90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis

[Pura Belpre Pick]

90 Miles to Havana is heart-wrenching tween historical fiction; the novel follows Julian’s journal from Cuba to Miami in 1961. His parents sent him and his brothers to Cuba following Cuba’s revolution (essentially switching from one dictator to another), as they cannot afford to send them all over at once.

Once in Miami, the brothers are placed in what is basically an orphanage camp. The orphans are left to fend for themselves and a very Lord of the Flies set-up ensues, with a bully named Caballo exacting firm control over all of the orphans. Most of the children are in a state of flux, waiting to be sent to foster homes or boys/girls houses in other states. When the brothers are broken up, we see Julian’s bravado come out—surprising even himself at his tenacity.

A quick read, 90 Miles to Havana tells the more poignant side of a piece of history that many have glossed over.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

[NYT Bestseller Pick]


Riordan combines ancient Egyptian mythology with modern day mystery in this elementary and middle school-level novel. Carter and Sadie are two young tweens whose father, a famous Egyptologist, disappears while working on the latest mysterious project in a museum. They are transported to different cities, different realms, and different ways of thinking. Along the way, they realize that although they have been separated for years, they have a closeness and a bond that cannot be mistrusted or denied.

What I loved about The Red Pyramid is the way Riordan mixes in history and mythology lessons into an exciting, catchy plotline. I consider myself quite adept at Egyptian mythology and even I found myself brushing up on certain gods and goddesses. This type of cerebral fiction is fantastic to bring to the table at such a young age, and the tween market is certainly ripe for it.

Disney website: http://disney.go.com/disneybooks/kanechronicles/

It's a Book by Lane Smith

[NYT Bestseller Pick]

It’s a Book is a picture book that I picked up, actually, at the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston. The premise of the book is two characters discussing a book; one of them is completely confounded that a book does not scroll, text, charge, or need a password. I found it incredibly clever and a serious reminder that in this age of overwhelming digital mediums, books are still wonderful to have and to hold.

While It’s a Book is appropriate from elementary to adults, some readers claim that the use of the word “jackass” at the end deems in it inappropriate for younger readers—despite the fact that the animal is, indeed, a jackass.

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman; illustrated by Rick Allen

[Newbery Pick]

Dark Emperor is a clever book of poetry and also non-fiction information about animals of the night. Sidman pairs poetry about an animal (i.e., a snail, spider, owl, or a porcupine) with a whimsical illustration by Rick Allen. Then, beside the illustration, appears information about the animal and its habits, habitat, and physical appearance.

Dark Emperor is an excellent interdisciplinary mesh of science and language arts that would be a solid addition to any elementary classroom.

A Youtube video promoting the book:

Grandma's Gift by Eric Velasquez

[Pura Belpre Pick]

Grandma's Gift tells the tale of Eric, who is spending time with his grandmother before Christmas. Eric's grandmother does not speak English but she brings with her a rich Puerto Rican heritage. Eric's Christmas break assignment is to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and write about a new painting there; beforehand, Eric and his grandmother spend time making a traditional dish, pasteles.

It is obvious that Eric, both the young man and the author, enjoy celebrating the Puerto Rican heritage. Velasquez incorporates Spanish phrases throughout the text; the illustrations are incredibly life-like.

The author’s website: http://www.ericvelasquez.com/

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh

[Pura Belpre Pick]

Dear Primo is a charming, well-written book that contrasts the lifestyles of two young male cousins--one who lives in an American city and one who lives in a rural Mexican town. They have not met, but they write one another and discuss their lives; for instance, Charlie, who lives in America, eats pizza and watches parades. Carlitos, who lives in Mexico, eats quesadillas and watches fiestas with mariachis. The book is intended to teach Spanish vocabulary, as the author has included in-text Spanish words and labels in the illustrations of what the Spanish words means. There is also a glossary in the back of the Spanish to English translation.

The illustrations are vibrant and colorful, if somewhat exaggerated in appearance. Overall, it is a very adorable story that highlights the slight differences between the cousins--most of what they do is similar, just termed differently.

The author’s blog: http://duncantonatiuh.wordpress.com/

The Duchess of Whimsy by Randall de Seve; illustrated by Peter de Seve

[Bluebonnet Pick]

The Duchess of Whimsy likes very fancy things, including fancy parties ("extravagant soirees") and "peculiar pets" like an octopus and baby elephant with wings. She is incredibly difficult to please and contrasts sharply with the Earl of Norm, who seems rather "ordinary" next to her. What complicates matters is that the Earl of Norm is in love with the Duchess of Whimsy, but finds it impossible to catch her attention. She prances around with toes painted every different color and ignores his elaborate attempts to impress her. That is, until the Cook became sick one night, and the Earl fixes a meal the Duchess cannot resist. They find out they have more in common than originally thought.

Peter de Seve's illustrations are an absolute delight; the characters and situations are exaggerated, just like the story, but done so in a humorous, charming manner. Children will love these whimsical, colorful pictures and the equally whimsical, colorful story.

Click here for an online reading of the story:
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishersoffice/screeningroom/0910/penguinstorytime/duchess_of_whimsy.html#vmix_media_id=21955191

Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla; illustrated by Amy Cordova

[Pura Belpre Pick]

Fiesta Babies is a pithy, fun story about babies who "go out on the town" and participate in various activities, such as eating, singing, and giving hugs. What I love about this book is Cordova's vibrant, colorful illustrations that make every page fun. Also, nearly every page has a new Spanish word to learn; i.e., salsa, coronas, abrazo, and beso. Tafolla has included a Spanish-English glossary in the back of the book. We read this book to our bilingual kindergarten classes and they enjoyed it.

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan and Peter Sis

Pura Belpre pick]

Neftali is, and always has been, different—he sees the beauty in everyday objects (like pinecones and stones) and his imagination takes flight at the slightest whim. Neftali’s father dislikes these behaviors very much and discourages his son from reading too much or from writing—and Neftali is a very gifted writer.

Neftali, living in Chile during a time of extreme civil unrest, siphons all of his emotional confusion and pain into dreams and writing. Even when his father burns all of his notebooks, it does not deter Neftali from following his dream of becoming a writer. He eventually makes his way to the university, where his studies to become a poet, taking the pen name of Pablo Neruda, a poet who celebrates the beauty in the common and in his country.

Written in an absorbing mix of prose, poetry, and art, The Dreamer portrays the struggles a young Neruda experienced and how it affected his writing. The lush descriptions of the countryside are juxtaposed with the harsh realities of the political unrest, all subjects which Neruda tackled in his poetry.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

[Bluebonnet pick]

Turtle in Paradise follows a brief episode in Turtle’s life when she must go live with relatives in Key West in the 1930s; at that time, Key West was not the lush, sophisticated escapist paradise it is today, but rather a close-knit community of “Conchs.” Turtle arrives and it surprised to learn that nearly everyone is her cousin, and nearly everyone has a strange nickname—Beans, Kermit, Johnny Cakes, and Pudding, to name a few.

Once Turtle unexpectedly meets her grandmother, Nana Philly (Philomena), she comes across what she believes to be a real, live treasure map from Black Caesar, a pirate who frequented the Keys. Once she and her cousins set off to find the treasure, more adventure ensues, and the children find out that while life may not be a game, they are all made of stronger stuff.

Turtle in Paradise is a quick read appropriate for elementary-level students and struggling readers at the middle-school level. While our time with Turtle and her family and friends is too brief to really develop much of any sense of character, it is an enjoyable trip to a time when Key West was unspoiled and wholly authentic.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

[Printz pick]

Ship Breaker is bleak, desolate—and an entirely engrossing account of Nailer, a scavenger crew member who rummages through the pitted bowels of wrecked oil tankers for metal parts in a dystopic near future society. The novel opens with a well-written and breathtaking scene that involves Nailer becoming entrenched in a vat of oil locked within the depths of a tanker. Thematic concepts of survival, desperation, and loyalties begin to become set up from the very first few pages.

Soon after, Nailer comes across a wrecked clipper ship, one of the nicer ships, and on that ship, a pretty girl. Nailer’s background clashes with his morals as he must decide whether to save the girl (and give up the potential money/swag of the clipper ship parts) or to kill the girl and reap the benefits of the wrecked ship. Complicating matters is his devilish figure of a father, Richard Lopez, who relentlessly chases him.

I couldn't stomach The Windup Girl, but I was pleasantly surprised by Bacigalupi's dystopic version of our future in Ship Breaker. It's bleak yet entirely comprehensible; our protagonist is likeable and believable. Some of Bacigalupi's overwrought similes were distracting, but overall it was well-written and paced nicely.

Reading excerpt: http://amcabu.podbean.com/2011/02/03/ship-breaker/

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by King

[Printz pick]

Vera’s best friend, Charlie, has died—five months after their friendship has fallen apart. Charlie comes to Vera in strange and sometimes enlightening visions, and Vera knows there is more to his death than what the authorities state.

King takes us on Charlie and Vera’s journey as they grew up together, struggling through Charlie’s parent’s abusive situation and Vera’s mother leaving when she was twelve. When Charlie takes up with a rough crowd, Vera is left behind, working full-time and trying to stay below everyone’s radar.

King does a remarkable job of character sketching—especially of Vera and Charlie. The other characters introduced in first person, Ken Dietz (Vera’s dad) and The Pagoda (a piece of structure located in the town in which they all live), are not as fully fleshed out and can be somewhat distracting. Vera is wholly sympathetic and it is easy to become enmeshed in her thoughts and actions, even when they are infuriatingly teenage-like. While King does manage to drag out the mystery of Charlie’s death perhaps a bit too much, the ending is fairly satisfactory.

Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

[NYT Bestseller Pick]

The much-anticipated sequel to Incarceron, I blazed through Sapphique in two days; it was much more easy for me to become involved in Fisher’s fantasy world this time around, now that I had become invested in the characters (namely, Finn, Claudia, and Jared—not so much Keiro).

Finn finds that life on the Outside is not as he expected; he is struggling to comes to terms with the Protocol of life outside of the prison. To further complicate matters, Queen Sia is claiming that Finn is not the true heir to the throne, and Finn’s memory loss is an enormous detriment to his case. His patience and time is running thin.

Inside the prison, the Warden now is playing a dangerous game with Incarceron itself, as Incarceron begins building a body in the plans to go Outside. Attia and Keiro must keep Sapphique’s magical glove from reaching the prison’s grasp, but they are, of course, waylaid at every twist and turn of the prison’s tunnels and traps.

I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, but appropriate; Fisher did not go “the easy way out” and try to tie everything up too neatly. Fans of epic fantasy will certainly enjoy this fantasy with well-defined characters and magical situations.

Payback Time by Carl Deuker

[Lone Star pick]

Mitch, an overweight school newspaper writer, is the last person who should be writing about sports. But the new editor places him on that assignment, so he wants to do his very best. He espies a new football player, Angel, who is not like the others—Angel can throw and play like a professional, but the coach does not utilize him like he should. Angel is very mysterious and Mitch sees an opportunity to uncover a story that would catapult him to the front pages.

However, when he begins to dig deeper into Angel’s past, Mitch quickly discovers that Angel is involved in something dangerous. Much of the danger is interspersed with football writing, as Mitch covers various football games during the season. The ending is rather abrupt and quickly tied up, but satisfactory. This book would be ideal for reluctant male high school readers.

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer; illustrated by Josee Masse

[Bluebonnet pick]

Mirror Mirror is a book of reversible verse—what does that mean? I think it is best served with an example.

“The Doubtful Duckling” Take I
Someday
I’ll turn into a swan
No way
I’ll stay
An ugly duckling
Stubby and gray,
Plain to see—
Look at me.
A beauty I’ll be.

“The Doubtful Duckling” Take II (reversed)
A beauty I’ll be?
Look at me—
Plain to see,
Stubby and gray.
An ugly duckling
I’ll stay.
No way
I’ll turn into a swan
Someday.

Singer and Masse take the themes from fairy tales and write poetry about them, creating different themes using reversible poetry. It takes some talent to write the poetry that can be reversed and still create meaning, and it is quite fun. This would be a great poetry exercise with elementary, middle, and even high school students—to write a poem over a theme, and then have them reverse the poem to see what else the poem states about the theme.

The illustrations are quite colorful and vibrant, and show the duality of the reversible poems. For instance, “The Doubtful Duckling” has a swan that is part swan and part ugly duckling.