Young, Judy. Wild World of Buck Bray.

Young, Judy.  Wild World of Buck Bray.  Sleeping Bear Press  2016  227p  $17.99  ISBN 978-1-58536-970-6        elem/ms  Mystery/Detective            VG-BN

Buck is working with his father for the first time to film a wilderness-oriented TV show for children.  With the cameraman’s daughter, Toni, they spot a mother bear and her two cubs.  They see this group several times, until one day the cubs are not with the mother bear.  Buck and Toni have innocently led the poachers to the cubs.  They eventually realize that adults they trusted are not what they seemed to be.  As they work to solve the mystery, they find their own lives in danger.

This novel has great adventure, mystery, and beautiful descriptions of the animals and Denali National Park in Alaska.  This would be a great read for grades 5-6, older for reluctant readers.                       

Summary: Buck is filming a TV show in Denali National Park.  When two bear cubs disappear, he and friend Toni solve the crime, putting their lives in danger.  This novel includes great adventure, nature, and descriptions of the park.  Grade 4 up.

National Parks-Fiction, Bears-Fiction                                                                                    --Joan Theal

Meyer, William. The Secret Scarab Beetle.

Meyer, William.   The Secret Scarab Beetle.     Sleeping Bear Press(Cengage)  2016  240p  $16.99  ISBN 978-1-58536-938-6      elem/ms  Fantasy  VG

When Horace J. Edwards’s grandfather unexpectedly dies, his grandmother gives him a cryptic message.  Then a surprise package arrives for Horace and he must determine the relationship between the message and the gift. Once Horace pieces together the conundrum, he finds himself on a time travel mission back to Ancient Egypt in which he must avert an evil deed that could change history forever.

In this fast-paced, adventurous historical novel, William Meyers combines the daily life of a typical eleven-year-old boy with accurate Ancient Egyptian history.  The story brings to life the history of this time period, and it will engage and appeal to young readers.  As the first book in an upcoming series, the ending satisfies the reader but also leave enough questions unanswered to support the arrival of the second book.  Young readers will enjoy this page-turner and find themselves anticipating the next installment.

Summary: When Horace J. Edwards’s grandfather unexpectedly dies, his grandmother gives him a cryptic message, and when a surprise package arrives for Horace, he must decode the message and complete a mission that takes him back to Ancient Egypt.     

Time travel-Fiction, Ancient Egypt-Fiction            --Virginia McGarvey

Smith, Roland, and Michael P. Spradlin. The Alamo.

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Smith, Roland, and Michael P. Spradlin.   The Alamo. (I, Q series, Book 4)  Cengage/Sleeping Bear   2013  255p  ISBN 978-1-58536-822-8   ms/hs  VG  Adventure

Q (Quest) and Angela, along with some old spies (SOS) and assistance from the President of the United States, are still on the trail of a terrorist group that has five operatives.  In previous books, they have helped to neutralize a couple of the terrorists.  For readers new to the series, a cast of characters, along with their relationships and personalities, precedes the first chapter, as does a summary of the last three books.  Because there are so many characters, new readers will make good use of this preface material.  This adventure takes Q and Angela to the Alamo and a rock concert in San Antonio, where the next bomb is set to go off.  There is magic (thanks to Quentin), spooky happenings (thanks to Boone and his dog Croc), and lots of thrilling action. Fans of the series will eat this one up and be panting for the next book, which will take the crew to Chicago.                   

Summary: Two teenagers become involved with tracking a terrorist group. This fourth in a series ties up loose ends from previous adventures and hints of another series of adventures to come. Action adventure, spies and visits to national landmarks. Grades 7-10.

Action Adventure                                            --Lois McNicol

Smith, Roland. Kitty Hawk. (I, Q. series)

Smith, Roland.  Kitty Hawk. (I, Q. series)  Sleeping Bear Press(Cengage) 229p 8.95  978-1-58536-604-0       2012  ms    VG-BN          Conflict   

In the wake of a kidnapping, Q and his stepsister find themselves in hot pursuit of the terrorists responsible, with much thrilling derring-do along the way.  Smith really knows how to get the adrenaline flowing with his action-packed descriptions of cat-and-mouse interplay among the “goodies” and the “baddies”.  His timing and sense of danger are ever-present features that will keep young readers who enjoy thrillers turning the pages.

This reviewer questions the morality of handing children books in which the protagonists casually activate drones to kill their enemies, in light of the real-life use of drones being used all over the world.  However, one cannot deny that this book is well written and will engage readers who enjoy edge-of-your-seat adventure and unexpected turns of plot. 

Kidnapping–Fiction, Drone warfare-Fiction             --Carol Kennedy

Dallas, Sandra. The Quilt Walk.

Dallas, Sandra.       The Quilt Walk.               Sleeping Bear Press(Cengage)     213p      $15.95  978-1-58536-800-6            2012    elm/ms                  VG-BN                      Historical fiction

                                   

Ten-year-old Emmy Blue Hatchett and her family leave their Illinois farm during the 1860s and head for Colorado to establish businesses to supply the needs of Gold Rush hopefuls.  The challenging journey forces difficult decisions on every family member, as they choose what to keep and what to leave behind, but Emmy is excited by the adventure and keenly observant as the story progresses.  This book would be a fine companion volume to the Little House series by Wilder. While Emmy is similar to scrappy Laura, her mother is reminiscent of Wilder’s “Ma” -- especially when she stubbornly wears every stitch of clothing she owns for hundreds of miles because her husband claims there is insufficient space for clothing and quilts to be packed in the wagon. 

Emmy is a tom girl, so the trek allows her to test the boundaries of her bravery.  There are Indians, and river crossings, and even death on the trail.  Emmy must also bend to conformity.  She must work on her quilt every day, help out with chores, and learn about the bonds formed by women of all ages.  This is particularly evident when she demands justice for a young woman trapped in an abusive relationship.

The novel ends well, and readers can clearly see that Emmy will thrive in the Western frontier.  They will also be clamoring for a sequel!                

Western expansion-Fiction, Adventure                                                                                --Hilary Welliver  

 

Bunting, Eve. The Voyage of the Sea Wolf.

Bunting, Eve.     The Voyage of the Sea Wolf.   Cengage/Sleeping Bear   191p $8.95  978-1-58536-790-0       ms/hs       E-BN      Historical fiction     

In this, the sequel to The Pirate Captain’s Daughter, Catherine and William are rescued from Pox Island by the pirates of the Sea Wolf, but their troubles are not over.  Catherine, daughter of a deceased pirate captain, finds herself and her true love, William the cabin boy, rescued from their exile on Pox Island by the crew of the Sea Wolf, another pirate ship.  When the captain of the Sea Wolf -- a woman! -- takes a shine to William herself, Catherine must endure her wrath and the fear that she will lose William forever.  However, after the Sea Wolf’s abortive attempt to raid another pirate ship, Catherine and William grab their chance at freedom and look forward to further adventures together.

The language is beautiful, succinct and at times floral.  One gets a real sense of adventure, and the threat of violence is never far away.  This would be an excellent choice for reluctant readers, or hi-lo readers in middle school and high school.           

Pirates-Fiction, Adventure                                  --Carol Kennedy

Young, Judy. A Book For Black-Eyed Susan

Young, Judy.   A Book For Black-Eyed Susan          

Sleeping Bear Press(Cengage)        2011   unp 16.95  978-1-58536-463-3            

elem    Historical                    E-BNe 

While traveling on the

Oregon Trail, a young girl makes a cloth first book for her baby sister so she

will always remember the trip and the sister who loves her.      Cora's mother

dies as her baby sister is born.  Cora helps name her Susan after her mother╒s

favorite flower - black-eyed Susans.  Her aunt cares for the baby and to pass

the time, Cora sews patches to help Susan remember the home they left, the

travel across the prairie and her family.  When she learns that Susan will go to

California with the aunt and uncle while she and her father go to Oregon, Cora

sews the patches together to make a cloth first book for Susan.  A surprise

ending completes the story full circle.

   The illustrations are in gorgeous water color.  They fit the mood and

beautifully enhance the text.  The colors are bright yet soft befitting the mood

of the story.

   This historical fiction depicts the hardships along the Trail as well as the

sense of loss and separation experienced by most travelers.  The events could

very easily have happened to any family.  They definitely ring true to the

historical period.

  An excellent book for elementary schools and can also be used in middle school

in connection with a study of the Oregon Trail and Westward Expansion.      

            Theal, Joan