From Our Bookshelves 2016

2016 is quickly coming to an end, and one of our favorite things to do is scour all of the end-of-the-year lists for any favorite books we may have missed.  Are there any hidden gems that have escaped your notice?

Before the year closes, be sure to check out these "Best of" Lists:

Publisher's Weekly's Best Children's and YA Books 2016

The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2016
The New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2016

Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Books of 2016
Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2016

Horn Book Fanfare

School Library Journal's Best Picture Books of 2016
School Library Journal's Best Chapter Books of 2016
School Library Journal's Best Nonfiction Books of 2016
School Library Journal's Best Middle Grade Books of 2016

NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
NCTE Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children

National Book Awards

And, if that didn't quench your thirst for top books of the year, let us throw our vote it!  These are some of our favorite books from 2016.

Picture Books:

• They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzal
• A Well Mannered Young Wolf by Jean Leroy, illustrated by Matthieu Maudet
• Owl Sees Owl by Laura Godwin and Rob Dunlavey
• Before Morning by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes
• The Princess and the Warrior by Duncan Tonatiuh

Non-Fiction Picture Books:

• A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
• Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White by Melissa Sweet
• Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre

Fiction:

• Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eager
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
• When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin

Non-Fiction:

• We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler by Russell Freedman
• Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune by Pamela S. Turner, illustrated by Gareth Hinds

Poetry:

• When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Julie Morstad
• Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka

From Our Bookshelves 2015

'Tis the season for many things . . . including end-of-the-year lists.  You'll want to check these lists twice to make sure you didn't miss any of the year's best.

Horn Book Fanfare

Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Books

School Library Journal's Best of 2015

Publisher's Weekly's Best Children's Books

The New York Times Notable Children's Books
The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books

National Book Awards

And, finally, here are our favorites of 2015.  These are books that we read, loved, and shared again and again.   We whole-heartily recommend them.

Picture Books:

• Supertruck by Stephen Savage
• Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey
• Two Mice by Sergio Ruzzier
• Float by Daniel Miyares
• Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Zachariah OHora
• The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
• Job Wanted by Teresa Bateman, illustrated by Chris Sheban
• Gingerbread for Liberty!: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch

Fiction:

• The Nest by Kenneth Oppel, illustrated by Jon Klassen
• Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
• Audacity by Melanie Crowder
• The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
• Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Nonfiction:

• Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower by Greg Pizzoli
• The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose
• Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson
• Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown

Poetry:

• Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes collected by Elizabeth Hammill, illustrated by more than 70 artists

Spotlight on Fiction 2015

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

If the stories that Micah's grandfather told him are true . . . if there really is a place where an elephant named Big Jean can do long division, where a French vulture can tell the future, and where an illusionist can make you fell the frosty winds of Antarctica while you sitting in your chair . . . if Circus Mirandus is an actual circus . . . then "that [means] magic [is] real" . . .(17)  and maybe, just maybe, magic can save Micah's dying grandfather.  When Micah's grandfather, Ephraim Tuttle, visited Circus Mirandus as a boy, the Man Who Bends Light promised him a miracle.  He's been saving that miracle for a time when he really needs it, and that time is now.  Micah is certain that if he can get into the circus and talk to the Man Who Bends Light, the Lightbender will save his grandfather.

In alternating chapters, a family mystery slowly unfolds just as the tension in Micah's story builds, creating suspense that will keep readers turning pages right up to the end.  This story is just the right blend of the fantastic and the sometimes difficult realities of the real world.


The Nest by Kenneth Oppel, illustrated by Jon Klassen

The Nest came out just a couple of weeks ago, and it already has racked up five starred reviews.  It is deliciously creepy, not in a blood-and-gore kind of way, but in a get-inside-your-head kind of way.

Steven has been coping with anxiety and bad dreams for a while and now there is more tension at his house because his newborn brother has a rare congenital problem.  Even though his therapist assures him that "what happens in a dream stays inside the dream," Steven's latest dreams with creatures of light that promise to "make things better" seem all too real.  (110, 23)  And in some ways, he wants them to be real.

The first-person telling puts readers right into Steven's thoughts as he struggles to figure out what is a dream and what is reality.  That ambiguity makes this a psychological thriller that you'll read in one sitting.  (I did.)  Oh, and the villain is the most chilling I've met in a long time.  I bet it'll change the way you feel about wasps.


The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz

Laura Amy Schlitz describes her new book as a "good old-fashioned story" and that is exactly what it is.

Since her mother's death, 14-year-old Joan does all the woman's work on Steeple Farm, and it's hard work: she takes care of the chickens, cleans out the privy, cooks meals for her father and four brothers, does laundry, and puts food by.  When her father decrees that she can no longer attend school and then burns the few books she owns, Joan decides there is nothing left on Steeple Hill for her, and she goes to Baltimore to become a hired girl.  She has little idea what she is getting into, but she is desperate enough to take a chance on a better life.

In Baltimore she  begins a very different life working for a Jewish family.  While she enjoys the conveniences of electricity, hot and cold running water, a dumbwaiter, and a carpet sweeper, Joan works to learn the Jewish rules of kashrut and appease cranky Malka.  But it is the more universal experiences that change her.  She learns to respect people's differences.  She learns about men who are, thankfully, not all like her father, and gets her first kiss.  She learns about meddling (not a good idea to pass on a love sonnet you found to help a relationship along), heartbreak (things don't go well after that first kiss), and forgiveness.

Written as a series of Joan's diary entries, the story is set in 1911 and the relevant social issues of the time--women's rights, class division, religious prejudice, and labor rights--are addressed.  Historical details and content infuse seamlessly into the story; readers will feel like they've been picked up and placed right in Joan's world.

tara recommends The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schiltz

Laura Amy Schlitz is a talented writer and I am always excited to read her new books because of the unusual stories and well-developed characters.  I was hooked when I finished The Night Fairy and I continued to be impressed by Splendors and Glooms, as they invited me into unique new worlds with details I hadn't experienced before.  Her newest story, The Hired Girl, takes a more traditional twist and is set in the 1900's.  While the setting is more familiar, this Americana romance explores some interesting issues of religious diversity, family ties and class distinction, all while embracing the foibles and resilience of human nature.

14-year-old Joan has not had an easy life, a life made even more difficult with the death of her doting mother and the cold resentment of her father.  As the only woman on her father's farm, she is forced to leave school and become solely responsible for the cleaning, cooking, washing, gardening, mending and chicken tending.  Her life is basically one of servitude and she longs to fulfill her mother's dream for her and become a schoolteacher, a wish not likely to come true under the hatred of her father and the heavy drudgery of farm work.  She takes courage, however, after her father burns her beloved books and reveals all the ugly things he feels about her, and she runs away to become a hired girl.

A kind stranger takes her off the street and, after changing her name and lying about her age, she is given a job in the Rosenbach's home.  In this new household, she must work hard to please Malka, the old family housekeeper, and to learn all the strange new rules of a Jewish family.  She also must navigate her emerging feelings toward Mrs. Rosenbach, kind but often disapproving, Mr. Rosenbach, who takes her under his wing, and their three children.  The developing story shows her mettle, while also highlighting her youth and lack of relationship experience.

Written entirely in Joan's journal entries, each passage is incredibly detailed, so much so that when dialogue is presented it feels more like a traditional first person narrative.  The combination of styles works, but the length of almost 400 pages and lack of white space skews to an older audience.  Fans of historical romance will appreciate Joan's girlish fantasies and the compelling characters and attention to detail is engaging.

The Hired Girl
by Laura Amy Schlitz
published by Candlewick Press
September 2015
recommended for ages 14 and up

Review copy received from publisher.

danyelle recommends A Volcano Beneath the Snow: John Brown's War Against Slavery by Albert Marrin

Some books capture a reader's attention with suspense-filled action, and you can hardly turn the pages quickly enough to find out what will happen next, while others present sympathetic characters that you come to care about.  Still others, render the setting so vividly that you can imagine being there yourself.  Certainly, these strengths are not mutually exclusive, and the books we love to read usually have multiple strengths.  And while Volcano Beneath the Snow does many things well, the thing that makes it stand out in my mind is the remarkable way it engages readers in ideas.

The narrative opens with a speech given by a tall, thin, sunken-cheeked man at a political meeting: "'A house divided against itself cannot stand,' . . . I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free . . .'" (2)  These words spoken by Abraham Lincoln addressed a mid-nineteenth century crisis for our country, but the ideas they convey are still relevant today, as are the other questions introduced in the six-page prologue and explored throughout the text.

Can a man engage in villainous acts and be a hero? Should man act in strict obedience to the laws, thus supporting and upholding the government, or in obedience to his conscience?  Can violence in the pursuit of moral justice be righteous?   Marrin offers conflicting answers posited by Abraham Lincoln,  Henry David Thoreau, William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and of course, John Brown.

Brown grew up at the beginning of the nineteenth century when our country was young, restless, and divided by the issue of slavery.  Marrin addresses the rise of slavery, the terrible cost of the slave trade, and gives equal time to the problems facing the country and Brown's role in them.  (In fact, there are entire chapters when you can forget you are reading about Brown.)

Clashing viewpoints of abolitionists, Free-Soilers, and pro-slavery advocates underscore the complexity of the problem, thereby resisting simplification of this historical chapter into good guys versus bad guys.  And Marrin doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of racism and flawed individuals.  The honest portrayal of Lincoln's views in particular may surprise some readers.

In John Brown, readers meet neither a villain nor a hero, but a man whose life was filled with contradiction.  He had little formal education, was a troublemaker as a teen (bossy, aggressive, and prone to lying), and was fascinated by history.  He was deeply religious, highly opinionated, and "admired for his 'invincible honesty'".  (15)  And most importantly (to this story, at least) he firmly believed he was called by God to liberate slaves, and he embraced the use of terrorist tactics to do it.

Brown's execution does not come at the end of the book, just as his death did not end his influence.  The final sixty pages of the book lay out the chain of events that were triggered by Brown's failed plot at Harpers Ferry and end with the eventual abolition of slavery.

Marrin's conclusion looks at Brown's legacy, citing examples of men who acted on similar beliefs in recent times.  He says, "[Brown] raised thorny questions about the use of violence at a time when democracy seemed ineffective and the road to justice blocked by self-interest, brutality, and racism."--questions readers will ponder long after the last page.  (207)


A Volcano Beneath the Snow: John Brown's War Against Slavery
by Albert Marrin
published by Alfred A. Knopf
April 2014
recommended for ages 12 and up

diane recommends Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau

Although Diane wanted to review Independent Study last year, she never got around to it. Since the final book in the trilogy The Testing comes out on June 17, she is coming back with a guest post to talk about the trilogy.

Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau is the third (and final) book in The Testing Series. Malencia Vale (more commonly known as Cia) and her boyfriend, Thomas, along with many other friends, have been studying at the University. As friends have disappeared, Cia has discovered the terrible things her government does to the people who fail to meet standards at this challenging school. As she gets her schedule (more packed with challenging classes than anyone else’s) and struggles to keep reacting in a “normal” way with this work load, she finds time to start a rebellion, and figure out what is really going on. With a little risk, a little rebellion, some romance, and a lot of stubbornness, Cia manages to finish what she put her mind to without dying.

With a happy, but unexpected, and puzzling end, it perfectly sums up the two books preceding it with seamless perfection. Although not foreseen, the end is perfectly clear, yet keeps the reader wondering what Malencia will do next, and what she should do next.

This book is not like any other dystopian novel written: the usual predictability, the typical romance, and the horror of the fight. This book moves along quickly—so quickly that the reader barely has time to keep up, but then slows down in the perfect places to make the drama, the violence, and the romantic imperfections seem real.

This fast paced book is sure to please any reader wanting an action-packed romance. Right from the first page, the reader is thrown into this dangerous, but pleasing, setting. So, with perfect timing, and a lot of realistic mistakes, Graduation Day is the most realistic (and best) conclusion to a dystopian trilogy I have read.

Copy received from publisher for review.

Graduation Day

by Joelle Charbonneau

published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

June 2014

tara recommends The One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth

The One Safe Place is an unexpected and engaging dystopian novel set in a world where the rich rule and the poor stay out of their way.  More than the larger social commentary, however, this story explores the life of homeless orphans and a society that exploits them.  Slightly reminiscent of The Lord of the Flies or Among The Hidden, children take matters into their own hands when they discover the truth behind their isolated world.

Devin is a boy who lives on a secluded farm with his loving grandfather.  When his grandfather dies, however, he isn't able to maintain the farm by himself and sets off to a city he has never seen to find help.  Unfortunately, he  quickly realizes he has lived a very sheltered life and the security he has known is tenuous for a city orphan.  A kind act attracts the attention of an older boy, Roman, who invites Devin to live in a special home for children.  Devin and his new friend, Kit, eagerly trust Roman and travel to the Gabriel H. Penn Home for Childhood.

At first glance, the Home has everything a child could ever want or imagine.  But, after the initial sparkle has worn off, Devin realizes something is not quite right and nobody is allowed to leave.  While he and his new friends at the Home search for a way out, they also try to solve the mysteries surrounding the sinister Administrator and the "Visitors" that observe the children.

This gripping adventure is also somewhat creepy, but will keep you turning pages looking for the happy ending.  While geared to a YA audience, I would recommend The One Safe Place to anyone looking for a good read with a grim twist.

The One Safe Place
by Tania Unsworth
published by Algonquin Young Readers
April 2014
recommended for ages 12 and up

tara recommends Mitosis by Brandon Sanderson

The projected release date for Firefight is fall of 2014, but if you are itching to get back into the world of Steelheart, I would suggest reading Brandon Sanderson's novelette, Mitosis: A Reckoners Story.  At a mere 35 pages, Mitosis is a quick read that takes you back to dystopian Chicago with the Reckoners and a new Epic.  

As a caution, there are definite spoilers in these chapters, so read Steelheart first to set up the characters.  With just enough details to refresh your memory, this story provides a nice gateway to the series sequel and the inventive new Epic reminds you what was great about Steelheart.  The only thing that would make this better? - not having to spend $1.99 for the five chapter story.  This seems like the perfect release as a fan-favorite bonus gift.  But, in the meantime - definitely a fun read and a nice companion to Steelheart.

Mitosis: A Reckoners Story

by Brandon Sanderson

published by Delacorte Press (as an eBook)

December 2013

tara recommends The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer

The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer, was released in 2002 - but I just recently picked it up to prepare for its sequel, The Lord of Opium.  If you haven't read The House of the Scorpion, go find a copy before reading any reviews (including this one) about book #2.  It is an engaging book that should be enjoyed without spoilers.

The House of the Scorpion sets up an interesting world with a powerful drug lord at the helm.  In this first book, Matt is a clone that was created as spare parts for El Patron (a very old man whose life is perpetually extended by utilizing his many clones).  At any given moment, Matt could be wheeled into the hospital and his story could be over and because of this uncertainty, there is a healthy amount of suspense and action as he navigates his relationships.

The Lord of Opium begins with a much more powerful Matt as he takes over The Land of Opium, becoming the new drug lord.  He is the only one with power to open the border and allow opium to be distributed to the other drug lords.  In fact, because of El Patron's tight-fisted control, Matt is the only one with power to make any changes or communicate with the outside world.

He is also faced with the high moral responsibility of fixing the eejits (most of the people in the land have injected microchips in their brains - turning them into virtual robots).  A 14-year-old Matt must now decide whether he will take over as a powerful, ruthless dictator, or find a way to make things right - and every choice is made harder because he is forced to trust dangerous people with questionable motives.

Because of the slightly different dynamic of this book, it was not quite as spellbinding as the first.  The pacing was a little slow at times, as Matt navigates the politics and mechanics of his new life and explores his kingdom.  That being said, this is a worthy sequel to The House of the Scorpion with new, compelling characters, old friends and a neatly wrapped up ending to Matt's story.

The Lord of Opium
by Nancy Farmer
published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
September 2013
Recommended for ages 14 and up

tara recommends Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Every once in a while, it is nice to turn your brain off, sit back with a comfortable pillow and enjoy a summer action movie.  Are they formulaic?  Yes.  Are they even a bit mind-numbing?  Yes.  But, in the end, you usually walk out with the satisfaction that you enjoyed a break from reality for 2 hours.  Books can give you that same escape - and in some cases they are actually well-written enough to stimulate some of those brain cells in the process.

Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson, reads just like you are sitting in the theater with some popcorn enjoying the latest action flick (without the mind-numbing effects) - it is fast-paced, interesting, often-times funny, and has unexpected twists to keep you entertained.  To seal the icing on the cake, it also has well-developed characters - most of which are actually quite likable - and there is a just a touch of romantic tension to break up the action.

One day, Calamity came (a burst that appeared in the sky and started giving ordinary people incredible powers) - and now, what used to be Chicago, is ruled by one of these transformed humans, called Epics.  Some Epics have minor powers, like "Curveball" who could fire a handgun without ever running out of bullets.  Other Epics, however, are much more powerful and use that power to control and manipulate those without powers.  The most dangerous and powerful of these Epics, is Steelheart.  He has superhuman strength and is impervious to bullets or swords - and as an added bonus, he is able to control the elements.  All Epics have a weakness, if you can find it - but, can anybody defeat Steelheart?

David watched Steelheart kill his father ten years ago, and has been on a mission to defeat Epics ever since.  He does have one advantage - he saw the invincible Steelheart bleed.  He has used every resource he can to compile a list of Epics around the city and to uncover their weaknesses.  Now, he only has one problem, he can't do it alone.  So, he searches out the one group of people who are willing to take on these superheroes - the Reckoners.

Brandon Sanderson excels in bringing his characters to life and this book is no exception.  The Reckoners are a diverse group.  Some of the characters include:  Abraham, the muscled weapons man; Tia, the red-haired scholar; Cody, the southern boy who provides fire-support (but, who also pretends he is from Scotland and always has a tall-tale story to tell - and consequently establishes comic-relief throughout); Megan, who is the point-person in the team and also David's romantic interest; and the Professor, the serious leader and founder of the group.

In a world of humans vs. superhumans, there seems to be no end to the conflict.  But, if they can defeat Steelheart, they may have a chance to get their lives back.  As the first in a series, the ending of this book furnishes an appropriate twist that will make you ready for book two.

I would definitely recommend this book to any lover of fantasy/action/adventure/fun.

Review copy received from the publisher.

Steelheart
by Brandon Sanderson
published by Delacorte Press
September 24, 2013
Recommended for ages 12 and up

diane recommends Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller

For a very fun, light read, I decided to read the Kiki Strike Series. The reason I really like these books is because they do not have language, but they are still geared to a slightly older audience than my normal middle grade reads.

(On the left, are the original covers to the books. I, personally, like those better than the new ones, on the right, but, if you decide to buy the series, you should get the new ones because the third book only matches the re-done covers.)


Kiki Strike is girl who is a little bit different. She is often described as "elfish" with her pale skin, and her shimmering white hair, but, she is also very pretty, in a different sort of way.

In the first book, Kiki creates a group of friends who call themselves, "The Irregulars" and she takes charge of her group as they start their adventures together. They learn Kiki's true identity, what her mission is, and whether or not they can trust her.

In the next book they continue their adventures together and start to learn things about Oona Wong, the fashion Chinese girl with an attitude. When they discover some dark secrets about her family, they have to decide whether she should be trusted, or whether she is loyal to other people.

And, finally, in the third book, that recently came out, readers learn all about Betty Bent. Betty has her own adventure while the Irregulars can only sit and watch it play out. They discover that being tough is not always the only way to be strong. Being nice is  more courageous at times.

All of the books are written in Ananka Fishbein's voice, and she gives you some nice tips. Although these tips are not necessary to read, and only loosely relate to the book, they are really funny, and they help you understand what Ananka is thinking.

"Test Your Detective Skills
 . . .
The Following test will help you determine whether you're ready for action--or could use a little more practice. Keep in mind--in real life, there are no multiple choice questions.
 . . .
2. What time did your next-door neighbor leave his house this morning?
     a. Exactly ten minutes and eleven seconds later than yesterday
     b. Who knows? I decided to sleep in
     c. I would never intrude on someone's privacy!
     d. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him in weeks. Maybe I should knock at his door"

"How To Plan An Escape Route
 . . .
[These] come in handy when you're avoiding an annoying suitor, evading the authorities, or running from a furious sibling.
 . . .
Wear the Right Things.
Unless you're attending a ball, try to wear clothes that will allow you to move comfortably. In particularly dangerous situations, you may want to choose fabrics such as wool or silk that won't easily catch on fire or melt under extreme heat."

Each book gets a little older, the first book starts out really simple, with a bunch of seemingly little girls. The next one, they are a little bit older, a little more experienced, and you start adding a little bit of boy drama when Kaspar, Betty's soon to be boyfriend, enters the story. By the third one, they have added more boy drama, and a little language. I think that they will probably come out with more books in the series, but I really liked these books because they were language free, so although it will still be a fun, adventurous read, don't count on them being language free from here on.

The only slight problem that I had with the book was that Miller kept foreshadowing and I was very annoyed with it. At the end of the chapter, it would often end with a statement that was going to give away the next part of the book. Personally, I would rather figure it out myself, instead of having it told to me.

"But before the night was over, the Irregulars would discover the terrible price they had paid for their pleasure."

"'I'll wait. It's not that important,' said Oona, and I suddenly suspected it was."

Overall, I really liked these books, and I am still looking forward for the next one to come out.

Kiki Strike: The Darkness Dwellers
by Kirsten Miller
published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
January 2013
Recommended for ages 11-13

Kiki Strike: The Empress's Tomb
by Kirsten Miller
published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
October 2007
Recommended for ages 12-14

Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City
by Kirsten Miller
published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
May 2006
Recommended for ages 13-15

Spotlight on Young Adult Books

Shadow on the Mountain
by Margi Preus

Within two weeks of the German invasion of Norway in 1940, Norway’s military had disbanded and the king and other government leaders had fled to England.  Germany’s military controlled Norway with ruthless tactics and a strong presence -- one German soldier for every eight Norwegian citizens.  Still, many Norwegians resisted the occupation and formed underground groups to fight the Nazis.
This is a fictional account of teenagers involved in that Resistance.

Fourteen-year-old Espen first works delivering underground newspapers, then acts as a courier, and eventually takes on more dangerous assignments and more responsibility.  While this is certainly a spy story, filled with adventure, it is also a story of friendship and trust as Espen and his best friend, each in an attempt to “put the world right” choose opposite sides.

Many of Espen’s experiences are based on the real-life experiences of Erling Storrusten.  Photographs and details about Storrusten are included in the back of the book.

My favorite book from last year was Bomb by Steve Sheinkin which tells of the sabotage of the heavy water plant in Norway.  Shadow on the Mountain dovetails with that story and makes a great companion book.

The Impossible Rescue: The True Story of an Amazing Arctic Adventure

by Martin Sandler

In September of 1897, nine ships were whaling near Point Barrow, Alaska (the northernmost point of the United States) when temperatures suddenly plummeted and heavy ice swept in from the sea, forcing the ships to drop anchor.  One of the ships (the Alexander) was able to break free of the ice and head for home, but four ships remained ice locked and four other sips were unaccounted for.  The captain of the Alexander sped to his home port (San Francisco) and spread the news: there were eight ships and 256 men trapped in the Arctic where the weather was brutal, conditions were treacherous, and the food would not last through the winter.

The news traveled up the coast.  Newspapers in San Francisco and Seattle reported the story.  The San Francisco Whaling Company and family member sent telegrams to President McKinley pleading with him to send a rescue party no matter how unlikely its success seemed.

President McKinley ordered that a rescue be attempted.  First a United States Revenue Cutter Service ship (the Bear) would travel as far north as possible.  From there, three men would go ashore and travel by dog sled overland more than 1500 miles.  In the dead of winter.  With temperatures 40E below zero.  Without accurate maps.  Along the way, they were to convince two men to give up their reindeer herds and then persuade them to drive the two reindeer herds (more than 400 deer) to Point Barrow, so the stranded men would have food.  They would then wait for the Bear to rescue them as soon as conditions were safe -- hopefully in July.

The rescue seemed impossible, and yet the men volunteered to make the attempt.  This is their story.  Journal excerpts tell the story in the men’s own words.  Photographs from the expedition are included.  This is an exciting adventure of men fighting against all odds that is even better because it is true.

Coincidentally Speaking

Noting similarities in recently published children's literature, book-watchers periodically engage in discussion and speculation about trends: middle-grade novels about bullying, young adult books starring vampires, a near ubiquity of bears in picture books, or fairy tales re-imagined for all ages.  But what about similarities that are limited to a couple of books--not a trend by any means--but certainly a curious coincidence?  Just for fun, let's look at a few similarities in books published this year.

Search for a Missing Family Member

• In Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool, Early searches for his brother who was presumably killed in the war.
• Georgie searches for her sister even though the town has held her funeral in One Came Home by Amy Timberlake.
• When Early's dad disappears, she tries to find him in Blue Baillett's new book, Hold Fast.  And while we're on the subject . . .

Characters Named Early

• In Navigating Early, Early is a boy who has an unusual way of looking at numbers.
• And in Hold Fast, Early is a girl who has a way with words.  Different, but still similar.

The Bad Guys Are Counterfeiters

• Counterfeiters try to steal Lincoln's body in an attempt to use it as ransom to negotiate the return of their engraver in Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin. 
• In One Came Home, Georgie stumbles upon counterfeiters as she searches for her sister.

Inclusion of Recipes

• Patricia Reilly Giff's book, Gingersnap, features Jayna who makes amazing soup.  Recipes included.
• A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff features eleven-year-old Cady who has an amazing cake-baking talent.  Recipes included.

Treasure Island Readings

• Summer reads passages from Treasure Island to kids at the shelter in Hold Fast.
• Annie reads passages from Treasure Island to her brother, Rew, in Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz.

1918 Influenza Pandemic

• In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters is set in 1918 San Diego where residents limit travel, cover their faces in masks, and eat large amounts of onions in an attempt to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza.
• Written in Stone by Rosanne Parry shows some of the aftermath of the 1918 flu that killed Pearl's mother and sibling.
• In Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larsen, Hattie remembers the Spanish influenza that killed Mattie in Hattie Big Sky.

Con Artists

• Mary Shelley Black has to figure out whom she can trust in a city plagued by fear and fraud in In the Shadow of Blackbirds.
• Hattie, in Hattie Ever After, has to figure out whom she can trust when some of those closest to her take advantage of her. Similarities here seem inevitable since both stories are set in the Golden Age of Con.

Ok, there's a sampling of coincidences from this year's books.  Admittedly, some are stronger than others, but I think they are all fun to consider.  What did I miss?

diane recommends Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I was so excited to read Keeping the Castle, and when it had finally reached the top of my to-read stack, I was thrilled. I read it quickly, and decided I liked it almost right away. While reading reviews about this book, I noticed that many of them referred to this book as another Jane Austen. I had never read any of Jane Austen's books, and so I decided to pick up the "dreaded" Pride and Prejudice. What I found was first, Pride and Prejudice should never be dreaded, and second, Keeping the Castle was very unimpressive. Keeping the Castle is a bad imitation. In the book, Mr. Frederick, a substitute for Mr. Darcy, says, "I hate to see things poorly made, cheap copies of good pieces and so on,"  I feel like this is one of those "cheap copies".

At first I liked this book a lot. It had a great plot, it was a romance, and it was funny.

"'When I first came here, they told me you were one of the most beautiful women in Europe. Quite frankly?' he said, 'I could never see it.' 'I beg your pardon!' 'I won't be marrying you for your much-vaunted beauty, Miss Crawly.' 'You say it is not for my beauty and it cannot be for my fortune. Once again, therefore, I ask: why do you want to marry me?' In truth, I would have married him whatever the reason, but still, I wished to understand. He looked uncomfortable. 'Really, I suppose it is because I like quarreling with you. When I went away to London I meant to forget about you in my head. I couldn't concentrate on my work. In the end, I wrote to my mother. She's a clever woman, my mother. She explained that I was so miserable because I was in love with you. So I thought I would [come back] just to see if she was right.' 'And was she?' I asked. His eyes searched my face. 'I expect so; my mother is generally right. And you like quarreling with me as well, you know you do. Oh, please, Althea, look at me. Do say yes.'  I relinquished any attempt to control my amusement at this unconventional declaration of devotion, and laughed out aloud. 'Oh very well then, yes! I accept. Yes, sir, I will marry you.'"

I really liked this part, and many other parts. But, compared to Pride and Prejudice, This is nothing.

"'Let me thank you again and again, in the name of all my family, for that generous compassion which induces you to take so much trouble and bear so many mortifications, for the sake of discovering them [Lydia and Mr. Wickham].' 'If you WILL thank me,' he replied, 'let it before yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your FAMILY owes me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of YOU.' Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her companion added, 'You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. MY affections and wishes are unchanged  but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.' Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak . . . 'I do, I do like [you].' She replied with tears in her eyes, 'I love [you].' The happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do."

Keeping the Castle is just a simplified, more boring, not as well written, and not as well thought-out Pride and Prejudice. So, I would advise to not waste your money and time reading and buying Keeping the Castle, go buy Pride and Prejudice.

I loved Pride and Prejudice, and would definitely recommend this book. It was cleverly written, and has almost the same plot as Keeping the Castle, but a little better.


Keeping the Castle
by Patrice Kindl

published by Viking Juvenile 

June 2012

Recommended for 12-16 year olds

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

published by Viking Juvenile 

January 1813

Recommended for young adult readers

diane recommends The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

When my mom first mentioned this book, I rolled my eyes.  I asked if it was non-fiction, (which I am not a huge fan of . . .) and then I asked if it was the stupidest book she had ever read.  After I got the answer that, no, it was not nonfiction, and no, it was not the stupidest book ever, I still wasn't satisfied.  I think I might have mumbled something about not reading it.  But, when my "to-read" book list dwindled down to nothing, I got desperate.  I picked up the book and almost put it down again.  I like romance, but not the really, cheesy romance that no one can even believe would ever happen.  But, I decided to give it a try--for the first two chapters.

I found out that not only is this book decent, it is AMAZING!!!  I have already read it three times, and have recommended it to many of my friends.  A seventeen year old girl named Hadley Sullivan is making a plane trip to see her dad get re-married.  She just barely misses her flight, and ends up on the next flight to London.  While waiting, she meets a really nice guy.  He has a "crooked smile" and, "her heart dips unexpectedly when he looks at her."  They end up on the same flight together, sitting right next to each other.  Oliver flirts with her on the plane ride, and then they separate their own ways when they get off the plane.  Throughout the book, Hadley tries to find a way to cope with her father getting remarried.  My favorite part of the book is near the end:

"She can hear the smile in his voice. 'I'm doing my summer research project on different styles of dancing.' 'So does that mean we'll be doing the tango next?' 'Only if you're up for it.' 'What are you really studying?' He leans back to look at her. 'The statistical probability of love at first sight.' 'Very funny,' she says. 'What is it really?' 'I'm serious.' 'I don't believe you.' He laughs then lowers his mouth so that it's close to her ear. 'People who meet in airports are seventy-two percent more likely to fall for each other than people who meet anywhere else.' 'You're ridiculous,' she says, resting her head on his shoulder.  'Has anyone ever told you that?' 'Yes,' he says, laughing. 'You actually.  About a thousand times today.'"

He is so sweet to her throughout the book--even when she does some dumb things.  My friends all laughed when they heard what I was reading, it sounds really weird, but it is really, really, really, good!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
by Jennifer E. Smith

published by Poppy 

January 2012

Recommended for young adult readers

tara recommends Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

I did not know anything about this book before I read it, other than the fact that is was written by Laura Amy Schlitz and that I loved The Night Fairy.  The cover art was intriguing and the title was unique and mysterious. I was pretty excited to dive into the story.

The prologue set up a dark story that promised love, magic, control and pain.  The rest of the book delivered all of those things.  It is reminiscent of a Grimm’s fairy tale with dark magic and wicked adults abusing children – almost a blend of Hansel and Gretel and Pinocchio mixed in with her own unique story. 

This story is expertly crafted and the characters are developed exceedingly well.  Lizzie Rose is a poor starving orphan who will steadfastly hold on to her manners and integrity, Parsefall is a small, malnourished and abused orphan who has been molded into a thief and has the natural talents of a puppeteer, and Clara is a rich, slightly spoiled, but very lonely little girl who craves love.  If you mix in a crippled witch and a cruel and selfish puppeteer guardian, you can see where this story may lead.

You have two orphans who are oppressed and used as slaves by Grisini (the master puppeteer) and then the plot thickens when Clara disappears after having them perform a puppet show at her birthday party.  The police suspect Grisini has kidnapped Clara, but when he also disappears, Lizzie and Parsefall are afraid they will be in trouble with the law and need a place to hide.  They are drawn to a witch’s home where they need all of their willpower and cunning to escape a harrowing future.

At one point, it talks about “the splendor and glooms that haunted [Parsefall’s] mind.”  “She shared his appetite for prodigies and wonders, for a world where spangles were stars and skeletons frolicked until their bones fell apart.”  Laura Amy Schlitz has a talent for making language beautiful, and in the case of this book – also, a little dark. 

If you enjoy dark fairy tales, you should love this book.  It is an interesting, original tale that has a satisfying ending.  If there is a downside, it would be an utter lack of humor (except what comes through the quirkiness of the characters).  But, then again – perhaps that lends to the seriousness of the story.  The references to blood and magic did induce a few nightmares when I fell asleep reading one night, but that is probably just a testament to her vivid descriptions and lively characters.  She is just that good at pulling you into her reality.

In the end, the story is about love and security.  It touches on those universal themes of decency, friendship and family.  Even though I found some parts to be a little slow, the uniqueness of the fairy tale story and the beautiful language puts this is on my list of favorite books this year.

*There is one instance of swearing (b****h) that seemed unnecessary and the subject matter is probably for a more mature audience.

Splendors and Glooms

by Laura Amy Schlitz

published by Candlewick Press

August 2012

Recommended for ages 12 and up

tara recommends (with some reservation) The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats

I love books and will happily read almost anything that comes my way, but I have always been drawn to historical fiction.  There is nothing quite like stepping into the past through a well-crafted story.  Whether it is The Witch of Blackbird Pond or Bud, Not Buddy – a new era is just a few pages away. 

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up The Wicked and the Just, but if there is anything better than historical fiction, for me it is European historical fiction – so, I figured I couldn’t go wrong.  Set in 13^th century English-occupied Wales, Cecily and her father move from England to enjoy the opportunities given to those willing to settle in a land still socially unstable, where relationships between the English and Welsh are uneven and strained.

This story presents a well-developed picture by alternating voices between two girls – one Welsh and the other English.  Their voices counterbalance the attitudes of the time well and by using some Old-English and Welsh language you feel immersed in their world (sometimes, I was a bit distracted by the unfamiliar words, but overall it made the story more real).

Cecily opens the story as an entitled and unhappy girl who has been forced to moved from her home and is trying to make the best of it in her own way.  Because she has been taught that she is better than the people of Wales, she comes across as cocky, naïve, and sometimes just mean.  As she interacts with Gwenhyfar, the servant girl (who also shows a strong will and spitefulness), a recurring theme of “justice for those who deserve it” emerges.

I liked the historical feel of the story.  The unique relationship between the two girls was fun to explore and the fact that neither girl was particularly likeable at the beginning made them seem more real as the book ends.

As a caution, this story is not a light one and contains some strong language and adult situations (including murder, rape and other sexual situations) that would make me hesitant to recommend it to anyone under a mature 16.

The Wicked and the Just
by J. Anderson Coats

published by Harcourt Children's Books 

April 2012

Recommended for young adult readers

danyelle recommends Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I admit it.  Shadow and Bone is probably not a book I would have read had it not been for a recommendation given to me by a librarian acquaintance during a week when my to-read stack was dwindling.  Something about the title made me think that this was going to be overly dark for my taste and on the upper end of young adult.  (Perhaps it was a slight confusion somewhere in the back of my mind with the similarly titled, Daughter of Smoke and Bone.)  Whatever the reason, I am grateful for the recommendation because I thoroughly enjoyed a book I would have otherwise missed.

On the surface the story feels familiar: poor orphaned girl, neglected and unappreciated, discovers she has special powers and is drawn to those who recognize her importance.  Will the allure of power and recognition pull her into dangerous pathways or will she safely navigate her new world?  Yet, this story is not a stale rehashing of something you’ve read before.  Leigh Bardugo weaves a fresh tale by creating a world filled with political intrigue where the practice of the Small Science brings power and privilege and the desire to belong feels achingly important.

Alina and Mal are orphans of the border wars that have plagued their country for over 100 years.  Taken in by Duke Keramsov, they grow up together in what is essentially an orphanage on the Duke’s estate, relying on each other for support and companionship.  As chapter one opens, they are headed, as members of the First Army, into the Shadow Fold, a nearly impenetrable dark expanse that is home to the man-eating volcra.  Alina, a junior cartographer’s assistant, is unremarkable and largely unnoticed, but when volcra attack her and Mal in the Fold, she discovers she has unique abilities that may help reunite her country.  Almost immediately, guards take her from life in the army (and Mal) to the Little Palace behind the double walls of Os Alta, where she trains with other Grisha who practice the Small Science. For the first time in her life she is important, and other people recognize that, but she still feels ties to her childhood friend.

Vivid descriptions flavored with a Slavic accent bring Alina’s world to life -- I particularly like the term “exhausting extravagance” to describe the Grand Palace (104).  Entering the Fold “was like standing at the end of everything” (29).  Baghra “with her head cocked to one side and her eyes glittering black in the firelight . . . [looking] like a very mean sparrow” scared me when she said, “And there’s nothing wrong with being a lizard either.  Unless you were born to be a hawk” (178-79).  And I could keep going if I wanted to spoil the plot.

What I like most about the book, though, are the interactions between Alina and Mal that portray a genuine relationship.  The barbed letter that Alina writes to Mal expresses her frustration with not hearing from him:

I haven’t heard from you, so I assume you’ve met and married a volcra and that you’re living comfortably on the Shadow Fold, where you have neither light nor paper with which to write” (176).

But her final plea, “Please write” confirms her longing to hear from him (177).  And while Mal can be insensitive, almost to the point of callousness at times, when he whispers, “I’ll meet you in the meadow” the reader hears in his words what he feels for Alina (33).  Finally, after Alina tells Mal, “Thanks for finding me,”  he answers, “Always,” and I forgave him all previous stupidity (263).

I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this trilogy.

 

Shadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy)

by Leigh Bardugo

published by Henry Holt and Co.

June 2012

Recommended for young adult readers.