Tuesday, January 19, 2016

The Hero Two Doors Down (by Sharon Robinson)


The Hero Two Doors Down: Based on the True Story of Friendship Between a Boy and a Baseball Legend
Publication Date: January 2016

   

SYNOPSIS: Based on the true story of a boy in Brooklyn who became neighbors and friends with his hero, Jackie Robinson. Steven Satlow is an eight-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York, which means he only cares about one thing-the Dodgers. Steve and his father spend hours reading the sports pages and listening to games on the radio. Aside from an occasional run-in with his teacher, life is pretty simple for Steve. But then Steve hears a rumor that an African American family is moving to his all-Jewish neighborhood. It's 1948 and some of his neighbors are against it. His hero, Jackie Robinson, broke the color barrier in baseball the year before. Then it happens--Steve's new neighbor is none other than Jackie Robinson! Steve is beyond excited about living two doors down from the Robinson family. He can't wait to meet Jackie. This is going to be the best baseball season yet! How many kids ever get to become friends with their hero?

THOUGHTS: You know, this might not be a great written book but it tells a great story. And the idea that it is based on a true story is awesome. Jackie Robinson is a hero, a man to look up to. We knew this anyway but this story is another testament to his character. There is not much baseball action in the story; it's more about the relationships off the field. Baseball fans expecting baseball action will be disappointed. It is a story about relationships, about heroes, and about discrimination. If this was not based on a true story, I would call it a bit hokey. Heck, I'm still going to call it a bit hokey but it's good hokey because it's true hokey. I want kids to read this story. I'm definitely going to recommend it first to baseball fans, because I think first knowing who Jackie Robinson is is beneficial. Also this book has the bonus of being spot-on for reluctant readers.

CARTWHEEL AWARD NOMINEE?: While I think it is a sweet story, I think it might be too slow-paced for many kids. So, no.

The League of Unexceptional Children (by Gitty Daneshvari)


Publication Date: October 2015

      
SYNOPSIS: Are you average? Normal? Forgettable? If so, the League of Unexceptional Children is for you! This first book in a hilarious new adventure series is for anyone who's struggled to be noticed in a sea of above-average overachievers. What is the League of Unexceptional Children? I'm glad you asked. You didn't ask? Well, you would have eventually and I hate to waste time. The League of Unexceptional Children is a covert network that uses the nation's most average, normal, and utterly unexceptional children as spies. Why the average kids? Why not the brainiacs? Or the beauty queens? Or the jocks? It's simple: People remember them. But not the unexceptionals. They are the forgotten ones. Until now!

THOUGHTS: This is an interesting premise, and I thought Daneshvari delivered. It was laugh out loud funny at times, which is a rarity for me. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter are a riot. The two main characters, Shelley and Jonathan, are quirky and their interactions are funny. I honestly thought it was very entertaining, and a mystery to boot! I'm sure you could poke holes in the plot if you really tried, but why would you? It is a fun book and easy to book talk; plus, it's tailor-made for reluctant readers. So far, I know of three kids who have read it and all of them have loved it. This might be one of those books adults don't get, but kids enjoy.

CARTWHEEL AWARD NOMINEE?: Leaning towards yes, but I'm withholding final judgment to see if something better in this vein comes out.

Patrick Griffin's Last Breakfast on Earth (by Ned Rust)

Publication Date: August 2016
            

SYNOPSIS: When Patrick Griffin passes out after a chemistry experiment gone bad, he wakes up in a strange parallel world, where everyone has huge eyes and tiny ears, and is addicted to smartphones called "binkies." Patrick thinks it's all a weird dream, but he's about to wake up to an adventure beyond his wildest imagination. Meanwhile, a huge rabbit-like creature named Mr. BunBun is roaming through Patrick's hometown, leaving a trail of chaos behind it. Its mission? To save Earth from imminent doom. See what happens when the fate of three worlds lies in the hands of one boy and one gigantic bunny.

THOUGHTS: This book is billed as the middle grade Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. PGLBOE is funny, wild, weird, thought-provoking, confusing, and silly. Chapters alternate between worlds, which helps keep the action flowing. There are serious themes - overreaching of government, for one - interspersed throughout much silliness. A great example of this silliness is that the worst thing Patrick learns on Ith (the parallel world) is that everyone - 12 YEAR OLD BOYS INCLUDED! - wears makeup. This story definitely has a niche audience - that kid who loves to read (it's about 400 pages long), loves sci-fi, is quirky, likes laughing, and has a vivid imagination. We all know some of these, and GET THEM THIS BOOK! Unfortunately, it totally does not have an ending, which some kids (and librarians, cough cough) might find a little frustrating. Guess they'll have to wait for the sequel!

CARTWHEEL BOOK NOMINEE?: Not even close. I think a lot of my kids would be bailing within the first 50-100 pages, when the serious weirdness sets in. But I will definitely recommend it to the kids who I think will love it, of course.

Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts (by Esta Spalding)

Publication Date: May 2016
    

SYNOPSIS: Meet the Fitzgerald-Trouts, a band of four loosely related children living together in a lush tropical island. They take care of themselves. They sleep in their car, bathe in the ocean, eat fish they catch and fruit they pick, and can drive anywhere they need to go--to the school, the laundromat, or the drive-in. If they put their minds to it, the Fitzgerald-Trouts can do anything. Even, they hope, find a real home. 

THOUGHTS: A really fun story about a family of kids, ranging in age from 5-11, who are living on their own because their parents are either missing or "terribly busy". (These parents belong in a Roald Dahl story.) A lot of the story is told tongue-in-cheek, such as my favorite line: "[she] took to driving with ease - as most children would if their parents would ever let them try." Each of the characters' personalities is relatable, and I definitely know kids who fit the mold of each of the four siblings. It's one of those books where the kids know better than the adults, and I think many children will enjoy it. Font size and content lend themselves to reluctant readers. The artwork inside the book (it was an arc) was not ready yet, but if the cover is any indication, they will certainly add a considerable amount to the story, as this is a story that begs to be illustrated. And they got a great one in Sydney Smith, well known for Sidewalk Flowers. Also it is a good read aloud, for sure.

CARTWHEEL BOOK NOMINEE?: It's not a definite, but a definite consideration. 

The Drake Equation (by Bart King)

Publication Date: May 2016
      

SYNOPSIS: Noah Grow is a bird-watcher. If you're picturing some kid in a big floppy hat, peering up into trees through giant binoculars . . . well, good job. That's exactly what he does. Right now, Noah is on a quest to find a wood duck. According to his calculations, aka the Drake Equation, the odds are good-really good-for spotting one. That's why he gets off the bus at the wrong stop. And that's how he ends up running down a hill, crashing into a fence, and landing right next to a strange, glittery disk. Noah and his best friends, Jason and Jenny, soon discover that the mysterious disk is, well, mysterious. It gives Noah peculiar powers. As things go from odd to outrageous, Noah is swept up in a storm of intergalactic intrigue and middle-school mayhem. There's much more at stake than Noah realizes.

THOUGHTS: I liked this story, especially the first 3/4 of it (then it lost me a bit). The main character, Noah, loves bird-watching and that plays a sizable part in the story, but do not think the book will be boring (you non bird-watchers). Silly, yes. At times, thought-provoking. But not boring. As an adult, though, I am not the target audience; nine to 12 year olds are, and I think a good amount of them will really like this story. After reading it, I already can think of some kids who will really enjoy it and I am looking forward to recommending it to them. The author is a middle school teacher and he really gets the way kids talk to each other - especially boys. The witty dialogue is my favorite part of the book. There is also a subplot that includes Jenny, Jenny's mom, and a scar on Noah's arm that adds some depth to the story. I was nervous that the conclusion was going to get a little heavy-handed, but the author veered away (thankfully). And look out for a sequel!

CARTWHEEL AWARD NOMINEE?: I would say probably not. I think it's a fun story but I think it falls a touch short in the writing quality/ popularity combo. At worst, though, it will be an easy book to book talk.

The Big Dark (by Rodman Philbrick)


Publication Date: January 2016
 


SYNOPSIS: What would you do if every spark of electricity suddenly vanished, as if somebody had flipped a switch on the entire planet? Cars won't start, the heat shuts off, there's no water in your faucet, and your radio, TV, and flashlight go dark. Everyone in Charlie's small town is baffled. But as time passes, lawlessness erupts and takes an ugly turn. When the market and pharmacy are torched by an anti-Semitic arsonist, Charlie realizes his mother will die without her medicine. So he dons skis and heads off alone, seeking the nearest hospital. After traveling fifty miles through brutal ice and snow, Charlie encounters a burned-out, looted city of terrified citizens. Will he be able to save his mom?

THOUGHTS: This is Life as We Knew It for middle grade and from a very good author. Really interesting and accessible for the kids. I think most kids would really like it. There is talk of dead people and the main character sees some dead bodies but there really are not descriptions of it. I think it's in the 9-11 year old wheelhouse. There is not much a whole lot to scare the sensitive kids - although, in fairness, I guess the event in itself is scary, as it takes away security, as do the loonies with the guns. But as far as survival stories go, the action/scares are tame. I should also note that since I know next to nothing about science, I took the science in this book at face value. I have since seen some thoughts that the science in this story is skewed, which doesn't bother me much because I am not a scientist. And guess what? Most kids aren't scientists either. Have a willing suspension of disbelief, if you must, and have fun reading this quick read.

CARTWHEEL AWARD NOMINEE?: I think so. A good survival/adventure story is not easy to come by, especially one this simple. 

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain (by John Boyne)


Publication Date: June 2016
      

SYNOPSIS: When Pierrot becomes an orphan, he must leave his home in Paris for a new life with his Aunt Beatrix, a servant in a wealthy household at the top of the German mountains. But this is no ordinary time, for it is 1935 and the Second World War is fast approaching; and this is no ordinary house, for this is the Berghof, the home of Adolf Hitler.

THOUGHTS: This book is one of the best books I have read in ages. The harsh realities of Nazi Germany during (and before) World War 2 are told through the experiences of a rather unlikable and naive French boy who, under the wing of Hitler himself, becomes a Hitler Youth. John Boyne took a chance telling this story from the perspective of a boy who turns remarkably unlikable but it paid off. Here's the reason, I think: given the circumstances and considering that he is an impressionable young boy, I'm not so sure that many of us wouldn't have made similar decisions to Pierrot/Pieter in a similar situation. The story is intense and sad, but has an awesome final line which ends the story with a totally different description: hopeful. Definitely more for middle school-age and up. The writing is accessible enough, but the content is mature, including an attempted rape (not detailed at all). This story would best be appreciated by adults and mature middle school+ history fans who have previous knowledge of Hitler and his actions.

CARTWHEEL AWARD NOMINEE?: This book would be way above a lot of my committee members' heads, content-wise. I might recommend it to some of my older kids on the side. If I was a middle school teacher, though, I would be jumping on this book. Like legit jumping. Unless it was a library book, of course, in which case I would treat it nicely.

The Seventh Wish (by Kate Messner)


Publication Date: June 2016
                  

SYNOPSIS: One day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything - a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom. Charlie can't believe her luck but soon realizes that this fish has a very odd way of granting wishes as even her best intentions go awry. But when her family faces a challenge bigger than any they've ever experienced, Charlie wonders if some things might be too important to risk on a wish fish.

THOUGHTS: Kate Messner gets it. She knows her audience very well, and has delivered yet again. Much like All the AnswersThe Seventh Wish places an element of fantasy into a real world: this time, a wish-giving fish! Sounds awesome, and it will definitely make kids wonder what they might wish for given a similar situation. But real life intervenes for Charlie, and in a big (and sometimes uncomfortable) way. She grapples with selfish thoughts ("why is nobody paying attention to me?") like many of us do, but ultimately knows what the right thing to do is. This book definitely has more girl appeal (lots of dance dress talk), but boys will enjoy it too.

CARTWHEEL AWARD NOMINEE?: I'd be surprised if it wasn't. All the Answers was a semi-popular pick among committee members last year, and I think The Seventh Wish is a better book.