeable main character and supporting cast. The action (and at times humor) slows a bit in the middle and again at the end, making the story drag, but it is a story worth promoting and enjoying. Fun AND smart equals a great combination.
Adventure; Humor Melissa Scott, Shenango High School