silent to the bone by E. L. Konigsburg

When Branwell's half-sister Nikki is rushed to the ER with head injuries, he stops speaking. It is up to his friend Connor, with the help of his half-sister Margaret Rose*, to find out what happened and clear Branwell's name. An engrossing mystery that you don't want to put down.

Highly Recommended

*from The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place

the first part last by Angela Johnson

A beautiful, sad, very real story of a teenage father starting to raise his daughter as a single father.

Winner of the Printz Award

Highly recommended

Feed by M. T. Anderson

Imagine a future where part of your brain is a connection to tv, radio, and the internet. Then imagine that everything is controlled by corporations, including School tm.

This is the future that Titus lives in and he can't imagine anything else, until he meets Violet. Their relationship causes him to question everything.

Highly recommended

Hilarious line: "It has to be understood that when the President referred to the Prime Minister of the Global Alliance as a 'big shithead,' what he was trying to convey was, uh- this is an American idiom used to praise people, by referring to the sheer fertilizing power of their thoughts."

Fat Kid Rules The World by K. L. Going

When fat kid Troy is saved from committing suicide by homeless, punk-rock legend, Curt McCrae, their journey to form a band changes both their lives in surprising ways.

Wonderful characters, wonderful writing

Highly recommended

echo by Francesca Lia Block

Echo is jealous that her mother is perfect AND has the complete attention and adoration of her father. This is her story told in chapters that have different viewpoints, including herself and her parents.

I found the story very confusing and the loose ends unsatisfying.

Wasteland by Francesca Lia Block

A brother and sister's love for each other has tragic consequences. Set in LA in the 70s.

Recommended

The Rose and the Beast: fairy tales retold by Francesca Lia Block

Short retallings of classic fairy tales with a LA twist. Very dark.

Recommended

The Grand Tour, or the purloined coronation regalia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

The second installment in the story of cousins Kate and Cecelia. Now they are on their honeymoons , together, touring the Continent and getting into magical adventures.

Highly recommended

Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler

Mara Valentine is an overacheiving high school senior. Her one-year younger niece, V, is a wild child with a penchant for drama thanks to her flighty mother. When V moves in with Mara and her parents, both Mara and V are forced to examine their lives and end up becoming closer than they ever thought possible.

Highly Recommended

Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation by Olivia Judson

A wonderfully accessible look at the sexual practices of all manner of organisms, including humans. Written in advice column format.

Highly Recommended

Sorcery & Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer

This is a wonderful book that started out as a letter game between the authors. It takes place in an alternate universe of Regency England where magic exists. Two cousins, one making her debut in the London Season and the other having to stay home until next year, correspond and end up helping each other find love and solve a magical problem.

Highly Recommended

The Butler Did It by Kasey Michaels

A hilarious Regency romance

Recommended

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

An unsuprising expose of the fast food industry, from the restaurants themselves to the farms and factories that provide the food they use.

Highly Recommended

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

When Christopher, a fifteen year-old autistic boy, discovers his neighbors dog killed on the lawn he sets out to investigate it. This book is his written record. Bittersweet and very moving.

Highly Recommended

The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot

A story about mistaken identities, attempted murder and finding love in NYC told through e-mails, voice mails and other communications.

Highly Recommended

Journal of Mortifying Moments by Robyn Harding

A young career woman embarks on a hilarious journey of self discovery when her therapists has her write down all her embarassing moments with men.

Highly recommended

Bare: on women, dancing, sex, & power by Elisabeth Eaves

The author examines the stripping industry from within through her own experiences and those of her co-workers.

Highly Recommended

Confessions of a Back-up Dancer by Tucker Shaw

A fun, well-written romp through the fictional lives of a teenager who gets to be a back-up dancer to a famous pop diva.

Highly Recommended

The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson

Three teenage sisters deal with the death of their father a year later. Very moving and well-written, plus they are Orioles fans.

Highly Recommended

The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh

The sequel to Harriet the Spy. Harriet and her friend Beth Ellen become embroiled in a mystery while on vacation.

Recommended

Various DaVinci Code explanation books:

DaVinci Code Decoded by Martin Lunn
DaVinci Deception by Erwin W. Lutzer
Cracking Da Vinci's Code by James L. Garlow and Peter Jones

Very interesting and all biased in their own ways

Going Topless by Megan McAndrew

At first glance it's just another chick lit novel but it turned out to have a bit of substance and plot.

Nickled and Dimed: on not getting by in America by Barbara Ereinreich

A pretty quick read of the author's experiences trying to make a living in three different cities working two low wage jobs.

recommended

Catholic Girls edited by Amber Coverdale Sumrall and Patricia Vecchione

A collection of short stories by former Catholic girls about their childhoods/upbringings. Some were funny, all were interesting but mostly it was just depressing. Quite a bit of abuse both of substances and people.

One of those hideous books where the mother dies by Sonya Sones

When Ruby's mother dies of cancer, she is sent to live with her, until now absent, movie star father in LA. She misses her mom, her best friend and her boyfriend and HATES her dad. Told through poetry this is a great story about grieving and learning to forgive.

Highly Recommended

Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

In this sequel to Hawksong, the now married couple try to bring their two cultures together and start a family.

Recommended

Tending to Grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco

A young woman with a stuttering problem finds herself when she goes to live with her great-aunt in rural New England.

Highly recommended.

Who Am I Without Him? by Sharon G. Flake

A collection of short stories about young, black women and men dealing with relationship.

Interesting, funny, and sometimes depressing.

Recommended.

Our Lady of The Forest by David Guterson

Didn't enjoy it as much as Snow Falling on Cedars. The narrative style was sort stream of consciousness and it really annoyed me. Plus it seemed really long.

A teenage mushroom picker in the forests of Washington State claims to have visions on the Virgin Mary. In the process of the investigation and ensuing publicity the small town and the lives of its residents are irrevocably changed.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Macker

A great story about a teenage girl basically dealing with her life.

When her best friend moves away and her brother, whom she idolizes, is accused of something horrible, Virginia's world comes crashing down. As she deals with it and moves on, she realizes that she is stronger than she thinks.

Highly recommended

Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I loved these books! They're fast-paced thillers with short chapters that just make you want to keep reading. Also, the history and art references are very intriguing. Character development is so-so but that's okay. I hope he writes more with Robert Langdon.

Highly recommended, except to those who will be offended by historical interpretations of the Bible, Christianity, Jesus, etc.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Great Halloween book! Kind of slow but interesting story of two boys who fight the evil that arrives with a traveling carnival.

How to Make Love Like a Porn Star...a Cautionary Tale by Jenna Jameson

An interesting but kind of depressing biography of a porn star. Contains abuse, drug use, and mucho sex.

What's especially interesting is that she doesn't quite seem to realize how screwed up her childhood was.

My Cup Runneth Over: the Life of Angelica Potts by Cherry Whytock

In the same vein as Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging but much less annoying. Angelica Potts is a high school student who loves to cook and is NOT model thin. She and her friends deal with boys and deciding what careers they want.
Highly recommended.

Our Vampires, Ourselves by Nina Auerbach

The premise that every age gets the vampire it deserves is interesting but my interest was not kept by the very scholarly tone of the book. Maybe if I was an English major I would have enjoyed it more.

The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty

Follows the interactions of a group of high schoolers in Australia whose lives are dramatically changed when they are assigned pen-pals from a rival school. Told through letters, notes, and e-mail.
I highly recommend it.

heart on my sleeve by Ellen Wittlinger

A great new novel by the author of Hard Love. Tells the story of high school seniors preparing to go off to college through e-mails, im's, and letters. Focuses on Chloe Gillespie and Julian Casper, two musicians who meet and hit it off at a weekend college visit. Much drama ensues as they deal with their budding relationship, their friends and their families. Includes a playlist at the end of all the songs referenced throughout the book.

Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

Another great book with her signature style. A group of four young men and women from different countries meet and bond when tragedy strikes the Greek town they are visiting.

Here's a list of the books I've read over the last months: (later I'll write about some of them)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
Act I, Act II, Act Normal by Martha Westin
A Cool Moonlight by Angela Johnson
Princess Lessons by Meg Cabot
Everything you never wanted your kids to know about sex (but were afraid they'd ask) by Justin Richardson, MD and Mark A Schuster MD, PHD
13 edited by JAmes Howe
The Last Manly Man by Sparkle Hayter
Friction by E. R. Frank
Perfect Princess by Meg Cabot
Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Best Enemies by Jane Heller
The Chelsea Girl Murders by Sparkle Hayter
A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin
Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw
Leap Day by Wendy Mass
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Bad Girls Series by Cynthia Voight
Lady, My Life as a Bitch by Melvin Burgess
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia C. Wrede
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
Naked Brunch by Sparkle Hayter
The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars by Steven Brust
Jack the Giant Killer by Charles de Lint
White as Snow by Tanith Lee
Fitcher's Brides by Gregory Frost
Doing It by Melvin Burgess
The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Vox: a novel by Nicholson Baker
The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin
Love and Other Four Letter Words by Carolyn Mackler
The Girl's Life Big Book of Short Stories
The Princess Bride
Cassandra French's Finishing School for Boys by Eric Garcia
The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
Promise You Won't Freak Out by Doris A., Natalie, and Greg Fuller
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
Hot and Sweaty Rex by Eric Garcia
Please Don't Kill the Freshman by Zoe Trope
Am I Blue: Coming Out From Silence edited by Marian Diane Bauer
Strangers in Paradise: the Complete Collection Vol. 1
Strangers in Paradise: High School
Maggie Without a Clue by Kasey Michaels
Wearing of This Garment Does Not Enable You to Fly: 101 Real Dumb Warning Labels
Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes
Angels by Marian Keyes
Pop Princess by Rachel Cohn
Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer
Fallen Angels by Tracy Chevalier
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star...a Cautionary Tale by Jenna Jameson
My Cup Runneth Over: the Life of Angelica Potts by Cherry Whytock
Our Vampires, Ourselves by Nina Auerbach
The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty
Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

Period Pieces: Stories for Girls selected by Erzsi Deak and Kristin Embry Litchman

Great collection of short stories about girls in different situations and different cultures dealing with getting their periods for the first time.

Ghosts of Boyfriends Past by Carly Alexander

Chick Lit

Main character is haunted by her past Christmas relationships as she tries to find love.

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

This takes place in the same school as Speak and has a passing reference to that protagonist.

The story focuses on Kate, the daughter of a minister, who is desperately trying to finish her senior year. As she deals with her boyfriend and worries about getting accepted to college, tragedy strikes her community and she is sucked in.

Well written and true to life.

The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

The latest in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Babe in Toyland by Eugenie Seifer Olson

Chick lit

The main character is an employee of a toy company in Philadelphia who falls in love with a local weather forecaster. When she decides to let him know, hilarity and hijinks ensue. Love is eventually found.

The Outsiders of 19 Schuyler Placeby E.L. Konigsburg

Another great novel by the author of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. This one deals with being an outsider, both as a child and as an adult. After Margaret leaves her summer camp to stay with her eccentric uncles, she is sucked into a campaign to save the towers they have been creating from destruction.

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot

This light, amusing story is told through e-mails, phone messages and other correspondence. The main character works for the personnel department and is embroiled in a controversy over the firing of a beloved employee. Havoc and of course love ensues.

The V Club by Kate Brian

Four girl friends compete against each other to win a college scholarship where "purity" is one of the requirements. As they deal with the pressure of staying "pure", their friendships grow and mature.

Very cool look at high school students and "purity".

Messenger by Lois Lowry

The last of her 'trilogy' that started with The Giver.

Jonah from The Giver is now the head of a new society that welcomes everyone. But things are changing, the villagers are becoming restless and less inclined to accept new people. Does it have to do with the new trading? And what's happening to the forest? Only Matty, a young boy with incredible healing powers, can solve the mystery.

Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers by Alissa Quart

Really interesting look at how companies are marketing to teens by using them as advertisers.

32AA by Michelle Cunnah

Chick lit where the main character has small boobs and just got dumped when she expected a proposal. Works in NYC. Moves in with guy who later becomes boyfriend, of course.

Light, very forgettable

Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

A departure from her previous novels wher she dealt with vampires, vampire hunters, etc. This one looks at two warring "cultures". Both are animal shape-changers. One changes into birds and the other snakes. Very interesting look at stereotypes and understading different cultures. I really enjoyed it. Can't wait for her to churn out the next one.

Muletrain to Maggody by Joan Hess

The latest in the Maggody mystery series. In this one, Civil War reenactors come to the town of Maggody, Arkansas, which is peopled by the inbred Buchanons (including the Mayor) and many other colorful characters, bringing with them tales of hidden Confederate gold. Needless to say havoc and murder ensues and Chief of Police Arly Hanks must get to the bottom of it.
really like this series and the books don't come out to often for me to get sick of. Plus they're a pretty quick, entertaining read. Also recommended is Hess' Claire Malloy series.

Nice Girls Finish Last by Sparkle Hayter

The second in a mystery series. The protagonist is Robin Hudson a thirty-something divorcee who works for an international cable news station. Hilarious, now I need to find the first one.


The Best American Non-Required Reading 2003 edited by Dave Eggers

Definitely continues the fine tradition of the first one. The only piece I didn't finish was "Tales of a Tyrant", just couldn't really get into it. Especially liked "The Guide to Being A Groupie."

Break Any Woman Down by Dana Johnson

Great short stories about black women in the South and LA. Loved it.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

This is his first children's book and his first book that I have read.

Why is someone determined to keep the Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House from starting construction? And who is the barefoot boy Roy saw running past the school bus? Learn all this and more in a great eco-mystery.

Just Like Beauty by Lisa Lerner

In a world controlled by the Just Like conglomerate and saturated with chemicals, Edie Stein is determined to be Deansville's Feminine Woman of Conscience.

This novel is incredibly great. Wonderful writing. Believable sci-finess.

Disappearing Ingenue: The Misadventures of Eleanor Stoddard by Melissa Pritchard

Interesting set of short stories that are about one main character. Sometimes it was hard to figure out the time-line and there were discrepancies about where grew up and father's occupation. Well, maybe not discrepancies but unexplained changes in different stories.

The Greatest of Marlys! and The Freddie Stories by Lynda Barry

Two great collections of Lynda Barry's comics. I need to find a newspaper around here that carries her.

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue

Slammerkin: a loose dress, a loose woman. About a young teenager who ends up as a prostitute in 18th century England. Not as interesting as I expected but fairly well-written.

Anonymous Rex by Eric Garcia

This book is hilarious. A detective story where dinosaurs still walk the Earth disguised as humans. Very cool.

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

Kind of boring story of an artist dealing with issues she has with childhood friends.

Nectar: a novel of temptation by Lily Prior

I don't know who this novel is tempting but it certainly wasn't me. The premise, an albino woman who has an entrancing scent, is interesting, but there are way too many characters and the plot leaves a lot to be desired.

Yellow by Don Lee

A collection of short stories about Asian-Americans living in the fictional town of Rosarita Bay near SF in California. Very nice.

Come Up and See Me Sometime by Erika Krouse

Great collection of short stories, each prefaced by a quote from Mae West.

Quentins by Maeve Binchy

A great novel that revolves around a restaurant in Dublin. Brings in characters from some of her previous novels.

Still Life With Woodpecker: A sort of love story by Tom Robbins

When an exiled princess meets an on-the-lam bomber, hilarity and love ensue.

I didn't like it as much as Skinny Legs and All but I could actually get through it as opposed to Another Roadside Attraction which I could not get into.

Recommended by Sarah B.

Just who the hell is SHE, anway? by Marisa Acocella

Interesting comic about the new career woman.

I read a bunch of books by Lois Lowry because I was doing a group presentation on her. She writes wonderful books.

Summer to Die- semi-autobiographical about a girl whose older sister dies of cancer.

Gathering Blue- the second in an informal trilogy of sci-fi stories that started with The Giver. A crippled girl is orphaned and then taken in by the government. Very interesting.

Nonfiction Relevant to Cultural Diversity

Multiple Authors, The World in 1492, Henry Holt and Company, 1992

Source: ALSC Notable Book 1993

Age Range: 9 and up

Quality: Well written essays on the civilizations of the different continents in 1492

Potential Use: homework, curriculum support, free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: Great for historically interested children. Also great for showing the developments outside of Europe.

Book about Native Americans

Louise Erdrich, The Birchbark House, Hyperion Books for Children, 1999

Source: ALSC Notable Book 2000

Age Range: 8 and up

Quality: Well written narrative about a year in the life of an Ojibwa family.

Potential Use: book talk, curriculum support, free voluntary reading, story time

Child Appeal: Engaging story of survival focused on the seven year-old girl in the family

Picture Book about Asian-Americans

Milly Lee, Nim and the War Effort, Yangsook Choi, Frances Foster Books, 1997

Source: ALSC Notable Book 1998

Age Range: 6-9

Quality: Engaging story and beautiful pictures.

Potential Use: story time, curriculum support, free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: Kids will relate to trying to win a contest.

Novel about Asian-Americans

Laurence Yep, Dragon’s Gate, HarperCollins, 1993

Source: Newbery Honor 1994

Age Range: 10 and up

Quality: Well-written story about the Chinese who built the railroads in the U.S.

Potential Use: curriculum support, free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: For children who are interested in the role of immigrants in the U.S.

Picture Book about Latinos

Pam Muñoz Ryan, Mice and Beans, Joe Cepeda, Scholastic, 2001

Source: ALSC Notable Book 2002

Age Range: 5-8

Quality: Simple text with Spanish mixed in and colorful, engaging illustrations.

Potential Use: story time, free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: Kids will love how the mice help prepare for the party.

Short Story Collection about Latinos

Gary Soto, Baseball in April and Other Stories, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990

Source: Pura Belpré Honor 1996

Age Range: 8 and up

Quality: Great stories about real life from impressing a girl to playing baseball.

Potential Use: free voluntary reading, book talk

Child Appeal: Kids can relate to the situations and anxiety about growing up.

Novel about African-Americans

Mildred D. Taylor, Let the Circle be Unbroken, Dial Books, 1981

Source: Coretta Scott King Medal 1982

Age Range: 8 and up

Quality: Well-written novel that continues the story of the Logan family started in Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry.

Potential Use: curriculum support, free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: For older children and those that liked Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry.

Sports Book

Sue Macy, Winning Ways: A photohistory of American women in sports, Henry Holt and Company, 1996.

Source: ALSC Notable Book 1997

Age Range: 9 and up

Quality: Well researched book with index, table of contents and chronology. Also includes great photographs and additional resources.

Potential Use: homework, free voluntary reading, curriculum support

Child Appeal: Very interesting history of women in sports. Great photographs help document the changing attitudes towards women athletes.

Social Science Book

Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Black Potatoes: The story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850, Houghton Mifflin, 2001.

Source: ALSC Notable Book 2002

Age Range: 10 and up

Quality: Well researched with a table of contents, an index, and a timeline. Also includes illustrations from the time.

Potential Use: homework, curriculum support

Child Appeal: Great for historically minded children and those interested in Irish history.

Sex Education Book

Robie H. Harris, It's So Amazing! A book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, and family, Michael Emberley, Candlewick Press, 1999.

Source: ALSC Notable Book 2000

Age Range: 6-12

Quality: Well researched to include answers to as many questions as possible. Includes an index and table of contents as well as moving chronologically.

Potential Use: free voluntary reading, parent-child discussion

Child Appeal: Great illustrations. Deals with the issues in a non-confrontational manner. Acknowledges both kid's curiosity and disdain for the subject.

Hobby Book

Gail Gibbons, Click! A book about cameras and taking pictures, Little, Brown & Company, 1997.

Source: Children's Catalog 2002

Age Range: 6-10

Quality: It has no index or table of contents but it moves in a linear way through how cameras work, film and developing, taking photographs, and a brief history of the camera.

Potential Use: free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: Easy text and lots of illustrations to pull kids in. Great for beginning photographers.

Poetry Book

Francisco X. Alarcón, Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primavera, Children's Book Press, 1997

Source: Pura Belpré Honor 1998

Age Range: 6-12

Quality: great poems in Spanish and English

Potential Use: free voluntary reading, curriculum support, story time

Poetry Anthology

Simon James, Days Like This: A Collection of Small Poems, Candlewick Press, 1999

Source: ALSC Notable Book 2001

Age Range: 5-10

Quality: Good variety of short poems with contemporary illustrations

Potential Use: story time, free voluntary reading, curriculum support

Child Appeal: poems are short and about things that appeal to children

Folktale Anthology

Virginia Hamilton, The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales, Leo and Diane Dillon, Alfred A. Knopf, 1985

Source: Coretta Scott King Medal 1986

Age Range: 8 and up

Quality: Great introduction dealing with slavery. After each story there is an explanation of the source and a bibliography of other versions. Great black and white drawings.

Potential Use: story time, free voluntary reading, curriculum support

Child Appeal: for older children since some deal with brutality of slavery, but animal stories will appeal to all ages.

Picture Book Folktale

Marisa Montes, Juan Bobo Goes to Work, Joe Cepeda, HarperCollins, 2000

Source: Pura Belpré Honor 2002

Age Range: 6-12

Quality: simple pictures illustrate a humorous story from Puerto Rico

Potential Use: story time, free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: humorous story about the town fool who never gets it right

Picture Book Folktale

John Steptoe, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1987

Source: Coretta Scott King Medal 1988

Age Range: 8-12

Quality: Beautiful illustrations and text inspired by the Zimbabwe ruins where it was collected

Potential Use: story time, free voluntary reading, curriculum support

Child Appeal: good and kind prevails over mean and greedy

Picture Book Folktale

Ed Young, Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story From China, Philomel, 1989

Source: Caldecott Medal 1990

Age Range: 8-12

Quality: Beautiful pictures and a great text translated from a collection of Chinese folktales

Potential Use: story time, free voluntary reading, curriculum support

Child Appeal: classic story with a twist, intriguing illustrations (look for the wolf)

Uptown by Brian Collier

A great tour of Harlem. Great collage pictures.

Controlled Vocabulary "Easy Reader"

Betsy Byars, The Golly Sisters Ride Again, Sue Truesdell, HarperCollins, 1994

Source: ALSC Notable Book 1995

Age Range: 5-8

Quality: Amusing vignettes of traveling sisters who sing and dance

Potential Use: free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: humor and short easy to read stories

Controlled Vocabulary "Easy Reader"

Charlotte Pomerantz, Outside Dog, Jennifer Plecas, HarperTrophy, 1993

Source: ALSC Notable Book 1994

Age Range: 7-9

Quality: Child-like pictures accompany an easy to follow story.

Potential Use: free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: About a child who wants a dog, very easy to relate

Picture Book for 9 and older

David Macaulay, Black and White, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1990

Source: Caldecott Medal

Age Range: 9 and up

Quality: Great illustrations and text for four stories that may or may not be related

Potential Use: book talk, free voluntary reading

Child Appeal: Intriguing style and stories are great for puzzle lovers

Picture Book for K-3

Faith Ringgold, Tar Beach, Crown Publishers, 1991

Source: Coretta Scott King Award 1992

Age Range: 5-8

Quality: Quilt inspired illustrations accompany a great text about dreams.

Potential Use: free voluntary reading, story time, curriculum support

Child Appeal: engaging story about achieving dreams

Picture Book for K-3

Mary Hoffman, Amazing Grace, Caroline Binch, Dial Books for Young Readers, 1991

Source: ALSC Notable Book 1992

Age Range: 5-8

Quality: Very realistic illustrations accompany a lively story.

Potential Use: free voluntary reading, story time

Child Appeal: likable character with a lot of imagination and energy

Picture Book for Preschoolers

David Shannon, No David!, Blue Sky/Scholastic, 1998

Source: Caldecott Honor 1999

Age Range: 2-4

Quality: Child-like pictures and simple text send a more complex message

Potential Use: story time, parent-child discussion

Child Appeal: every preschooler's experience

Picture Book for Preschoolers

Uri Shulevitz, Snow, Farrar Straus Giroux, 1998

Source: Caldecott Honor 1999

Age Range: 2-4

Quality: Beautiful pictures and simple text capture the joy of an unexpected snowfall.

Potential Use: story time

Child Appeal: engaging pictures and little text deal wonderfully with a great joy of childhood, snow!

The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy

A great collection of short stories by one of my favorite authors.

The Egypt Game
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder.
215 pp. New York:
Atheneum, 1976
$14.95. (Ages 8 to 12)

There has been much talk lately about how television, video games and the Internet are rotting children's minds and bodies. They don't read or go outside and play. Maybe what they need is a reminder of simpler times. Maybe they need to read The Egypt Game.
Although The Egypt Game was written in 1976, it still deals with issues relevant to kids today: moving, making new friends, and crime. Throughout the adventure and mystery of the book one thing is conspicuously absent, television. The characters read, go to school, and play outside but never do they watch T.V.
The story begins when April's mother sends her to live with her grandmother. The university town is not where April wants to be after living with her aspiring actress mother in Hollywood but she figures it will not be for too long. Soon she meets her neighbor Melanie and her younger brother Marshall. Melanie and April soon discover their mutual love for imagination games and ancient Egypt. When they find the unused yard behind the A-Z curio shop, they realize it will be perfect for the Egypt game.
In order to prepare for the game, Melanie and April read all of the books, fiction and non-fiction, about ancient Egypt that are in their local public library. They also are characterized as voracious readers when they first meet.
After the research is done and a new tenant in their building, Elizabeth, is added to the group, they are ready to begin the game. Unfortunately this is when tragedy strikes. A child in their neighborhood is murdered and the police suspect a resident is to blame. Fingers start pointing at the Professor, a quiet old man who owns the A-Z shop. Now they can not leave the apartment building except to go to school. With Halloween approaching, the children decide to make costumes for the game. Parents agree to serve as chaperones for groups of kids so that the neighborhood can go trick-or-treating. This is a golden opportunity to visit Egypt again.
When they sneak off to Egypt during Halloween, they are followed by Toby and Ken from their sixth grade class. Now that they've been discovered they bring the boys in to keep the secret. Ken would rather play basketball but Toby is very excited and asks the girls what books they looked at so that he can come up with ideas too.
Soon the game is in full swing again with Egyptian names, hieroglyphics for sending messages, and new ceremonies. Then comes the oracle. After their teacher talks about them in class, the kids decide that an oracle is just what Egypt needs to liven things up. After more research the oracle is started. The oracle ends up starting another mystery when someone not involved with the game leaves an answer.
It all gets wrapped up at the end with the murderer being caught, with help from Marshall, and the discovery that the Professor answered the oracle's question.
Throughout the novel, the children use the library and books in order to fuel their imaginations for their game. The adventures they create are as riveting as the ones on T.V. or in video games. The Egypt Game can open a child's mind to the power of their imaginations.

Snyder, Zilpha Keatley. The Egypt Game. 1976. 215p. Atheneum. $14.95 (0-689-30006-9).
Gr. 4-6. When April's mother sends her away to live with her grandmother, April is sure that the university town will not be nearly as exciting as Hollywood. Boy is she wrong! After meeting her neighbor Melanie they discover an interest in imagination games and ancient Egypt. This leads them to create the Egypt game, with Melanie's little brother Marshall, in an empty lot by the antique and curio shop. As more people are added to the game, tragedy strikes. A child is murdered! Now no one can play outside. Will the Egypt game ever be played again? Will the murderer be found? These and other questions are answered in The Egypt Game. This book is good for kids who like to read. Zilpha Keatley Snyder captures the world of children making their own fun in her engaging prose. Although today's children may be surprised to see kids having fun without video games and television, they will enjoy the adventure and mystery.

Snyder, Zilpha Keatley. The Egypt Game. New York: Atheneum, 1976.
April thinks living with her grandmother will be boring but then she meets Melanie and the Egypt game begins.

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