Hill, C.J. Slayers: Friends and Traitors.

Hill, C.J.  Slayers: Friends and Traitors.  Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends  2013  390p  $16.99  ISBN 978-1-250-02461-9  hs  Fantasy  E-BN    

This is a great book for the teenager who loved dragons as a child.  Overdrake, a Dragon Lord, has two dragons and several eggs.  He plans to use them to destroy cities in order to take down the current US government and put himself in charge.  The Slayers are training to fight dragons to prevent this take-down.  They believe that the government can be fixed in other ways.  One Slayer who is actually Overdrake’s son, hiding his true identity and acting as a spy, has betrayed the group to his father.  He knows where they live, and he knows their skills and weaknesses and their strategies.  Once the betrayal is discovered, the Slayers try to protect a reluctant new member and save each other from destruction.

Intense, exciting battle action plays well against some psychological mind control and romantic action among the group.  The action of the teens is realistic even with the superhuman powers from the dragons.  The story moves along at a fast pace after a somewhat slow start.  There is a growing maturity in Tori throughout the story.

This would be a thoroughly enjoyable read for the student who has enjoyed Paolini’s work but wants something modern and urban.           

Summary: Modern-day, urban fantasy involving dragons and the people who desire to kill them (Slayers) and those who want to use them for political gain (Dragon Lords).  There is lots of both physical and psychological action.  High school     

Dragons-Fiction, Adventure-Fiction                                --Joan Theal

Hill, Kirkpatrick. Bo at Ballard Creek.

Hill, Kirkpatrick.  Bo at Ballard Creek.  Macmillan/Henry Holt    2013  278p  ISBN 978-0-8050-9351-3    elem/ms   Hardback      VG  Historical fiction 

Two miners in Alaska are asked to bring a baby to an orphanage on their way to a new job.  They don’t like the looks of the place so they keep and raise the baby themselves. Most of the story takes place when Bo is about five and living at a camp called Ballard Creek and making visits to the nearby Eskimo village. 

The story provides a personal picture of life in a mining camp and the process used to mine gold at the turn of the century.  There is always some kind of excitement, from an airplane landing, to dog-team mail delivery, to a mysterious little lost boy.

From the end flap we learn that the author grew up in mining camps in Alaska and writes about the people and events she knows.  The scattered illustrations give a glimpse of the characters and enhance the story.  Children will enjoy the characters, their family life, their adventures, and the peek at Eskimo life that this title provides.  It’s a good, mostly gentle story about life in a mining camp, best for grades 3-6.   

Summary: Life on the Gold fields of Alaska and the Yukon territory at the turn of the century.  Baby Bo is taken in by two miners and raised alongside Eskimos in the mining camps.  Of interest to students grades 3-6.

Alaska Gold Rush-Fiction                                          --Joan Theal

Hill, Anne E. LeBron James.

Hill, Anne E.  LeBron James.  Twenty First Century see Millbrook  112p  $34.60   978-0-7613-8641-4  2013  ms/hs              E-BN      series: USA Today Lifeline Biographies   Biography

LeBron James is one of the best basketball players around.  His early childhood, including his time living with a youth basketball coach while his mother struggled to care for him, show him to be a hardworking athlete as well as a team player even in his youth.  His early athletic ability in football, basketball and baseball foreshadowed the strength and skills that would be put to the professional test the year after he graduated from high school.  His leadership, charity work, and ability to share the limelight with fellow players make this book an inspiration for young readers.  There are many primary-resource articles and charts taken from USA Today to supplement this easily read biography.  

This biography includes numerous color photos, charts of statistics and a conversational text.  It is a first choice for James’s fans as well as for biography and basketball player reports.  The personality of the man comes through, as do his leadership and athletic skills.  It is suitable for grades 6 and higher.              

A glossary, chapter source notes, list of resources for further reading, statistical charts, and index complete this excellent biography.

Basketball players-Biography                                                                                                                   --Lois McNicol

 

Hill, Susanna Leonard. April Fool, Phyllis.

Hill, Susanna Leonard. April Fool, Phyllis.
Holiday House 2011 unp 16.95
978-0-8234-2270-8
Animal stories VG-BNe

“ When Punxsutawney Phyllis forecasts a blizzard on April Fools' Day--the same day as the Spring Treasure Hunt--the other groundhogs are convinced that Phyllis is pulling a prank. Includes information of the origins of April Fools' Day and how it is celebrated around the world.” Beautifully illustrated, Phyllis the groundhog, known as the “Weather Prophet Extraordinaire” warns everyone that a blizzard is coming for April 1st, the day of the big Spring Treasure Hunt. When everyone, including Uncle Phil thinks Phyllis is playing a practical April Fools joke on them, several family members play pranks on poor Phyllis. Phil Junior sticks his paws in ice to make Phyllis think his claws are freezing from the weather outside and Pete throws confetti into the air to make Phyllis think it is snowing outside. Since no one believed Phyllis, the Spring Treasure Hunt began and the young groundhogs began to uncover clues to the hunt. Much to their surprise, they were hit with a powerful blizzard and Phyllis was able to lead everyone to safety. Uncle Phil now knew that Phyllis was right about her weather prediction and that the rest of the family were the “April fools.”

Beautifully illustrated with earth tone acrylics, students will be able to relate to Phyllis the groundhog in this second installment to Punxsutawney Phyllis.
The author includes information on “April Fools’ Day” for young readers to gain an understanding of this tradition. Would make a great addition to an elementary collection for both casual reading and for introducing students to the traditions of April Fools’ Day. Forba-Mayer,Charleen

Hill, Susanna Leonard. April Fool, Phyllis.

Hill, Susanna Leonard. April Fool, Phyllis.
Holiday House 2011 unp 16.95
978-0-8234-2270-8
Animal stories VG-BNe

“ When Punxsutawney Phyllis forecasts a blizzard on April Fools' Day--the same day as the Spring Treasure Hunt--the other groundhogs are convinced that Phyllis is pulling a prank. Includes information of the origins of April Fools' Day and how it is celebrated around the world.” Beautifully illustrated, Phyllis the groundhog, known as the “Weather Prophet Extraordinaire” warns everyone that a blizzard is coming for April 1st, the day of the big Spring Treasure Hunt. When everyone, including Uncle Phil thinks Phyllis is playing a practical April Fools joke on them, several family members play pranks on poor Phyllis. Phil Junior sticks his paws in ice to make Phyllis think his claws are freezing from the weather outside and Pete throws confetti into the air to make Phyllis think it is snowing outside. Since no one believed Phyllis, the Spring Treasure Hunt began and the young groundhogs began to uncover clues to the hunt. Much to their surprise, they were hit with a powerful blizzard and Phyllis was able to lead everyone to safety. Uncle Phil now knew that Phyllis was right about her weather prediction and that the rest of the family were the “April fools.”

Beautifully illustrated with earth tone acrylics, students will be able to relate to Phyllis the groundhog in this second installment to Punxsutawney Phyllis.
The author includes information on “April Fools’ Day” for young readers to gain an understanding of this tradition. Would make a great addition to an elementary collection for both casual reading and for introducing students to the traditions of April Fools’ Day. Forba-Mayer,Charleen