Flake, Sharon G. Pinned.

Flake, Sharon G.  Pinned.     Scholastic/Grolier  228p  $17.99    978-0-545-05718-9 2012  ms/hs VG-BN       Conflict   

Autumn has a wild crush on Adonis, a wheelchair-bound, grade-A student in her school.  But as long as she is having academic difficulty, he has no use for her.  This novel traces a year in the academic lives of Autumn and Adonis.  Chapters alternate in their perspectives between the two characters.  The story is engaging because Autumn is an endearing character, and Adonis is an interesting character as well, with his drive for achievement and his determination to be the best student he can be.  Secondary plot lines involve another character who cheats on tests and is browbeaten by her parents to achieve academically, and did not come to Adonis’s aid when he really needed her.  Although the action of the novel lags at times, Autumn’s personality and voice will keep the reader turning the pages until the end.                 

Romance–Fiction, Special Education–Fiction, Middle School-Fiction                                                             --Carol Kennedy

Benoit, Peter. The Jamestown Colony.

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Benoit, Peter.     The Jamestown Colony. Scholastic/Grolier  64p  $21.05 978-0-531-23058-9  2013  elm/ms    E-BNS    series: Cornerstones of Freedom      Nonfiction

Presenting the background events surrounding the founding of the first permanent British colony in North America, this title from the Cornerstones of Freedom series has an intimate feel about it.  The scene is set and earlier contacts with North America are summarized before the text explains why the Virginia Company was formed.  Many of the problems associated with founding a colony are detailed.  Most of the colonists were gentlemen looking for easy gold, and they were not prepared for the inadequacies of the chosen location, the difficult relations with the native peoples, and the squabbles among the leaders.

The struggles of the early years, before the settlement was finally firmly established, are described in detail.  The text discusses how, in the first few years, the settlement was decimated by disease,  famine, and periodic Indian attacks.  Finally, there were enough tradespeople to maintain the settlement, and the initial governmental structure provided the basis for the structure of the United States.

The book conveys this history through text, illustrations, photographs, maps and engravings.  Text blocks provide glimpses into some of the personalities involved, and suggest searching out primary sources.  There are one-paragraph biographies identifying important historical individuals, a timeline, a list of primary sources available from the publisher-sponsored web site, and a list of books for further information.  A glossary is included, and the index is very detailed.
  

This title provides a great deal of information in a compact text that is inviting for readers.  It would be enjoyable for the casual student, while at the same time providing sufficient detail for the student preparing a research report.

Jamestown Colony-History                                                                           --Joan Theal

 

McDaniel, Melisa. The Great Depression.

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McDaniel, Melisa.  The Great Depression.  Scholastic/Grolier         64p         $30.00  978-0-531-23056-5  2013              elm/ms                  E-BNS      series: Cornerstones of Freedom     Nonfiction

This succinct book accurately describes the causes, events, and results of the Great Depression.  Written on a low-reading level, this narrative will enlighten young people on this major event in American history.  Melissa McDaniel has taken a complex issue and created a text that will be easily understood by young readers.  The mature content is presented in a manner that is appropriate and truthful, yet sensitively depicts and describes the Great Depression without bias.

The writing is crisp and flows well as the reader journeys through this informative book.  Chapters are divided into subsections, which makes the text more accessible to young readers. It is also visually appealing as black and white photographs represent the time period and enhance the text.  Text boxes and captions deliver additional tidbits of information.  Bold-face words are included in the glossary, providing further understanding.

This short but informative book is a great resource for young readers learning about the Great Depression.  It includes a labeled map, a list of influential individuals, and a timeline.  Newspaper clippings and headlines denote important historical events during the depression.  A glossary, a listing of resources, and an index are also included.
The Great Depression                                                                                                           --Virginia McGarvey

 

Schrefer, Eliot. Endangered.

Schrefer, Eliot.   Endangered.  Scholastic/Grolier                 264p      $17.99   978-0-545-16576-1         2012        ms/hs  VG-BN      Realistic fiction                                

This story starts in Kinshasa, the capital of the Congo, when Sophie, a young Congolese girl, comes to visit her mother for the summer.  During her trip to her mother’s sanctuary for bonobos, she buys an orphan bonobo from a peddler who is mistreating the young bonobo.  This action on her part does not make her mother very happy because it is against governmental laws.  However, before things are able to get sorted out, Sophie and Otto (the bonobo) become very much attached to each other, and a country-wide revolution erupts.

The political unrest starts after Sophie’s mother leaves to reintroduce some bonobos into a wildlife sanctuary.  The sanctuary is attacked by revolutionists and the servants are all killed.  Sophie takes refuge inside the bonobos’ electrified enclosure until the solar-powered setup fails.  At this point Sophie is forced to leave, entering the crosshairs of the conflict, “where bullet holes have bullet holes”.  She comes face-to-face with what one must do “to keep safe, to eat, and to live”.

This is a story about the problems of a third-world country and the love that encompasses humans (in this case, Sophie) and animals.

Note: “Throughout this book, ‘Congo’ refers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (the country formerly known as ‘Zaire’), not neighboring Congo-Brazzaville.          

Congo-Fiction, Human-animal bonding-Fiction, Revolution-Fiction                                                   --Linda McNeil

 

Gordon, Nick. Smoke Jumpers.

Gordon, Nick.  Smoke Jumpers.  Scholastic/Grolier            24p         $22.95  978-0-531-22144-0          2013      elem  VG-Bnes      series: Dangerous Jobs                  Nonfiction

Dangerous jobs fascinate many youngsters, and this hi-lo book about smoke jumpers is sure to have wide appeal.  The book focuses on the details of the missions of these trained firefighters, their equipment and preparation, and the dangers of fighting wildfires.  The simple text accompanying the excellent photographs of these extraordinary men and women is interesting and informative.  Interesting sidebars amplify the text.  The library-bound volume ends with a glossary, a bibliography of books and a web site link, and an index.
Smoke jumpers                                                                                                                                          --Susan Ogintz

von Finn, Denny. Apache Helicopters.

von Finn, Denny.  Apache Helicopters.     Scholastic/Grolier            24p         $23.00  978-0-531-2177-1  2013  elm/ms            E-BN  series: Military vehicles  Nonfiction

This is an outstanding book for young readers who are interested in military science and the aircraft that are used in combat situations.  The photographs of the helicopters, their parts, their payload, and the missions the helicopters fly will immediately captivate young readers.  All the photos are age-appropriate, without blood or gore, yet they show the destructive power of the Apache.   This is a perfect fit for all elementary-school military and aviation collections.  The only quibble is on page 19, with the specifications of the helicopter.  The wide-font style almost creates a blurry image on the page, compared to the crispness of the rest of the text.  Glossary, suggestions for further reading, and an index complete the books in this series.  This one is suitable for grades 2-5.

Helicopters                                                                                                                                                     --Lois McNicol

Franchino, Vicky. Tigers.

Franchino, Vicky.  Tigers.               Scholastic/Grolier            48p         19.65     978-0-531-26839-1   2013            elem  VG-Bnes    series: Nature's Children    Nonfiction

Elementary students who love tigers will appreciate this new title.  Beautifully illustrated with glossy color photographs and illustrations, students gain a better understanding of these amazing mammals.  The book is organized into five easy-to-comprehend chapters, and readers will become acquainted with and fall head-over-heels in love with these beautiful tigers.  Students learn many different things about the tigers’ physical characteristics, as well as diet, habits, habitats, and where tigers can be found.  Tigers spend much of their time alone, as they do not live in packs or among other tigers, except that they often share their territory with one tiger of the opposite sex.  The author touches upon tiger cubs and how cubs survive in the wild.  Students gain a better understanding of tigers of the past and present.  While there are six types of tigers, all are considered endangered and most of them live in Asia, if they are not captured and living in a zoo. 

The title includes beautiful color photographs, a fact file on tigers, interesting fun fact boxes, words to know, a habitat map, a list of recommended books and web sites, and a comprehensive index.      

Tigers                                                                                                                                                                                         --Charleen Forba-Mayer

 

Burgan, Michael. Ancient Incas.

Burgan, Michael.                 Ancient Incas.    Scholastic/Grolier            112p      $25.50   978-0-531-25179-9         2012  jr/sr             E-BNS      series: The Ancient World       Nonfiction

This book provides information about all aspects of the ancient culture of the Inca, including sidebars that examine special discoveries and innovations, photographs that support the text, and biographies of key historical figures.

Author Michael Burgan has brilliantly amassed valuable information about the ancient Incan civilization and produced a well-written chronicle of the life, geography, history, contributions, and legacy of the Inca.  In Chapter One, he shows how the Inca gained political control around Cusco and beyond, maintaining this control through their belief in reciprocity combined with a strong military presence.  Chapter Two is devoted to the organization of the civilization and Inca law.  In Chapter Three, the reader examines the regions of the empire and the contributions of each region, showing how resourceful the Incan was in his use of the land, the animals, the materials for tools and the weather conditions for optimum production of food and clothing.  The near-caste system of the Inca mimics the caste system of India, with each level strictly maintained, and in Chapter Four we study these social levels, daily life and customs relating to daily life.  The Inca were strongly religious, and this is the topic of Chapter Five.  Chapter Five also discusses the advanced architectural skills of the Incan, his ability to do math and his skill at producing fine arts and crafts.  The final chapter describes the fall of the Incan empire. 

All in all, this volume is excellent.  The supporting photographs are not always clear, but many portray events that are hundreds of years old; clarity was not an option.  Burgan’s writing style is advanced yet simple enough for younger readers, a feat not easy to achieve.  The extra sections cover special information about the Inca, and each part is helpful to any young reader who hopes to use this book for leisure reading or research.  Leaders are enumerated at the end of the book, an extensive timeline is included, and a two-page glossary is helpful.  Burgan ends with a list of books to consult and an index.

 Inca                                                                                                                                                       --Martha Squaresky