Winter, Jonah. Wild Women of the Wild West.

Winter, Jonah.  Wild Women of the Wild West.    Holiday House, 2011.  40p.  $16.95 ISBN 978-0--8234-1601-1  elm/ms (Grades 3-7).  E-BNe           

     This book includes the biographies of fifteen women who shaped the frontier during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Each woman's background and impact on her community and on American history is accompanied by a full-page color portrait.  The concise yet informative biographies provide a look at the place of women on the American frontier when it was just becoming settled. The women include Calamity Jane, Belle Starr, Annie Oakley, Carry Nation and other lesser-known but equally important women who shaped the West. Through all the biographies run the threads of strength, self-assurance, and a desire for freedom to live their lives as they wished. This book is an excellent addition to feminist collections as well as pioneer-history collections.             

Subject:  Women of the Frontier - Biography    

Lois McNicol

Yomtov, Nel. The Grimy, Gross Unusual History of the Toilet.

Yomtov, Nel.  The Grimy, Gross Unusual History of the Toilet.     Capstone Publishers, 2012.    48p   $30.65      ISBN 978-1-4296-5489-0     All Ages    E-BN         

Little-known details and amazing facts unfold as you read this unusual history of the toilet.     

The content was nicely chosen for young readers. It contained information that was interesting and not commonly found in other books on this topic.
  Second in importance to the informative text, the next-best thing about this book is the humorous appeal to young readers.  The layout of the various pages is diverse and well balanced between text and full-color illustrations so that similes are grouped together.  The flow and balance of the text and visuals are integrated to present a very stimulating book for both young and reluctant readers.
The use of various background colors and distinctive boxes to highlight different topics is quite effective.
  This is a great read for almost any age. Chuckles and gasps will certainly be heard when reading occurs.  This book is one in the Unusual Histories series.  The series consists of two books at this time. The general theme of the series is bizarre tidbits.   

Subject: Sanitation

Linda McNeil

 

Turgeon, Carolyn. Mermaid.

Turgeon, Carolyn.  Mermaid.   Broadway Books see Random, 2011.  240p.   $16.00 ISBN 9780307589972     jr/sr E-BN  Fairy Tale     

     Lenia the mermaid saves the Prince of the South from drowning and places him at the feet of the Princess of the North. The princess mistakenly believes it is a gift from the mermaid and that this young prince is meant for her.   It is Lenia’s 18th birthday and it is her turn to go above and experience the world above the sea and spend time with the people who live on the land. On her way up from the bottom of the ocean, she experiences a little bit of turbulence and she investigates. It is a terrible sea storm and it has destroyed a ship full of men. One of them falls into the water near Lenia and she swims to help him. He almost drowns, and he will need help from the land.  Lenia decides to help him. As she holds him in her arms and swims to shore, she has the opportunity to observe him and she falls in love with him.
     She leaves him on the beach and spots another girl. She communicates telepathically that he needs help and moves back into the water.  Lenia waits until the man is rescued and then turns to go home with determination in her heart. She must find a way to go above and win his heart, no matter the cost.
Lenia decides to give up her sea life, even if it means leaving her whole family behind. She strikes a bargain with the Sea Witch, but the price she has paid is even more dire than she can imagine.
     It is the basic "Little Mermaid" story, but then it takes an adult look at the relationship between the mermaid, the prince and the princess.  This is a story you will want to read.             

Subject: Mermaids -- Fiction.  2. Princesses -- Fiction

Magna Diaz

 

White, Ruth. A Month of Sundays.

White, Ruth.  A Month of Sundays.   Farrar Strauss see Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, 2011.  168p  $16.99 ISBN 978-0-374-39912-2     elm/ms (Grades 4-7)     VG-BN Realistic Fiction

     When her mom decides to look for work in Florida, April Garnet Rose is left with the family of her father’s sister.  Her father left before she was born, and she has never met these relatives, but she finds real love and acceptance with them.  Her aunt is searching for Jesus and tries a different church each Sunday.  At one church April meets Silver Shepherd.  They are attracted to each other.  As their friendship grows, we learn that Aunt June has cancer and is really looking for a faith cure.  As the story ends, April’s father returns from his current wanderings and meets his daughter for the first time.  When mom comes from Florida to pick up April, her parents find they have a great deal of misunderstanding to straighten out.  The story ends with hopeful hints.  This is a gentle story.
     It is well written and the story flows smoothly.  The characters ring true.  The turmoil of different feelings experienced by April are well written.  It is tender and sweet.  Early teen girls will love it.                  

Joan Theal

 

Zimmerman, Dwight Jon. Saga of the Sioux

Zimmerman, Dwight Jon.  Saga of the Sioux .  Henry Holt/MacMillan Children's Publishing Group,  2011.  208p  $18.99     978-0-8050-9364-3     ms/hs      E-BN       

     This is a retelling of Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee for young readers, and focusing mainly on the Sioux.      It is a detailed history of relations between the US government and the Sioux in the mid-west between the end of the Civil War and the early 1900s.  The book’s layout is very attractive, with plenty of beautiful sepia-toned photos and a user-friendly font.  The information will blow students away, as they learn of treaty after treaty, promise after promise, that the US government entered into and then violated.  It is angering, and heartbreaking, to read of the ruthless disregard that the white man and his world had for these indigenous peoples.  The story is told cogently but without extra drama ... it is presented very objectively and simply, without a lot of excess verbiage.  The author is careful to credit Dee Brown’s original book, and he lists a number of helpful resources, as well as a glossary, a good index, and notes. 

Subject: American Indians    

Carol Kennedy

 

Yelchin, Eugene. Breaking Stalin’s Nose.

Yelchin, Eugene.  Breaking Stalin’s Nose.  Henry Holt/MacMillan Children's Publishing Group,  2011.  151p  $15.99 ISBN 978-0-8050-9216-5     elm/ms (Grades 6-8).VG-BN Historical

     This unusual story introduces young readers to the oppression and fear of the populace in Russia under Stalin.  Sasha lives in Russia during the rule of Stalin.  He unwaveringly idolizes Stalin.  He is all set to join the Young Pioneers and then his father, who is in the Secret Police, is falsely arrested.  Sasha is forced to rethink his beliefs.
     In a society where anyone can accuse another person and send them to jail without trial or an attempt to find the truth, how easy it is to find an “outsider” in any situation. Sasha joins in on picking on the only Jew in his school, but you can tell he really doesn’t want to participate.  Then he himself becomes the “outsider”.  There are many lessons a student can learn from this book about compassion, true camaraderie, and the poison of false accusations.
This is a period of history that will be unfamiliar to most readers.  The author’s note does help set the stage.  It might be helpful to place this information as an introduction.
     The illustrations in black and white at times lend a comic tone to the story with the caricatures used.  At the end of the story they lend weight and solemnity to the words.
     The reading level appears simpler but due to the subject matter, this title should be for grades 6-8.             

Subject: Stalinist Russia - Fiction

Joan Theal

 

Another note on Breaking Stalin's Nose:

     This book relies heavily on the reader's familiarity with Gogol's classic short story "The Nose", which will be familiar to Russian readers, but not necessarily American readers.  It is my feeling that Yelchin or the publisher should have included a foreword briefly outlining the story of "The Nose" and acknowledging the connection between it and this story.

Carol Kennedy

 

Tougas, Shelley. Little Rock Girl, 1957.

Tougas, Shelley.  Little Rock Girl, 1957.  Compass Point Books/Capstone, 2012.  64p.      $33.99  ISBN 978-0-7565-4440-9      ms/jr VG-BNS           
     The premise of this book, and, indeed, the entire series, is "Can a photo change the world?"  By taking one of the 100 most important photos of the 20th century, and telling the story behind it, Tougas has given us a compelling and enlightening look at the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for integration.  The photos, by Will Counts and others, portray vividly the conflict at Little Rock High School, and the Civil Rights Movement as a whole.  Historical background, well-placed first-person narratives, important quotations, brief biographies of key players, as well as stunning photos, make this a book that readers will remember. 
     A timeline, glossary, extensive chapter notes, and a useful bibliography complete the volume.  The format is large, perfect for the discussion of important photos, and the cover is stunning.  Other books in the series, Captured History, include Birmingham 1963, Man on the Moon, and Migrant Mother.  Each takes a pivotal photo as a focal point and brings the story home for middle-school readers. There are six books in the series at this time.  If all are as good as this volume, all should be included in middle-school collections.  It is an outstanding book!   

Subjects: 1. Integration, 2. Little Rock Nine, 3. Civil Rights Movement

Pat Naismith

 

Tillit, L.B. Unchained.

Tillit, L.B.  Unchained.  Saddleback, 2012.  197p.    $8.95 ISB 978-1-61651-7-922 ms/hs  VG-BN Realistic Fiction

     TJ is being torn back and forth, between druggie parents, loving foster care, a rehabilitated mom, a drug gang, and the person he really wants to be.  It is realistic urban street literature, but well written, and it shows hope for the future.  TJ grew up with drug-addicted parents.  He mostly raised himself.  As a teen he is brought into a drug gang as a delivery boy.  When his father dies, TJ is placed in a foster home.  He resists at first, but discovers what it feels like to be loved, well taken care of, and valued for the first time in his life.  After two years he is making real progress at maturing.
     Then one day he is ripped from this loving home to live with his mother, who has cleaned up her act.  TJ does not want to go back.  While his mother is off drugs, she really has not learned how to parent.  TJ is dragged back into the gang and is working his way up the ranks when a rival gang raids the gang house, killing the leader and most of the members. TJ finds he has a choice.  He can take over the leadership or escape from this life.  With his mom’s approval he goes back to the loving foster family where he feels he is going back home.
     This title is well written.  It is street smart but still literate.  The plot moves at a varying pace, just the way life moves.  The situations are realistic, but TJ comes to see that he does have choices about what he will make of himself.

Joan Theal

 

Tillit, L.B. Edge of Ready.

Tillit, L.B.  Edge of Ready.  Saddleback, 2011.  196p.  $8.95     ISBN 978-1-61651-778-6    hs  VG-BN  Realistic Fiction

      Dani wants to finish high school but finds her mother’s demands for child care to be a hindrance.  When she is raped by her friend’s brother, Dani faces worse challenges but becomes empowered with the help of supportive friends and a rape counselor.  Dani tells her own story in the first person, a story of life in a rough neighborhood where a young girl is not safe, where she is afforded few opportunities to realize goals and even fewer opportunities to grow up to become an independent woman.  

     In Tillit’s first novel for Saddleback, she has captured the authentic voice of a frustrated young girl who faces insurmountable odds.  Dani’s realities include the lack of childcare, the inability to finish school, threatening surroundings, disappointment, and the need to feel safe once more after she has been raped by her friend Ruth’s brother, Evron.  With the support of Dani’s former teacher, Mrs. Grady, her rape counselor, and Ruth’s other brother Keon, Dani manages to put together the pieces of her life and move forward.   She even  helps Ruth break away from a teenage prostitution ring run by Evron.  Tillit’s simple writing style is characteristic of Saddlebacks’ novels, which promote literacy among deficient readers. Librarians and teachers will find this style appealing to high-school readers who need to feel the satisfaction of reading a book with more mature topics.  The subject matter is universal, Dani is a believable character, and the theme of self-empowerment is contemporary.  Dani survives rape, finishes school & becomes self-reliant

Martha Squaresky

 

Tashjian, Janet. My Life As A Stuntboy.

Tashjian, Janet.  My Life As A Stuntboy.  Henry Holt/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group,     2011. 256p.  $13.99  ISBN 978-0-8050-8904-2 elm/ms

VG-BN Realistic Fiction

     When Derek is invited to participate in a movie as a stunt boy, his life falls apart.  His best friend is jealous, his monkey eats one of his toys and becomes deathly ill, and his classmates ridicule him because he must perform stunts for a girl.  Fun characters, solid plot development, comedic style and interesting conflicts combine to make this book a good choice for the elementary- and middle-school reader.  When Janet Tashjian put together her story, she switched it enough to make it fresh and inviting to fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  Whereas Kinney wrote his books in journal form with stick illustrations, Tashjian wrote hers in narrative form with all of the elements of storytelling intact.  She used her husband’s illustrations to support vocabulary acquisition, not to tell the story.  Aside from the stick-figure illustrations, all similarities to "Wimpy Kid" end. 

     The story begins when Derek and his best buddy Matt are caught performing stunts at UCLA.  This incident leads Derek on the adventure of a lifetime, that of stunt boy in an actual movie!  Jealous best friend Matt tapes Derek with his reading tutor, unbeknownst to Derek, and puts it on YouTube.  As a result, Derek is devastated.  He just does not know how to win Matt back!  His new career moves forward when the famous star of the movie befriends him, thus making him a hit at his school.  When his monkey is kidnapped, Derek learns that relationships are much more important than his new job, and he is contrite to the end.  Tashijian has penned an upbeat winner of a book that will keep children reading.                 

Martha Squaresky

 

Sullivan, Laura L. Guardian of the Green Hill.

Sullivan, Laura L.  Guardian of the Green Hill.  Henry Holt/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, 2011.  292p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-8050-8985-1 ms/hs VG-BN Fantasy    

      This is the sequel to Under the Green Hill.  Meg realizes that she is to be the next Guardian, and her contradictory desires do battle with each other.  There are plenty of familiar mythical and made-up beings to delight the fantasy lover.  It is a few days after the end of the previous book.  Meg is conflicted about going home or becoming the new Guardian.  Gwidion, a relative,  is trying to claim the leadership role for himself.  All he needs to do is to paint a picture of a weak Phyllida to control her actions.  Meg is forced into action when little brother James is stolen.  There are many new fantastic creatures, and more fairies are introduced.  There are suspense, action, tricks and treachery, and a satisfying conclusion.
     Sullivan paints a clear word picture of the many fantastical creatures and the habits of fairies.  She also does well at describing emotions and motivations.  It is a wonderful world she has created in the English countryside.
     I wish that more of a review of the events in the first book had been provided, either in the beginning of chapter 1 or in an introduction.  Having had a year elapse since reading the first book, it took a while before I remembered all the characters and events in it, and a review would have helped in making sense of the story.

Joan Theal