Green

Author: Laura Peyton Roberts

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Year: 2010

Most of the readers will be: Late elementary and middle school girls.

Reader's Advisory: For another book about leprechauns try Linda Joy Singleton's Shamrocked!

Summary:

Lilybet Green comes home on her thirteenth birthday to an exploding package. While trying to figure out what has happened she is kidnapped by leprechauns. She learns that she has leprechaun blood and they want her to be their new "Keeper." Her grandmother, Gigi, was their previous keeper and since she died they haven't had one. Lilybet needs to pass three tests to become Keeper and at first she isn't too motivated to help the leprechauns out. But she learns that if she fails they will erase everything about themselves from her memory, including Gigi, since she was one of them. Lil agrees to take on the tests only to discover that they are more difficult than usual. Does someone want her to fail?

My favorite passage:

"It's getting too dark!" I whined. I hated being so wimpy, but we'd been hiking a couple of hours, and the sun had gone all the way down. Not only that, but Cain walked ridiculously fast for such a short guy. I could barely keep up with him, stumbling over rocks and roots in the dark. "When are we going to stop?"

"Top o' this ridge ought to do it. And by all means, lass, keep to thrashing about like a wounded elephant. Every creature for ten leagues knows we're out here now."

A low-hanging branch slapped me in the face. Shrieking, I flailed through its foliage until I realized I wasn't actually under attack.

"You can take a thing too far," Cain said dryly.

"I can't see! I have to light one of my candles."

"It'll just blow out, won't it? That is, if you don't set the whole woods alight. The moon will be out soon enough.

"How does that help me? I'm going to break a leg now."

Cain exhaled impatiently somewhere near my knees. "How do humans get through a day?"

"Mostly in daylight," I retorted.

The woods went totally silent. Of all the times to think of a comeback! I berated myself, horrified. If he gets mad and abandons me here...

And then a hearty laugh boomed out of the darkness. "In daylight, indeed! Well parried, lass. (pg 93-94)

What I really think:

This is a cute quest-type story with a very reluctant heroine. It addresses some issues like fitting in and communication with parents. However these issues come up more at home and most of the story takes place with the leprechauns. While she is with the leprechauns, Lilybet does grow and gain self confidence. She also learns how feel connected to the grandmother she has missed since her death.

Overall I thought the book was fun and an easy read.

Simon Bloom, The Gravity Keeper

This is a review of the audio book.

Author: Michael Reisman

Reader: Nicholas Hormann

Producer: Listening Library

Production Year: 2008

Most of the listeners will be: Late elementary to early middle school boys and girls.

Listener's Advisory: I know these don't need any recommendation, but in case you've only read the book, give the Harry Potter audio books a listen.

Summary:

With a pop and the lingering smell of vacuum cleaner bags space-time rips open and drops the Teacher's Edition of Physics on Simon Bloom's head. But this is no ordinary book. Simon soon discovers that by speaking formulae he can control things like gravity and friction. He shares his secret with his best friend Owen, and later with Alysha who is suddenly more interested in what they are up to than hanging out with her "cool" friends. Soon the three learn that some very powerful people are after the book and are none too pleased that Simon has it. The book is supposed to be with the Keeper of the Order of Physics, but it (The Book) is acting like Simon is the Keeper even though he is an outsider to the Knowledge Union. Can Simon and his friends save The Book from the tattooed lady and convince the Order of Physics that they're on their side?

My favorite passage:

After meeting a spy from the Order of Biology, the kids find out that Owen and Alysha can each learn a formula if Simon writes it down on a piece of paper with their name on it. Alysha chooses a formula based on her knowledge of the enemy (the people trying to steal the book). But Owen chooses a formula based on his knowledge of himself. He bemoans the fact that when faced with danger he freezes. He learns a velocity formula so he can create motion where there is none. I like that he isn't just trying to make himself more powerful physically, but also emotionally.

What I really think:

Ever since Harry Potter became a sensation reviewers have been eager to say that this series or that series will be "the next Harry Potter." (There was a review along those lines on the copy of Theodosia and Staff of Osiris I read.) However many of these books do not possess some of the key qualities that make the Harry Potter books so appealing.

Simon Bloom does.

1) Camaraderie. Simon has friends who both support him and are awesome in their own right.

2) Contemporary setting. This story takes place now. The Knowledge Union goes to great lengths not to be noticed by "outsiders."

3) Magic, but not magic because we do actually want this to be different from Harry Potter. Simon makes miraculous things happen by using science. He manipulates physical properties and has to thoroughly understand them to get a good result.

In case you couldn't tell, I give this book my seal of approval.

Leaving the Bellweathers

Author: Kristin Clark Venuti

Publisher: Egmont

Publication Year: 2009

Most of the readers will be: Late elementary and early middle school girls and boys.

Reader's Advisory: For another book about an eccentric family try Stephanie Tolan's Surviving the Applewhites.

Summary:

The Benway family Oath of Fealty is almost up and Benway the butler can not wait to be free of the Bellweather family. The only trouble is how to fund his retirement. He solves this problem by writing a book that is sure to be a best seller. It is a tell-all memoir about working for the Bellweathers. As Benway completes his final days and his memoir, the Bellweather children wonder what could make Benway want to leave? Is it Spider's newest pet, the endangered albino aligator? Is it the family of circus performers Ninda is hiding in her room until they unionize? Or could it be the triplets' destructive "artwork"? Now the biggest question of all is, can the children get Benway to stick around?

My favorite passage:

"No sudden moves," Spider called out, too late. Grimsby had already started to run. Now everyone knows that one should never run from an Endangered Albino Alligator. They consider this a challenge and are likely to pursue their prey. It is unfortunate indeed that Grimsby was possibly the only person in the world who did not know this.

Grimsby had a head start, but Albino Alligators are notoriously fast, and this one, jaws chomping, had almost caught up with him when the postman fell into one of the triplet's deeper pits. The animal was clearly irritated by this turn of events. The trap was narrow but surprisingly deep, considering that it was the work of three nine-year-olds, and he could see no way to get at Grimsby.

The beast circled the pit, regarding Grimsby through his blood-red eyes and snapping his teeth together every few seconds. "QUICK, SOMEONE! CALL THE POLICE," Sassy shouted.

"CALL AN AMBULANCE," Brick yelled.

"CALL THE MORGUE," shrieked Spike.

"No need for any of that." Spider's voice carried with it such authority that all fell silent. (pg 40-41)

What I really think:

What a delightful book! I don't know that many children can relate to having a butler, but they can relate to having adults not understand them. This novel puts forth the idea that when adults and children try to understand each other there can be compromise and harmony. Also, there is lots of great mischief and Superfluous Capitalization.

Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris

Author: R. L. LaFevers

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

Publication Year: 2008

Most of the readers will be: Middle school girls and boys.

Reader's Advisory: For a historical fiction mummy book try I am the Mummy Heb-Neferet by Eve Bunting.

Summary:

Theodosia Throckmorton arrives at her parents' museum one morning to discover all the mummies from Britain gathered there. She soon realizes they are answering the call of the Staff of Osiris which is located in the basement of the museum. She can stop the staff from drawing the mummies, but she fails to stop the Serpents of Chaos from stealing the staff. Now they have power over the dead and Theodosia's research leads her to believe the staff can be used for even more sinister purposes. Can Theodosia stop the Serpents of Chaos from stealing the crown jewel of the British navy?

My favorite passage:

After I made the last notation on my paper, I reached up to stretch.

There was a faint rustle behind me. I whipped my head around. "Isis?"

But it wasn't she who had made the noise. She stood frozen in her spot, back arched, staring at the statue of Anubis.

Which yawned.

Or maybe it was more a stretching of his jaws. Either way, it wasn't something a statue ought to do.

Worried, I stepped forward for a better look, then jumped back as the jackal shook himself, like a dog awakening from a nap.

This was bad. Very bad.

I looked into the statue's eyes and he looked back at me, his hackles rising. He growled.

The growl ran along my skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps in its wake. Isis, who wasn't used to hearing dog noises in her domain, hissed loudly.

The jackal swung his head in her direction, recognized immediately that she was a cat, then leaped off the shrine toward her.

Oh no!

Isis yowled and darted into the small space between the wall and the sarcophagus, and the jackal skidded to a stop. Frustrated, he tried to squeeze in after her, but he was too big. (pg 34-35)

What I really think:

Not another British book about a conflict with the Germans! Yup, it only comes up a few times but the ultimate goal behind the chaos caused by the Serpents of Chaos is to increase tensions between Britain and Germany. Based on the fact that the main form of transportation is a horse drawn carriage I'm guessing these books are set pre World War I. The theme of blaming the fact that Britain and Germany don't get along on supernatural powers is also getting a little old. Is this to relieve guilt over the fact that Britain has to keep rehashing its conflicts with Germany? We can't let this stuff go, but we can pretend it wasn't really your fault.

My other big issue with this book is more superficial. There is nothing on the front, back or title page that says, "This is book Two!" I do not start series in the middle and in this case I honestly didn't know. I finally noticed that the review on the back is for a different book, Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, which I assume is the first in the series. And the summary on the front flap does say, "Once again..." However I find these indicators to be too obscure to convey to me the information I need to know. Namely: this book is part of a series and it is not the first book.

The novel itself is entertaining enough. But not so much that I was able to overcome my annoyance over the two previously mentioned points.

The Secret of Zoom

Author: Lynne Jonell

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Year: 2009

Most of the readers will be: Late elementary and early middle school girls.

Reader's Advisory: For another book that has some cool inventions, read The Gadget War by Betsy Duffy.

Summary:
Christina Adnoid lives with her father in the Loompski mansion. Her father is the head scientist for Loompski Labs and her mother died in an explosion when Christina was young. Her father tries to protect Christina by having her home schooled by a computer and keeping her inside as much as possible. But first Christina meets one of the orphans from the nearby orphanage run by Lenny Loompski and then she finds a secret passage out of the mansion. Christina and Taft (the orphan) learn that Lenny Loompski is up to no good. Can they save the other orphans and reveal Lenny's nefarious plot? With the help of Christina's perfect pitch and a magical stone called "zoom" they can.

My favorite passage:

The orphans sat in the dust, all eyes fixed on Christina. She had told them very little about herself - who knew if one of them might accidentally blurt something out in front of a guard? But they seemed most interested in the fact that she wasn't an orphan.
"So..." Dorset traced a line in the dirt with her finger. "What's it like to have a father?"
Christina looked around the circle of children. The faces were all different, and yet every child had the same look: unwashed, uncared-for, eyes large and hungry.
The small boy at Christina's side tugged at her sleeve. "Not a Happy Orphan Daddy," he whispered. "The real kind."
"Well," Christina began, and stopped. What could she possibly say?
The orphans inched closer, leaning in to hear.
Christina tried again. "I guess...a real father keeps you safe."
A soft sigh went up from each orphan throat.
"What about a mother?" asked a small girl with tangled hair and an upturned nose. "What does she do?"
Christina gazed at the girl thoughtfully and reached out a hand. "A mother does a lot of things. Like this, for one." She pulled the girl in close and began to comb gently through the tangled hair with her fingers. (pg 215-216)

What I really think:
This book started out a little slow but I quickly grew to love it. As a music person I like that the zoom is activated by singing and the little air plane is turned on by singing the notes in a chord. But what really got me was the passage I transcribed above.

So many protagonists have parents that are absent or not too great. This allows children to have adventures and furthers the storyline. But, it is still nice to have this one book where the child talks warmly about her parents, both of whom are still alive. (I know I said Christina's mother is dead, you'll have to read the book to see how Jonell pulls this off.)

At first Christina's father does seem a little distant. He keeps her isolated from the outside world, and likes to talk to her about math (which she hates). But Christina knows how much he loves her and appreciates that he is trying to keep her safe. The beauty of her family really makes the book.

The Morgue and Me

Author: John C. Ford

Publisher: Viking

Publication Year: 2009

Most of the readers will be: High school boys.

Reader's Advisory: For another 2009 mystery, try The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

Summary: Christopher Newell thinks that working at the morgue over the summer will help prepare him for his future career as a spy. He is more right than he could have predicted. One day he sees the medical examiner and the sheriff talking over a dead body. He finds $15,000 in a brief case in the medical examiner's office. Christopher learns from the newspaper the next day that the dead guy is named Mitch Blaylock and his death was ruled a suicide. But when Christopher sneaks a peak at the body himself, he sees that Mitch took several bullets to the chest. In his search to uncover who murdered Mitch Blaylock, and why the murder is being covered up, he teams up with Tina, an attractive journalist. Can Christopher and Tina unravel the mystery without ending up like Mitch?

My favorite passage:

Someone was knocking on my window. Loudly.
It was the insanely hot woman from the Courier, which made me wonder if maybe I was still fantasizing. Or maybe, better, she was stalking me. I rolled down the window to find out.
"You again," she said. "You're popping up all over."
"Yeah, me again. Hi."
"So listen..." She stopped to fish for something in her bag and came up with the memo I had left for Art Bradford, Senior Reporter. Apparently, she had decided to intercept it. Hmm. Her eyes found what she needed and looked back at me. "...Chris. We need to talk."
I almost said something. I make everyone call me Christopher. It fits the savvy NSA operative I hope to be someday. "Chris" feels neutered, like the professors who ride bikes around campus with straps around their pant legs. But something about the woman turned me to jelly, and I made my first-ever exception to the name rule.
"Umm, okay. About what?"
"What do you think? C'mon, we're going to lunch." She walked over to her car, not bothering to check if I was following her. On the way, she pulled out a cell phone and tossed the gum she'd been smacking into some bushes.
The car was a black Trans Am. It had a T-top roof and a gold falcon painted on the hood.
It fit her perfectly. (pg 51-52)

What I really think:
The mystery kept me reading, but there were many other charming elements to this novel. I like that Christopher seems very grown up while he is doing some of his investigating, but he is still a kid when it comes to relationships. The fact that he is spending so much time with an older woman seems weird, but the way they interact with each other is realistic. He has a crush on Tina, but realizes she isn't interested in him. And although he constantly talks about how hot Tina is, he clearly has stronger feelings for his high school crush - a girl he has been too shy to ask out. The book is both fun and well written.