Monthly Archives: January 2016

New YA Fiction – A Matter of Heart; The Fill-In Boyfriend; Finding Audrey

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heart

Dominy, Amy Fellner. A Matter of Heart. New York: Delacorte, 2015. 978-0-385-74443-0. 306 p. $17.99. Gr. 8-12.

Abby has only ever had one goal – to swim (and win) in the Olympics.  Now 16, her dream seems within reach.  If she can pull off a personal best in the state championships, she might just qualify for the Olympic Trials.  Her life revolves around swimming, her best friend and her boyfriend are both on the team, her part-time job is teaching swimming lessons, and she always seems to be on her way to a meet or a practice.  After experiencing a dizzy spell at a swim meet, Abby goes in for a checkup and is shocked to be  diagnosed with a mild form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).  Abby is told that in order to live with the condition, she will have to take beta-blockers.  The problem is, the medication will result in slower swim times, but she could have fatal consequences without the medication.  Faced with this choice, Abby is forced to decide if her swimming dream is worth the risk.  Throw into the mix pressure from family (her mom wants her to quit swimming; her dad, a former swimmer, wants her to continue), and the
 breakup of her relationship with her boyfriend, and it’s not surprising Abby makes some mistakes along in her journey.  THOUGHTS: A Matter of Heart is not just a sports novel (or a “teen diagnosed with an illness” novel, either).  It is the story of a teen who  must discover who she really is when how she has always defined herself is suddenly torn away.  Fans of contemporary realistic fiction will find this a solid read.

Realistic Fiction    Elizabeth  Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg HS/MS

 

 

fillinboyfriend

West, Kasie. The Fill-In Boyfriend. New York: HarperTeen, 2015. 978-0-06-2233638-5. 344p. $9.99. Gr. 7-12.

Gia’s got a problem; her long distance boyfriend Bradley just dumped her in the parking lot outside the prom.  What’s a girl to do?  To a social status conscious girl like Gia, entering the prom alone isn’t an option.  Especially since she knows that Jules, the new girl who is battling Gia for the top spot in their group of friends, is sure to humiliate her.  So when Gia spots a unknown guy sitting in his car in the parking lot she pleads with him to be her fake date for the evening.  Amazingly, the guy (Hayden) agrees to impersonate her boyfriend, and they pull off the ruse.  What was supposed to be a one time favor soon turns into more as a series of events bring Gia and Hayden back into each other’s orbit, and they begin to develop feelings for one another.  The situation surrounding their relationship, as well as some other outside influences, cause Gia to re-think her preoccupation with social status and popularity.  THOUGHTS: Readers who are able to suspend their disbelief in order to accept how Gia and Hayden meet will find an enjoyable romantic read that also imparts some truths about the preoccupation teens have with social status.  Hand to your romance/chick lit fans.  

Realistic Fiction; Romance     Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg HS/MS

 

 

findingaudrey

Kinsella, Sophie. Finding Audrey. New York: Delacorte Press, 2015. 978-0-553-53631-6. 304p. $18.99. Gr. 7 & up.

The author of the Shopaholic series makes her YA debut with this story about a girl who suffers debilitating anxiety.  An incident involving some girls at school leaves Audrey so traumatized that she constantly wears dark glasses and never leaves the house.  She’s making progress with the help of a therapist, but she still panics when confronted by someone outside her family, such as her brother’s friend Linus.  Linus won’t give up, though, even after Audrey freezes the first time he visits her house.  First he sends her adorable notes; then he gently initiates conversations from across the room.  Audrey eventually works up the courage to ask Linus to be interviewed for her therapist’s “homework” which is a documentary about her family.  As Linus and Audrey grow closer, Audrey gathers the courage to start taking on more stressful assignments, such as trips to Starbucks and the park.  Audrey is an endearing, funny character, and the reader will cheer for her to pull through, however slowly that might be.  THOUGHTS:  You never find out what exactly happened at school to trigger Audrey’s anxiety, but that’s not really important.  Readers find out what sufferers of chronic anxiety experience through this realistic novel.  I recommend this for any high school collection, especially where Kinsella’s other novels are widely read.

Realistic Fiction        Kristen Rowe, Plum Senior High School

 

 

Radioactive! – New MS/HS Nonfiction

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Conkling_Radioactive_jkt_REVMech.indd

Conkling, Winifred.  Radioactive!  How Irene Curie & Lise Meitner Revolutionized Science and Changed the World.  Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Young Readers, 2016.  978-1-61620-415-0. 227 p. $17.95.  Grades 7+.

Radioactive! is a dual biography of two women, Irene Curie-Joliot and Lise Meitner, who were pioneers in the field of nuclear physics.  Irene Curie was the daughter of  famous parents, Marie and Pierre Curie.  While the elder Curies were known for their pioneering work on naturally radioactive elements, Irene and her husband, Frederic Joliot, discovered artificial radioactivity (i.e., that a stable element could be bombarded by radioactive particles to form new radioactive elements).  Irene and Frederic Joliot-Curie’s work led to a deeper understanding of the atom, and Lise Meitner relied on this understanding to discover nuclear fission.  

Radioactive! goes beyond scientific theory to look at Curie-Joliot’s and Meitner’s life circumstances.  The fact that both women lived in the early 20th century kept the world from realizing the breadth of their achievements.  For example, Irene and Frederic Curie-Joliot won the Nobel Prize in Physics, but Irene was never allowed to join the French Academy of Science.  Meitner  faced an even greater challenge as an Austrian of Jewish ancestry working in Germany during World War II.  Ultimately, Hitler’s policies forced her to flee Germany with little notice (even though she was a practicing Christian).  She left her lab and experiments behind.  Her male colleagues thought nothing of taking credit for her work.

THOUGHTS: Radioactive! is, first and foremost, a biography about two very interesting women.  Some basic background is given into the science of nuclear physics, but readers looking for a scientific volume may be disappointed.  This book is an essential purchase, however, for any school looking to promote awareness of women in science.

At first, this book seems to comprise two discrete biographies about women researchers in the field of nuclear physics.  However, Curie-Joliot and Meitner’s lives, although separate and geographically distant, intersected on many occasions.  The two women experienced many of the same triumphs and frustrations.  Both were painfully aware that science and politics are entangled, and both were horrified that their discoveries were used to create one of the most deadly weapons known to mankind (the atomic bomb).  Winifred Conkling’s writing style is conversational, which made this a quick read.  Radioactive! was also well-researched; there are a number of primary source documents, informative charts, a time line, and a who’s who of famous scientists in the field of nuclear physics.  This was a thoroughly enjoyable book.

539.7- Nuclear Physics          Susan Fox, Washington Jr./Sr. High School

New Middle School Stand-alone Fiction

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chickens

Jones, Kelly. Illustrated by Katie Kath. Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer.  New York: Knopf, 2015. 978-0-385-75552-8. 216 p. $16.99 Gr. 3-6.

Moving from the city to her late-great-uncle’s house has changed 12-year-old Sophie Brown’s life. She finds a flyer in the barn from a farm supply catalog and writes them  letters. The novel is told through letters, lists, full page illustrations, newspaper clippings, broken typewriter like telegraph messages and even a comic and recipe.  Will Sophie and her family adjust to a new lifestyle? The novel can serve as a bridge to chapter novels for younger readers.  Thoughts: Moving presents a challenge to many students as Sophie learns to embrace her new situation demonstrating to readers that not all changes are terrible.

Realistic Fiction   Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

afterdark

Leck, James. After Dark. Toronto, ON: KCP Fiction, 2015. 97801-77138-1109. 252 p. $16.95 Gr. 5-8.

Charlie’s school year at a posh and private school ends differently than in the past. Instead of oversleeping and embracing a lazy summer, his summer shifts into restoring an old inn with his mother, sister, and movie star brother that will also serve as their home. All of a sudden Charlie notices that locals are becoming oddly sick and present with sunglasses. As much as he wishes to disregard beliefs from Mile Van Helsing, the local “conspiracy crackpot,” Charlie finds truth in the thoughts that either an unexplained epidemic or hybrid mashups of zombies and vampires will completely overtake the town. Will Charlie be able to help the town or will he succumb to the mystery?  Thoughts: Like Paolo Bacigalupi’s Zombie Baseball Beatdown readers are presented with a terrifying mystery that has ramifications beyond fear.

Supernatural; Mystery     Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

 

answers

Messner, Kate. All the Answers. New York: Bloomsbury, 2015. $16.99 978-1-61963-374-2.  248 p. Gr. 5-8.

In need of a pencil, Ava finds a basic blue pencil in the junk drawer at home. Normally, Ava struggles with test anxiety, but she notices when she takes her math test that the pencil can answer the questions. Ava later learns that the pencil will address fact based questions, and she shares this with her best friend Sophie.  The questions go beyond school questions and move onto crush questions and topics related to family members. Why is it that her mother calls her own father by his first name? In All the Answers, Ava learns that a magical pencil is not the way to find every answer. Ava learns more about friendship, family, love and trust, while discovering information about the pencil that she never dreamed to be possible. With a little bit of magic and a lot of heart, readers will connect to Ava and  her parents of opposite political belief, her academic goal setting brother, her sister who changes her name on a name tag since there are some many Emma’s in her classroom, her grandmother ready to pray for all in need, and her best friend with a zest for shopping, fashion and latest trends. Thoughts: With the increase use of technology and even lead pencils, students tend not to use a traditional wooden pencil outside of state testing exam. The book allows readers to ponder what they would do if they found a pencil with the qualities from the story.

Realistic Fiction; Magic    Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

 

henryhubble

Myer, Andy. Henry Hubble’s Book of Troubles.  New York: Delacorte, 2015. 978-0-385-744393. $15.99. 151 p.  Gr. 5-8.

Henry Harrison Hubble writes an old fashion journal and adds his clever cartooning skills, poetry and photography to the entries.  He has plenty to reflect upon from his days at Orville Crumb Middle School.  The journal entries range from missing the whale on their school field trip to trick-or-treating mishaps, getting sick at school, a misguided science presentation, and dancing difficulties. This book has humor and a fast pace to encourage the most reluctant of all readers to take delight in reading. Thoughts: Having students learn more about their family history can tie into this novel as Henry is named after President Harrison. Another topic could be  family heirlooms as Henry’s sure is unique.  Another topic of discussion can be social media awareness. At the end of the novel we learn that his journal was stolen and posted online for all to view leading to unwanted situations. A conversation about uses of social media can be linked to meaningful discussions.

Realistic Fiction   Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

 

Upper Elementary/MS Series Fiction – Curious Cat Spy Club; The Quirks; Dance Divas

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curiouscat

Singleton, Linda Joy. The Curious Cat Spy Club. Chicago: Albert Whitman, 2015. 978-0-8075-13767. 245 p. $14.99. Gr. 3-6.

Becca lives at the Wild Oaks Animal Sanctuary and has a group of friends known as Sparklers. When Becca is chasing their zorse, Kelsey helps to stop the creature from fleeing by sharing her father’s homemade cookies. Becca is grateful for her help and makes sure that her mother calls Kelsey’s parents so they understand why the cookies did not make it to the Veteran’s Hall.  It is the unlikely sound of cats in a dumpster that ties the crew of Kelsey, Becca and then Leo, an aloof boy from their class that loves robots, together. It seems that too many pets are missing. Their club meets in secret at the Skunk Shack. Their friendship will be challenged and also grow as the mystery becomes more intense. Thoughts: This book is the perfect start to a series for upper elementary and middle school readers in need of a detective story that is not overly scary.

Realistic Fiction; Mystery   Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

 

 

quirks

Soderberg, Erin. The Quirks and the Quirkalicious Birthday. New York: Bloomsbury, 2015. 978-1-61963-370-4. 199 p. $13.99. Gr. 3-6.

Join the next installment in the series as the twins prepare for their tenth birthday. For the first time, they will have a party and can each invite ten guests since they have been living in Normal, Michigan, for a few weeks. Who will they invite and how will they agree on the location and special events for the party? In their quest to solve the Quikalicius Birthday Hunt from their grandfather, the two will learn how to work together and  when to tell  a joke.  In a way, the series reminds you of Savvy by Ingrid Law as most of the family members have certain powers. Full page and smaller black and white illustrations advance the narrative. Thoughts: With a family and mixed special abilities, I think of this book as a perfect read for students who have older sibling devouring Ingrid Law’s Savvy. With powerful abilities, students could also relate the characters to various comic book characters.

Realistic Fiction       Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

 

 

dancedivas

Berk, Sheryl. Dance Divas: Showstopper. New York: Bloomsbury, 2015. 127 p. 978-1-61963-575-3. $15.99. Gr. 3-6.

Enter the sixth novel in the series as Miss Toni decided that the dancers will have time off during the week of President’s Day. While used to having the finest costumes available, this time the dancers will have to make their own costumes based upon the card they select. Gracie selected the joker card and has difficulty narrowing down her costume. To fuel her dream, Anya and her mother live thousands of miles away from her father and brother. Rochelle and her family invited them over for Christmas, but it  wasn’t the same. They are preparing for the dance competition in Las Vegas. Anya and her mother fly out to LAX and learn that her brother passed his driver’s test. During her week, the teacher is practicing merging ballet and hip-hop. At what could be her last performance in Las Vegas with her dance troupe, she learns that her brother was seriously injured when driving. What will happen next? Thoughts: While a sixth in the series, I think a student could read the books in any order and take delight reading the books.

Realistic Fiction    Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Middle School Nonfiction – Scientists in Action (series); Child Soldier (NF GN)

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robotbuilder

Scientists in Action! (series). Broomall, PA: Mason Crest, 2016. 48 p. $20.95. each. Gr. 5-8.

Cassriel, Betsy R. Robot Builders! 978-1-4222-3426-6.

Kelley, K.C. Astronauts! 978-1-4222-3418-1.

Bailey, Diane. Biomedical engineers! 978-1-42223-420-4.

Glenn, John. Civil engineers! 978-1-42223-421-1.

Kelley, K.C. Marine biologists! 978-1-42223-425-9.

Rich, Mari. Big-animal vets! 978-1-42223-419-8; Cyper spy hunters! 978-1-42223-424-2,

Sutinis, Beth. Crime scene techs! 978-1-42223-423-5.

Thompson, Clifford. Archaeologists! 978-1-42223-417-4; Climatologists. 978-1-42223-422-8.

Icons draw attention to vocabulary, research projects and text-dependent questions in this new series from Mason Crest. Text is supported with catchy headings and colorful images. Just as Star Wars inspired scientist Dr. Dennis Hong to learn about robots, this series exposes readers to careers that they may have yet to consider. Readers will learn that robots are able to help soldiers in battle, safely explore the ocean and also assist doctors with surgery. If students have a passion for space, they can learn what they can do so they are prepared to apply to become an astronaut or a scientist in the field while learning first hand experiences of space related scientists. A listing of books and websites to read and learn additional facts and a series glossary of key terms and an index conclude each book. Thoughts: The series presents the many opportunities found in science while inspiring the possibilities that students invision for their future.

Careers and Occupations; Science  Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

 

childsoldier

Humphreys, Jessica Dee and Michel Chikwanine. Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War. Illustrated by Claudia Davila. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2015. 978-1-77138-126-0.  48 p. $17.95 Gr. 5-8.

This SLJ star reviewed graphic novel is a harrowing nonfiction memoir that provides an overview of the Democratic Republic of Congo leading up to the story beginning in 1993. Children craft their own soccer balls of paper and plastic bags. During a soccer game, rebel militia arrive. Michel is hopeful that his father, a civil rights lawyer, won’t let the rebels succeed, but there is nothing that can be stopped at the time.  The kids are taken and later cut with a knife while the rebels place “brown brown” (gunpowder and cocaine mixture) in the wound. After being blindfolded, five year old Michel is ordered to kill his best friend. The book is powerful and the resources provide ways that children can make differences in the world.   THOUGHTS: Consider cataloging this book with the graphic novels. Students that enjoy graphic novels might not find the book in the 300’s and they might gain a great deal by reading this graphic novel. This book provides a story of growing up that may be unknown to students.

NF Graphic Novel; Children and War   Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

YA Fiction – Material Girls; Ink and Bone

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materialsgirls

Dimopoulos, Elaine. Material Girls. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015. 978-0-544-38850-5. 324 p. $17.99. Gr. 7-12.

Teens Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde live completely different lives, though both are very successful. Marla is a judge in the high fashion industry and helps approve or deny what trends will hit the streets. Ivy is a pop star, who helps set fashion trends by wearing these trends during her concerts and music videos. When Marla begins to disagree with some of her fellow judges, she finds that the cut throat fashion industry doesn’t need her anymore and is demoted to the lowly career as a drafter. It’s here that she finds a voice, and meets Ivy, who is also beginning to question the materialistic world her career has thrust her into. Together, this unlikely pair begins to unravel the controlling fashion industry. THOUGHTS: While lacking a bit in substance, this is a fun read for anyone with a modest interest in fashion, or in popular shows like Project Runway.

Realistic Fiction      Vicki Schwoebel, Friends’ Central School

 

inkandbone

Caine, Rachel. Ink and Bone: The Great Library. New York: NAL, 2015. 978-0-451-47239-7. 368 p. $17.99. Gr 8-12.

In an alternate history, the Great Library of Alexandria never burned, and is now the owner of all information, responsible for disseminating that content to the public. Since no one is allowed to own original books, Jess and his family are successful in the black market trade, as people will pay top dollar for originals. While Jess is immensely successful in his role as bookrunner, he is in constant fear of being caught, and so it is with great apprehension that he applies to be a Library scholar under his father’s orders. Once accepted, Jess begins to question the authority of the library as well as the role he plays in the family business, as he realizes no choice he has ever made has been of his own free will.  While no timeframe is given to the plot, Ink and Bone feels a bit like Victorian steampunk. THOUGHTS: Ink and Bone is a breath of fresh air in the dystopian and fantasy heavy world of YA. The ending also leaves readers hungry for the next book in the series, due for publication in July.

Steampunk     Vicki Schwoebel, Friends’ Central School

 

YA Nonfiction – Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom and Science, Technology, and Society (series)

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turning15

Lowery, Lynda Blackmon.  Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March.  New York: Dial Books, 2015.  978-0-8037-4123-2. 127p. $19.99.  Gr. 7-12.

Lynda Blackmon Lowery was the youngest marcher on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights.  In this book, she recounts this experience as well as other key events during the civil rights movement to which she was a witness, including speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., nonviolent sit-ins, and Bloody Sunday.  The text is broken up by both colorful  illustrations and black and white photographs from the time period.  The book also includes brief biographies of lesser known civil rights activists who lost their lives in the days before and after Bloody Sunday, as well as lyrics to a couple of freedom songs.  The author’s voice really comes out in the narrative, making the reader feel as though he or she is right there in the middle of the action.  THOUGHTS:A solid addition to any middle or high school history collection, this would be an outstanding choice for reluctant readers.  Not only is it a quick read, but it is very engaging and easy to follow.  Fans of Melba Patillo Beals’ Warriors Don’t Cry would also enjoy this title.

323.1196; Civil Rights Movement        Julie Ritter, Montoursville Area High School

 genetherapy

Science, Technology, and Society (series). San Diego, CA: ReferencePoint Press, 2016. 80 p. $160. Gr. 7-12.

Allen, John. How Gene Therapy is Changing Society. 978-1-60152-898-8.

Green, Robert. How Renewable Energy is Changing Society. 978-1-60152-904-6.

Henderson, Harry. How Mobile Devices are Changing Society.  978-1-60152-902-2.

Mooney, Carla. How the Internet is Changing Society. 978-1-60152-900-8.

Nardo, Don. How Robotics is Changing Society. 978-1-60152-906-0.

This series gives an overview of five modern technological tools/scientific methods and discusses how each has impacted our society.  Each title focuses on one technological or scientific advancement and provides information about its history, use in society today, potential downfalls of its use, and its future.  Timelines, source notes, and additional resources are provided in each book.  The text is broken up by color photographs, magazine and newspaper excerpts, charts, graphs, and highlighted vocabulary words and definitions.  THOUGHTS:  These easily accessible titles provide up-to-date information and statistics on 21st century science and technology topics and are therefore useful for students conducting research on these innovations.  However, they will probably not be appealing to students looking for a leisurely read on these topics.

300s; 600s; Science and Technology              Julie Ritter, Montoursville Area High School​

New for Middle School – All-American Boys and Roller Girl

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allamericanboys

Reynolds, Jason and Brendan Kiely. All-American Boys: A Novel. New York: Athenum Books for Young Readers, 2015. 978-14814-63331 316 p. $17.99 Grades 7-12.

Two young men attend the same high school but don’t really know each other or the depth of racism in their community until the Friday night they’re both near the same corner shop as they head to different parties.  A white woman trips over African-American Rashad, who is misunderstood by an on-duty police officer as assaulting the woman, stealing a bag of chips, then resisting arrest.  White “all-American” Quinn is a reluctant witness who flees the scene, then struggles to believe that police officer Paul Galluzzo, father figure to him since his own father died in Afghanistan, could be responsible, and indeed, wrong in his assessment.  Rashad is hospitalized, faces his father’s distrust and his brother’s anger at the event, and deals with physical pain and inner turmoil.  Internal bleeding keeps him hospitalized, and someone paints a message on the school steps that goes viral: “Rashad is absent again today.”  Few people know the full story, but a video shot on a cellphone shows the attack’s brutality.  Now Paul’s brother, and Quinn’s friend, must defend his brother, and the basketball team, cautioned by coach to “keep their emotions at the door, play on the floor,” functions as a reflection of the community around them, increasingly ready to erupt at any time.  As the days go on, the tension mounts and both Rashad and Quinn are in a no-win situation.  THOUGHTS: Well-written by two authors (Jason Reynolds voices Rashad, Brendan Kiely voices Quinn) and perfectly timed to launch much-needed discussions about racial profiling, police brutality, and racism in America, this works well with Kekla Magoon’s How It Went Down, a similar novel told from multiple points of view, where the “truth” comes down to point of view.  Highly recommended for middle and high school.  

Realistic Fiction          Melissa Scott, Shenango High School

 

 

rollergirl

Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015. 978-1-489-88662-0. $17.01. 239p. Gr. 4-8.

Astrid and Nicole have been best friends for a long time, so imagine the girls’ surprise when their extra-curricular activities diverge to follow new interests.  Astrid can’t fathom the idea.  Nicole is suddenly more interested in dance camp and friendlier with Rachel, Astrid’s archenemy.  Though she’s not willing to be completely honest with her mother, Astrid beings roller derby camp and attempts to make new friends.  With inspirational notes from roller derby’s top skater, Rainbow Bite, Astrid strives to follow her roll model and become a jammer.  What she doesn’t realize is that this will be the most rigorous summer of her life, both physically and emotionally.  When her lies come to a thrilling pinnacle, she’s shocked to discover Nicole would still cover for her.  Jamieson’s clever illustrations mirror Astrid’s emotions, from the war face with the red background and bloodshot eyes to her vision of what could happen at the roller derby, everything from doing fine to falling into a black hole.  Readers will relate to Astrid’s struggle with honesty and friendship as well as the anxiety that permeates the teen years.  THOUGHTS: A compelling story about friendship, honest, and growing up as Astrid realizes you can follow your dreams and still have a best friend if you’re candid and genuine.

Graphic Novel           Christine Massey, JWP Middle School

 

Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015.             978-1-489-88662-0. 240 p. $17.89. Gr. 4-8.

Astrid’s mom loves to take her daughter and best friend Nicole for “Evenings of Cultural Enlightenment.” Imagine her surprise when Mom takes them to a roller derby match! Astrid immediately falls in love with the fast pace and action of roller derby and decides to go to junior roller derby camp with best friend Nicole.  That is until Nicole admits that she’d rather go to ballet camp along with Astrid’s enemy, Rachel. As the summer progresses and Astrid and Nicole pursue separate interests, their friendship also starts to come apart. Astrid quickly realizes that roller derby is much tougher than she expected and so is dealing with a changing friendship. She eventually finds happiness with the outcomes of both, but it’s a bumpy road for derby girl “Asteroid.” THOUGHTS: Jamieson’s authentic voice and quirky sense of humor ring true in dialogue and illustrations in this fantastic middle grade graphic novel. Sure to be a hit.

Jamieson’s debut graphic novel will leave kids begging for more. I had a fifth grade boy thank me for recommending it to him…and it’s largely a story about female characters, which I find is often an unlikely hit with boys. The story is so fresh and classic at the same time, and Jamieson’s artwork is just perfect. Readers really know Astrid and her world by the end of the book. One word of caution: there are a few mild swear words. Read it, relish it, recommend it.

741.5; Graphic Novel                Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

New Picture Books – How to Grow a Friend; Over in the Wetlands

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growfriend

Gillingham, Sara. How to Grow a Friend. New York: Random House, 2015. 978-0-385-37669-3. 32 p. $16.99. Gr. PreK-2.

A simple, sweet story that compares growing a plant with building a friendship. Friendships, along with plants, need “water…warm sunshine…and space to bloom.” Some steps are difficult, like when “…a friend bugs you…To grow a friend, chase the bugs away together!” The story reminds readers that new friends can appear at unexpected times “…and there is always room for one more.” Young readers will enjoy Gillingham’s illustrations which are colorful and full of patterns that create visual interest. THOUGHTS: A solid choice for preschool and early elementary readers on a universal topic.

Easy Fiction; Picture Book           Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

 

 

wetlands

Rose, Caroline Starr. Over in the Wetlands: A Hurricane-on-the-Bayou Story. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2015. 978-0-449-81016-3. 34 p. $17.00. Gr. K-3.

The animals who call the Louisiana wetlands home are preparing for a hurricane. “Gentle as a whisper too soft to hear, a faint breeze hints that a storm draws near.” An alligator mother carries her babies to safety in their den and bird fish for a last meal before the storm. Rose’s lovely rhyming text builds the storm from beginning to peak to end and showcases how wetlands animals survive the storm. Fish and turtles find deeper water, egrets hide in cattails, and the storm rages. Finally, “…winds ease to gentle breaths. The hurricane yawns, the hurricane rests.” Storm’s end finds the wetlands landscape changed with downed live oaks, and the animals slowly resume normal life. Endpapers include an author’s note on the wetlands environment and notes on the animals featured in the story. THOUGHTS: This story portrays a major event from a unique perspective and will have students asking questions.

Rose’s rhyming text works extremely well for this story. She does not follow the same rhyme scheme or pattern from page to page so the rhyming doesn’t feel childlike or primary in nature. Rob Dunlavey’s mixed media illustrations feel are and earthy, perfect for a story about animals on the bayou. This is a great choice for schools (even in Pennsylvania, far off from the bayou).

Easy Fiction; Picture Book            Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

 

YA Nonfiction – Human Rights; Thinking Critically series; Wild at Heart

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humanrights

Russett, Bruce.  Human Rights and Protecting Individuals (The United Nations Leadership and Challenges in a Global World series).  Philadelphia: Mason Crest, 2016.  978-1-4222-3437-2. $22.99. 89p. Grades 7+.

This Mason Crest series, The United Nations Leadership and Challenges in a Global World Series, is fantastic for teaching research skills, ways to synthesize information, and citation skills.  This particular book, Human Rights and Protecting Individuals, in the series looks at the UN’s role in Human Rights and their System, explaining the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as international laws and the United Nations in action on human rights issues.  Each table of contents page in the series has “Key Icons To Look For” which provides readers with icons to help with vocabulary, further readings for research, text-dependent questions as well as glossary terms.  There is an abundance of photographs and text boxes so students are not overwhelmed by the book and the content.  THOUGHTS: Human Rights and Protecting Individuals – The United Nations Leadership and Challenges in a Global World series found the perfect way to take a complex and often difficult to understand topic and made it accessible to middle school students as well as struggling high school students.  

341.48       Laura Ward, Fox Chapel Area High School

cyberbullying

Thinking Critically series. San Diego: Reference Point Press, 2016. $29.00. 80p. Gr. 9 and up.

Currie, Stephen.  Cyberbullying. 978-1-60152-820-9.

Cyberbullying is becoming more and more of an issue at younger ages.  The Thinking Critically series takes a look at this sensitive topic and addresses whether it is more harmful than traditional bullying.  It also takes on the topics of a school’s involvement when the bullying takes place off campus.  This is an easily accessible book complete with source notes, cyberbullying facts, related organizations, websites and ideas for further research on this serious topic.  

massshootings

Nakaya, Andrea.  Mass Shootings.  978-1-60152-822-3.  

Mass Shootings are a hot-button issue in the world right now.  The Thinking Critically series takes a closer look at how serious of an issue this is as well as how strict the government should be in hopes of reducing mass shootings in America.  This book also explores violent video games as a cause of mass shootings.  As with all of the titles in the Thinking Critically series, this is an easily accessible book complete with source notes, cyberbullying facts, related organizations, websites and ideas for further research on this serious topic.

biofuels

Dudley, William.  Biofuels. 978-1-60152-816-2.

Biofuels is yet another hotly contested topic from the US Government support of ethanol production to how essential are biofuels to national security.  As with any environmental topic, this series takes a close look at both sides of how biofuels affect greenhouse gas emissions and if biofuels really threaten global food production. As with all of the titles in the Thinking Critically series, this is an easily accessible book complete with source notes, biofuel facts, related organizations, websites and ideas for further research on this serious topic.   

 

Thoughts: All three new titles in the Thinking Critically series from Reference Point Press are great resources for refining research skills.  The text boxes, graphs and illustrations will help students synthesize relevant information for use in their research projects.

302.34; 364.152; 662.88             Laura Ward, Fox Chapel Area High School

 

 

wildatheart

Farley, Terry, and Melissa Farlow. Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to Save Them. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015. 978-0-544-39294-6. 196 pp. $19.99. Grades 6 and up.

Almost any casual library browser will be drawn to Wild at Heart‘s beautiful cover and the many striking images included inside the book. These photographs alone will entice readers to enter the intriguing world of wild mustangs, and the fascinating story will hold their interest throughout thanks to the way Terry Farley has expertly structured this piece of nonfiction to both entertain and educate. She opens with the story of Velma Johnson, a.k.a. “Wild Horse Annie,” and her heroic early advocacy for wild horses. She then covers how wild horses live, including their family structure and battles for dominance, before moving into the grim situation these iconic animals currently face. Readers will be shocked to learn that when mustang bands outgrow their population limits (as set by the Bureau of Land Management), they are subjected to “gathers” and sold by the pound to slaughterhouses. Though these horrifying scenes are depicted in an age-appropriate manner, the closing chapter on young people fighting to save wild horses is (thankfully) uplifting as well as enlightening. Excerpts of this carefully documented work will be applicable to units on biodiversity, conservation, political advocacy, and youth activism. THOUGHTS:Wild at Heart is a worthy addition to all libraries, middle school on up, and will be a special favorite among animal lovers of all ages.

599.6; Wild Horses          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley High School