Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Dahl, Roald. Fantastic Mr. Fox. New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1998. 81 pages. $15.95 ISBN 0-375-82207-0

Plot Summary: Brother farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean work together to try to get rid of the fox family, among other animals. But the animals have plans of their own to keep their homes intact.

Critical Evaluation: The book is quirky, and creative. It's a good insight into how the animals would feel about having their homes invaded and being driving out. Roald Dahl's style is unique and somewhat goofy, which makes it an easier read.

Reader's Annotation: Mr. Fox is fantastic, and certainly has a fantastic plan to get the farmers off their backs.

Author Bio: Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales in 1916. He served in the Royal Air Force during WWII and later worked for Shell Petroleum Company. In 1953, Roald married Patricia Neal and had five children. He published several children's books as well as very different pieces in American magazines.

Genre: Fantasy

Curriculum Ties: Roald Dahl books should be on at least one reading list through out a child's education.

Booktalking Ideas: With the movie coming out soon, it would be beneficial to use the book and movie to promote one another. Talk about how the book is always better than the movie.

Reading Level/Interest Age: Ages 7-13

Challenges: None.

Reason for including: When I was younger I enjoyed Roald Dahl books and decided to reread this one in honor of the movie coming out.

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

Slade, Arthur. The Hunchback Assignments. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009. 278 pg. $15.99 ISBN 978-0-385-73784-5

Plot Summary: Modo is not what one would normally consider a beautiful boy. He has a hunched back and slightly deformed face. But, he is special. Modo has the ability to morph his features and body into another human form, although this transformation only lasts a few hours at most. Saved from a traveling circus as a baby by Mr. Socrates , Modo was kept secret in a country estate where he learned everything from fighting to Latin. Unexpectedly, Mr. Socrates, abandons Modo in the middle of London where he is forced to make his own way. Little does he know that the series of events that follow, including his meeting with Octavia Milkweed , are all linked. Meanwhile, some sinister machines and an army of potion altered children are being created in the bowels of London.

Critical Evaluation:

Reader's Annotation: Modo, a hunchback with special powers, becomes the entangled in a war between his guarding Mr. Socrates and the evil Clockwork Guild.

Author Bio:

Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Alternate Reality, Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Booktalking Ideas:

Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 6-10, ages 12 and up

Challenges:

Reason for including: I am a big fan of steampunk literature and anytime steampunk is written for tweens or teens I read it. I was waiting for this book to come out and checked it out from the library as soon as it became available.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book.

Plot Summary: The Graveyard Book follows a boy whose family is murdered and somehow ends up tottering into a graveyard. The baby is taken in and protected by the ghosts in the graveyard, which gives him special abilities like fading through solid objects and disappearing. The ghosts give him the name Nobody Owens, but mostly he goes by Bod. Bod's life is chronicled from toddlerhood to young adulthood and the eccentricity of family and love. Nobody is faced with the perils of living among the living and being sought after by a serial killer.

Critical Evaluation: This book is among my favorites. Gaiman's descriptions are so detailed and imaginative. The characters are creative and diverse, especially with many of the characters spanning centuries. The illustrations accent the story nicely by adding to the text not over powering it. The story, a ghostly adaptation of The Jungle Book, will appeal to both children and adults.

Reader's Annotation: Nobody Owens lives under the protection of the town graveyard after the murder of his family.

Author Bio: Neil Gaiman is a British author of many graphic novels, adult fiction, young adult fiction, children's books and even a biography. He has collaborated with many artists on his projects and had major parts in the production of his book to movie projects. He lives just outside of Minneapolis, MN and has three children, Michael, Holly and Maddy.

Genre: Fantasy

Curriculum Ties: A good pick when talking about Newbery award winners.

Booktalking Ideas: Talk about how life would be like if you were raised by ghosts in a graveyard.

Reading Level/Interest Age: Ages 10 and up

Challenges: The fact that the first scene follows "the man Jack" in his murder of Nobody's parents and sister may cause alarm among some parents. Also the fact that Nobody is raised by ghosts in a graveyard could be a concern.

Reason for including: It was an assigned book, but as a previous Gaiman fan I would probably have included it anyway.

The Loud Silence of Francine Green by Karen Cushman

Cushman, Karen. The Loud Silence of Francine Green. New York: Clarion Books, 2006. 225 pages. $16.00 ISBN 9780618504558

Plot Summary: When Francine Green becomes friends with vivacious Sophie Bowman, Francine's life begins to change. The girls talk about everything from the atom bomb, free speech, whether God exists, to movie stars and school. Francine learns that she does have an opinion and it does count.

Critical Evaluation: This is an interesting book about post-WWII America when it was dangerous to be heard talking about certain things. The transformation of Francine is apparent throughout the book and encouraging for girls who feel like their opinion on the important things in life doesn't matter.

Reader's Annotation: When Francine Green befriends Sophie Bowman her whole life changes.

Author Bio: Karen Cushman is the author of several historical fiction novels for tweens. She grew up in Los Angeles, CA but currently lives in Vashar Island, WA with her husband Phil. Karen studied Greek and English at Stanford University, and later earned master's degrees in both human behavior and museum studies.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Could be used during a study of life after WWII.

Booktalking Ideas: Talk about the fear associated with war

Reading Level/Interest Age: 11 and up

Challenges:

Reason for including: Karen Cushman is a great tween writer and I use her for an author study this semester.

Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman

Cushman, Karen. Matilda Bone. New York: Clarion Books, 2000. 176 pages. $6.50 ISBN 9780440418221

Plot Summary: Matilda is sent to live and work with a village bonesetter while her master and priest is off on official church business. Matilda is a devout Christian who has some serious issues with the way the bonesetter lives her life. As time with the bonesetter wears on, Matilda sees that the way she lives isn't necessarily better than everyone else.

Critical Evaluation: This short book is a somewhat humorous glimpse into the life of a medieval saint-wanna-be. Matilda's mental conversations with the saints are hilarious.

Reader's Annotation: Devout Matilda is sent to live and work with a village bonesetter, much to her dismay.

Author Bio: Karen Cushman is the author of several historical fiction novels for tweens. She grew up in Los Angeles, CA but currently lives in Vashar Island, WA with her husband Phil. Karen studied Greek and English at Stanford University, and later earned master's degrees in both human behavior and museum studies.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Would be good to use during a medieval history study.

Booktalking Ideas: Talk about medieval medical practices and what it would be like to work for a bonesetter.

Reading Level/Interest Age: Ages 9-14

Challenges: None

Reason for including: I love Karen Cushman, and this book is one of my favorites of hers.

Rodzina by Karen Cushman

Cushman, Karen. Rodzina. New York: Clarion Books, 2003. 215 pages. $16.00 ISBN 9780618133512

Plot Summary: Rodzina is sent on an orphan train headed west from Chicago. She is terrified that she will end up a slave and even frees herself from a forced marriage on the trip west. The uncertainty of her future weighs heavily on her mind, but slowly she sees happy marriages and kids being welcomed into loving homes and it gives her hope.

Critical Evaluation: This was a very interesting book as I had no previous knowledge of the orphan trains in the 19th century. It is a compelling story and as usual her extensive research and note at the end suggest the accuracy of the events detailed in the book.

Reader's Annotation: Rodzina leaves Chicago on an orphan train headed west, sure she will end up as a slave.

Author Bio: Karen Cushman is the author of several historical fiction novels for tweens. She grew up in Los Angeles, CA but currently lives in Vashar Island, WA with her husband Phil. Karen studied Greek and English at Stanford University, and later earned master's degrees in both human behavior and museum studies.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties: This would be good to pair with 19th century American history.

Booktalking Ideas: Talk about what it would be like to take a train ride all on your own not really knowing where you're going.

Reading Level/Interest Age: Ages 10-14

Challenges: None.

Reason for including: Karen Cushman is one of my favorite tween authors and I used her in my author study.

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman

Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. New York: Clarion Books, 1996. 218 pages $5.99 ISBN 9780064406840

Plot Summary: Lucy and her family head west for the gold rush. They don't find much and soon Lucy escapes to the shelter of her books she loves so well.

Critical Evaluation: The story of California Morning is quite an interesting book because it is from the point of view of not only a woman in a California gold mining town, but sees the other side of the life during the California gold rush.

Reader's Annotation: California Morning doesn't want to move to California, and when she gets there she certainly doesn't want to be named California any more.

Author Bio: Karen Cushman is the author of several historical fiction novels for tweens. She grew up in Los Angeles, CA but currently lives in Vashar Island, WA with her husband Phil. Karen studied Greek and English at Stanford University, and later earned master's degrees in both human behavior and museum studies.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties: This would be a good tie in to a study about the California gold rush.

Booktalking Ideas: Talk about the risks involved in moving out west to pan for gold.

Reading Level/Interest Age: Ages 9-13

Challenges: None.

Reason for including: Karen Cushman is one of my favorite tween authors.