Sunday, January 31, 2016

13 Gifts, Wendy Mass. Tara Brennan, in order to win friends, is caught when she accepts the challenge to break into the principal's office to steal his goat, only to get caught. Because it is near the end of the school year, her parents ship her off to Willow Falls to spend the summer with her aunt while they travel to Madagascar researching lemurs. On the train ride, her money and phone are stolen. Trying to cover up not having money, she steals one of her uncle's valuable comic books to pawn, only to be found out by the proprietor, Angelina, who actually sold it to her uncle. To avoid further embarrassment, Angelina tells her to find 13 items on a list by her fast approaching thirteenth birthday and all debts will be repaid. With the help of new found friends, they set out on the scavenger hunt to find the odd items, such as: one brass candlestick in the shape of a fish, one black steamer trunk with gold latch, and one wooden cane, handle shaped like a duck's beak.

As the items are found, Tara finds a playbill at the bottom of the new found trunk for Fiddler on the Roof, which was set to perform 35 years earlier, but was abruptly cancelled. Having found all the items and given them to Angelina, she know tells Tara she must produce and put on the musical. Reluctantly, with the help of friends, young and old, the singing part of the musical alone is set to go on.to an appreciative audience.

While on summer break, Tara is made to write an essay of what she learned from her goat stealing days. As stories merge together and Tara learns quite a bit about her parents hometown, she also learns about friendship and duty.
Took, Mary Downing Hahn. Daniel and Erica are forced to leave their home in Connecticut for Brewster's Hill, Massachusetts because their dad lost his job. They move into a beaten down old farm house with no neighbors or friends near by. The school kids do not welcome them, except to tell them scary stories about the old witch, called Old Auntie and her pet, Bloody Bones, that "took" a girl 50 years ago. Now, they say, it is time for a new girl. Erica begins to grow reclusive and talks to her doll more and more, causing concern. Daniel gets worried when Erica disappears and knows she has been "took." He must find Old Auntie himself, confront her in the deep dark woods and save his sister.

Mary Downing Hahn is the queen of scare and this book will not disappoint her fans. This is her latest ghost story sure to keep readers pinned to their seat.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Death by Toilet Paper, Donna Gephart. Benjamin has a flair for jingles and slogans so much that he often wins contests for free stuff, like toilet paper. His dad died and his mom puts in extra hours to make ends meet. However, rent is due and time is running out. Mr. Katz, the landlord, can no longer delay their eviction, Zeyde, his grandfather, unexpectedly comes to stay, making his mother more strapped. Trying to help out, taking $50 he won from a contest, Benjamin begins selling candy bars at school, earning a couple hundred dollars, only to get in trouble with the principal. He is forced to work on the sly, only to have $300 stolen by Angus Andrews, his personal bully. Telling anyone will further his troubles. His last hope is to win the Royal-T Bathroom Tissue slogan contest prize money of $1500. With the help of his best friend, Toothpick, they have a plan to use Royal-T's toilet paper to dress him a zombie bride.

This is a cute story with facts about toilet paper leading each chapter. Benjamin is a character well worth getting to know.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

House Arrest, K.A. Holt. What a story. Timothy has been court ordered to keep a journal for 52 weeks. He is under a house arrest, with a tracking device, only able to go to school, and to see his probation officer and counselor. The reason? He stole a wallet, hoping to buy medicine for his baby brother, Levi, who was born with health issues. He has a tracheotomy and efforts to avoid germs and infections is always a concern. His dad skipped town, leaving him and his mom to care for Levi by themselves. James, his probation officer and Miss Bainbridge, his therapist, are key characters in helping him get through the year. Told in verse, this story is one that you won't put down easily.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

The Port Chicago 50, Steve Sheinkin. During WWII, in San Francisco sat Port Chicago, a navy base. Bombs were being made and put onto navy ships by mostly teenage black boys to be sent to the fighting troops. At the height of the war, an explosion occurred killing and wounding hundreds of men. The young black men were ordered to go back to doing the exact same work, but they refused, wondering why their white counterparts weren't also ordered to work the Port. When the Navy cried mutiny, most of the men went back to work, with the exception of 50 men. Their strong stance set history in motion and tells the story not often heard before.

Sheinkin, author of Bomb, (look for a book review in this blog) in his masterful way, tells yet another gripping story not to be missed. If you are a history buff, pick this book up and be transformed. Photographs of the key figures are sprinkled throughout, bringing this heroic read even more to life.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

The Fourteenth Goldfish, Jennifer Holm. Science is powerful, learns 11-year old Ellie when her grandfather comes to visit. However, her grandfather doesn't exactly show up as himself, but a teenage version of himself, diguised as her cousin, Melvin. He attends school with her, serves detention and makes a friend in Raj, who discredits the Sagarsky theory. Melvin Sagarsky, the scientist that doesn't make it into any textbooks, is always on the search for the fountain of youth. "Melvin" believes in Ellie and her future as a scientist. The day comes, however, when he must move on, leaving Ellie with a a sense of discovery and possibility.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Okay for Now, Gary Schmidt. It is the 1960s and Doug Switeck's abusive dad informs the family they are moving to Marysville, upstate New York, because Ernie Eco can get him a job at the Ballard Paper Mill. Upon exploring the new small town, Doug finds his way to the Marysville Free Public Library where he lifts a card of the Arctic Tern, drawn by John James Audubon. He meets Lil, who gives him a cold Coke when she finds him sitting on the library steps waiting for it to open, not realizing it only opens on Saturdays. Lil's dad owns Spicer's Deli, and he gets a job delivering groceries to local customers. Between meeting his weekly customers and getting to know them, including Mrs. Windemere, and spending time with Mr. Powell, one of the librarians who helps him draw the Audubon paintings, he copes with living in "stupid" Marysville, while avoiding his drunk father and spiteful brother. One of his teachers, Mr. Ferris, realizes he can't read and connects him with another teacher, Mrs. Cowper, to quickly learn. As Doug spends more time at the library, he realizes several of Audubon's paintings are missing, being sold to various buyers to get out of debt. His quest is to get them back. Mr. Ballard, of the Ballard Paper Mill hosts an annual picnic, and with the hope of winning the Babe Ruth contest, Doug's father takes the family. While wandering over to the horseshoe pit, unknowingly, Doug meets Mr. Ballard himself, who takes him under his wing.

There is so much more to this fabulous story. It needs to be read to be appreciated and probably reread over and over. It is a National Book Award Finalist and well worth the honor. Pick up this book soon.