NEW ENGLAND CHILDREN'S BOOKSELLING ADVISORY COUNCIL
FALL PREVIEWS, 2006

Hearts of Iron
Kathleen Benner Duble
Simon and Schuster, November 2006, $15.95, 1416908501

Audience: Middle School, ages 10-14, for boys and girls (although in the girls voice)
Strengths: History, characters, community and friendship, moral decisionReview: Jesse and Lucy are two best friends living in a small community in 1820 where the men all work in the forge. As expected of all the young men coming of age, Jesse is expected to work there as well and forge the iron to make anchors for navy ships. Lucy's father, formerlly of Boston, runs the general store and has expectations for her of a different life than this small town can offer. Lucy and Jesse are on the threshold of adulthood with their own dreams for the future. A man from the city arrives on the mountain to court Lucy and Jesse sees an opportunity to run away and fulfill his dream of going to sea. Does family loyalty come first or should they create their own path? The conclusion finds Lucy and Jesse in a dilemma that involves the whole community. With Lucy's help Jesse is able to follow his heart, but thing go wrong and the town is endangered by a fire. Someone from outside the community comes to the rescue and all is well. Lucy too finds her way to happiness.
Reviewer: Pat Byrne, BookEnds, Winchester
Rated: 8.5

Here, There Be Dragons:
Volume One of the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica
written and illustrated by James A. Owen
Simon and Schuster, October 2006, $17.95
1-4169-1227-4

Core audience: ages 12 and up
Strengths: descriptive language, imaginative setting, strong characters, literary allusions
Review: This is THE book that I would have felt was personally written for me when I was a teenaged bookworm. The author is known for his work on graphic novels; HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS is his first work for "mainstream" readers. Gorgeous illustrations accent the lyrical prose. The year is 1917 and three young men in London find that an ordinary errand sweeps them into a literally fabulous world that cannot possibly exist. The Archipelago of Dreams houses all the lands of myth and legend known to humanity, and they are threatened by one who would unwrite them all, simply because he can. The three become reluctant Caretakers of the atlas known as the Imaginarium Geographica, and learn about a war in the Archipelago that starts to influence the war in our world. Fast-paced adventure on every page; in fact, the only fault I can find with this book is that, at least at the beginning, the action is a little TOO fast-paced and the reader needs to go back to catch certain things, so that the build-up and denouement carry emotional weight. The plethora of characters almost, but not quite, overwhelms the reader, but the book is balanced with enough humor and feeling to let the reader revel in richness. One might worry that this title and its succeeding volumes will get lost in the current glut of fantasy literature on the market today; I personally, however, know that I can and will happily handsell this book for decades to come, and eagerly look forward to the next volumes in the series.
Reviewer: Patty Cryan, Mike's Comics, Worcester, MA
Rated: 9 to 9.5

Despite the galley description giving away the ending (!?!) I found this book a fantastic mix of literary mystery & fantasy adventure that will appeal to teens & adults.
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 8.5

Horns & Wrinkles
by Joseph Helgerson
Houghton Mifflin, September 2006, $16.00
0-618-61679-9

Core audience: 9-12
Strengths: Imagination, strong voice, magic as an accepted part of everyday life
Review: Helgerson is obviously a natural-born storyteller. He's heard enough stories of river folk to want to put it all down into writing, but he's definitely put his own spin on this tale. And while you may be missing the inflections of his voice and the intensity of a personal interaction, here you have these fabulous illustrations. They are somehow eerie but sweet at the same time, how is that possible? Even with this wonderful artwork I didn't clutch this book to my chest as a Very Special Discovery (so few books are nowadays). But I did fall in love with some of the details. The old lady who used an orange high top floating in the river as a message system, or the three trolls, each with a bit of the quirky about them to say the least. From the very beginning I found myself totally absorbed in the story. Who was going to stop Duke from into a rhino and who would help Claire and her desperate need to find the stone feather to turn her family human again? As all these different storylines began to pile up one on top of another, there seemed to be too many twists and turns and not enough details behind them. (What do you mean trolls have to go searching for their fathers?) But then again, being a kid means you just want a good story and there is not that intense need to figure everything out. At one point I was making comparisons to other fantasy writers, which is just not fair to a first time novelist. But with his literary strengths, and a love of all things rivery, I would love to read Helgerson's next magical adventure.
Reviewer: Beth Reynolds at The Norwich Bookstore, VT
Rated: 7

Core audience: ages 8 and up
Notable themes: bullying, imagination, trolls, fantasy,
Review: I read most of this magical book aloud to an 8 year-old, 10-year old, and 35 year-old and would be hard-pressed to decide which one of us enjoyed it most. Filled with humor and peopled with imaginative critters, this is an utterly delightful fantasy that should have equal appeal to both boys and girls, reluctant readers included. Wonderful spot illustrations appear at the start of each chapter, and OH, have you seen the end papers?? Ingenious!
Reviewer: Alison Morris, Children's Book Buyer, Wellesley Booksmith
Rated: 8

Horowitz Horror
by Anthony Horowitz
Penguin, September 2006, $9.99
0-399-24489-1

Core audience: Ages 12+
Review: From the mind of "Alex Rider" comes a collection of scary short stories sure to be a hit for the Halloween season. I think they will be great for fans of "Goosebumps" or "Scary Story Treasurys" as they are designed for a younger audience than his other books.
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 6.5

Hugging The Rock
by Susan Taylor Brown
Tricycle Press, August 2006, $14.95
1-58246-180-5

Core audience: ages 10-14
Strengths: solid emotions, imagery, difficult subject matter, verse form
Review: There is not a single word in this little book that doesn't need to be here. Rachel writes poems to cope with the departure of her mother and the process of getting to know her seemingly cold father ["the Rock"], who's all she has left. Her notions about both her parents evolve through verse, and she comes to appreciate her father for his positive aspects of firmness and "always-there-ness", versus the stony inhospitable ones which were perceived by her mentally ill mother. Simply beautiful.
Reviewer: Patty Cryan, Mike's Comics, Worcester, MA
Rated: 8.5

Hurt Go Happy
by Ginny Rorby
Tor, August, 2006, $17.95
0-7653-1442-8

Core audience: girls, animal lovers 10-14
Strengths: deaf culture, chimpanzees, sign language, animal rights
Review: Joanne "Joey" is 12 and deaf, almost entirely cut off from other people by her mother's insistence that she learn to read lips rather than sign. (The mother's motive comes out gradually: signing is obvious, lip reading less so, and the mother is ashamed because Joey's deafness is due to early abuse by her biological father.) When Joey meets Charlie, an elderly neighbor who's taught signing to his pet baby chip Suakri, Jeoy's life bursts with new purpose and delight. Her mother, horrified and threatened, tries to suppress the friendship with Charlie and Sukari. Fortunately, there's more to the story than how Joey persuades her mother to accept sign language. Unfortunately, the story leans on the unlimited resource of Charlie's will to send Joey to the School for the Deaf, and to rescue Sukari, who has grown into the crowded ranks of unwanted adult chimpanzees too unsocialized and destructive for families or zoos, too numerous for refuges, and too valuable to unethical medical testing facilities. Though a more experienced writer and editor might have made this a clearer and more compelling work of literature, children who love animals will see themselves in Joey's love of Sukari. For them the book will be a memorable revelation.
Reviewer: Carol B. Chittenden, Eight Cousins and BookStream
Rated: 7.5

Review: A must read for everyone who loves animals. It arrived and I sat down and started reading it. A loud explosion happened and all the power went out so I moved outdoors. When twilight blossomed into night, I attached a flashlight to my shoulder and continued reading. It was attached to free my hands--one to hold the book--one to wipe the tears from my eyes and chin. Probably three hours later I finished the book. IT WAS MAGNIFICENT! I really hope your company is planning on doing a fantastic job advertising this one. I know it will be included in every one of my speeches this fall--and i mean prominently. It is the most real most readable most sensitive book I have read in weeks.
Reviewer: Frank Hodge, Hodge Podge Books
Rated: ---

I Don't Want to Be Crazy
by Samantha Schutz
Scholastic, July 2006. $16.99
0-439-80518-X

Core audience: 14&up
Strengths: Strong voice, great for reluctant teen readers
Review: Free verse isn't for everyone --not for some authors and not for some readers. Getting it into the right hands is the real trick. In spare and thoughtful prose Schutz perfectly captures a young girl's fears and anxieties about going off to college. From the big "What if I can't handle my course load?" to the small "I want to go out, but I can't seem to get up of the couch." They are all fears that paralyze and hold your rational self hostage. In this series of poems we are shown a sincere look at freshman life and beyond. Topics which include: finding a therapist, discovering what medications work and don't work, and the undesired side effects of many of these choices. Deceptively simple and perfect for a reluctant reader who doesn't want to waste time with a book, Schutz's verses may leave them feeling a little enlightened at the end. Certainly not everyone going to college will need therapy or medication, but seeing how someone handles her anxieties may give them the ability to conquer their own. I've found when reading poems it's always "Just one more, justone more. Oh look, I've finished the book. I can't believe it. I've got to come up for air. Hey, you should read this book."
Reviewer: Beth Reynolds at The Norwich Bookstore, VT
Rated: 7.5

Incantation
by Alice Hoffman
Little Brown /Hachette, October, 2006, $16.99
0-316-01019-7

Core audience: ages 12+
Strengths: Historical setting & details, strong characters
Review: "Incomprehensible evil" is how I would describe what went on in Spain at the time of the Inquisition. This story is told from the perspective of a teenage girl, Estrella, who is eventually betrayed along with her entire family by the girl who has been her closest friend in life. Many Spanish Jews lived double lives for generations leading up to the time of the Inquisition. As members of certain "Catholic Parishes" they practiced their Jewish faith in secret. Estrella never even knew that her family was Jewish until she was betrayed by her friend, all caused by jealousy over a boy. Estrella's family, along with hundreds of others, are tortured and destroyed. Hoffman describes a hideous time in history with care.
Reviewer: Mimi Powell, Baker Books
Rated: 8

Into the Firestorm
by Deborah Hopkinson
Alfred A. Knopf, September, 2006, 0375836527

Audience: Upper elementary, ages 8-12
Strength: History, characters
Review: After Nick's grandmother dies he leaves Texas and the life of a cotton-picker and travels to San Francisco, the Paris of the West. Making his way there by hitching onto train cars he finally arrives, hungry, dirty and with no idea of what he is going to do. Besides the clothes on his back and the hat that Gran had bought him the only thing that he has of any value are the two lucky quarters that she had left him before she died. Fortunately they do bring him luck and he is able to convince Pat Paterson, a local shopkeeper to hire him on a trial basis. The year is 1906 and the month is April, the time of the devastating San Francisco earthquake. With the shopkeeper away at this time, Nick takes responsibility and manages to save some of the shops valuables as well as Pat's cherished pet Shake. When fire breaks out, everyone is evacuated from the area. Nick helps a young girl and her mother, who is expecting a child, walk to safety, over Nob Hill and all the way to Golden Gate Park. With the fire finally contained, Nick returns to the shop and finds the owner has returned. Thrilled that all was safe and that his beloved pet was cared for Pat reopens his shop with the help of Nick at his side.
Reviewer: Pat Byrne, BookEnds, Winchester, MA
Rated: 8

Journey to the Blue Moon
by Rebecca Rupp
Candlewick, October, 2006, $15.99
0-7636-2544-2

Core audience: boys and girls 8-12 will really enjoy this
Strengths: humor, literary allusions, plot
Review: I expected this from the author of The Dragon of Lonely Island to be charming and it is. Alex loses his grandfather's pocket watch with the inscription, "Choose time or lose time". He feels school is a waste of time and he has no direction in life. His parents are at their wits' end. When he meets an eccentric old lady who directs him to the Blue Moon, where all lost items go, his journey begins. He meets lots of quirky and fun characters who impart great snippets of inspirational knowledge. (Miss Mimsley lost her heart to a missing prospector years ago. A medieval scholar lost his way.) There is dangerous adventure and there are nasty characters. (The Time Eaters steal people's lives!) Very reminiscent of The Phantom Tollbooth, this tale will entertain young readers. I wonder if they, like me, will be looking for The Yellow Brick Road, too.
Reviewer: Sue Carita, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH
Rated: 7.5

Just In Case
by Meg Rosoff
Wendy Lamb/Random House, August, 2006, $16.95
0-385-74678-4

Core audience: Teens 14 to adult
Strengths: characters, sensitivity, language
Review: Does anyone reach adulthood without the jolt of discovering fate? Certainly not David Case, who barely catches his baby brother before a disastrous fall and suddeny sees every peril in the world as a yawning, slashing, scalding possibility. Badly frightened, he retreats from his family, stops going to school, and grasps at straws: re-naming himself Justin, moving in with a classmate, relating to an imaginary greyhound; and a warming friendship with Agnes, an art photographer a few years his senior. Agnes sees and photographs the beautiful vulnerability of his anguished youth, and takes him uner her wing. He mistakes her attention for love, and is crushed by her refusal. Gradually he matures into the tentative equilibrium of realizing what he can and cannot control, and takes great comfort from renewed contact with his baby brother.
I can only compare Rosoff's writing to Duke Ellington's music. Up to Chapter 44, I found the book so enthralling that I missed bedtimes and subway stops. The writing, so effortless and graceful, had to stop a bit at that point, search its pockets, and find directions to an exit. Or perhaps Rosoff is simply a better writer than I am a reader.
Reviewer: Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins and BookStream
Rated: 9

Life As We Knew It
by Susan Pfeffer
Harcourt, October 2006, $17.00
0-15-205826-5

Core audience: Young Adult
Strengths: Plot, character development
Review: It's just another day in the life of Miranda; dealing with family issues, obsessing over a cute boy, annoyed that her teachers have used the upcoming meteor impact with the moon as an excuse to add more homework. And then the meteor really does collide with the moon, knocking it off orbit & pushing it closer to Earth, throwing everything off balance. Tsunamis, volcanoes, and arctic winter are just a few problems Miranda & her family must deal with. Told through Miranda's diaries as she watches everyone around her cope with the tragedy differently, it is an eerie novel of a future that could be closer than we think.
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 9

Notes: I was the kid who, in first or second grade, when I learned that the sun would someday burn out, went home and panicked until my parents calmed me down. So, you can imagine that I might find a book about an asteroid hitting the moon, knocking it closer to the earth a bit unsettling. Susan Beth Pfeffer's writing is so convincing that I felt as though I were reading an account of something that really happened as opposed to a fictional event -- which is what good science fiction does.
Reviewer: Lisa Dugan, Koen-Levy Book Wholesalers
Rated: 7.5

Core audience: Most obvious audience is girls 14+ but should be hand sold to boys because it's so compelling
Strengths: Authentic writing, vivid post-apocalyptic scenario that will be an eye-opener for modern teens
Review: Young readers today are so used to the comfort of technologies such as cell phones, e-mail, cable television, and the internet that most of them never stop to think about how vulnerable these luxuries are. Let alone things like electricity, food in the supermarket, gas at the gas station, and medical care at the local hospital. What I loved about this book is how effectively it shows how a breakdown in society can slowly strip away our creature comforts one by one until we are reduced to our most basic instincts for survival.

When an asteroid hits the Moon and pushes it closer to the Earth, the environmental catastrophe that results will change life on the planet forever. Unlike typical disaster movies like War of the Worlds or Independence Day, the believability of this book comes from the fact that the events take place over many months, and chronicle what a disaster might look like from the perspective of one family in one community. Told through the diary entries of a normal teen, this novel is so authentically written and so compelling that once you get into it, it will be hard to put it down. Even better, when you do put it down, it will take a few minutes to pull yourself back from the sense of impending disaster that this book will evoke in you. Ultimately, this book delivers a positive message about self-reliance and hidden strength, and it is one of my top picks for the year. Not only is it a great story, but it has an important message to send to young readers about not taking life for granted.
Reviewer: Kristen McLean, The Association of Booksellers for Children
Rated: 9

Core audience: middle and high school students
Strengths: characters, setting, family relationships
Review: Miranda is a high school student worried about grades and a date for the prom, as we learn from her diary. Life as she knows it comes to an abrupt end when a meteor slams into the moon, knocking it closer to the earth and causing tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This causes climate changes as well as tremendous destruction. Food becomes scarce, oil, gas and electricity are non-existent and Miranda and her family struggle to survive as their world becomes more and more constricted. The book is very grim (perhaps a bit too grim for many) but compelling as it explores this new reality and the ways in which Miranda and her family are able to respond.
Reviewer: Nancy Felton, Broadside Bookshop
Rated: 7.5

London Calling
by Edward Bloor
Knopf/Random House, September, 2006, $16.95
0-375-83635-7

Core audience: It's a good "boy" book involving time travel and history. . .the present-day part of the story is great, too.
Strengths: the authenticity of the characters, the plot, the history involved, significant underlying ideas, sensitivity
Review: I am a fan of Edward Bloor's (Tangerine) writing. The interest thing about his writing is that each book seems so different. It's definitely "genre defying" as I read in a review. Though I love his writing, I don't always know what to expect. Yet when I start reading, I love where ever the book takes me.

This one involves Martin, a seventh grade boy who travels back to the time of the London Blitz via falling asleep as he listens to the white fuzz of a radio he inherits from his grandmother. She had asked him before she passed away if he had heard from Jimmy, if he was going to help Jimmy. Through his dreams he meets Jimmy and is introduced the world of World War II London. Martin also catches glimpses of his grandfather, a difficult man, who worked for the American Embassy. He also sees another man, a cohort of his grandfather, who is being honored present-day at Martin's school as a hero for his efforts in the war, but Martin discovers his actions are not as heroic as the man's family would lead people to believe.

Okay, that's the main story, but intertwined is stuff about Martin's family. He has an ally in his older sister Margaret who works (conveniently!) for an encyclopedia publisher. It's so nice for a main character to have a sympathetic sibling. His mother is a bit beaten down in life, but wants the best for Martin, who doesn't always see things the same way. Martin's father is a good buy but an alcoholic, and the book does a good job at conveying the reality of what this means for Martin and his family. Then there's other stuff like a bully who gets his come-uppance at the end, and Martin's delivering a message from Jimmy back then to his father here and now. . .it all combines for a good read.
Reviewer: Lisa Dugan, Koen-Levy Book Wholesalers
Rated: 7

Core audience: 10+; especially good for readers who like WWII history
Strengths: Good premise, interesting blend of history with elements of mystery, and a ghost story
Review: John Martin Conway's life could be better. He lives in a suburb of New Jersey, and at thirteen his parents are divorced, his father's an alcoholic, and he spends most of his time in his basement bedroom IM-ing his only two friends. And now, at the private school he attends as a scholarship student, (and which he hates), he has gotten himself into trouble with a gang of boys including the grandson of one of the school's most prominent donors.

When Martin's Nana starts calling late at night, and talking about a kid named Jimmy who comes out of the radio to talk to her, he's not sure if she's going senile, or if something else is happening. When he inherits the radio a few weeks later, it sets him off on an adventure that could be time travel, or a hallucination, or a waking dream-he's not entirely sure. All he knows is that he's suddenly in London, during the Blitz of 1940, and a boy name Jimmy is asking for his help The chain of events this sets in motion will weave together all of the disparate elements of his life both past and present into a surprisingly coherent whole.

Bloor has a gift for writing in a believable voice about teenage angst, and I liked the quiet way he deals with the difficulties of Martin's family. Young readers will be hooked by the mystery of Martin's "time-travel" and will want to keep reading to unravel the truth. I thought the strongest part of the novel is the reality with which air raids of the Blitz are portrayed. I think Martin is a little too self-aware and spiritual for a thirteen year old, but this isn't a fatal flaw. This book will appeal more to boys than girls, and will be perfect for readers who love WWII, or who love mysteries.
Reviewer: Kristen McLean, The Association of Booksellers for Children
Rated: 7.5

Looking Glass Wars
by Frank Beddor
Dial/Penguin, September 2006, $16.99 0-8037-3153-1

Core audience: middle school students
Notable aspects: the concept of the book, imagination, characters
Review: We travel through the looking glass in this new look at Alice in Wonderland and we discover that Lewis Carroll got it all wrong. We meet many of the same characters (and many new characters as well) but we learn that there is a bloody war going on in Wonderland between the supporters of Princess Alyss, heir to the throne, and her evil Aunt Redd. There's plenty of action as the plot moves between Wonderland and our world (and Lewis Carroll himself makes a cameo appearance) but I did get tired of the violence.
Reviewer: Nancy Felton, Broadside Bookshop
Rated: 7.5

Core audience: Ages 13+
Review: What if Wonderland was a real place, full of warring factions & teleporting mirrors, and the story we know is the light version? That is the idea behind Frank Beddors' Looking Glass Wars which was original published in England a few years ago. The story follows Alyss Heart as she grows from spoiled princess to enlightened warrior while making a quick pit stop in our reality to tell the story to a young Lewis Carroll. I really wanted to like this book (the idea alone is fantastic) but it just didn't hold my interest and I had to force myself to finish it. Penguin lists it as Middle Grade Fiction but Alyss ages from 9 to 20-something which makes it better suited to Teen.
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 6

The Loud Silence of Francine Green
by Karen Cushman
Clarion/Houghton Mifflin, August, 2006, $16.00
0-618-50455-9

Core audience: 10 - 14
Review: Francine is normal but quiet 13 year old who lives near a film studio and yearns to meet Montgomery Clift. But when Sophie enters her California Catholic school class, Francine a whole different side of life. Sophie is anything but quiet. She speaks her mind even if her opinions are not the most popular ones and serves as a worthy role model. Told against the backdrop of the McCarthy hearings, the lessons learned are closely related to the politics of the time. When can you speak your mind and when can't you? Francine's emergence from young teenager to involved adolescent is a lovely thing to behold. She turns out to be a great role model herself.
Reviewer: Carol Stoltz, Porter Square Books
Rated: 8

Ludie's Life
by Cynthia Rylant
Harcourt, November 2006, $16.00
0-15-205389-1

Core audience: appropriate for teenagers, but most likely to appeal to adults
Notable themes: poverty, family, aging, West Virginia
Review: Lyrical language tells the story of a simple, noble woman's life. Beautiful, as Rylant's books always are. But will any kids or teens be drawn to it? Doubtful.
Reviewer: Alison Morris, Wellesley BookSmith
Rated: 7

Lush
by Natasha Friend
Scholastic Press, September, 2006 $16.99
0-439-85346-X

Core audience: middle school & high school
Notable aspects: characters, dealing with alcoholism
Review: Samantha is a typical 13-year-old in many ways, with typical 13-year-old issues: friendship, boys, her changing body. But she is also dealing with a problem that none of her friends know about--her father's alcoholism. Her mother and grandmother are in denial about how serious her father's problem is and Samantha bears the burden of the family secret and of trying to protect her younger brother. An unexpected friendship helps her through the crisis that inevitably occurs. The portrayal of the family rings true and the story is told with humor and sensitivity.
Reviewer: Nancy Felton, Broadside Bookshop
Rated: 8.5

The Mailbox
by Audrey Shafer
Delacorte/Random House, October, 2006, $15.95
0-385-73344-5

Core audience: Ages 10-13 years
Strengths: Characters well drawn, well done treatment of a difficult topic.
Review: This book wonderfully illustrates the misunderstandings over age, class, and social institutions.
Reviewer: Joyce Miller, Baker Books
Rated: 8

Maybe
by Brent Runyon
Knopf/Random House, October, 2006, $16.95
0-375-83543-1

Core audience: Teens 13-16
Strengths: characters, emotional plausibility, satisfying ending, humor.
Review: We've all heard the old joke that women wonder what men are thinking, and the answer is always "nothing." Maybe is as good a glimpse into the adolescent male mind as this female has ever been afforded. 16-year-old Brian's mind is the lens, and Brian is nervous, hopeful, horny, funny, angry, silly, indifferent, ecstatic, crafty, and reckless. Notice that "focused" isn't in that list. Brian's moods change with dizzying frequency and amplitude as he leaps, wriggles and squirms his way through the emotional obstacle course of teen life, including the all-too-common element of an older brother's recent death from accidental (maybe) causes.
Reviewer: Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins and BookStream
Rated: 7

Miracle on 49th Street
by Mike Lupica
Philomel Books/Penguin, October, 2006, $17.99
0-399-24488-3

Core audience: Ages 10+ girls (and some boys) who like basketball and happy-ending
Christmas stories
Strengths: Characters, happy endings
Review: I will always be a sucker for Christmas stories with strong willed kids, conflict, loving "guardian angels", adults who eventually "see the light" and happy endings. Molly Parker, 12 year old basketball phenom, lives with her mother's college roommate and her husband and daughter in Boston since her mother's death. Molly's mother left Molly letters with much advice and with the revelation that Molly's birth father is Josh Cameron, star of the Boston Celtics. Much soul searching and "adults being adults", Molly being supported and helped by her side-kick best friend Sam and guardian angel-like Mattie (Josh's housekeeper and so much more) and Molly's Mom's message "always believe you'll end up where you're suppose to be" - all add up to a very happy miracle on 49th Street ending.
Reviewer: Joanne Bibeau, Storybook Cove
Rated: 7

Notes: While it was enjoyable, I don't think it will become one of those classic Christmas stories children read year after year.
Reviewer: Lisa Dugan, Koen-Levy Book Wholesalers
Rated: 7

New Moon
by Stephanie Meyer
Little Brown /Hachette. September 2006, $17.99
0-316-16019-9

Primary audience: Young Adult
Strengths: Characters, Continuing Story
Review: The "star-crossed lovers" of Twilight are back with old enemies and new problems. Bella & Edward are not your typical boyfriend/girlfriend. She lives with her father and drives a beat-up truck; He is a vampire. After coming to terms with the complications of having a relationship with someone whose kiss could kill, Bella is looking forward to finally being a normal couple. Unfortunately, the Vampire Royalty doesn't look kindly on a human within their circle. Throw in some werewolves and a visit from an old enemy and you're in for a wild ride!
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 9

Core audience: Teen girls
Strengths: plot, characters, language, imagination, sensitivity, humor, interesting setting, strong ending
Review: Bella and Edward are back. Stephenie Meyer captivated teen girls--as well as more than a few booksellers--with her story of Bella, who happens to meet, become intrigued by, and fall in love with Edward--a vampire unlike any vampire you've read about. The story begun in Twilight continues in New Moon and is just as compelling, fraught with danger, and romantic. I love this just as much as the first one, even though it is a very different story. The characters she creates are really compelling-- you just feel you have to find out what happens to them. The emotions and responses of the characters whether human, vampire, or werewolf will strike a chord with readers-- especially Meyer's target audience of girls from 14 to 54.
Reviewer: Lisa Dugan, Koen-Levy Book Wholesalers
Rated: 9

The Night My Sister Went Missing
by Carol Plum-Ucci
Harcourt, Inc, November 2006, $17.00, 0152047581

Core audience: Teens
Strengths: mystery, contemporary teen relationship
Review: The story takes place during one night on a barrier island community off the coast of New Jersey. A late night teenage party ends abruptly with gunfire. It is unclear whether Kurt's younger sister, last seen falling off the pier into the water, is the victim of foul play or has staged an elaborate prank. As the police interview the partygoers, Kurt observes his friends through the one-way mirror. Instead of being enlightened as to the fate of his sister, Kurt realizes the shallow nature of his friendships as the teens relate their impressions of the night's events and each other. New mysteries with rumors of abuse concerning the pretty and popular girl emerge practically eclipsing the missing girl mystery.
I loved Plum-Ucci's The Body of Christopher Creed and The She but this book did not grab me. I do believe however, that teenagers will enjoy the peek into the inner thoughts of a group of friends.
Reviewer: Val Tate, Village Book Store
Rated: 6.5

A "Desperate Housewives" look into the lives of a group of teenagers
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 6

Notes from the Midnight Driver
by Jordan Sonnenblick
Scholastic, October 2006, $16.99
0-439-75779-7

Core audience: Children aged 11 and older
Strengths: characterization, child-connected
Review: 16 year old Alex Gregory, upset about his mother's first date and his parent's divorce, gets drunk and tries to drive to his Dad's house to give him a piece of his mind. He crashes the car into the neighbors yard beheading a lawn gnome, and thus begins the humorous and seriousness of the consequences for his actions. He is forced to do 100 hours of community service at a nursing home where his mom works. She has specifically picked out a patient for him to assist. Solomon Lewis is an angry belittling man but Alex & Sol find a common interest, music. Alex learns responsibility and what it is like to care for others and not to only think about himself. The book also deals with a girlfriend-boyfriend relationship. Alex starts noticing his girl friend as a "girlfriend". The story has a tidy ending. I enjoyed the book. It had a message without sounding preachy and the characters were consistent. It was a believable warm read.
Reviewer: Janet Bibeau, Storybook Cove
Rated: 7

On Christmas Eve
by Ann M. Martin
Scholastic, October 2006, $15.99
0-439-74588-8

Core audience: Ages 9-12
Review: Unlike the Funke title reviewed above, Martin's effort is less memorable. In this slight story, nine year old Tess tells of the time, last Christmas eve, that she met Santa. After waiting up until midnight, and finding out that her pet dog could speak once a year, Tess meets Santa. Her goal in speaking to Santa is to ask for him to intercede in the recovery of her best friend's father who is dying of cancer. Santa's response seems disappointing and promises little. The traditions and beauty of Christmas as related here do little to brighten the tenor of this tale. While I suspect the reader is supposed to feel the warmth of family and friendship, I was left feeling the power of Christmas diminished.
Reviewer: Kathy Goddard, NECBA ListServ Manager
Rated: 5

Paranoid Park
by Blake Nelson
Viking/Penguin, September, 2006, $15.99
0-670-06118-2

Core audience: Teen boys, especially skateboarders.
Strengths: A fast-paced, thrilling story, like S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, with skateboarding action. Gritty realism.
Review: All the skate rats hang out at Paranoid Park. The preppy skaters go to Skate City at the mall. The story is told in the lingo of today's teens, full of gritty realism and the difficult realities they face -- sex, drinking, bullies, coping with the wrath of authority figures, and of course, feeling misunderstood, like no one will believe you. The book does not feel like it was dictated into a tape recorder, although the protagonist speaks in the slang of today's youth. This would be a perfect match for tough guys who don't usually care to read as the character is so believable and true to life.
Reviewer: Magoo Gelehrter, Baker Books
Rated: 7

Parent Swap
by Terence Blacker
Farrar, Straus/VHPS, August, 2006, $16.00
0-374-35752-8

Core audience: Ages 11-14
Strengths: clever concept
Review: I so loved Blacker's Boy2Girl that I grabbed Parent Swap with enthusiasm and dived into it with relish. The notion that someone would market exchanges of parents and children was set up with such flawless marketing vocabulary that I was engaged immediately. But then something went off the tracks. Danny Bell's alternate family arrangements are gradually revealed as an impossibly elaborate conspiracy to scam - whom? Why? And is the Queen a necessary accessory? If I were a kid reading this I'd be confused for awhile, and then I'd feel seriously let down.
Reviewer: Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins and BookStream
Rated: 2

Part of Me
by Kimberly Willis Holt
Henry Holt, September 2006, $16.95 0-8050-6360-9

Core audience: Ages 10 and up
Notable themes: books, reading, libraries, family, generations, love, Louisiana
Review: Steeped as they are in nostalgia, I can't help thinking that these sweet Southern stories may resonate more with adults than younger readers. Nevertheless, Holt's writing in this book is lovely and her characters endearing, just as her fans have come to expect.
Reviewer: Alison Morris, Wellesley BookSmith
Rated: 7.5

Penny from Heaven
by Jennifer L. Holm
Random House, July, 2006, $15.95 0-375-83687-x

Notable themes: family, WWII, tolerance, Italian-Americans, secrets, 1950's, injury/recovery
Review: Holm's heartwarming new novel expertly captures the essence of a summer in 1950's America -- a summer that vacillates between the mundane and the monumental for Penny Colman, who's on the verge of her 12th birthday. Caught in an awkward space between the quiet calm of her "plain old American" mother and the lively eccentricities of her deceased father's Italian-American clan, Penny bounces between two loving households and eventually unravels the secret that's stretched between them. Holm uses Penny's story as a springboard, launching readers into a little-known chapter of American history in which Italian-Americans were considered less "us" than "them." Her exploration of intolerance themes is light-handed, though, lending just a bit more substance to what is ultimately a sweetly light story -- perfect for summer.
Reviewer: Alison Morris, Wellesley BookSmith
Rated: 8

Core audience: For boys and girls grades 5-7
Strengths: child-centered issues, sensitivity, historical significance
Review: Reading Jennifer Holm is always fun and satisfying . It is the sort of read that calls for a quilt and a warm beverage and a long afternoon. You won't want to put it down. This book is no exception. Penny is living with her Mom and grandparents in a quiet, conservative household where the most excitement is caused by Grandpa's leaky toilet upstairs above Penny's room. This side of the family does not fraternize with her dead father's boisterous, fun-loving, large Italian-American side. Penny is close to her Dad's family and they do everything they can to make her feel loved and cared for. It is a wonderful, warm, supportive environment, not without its seriously quirky moments. Penny has to learn to accept that her Mom is dating someone seriously (the milkman...Penny gasps!)When unfortunate events occur that bring out the truth about Penny's father's death, the families are brought closer together. Part of the importance of this wonderful story about the everyday ups and downs of family life is the truths it tells about our country's treatment of the Italo-American community during WWII. The Author's Note at the end goes into detail about it. A Family Album at the end also makes the story real with the photographs of Holm's own Italian-American family. A list of Resources and Websites adds to the authenticity.
Reviewer: Sue Carita, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford
Rated: 8+

Core audience: Middle Grade girls; historical fiction 1950's, humorous, NJ/NY
Review: Jennifer Holm tells the story of a girl and the mystery her family hides. Penny Falucci lives with her mother and her mother's parents, but visits her deceased father's classic Italian family, who live nearby. The book conjures up a perfect picture of the summer of 1953. From the fear of polio to the love of baseball, from the way people talk to the smells of an Italian kitchen, the details are lovingly drawn. As Penny pursues adventures with her mischievous cousin Frankie she learns bits and pieces of her family's history and why the two halves of her family don't speak.
Reviewer: Lisa Dugan, Koen-Levy Book Wholesalers
Rated: 8

Peter Pan in Scarlet
by Geraldine McCaughrean
Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster, October 5, 2006, $17.95
1-41-691808-6

Core audience: Readers who want to read MORE MORE MORE about Peter Pan, younger middle grade readers
Strengths: plot, characters, language, authenticity & accuracy, imagination, sensitivity, humor, child-connected, interesting setting, strong ending
Review: Wow! I never thought a book written today could feel like it had been waiting for a hundred years on the shelf for me to find it! No matter how well-intended, sequels often just seem mercenary money grabs. But this one is much, much more. It's a grand old fashioned story for children. Non-stop, action-packed, swashbuckling adventure in one of the most beloved fantasy worlds of all time. It's written with younger readers in mind than the original, but how perfectly exciting is that? A new generation gets to go to Neverland for the first time! They are sure to be acting out Peter's adventures in the forests and oceans of their own yards. And Geraldine McCaughrean's writing is wonderful. It is poetic, clear, and pretty all at once. You will find it dancing off the tip of your tongue as you read it aloud to children, or to yourself.
Reviewer: Lisa Dugan, Koen-Levy Book Wholesalers
Rated: 9

Core audience: ages 8 and up and up and up
Strengths: themes of aging, boyhood, disappointments, revenge, hope, friendship, wishes, dreams, fairies, memory.
Review: As a die-hard fan of Peter's original adventures, I was very wary of anyone's attempts to finish (or continue) what J. M. Barrie had so brilliantly begun. I was prepared to resent this book. But I LOVED it. Geraldine McCaughrean's remarkable storytelling talents mingle expertly with her obvious reverence for Barrie's original tale. She has so aptly captured the spirit, characterization, and language of his text that, emotional gal that I am, I became teary-eyed at various points in my reading, muttering to those within earshot, "She just GETS it!" And boy does she. It would seem as if Geraldine McCaughrean has done more than just "recreate" or "reimagine" Peter and his compatriots. Rather she has awakened them from a deep sleep and marched them through a new adventure - one that sings with recognition, but nevertheless crackles with its own new spirit. On these pages are spark, wit, truth, whimsy, fairy dust, and Turkish delight. There are ingenious plot twists and remarkable revelations. It is hard to imagine, in fact, that Barrie himself was not leaning over McCaughrean's shoulder as she wrote this book, whispering sweet Neverland nothings in her ear. I don't think anyone (apart from Barrie himself) could have done better.
Reviewer: Alison Morris, Children's Book Buyer, Wellesley Booksmith
Rated: 10

Core audience: all ages
Strengths: Classic feel, a great family read aloud
Review: This sequel to Peter Pan is a wonderful send up to the original. Geraldine McCaughrean gets a lot of things right. It made me want to go back and read Peter Pan right
away.
Reviewer: Lorna Ruby Wellesley Booksmith
Rated: 9

An instant classic as breathtaking as the original!
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 9.5

A Pickpocket's Tale
by Karen Schwabach
Random House, October 26, 2006; $15.95
0-375-83379-X

Core audience: Girls 8-12 who love historical fiction and readers interested in fiction featuring Jewish characters
Strengths: Takes a fresh look at early colonial history
Review: London 1730. Molly, a ten year old orphan, is arrested for being a pickpocket, and is sentenced to seven years in the colonies as an alternative to death. This concise story follows Molly on her difficult ocean journey and her arrival in the New York where she is sold in the slave market as an indentured servant to a Jewish family, the Bells. Mr. Bell is a prosperous businessman, and he and his family are kind to Molly, but Molly is none too sure about anything in this new and unfamiliar world. Determined to get back to London at any cost, Molly must soon decide between her past, and a newfound sense of self in the new colony.

Although it would be easy to overlook, I loved this little novel for several reasons. First, it is filled with vivid descriptions of life in early New York, and of the rites and rituals of early Jewish colonists. I know of no other book that takes a close look at middle-class Jews in early New York. Schwabach obviously did a tremendous amount of research and it shows in her use of language, her descriptions of the buildings and clothing, and the believability of his characterizations. I especially enjoyed the use of "Flash-cant", and old London dialect developed by thieves so that they could talk without being understood by their marks. The book includes a glossary so that readers can decipher the slang, as well as a good appendix discussing the actual history behind the story. This story will be a solid addition to a section on colonial history, or historical fiction.
Reviewer: Kristen McLean, The Association of Booksellers for Children
Rated: 7.75

Psyche in a Dress
by Francesca Lia Block
Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins, September, 2006, $15.99
0-06-076372-8

Core audience: Girls 14+
Strengths: Prose Poem re-telling of the Greek myth of Psyche as a teen from a broken home. Lyrical yet accessible writing.
Review: This is a brilliant and modern spin on a Greek myth, given a glamorous Los Angeles setting. Francesca Lia Block is truly a writer beyond compare. There is no one anywhere doing anything remotely close to what she does. The ancient Greek myths of Psyche & Narcissus among others, are given a modern day re-telling and set in Los Angeles. Told in a breezy, compulsively readable free verse prose poem style, filtered through the heart and mind of dutiful daughter Psyche, the book will be a quick read for most -- but one that will have a lasting impact. Adolescent loneliness, coping with having divorced parents, the inequality of teens versus adults, wanting, loving -- all of this is beautifully conveyed in Block's spare and elegant writing.
Reviewer: Magoo Gelehrter, Baker Books
Rated: 10

The Pull of the Ocean
by Jean Claude Mourlevat
Delacorte/Random House, November, 2006, $15.95
0-385-73348-8

Core audience: wan romantics
Strengths: Characters, setting, brevity
Review: This translated French prize winner is a charming scrap that tells us why French readers don't get fat: they are satisfied with little plot, fewer logical outcomes, and narratives unsweetened by any humor or happiness. The Pull of the Ocean tells of an undersized 10-year-old Yann and his six brothers who, at Yann's premonition and suggestion, run away from their abusive parents and make their way toward the ocean. Is this Yann's way of saving his brothers? If so, why do the brothers wind up going back to the parents? Is it Yann's way of traveling to the ocean? If so, why doens't he let on to th ereader, and why didn't he go alone instead of subjecting his brothers to the torturous experience? If Yann is such a reliable leader, why did he interpret his parents' plan to dispose of seven unwanted kittens as a plan to murder their seven sons? Many different characters speak in the course of the book, and we infer from their accounts that the case of the runaway boys was widely known and discussed. But we never find out the nature of the mute Yann's objective, or the fate of his long-suffering brothers.
Reviewer: Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins and BookStream
Rated: 4

Returnable Girl
by Pamela Lowell
Cavendish, October, 2006, $16.99
0-7614-5317-2

Core audience: girls 13-16
Strengths: foster care description
Review: Although the writer is experienced in the field of foster care, her inexperience as a novelist is hard on her agenda, which I believe is engaging readers with the difficult realities of teens in foster care and the adoption process. Her main character Ronnie (Veronica), age 14, comes from a clinically typical background: an alcohol an drug dependent mother who took off for Alaska with two younger siblings and an abusive boyfriend, leaving Ronnie with the illusion she would be sent for, and parking her with unwilling, unprepared relatives who quickly gave up on Ronnie's angry adolescent reactions, and turned her over to a chain of foster care situations. I had the feeling that there was originally a longer manuscript, with several foster homes and several instances of behavior that resulted in Ronnie's rejection - her "returnable" status - which was condensed into an awkwardly tight space. When we meet Ronnie she's just moved in with Alison, a middle aged woman who loves her - for no evident reason whatsoever - and wants to adopt her in spite of Ronnie's repeated thefts, lies, and poor judgement. In addition to Ronnie's conflicted feelings between her utterly irresponsible mother and the kind but unfamiliar Alison, there's also the conflict between Ronnie's urge to be chummy with the snotty, vicious, popular girls, and her abysmal treatment of a friend Cindy, with whom she has far more in common. Cindy's obesity, neediness, and general vulnerability are all too believable. Like Alison, Cindy forgives Ronnie endlessly, so Ronnie's self-esteem has no foundation of achievement, self-control or earned respect. Though other girls in the book are ruthlessly exploited by boys, Ronnie doesn't experience any romantic or sexual conflicts, which is probably just as well for literary reasons, whether or not it's socially realistic. The book successfully conveys the sense of the measured process with which public agencies and courts handle foster and adoptive arrangements.
Reviewer: Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins and BookStream
Rated: 5

Ribbons of the Sun
by Harriet Hamilton
Brown Barn Books, October 2006, $8.95
0-97681262-2

Core audience: ages 12 and up
Strengths: realistic situations, sensitivity, gritty subject matter
Review: This is a coming-of-age story which is open-ended, if that isn't a contradiction in terms. It's a first-person narrative which often slides into interior monologue and dream states. Rosa is a young girl in Mexico who longs to visit "the city"; in her innocence, she imagines it to contain nothing but beauty and splendor. Her elders know differently, but in their impoverished circumstances they are forced to hire her out as a maid in the house of a rich and unscrupulous man. The subjects of rape, pregnancy, and learning to take care of a child, when Rosa is but a child herself, are all described with a natural-sounding air of bewilderment and despair. She is befriended by a boy in town, and her growing feelings of affection for him and dependence on him are effectively told, as are her inner reflection that she and her gods have deserted one another.
The "happy ending" is not easily acquired, and Rosa's story does not end so much as reach a plateau from which a variety of decisions can be reached.
Reviewer: Patty Cryan, Mike's Comics, Worcester, MA
Rated: 8.5

Rules of Survival
by Nancy Werlin
Penguin, September, 2006. $16.99
0-8037-3001-2

Core audience: 13+
Strengths: characters and issues
Review: Werlin has created a character, Matthew, who is so focused on the safety and survival of his sisters that he barely notices the sense and strength he possesses. His instinct is to find a grown-up wh can help rescue them from a mother who is cruel and unstable, selfish and controlling. His instincts lead him to the right person, but other lives unravel in the process of rescuing Matthew and his sisters. Rules of Survival is suspenseful, dark and disturbing, and yet hopeful at the same time. Werlin frames the story as a letter from Matthew to his youngest sister, dispensing personal thoughts and dramatic tension bit by bit. I really loved this devastating yet uplifting book; I started it and read until I finished.
Reviewer: Mimi Powell, Baker Books
Rated: 8

Core audience: High school readers of realistic fiction ages 14 and older -- those who enjoy intense stories and are mature readers
Strengths: Notable characters and very well written -- the reader can feel the anguish and uncertainty
Review: The story starts out with Matthew writing the "letter" to tell his younger sister the ordeal they have gone through. We don't know if she will ever get this story but Matthew needs to tell it to himself. The story is very intense. Three children learn how to cope with an abusive mother. Their daily life is like walking on egg shells so that they won't upset their mother. When she is out of control, they learn to survive on their own. Matthew sees a man, Murdock, in a convenience store defending a boy who is being abused by what appears to be his father. Matthew needs to know Murdock -- Matthew needs a savior. Murdock does become a large part of his life but not a savior initially. What Matthew learns is to fight for himself and that asking for help is OK and to keep trying.
Reviewer: Janet Bibeau, Storybook Cove
Rated: 8

Review: "Dysfunctional" would be a step up for Matthew's family. He is the oldest of 3 children living with their abusive and often drunk mother. He feels a profound responsibility to protect his sisters, especially Emmy, the youngest one. His attempts to avoid potentially explosive situations create enormous tension. Eventually Matthew seeks help from near-by adults who come through for him later rather than sooner. Since the book is in the form of a letter written after the fact to Emmy, there is subtle reassurance that really terrible things don't happen. The story moves along with tension building so that it is hard to put down. Despite their struggles, the adults and kids do what is right and serve to remind us that making the right the decision is not always that easy.
Reviewer: Carol Stoltz, Porter Square Books
Rated: 8 .5

The Runaway Princess
by Kate Combs
Farrar, Straus & Giroux/VHPS; August, 2006, $17.00
0-374-35546-0

Core audience: Girls 8-12, families
Strengths: Strong girl character, fun writing, fractured fairytale
Review: As a childhood fan of The Paperback Princess, and Atalana from Free to be You and Me, this book was just a fun treat from beginning to end. Think The Princess Bride.
The recipe:
1 feisty princess who doesn't want to get married.
1 witch.
200 floating frogs.
1 baby dragon.
Some bandits.
1 disappearing tower.
100 pompous princes.
1 young wizard.
a troop of gipsys
Stir liberally, add some slapstick, and let `er rip.Yes, this definitely covers familiar ground, but it does it with humor and a certain irreverence that I loved. A great family read.
Reviewer: Kristen McLean, The Association of Booksellers for Children
Rated: 7.75

Saint Iggy
by K. L. Going
Harcourt, September 2006, $17.00
0-15-205795-1

Core audience: 12 and up
Review: Saint Iggy is an edgy YA novel. Iggy leads an unusual life for a boy his age. He has been kicked out of school, hangs out with Mo (a sweet, but manipulative druggie), is searching for his Mom who has left him, and avoids going home so he doesn't have to deal with his drunk father. His yearning for a real home and a calm life leads him in many strange directions, but in the end he does what he feels is the right thing and shows his saint-like qualities. Iggy will get into your heart and stay there. A perfect book for the 12-14 year-old who loves contemporary fiction.
Reviewer: Carol Stoltz, Porter Square Books
Rated: 8

Set in Stone
by Linda Newberry
David Fickling Books, Random House, November, 2006, $16.95
0-385-75102-8

Core audience: high school students--there is some difficult material
Notable aspects: atmosphere, historical setting, characters, language
Review: The story of the Farrow family is told in alternating chapters by Samuel Godwin, an artist hired by Mr. Farrow to give art lessons to his daughters, and Charlotte Agnew, Juliana and Marianne's hired companion. The setting is the family's manor, Fourwinds, in the late 19th century and the author creates an engrossing atmosphere and plot. We learn, along with Samuel and Charlotte, that all is not what it seems in the Farrow family and clues to the mystery reveal sexual abuse and incest. The difficult subject matter is handled well, although tied up perhaps a bit too neatly.
Reviewer: Nancy Felton, Broadside Bookshop
Rated: 8

Sold
by Patricia McCormick
Hyperion/Hachette, September 2006, $15.99
0-7868-5171-6

Core audience: Young Adult
Strengths: Authenticity & accuracy, Culture
Review: Told in the powerful vignettes, Sold is the frighteningly "real" story of child prostitution in Nepal. Lakshmi is a 13 year old girl sold by her stepfather to go "work" in the big city & send money back to the ailing family. As Lakshmi travels from poor village to modest town and finally to the brothel house, she learns the valuable lessons needed to survive in a new world filled with unimaginable horrors.
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 9

Core audience: 14 & up
Notable Aspects: Written in prose-like vignettes
Review: Sold is the story of a 13 year old girl from a remote mountian village in Nepal who is intelligent, innocent, and hardworking but very poor. She dreams of growing up in her village and marrying a shy village boy. However, her gambling, drunkard stepfather tells her she must leave the village to work in the city in order to support the family. When she arrives at her new role, she is horrified to learn that she has been sold into prostitution. She is beaten, starved, and never permitted to leave the brothel.
The author obviously did some intense research for this book and it chronicles a journey that many Nepalese girls have been forced to take. It is a bit graphic in some passages (I would warn readers/parents). The poor girl is betrayed by adults that she thought she could trust enough times, that when a well meaning American comes to the brothel and offers her escape, she has a difficult time deciding if she should accept his help.
Reviewer: Karlene Rearick, The Alphabet Garden
Rated: 6

Storm Thief
by Chris Wooding
Scholastic, September, 2006, $16.99
0-439-86513-1

Core audience: Ages 12 and up, fantasy readers
Strengths: Imagination, characters, hopeful ending
Review: In this fast paced story, Rail and Moa are kid thieves in a future city of chaos where little technology exists and society is clearly divided into haves and have nots. A simple story of catch the thieves who stole a valuable artifact becomes a much more complicated story of struggle, good and evil, multifaceted human nature. What makes this story believable is the mix of not "run of the mill" fantasy with very human emotions, loyalties and conflicts.
Reviewer: Joanne Bibeau, Storybook Cove
Rated: 7.5

That Girl Lucy Moon
by Amy Timberlake
Hyperion/Hachette, September 2006, $15.99,
0-7868-5298-4

Core audience: Ages 9-13
Strengths: Strong main character, friendships, courage to stand up for what you believe in, middle school transition, absent mother
Review: That Girl Lucy Moon is a glorious, honest and funny story of a young girl with the courage to stand up for what she believes in - whether it be the plight of migrant workers or the rights of children to sled down Wiggins Hill. The story takes place during a year when Lucy faces a number of changes. She enters middle school, with all it complexities and challenges, and her photographer mother takes off for a trip that has no end in sight, leaving Lucy and her rather distant father to work out a new relationship and understanding. I loved the characters! Amy Timberlake has a wonderful insight into the middle school years, and the characters are so true. They are inspiring, flawed, funny and complex. The friendships are bumpy at times and Lucy is no perfect hero, either. Misunderstandings and unfairness happen with friends and the adults in the story, but Lucy perseveres as best she can. Congratulations to Amy Timberlake for this delightful story.
Reviewer: Vicky Uminowicz, Titcomb's Bookshop
Rated: 9

Things Hoped For
by Andrew Clements
Philomel/Penguin, September, 2006, $16.99
0-399-24350-X

Core Audience: for Teens, both boys and girls
Strengths: underlying ideas about values, child-sensitive issues, language
Review: Gwen has been living with her grandfather in NYC so she can attend music school. Her life's total focus is solely on her classical violin study. Now that she is intensely preparing for her auditions for three highly regarded musical colleges, her grandfather goes missing. He does leave her a phone message that tries to assure her there is no problem. She is to carry on without him, but keep his absence a secret. There are so many places here where Clements makes readers aware of the importance of having an abiding passion for something and working to achieve it. There are so many kernels of wisdom shared by (an unusually mature?) Gwen, whose concerns become our own. Clements' past novels have been great slices of life for young readers. This story goes further than any of the others in its many layers. (Not the least is the inclusion of Robert, from Things Not Seen and the technology of spectronomic anomalies.) Despite a problem with willing suspension of disbelief in the idea of such anomalies, and despite an occasional impatience at the repetition of Gwen's thoughts, I give this totally engrossing story a score of 9.
Reviewer: Sue Carita, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH
Rated: 9

Sue STILL writes better than I do (see below), and she makes a great case for this, but I can't go all the way to 9. May be if I had read Things Not Seen it would be easier to suspend disbelief, not just the idea of Robert and spectronomic anomalies, but some of the coincidental things that happen that would wreck the plot if I mentioned. I really like Clements' writing and I'm glad I have some recommendations for readers too old for Frindle, et al, and this was different, so I'll go to 8.
Reviewer: Rondi Brower, Blackwood & Brower
Rated: 8

Time Bomb
by Nigel Hinton
Tricycle/Ten Speed Press, August or October, 2006, $15.95
1582461864

Core audience: Ages 12-15, especially boys
Strengths: plot, action, characters, emotional plausibility, sensitivity
Review: Eddie, Bob, Manny, and narrator Andy come to the end of their 11-Plus school year in postwar London with Eddie's painful humiliation by a teacher. As they discuss it in their favorite retreat, an abandoned bomb site, Bob notices a bit of metal that they quickly identify as an unexploded bomb - or a dud. Each boy holds this thrilling secret differently, and each develops a believable score that could be settled by exploding the bomb. The author skillfully prevents all four boys from uniting around a single issue, allowing each one's individual anxieties and considerations to play out around self respect, authority figures, friendship, loyalty, and violence.
Reviewer: Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins and BookStream
Rated: 9.0

Torchlight
by Carol Otis Hurst
Walter Lorraine/Houghton Mifflin, October, 2006, $16.00
0-618-27601-7

Core audience: Ages 8-12, especially girls
Strengths: characters, plot, immigration issue, humor.
Review: Immigration was at least as hot an issue in 1850's Massachusetts as it is in 21st century border states. Torchlight uses the tensions between the established Yankees and the incoming Irish to tell an exciting story of a brother and sister trying to understand and cope with conflicting friendships, ideals, peer pressure, and misinformation. Characters and dialogue lighten the tension that flares into fistfights, arguments, and a close brush with arson. Religious intolerance, poverty, privilege and unemployment are addressed with a light, sure hand: enough to be available for discussion, but not so much as to interrupt the narrative flow. This is a book for every school library, and eventually for widespread classroom use.
Reviewer: Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins and BookStream
Rated: 8.5

Toys Go Out
by Emily Jenkins, Illustrated by Paul Zelinsky
Schwartz & Wade/Random House, September 12, 2006, $16.95
0-375-83604-7

Core audience: Early Readers; great read aloud
Strengths: plot, characters, language, imagination, sensitivity, humor, child-connected
Review: The very first time I read through Toys Go Out, it felt like an old classic. This book is not one long story, but six interrelated short stories by Emily Jenkins, with pictures by Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Paul Zelinsky. The adventures and misadventures of these toy friends are charming, funny and seem strangely wise at times.
Reviewer: Lisa Dugan, Koen-Levy Book Wholesalers
Rated: 8

Trigger
by Susan Vaught
Bloomsbury, September 2006, $16.95
1582349207

Core audience: Teen Age 14+
Review: Follow Jersey Hatch as he tries to piece his life back together following a failed suicide attempt. From relearning the basics to restoring relationships, his journey is told in 1st person narrative. A difficult subject but an important perspective. Recommended for fans of Brent Runyon's "Burn Journals".
Reviewer: Heather Doss, Bookazine Wholesalers
Rated: 5.5

Victory
by Susan Cooper
Simon and Schuster, August, 2006, $16.95
1416914773

Core audience: Upper Elementary, ages 9-11 for boys and girls
Strengths: History, character, plot, interesting format
Review: Molly, a transplant from England to Connecticut, in 2006, is trying to adjust to her new life and family. Having nothing in common with her new step-brother and his pain-in-the-neck friend and finding life so very different here makes Molly very homesick. On a family outing to a bookstore at Mystic Seaport she finds and purchases an old book about the life of Lord Nelson. With this a fascinating adventure begins. Chapters alternating with Molly's story in 2006 and Sam, a young 11 year old sailor on the HMS Victory, with Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in the year 1805, make for a strange and interesting connection. Finding a fragment of the flag flown from the ship hidden within the book leads Molly further into the history of the Victory. A surprising ending makes for a satisfying conclusion.
Reviewer: Pat Byrne, BookEnds, Winchester, MA
Rated: 8.5

Vive La Paris
by Esme Raji Codell
Hyperion Books, October, 2006, $15.99
0-7868-5124-4

Core audience: Will appeal to 8-12 year olds, boys and girls
Notable: humor, sensitivity to kids' feelings
Review: Fans of Sahara (Special) will be equally happy to know Paris, another bright little fifth grader with a big heart and a clever way of seeing things. She starts the Extreme Readers Club in her classroom and the issue of inclusion crops up. She has to deal with older brothers who aren't the nicest guys on the block, but would do anything for family. Her piano teacher, old Mrs Rosen, is a stereotypical, endearing Jewish Mom-worrier. When she gives Paris her yellow star from the war as a keepsake, Paris wears it to school without realizing its significance. It offends someone and immediately the tone of the book changes to heavyhandedness as Paris is made to learn about the war during after school detention and write a paper. All of a sudden Paris' attention is focusing on the larger world and all its ugliness. She notices what is happening in China, Africa, Colombia. She thinks of her beloved church and "this reaping of helpless souls..." She thinks of the playground bullying of her rather effeminate brother and wonders, " How long is long enough to suffer these fools?" She doesn't sound like Paris anymore. It sounds like an adult seeing a chance for a rant. Just as the reader says, "Enough, already!", Paris regains her equilibrium with the help of her dear teacher Mrs. Pointy and her friend Sahara. Paris' paper on WWII shows a new understanding of a terrible situation that should not be repeated. With her brother's help she begins to understand and befriends a classmate with whom she has never gotten along. She shows she is a girl of action when she gives away an inheritance to help her brother and his pregnant girlfriend establish their new life together. She is, once again, Paris, who knows she has places to go, and we know she will get there.
Reviewer: Sue Carita, The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford, NH
Rated: 8

Voices
by Ursula LeGuin
Harcourt, Inc. September, 2006, $17.00
0-15-205678-5

Core audience: fantasy readers, middle school and older
Notable aspects: language, characters, significant ideas
Review: Voices is set in the city of Ansul, which has been conquered by the Alds, who consider books tools of the demons and have banned the books and learning for which Ansul was famous. The story is told by Memer, who's mother comes from the family of the Waylord, with whom Memer lives and secretly studies. Their lives are quiet, although they feel the pain and anger of being occupied. This changes with the arrival of a poet, Orrec, and his wife, Gry (who where the main characters in LeGuin's earlier book, Gifts) which sets in motion a series of upheavals. LeGuin's humanistic values shine through in this book and especially in the ending, which is not herioc in the traditional warlike sense, but involves compromise and negotiations, a lesson our world could surely use.
Reviewer: Nancy Felton, Broadside Bookshop
Rated: 8.5

What Happened to Cass McBride
by Gail Giles
Little Brown/Hachette, November, 2006, $16.99
0-316-16638-3

Core audience: YA
Strengths: creepy plot, split points of view, edgy theme.
Review: I have loved Gail Giles' first three books each of which is distinct in its edginess but share plots which surprise and, even better, endings that leave the reader wondering what exactly happened or how the twists turned out that way. So it was with great excitement that I picked up her fourth novel (but with a new publisher/editor.)

Cass McBride has disappeared and so a search has begun. Police don't quite believe her parents or her friends as they make the proper inquiries. The reader gets to see the action from three points of view: that of the police investigator, of her captor, and of Cass herself who is buried underground and is tormented verbally by the captor. We do find out why her captor hates her so much and how that type of hate can be misdirected. And we find out the damage that can be wrought by popular kids can be completely oblivious to those around them who are not so socially adept or acceptable. The book was quite intriguing because of the three-way unfolding of events and the questions of whether Cass would make it out alive, and if the creep would let onto where she was hidden or if the police would figure it all out. That dynamic was pure Gail Giles. My only disappointment was that I did not feel that "Whoa, what happened here?" which I have come to rely on from Gail's books. Still, it is better than many other books.
Reviewer: Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library
Rated: 8

When Santa Fell To Earth
by Cornelia Funke
Scholastic, October 2006, $15.99
0-439-78204-X

Core audience: Ages 9-12
Review: "Niklas Goodfellow, a Santa Claus by trade" and his magical caravan (sort of like an ever-expandable reindeer-driven RV) are stranded two weeks before Christmas by a lightning storm. While his sleepy elves attempt to repair the caravan, Niklas makes friends with two local children. Together they find themselves in a fight against Gerold Geronimus Goblynch who plans to turn Christmas into his own personal profit making machine. Goblynch has turned all the other Santas into chocolate (as in "Tear off the wrapping, head off, eaten") candy so it is up to this small band of unlikely heroes to save Christmas. This is a delightful addition to the collection of holiday stories. There are wonderful illustrations on nearly every page yet this is not a picture book. I can envision the 21 small chapters read each night in December as a sort of read-aloud advent calendar.
Reviewer: Kathy Goddard, NECBA ListServ Manager
Rated:9.5

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