Countdown to the Year 1000

Countdown to the Year 1000

Author: Kate McMullan

Publisher: Edina, Minn. : Spotlight, [2007], c1999.

Plot Description:

            The year 1000 is fast approaching, but there is no cheering going on for the new millennium.  Instead everyone is worried thanks to the prophecy declaring that the world would end when the clock strikes midnight on the last day of the year 999.  But when Count Upsohigh declares that he has a plan to save everyone, a plan that requires everyone to give him their gold, it is up to Wiglaf and his friends at the Dragon Slayer Academy to figure out the truth.

Review:

            Countdown to the Year 1000 is a fun fantasy book.  It is one of a series which all takes place at the Dragon Slayers’ Academy, where young boys and girls learn to become dragon slayers and knights.  McMullan creates a very involved world full of new characters with funny names which are all a joke if one looks at them carefully.  A great series for tweens interested in fantasy fiction.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Reading level: 5^th Grade

Similar Books: Eragon

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- fun series about the middle ages

Subjects/themes- Dragons, Adventure, Prophecies, Time Travel, Fiction

Series information- Part of the Dragon Slayers’ Academy series

Character names/descriptions-

            Wiglaf- one of the newest members of the DSA

            Zach- comes from the future to tell them that the world won’t end in 1000

            Count Upsohigh- has a plan to take all the people’s gold

Annotation: How can you prove the world won’t end?

Megamind

Megamind

Distributed by Dreamworks

Publisher: [United States] : DreamWorks Home Entertainment, [2011]

Plot Description:

            Megamind is the ultimate evil genius.  He has the perfect nemesis in the best of the good guys, Metro Man.  Until one day when he finally defeats Metro Man in a fantastic battle, and Metro City is finally his!  But after years of working towards that goal, he now yearns for the next one, but he has no idea what that might be.  Perhaps being the evil villain is not all that it’s cracked up to be.

Review:

            Megamind is a fun movie that is enjoyable for just about any age.  Younger tweens will appreciate the funny humor, while older tweens will appreciate Will Ferrell and David Cross’s banter.  The movie ultimately talks about how sometimes getting what you wish for isn’t necessarily what you are going to end up wanting. 

Genre: Superhero Fiction

Viewing age:  All

Similar Movies: Shrek

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Fun, particularly liked when he mispronounced things

Subjects/themes- Superhero, Villain, Fantasy, Criminals

Character names/descriptions-

            Megamind- evil genius who wants to conquer Metro City

            Metro Man- has defeated Megamind’s evil plans since they were children

            Roxanne Ritchi- the reporter who Megamind falls for

            Titan- the superhero that Megamind creates for a challenge

            Minion- Megamind’s right hand fish

Annotation: Metro City only has room for one genius.

Burn

Burn

Author: Suzanne Phillips

Publisher: New York : Little, Brown and Co., 2008.

Plot Description:

            Cameron’s life has never been easy.  Only 14, he grew up with a physically and mentally abusive father, and now faces constant bullying every day in high school.  Bullying that no adult stops, though his desire to not tell anyone about it keeps this a reality.  But one day the bullying goes too far, and lights a fire of revenge in Cameron that he can’t contain anymore.  The consequences of his reaction to the situation create repercussions that no one imagined.

Review:

            This is one of the few books I have ever felt seriously disturbed by.  Bullying is a serious situation, and books like Burn highlight not only the need to open a better dialogue but to also find better ways to deal with the situation and the aftermath.  The situations which Cameron copes with, and the ultimate reaction they provoke from him, are highly disturbing in how you can see the progression and how potentially realistic it is.  I would have a hard time recommending this for tweens, but at the same time can see the value of a book like this for older tweens who need to recognize the potential seriousness of these types of situations.  Overall it was an incredibly powerful book which was very well written.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading level: 9^th Grade

Similar Books: Wintergirls

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Disturbing but very well written

Subjects/themes- Bullying, Post Traumatic Stress, Pyromania, High School, Emotional Problems

Character names/descriptions-

            Cameron- the object of bullying by many at his school

            SciFi/Eliot- one of Cameron’s only friends who gets beat up simply because he is

nice to Cameron

            Rich Patterson- the main aggressor against Cameron, a ‘red coat’

Pinon-  the ultimate victim

Annotation: Bullying is horrific.

According to Greta

According to Greta

Distributed by Ancho Bay Films

Publisher: Beverly Hills, CA : Anchor Bay Entertainment, [2010]

Plot Description:

            Greta’s life hasn’t been easy for a long time.  Her mother cares more about Greta’s stepfather than about Greta.  She can’t decide what to after high school, or even if life is worth living anymore.  But during a summer spent with her grandparents, spent broadening her horizons and breaking down the barriers she has built up, she learns that perhaps family and relationships really aren’t a bad thing and tries to fix the ones she has left. 

Review:

            Overall a good movie.  Greta, played by Hilary Duff, is a headstrong character who thinks she knows everything she needs to know, but in typical teenage fashion really has no idea.  Her seemingly brazen attitude and desire to rebel masks a lifetime of insecurities that she is forced to face by the end of the movie, as she struggles with the consequences her actions have not only for her but those she cares about.  A good movie for older tweens, but younger tweens probably will not enjoy it as much for its older content.

Genre: Fiction

Viewing Age: 8^th-9^th Grade

Similar Movies: Cinderella Story, Ella Enchanted

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- A good movie about teenage angst

Subjects/themes- Depression, Suicide, Relationships, Growing Up

Character names/descriptions-

            Greta- 17 year old struggling with depression

Julie- the boy she begins a relationship with who helps her realize that life is worth living

Annotation: Sometimes life is worth living.

The School Story

The School Story

Author: Andrew Clements

Publisher: New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c2001.

Plot Description:

            Natalie might only be 12 years old, but she has already written her first novel.  Now she needs to get it published!  While she does have an ‘in’ into the publishing world thanks to her editor mother, she wants to make sure that the story is published because it actually is good, not just because her mom feels obligated because she’s her daughter.  That’s when Natalie’s best friend Zoe comes up with a plan to become Natalie’s agent and get the book published so the entire world can read the book.

Review:

            A School Story is a well written book about a young novelist who wants to get her story published.  The characters are all very well developed, spirited and determined. The plot is very original, and the hints at the book that Natalie wrote add extra to the story.  The book also focuses a lot on the fallout, even years later, of Natalie’s father’s death.  It is a great story which will appeal to tweens

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading level: 4^th- 5^th Grade

Similar Books: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- cute story

Subjects/themes- Authorship, Writing, Publishing, Best Friends

Character names/descriptions-

            Natalie/Cassandra Day- writes a fantastic novel

            Zoe/Zee Zee- becomes Natalie’s agent so she can get her book published

            Ms. Clayton- their English teacher at school who helps them with their plan

Annotation: If you had an agent like Zee Zee, you’re book would get published too!

Furry Vengeance

Furry Vengeance

Distributed by Summit Entertainment

Publisher: Universal City, Calif. : Summit Entertainment, [2010]

Plot Description:

            When Dan relocated his family from Chicago to the Oregon forest, he thought it would be a quick year of work and then they could head back.  But that was before he encountered the local wildlife, who have a big problem with Dan’s boss’s plan to destroy their forest to build homes.  And these animals have a plan.  As they sabotage the building project, and terrorize Dan, everyone thinks he is going crazy. But as the project tries to move forward, eventually Dan realizes that perhaps the animals are fighting for the right side, and he’s the one on the wrong one.

Review:

            Furry Vengeance is a fun family movie about the consequences of ones actions and the importance of doing the right thing even it it’s hard.  Dan has to eventually decide whether his job or the forest is more important. The movie is a little young for older tweens, but the gag humor would definitely appeal to younger tweens.  Overall the movie is predictable, but would still entertain.

Genre: Fiction

Viewing Age: 3^rd-4^th Grade

Similar Movies: Marmaduke, Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- trite, not really entertaining for adults

Subjects/themes- Environmentalism, Family, Animals

Character names/descriptions-

            Dan- works for a company that wants to destroy the forest

            Tammy- Dan’s wife who ends up in charge of the Forest Festival

            Tyler- Dan’s son who stands up to him at the end

Annotation: The animals might be furry and cute, but it doesn’t mean they will let you destroy their home!

Ballet Shoes

Ballet Shoes

A Granada production for the BBC

Publisher: Port Washington, NY : Distributed by Koch Entertainment, [2008]

Plot Description:

            When her explorere uncle adopts three girls, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy, Syliva and her Nana struggle to bring them up and educate them with little funds.  But these three girls are more talented than anyone could hope, and after they all are accepted at the Academy of Dance and Stage Training, they find that their dreams may one day be within reach.  But as they struggle with their ambitions and disappointments, they each learn that with enough perseverance they can become more than they ever dreamed of.

Review:

            A cute tale of three sisters coming into their own.  Each girl has her own talent which she struggles to separate from the others.  The movie is well acted with actresses that will be well liked by a tween audience, including Emma Watson.  The movie highlights the importance of supporting your family and their dreams and hope in the face of adversity.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Viewing level: 4^th-5^th Grade

Similar Movies: The Company, Harry Potter

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- cute for a younger audience

Subjects/themes- Ballet, Sisters, Acting, Family

Character names/descriptions-

            Pauline- becomes an actress

            Petrova- wants to fly planes

            Posy- wants to become a classical ballerina

Annotation: If the only possessions your mother left you were a pair of ballet shoes, are you destined to become a ballerina?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher: New York : Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children, c2005.

Plot Description:

             Percy Jackson has always felt different from others his age.  Maybe its because he’s always in trouble, or the fact that he’s never stayed at one school longer than a year.  Or maybe it’s because he’s a demi-god and his father is Poseidon, God of the Seas.  Or so he finds out the year he turns 12, where after a series of events he ends up at Camp Half Blood.  Here he can be with other demigods, and learn how to survive.  But when he is given a quest to find whoever stole Zeus’s master bolt he must use all his wits ot survive.

Review:

            A very engrossing book about a boy, the Greek gods, and an adventure.  One of the most interesting things about the book is how it weaves so much Greek mythology into it, keeping kids both interested in the story as well as a culture that they had to learn about in school.  Percy is a likeable character and a heroic one.  The book’s ending definitely encourages one to read the entire series.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Reading level: 5^th-6^th Grade

Similar Books: Harry Potter

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Very fun book

Subjects/themes- Gods, Friendship, Greek Mythology, Adventure, Quest

Series information- Book 1 of 5

Character names/descriptions-

            Percy Jackson- 12 year old son of Poseidon, thought to be the one who will bring

down the gods

            Annabelle- daughter of Athena, helps Percy on his quest

            Grover- Percy’s protector

            Chiron- Teacher at Camp Half Blood

            Luke- son of Hades who pretends to be Percy’s friend

Annotation: Being the son of a god isn’t all fun and games

Woods Runner

 Woods Runner

Author: Gary Paulson

Publisher: New York : Wendy Lamb Books, c2010.

Plot Description:

            Samuel is a child of the woods.  He might be only 13, but he is relied on as the main hunter of the entire village he lives in in the wilderness in Pennsylvania.  But war has come to the colonies, and sooner than his family thinks it comes straight to them.  When his parents are kidnapped by British soldiers, and everyone else in his village killed, Samuel faces a choice: flee into the wilderness that he belongs to, or search for his parents in cities that are full of threats.

Review:

            Woods Runner is an excellent story about the Revolutionary War.  It describes the horrors of war through the eyes of a boy who is a survivor, but also a boy who has no true idea what war means or why his country is suddenly embroiled in one.  Samuel is a smart kid who relies on his knowledge of the woods in order to survive and find his parents, but must learn to rely on strangers in order to find his objective.  The book is an excellent piece of historical fiction and provides a look at the war from a civilians point of view.  The book also provides a lot of historical facts to explain much of what happens in the book.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading level: 7^th-9^th Grade

Similar Books: Purple Heart

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Good book on how war touches everyone

Subjects/themes- War, Kidnapping, Soldiers, Spies, Fiction

Character names/descriptions-

            Samuel- 13 year old who must find his parents

            Annie- a young girl whose parents are killed by the British and who Samuel

protects

            Abner- lends Samuel and Annie help when they most need it

Annotation: Sometimes you need to hide, but sometimes you need to search.

Purple Heart

Purple Heart

Author: Particia McCormick

Publisher: New York : Balzer + Bray, c2009.

Plot Description:

            Matt Duffey just woke up in a hospital.  Days before he had been in a firefight with insurgents in Sadr City, but he can’t remember the chain of events that led him to wake up in a hospital bed.  As he struggles to remember what happened, and align them with what his unit says happen, he begins to realize that the line between right and wrong is blurred almost beyond recognition in wartime.

Review:

             Purple Heart presents one soldier struggling to reconcile his duties as a soldier with what is morally right.  It is a realistic look at the heartwrenching decisions soldiers make in the heat of the moment and how one boy is copes with the aftermath of those choices.  It is about brotherhood in battle and the camaraderie that develops.  Matt Duffey is an 18 year old recruit who had no idea what he was getting into when he signed up to be a soldier.  One might be tempted to say a book about a soldier in wartime Iraq might not be suitable for tweens, but this book is more that suitable.  It is a well developed book about a topic that is very interesting to a lot of tweens, especially older ones of any who know someone in the military.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading level: 9^th Grade

Similar Books: Woods Runner

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- A really good book about the realities of war

Subjects/themes- War, Iraq, Hospitals, Injury, Amnesia, Fiction, Soldiers

Character names/descriptions-

            Matt Duffey- 18 year old soldier with temporary amnesia

            Justin- a member of his unit who was in the firefight with him

            Ali- a young Iraqi boy who befriended Matt on patrol

Annotation: What good is a Purple Heart if you don’t think you deserve it?

Ever

Ever

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Publisher: New York : HarperCollinsPublishers, c2008.

Plot Description:

            Olus is the Akkan god of the winds, but he longs for more than the life of a god.  He wants friendship, love, and more than anything to not be lonely anymore.  Kezi lives a good life with her family, but when her mother is struck ill, her father makes a bargain with the gods that will ultimately cost Kezi her life.  But perhaps, with the love of a god, she can find a way to break this promise her father made, and live a life of happiness with the one she loves.  But before that can happen, both face difficult quests and their deepest fears so that the other can have what they wish.

Review:

            A well written book, a bit of a departure from the books that she normally writes.  The book aptly intertwines issues of love and family with religious themes and the questions of belief.  The characters are well written and developed and the story appeals to tweens especially do to the fairy tale aspect of it.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Reading level: 8^th-9^th Grade

Similar Books: Ella Enchanted

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- good book, but not necessarily my cup of tea, though I like her other books

Subjects/themes- Gods, winds, immortality, love, friendship

Character names/descriptions-

            Kezi- makes a sacrifice which might cost her life

            Olus- wants to find a way to mix both of his worlds

Annotation: Being a god can be a drag.

The Penderwicks

The Penderwicks

Author: Jeanne Birdsall

Publisher: New York : Knopf : Distributed by Random House, c2005.

Plot Description:

            The 4 Penderwick sisters, their father, and their dog Hound have decided to go somewhere new for vacation this year.  But instead of the small cottage they expected to find, they find themselves on a beautiful property called Arundel.  Here they get to explore the beautiful gardens and have wonderful adventures, and make a few new friends.  But the owner of the estate, Mrs. Tifton, is nowhere near as lovely a person as her gardens.  As the Penderwick sisters befriend her son Jeffrey, maybe they will learn to stay out of trouble, or maybe they will cause even more.

Review:

            A really cute story about 4 very different sisters.  The adventures they have together are both sweet and fun, and each sister brings a different perspective to the book, from responsible Rosalind to silly younger sister Batty.  They have a strong sense of loyalty to their family and friends and help to change the lives of everyone they meet.  I especially liked the meetings of the MOOPS and MOPS.  A great story for mid-range tweens.

Genre: Fiction

Reading level: 4^th-5^th Grade

Similar Books: Aquamarine, Esperanza Rising

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Really cute story about sisters

Subjects/themes- Sisters, Family, Adventure, Fiction

Series information- Part of a series

Character names/descriptions-

            Rosalind- the practical eldest Penderwick

            Skye- known for he blue eyes, the feistiest of the sisters

Jane- a great writer who is constantly looking for new plots for her character, Sabrina Starr

            Batty- the youngest sister, who never takes off her butterfly wings and loves

Hound

            Jeremy- Mrs. Tifton’s son, who the Penderwick’s show how to have adventures

            Cagney- the groundskeeper who Rosalind has a crush on

Annotation: Summertime brings all sorts of adventures to those who look for them.

The Great Wide Sea

 The Great Wide Sea

Author: M. H. Herlong

Publisher: New York : Viking, 2008.

Plot Description:

            After Ben’s mom died, his father decides to take him and his two brothers on a year long sailing trip in the Caribbean.  It’s the last thing Ben wants to do, but as his father sells their house and packs up all their possessions and buys the boat, he realizes that he’s got no choice but to go.  As they settle into life on the sea things begin to even out a bit for Ben, and he realizes that a year isn’t too bad.  But then one morning he wakes up to find his father gone, and a storm brewing on the horizon.  Together he and his brothers must fight to keep their boat afloat in the worst storm they’ve ever seen and then survive on the island they crash into.  As they fight for survival and hope for rescue they face tougher choices than they imagined.

Review:

            A well written and engaging read about the way a family copes with a tragic loss and comes to find balance again.  Ben is a well written character who will appeal to both genders of tweens.  The skills the boys learn on their year long voyage are what enable them to survive on their own.  They realize more and more during the trip that family is what is truly important, and that being together is what keeps them safe.

Genre: Survival Fiction

Reading level: 7^th-9^th grade

Similar Books: Hatchet, Holes

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Really good book about brothers surviving together

Subjects/themes- Adventure, Survival, Loss, Brothers-

Character names/descriptions-

            Ben- wanted nothing more than to turn 16 and get a car, but instead must keep his

brothers alive when they are stranded

            Dylan- The middle child and incredibly resourceful

            Gerry- the youngest who proves adept at spear fishing

Annotation: Ever wish you could run away from your problems? Ben’s dad thought so, and now he is stuck on a boat for the next year.

The Chosen One

The Chosen One

Author: Carol Lynch Williams

Publisher: New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2009.

Plot Description:

            13 year old Kyra has never known anything but life on the compound.  She helps her mother with chores and cooking and takes care of her siblings, she goes to church with her family, and is an obedient daughter.  She has never questioned the fact that her father has three wives, or that so many other men on the compound have even more than that.  The only rebellious thing she has ever done is secretly visit the bookmobile and read books that are not the Bible.  Until one day, when the Prophet declares that she is ready to marry.  And not marry the boy she likes, but her 66 year old uncle who already has 6 wives.  Kyra must make the ultimate choice as she faces a future which is uncertain down one path, but devastating down another.

Review:

            A well written book about a subject which has come up a lot in recent times.  It portrays the polygamist culture in a way appropriate for older tween readers.  One of the things that was most interesting about the book was that it didn’t just focus on the polygamist aspect except for her marriage but instead focused on the familial ties that keep so many women in the compounds.  It does lend a sinister aspect to the compounds with the God squads and the beatings that occur, but overall the book is about a young girl who must leave everything she knows behind for a chance at a better life.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading level: 8^th-9^th Grade

Similar Books: Wintergirls

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Really good book about a popular topic

Subjects/themes- Polygamy, Family, Cults, Fiction

Character names/descriptions-

            Kyra- her visits to the Bookmobile give her the courage to run away

            Joshua- the boy Kyra liked, who is beaten and thrown from the compound

            Uncle Hyrum- her father’s brother who she is to be married to

            Patrick- driver of the Bookmobile who tries to help her escape and pays a big

price

Annotation: Leaving everything you know behind is never easy, but when it is your only chance….

Wintergirls

 Wintergirls

Author: Laurie Hale Anderson

Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Viking, c2009.

Plot Description:

            Lia and Cassie were best friends with a common purpose.  They supported each other when no one else would, and vowed to go down fighting everyone who was against them.  But now Cassie is dead, and Lia is left to fight the fight by herself, with no one who understands her and her quest to be the thinnest, to be the one in control of every mouthful of food that goes into her mouth, to not be ruled by food like every other person in the world.  Lia struggles against her family and everyone else as she tries to find a way to survive in a world she can’t understand.  But she doesn’t realize that she is in a life and death battle with herself.  Will her desire to remain a wintergirl be the last one she has?

Review:

            A cutting and intense book about eating disorders and the way they utterly consume a person.  While the subject matter is a bit intense for tweens, I think that this problem is prevalent enough that the book is appropriate for older tweens especially.  This book looks frankly into one girl’s mind as she struggles with herself and comes to realize that she is killing herself and will die if she doesn’t stop.  It is truly a chilling look at someone who is struggling with an illness that is not talked about enough as an actual disease, but more as something to cover in health class.  I would definitely recommend it, especially to someone who knows someone struggling with this.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading level:  8^th-9^th Grade

Similar Books: The Chosen One

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Intense but definitely worth the read

Subjects/themes- Eating Disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia, Best Friends, Guilt, Death

Character names/descriptions-

            Lia- struggles against her family, a workaholic mother, a busy father and a

clueless stepmother

            Cassie- Lia’s best friend, who dies alone in a hotel room after a 3 day binge ane

purge

            Emma- Lia’s younger sister, who is ultimately the one who makes Lia remember

she wants to live and understand the destruction she has caused in the family

Annotation: “Dead Girl Walking” they say, I say I’m stronger than them all.

Hoot

Hoot

Author: Carl Hiaasen

Publisher: New York : Alfred A. Knopf, c2002.

Plot Description:

Roy just had to move again. This time from the mountains of Montana to the wetlands of Florida. One day, while riding the bus to school, he notices a boy running. with no shoes. Into the woods. Roy decides to find this kid and become his friend, or at least discover who he is and why he isn't in school like everyone else. But as he gets to know him, he finds out about the boys plan to save the burrowing owls at a construction site, and learns the power of standing up for a good cause.

Review:

Well written and engaging, the book is not just about friendship and learning to adjust to a new community, but about the environment and standing up for what is right. The reader learns that grown ups don't always make the right choices, but sometimes kids can help them see where they went wrong. The book captures both the essence of Florida life but also what its like to be a new kid trying to fit in. It will definitely be appealing to tweens, and especially to boys.

Genre: realistic fiction

Reading level: 4-5th grade

Similar Books: Holes

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- excellent for boys

Subjects/themes- environmental protection, owls, Florida, friendship

Awards- 2003 Newbery Honor

Character names/descriptions-

            Roy- just moved to Florida and finds more adventure than he thought he would

            Beatrice- bullies Roy until she realizes she could use his help

            Mullet Fingers- Beatrice’s brother who lives in the woods

           

Annotation: If you had the chance to stand up to a big corporation, would you?

Aquamarine

Aquamarine

Movie Distributed by: Fox

Publisher: Beverly Hills, CA : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, c2006.

Plot Description:

Claire and Hailey only have a few more days left of summer, and a few more days until Hailey and her mom move halfway across the world to Australia. The girls desperately wish that Hailey's mom will change her mind and stay, but until then they want to enjoy every second they have. But then a storm hits their tiny beach town, a storm that washes up a lot more than just seaweed. Aquamarine is a beautiful mermaid who has swum away from home, and if the girls can help her make someone fall in love with her so that she doesn't have to go back to the ocean she will grant them one wish. Will they be able to help her and prevent Hailey from leaving?

Review:

A very cute feel good movie about best friends and life. The two girls are struggling with growing up and saying goodbye to a friend and childhood. The movie aptly capture the girls emotions and feelings, while providing a fun story about learning that real friendship lasts even if you aren't together. A great family movie, but predictably since it is about mermaids is much more appealing to tween girls than boys.

Genre: Fiction

Viewing age: 4-5th grade

Similar Movies: Another Cinderella Story, Nancy Drew

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- cute

Subjects/themes- mermaids, wishes, friends, fiction

Character names/descriptions-

Aquamarine- mermaid determined to prove love exists

Hailey- is about to move from Australia and away from all her friends

Claire- Hailey's best friend who wants her to stay

Raymond- cute lifeguard aol the girls like

Annotation: Sometimes storms can bring good luck.

Witch Child

Witch Child

Author: Celia Rees

Publisher: Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 2001.

Plot Description:

            After 14 year old Mary Newbery’s grandmother is accused of being a witch and killed, Mary decides she needs to flee England.  With help, she boards a ship of Puritans for America, where she hopes she can lead a life in peace.  Unfortunately, the Puritans are a suspicious lot and very superstitious, believing witchcraft to be behind every unfortunate thing which befalls them.  This book is written as Mary’s diary, and we see her struggle as the community she has come to rely on turns on her as the outsider and persecutes her as a witch.  

Review:

            A well written book about the Puritans.  I particularly enjoyed it since it was a book about them and witchcraft but not about the Salem witch trials.  The book is written as a diary and has a foreward from another women talking about how she came to find the diary, lending the work a more authentic feel.  The book is an excellent representation of the way mass hysteria works and how difficult it is to stop a rumor once it has started.  Definitely appealing to tweens, especially tween girls, though I think most boys would enjoy it if they didn’t mind that the main character was female.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading level: 5^th-6^th Grade

Similar Books: Time enough for drums

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Great book about witch hunts

Subjects/themes- Historical Fiction, Witches, Persecution, Puritans

Character names/descriptions-

            Mary- believes she is a witch, but must hide it from everyone

            Martha- a healer who is the first to welcome Mary

            Tobias- is collecting information on plants

            Elias Cornwell- pastor who comes over on the boat with them, his uncle leads the

charge against Mary

           

Annotation: So everyone has turned on you and accuses you of being a witch, what do you do next?

Al Capone does my shirts

Al Capone does my shirts

Author: Gennifer Choldenko

Publisher: New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, c2004.

Plot Description:

            Mathew “Moose” Flanagan and his family have just moved to San Francisco.  Well not San Francisco exactly but Alcatraz island, home of the worst of the worst of California’s criminals.  His father just got a new job as the islands electrician, and his mother hopes that moving to Alcatraz will help get his sister Natalie into a special school for kids like her who are a bit different.  Moose makes friends with the other kids on the island, including the warden’s daughter.  But when they start a scheme to make money from the other kids at school by having the prisoners wash their laundry they find themselves in trouble with the warden.  But this gives Moose the idea to ask one of Alcatraz’s most notorious criminals for help, that criminal was Al Capone.

Review:

            Much more than a book about a boy moving to Alcatraz, or even about the title character, this book is an interesting take on a family dealing with a little understood disease at the time.  Moose’s older sister has autism, and his mother especially wants desperately to find a cure for her.  Moose is the younger brother who is actually the older brother, the one who best knows how to deal with his sister and understands her the best.  He finds himself ignored by his family as their focus lies mainly on his sister. But overall this book is about family itself, and struggling with difficult choices and decisions to make the best of a difficult situation. 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading level: 4^th Grade

Similar Books: Bud, Not Buddy

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Really good book, but especially helpful in helping children understand illness

Subjects/themes- Autism, Siblings, Moving, Criminals, Alcatraz

Awards- Newbery Honor Selection

Series information- There is a sequel called Al Capone Shines my Shoes

Character names/descriptions-

            Moose- loves baseball, but wishes things could be easier in his family

            Natalie- Moose’s 16 year old sister with autism, whose mother insists she is 10

            Piper- the warden’s scheming daughter

Annotation: Sure, asking a criminal for help might not be the best idea, but what if it’s the only one you’ve got?