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Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass |
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Nose Pickers from Outer Space: A Gripping Almost Real-Life Tale |
Backwater, (1999) Joan Bauer. Putnam, ISBN 0-399-23141-2. What do you do when you are living in a family steeped in occupational traditions and you want to be your own person? In this fascinating novel, Ivy Breedlove an adolescent in "the family", has a desire to become a historian. As a final project in school Ivy decides to create a family documentary that uncovers some well kept family secrets and truths. Bauer captures the idiosyncrasies of "old family" members who fit into the mold and how those that don't are purposely not mentioned or forgotten.
Bluish, (1999) Virginia Hamilton. Blue Sky, ISBN 0-590-28879-2. Bluish is a nickname given to a new 6th grade classmate who is frail, strange, and wears knitted hats all the time. Dreenie and Tuli find Bluish enough of a curiosity and befriend her. When their class learns Bluish is in remission from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia they have many questions and come to an understanding about having an ill classmate. Hamilton has a very moving and realistic setting for readers to help understand difficult times such as in this story.
Boy's Lie, (1999) John Neufeld. Hyperion, DK Publishing, ISBN 0-7894-2624-2. This book is guaranteed to elicit some discussion among teens and teens and parents. Gina was a victim of sexual harassment in her old community. She relocates across the country with her mother to escape the memories and start over. What she finds is not what she had hoped for. The actions and circumstances are so real and powerful in this spellbinding book.
Briar's Book, (1999) Tamora Pierce. Scholastic, ISBN 0-590-55359-3. The concluding novel in Pierce's Circle of Magic series requires that the four young mages bind their power together to save those they love.
Child Bride, (1999) Ching Yeung Russell. Boyds Mills Press, ISBN 1-56397-6. Ying, of the award winning First Apple, continues to find life in 1940 China challenging for an eleven-year-old girl. She is sent to her beloved grandmother to visit and finds that in her absence she has been promised in marriage by a scheming aunt. She fights her fate with strength of will and intelligence.
Crusader, (1999) Edward Bloor. Harcourt Brace, ISBN 0-15-201944-8. This incredible novel was mesmerizing right to the end. Edward Bloor's careful attention to creating his characters and depictions of counter culture is astounding. The teenagers in this story were searching for heroes, someone that could help them move in the right direction, someone that would help them become famous, but the adult world around them was crumbling. This book will have readers talking and thinking about the parallels to their community for some time afterward.
Dive, (1999) Adele Griffin. Hyperion, ISBN 078682389-5. Griffin has a gift for writing about the complexity of troubled families. In this story, a blended family splits and the two sons each live with their step-parent instead of their biological parent. Ben and Dustin never hit it off from the moment they met and their story becomes more complex and disturbing as they try to adjust to the changes.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, (1999) J.K. Rowling. Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Press, 0-439-13635-0. Every once in a great long while comes a series of children's books that children and adults are unable to put down. This series has all the ingredients for a classic. Harry's new adventure makes us laugh, makes us sad, and takes him to new adventures and battles. Rowling leaves us with teasers for the next book. Will Hagrid get dragons again? What or who made the dementors come after Harry? Will Harry ever escape the wicked muggles who are his aunt and uncle? Stay tuned. You won't be sorry!
I'm Not Who You Think I Am, (1999) Peg Kehret. Dutton, ISBN 0-525-46153-1. Peg Kehret has suspense writing down to a perfection. In this spellbinder, Ginger Shaw is a victim of mistaken identity. The estranged old lady who has been stalking her is sure that Ginger is her daughter. The realistic content of this novel may be a reason for young adolescents to read and discuss the story.
If it Doesn't Kill You, (1999) Margaret Bechard. Penquin, ISBN 0-670-88547-9. This is a powerful sports book that confronts the masculinity myth that supersedes contact sports like football. Ben is one of the jocks. He likes the feeling sometimes, especially on the field, but he's not sure about all the stuff that seems to go with the image off the field. To make things worse, his father, a former star quarterback at the same school recently separated from his mother. Not because they didn't get along, but because his father moved in with a guy named Keith.
If You Only Knew (Zoe's story), (1998) Rachel Vail. Scholastic, ISBN 0-590-03370-0.
Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass, (1999) Lewis Carroll. Harcourt Brace, ISBN 0-16-202199-X. This wonderful boxed set with the Tenniel illustrations would make a wonderful Christmas present.
Midnight Magic, (1999) Avi. Scholastic, ISBN 0-590-36035-3. Magnus the master illusionist does not believe in magic. Yet his life depends on his use of magic to solve a mystery for the king. His apprentice is not so sure that magic is not real. With the use of reason (and perhaps a little magic) they must save the kingdom.
Nose Pickers from Outer Space: A Gripping Almost Real-Life Tale, (1999) Gordon Korman. Hyperion, ISBN 078682431-X. Leave it up to Korman to come up with another side-splitting story. Stan Mflxnys arrives as an exchange student to be with Devin Hunter's family. Aliens, like Stan from Pan trigger communication by putting their finger up their nose. Devin is convinced Stan is wacko until he learns more about his true identity and begins to see the value in a friend like Stan.
Not That I Care (Morgan's story), (1998) Rachel Vail. Scholastic, ISBN 0-590-03476-6.
Please, Please, Please (C.J.'s story), (1998) Rachel Vail. Scholastic, ISBN 0-590-00327-5. The friendship ring series about three seventh grade girls are hardbound 4X 5 inch books and seem to hit home with the focus on problems for that age. Word of mouth and book trading of these titles means librarians should take another look at them in spite of their odd size.
Preacher's Boy, (1999) Katherine Paterson. Clarion, ISBN 0-395-83897-5. Robert Burns Hewitt didn't really intend to get into trouble, but being a preacher's son, red haired and an eye for adventure seemed to be an open invitation. Paterson weaves this story through some humorous moments and more serious scenes that prove to be lessons for Robert as he gets entangled with some vagrants and a kidnapping. His own kidnapping.
The Firework-Maker's Daughter, (1999) Philip Pullman, Illustrated by S. Saelig Gallagher. Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, ISBN 0-590-18719-8. In this Far East fantasy the firework-maker's daughter goes on a quest with her friends to obtain the royal sulfur in order to become as great an artist as her father. In her over zealous pride she overreaches and puts her father's life at risk.
The Last Lobo, (1999) Roland Smith. Hyperion, ISBN 078682378-X. This is the third book in Roland Smith's adventure series featuring Jacob Lansa. Like his previous two books, Thunder Cave and Jaguar, this one is also a page turner. Jacob goes to the Hopi land to find his grandfather, Taw. The two of them along with some of Taw's old friends get involved in a wolf recovery project that is life threatening and filled with surprises.
The Skin I'm In, (1998) Sharon G. Flake. Hyperion, ISBN 0-7898-0444-0. Coretta Scott King Award Winner. The key to teenage survival is learning which adjustments you can make without destroying who you are. The ebony darkness of Maleeka Madison's skin keeps her own people from seeing her. She has made adjustments to get along. Then a freaky new teacher arrives who challenges Maleeka's bargains. Now Maleeka has to choose between the partial acceptance she has bought at a terrible price, or betray someone who believes in her. This is a must read book about intimidation, and social acceptance which will speak to all teenagers no matter what their race.
The Spying Game, (1999) Pat Moon. Putnam, ISBN 0-399-23354-7. A mesmerizing read! One minute Joe's father is alive and the next he is dead, killed by a reckless driver according to Joe. The worst part is the killer walked without a conviction and Joe decides he must take revenge into his own hands. Joe learns some truths as he stalks the killer's family and slowly builds some trust with Alex Moss, the alleged killer's son.
The Transall Saga, (1999) Gary Paulsen. Delacorte Press, ISBN 0-385-32196-1. While backpacking in the desert Mark falls into a glowing white tube that sucks him into a primitive world where he must learn to survive. This is more science-fiction oriented than most of Paulsen's work so it was interesting to find he does adventure well in any genre.
The Well of Sacrifice, (1999) Chris Eboch, Illustrated by Bryn Barnard. Clarion Books, ISBN 0-395-90374-2. This fast paced adventure is rich in the details of ninth century Mayan life. Not only is the book full of suspense but follows closely a theory about what caused the ultimate demise of the Mayans as the evil High Priest over taxes his people and creates a reign of terror beyond religious sacrifice for power.
The Wizard's Map, (1999) Jane Yolen. Harcourt Brace, ISBN 0-15-202067-5. This nice middle school read goes back to Scottish history and a trio of young Americans visiting relatives who flirt with tartan magic drawn out in a chance game of Patience.
Turtle Clan Journey, (1999) Linda Durrant. Clarion Books, ISBN 0-395-90369-6. The sequel to the award winning Echohawk continues the saga of Jonathan Starr and his efforts to make sense of his White and Delaware worlds.