Fiction: Adventure/Survival

Recommended titles

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo Point Blank (An Alex Rider Adventure) by Anthony Horowitz Red Midnight by Ben Mikaelsen The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence Rescue Josh McGuire by Ben Mikaelsen Countdown by Ben Mikaelsen Jason's Gold by Will Hobbs

Reviewed titles

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen Cole is a boy exploding with anger. His way of dealing with problems is through violence, so after viciously beating up Peter Driscoll, he knows his parents can’t bail him out of this one and he’ll face jail time. His parole officer believes in him enough to propose Circle Justice, an ancient Native American practice that focuses on healing rather than punishment. Cole elects to do this in what he thinks is an easy way out. He begins his sojourn exhibiting the anger and violence that have marked his whole life. Top of page Return to previous page

 

Fiction: Animals

Recommended titles

Poppy by Avi

Reviewed titles

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate Di Camillo. This book has all the warmth and flavor of its down home, southern setting of Naomi, Florida. Ten-year-old Opal has just moved to town with her father and finds a stray whom she names Winn-Dixie. The dog’s exuberance helps Opal open up to people, something that has been hard for her ever since her mother abandoned them. Cynthia Rylant fans will feel at home with this one. Top of page Return to previous page

 

Fiction: Fantasy

Recommended titles

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien Redwall by Brian Jacques Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Reviewed titles

The Bartimaeus Trilogy: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud    When Nathaniel, a magician's intern, is publicly humiliated by the magician, Simon Lovelace, the eleven-year-old boy seeks revenge.  He studies magic unceasingly and as a result, summons a very clever and powerful djinni named Bartimaeus. He commands the djinni to steal Lovelace's prized amulet.  But Nathaniel realizes too late the importance of the amulet and the lengths Lovelace will go to get it back.  This rousing page turner is told in alternating chapters from the view of Nathaniel and Bartimaeus. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan  Percy Jackson gets asked to leave every boarding school he's been in at year's end. Catastrophes seem to follow him everywhere. During the summer, he lives with his hardworking mother and his step-father, Smelly Gabe, who eats, throws trash, and plays poker all day. One day, his mom takes him to the beach where she reveals he is the son of a Greek god.  Soon, Percy gets caught in the middle of a fiery feud among the gods and only a perilous quest to the Underworld can save him and possibly all of humanity. A humorous, action-packed fantasy with a sequel. The author cleverly combines a modern setting and dialogue with ancient Greek mythological characters. Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel. Shade is the runt of the new batch of bats born this season. His father is missing and some fear dead.  As a result, his mother is very protective.  When Shade gets lost during the migration south, he meets both friends and villains. Some are bats with silver tags that show they have had encounters with humans. Shade is called upon to save his colony and possibly all of the animal kingdom.  First in a series with characters you won't soon forget. The Akhenaten Adventure by P. B. Kerr (Children of the Lamp)   When the twins, John and Phillipa, both have their wisdom teeth out at the tender age of 12, the dream they have under anesthesia opens the door to their heritage as true members of the order of "djinn" or genies.  Soon they join their uncle in trying to prevent the evil djinn from upsetting the balance of power in the world.  They are whisked off to Cairo, get transformed into camels, spend some time in a glass bottle, and meet mummies. Part one of an eventual trilogy.  The Witch's Boy by Michael Gruber    Lump is a foundling child who is left on the doorstep of a witch in the woods.  The witch is not exactly maternal, but decides to raise the child anyway with the help of a she-bear and a djinni as his tutor.  In his adolescence, they are raided by humans who chase them out of their home.  Now, they are faced with making a living and end up going from one medieval town to the next performing their circus act.  The author weaves several fractured fairy tales into the story of Lump's magical adventures. The Saint of Dragons by Jason Hightman   Young Simon has spent most of his life at the Lighthouse School for Boys and knows nothing of his parents.  One October day, a ragged-looking man shows up at his school claiming to be his father.  Simon finds himself abducted by this stranger and carried off to take part in the family business of dragon hunting.  His father, Aldrich St. George, is a direct descendant of the medieval dragon slayer and needs Simon's help to face the last of these evil creatures.  This story will thrill fantasy readers as it is filled with dragon lore and nonstop action. Now You See It by Vivian Vande Velde  Wendy has broken her glasses and without them, she can barely see.  When she finds a substitute pair on her front lawn, she sees new vistas like interfering little blue men who like to flirt, perky cheerleaders transformed into old hags, and most importantly, portals into other times and places.  A humorous and intriguing fantasy. The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson What is a "gump"?  It's a grassy bump that's really a hidden door to a magical island. Every nine years it opens for nine days.  When the story unfolds, the island's baby prince had been kidnapped nine years ago.  An unlikely band of rescuers sets out to bring him back.  Their quest proves to be more than they bargained for.   Ibbotson has written a fast-moving fantasy with a flavor of Dahl and Rowling in the telling. Top of page Return to previous page

 

Fiction: Historical

Recommended titles

Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac The Winter People by Joseph Bruchac Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. Echohawk by Lynda Durant. Shakespeare Stealer by  (Medieval). A Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman (Medieval). The Borning Room by Paul Fleischman (Underground Railroad). Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (Dust Bowl). Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen (Slavery). Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury (WWII). The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen (Holocaust). Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen (Civil War). Midnight Magic by Avi (Medieval).

Reviewed titles

Elephant Run by Roland Smith NEW! Bombs have just destroyed Nick Firestone's apartment in England during World War II.  His mother sends him to Burma to his father's teak plantation.  But now the Japanese are closing in on the British colony.  Nick will be thrust into a high adventure including escaping through the Burmese jungle on an elephant. This is a tense and exciting historical adventure from a point of  view that is rarely explored. Penny from Heaven by Jennifer Holm  In 1953, eleven-year-old Penny is surrounded by two sides of her family.  Her father has been dead since she was little and his Italian mother is still wearing black.  His entire family treats her like a princess which irks her delinquent cousin, Frankie, who is her best friend.  She lives with her mother and grandparents and the two families rarely speak to each other.  What's worse, her mother is dating the milkman!  A major accident causes both families to finally deal with her father's tragic death.  Holm does a fine job of capturing the flavor of the Fifties while highlighting the prejudice towards Italian American immigrants during the time period.  The book is a Newbery Honor winner. The Trial: A Novel by Jen Bryant   Young Katie Leigh Flynn gets to witness the Lindbergh baby kidnapping-murder trial.  She describes its impact on the townspeople in this moving free verse novel set in the Depression era.  Themes include the criminal justice system, the death penalty and the influence of the media -- all topics reflective of modern times as well. Worth by A. La Faye  After his leg is crushed in a farming accident, Nathaniel is forced to go to school while his father secures John Worth from the Orphan Train to help with the Nebraska farm.  John, a city boy, feels as clumsy on the farm as Nathaniel does in school.  Eventually they discover each others worth.  This tightly-written historical fiction novel is rich in metaphor.  Winner of the Scott Odell Award for Historical Fiction. Crispin by Avi A fast-paced novel set in fourteenth century Europe.  A thirteen-year-old's mother dies and soon he learns she was banished to their poor village years before.  As the mystery unfolds, Crispin is being chased relentlessly by his enemies, framed for crimes he didn't commit and hidden by a big, burly man named Bear. Avi evokes a feel for the times, especially as it relates to corruption in the Church, while developing Crispin's character from a listless peasant to a questioning, and finally, confident young man. Lord of the Nutcracker Men by Iain Lawrence Set during World War I, young Johnny is transported to the country to live with his aunt when his father goes to the front lines and later, his mother works at an ammunition factory. Johnny’s father is a toymaker and whittles crude soldiers in the trenches to mail to his son with news about the war. Action on the front eerily mirrors Johnny’s play. The re-enactments give the boy the taste of a ruler’s power and the horrible consequences for the soldiers in the trenches and the loved ones at home. A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor by Harry Mazer Adam Pelko and his family moved to Hawaii just months before December 7, 1941. His father is a Navy man and stationed on the USS Arizona. Adam finds it difficult to make friends due to all the family moves. Tension builds when Adam makes friends with David Mori over his father’s implied order not to make friends with the Japanese. On a Sunday morning, Adam defies his father’s wishes and goes on a fishing trip with his friends where he finds himself in Pearl Harbor bay on the most tragic day of his life. Amidst the explosions and resulting turmoil, Adam gets taken for a serviceman and helps search the waters for live men. Mazer’s writing is both vivid and powerful as he recounts the events of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of Adam, whose young life is forever transformed. Trapped Between the Lash and the Gun by Arvella Whitmore Jordan Scott is about to be initiated into a street gang when he is transported suddenly back in time, sent to the plantation where his ancestors were slaves. The author sets up a striking analogy between Civil War era slavery and modern day gangs.  Soldier X by Don Wullfson At the height of World War II, sixteen-year-old Erik Brandt is told he must join the German forces to fight in Russia.  Erik's mother is a Russian immigrant so he speaks fluent Russian and is used as an interrogator.  When Erik finds himself trapped behind enemy lines, he trades uniforms with a dead Russian soldier in order to survive a war which he does not want to fight.  Based on a true story, the horrors of war are graphically described as are the absurdities inherent in conflict. A Sea So Far by Jean Thesman The drama unfolds quickly as orphan Kate Keely and wealthy Jolie Logan are engulfed in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.  Jolie, who is just recovering from scarlet fever, loses her mother in the quake.  Eventually, Kate is employed as Joile's companion as the latter tries to recover from the damage caused by both tragedies. Meanwhile, Kate dreams of traveling to her mother's birthplace in Ireland and when she gets the opportunity through Jolie, she doesn't know if she'll return. Thesman has written several historical novels which would appeal to girls who also like the author, Ann Rinaldi. Top of page Return to previous page

 

Fiction: Humor

Recommended titles

S.O.R. Losers by Avi The Pushcart Wars by Jean Merrill The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Reviewed titles

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter.  NEW! On the surface, Cammie Morgan looks like a typical prep school girl.  But the Gallagher Academy is really a front for an elite, secret spy school for girls.  Students are trained in covert operations and speak 14 languages.  When Cammie falls for a local boy, it is hard to keep her talents and mission undercover. Schooled by Gordan Korman NEW! Capricorn Anderson has been home-schooled his entire life by his grandmother on what's left of a hippie commune.  When his grandmother needs hip replacement surgery, Cap is forced to attend eighth grade in the local public school.  Immediately, he gets set up to run for class president, an honor given to the most clueless kid in school.  Naive Cap Anderson with his anti-violence mantra needs to learn quickly what "school" is all about.  Very enjoyable. Travis and Freddy's Adventures in Vegas by Henry Johnson and Paul Hoppe NEW! Travis, the athlete, and Freddy, the computer whiz, are unlikely best friends.  When Travis's dad gambles away the family home, the two friends take on Las Vegas to win the quarter million dollars it will take to save it.  But being dangled out the window of a Vegas hotel/casino by a mobster may be too high a price to pay.  This is a humorous adventure that should capture the attention of reluctant readers. Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen  A boy starts out mowing a few lawns during the summer.  He works hard and invests his money with a "stockbroker" in the neighborhood.  The neighbor coaches him on the principles of capitalism as his business expands.  Before you know it, he has a fleet of employees and a stake in the career of a prizefighter.  Very fun introduction to the basics of economics that is short and easy to read. Gotta Get Some Bish Bash Bosh by M.E. Allen  A fourteen-year-old boy gets dumped by his girlfriend for being boring.  His sudden attempt to ratchet up his cool factor becomes quite funny.  This British import was written by a mother/son team and includes a glossary for American teens. The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco by Janice Repka  Many kids dream of running away to be in the circus but eleven-year-old Phillip's family is in the circus.  His Dad's a clown and his mother is the fat lady. Phillip just wants to be a normal kid.  He gets his chance to move in with relatives and attend regular school.  But when he learns that dodgeball is the only choice in gym, and the play is brutal, he initiates change.  This highly humorous story entertains while exploring the dark side of bullying in sports. Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day by Gary Paulsen.   Molly McGinty keeps her life well-organized in a color-coded spiral binder.  She is lost without it.  Then one day she does lose it and on the very same day that  her free-spirited grandma comes to Senior Ctitzen's Day at school.  Molly soon finds herself getting detention, having half her hair set on fire and the other half in tiny braids held together by someone's rubber bands for braces, and other mayhem. Never Mind!: A Twin Novel by Avi and Rachel Vail.  The story of twins is told in alternating chapters by two authors.  Meg is the popular twin and  her brother, Edward, is not.  Meg can be a little condescending and Edward loves to irk his sister to keep the image she has of him.  But things get out of hand when he tries to impersonate the hunky lead in a rock group at a big party for his sister's friend. He can't sing.  And a record producer will be coming after hearing the hype.  Lots of hilarious predicaments.  A delicious read. The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) by Lemony Snicket “Dear Reader: I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children.” The author, Lemony Snicket, goes on to outline for the reader all the ghastly events that take place in the lives of the Baudelaire siblings. Almost from the beginning, they receive the terrible news that their parents have died in a disastrous fire, they encounter a greedy and repulsive villain and there’s a plot to steal their fortune. While it is true that things look pretty bleak, Mr. Snicket’s writing is reminiscent of Roald Dahl in its black humor. Top of page Return to previous page

 

Fiction: Mystery and Suspense

Recommended titles

Wolf Rider by Avi Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac The Trap by Joan Lowery Nixon The Trouble With Lemons by Daniel Hayes Who Killed Olive Souffle? by Margaret Benoit The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Reviewed Titles

Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach   Hero, the new girl in town, truly feels like a misfit when she enters her sixth grade class. When she tells the teacher her name, a classmate pipes up that that's her dog's name! Her father, a Shakespeare scholar, has named his two girls after characters in Much Ado about Nothing. Life does take an interesting twist for Hero, however, when she learns that a mysterious diamond is hidden in her new house.  She teams up with an elderly neighbor and the cutest, most popular boy in eighth grade, Danny Cordova, to find this treasure.   Top of page Return to previous page

 

Fiction: Realistic

Recommended titles

The Janitor's Boy by Andrew Clements Petey by Ben Mikaelsen Peeling the Onion by Wendy Orr Holes by Louis Sachar Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech Love That Dog by Sharon Creech Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Reviewed titles

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko  Walker Jones has a scholarship to a private school where he is a minority.  Walk is determined to study hard and prove his worth. But diva, Brianna, is equally determined to shake up the school.  Kirsten McKenna is one of her prey as she has gotten Kirsten's best friend under her spell.  A stunning secret bursts forward with fallout for everyone. Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay  Saffy discovers she was adopted by the Casson family when she was three from Siena, Italy.  Her real mother was a sister to Eve Casson. When her grandfather tries to bring back her beloved angel from Siena, problems begin that lead to an international adventure.  A heartwarming tale. No Talking by Andrew Clements   The fifth graders at Laketon Elementary have a reputation.  They are lively, noisy, and very talkative.  They are also competitive, so when the boys challenge the girls to two days of no talking outside of saying three words at any given time, the challenge is on.  But how will those at school and home react to the changes? A fun read and a lesson on communication. Games: A Tale of Two Bullies by Carol Gorman  Boot Quinn and Mick Sullivan spar with  words and fists on a regular basis.  Things change when the new principal forces them to play board games in a makeshift room next to his office.  The stakes begin to rise as bets abound throughout the school.  Just how far will they go? Playing Dad's Song by Dina Friedman.   Gus spends a lot of time under the covers since his best friend moved away and his actor father perished in the 9/11 tragedy.  Money is tight, but his mother arranges for him to take oboe lessons and his sister pressures him into trying out for the school play.  He wants to be a fine actor, like his Dad, but he's really afraid and what's worse, his nemesis, Ivan the Terrible, is his main competition for the role.  This is a fine sensitive look at coping with death and finding your own voice. The Cupid Chronicles by Coleen Murtagh Paratore.  The public library is closing down and Willa Havisham is determined to save it.  Only she'll need lots of money to do it while trying to land the boy of her dreams.  Guilderland residents will have fun discovering local names embedded in the story line by the author. Shug by Jenny Han.   Annemarie Wilcox whose nickname is Shug, is entering junior high.  She knows her childhood friendships are about to change and that scares her.  Her friends are maturing faster than she is and many are losing patience when she tries to hang on to the old ways.  A thoughtful look at early adolescence. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick   Steven excels as a drummer in the All Star Jazz Band.  It serves as release too, as his five-year-old brother has leukemia.  Steven juggles failings in school, read alouds with his sick brother, female crushes, and parents who are too frazzled to notice him.  Excellent read. Avalon High by Meg Cabot.   Being the new girl in school is often difficult. But when newly arrived Ellie meets Will, the connection is instant.  Why do they feel they've met before?  And when Will's life is in danger, Ellie displays unique abilities to help. Another fun Meg Cabot novel ! How to Be Popular by Meg Cabot.  Stephanie Landry has been the butt of jokes since she spilled a red Super Big Gulp on a popular girl years earlier. When she discovers an old book on How to Be Popular, she follows it faithfully.  Will it make a difference?  Meg Cabot shines again in this fun story. Larger Than Life Lara by Dandi Daley Mackall.  Lara Phelps, who is severely obese, enters Laney Grafton's elementary school.  Now Laney, poor and motherless, is no longer the focus for the classroom bullies.  But can Lara's beaming personality win them over? Hard Hit by Ann Turner   In this free verse novel, Mark Warren and his dad communicate by Mark burning pitches into his father's glove.  Mark is an ace pitcher, but when his dad is diagnosed with cancer, he must learn to perform, and deal with the unfathomable.  Criss Cross by Lynne Ray Perkins   A group of childhood friends meet in Lenny's dad's pickup truck every Saturday night to listen to a radio show called Criss Cross.  Their lives also criss cross as they try to connect with each other and the people of their town. Newbery winner. The Report Card by Andrew Clements If Nora Rose Rowley is a genius, why is she trying to get all Ds on her report card? My Brother's Keeper by Patricia McCormick   After Toby Malone's father leaves, his older brother, Jake, turns to drugs, his younger brother reverts to sucking his thumb, and his mother cries often.  Toby thinks he's helping by intercepting bills his mother can't pay and covering for Jake as his drug use increases.  But could his cover up lead to danger for the whole family? Snap by Alison McGhee      Edwina, or Eddie, makes lists for everything in her life.  She also wears colored rubber bands on her wrists to remind her of things she should or shouldn't do (quit tipping back her chair, covering her mouth when she laughs).  However, life isn't always so orderly.  When Willie, her best friend's grandmother who also raises her, is dying, Eddie questions life, friendship and her future. So B. It by Sarah Weeks.       Twelve-year-old Heidi leads an unconventional lifestyle because her mom has a "bum brain." Bernadette, their agoraphobic neighbor, takes care of both of them.  Since Heidi's mother only knows 23 words, Heidi has little knowledge of her background.  That is, until she finds some old photos shoved in the back of a drawer and realizes they offer clues to her past.  This leads her to a long cross-country bus trip that she hopes will fill in the missing pieces. Define Normal by Julie Anne Peters Antonia Dillon is shocked to discover she is peer counseling Jazz Luther, whose purple hair, pierced eyebrow, and black lips do not make her exactly normal in Antonia's conservative eyes.  The girls struggle with how they can help each other when they seem so different. Flood by James Heneghan Andy Flynn's mom and step-dad die in a Vancouver mudslide but Andy survives. Soon he moves to Halifax where he runs away from his aunt and seeks out his derelict father.  His father tries to care for him in a roach-infested flat with thugs and the police hovering about.  Andy attempts to build a relationship with his father but soon discovers, as his mother did years before, that change is difficult, probably impossible.  An engrossing, heartwarming tale. Monster by Walter Dean Myers Steve Harmon. a 16-year old inner city kid is accused of being an accomplice in a fatal armed robbery.  Steve, an aspiring filmmaker, creates a movie dialogue in his mind as a way to cope amidst the swirl of emotions surrounding his arrest and trial.  His daily journal entry reveals his thoughts as the reader becomes both witness and jury. Blister by Susan Shreve Alyssa Reed was supposed to have a new sister. The baby is stillborn and Mom is depressed. Dad moves the family and then moves out. Alyssa starts at her new school calling herself only Blister (“everything is rubbing against her and hurting”). As Blister attempts to fit in at her new school, she also tries to find a way to matter to someone in her family. Of Sound Mind by Jean Ferris High school senior Theo is caught between two worlds as the rest of his family is deaf and relies on him for help. At times, Theo resents their dependency on him even though it makes him feel needed. When he discovers that Ivy, a new girl at school, can sign and has a father who cannot hear, Theo’s world opens up to new possibilities and understandings. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Imagine a new student who breaks all the rules for being cool (wears prairie dresses, serenades people in the lunch room with her ukulele, cheers for opposing teams as well as her own) and still finds a way to be popular - for awhile.  Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath Primrose Squarp is eleven-years-old, with “hair the color of carrots in an apricot glaze (recipes to follow).” Primrose lives in the little fishing village of Coal Harbor, British Colombia. Pretty soon after her story begins, she’s lost her parents in a storm at sea. What to do with Primrose becomes the problem of the town. Despite all her hardships, she is never defeated and is always buoyed up by the good people of Coal Harbor, especially the madcap Ms. Bowser who owns The Girl on the Red Swing café, where everything is served on a waffle. Top of page Return to previous page

 

Fiction: Science Fiction

Recommended titles

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix The Giver by Lois Lowry Downsiders by Neal Shusterman

Reviewed titles

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. In this thriller, Uglies or normal teens, become Pretties once they turn 16.  The operation gives everyone symmetrical features and tranquil personalities.  Tally will soon become 16 and is looking forward to joining her friends and family in Pretty Town until she comes in contact with a group of renegade Uglies and begins to question everything.  Exciting and thought-provoking . The two sequels are Pretties and Specials. City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau The City of  Ember has no natural light.  So when the lights begin to flicker and food becomes scarce, the townspeople start to panic. There are directions to a way out of the city but it has been hidden unknowingly in someone's closet for years.  Lina and Doon are two friends who live in the city of Ember and are determined to find a way to save its inhabitants. A spellbinding fantasy adventure. The People of Sparks by Jeanne Duprau.  Sequel to The City of Ember.   Will the people of Sparks help the underground city refugees or send them off to die in the war-torn, barren lands outside of town? Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Kira faces a desperate future as her mother is dead and can no longer protect her from those who would have her killed because of her disfigurements.  Yet Kira holds a special gift that shields her from such a fate.  But why?  This tale set in the future combines mystery with science fiction as Lowry challenges our assumptions about society. Messenger by Lois Lowry. Matty, a character from Gathering Blue, discovers he has a secret power.  He tries to harness that power to fight an evil force that has caused the villagers to sell parts of themselves for things they desire, no matter who gets hurt as a result. Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde. This book is set in the future, where virtual reality games allow people to be physically present in the game. Fourteen-year-old Grannine plays Heir Apparent at the Rasmussen Gaming Center.  The play is suddenly interrupted by Rasmussen telling her the game has been compromised by an outside group.  She must not only solve riddles, outmaneuver rivals, and defeat a man-eating dragon, but do so as quickly as possible, as now her life really depends on it.  Engaging and fun.   Top of page Return to previous page

 

Fiction: Sports

Recommended titles

Shakespeare Bats Clean-up by Ron Koertge Tangerine by Edward Bloor (soccer, football) Players by Joyce Sweeney (basketball) Sticks by Joan Bauer (pool)

Reviewed titles

Six Innings by James Preller  NEW! Best friends, Mike and Sam, experience their Little League championship from different perspectives - Mike, from the field and Sam, from the announcer's box.  Sam has been diagnosed with cancer and must quit baseball for awhile.  The two boys need to adjust the boundaries of their friendship, while experiencing the game of a lifetime. Readers who like play-by-play action of a tight baseball game, will relish this book. Football Genius by Tim Green NEW! Troy can see patterns in football games after only a few plays that make it possible for him to predict what the next one will be.  He's sure he can help the Atlanta Falcons, if they would only recognize his unique abilities.  Summer Ball by Mike Lupica  In this sequel to Travel Team, Danny heads off to Right Way basketball camp with a few of his teammates.  He wants to kick up his game a notch but the competition and rivalries are stiff.  Does he really have what it takes? Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica. Josh Cameron, star player of the Boston Celtics, has a huge Nike deal pending, partly because of his wholesome image.  Enter Molly Parker, whose mother has died recently of cancer. Before dying, her mother revealed that Josh Cameron is her unknowing father, but discouraged Molly from ever contacting him.  She feared he would not be good at loving Molly, just as he couldn't love her.  When Molly does confront him, Josh doesn't believe her.  Can she win him over and gain her last chance for a real parent? Heat by Mike Lupica  Michael Arroyo’s pitches pack plenty of heat. He’s been clocked at 80 m.p.h. Sometimes, the stunned coaches and players on other teams, question how a twelve-year-old could be so focused and strong.  Maybe he’s older than twelve.  Suddenly, they want proof. After all, his Bronx Little League team has a shot at the nationals. But Michael has a secret few know about. His parents are dead, and getting a birth certificate from Cuba will be difficult.  His older brother isn’t quite eighteen and the Department of Social Services is beginning to sniff around.  Will he play or get sent to foster care? Free Baseball by Sue Corbett  Felix's father is a legendary pitcher in Cuba but the boy has many questions.  Why isn't his father with them? Why don't they communicate? When Felix stumbles upon an opportunity to be a bat boy for a minor league team, he hopes to learn more.  A stint with the West Lauderdale Miracles not only brings answers, but changes everything about his life as well. Travel Team by Mike Lupica.     "He knew he was small.  He just didn't think he was small. Big difference."  Danny Walker can dribble a basketball and is the best seventh grade point guard in town.  So when he doesn't get picked for the traveling team because of his size, people around him decide to create an alternative team for all those on the fringe.  This book has a lot of heart and will be especially loved by those rejected because someone didn't think they were good enough. The Warriors by Joseph Bruchac.   Jake's mother works in Washington D.C. as a lawyer representing Native American causes.  Her job requires extensive travel so Jake is placed in a Maryland boarding school, far from his extended Iroquois family.  Jake excels at lacrosse which makes him accepted at his new school.  However, it takes a near tragedy for his school community to see the game through the eyes of Jake and the heart of the tribe that first embraced it.  Reluctant reader appeal. Gold Dust by Chris Lynch Riley Moncrief likes to keep things simple. Pure. Clean. Simple. Like baseball, his passion.  Pitcher to batter to catcher.  But it's 1975 in a working-class neighborhood in Boston and life keeps complicating Riley's world.  He recruits a new kid from the Dominican Republic, cricket-playing Charlie Ellis, in hopes of molding the pair into the Gold Dust Twins. Other kids (including Charlie himself) have different ideas. Top of page Return to previous page