Applet, Kathi, and Alison McGhee. Maybe A Fox.

Applet, Kathi, and Alison McGhee.  Maybe A Fox.  Simon & Schuster/Atheneum  2016  272p  $16.99  ISBN 978-1-4424-8242-5  elem/ms  Fantasy  VG-BN

Eleven-year-old Jules is fascinated with rocks and collects them for fun and making wishes on as she skips them into the river. Her sister, twelve-year-old Sylvie, is a fast runner and works hard at becoming even faster. The girls and their father are struggling with the death of their mother a few years ago, but the family is learning to adjust to their new “normal”. The girls try hard to obey their father’s list of “Do Nots”, but one morning Sylvie feels the need to throw a wishing rock in the river before school, a dangerous act that is forbidden by their father. She disappears and her body is never found. Jules and her father are plunged into grief once more. As Sylvie disappears, a fox kit is born that is Kennen, which means she is spiritually connected to another creature. The kit doesn’t know why, but she is drawn to Jules as the girl tries to figure out why her sister needed to run so fast. One day, Jules figures it out with the help of the fox, and as she tries to throw a wishing rock in the river in honor of her sister, the fox saves her. Jules is not the only one mourning, as a secondary plotline follows Zeke, the older brother of her friend Sam, whose best friend doesn’t return with him from their tour in Afghanistan. Jules and Zeke bond as they try to deal with their losses.

The story is heavy, but is lightened by the alternating perspective of Jules and the fox kit. The struggles of the child as she mourns her sister and best friend and the fading memories of the mother she lost years before are heart-wrenching. The conclusion is touching, as Jules discovers why her sister felt compelled to run so fast and the enormous grief she, too, carried with her. Recommended.

Summary: Jules is an eleven-year-old who loves to skip rocks in the river. One day her sister Sylvie disappears while skipping a rock in the river, and her body is never found. The same day, a fox kit is born who appears to be half-human.      

Foxes-Fiction, Missing persons-Fiction, Sisters-Fiction  --Stephanie Pennucci

Bird.

Chan, Crystal.  Bird.  Simon & Schuster/Atheneum  2014  298p  $16.99    ISBN 978-1-4424-5089-9   elem/ms   Realistic fiction       E-BN           

Jewel, born on the day her brother John “Bird” died, has always felt disconnected from her parents and mute grandfather. Her friendship with Eugene and their positive influence on each other, as well as her entire family dynamic, come to a head when he has an accident.     Crystal Chan has penned a most lyrical debut novel in Bird. Set in Caledonia, Iowa, the book tells the story of the life of a family after the death of a treasured son, Jewel’s brother John.  In this beautiful novel, the relationships are drawn vividly, the multiracial nature of Jewel’s family is central without the tone being preachy, and the depths of sorrow are addressed.  The modern western world meets the folkloric traditions of Jamaica.  Compromise between cultures is hard to come by for Jewel’s parents, and this often tears her apart.  Her friend Eugene, a boy who also feels disenfranchised in his family, helps her to cope with many of her problems, and she helps him with his.  The book has many wonderful passages, such as this one, which expresses the silence that seems to wrap this family in the ever present death of John:
 

“I stayed outside for a long time collecting cattails in the ditches, until the twisting sensation inside me relaxed and the darkening sky started thundering on the horizon.  Only then did I walk home with my squishing shoes, feeling quieter, my soul water and growing.”

Summary: Jewel, born on the day her brother John “Bird” died, has always felt disconnected from her parents and mute grandfather. Her friendship with Eugene and their positive influence on each other, as well as her entire family dynamic, come to a head when he has an accident.  

Death-Fiction, Multicultural novels             --Lynn Fisher

Noggin.

Whaley, John Corey.  Noggin.  Simon & Schuster/Atheneum     2014  346p  $17.99  ISBN 978-1-4424-5872-7      hs    Science fiction     VG-BN

Science fiction may explain the premise of sewing one’s head onto another’s body to survive, but realistic fiction explains the remainder of this impeccably written novel.  Too ill to survive his cancer diagnosis, Travis decides to remove his head from his ravaged body and freeze it until a future date when medical advances are available to save him.  Five years after his “death,” he emerges with a new body and an old life.  Implausible becomes believable in this original novel, which takes you to the heart of life.  As impossible as it seems, the reader will forget that this sixteen-year old who is really twenty-one is living in the future.  He tries to rekindle his relationship with the love of his life, only to discover that she is now engaged and attending college.  Travis is back in high school where he makes a new friend, a likeable fellow who is perfect medicine for his loneliness.  Travis must also help his old friend Kyle accept his homosexuality, which had been revealed to Travis while he was on his death bed.  The scenes in which all of these conflicts play out are beautifully written, humorous and tragic at the same time.  The premise of life after death has never been penned in such a unique way.  The themes that Whaley shares are universal, yet everyone needs to be reminded that life is temporary, that friendships should be valued, and that relationships don’t always turn out as one hopes.  All in all, this is a treasure of a book written with fine narrative style. 

Summary: Travis wakes up five years after his death with a new body attached to his head, which was preserved by cryogenics.  He finds his girlfriend engaged to someone else, his best friend Kyle poised to announce his sexuality, and a mystery involving his parents.       

Conflict, Cryogenics-Fiction                          --Martha Squaresky

Farmer, Nancy. The Lord of Opium.

Farmer, Nancy.  The Lord of Opium.  Simon & Schuster/ Atheneum    2013 411p ISBN 978-1-4424-8254-8   ms/hs  E-BN  Fantasy     

In this sequel to Farmer’s House of the Scorpion, Matteo, the worthless 14-year-old clone of El Patron, becomes the very human El Patron.  Finding himself in charge of the country of Opium, and overseer of the mind-controlled populace, Matt decides to change the order of things.  As with her other books, Nancy Farmer has created an exceptional YA page turner. The relationships between Matteo and leaders of the other drug countries, as well as his relationships with his most trusted employees and advisors, are truly the pivot points of this book. The story is another of the dystopian variety, with the well-meaning Matt struggling to find answers to the many ills of Opium, and is very well plotted. But it is the storylines involving friends and enemies that truly make this such a fantastic read.  This reader could not find a single negative point to highlight in this review.  While this book is classed as YA, as with so many YA titles, adults will enjoy reading it as well, as did this reviewer.  

Summary: In this sequel to Farmer’s House of the Scorpion, Matteo, the worthless 14-year-old clone of El Patron, becomes the very human El Patron.  Finding himself in charge of the country of Opium, and overseer of the mind-controlled populace, Matt decides to change the order of things. 

Dystopian novels                                            --Lynn Fisher

Baucom, Ian. Through the Skylight.

Baucom, Ian.  Through the Skylight.  Simon & Schuster/Atheneum  2013  390p  $16.99  978-1-4424-4482-9 elm/ms      Fantasy      E-BN       

In this story based on One Thousand and One Nights (which I reviewed in its uncorrected proof), Jared, Miranda and Shireen find magical items in an old shop in Venice.  As their father reads to them from an ancient copy of One Thousand and One Nights, the story actually comes alive to the children.  They meet Rashid, Maria and Francesca and help rescue the poor children of medieval Venice who were tricked into starting the Children’s Crusade.  With the help of a cat, a stone lion, a faun and a dragon that the children teach to talk, everyone is safely returned to their homes.
  

This title gives flesh to the concept of immersing oneself in a story and having it come alive as you read.  The author is adept at weaving the Arabian Nights story into the real lives of the characters and making the whole thing seem plausible.  The characters are well developed, with skills, faults and realistic interactions.  The action is well paced and the intertwining of medieval and modern times is especially satisfying.
 

Because I read the uncorrected proof, the artwork was missing or was indicated with quick sketches.  It will be very interesting to see the finished product.  The sketches that are included appear to enhance the text very well.
 

Grades 5-8 will quickly be drawn into this fantasy and will enjoy it immeasurably.       

Fantasy–Fiction, The Arabian Nights–Fiction              --Joan Theal

Calhoun, Dia. Eva of the Farm.

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Calhoun, Dia.     Eva of the Farm.  Simon & Schuster/Atheneum     256p  $16.99  978-1-44241-7007      elm/ms            VG      Realistic fiction

Twelve-year-old Eva’s family has owned a farm in Washington state for many generations. The economy is poor, and her baby brother’s severe illness has left the family in great debt.  As a result, the family is faced with foreclosure and losing the farm.

Eva is a very talented poet, and she uses her writing to cope with her feelings during this difficult time.  She tries selling her poetry to raise money for the struggling family, but she cannot earn enough money in time.  As the family faces the impending foreclosure, her talent is discovered in an unlikely place and manner, and this helps the family resolve the farm’s crisis.

Written in the first person, the entire story is told in poetry.  Dia Calhoun has created an exciting and engaging piece of fiction that is lively and entertaining.  Although it is written as poetry, the narrative unfolds in a story fashion; it is a non-threatening page turner that will entice young and reluctant readers.

This clever, well-written book will resonate with and entertain both young and reluctant readers.  It is recommended as an essential book for any elementary or middle school.   -- Virginia McGarvey

Poetry – Fiction, Realistic fiction, Farms – Fiction  -- Virginia McGarvey   

Kuhlman, Evan. Brother From A Box.

Kuhlman, Evan.    Brother From A Box.     Simon & Schuster/Atheneum     304p  $16.99      978-1-4424-2658-0       elem/ms      E-BNe       Science fiction  

Matthew Rambeau knows that his father and uncle are great inventors, but imagine his surprise when he gets a new robot-brother in a box from France!  Family healing, espionage and humorous encounters blend to produce a hilariously creative book!  Norman the robot is comical and endearing as he attempts to fit into Matthew’s family and school life.  Needless to say, upon Norman’s arrival, Matthew’s life changes.  There are two conflicts that must be resolved for Norman to peacefully coexist in the U. S. with Matthew and his family.  First, some family healing must take place.  Mrs. Rambeau lost her first child Lucien soon after delivery and initially rejects Norman because he looks exactly like her deceased son.  Next, Uncle Jean-Pierre of France and Matthew’s dad of New York City designed the robot, but Jean-Pierre’s girlfriend Veronique actually built him.  She is disgruntled because they won’t go public with their invention, and she leaves Jean-Pierre. 

Espionage in the form of an attempt to steal Norman greatly adds to the excitement!  In addition to a perfectly developed plot, the comic element cannot be ignored!  Children will love this book!  Norman’s antics include abilities that are ever more amazing to Matthew as each one is revealed!  Kuhlman has invented a character that every child in the world will want, and that is no easy feat!  Whereas forty years ago, this book would have been classified as science fiction, now its premise is believable, and in the near future, attainable!  What Kuhlman did that is futuristic is to create a robot that can think and problem-solve for himself, and with each new situation that arises, Norman wins over everyone around him.          

This book is an excellent choice for both elementary and middle-school readers.  Kuhlman’s writing style is sublimely creative!  

Robots–Fiction, Science fiction                                                         -- Martha Squaresky