Moon, Sarah. Sparrow.

Moon, Sarah. Sparrow. Scholastic/Arthur Levine  2017   264p.            $18.99  ISBN 978-1-338-03258-1       ms/hs            Realistic Fiction          VG-BN         

Sparrow does not have friends and really doesn’t know how to make friends.  To escape the stress of life, she flies.  She sees birds and takes off with them in flight.  One day at school she is on the roof and it is assumed she wants to jump.  After a stay in the hospital, she is sent home on the condition that she meet with a therapist.  Sparrow is very slow to open up at all (and it takes 90 pages). The therapist is the most patient person on the planet.  Eventually Sparrow is open enough to try attending a camp for rock musicians.  Among other things, Sparrow learns that other girls have problems too, but they learn how to deal with them.
  

The writing is in the first person so the reader really knows what Sparrow is thinking.  The beginning leads the reader to think that Sparrow is weird, but as the story progresses the reader comes to sympathize with and better understand her.  The triumph Sparrow experiences at the end makes the whole story worthwhile.
  

Although every teenage girl feels disconnected at times in their teen years, it takes a mature reader to handle Sparrow’s thinking.  It may give hope to others who are feeling isolated, but some would not be able to cope with all of Sparrow's thoughts.  

Summary: To escape her social ineptness, Sparrow tunes out and flies.  The story concerns her learning to cope and improve very slowly with the help of a therapist.  About an eighth grader, but psychologically very deep.  Grade 7 up.                               

Shyness-Fiction, Social skills-Fiction                             --Joan Theal

Moon, Sarah Sparrow

Moon, Sarah   Sparrow         Scholastic/Arthur Levine     2017   264p   18.99  978-1-338-03258-1            ms/hs Realistic Fiction          VG-BN 
To escape her social ineptness, Sparrow, tunes out and flies.  The story is how she learns to cope and improves very slowly with the help of a therapist.  About an eighth grader, but psychologically very deep.  Grade 7 up.          
Sparrow does not have friends and really doesn’t know how to make friends.  To escape the stress of life, she flies.  She sees birds and takes off with them in flight.  One day at school she is on the roof and it is assumed she wanted to jump.  After a stay in the hospital, she is sent home on the condition that she meet with a therapist.  Sparrow is very slow to open up at all (90 pages). The therapist is the most patient person on the planet.  Eventually Sparrow is open enough to try a camp for rock musicians.  Sparrow learns, among other things, that other girls have problems too, but they learn how to deal with them.
   The writing is in the first person so the reader really knows what Sparrow is thinking.  The beginning lets the reader think that Sparrow is weird.  As the story progresses the reader comes to sympathize with her and better understand her.  The triumph Sparrow experiences at the end makes the whole story worthwhile.
   Whereas every teenage girl feels disconnected at times in their teen years, it takes a mature reader to handle Sparrow’s thinking.  It would give hope to others feeling isolated, but some would not be able to cope with all the thoughts of Sparrow.                                    Theal(1), Joan

Scott, Elaine. Our Moon.

Scott, Elaine.  Our Moon.  Houghton Mifflin/Clarion  2015  71p  $18.99  ISBN 978-0-547-48394-8  elem/ms     Nonfiction  E-BN           

This is a comprehensive up-to-date book filled with illustrations and full-color photographs about our nearest neighbor. It also includes new theories about how the moon was formed and the facts that support its habitation.   This is a well-written and beautifully formatted book that relates new theories and interesting facts for young readers. The information presented is well supported by relevant illustrations and colorful photographs to illustrate the content.

This book will be an asset to any library because research skills are encouraged with a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. This is a well-written book that would make an excellent addition to any school library. It has been recommended for our Books of Note.

Summary: This is a comprehensive up-to-date book filled with illustrations and full-color photographs about our nearest neighbor. It also includes new theories about how the moon was formed and the facts that support its habitation.       

Moon                                                              --Linda McNeil

Oath of Fealty.

Moon, Elizabeth. Oath of Fealty.
Ballantine see Random 2010 471p 25.00
978-0-345-50874-4 hs/adult VG-BN
Author Elizabeth Moon revisits Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter’s world, focusing on the many people affected by her actions in the trilogy and prequels published 20 years ago. More than two decades ago, Elizabeth Moon, then a first-time novelist, offered readers the “Deed of Paksenarrion” trilogy. Later, to tie up loose ends, Moon published two prequels. With “Oath of Fealty,” Moon returns to the world and time of paladin Paksenarrion. “Fealty” is a page-turner; Ms. Moon’s experience and maturity as a seasoned writer ensure that characters and events are consistent with the earlier stories, avoiding inconsistencies and contradictions.
The book is not about Paksenarrion, instead focusing on the many people affected by her actions during the final half of “Oath of Gold.” Multiple plot lines don’t often intersect, so readers may find it challenging to follow several parallel story lines simultaneously. Kieri Phelan (once Duke) and his elven grandmother, jointly rule Lyonya. Captain Dorrin Varraki becomes involved in her family’s dark plots when Kieri’s royal progress is declared treason by Tasian Crown Prince Mikeli. Captain Jandelir Arcolin becomes the leader of Keri’s former ducal holdings. Paks plays only a minor role in this novel.

This is the first of a projected trilogy, but stands well on its own -- even if the reader has not had the opportunity to read “Deed.” Welliver, Hilary