Monaghan, Annabel. A Girl Named Digit.

Monaghan, Annabel.  A Girl Named Digit.  Houghton Mifflin  187p  $16.99 978-0-547-66852-9   ms/hs     VG-BN   Realistic Fiction

Farrah “Digit” Higgins is a female math genius and the daughter of a UCLA math professor and an actress.  Her only goal in life is to avoid being outed as a math geek.  Her ability allows her to find patterns in things that other people can’t see.  Her gift gains her the nickname "Digit".  However, her ability to interpret numbers in a unique way makes her different from everyone around her.  However, this changes when she meets the Fab Four (Veronica - varsity tennis, Kat - varsity tennis, Olive - varsity tennis and biology club, and Tish - varsity tennis) in ninth grade.  They have been friends ever since.

The Fab Four hangs out every Tuesday night. One night Digit sees some random numbers scroll across the bottom of the teen drama on television.  This scrolling of numbers occurs for the next two weeks, with different numbers each time.  Digit’s mind has almost worked out the meaning of the numbers before the terrorist attack happens.  When it does, her father takes her to the FBI and Homeland Security to report what she knows.

This is where she meets the hot FBI agent and gets kidnapped.  From this point on, readers will be on edge of their seats as Digit and a team of agents track the terrorists.

    

Math-Fiction, Terrorists-Fiction                           --Linda McNeil

Mone, Gregory. Dangerous Waters.

Mone, Gregory.    Dangerous Waters.       Macmillan/ Roaring Brook Press 219p $16.99      978-1-59643-673-2       ms/jr       Good  Historical Fiction

Patrick finds an opportunity to work on board the Titanic to impress his brother, who is a trimmer (coal shoveler) in the engine room. Patrick is trying to dismiss his own preferred intellectual pursuits in order to "be a man" in a physically demanding job.  Titanic heads out on her maiden voyage, and Patrick is transferred above decks, as he cannot keep up with the physically demanding post of trimmer.  After he captures the eye of the wealthy Harry Widener, Patrick graduates from emptying spittoons to becoming Widener’s personal assistant. 

Another passenger, the unsavory Mr. Rockwell, has his eye on one of Widener’s rare books, which he is convinced contains the secret to infinite wealth.  He attempts to recruit Patrick to let him "borrow" the book, offering him a large sum of money to betray Widener.  Patrick is faced with a moral dilemma, which soon becomes insignificant in the face of disaster.  Titanic’s tragic ending is handled with sensitivity.

In the wake of Titanic’s demise, Harry Widener’s mother donates a substantial sum to Harvard to start a library in honor of her son. (This is based on actual events.)  To bring the story full circle, Patrick, now an older, educated man himself, places a volume of Francis Bacon, once the center of a controversy between Widener and Rockwell, to Harvard to be incorporated into the library’s collection.

Titanic-Fiction, Historical Fiction                   --Hilary Welliver

Moore, Carley. The Stalker Chronicles.

Moore, Carley.    The Stalker Chronicles.  Macmillan/Farrar Strauss     230p $16.99 978-0-374-37180-7       ms/hs       Good            Conflict   

We meet Cammie as a sophomore in high school, with flashbacks to elementary and middle school to set the premise of the novel that Cammie has always found direct verbal communication difficult. Instead, she secretly listens in on conversations of her family (her parents sound as if they will divorce) and clandestinely observes people who she would like to be friends with, and this behavior earns her the reputation of being a stalker.  She has only one true friend, Rosie, who tries to offer advice on how to better relate to people.  When a new boy moves to town, Cammie is compelled to go through his garbage, go into the boy’s bathroom to investigate, and through other means secretly learn about his past, which is shrouded in mystery.   Whether Cammie is just socially awkward or has a more serious mental disability is never fully explored.  This is a light read for middle-school and high-school students that will leave some questioning the total cluelessness of Cammie’s parents and whether Cammie’s transformation into a more popular person could really happen in such a short time.           

Stalking, Friendship-Fiction                          --Lois McNicol

Moore, Stephanie P., and Derrick Moore. Always Upbeat/All That.

Moore, Stephanie P., and Derrick Moore.   Always Upbeat/All That. (2 points of view)      Saddleback  304p  $14.95      978-1-61651-884-4           hs    Good Realistic Fiction 

Stephanie Perry Moore and her husband Derrick Moore teamed up to create this Saddleback novel that presents two stories in one.  Interestingly, the events correspond, as Blake tells his story in the first half of the book, entitled All That, and then the reader turns the book around to find Charli’s story, entitled Always Upbeat.  In this combination novel, the reader finds a good plot, focusing on the challenges and pressures faced by high-school students everywhere: how to lead, how to handle sexual advances, and how to handle family drama.  Charli must learn to balance her cheerleading position as captain of the squad with her personal life, and she does an abysmal job of it.  Blake faces his mother’s cancer and the pressure to shine as quarterback as his relationship with Charli falls apart.  There are many messages to be found in these stories, and the themes will resound with high-school readers who want action, real-life drama, and guidance in issues of morality and other current topics. 

Unfortunately, the use of more advanced vocabulary in the characters' speech does not always "ring true".  It appears that the authors leave their local dialect to attempt to show that Charli and Blake are not ignoring their education.   Some examples of words that do not sound natural in their speech are "dissipating" (on page 32)and "awry" (on page 116).  Authenticity must be preserved in this type of novel so that the story flows naturally.  In addition to this weakness, there is another:  Charli’s reaction to her father’s indiscretion is rather weak.  She is horrified that her boyfriend is cheating on her, but when her father cheats, she says it is just "wrong".  She under-reacts, and readers will be put off by this type of deviation from the voice of the story.  All in all, both stories are good, and readers will enjoy the contrasting points of view.  Saddleback’s reputation as a publisher of books that are guaranteed to keep young adults reading is noteworthy, and this book will not disappoint high-school readers.

Please note errors the following errors: on page 110 of Always Upbeat, "cutting him of" should be "cutting him off" and on page 92 of the same novel, the word “to” is missing in "supposed laugh".  

Friendship-Fiction, Point of View                     --Martha Squaresky

Nardo, Don. Classical Civilization: Greece.

Nardo, Don.  Classical Civilization: Greece.    Morgan Reynolds   112  $28.95 978-1-59935-173-5   ms/hs     Series: World History     VG-BNS

This book provides an overview of ancient Greece and its continuing influence on contemporary society.        Modern-day Greece is a small country with modest input into contemporary world affairs.  However, the ancient Greeks set in motion ideas and practices that greatly influenced Western civilization as a whole. 

Readers will find the concise, straightforward prose easy to understand as they learn about Greek warfare, tactics, and heroes.  Nardo clearly describes how the ancient Greeks created the foundations of modern political, artistic, and social culture.  The Greeks’ contribution to the development of scientific disciplines such as biology, botany, and astronomy are also discussed, as well as Greek architecture.  The chapter on the Olympics dispels the myth that the original games were limited to amateur athletes who received no financial gain through participation. 

Photographs and illustrations are judiciously included, highlighting related text.  The sidebars contain useful facts and offer more insight into the topics under discussion.

A useful timeline, extensive source list and bibliography are included, plus a list of related websites that will be helpful to student researchers.  There is also a glossary and index.

Nardo’s text provides a solid overview of the many ways the Greeks helped to shape western civilization, and continue to influence contemporary life.                                                  --Hilary Welliver

Nardo, Don. Classical Civilization: Rome.

Nardo, Don. Classical Civilization: Rome.  Morgan Reynolds  128p  $28.95      978-1-59935-174-2       jr/sr Series: World History           VG         

This is a historical overview of ancient Rome, its leaders and its world expansion.       It is not known where the Romans originally came from, but there are legends that point in the direction of ancient Troy and one of its survivors.  Regardless of where they came from, they settled in Italy and took over the region and expanded their rule.  There were numerous excellent Roman leaders, such as Julius Caesar, a Roman Statesmen and military leader who left a lasting impression on Rome. The Romans conquered a very large part of the world, and everywhere they went they built roads, aqueducts, baths, magnificent buildings and many other wonders. The Romans left a legacy that is still influential today.  For example, the U.S. Senate was fashioned after the Roman senate, and today we use Roman models for roads and urban planning.

World History is a series that includes eight books on ancient worlds.  Each book has a bibliography, a list of sources, a timeline, pictures, maps, a list of web sites, a glossary and an index.       --Magna Diaz

Nardo, Don. India.

Nardo, Don.  India.  Scholastic/ Childrens Press      144p  $39.00      978-0-531-25310-6 ms/hs   Series: Enchantment of the World (Scholastic/Childrens)*#5     VG-BN      

This book provides a brief overview of India, covering geography, economy, culture, customs and history.  India is one of the largest and most densely populated countries in the world, a land of beauty with rural farmlands and incredibly massive cities.  Some of the cities are very modern but also have pockets of extreme poverty.  The country is a study in contrasts: the modern versus the old fashioned. It is very advanced technologically, yet its growing population and crippling poverty mean that the technology cannot reach everyone.

There are over 1.2 billion people living in India today, covering more than 1.2 million square miles.  Another study in contrasts is the geographical one: the valleys versus the high mountains.

The book provides beautiful colorful photos, with breathtaking views of India’s landscapes and interesting historical sites and towns.  There are sidebars that highlight interesting people, places, and events.  It also includes an easy Indian recipe to make at home or at school so that the readers have opportunity to experience foreign cuisine firsthand.  There is a section of Fun facts and statistics, a timeline, a bibliography, a web site, and an index.   

Enchantment of the World includes books on Australia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, and Israel.  The books are very colorful and cover the history, geography, economy and the modern world of each country.               --Magna Diaz

Nardo, Don. Medieval Europe.

Nardo, Don. Medieval Europe. Morgan Reynolds  126p  $28.95      978-1-59935-172-8       secondary   Series: World History      Good       

This is an accessible history of the unique time in Europe between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance.  With liberal use of primary-source documents, the author has written a very usable, appropriately illustrated book for research.  Side bars can be found throughout the book, highlighting information relevant to the adjacent text, such as "Spain’s visionary monarchs" (page 48) and "Attempts to regulate sanitation" (page 82).  Primary-source illustrations include a 15th-century miniature (page 25) and a hand-colored woodcut of the seal of the Merchant Guild of Gloucester, England, circa 1200 (page 55).  The book concludes with a timeline, list of resources, bibliography (print and web), glossary, and index.  

This series, which consists of eight titles, is very informative and will find use in secondary libraries where students conduct research about the periods covered by these books.                          --Lynn Fisher

Noel, Alyson. Whisper.

Noel, Alyson.     Whisper.    Macmillan/Square Fish   215p  $7.99

978-0-312-64156-6       ms          Good        Supernatural     

Riley Bloom, a soul catcher who, by the way, is dead, is sent to catch the soul of a Roman gladiator named the Pillar of Doom.  Along the way she meets a young girl who works at cross purposes to Riley, for her own reasons.  As a result, Riley could get caught in the other girl's world.    

Riley Bloom is written in a manner that will capture the interest of middle-school girls with an interest in the supernatural.  The dialogue reads as smoothly as a dialogue between friends.  The image of a young girl pitting herself against a big, burly gladiator as well as a scheming young woman will pull readers into the story, even though much of it is told on a superficial level.  The book is an easy read that would probably lend itself to female reluctant readers.  The Immortals & Radiance series presents a world that middle-school girls with an interest in supernatural tales will find interesting.  The series presents itself as a set of titles for female, reluctant readers.                        --Lynn Fisher

O’Keefe, Sherry. Aung San Suu Kyi.

O’Keefe, Sherry.  Aung San Suu Kyi.  Morgan Reynolds        160p  $28.95  978-1-59935-168-1           hs    Series Champion of Freedom (Morgan Reynolds)   E-BN

           

Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts to free her country, Burma (Myanmar), from oppressive rule.  Suu Kyi, whose father was known as the father of Burma and who was assassinated for his beliefs, grew up in Burma and India.  She attended Oxford and New York University and had traveled the world when her mother took ill.  Returning to Burma in 1988 to care for her mother, she was appalled at the living conditions of the typical Burmese citizen. She met with friends of her deceased father and set up an opposition party to fight for reform.  She was placed under house arrest in 1989 for fifteen years, but her political clout continued to grow.  

This is a caring, compassionate biography that has surprising depth given the minimal number of pages.  The reader is shown the background politics of Burma (Myanmar), its struggles in contemporary times, and the bravery of Suu Kyi in opposing a powerful government in hopes that her efforts would provide a better life for Burmese citizens.  Separated from her own husband and children during her house arrest under less than comfortable circumstances, she showed her firmness of conviction that Burma is worth fighting for and her desire to see a more democratic form of rule.  This would be an excellent choice for feminist collections, as well as a solid start for researchers of political dissent and the political history of Burma.  A list of primary internet sources, references for further reading, chapter notes, a timeline and an index complete the book.  It is suitable for students in grades 8-12.

The series Champion of Freedom is comprised of biographies of four individuals who believed in fighting for a cause. Each of the books includes excellent photographs, a timeline, chapter notes and an index giving solid information on political dissenters in the 20th and 21st centuries.                                                      -- Lois McNicol

Owings, Lisa. The Cape Buffalo.

Owings, Lisa.     The Cape Buffalo.       Scholastic/ Childrens Press   24p $16.95  978-0-531-20880-9       elem  Series: Nature's Deadliest (Scholastic/Childrens) VG

This book offers interesting information for young readers about the Cape buffalo:  habitat, description, value to society, danger to humans, and its prevalence in the world.  In the introduction, Lisa Owings describes a confrontation between some workers and a Cape buffalo in South Africa, which leaves one young man struggling to survive after he is gored unexpectedly.  This exciting introduction will entice young readers to turn the pages.  In Chapter Two, Owings describes the typical Cape buffalo and contrasts his body size with a human’s.  The animal's ferocity is described in detail, and one learns that a Cape buffalo will even wait for a lion in a tree for hours!  The Cape buffalo cannot be tamed like the water buffalo.  It is in this chapter that the supporting photographs are the most interesting.  One shows a lion waiting to attack, and another shows two Cape buffalo fighting each other for dominance.  Chapter Three contains fascinating information about the reputation of the Cape buffalo as a killer.  Once wounded, he will kill.  He will even wait for a hunter and trample him!  This chapter shows children the value of the Cape buffalo and threats to its existence.  All in all, this book contains the requisite information to make it useful for research, classroom presentations, and compare/contrast studies between the buffalo and other predators.  The extra features include vocabulary words highlighted in neon green, a layout that is pleasing to the eye, a glossary, a list of resources to consult, and a short index.

The series Nature’s Deadliest includes books about the African elephant and lion, the box jellyfish, the great white shark and the grizzly bear, to name a few.  Each one covers descriptions of the animal and its habitat along with a summary of its uses to mankind, its danger to society and other pertinent information.                         --Martha Squaresky

Owings, Lisa. The King Cobra.

Owings, Lisa.     The King Cobra.   Scholastic/ Childrens Press   24p  $17.00 978-0-531-20882-3       elem  Series: Nature's Deadliest (Scholastic/Childrens) E-Bnes

           

This book provides information on the king cobra for young students, and focuses also on the people who work with these snakes to manufacture anti-venoms that save lives.  This slim volume starts out with a bang ... discussing the career  and bravery of a man who has survived numerous king cobra attacks as he works to develop anti-venom remedies for snake bites.  By focusing the beginning of the book on the power of the snake’s venom and efforts to create antidotes to it, the author grabs the reader’s attention right away.  Subsequently, she discusses the other physical aspects of the king cobra, its use as entertainment in India, and its diet and habits.  There is a good index and a list of resources for further information that are helpful.  The illustrations are colorful and apt, and they add to the book’s impact.

This reviewer checked out the factsurfer website and found it to be a good resource.  Nature’s Deadliest series includes twelve titles, including the African elephant, the Bengal tiger, and the Komodo dragon.  

                                                      --Carol Kennedy