Al Capone Does My Shirts

Al Capone Does My Shirts
by Gennifer Choldenko

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004







Genre:  Historical fiction, Humor

Honors:  Newbery Honor, Sid Fleischman Award, CBC-NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, ALA Notable Book, ALA Notable Recording, American Literacy Corporation Literary Choice Award, Best Book for Young Adults, Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year, Book Sense Pick of the List, California Library Association Beatty Award, California Library Association Focal Award, Capital Choices Noteworthy Books for Children,Chicago Public Library Best of the Best, Children’s Book of the Month Selection, Children’s Bookseller’s Award— Favorite Novel of the Year, CUFFIE'S Best Title of the Year, Junior Library Guild Selection, Keystone State Reading Association YA Book Award, Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, Northern California Book Award, Parents' Choice Silver Medal, Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Special Needs Award (UK), VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, YALSA Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults

Review:  Moose and his family move to the notorious Alcatraz Island after his father gets a job as a jailer and electrician. They moved to the island because it was close to a specialized school for children with mental disabilities, something his older sister Natalie needed to attend. Moving to Alcatraz was the last thing Moose had wanted, especially after he meets the mischievous Piper, and Natalie's school refuses to admit her. However, his attitude towards life on Alcatraz changes as his relationship with Piper and his autistic sister Natalie change.

Opinion:  Originally, I picked up this book as a humor piece that I saw the title on the Sid Fleischman Award website in order to round out the genres for this assignment. Although humor was not the focus of the story, I found the plot to be deep and insightful that was interspersed with humor, which I absolutely loved. Additionally, the ending couldn't have been more perfect!

Ideas:  This book would work great for students learning about the history of Alcatraz, to help understand some of what life might have been like for children living on the same island as the inmates. Another idea would be to create a book display of Alcatraz related fiction and non-fiction.  

      

Questors

Questors
by Joan Lennon

Margaret K McElderry Books, 2007







Genre:  Science Fiction, Fantasy

Honors:  None known

Review:  Madlen, Bryn, and Cam, are taken suddenly from their homes and worlds that they've known for more than a decade, and brought to a magical building that houses the space/time continuum to meet their true mother. However, their arrival is somewhat a surprise, as they weren't expected for another decade. Soon the three siblings are thrown into a quest they were born to complete, each required to retrieve a magical object from the world they grew up on in order to restore balance to the tri-world universe.

Opinion:  I really enjoyed the creativity of the author in the way she formed an imaginative and interesting story, and specifically liked the more complex non-linear aspects of the plot. However, I wish the topic of the children's true parents was discussed further, to round out that aspect of the story.

Ideas:  I think I'd like to include this book on a list of items that deal with synchronous science fictional worlds, such as Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. Another idea might be as a recommendation for someone looking for a book that deals with children who just become aware of their familial relationship.

Wii Family Game Night 3

Hasbro Family Game Night 3
by Electronic Arts

Nintendo Wii, 2010







Genre:  Video Games, Board Game

Honors:  None known

Review:  This Family Game Night is third in a series of classic board games that have come to life in the video game platforms of Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, and XBox 360. All versions include The Game of Life, Yahtzee, Clue, Twister, and Mouse Trap. The Wii allows for up to four players per game, and a classic and remixed version for each one. There is a theme park setting, as well as personalized Nintendo Mii characters for use in the games.

Opinion:  My kids rented this game for a week and had loads of fun. I enjoyed watching them play, as well as playing with them - especially because I used to play these games as a child myself. The Wii platform is a lot of fun, and perfect for tweens.

Ideas:  Due to the popularity of video games, and the Wii in particular, this would work perfectly in a library program for tweens with video games as the focus. It would also do well as part of a suggestion list for parents looking for wholesome video games for their kids.

    

The Crying Rocks

The Crying Rocks
by Janet Taylor Lisle

Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003







Genre:  Realistic fiction, Indian stories, Mystery

Honors:  New York Public  Library Books for the Teen Age, Best Books for Young Adults nominee, VOYA Perfect Ten

Review:  Joelle knows nothing of her life before she was adopted by Aunt Mary Louise and Vernon, although she's always wondered about her past and her parents. Recently Joelle has befriended Carlos who teaches her about a local Indian tribe that used to live in the forest area of their town. When Joelle learns about this tribe, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to their history and their sad legend surrounding the eerie 'crying rocks'.

Opinion:  Although at times I was put off by the main characters' sudden temper bouts, overall I enjoyed the plot and the mystery surrounding her background. What really fascinated me was the historical aspect of the Narragansett Indians and their surrounding legends.

Ideas:  As this book is about a real Indian tribe, the Narragansett Indians from Rhode Island, it would work well on a display with items about different American-Indians.This book would also be perfect for a class history curriculum on American-Indians.

     

Judy Moody

Judy Moody
by Megan McDonald
illustrated by Peter Reynolds

Candlewick Press, 2000




Genre:  Realistic fiction, Humor

Honors:  ALA Notable Children's Book, New York Public Library 100 Best Children's Books of the Year, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

Review:  Judy is starting third grade and is in one of her sour moods because she's sure she'll sit next to gross Frank Pearl instead of her best friend Rocky. To make Judy's mood even worse, not only does her premonition come true but Frank invites her to his birthday party at his house. Judy and her classmates have to complete a special 'me' collage assignment. It's through this assignment that Judy learns a lot about herself, her friends, and her family, all alongside her constant change of moods.

Opinion:  Although I was perturbed by Judy's bad mood at the start of the book, I realized that this was simply an introduction to the many moods of the main character. I thought that the author did a brilliant job of developing Judy and her showing the audience her growth throughout the plot, as well as incorporating fantastic humor seamlessly.

Ideas:  This would be a great book for a reluctant girl tween reader, as it's short, has a linear plot, and is riddled with humorous incidents. Also, it would work well as a Judy Moody display to celebrate ten years of Judy Moody's and their new series reprinted covers.
  
      

The Kid Who Only Hit Homers

The Kid Who Only Hit Homers
by Matt Christopher

Norwood House Press, 1972







Genre:  Sport stories, Fiction

Honors:  None known

Review:  Sylvester Coddmeyer III absolutely loves baseball, practically living and breathing the sport. Although he also loves to play baseball as well, he isn't very good at it. This all changes when he meets a stranger who offers to give him some tips. Mr. George Baruth helps Sylvester become such a good player that his coach puts him in the coveted fourth spot at bat, the cleanup spot. However, Sylvester wonders how long his luck in playing baseball will last.

Opinion:  I found that this book was a little sophisticated in it's 'baseball-speak', which would appeal to those who love the sport, but it was a little over the top for me. In regards to the plot, I thoroughly enjoyed the premise, and enjoyed the idea that the one and only George Herman "Babe" Ruth aka Mr. George Baruth was a large part of the success of the main character.

Ideas:  This is a perfect book for boy tweens who love sports, so I think it would work well on a book list of sport related fiction. Another idea might be to put this book on a display of baseball related items during opening week of the new baseball season.

      

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: the movie

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: The Chronicles of Narnia movie series #3
directed by Michael Apted

20th Century Fox, 2010






Genre:  Adventure, Fantasy

Honors:  Saturn Award nomination, Golden Globe nomination, ALFS nomination, PFCS Award nomination, Young Artist Award nomination

Review:  Lucy and Edmond miss Narnia terribly, especially because they are stuck with their aunt and uncle and annoying cousin Eustace while the rest of their family is in America for the duration of WWII. One day, as the three cousins were looking at a picture that suspiciously reminded them of Narnia, they suddenly find themselves aboard King Caspian's ship The Dawn Treader. An evil has invaded the land, and Caspian's father's seven trusted advisers have been missing along with their magical swords. It's up to the Lucy and Edmond to help save Narnia once again.

Opinion:  This was an excellent movie that was well directed and well produced. The musical background created a perfect fantastic adventure feel to the story, and the great casting of the actors as well as their believable acting added another layer of perfection.

Ideas:  As this movie is a recent release, this DVD would work great on a display with all the CS Lewis Chronicles of Narnia series as well as the three corresponding movies. It would also be perfect on a list of suggested movies for the older set of tweens.