Gotta Get Some Bish Bash Bosh by M.E. Allen

   Youth Fiction Pick

   Newly dumped because of a lack of bish bash bosh, or sex appeal, the protagonist is ready to make some major changes. The book could be better, but is not bad. It's clean, funny and engaging for young readers. It says it's written for a 6-9 grade audience, but I think that might be stretching it. I think more a 6/7 audience.

Favorite Quote:

"That girl could stir up a riot in a bag of marshmallows."

Overall Opinion:

The first person narrative and perspective was quite engaging. I liked his personality. I enjoyed his journey.

Rating:

7

Midnight is a Place by Joan Aiken

Youth Fiction Pick

   I was waiting for it to get mysterious and, frankly, better. It got slightly better though not very mysterious. There are other books on the shelves that would be better picks. It stayed on the marginal side of okay and then completely fell apart on the last few pages.

Overall Opinion:

Maybe a young reader might like it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Rating:

4

The Postcard by Tony Abbott

Youth Fiction Pick

   Now, if you read my Firegirl review, you know that I enjoyed Tony Abbott. The Postcard is no exception. Written for a younger audience, this "mystery within a mystery" is engaging for all readers and something I like as a mother of boys, a male protagonist.

   Jason has just begun his summer vacation when he learns that he must join his father in a visit to Florida. Jason's paternal grandmother who he doesn't know and is rarely spoken of has died. Unhappy with being there and while cleaning up, Jason unexpectedly learns something about his grandmother through an old postcard. The mystery adventure begins.

  

Favorite Quote:

"There was no fight, no rumble of berets and spatulas and walkers.

Overall Opinion:

Grab your 8-12 year olds and wow them with a good time with a good book!

Rating:

Borrow It For Your Kids

The High King The Chronicles of Prydain - Book 5 by Lloyd Alexander

Youth Fiction Pick  

   Written in epic style, The High King, was a good fantasy adventure that thrilled its reader. My only complaint is that there wasn't enough review of the previous story; I felt a little adrift during the story. The book looked like it was going to close kind of lamely for a second, but recovered nicely.


Favorite Quote:

"Memory lives longer than what it remembers."


Overall Opinion:

I think boys will enjoy the series. If they are familiar with the Lord of the Rings series, this one should be a welcome addition.


Rating:

8

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

   Number 50!!!

   Whoo hoo! Fifty books since my venture began almost twelve weeks ago! Very excited which, when translated, means lots of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a bit surprised that it was Tuck Everlasting actually. I usually read my children's pick when I am at the gym since they are paperback and I can hold them comfortably with one hand and read while I run on the treadmill (a definite timekiller!). I thought my fiftieth book was going to be... you didn't really think I was going to say did you? But, as I was at the gym tonight it was Ms. Babbitt's book instead.
   On to the book!
   I was surprised by the story, having seen the movie, I know, I know, never judge a book by its cover and never!, ever!, evereverever!!!, (think Smokey from Friday when you say that) think you know a book because you have seen the movie. Ugh! Quelle horreur!! I must be part philistine to have done that (and more than once too, eek)!
   Back to the book! (That sentence didn't really call for emphasis; I just feel a bit obliged now, especially after my translated statement. See above.)
   Good golly! I think I might be rambling now just because I can't think of much of anything to say about the book. Which after all this time is Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. In case, like me, you've practically forgotten by now.
   Yes! The book!
   It was okay. Gently written. Gently read. Sheltered Winnie Foster happens upon the Tucks who have been blessed and or cursed (they're not sure which) with immortality. The secret must be kept and, in order to impress the importance of that, they keep her overnight in their hidden home to explain all the where's and whyfor's (those esses might have need apostrophes, not quite sure). Yes, they look better now that they have them. While Winnie is with the Tucks she comes to love them (it's a long day) howsomever at this point the villian (as there must be) enters the picture.
   As I said, it's a gentle story. Winnie learns a lesson and develops character and perhaps makes some friends (different from the Tucks).


Favorite Quotes:

"The house was so proud of itself that you wanted to make a lot of noise as you passed, and maybe even throw a rock or two."

"Outside in the ring of trees around the pond, the birds were celebrating, giving the new day a brass band's worth of greeting."


Overall Opinion:

I think a third or fourth grade girl would find the story lovely. I would probably like it more if it was packaged with the nostalgia that comes from reading a book from your childhood.


Rating:

7

The $66 Summer by John Armistead

  Children's Selection

   It was beautiful. It made me cry.


Overall Opinion:

   Have your children read this book.


Rating:

8

Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander

Children's Fiction Pick

   Jason is sent to his room for misbehavior and, with the assistance of his cat Gareth, goes on an adventure through time. Jason learns different lessons when he encounters problems faced by the people he meets that need solving.
   The story is a perfect fit for someone in the third or fourth grades, perhaps a high level second grader. I think fifth graders might find the story a bit juvenile. Some of the characters and times might be familiar to the readers. If you elect to use it as a read aloud the historical aspects of the story can be great jumping off points for interesting discussions.


Favorite Quotes:

None


Overall Opinion:

Boys especially will like Jason and Gareth. If you add some nonfiction elements to introduce the chapters (things like pictures of the Forbidden City, the pyramids, St. Patrick, etc.) the book can be even more exciting.


Rating:

7

Going Through the Gate by Janet S. Anderson

Children's Fiction

   Going Through the Gate looks like any other children's book does; unremarkable and uninteresting to most past the fourth grade. It is neither of those things. Instead it is a well written story of the county's last one-room schoolhouse's sixth grade graduating class.
   Hmm. I have been sitting here trying to think of a way to describe the book without giving anything away. Perhaps a few short words will suffice.
   Everyone in the town participates in the ceremony as graduating sixth graders.
   No one talks about what happens.
   Something happened twenty-five years ago.


Favorite Quote:

"...maybe nothing hurts you more than going against what God meant for you. Trying to escape what you are."


Overall Opinion:

Is it fantastic literature that will become a classic for the ages? No. It is, however, a good book.


Rating:

7

Skellig by David Almond

Youth Fiction Pick:
   Skellig is a sweet, earnest tale of love, discovery and mystery. Michael's baby sister is very sick, he has discovered a stranger in the garage of his family's new home and he has a new friend. I'm not sure what else to really write without giving the tale away.
   Suffice it to say that Skellig was a good book. There are a few instances of the word "hell", as in the curse, not the location. When it comes to swearing in youth/teen fiction I'm of the context and usage frame of mind. I had no problem with Skellig.  My eight year old has started the book and I'm curious to hear his opinion of the tale.


Favorite Quote:

Mina: " ' Sometimes we think we should be able to know everything. But we can't. We have to allow ourselves to see what there is to see, and we have to imagine.' "


Overall Opinion:

I think it's a book list book for 3rd and 4th graders.


Rating:

Borrow It For Your Boys And Girls

The Secret School by Avi

   Youth Fiction Pick
   What a pleasant one hour read! It's 1925 and Ida Bidson, along with her fellow classmates (all 7 of them), have just learned that their teacher has to leave her post to tend her ailing mother. On top of that, Mr. Jordan the head of the school board, will not be retaining another teacher since the year is almost over. Ida and her friend Tom Kohl must finish the year in order to take the eighth grade end of year exam to qualify for high school.
   Aahhh, what do you do when your dream to be a teacher faces an untimely end for the lack of one yourself? The Secret School is charmingly told, with characters that you can't help but like. It also, importantly, draws a contextual picture of the time that allows the reader to grasp what it was like to live in a small farming town at the time of the story.
  

Favorite Quotes:

"It's hard being patient," Ida replied, "if there's nothing to be patient for."

Tom telling Ida what his uncle told him: "Said, 'If you want to try something new, and you're not scared, means you're not really trying something new.' "

Tom's mother to Ida: " 'Not seen you for the age of the dog.' "

"Sure as aces."


Overall Opinion:

This would be a good read alone or read aloud book.


Rating:

I really liked it, and my eight year old son, really liked it too.

Remnants Dream Storm by K.A. Applegate

   Dream Storm is the eleventh book in the Remnants series written by the author of Animorphs (which I find amusing, given my firm declaration earlier that I would not be subjecting myself to reading Animorphs). This is one of the books I pulled from the library's children section.
   Remnants takes place in the aftermath of the Earth's destruction by an asteroid, commonly called The Rock. Dream Storm follows a group of seven survivors who were apparently placed on a hibernation shuttle to escape the cataclysm. There are more survivors, but it seems they left them stranded on a now barren Earth.
   The book seems to fit 3rd/4th grade readers. They're not going to encounter amazing vocabulary or complex tale telling, but they'll get a serial adventure. It has a cliffhanger ending which probably works well to hook the kids. It also seems to have a good mix of good, bad and inbetween characters.

Favorite Quotes:

None found.

Overall Opinion:

If my kids ask, I'll tell them to give it a shot. I don't know if I'll go out of my way to recommend it though.

Rating:

Me: 2    Young Kids:  Probably higher on their scale