PA Not-Ready-For-Newbery Recommended Fiction Titles 2000

Almond, David. Kit’s Wilderness. New York: Delacorte Press, 2000. 0-385-32665-3. $15.95. Grades 5+.  Elusive ghosts flit through the pages of this Michael L. Printz award book just as they flit through the abandoned English coal mine where Kit Watson and his friends play a game called "Death." Readers may want to know more about Silky, the boy (now a ghost) killed in a tragic mine accident in 1821, but Silky and the other ghost children remain just beyond our grasp. Instead, the action centers on Kit Watson, a budding writer, and his literal and figurative rescue of schoolmate artist, John Askew, from a death of despair and hopelessness. Even as he saves John’s life, Kit realizes that although his beloved grandfather has died, he will still live on inside of Kit and future generations. Almond divides the book into three parts, appropriately titled "Autumn", "Winter", and "Spring", using the seasons to emphasize life, death and rebirth. The northern English setting amid abandoned coalmines is eerie and palpable, a perfect backdrop for the magical and mystical events that take place. Rosanne Zajko

Anderson, Lori Halse. Fever 1793. Simon and Schuster, 2000. 0-689-83858-1$16.00 Grades 5-11.  It's summer in Philadelphia, 1973. Fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook serves coffee at the family coffeehouse run by her widowed mother and her grandfather. But down near the mosquito-infested docks, people are falling ill and dying. In three months the yellow fever epidemic will wipe out 10 per cent of Philadelphia's population. Mattie's fear and sufferings change her life and lead her to new growth and a resourcefulness that affect all those around her. Anderson (the author of Speak) presents historical fiction that is well researched and dramatically told. It will completely engage young women with its compelling story and local flavor. Joyce Valenza

Alphin, Elaine Marie. Counterfeit Son. Harcourt, Inc., 2000. 0-15-202645-2. $17.00. Grades 8+  After his pedophiliac father is killed by the police, Cameron Miller assumes the identity of one of the victims. The family seems to accept him with the exception of a sister and a police detective. Will he be exposed? Will the appearance of his father’s accomplice jeopardize his new life? The twists and turns of this thriller will make this novel hard to keep on the shelf. Great for reluctant readers! Donna Darmofal

Anthony, Piers. Xone of Contention. Tor Books, 1999. 0-312-86691-7. $24.95. Grade 9+.  23rd in the Xanth series. Pokes fun at the Internet, Microsoft, and technology in general, as Earthlings Pia and Edsel trade places with Xanth’s Nimby and Chlorine to save Xanth’s forests from destruction. Replete with Anthony’s usual Xanth double entendres and puns (MacroHard’s new Doors program that no one can understand), this is a delightful sci fi/fantasy. Just as much fun (maybe more) than its predecessors. Pat Naismith

Antle, Nancy. Playing Solitaire. New York: Dial Books, 2000. 0-8037-2406-3. $16.99. Grades 7-9  Life weighs heavily on the shoulders of fourteen-year-old Ellie who lives with her grandfather. Her mother is dead from brain cancer. Her grandmother is in a nursing home as the result of an automobile accident. And the police want her father for having attacked her with his hunting knife. Ellie becomes more reclusive every day, relying on the card game solitaire to help her to escape reality. Tension builds as Ellie suspects that her father is stalking her, trying to make contact. When justice is served, in a surprising manner, Ellie realizes that she doesn't need to live a solitary existence any longer. A lot of suspense is packed in this slim (103 pages) volume. Elizabeth McChesney

Playing Solitaire is about a girl who has lost her mother. Her dad is always drunk so she lives with her grandfather. Her grandmother is in a nursing home because she is mentally ill, not quite right since she was in a bad car accident. Ellie always plays solitaire to escape the world and to think. She lives in fear that her dad will come back and that fear becomes a reality with one phone call. Though the story is depressing, Ellie's grandmother, who is quite the character, eases some of the tension in the book. Rebecca H. Grade 9 Greenville High School

Appelt, Kathi. Kissing Tennessee and Other Stories from the Stardust Dance. New York: Harcourt, 2000.0-15-202249-x. $15.00. Grades 7 +. Tonight is the eighth grade graduation dance at Dogwood Junior High. During this magical night, stories of several of the students unfold. Each story in this collection is a unique tale of adolescence. Mary Sarah wears lipstick and therefore, must face the wrath of her fundamentalist father. Cub Turner is confused by his feelings for Trent Jones. Becca’s life is changed by date rape. These weighty, but timely issues are used to create an enjoyable and memorable read. Leslie Mastronardo

Atkins, Catherine. When Jeff Comes Home. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999. 0-399-23366-0. $17.99. Grades 10-12. (Mature Students)  This intense book is the story of Jeff Hart, a teenaged boy who was kidnapped and held for two and a half years by a mad man. The story starts out with the kidnapping, and then skips to the time two and a half years later when Jeff has been released and is returned home. Although it is not explicitly stated that the kidnapper sexually molested Jeff, it is apparent to the reader that this has happened, despite Jeff's consistent denial to himself and others. The theme of the story is the difficulty that Jeff has in suddenly being returned to his "normal" life after the bizarre events that he has experienced. Common everyday situations and events with his family, friends and school trigger Jeff's sorrow, anger, denial, and deep hurt. With the help of his father and the F.B.I. agent assigned to his case, he eventually finds his way toward an emotional resolution, but the reader knows that Jeff and others like him in real life will never be the same. Nancy Chrismer

Avila, Vernon. Smokescreen:A Novel of Medical Intrigue. Penmarin Books,2000.1-883955-29-7.$23.95. Grades 10+.  Students who have read Robin Cook or Michael Crichton will enjoy this book. The main character is a Latino neuroscientist who does research in molecular genetics involves him in a plot to incapacitate the President of the United States. His life also involves his love of two women. The many twists and turns that lead to an exciting climax will appeal to all mystery lovers. Donna Darmofal

Baldacci, David. Wish you well. Warner Books, 2000. 0-446-52716-5 $24.95 Grades 9+.  The story of two children who moved from New York City to live with their great grand mother in the mountains of Virginia during the 1940s. The story contains detailed, vivid description of the characters, life, and the mountains of Virginia. It is quite a change from Baldacci’s regular thriller genre. Recommended Margaret Goodlin

Barr, Nevada. Deep South. G.P.Putnam’s Sons,2000. 0-399-14586-9. $23.95. Grades 10+  In this eighth Anna Pigeon mystery set in Mississippi; Anna , a park ranger, sets out to solve the mysterious death of a prom queen. There are plenty of suspects and many motives. She meets many colorful characters in this small town who resent her authority. Mystery lovers will love this action packed thriller. Donna Darmofal

Barrett, Neal, Jr. Perpetuity Blues and Other Stories. Golden Gryphon Press, 2000. 0-9655901-3-3. $21.95. Gr. 9+.  The deep South meets Outer Space. Although this sounds like an improbable combination for a successful collection of short stories, it works like magic! Zany characters, off-beat humor and just a touch of the bizarre make this a short story collection you can’t put down. Some adult themes (ie. a pedophile in the title story) gear this towards older readers. Includes excerpts from the author’s novel, The Hereafter Gang (1991). Pat Naismith

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. A Coal Miner’s Bride: the Diary of Anetka Kaminska. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2000. 0-439-05386-2. $10.95 Gr 4-7.  Fourteen-year-old Anetka Kaminska’s father who has come to work as a miner in Pennsylvania in the late 1890’s arranges for her and her brother to come over from Poland by promising her as a bride to a widowed miner. Life in the mining communities is difficult, especially for the immigrants. Prejudice, bad working conditions, and cruel bosses abound. Anetka takes on the challenge of a stepmother and housekeeper in a loveless marriage. This book is especially valuable to Pennsylvania students as it give insight into the plight of immigrants, the mining life and the formation of unions. Bartoletti who has written Growing Up in Coal Country has carefully researched this story. She weaves historical incidents and facts into a very compelling story. The end historical note at the end is an excellent resource. Jeannie Bellavance

Bauer, Cat. Harley, Like a Person. Winslow Press, 2000. 1-890817-48-1. $16.95. Grades 9+  Fourteen year old Harley Columba is certain she is adopted and not the child of an alcoholic father and a weak mother. Because she has blue eyes while both parents and her siblings have brown lead her to search for her real parents. She encounters many clues that lead her to New York City. This book contains everything young adults are interested in; secrets, love, sex, school crisis’s, drug and alcohol abuse. Students will easily identify with the realistic characters and recommend this book to their peers. Donna Darmofal

Bauer, Joan. Hope Was Here. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2000. 186 pgs. 0-399-23142-0. $16.99. Grades 7+. Hope has had more tough times than most teenagers, but she has something she does well — waitressing — and someone who loves her — her aunt — and the rest of making a life for herself she knows is up to her. This is a book both matter-of-fact and uplifting. It is a book to empower teens, both personally and politically. It is also a darn good read, filled with bits of reality-based wisdom that stay with you. Order this one for your kids, but read it yourself, too. Pam Kavanaugh

Beaverson, Aiden. The Hidden Arrow of Maether. New York: Delacorte Press, 2000. 177 pgs. 0-38532750-1. $14.95. Grades 5+.  This book is the classic good vs. evil story, yet as fresh as they come. Beaverson has created characters that are compelling, even if one is an evil stepfather, and has also imagined two brand new and yet resonant religions in conflict. Readers of fantasy will be easily drawn in, and lovers of horror and such darker genres will also enjoy this book. It is short, at 177 pages, and a quick and entertaining read. Pam Kavanaugh

The Hidden Arrow of Maether  Linn was brave to leave her mean stepfather and travel to the City of Trees. When she arrived with the mark of an arrow on the palm of her hand, which she received from a whipping from her stepfather, the Lysefolk wanted her to prove she had the gift of the Great One. This was a book I could not put down. Student at Springfield Twp HS

Bell, Hilari. Songs of Power. New York. Hyperion, 2000. 0786805617. $15.99. Grades 5-8.  Annis prefers to be known as Imina, her Inuit shaman name, but feels that she doesn’t yet deserve the honor because of her inexperience. She soon has the opportunity to practice and hone her magic skills as she attempts to discover who is sabotaging the underwater habitat where she lives. Set in the future, where the world’s food supply has been infected by terrorists, this mystery/suspense novel follows Annis as she summons the skill and courage to face unknown magic makers to save her community and earn the right to her Inuit name. Rosanne Zajko

Blakely, Mike. Summer of Pearls. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2000. 0-312-8751609. $22.95. Grades 9-12.  Ben grew up in a small town that became big during the pearl rush, when freshwater mussels began to produce an unusually high number of pearls. Many strange things happened when people tried to steal the pearl collector's bag of pearls-including the unexplained death of Judd Kelso. It was Ben who found the body of Judd. For years, no one knew why he died or who killed him. Forty years later he finally finds the truth about what happened that awful night. This would appeal to anyone interested in historically detailed fiction. Rebecca H. Grade 9 Greenville High School

Bowen, Peter. The Stick Game. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2000. $23.95, 0-312-20297-0, Adult.  Set in Montana, this mystery of the disappearance of a teenage boy combined with the discovery of industrial pollution has Gabriel Du Pre searching for answers. The story is told using the local dialect, which adds to the flavor of the tale, but makes the reading difficult. Strong language and candid conversation make this book an adult selection. Constance Roupp

Bruchac, Joseph. Sacajawea. New York: Silver Whistle/Harcourt, 2000. 0-15-202234-1. $17.00. Grades 7-9.  Told in alternating chapters, this excellent historical novel re-creates the journey made by Lewis and Clark to explore the territory between St. Louis and the Pacific Ocean. Sacajawea herself tells this story as if she were telling it to her son. Interspersed between the episodes, William Clark tells the story from his viewpoint. Also included are authentic excerpts from Clark's own journal which he kept during the trip. The incredible challenges and risks of this historic undertaking are made real by the very human way in which both personages tell their stories. The Native American perspective on this event is much-needed and certainly refreshing. Nancy Chrismer

Burgess, Melvin. Kite. New York. Farrar, Straus Giroux, 2000. 0-374-34228-8. $16.00. Grades 5-8.  Taylor Mase lives with his mother and father on Reginald Harris’s English estate in the early 1960’s. Taylor’s father Tom is Harris’s groundskeeper, and is responsible for exterminating much of the wildlife and birds of prey that could pose a threat to the pheasants raised on the estate. Taylor collects rare bird’s eggs and at times helps his father control the "vermin", until he realizes that his father and Harris want to exterminate a rare bird — the endangered red kite. Taylor and his friend Alan capture the kite’s eggs, and raise one of the birds with hopes of setting it free. Unfortunately, freedom for Teresa the Kite occurs during hunting season, as she herself becomes hunted and captured by Harris and Tom. Tom ultimately refuses to follow Harris’s orders to destroy the Teresa, thereby redeeming himself in Taylor’s eyes. Teresa’s capture is almost too painful to read but is in keeping with the book’s theme of protection for endangered animals. Parallels can be drawn between Taylor and Teresa and Palmer and Nipper in Wringer. Rosanne Zajko

Butler, Charles. Timon’s Tide. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1999. $16.00, 0-689-82593-5, Gd. 6-10.  Daniel’s brother, Timon, was killed six years ago. Now Daniel is seeing Timon again. Are these strange meetings real, imagined, or something else? Daniel’s relationship with his mother, aunt, stepfather, and especially his stepsister develop throughout the story. A suspenseful story that keeps the reader guessing. Constance S. Roupp

This book is about a teenage boy, Daniel, overcoming his brother’s death that occurred six years ago. In the book, Daniel also finds out what it is to be a family with his mom, step-dad, Max, stepsister, Ruby and his Aunt Jenkins, who has Alzheimer disease. I enjoyed this book. It is very suspenseful; I couldn’t put it down. Eight grade student, Harlan Rowe Junior High School

Cabot, Meg. The Princess Diaries. New York: HarperCollins, 2000. 0-06-029210-5. $15.89. Grades 7 +.  Mia Thermopolis is a freshman in a private Manhattan academy. She frets about her height, her big feet and her unflattering hairdo. She has never had a date, she's flunking algebra and her only friend is very controlling. Once she discovers that she is heir to the throne of Genovia, a small European country, the most popular senior boy asks her out and everyone wants to sit with her lunch. Her grandmother flies to New York to give her "princess lessons" and her best friend stops speaking to her. Even though her life has changed dramatically, Mia, or Amelia, as her grandmother insists upon calling her, maintains her sense of humor and begins to make some mature decisions when faced with difficulties. Most students will not identify with the privileged students of Albert Einstein Private School, but Mia's character is likeable and her problems, common to most teenage girls. Pat Bender

Cadnum, Michael. The Book of the Lion. New York: Viking, 2000. 0670883867 $ 15.99. Grade 7+.  The tale of Edmund, a young squire, and his experiences with King Richard the Lionhearted in the first crusade to the Holy Lands. The story contains vivid descriptions of the savagery and the brutality of hand-to-hand combat during the 12th century crusades. The descriptions really make you feel like you are there, great historical detail. Young adults who read the book give it five stars out of five. Margaret Goodlin

Cadnum, Michael. The Book of the Lion. New York: Viking, 2000. 0670883867 $ 15.99. Grade 7+.  Edmund is the young apprentice to Otto the moneymaker. In the opening scene Otto is caught for counterfeiting and has his hand loped off by the king’s men. To save himself from the same fate, Edmund agrees to serve as a squire for a Knight about to leave for the Crusades.  Michael Cadnum provides the reader with a realistic accounting of the hardships encountered as the men of Richard the Lionhearted journey to the Holy Land. The squalid living conditions, the brutal fighting and the inhumanity of war are all there. Share this with your World History teachers. Sandra Krieg

Calhoun, Dia. Aria of the Sea. Winslow Press, 2000. 1-890817-25-2 $15.95 Ages 9-12  The story of a young girl trying to fulfill her mother’s last wish, by becoming a famous dancer. The young girl, Cerinthe Gale, is torn between what she wants and what she believes her mother would have wanted for her. It is a story of rivalries (her and another dancer) and career choices. Highly recommended for the younger reader. YA Best Book Margaret Goodlin & Joyce Valenza

Calvert, Patricia. Michael, Wait for Me. New York: Atheneum, 2000. 0- 689-82102-6. $16.00. Grades 6-9.  When Sarah’s sister Kimberlee announces that her boyfriend, Michael, will be spending the summer with their family, Sarah is furious. Michael will be in her room while she is forced to sleep on a cot in Kimberlee’s room. Sarah feels that no one considered her summer plans for sleep overs with friends. Joey, the younger brother, idolizes him from the start. Despite her anger, Sarah warms up to this "turkey" who has ruined her summer. Michael and Sarah become even closer as she teaches him to sail, and he begins to help with the family dog kennel business. As Michael’s tragic secret is revealed and Kimberlee loses interest in him, Sarah learns that love comes in many forms. Leslie Mastronardo

Campbell, Ramsey. Silent Children. A Tom Doherty Associates Book. 2000. 0-312-87056-6. $24.95. Grades 9+.  Hector Woollie loves children so much he kidnaps them from abusive situations and kills them by smothering or if they are particularly noisy, slits their throat. Hector, afraid of being caught, fakes his death and even pulls out his teeth with pliers. Eventually he returns and again has two children. The last few chapters as the boy and girl he has captured try to outwit him and escape will keep the reader on the edge of his seat. This book will appeal to students who love horror stories. Donna Darmofal

Carey, Janet Lee. Molly's Fire. New York: Anthenum Books for Young Readers, 2000. 9-82612-5. $16.00. Grds 5-8.  Set during World War II in a small town in Maine, this novel tells of young Molly's devotion to her father, who is called to duty overseas as a pilot. When the telegram arrives, announcing her father's death, the entire family is in shock. Only Molly believes that her father is still alive. How she hangs onto her belief and endures the pain of his absence makes for an exciting and very emotional story. Joanie Marstiller

Carmody, Isobelle. The Farseekers(The Obernewtyn Chronicles), Book 2. A Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2000. 0-312-86957-6. $23.95. Gr 7+  Anyone who enjoys science fiction and fantasy will enjoy this tale. The saga of Elspeth and her gang of Misfit(children outcast from society because of their psychic abilities) is continued. They must rescue a Misfit destroy ancient deadly weapons. The expedition is filled with unknown dangers. This book will particularly appeal to girls since the hero is a strong female. Donna Darmofal

Carver, Peter, Ed. Close Ups: Best Stories for Teens. Alberta, Canada: Red Deer Press, 2000. 0-88995-200-0. $9.95. Grades 7-12.  Short stories whose main characters are teenagers or young people in the process of growing into adulthood. The authors, Bonnie Blake, Rick Book, Anne Carter, Gillian Chan and others, are not immediately recognizable, but are described as "notable writers for teens." Teens will identify with stories of broken families, dating, friendship, and bullies. Pat Bender

Chevalier, Tracy. Girl with a Pearl Earing. New York: Dutton, 2000. 0-525-94527-X. $21.95. Grades 10-Adult.  The setting is seventeenth century Delft (Holland), a city divided by class. It is in the wealthier part of the city where sixteen-year-old Griet goes to work as a housemaid for Johannes Vermeer’s family. Griet immediately makes a poor impression upon Vermeer’s pregnant, demanding wife, her mother, Maria Thins, and Cornelia, the eldest of the Vermeer children. In contrast to the poor treatment by the Vermeer women, the artist treats her kindly, secretly teaching her to mix paints, and eventually, painting her wearing his wife’s pearl earings. When this attention the well-known Vermeer gives to a poor servant girl becomes public knowledge, it creates much gossip in the marketplace. Griet is forced to leave her job in disgrace, but the mysterious girl in the famous painting endures in the end. Pat Bender

Chevalier, Tracy. Girl with a Pearl Earing. New York: Dutton, 2000. 0-525-94527-X. $21.95. Grades 10-Adult.  This novel was recently named on the American Library Association’s list of the 10 best books of 2001 for young adults. It is an interesting account of Griet, a young woman, who goes to live with Johannes Vermeer, the 17th century Dutch painter, and his family. While working as a young servant girl in this home, Griet is drawn into Vermeer’s studio and begins to mix paints for her employer as he teaches her about color and light in painting. When Vermeer decides to use Griet as a model for his painting, she is frightened by the reaction his family will have to her posing for him and what will happen to her as a result. Interesting aspects of this book are the comparisons of lives of men and women, Protestant and Roman Catholic views of each other and societal differences between the wealthy and poor in 17th century Netherlands. Griet is a believable character in this coming of age novel. One is drawn to her story and to further exploration of the world of Johannes Vermeer. This has been a very popular novel in high schools and with adult reading groups. Peg Kleppinger

Chevalier, Tracy. Girl with a Pearl Earing. New York: Dutton, 2000. 0-525-94527-X. $21.95. Grades 10-Adult.  Chevalier's second book centers around Griet, a teenager living in Holland during the seventeenth century. After an accident injures her tile-painter father, Griet must help the family by going to work as a maid in the family of the famed painter, Johannes Vermeer. Vermeer is quickly captivated by both the beauty and artistic talent of this young maid and soon teaches her how to assist him in mixing his paints. Griet must choose between the affection of her employer and that of a young butcher who proposes marriage. This is a moving and tender story that is full of beautiful imagery and which immediately takes the reader into another fascinating time and place. Susan Mowery

Clement-Davies, David. Fire Bringer. New York: Dutton Books. $19.95. 0-525-46492-1. Gr. 8+  At first I did not know what to expect from a first-time author’s stab at the under-appreciated deer adventure genre. Mr.Clement-Davies has handled his first novel quite well, however. Fire Bringer chronicles the life of Rannoch, a red deer living in the medireview land of Scotia or Scotland. Rannoch is a deer destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy passed down throughout many generations of "Herla," the name the deer use for themselves. The increasingly oppressive Hitler-esque government that rules over his herd causes Rannoch to flee his birthplace to escape the discovery of his unique destiny by Sgorr and his secret police, who serve as the antagonists.

Initially, Fire Bringer seemed overly contrived and melodramatic but after the scene had been set and Rannoch began his journey the novel found its rhythm and the story began to unfold. There was a good collection of interesting characters and even some surprises along the way. For the most part, the plot twists were enough to hold my interest for the entire length of this 498 page novel. All in all, this is an impressive first contribution and we can only look forward to David Clement-Davies next novel, which is in the works. Student from The Haverford School

Conly, Jane Leslie. What Happened on Planet Kid. New York. Henry Holt and Company, 2000. 0-8050-6065-0. $16.95. Grades 5-7.  Planet Kid is not an undiscovered planet, but a secret place where twelve-year old Dawn and her friend Charlotte have created an imaginary world without adults. Planet Kid is actually a rural Virginia farm where Dawn is spending the summer with her aunt and uncle. In Planet Kid, Charlotte is able to escape her abusive father and imagine her perfect future life. Dawn’s attempts to help Charlotte fall on deaf ears, but Dawn doesn’t give up her quest to help Charlotte’s mother and brothers find a safe haven. When Dawn is reunited with her parents after the summer, she comes enlists her parent’s help to offer Charlotte’s mother and brothers a chance at a new life. Rosanne Zajko

Coonts. Stephen. Hong Kong. New York: St. Martin’s, 2000. 0-312-2339-7. $25.95. Grade 10+.  Another Jake Grafton novel finds the protagonist in Hong Kong where he has been sent to find out how deeply the US consul-general is involved in a political money-raising scandal. This book has a bit of everything–CIA operatives who are working to overthrow the Chinese government, British spies working both sides of the revolution, an Admiral who is willing to play fast and loose with his Navy responsibilities, a billionaire computer guru who is financing a revolution in Hong Kong and an Australian newspaperman who is involved in the nefarious plot to overthrow the Chinese government. Add to this combination a group of high-tech robots that can run, swim, fire multiple weapons and still survive and you have a novel that will capture the attention of those who love political thrillers. Students who enjoy political intrigue and lots of action will enjoy this novel. Peg Kleppinger

Crabbe, Richard E. Suspension. New York: Martin's Press, 2000. 436p 0-312-20371-3. $27.95 Grades 11-12.  This is a exciting mystery that revolves around the building of the Brooklyn bridge. It does a wonderful job of showing the life of the people in New York around the late 1880's. Virginia Herring

Creech, Sharon. The Wanderer. HarperCollins Juvenile Books, 2000. 0-06-027730-0. $15.99. Grade 5-10.  Thirteen-year-old Sophie begs her way aboard a sailboat trip from Connecticut to England, accompanied by her adoptive mother's three brothers and two nephews. The story is written as a series of journal entries by Sophie and her cousin Cody. Throughout the journey, in which all endure hardships and learn to rely on one another, there is always the mystery of Sophie’s past and what she is hiding from. Newbery Honor book. A great read. Pat Naismith

Cushman, Karen. Maltida Bone. New York: Clarion, 2000. 0-395-881560. $15.00. Grades 5-8.  Maltilda Bone is similar to the author’s two novels, Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife’s Apprentice and equally as interesting as a heroine from the Middle Ages. Maltilda had grown up in a manor house where she was taught Latin and encouraged to study religion. Abruptly the priest moves to London and she is left in Blood and Bone Alley with Peg the Bonesetter and expected to learn about bonesetting and other healing arts. Maltilda at first clings to the Saints and her learning while thinking herself to be better than those around her. She reluctantly beings to learn about healing from Peg and gradually comes to acknowledge that learning comes in many forms and that she can offer much to people who need help. The book has been carefully researched and there is an excellent Author’s Note at the end of the book discussing the role of physicians in the Middle Ages that students will find fascinating. Peg Kleppinger

Dahl, Roald. Skin. New York: Viking, 2000. 0-670-89184-3. $15.99. Grades 9-12.  Roald Dahl's thirteen short stories, originally written for adults, are reminiscent of author H.H. Munro (Saki). Each tale ends with a surprising twist guaranteed to amuse, shock, or confuse. A murder weapon is eaten. An old man has more than one reason to regret the tattoo of a valuable painting on his back. What goes around truly comes around when a fifteen-carat diamond is stolen. Not to be missed, Skin shows another facet of Dahl's creative talents. Elizabeth McChesney

Danvers, Dennis. The Fourth World. Avon Books, 2000. 0-380-97761-3 $23.00. Grades 10+.  Set in Mexico, cyberreporter Santee St. John witnesses the massacre of Native American farmers. When his company refuses to air the story he becomes disallusioned. He becomes involved with Zapatista supporter Margaret Mayfield and joins the Indians in their Revolution. This book refutes the theory that what is good for big business is good for the world. This entertaining cyberthriller will appeals to students interested in science fiction and social issues. Donna Darmofal

Dessen, Sarah. Dreamland. New York:Viking Press, 2000. 0-670-89122-3. $15.99. Grades 9+.  A well written book that deals realistically with physical abuse among teenagers. When Caitlin’s older perfect sister, Cass, runs away to New York to live with her boyfriend, the whole family is in turmoil. Caitlin finds refuge with Rogerson and discovers his terrible secret. When he becomes abusive, Caitlin tries to hide it from family and friends. Girls will be pulled in by Caitlin’s story and will recommend it to others. Donna Darmofal

Dessen, Sarah. Dreamland. New York:Viking Press, 2000. 0-670-89122-3. $15.99. Grades 9+.  After Caitlin O’Koren’s sister, Cass, runs away without explanation, Caitlin is left to fill in the spaces her sister left behind. Cass had always been the perfect daughter and sister; the daughter which Caitlin’s mother focused a tremendous amount of attention upon. Caitlin joined the cheerleading squad hoping it would separate her from the life Cass had led. She soon realized that joining cheerleading did not separate her from her sister’s choices, but instead, attracted her mother’s attention just as Cass’ activities had. Along with the attention, came great pressure to be the "perfect" daughter that Cass had been and Caitlin begins to buckle under the pressure. Caitlin meets a guy named Rogerson at the same time that her sister begins to renew contact with the family. All of her mother’s attention shifts to the contacts with Cass as Caitlin begins to date Rogerson. Caitlin falls hard for Rogerson, but he soon becomes abusive. Her life begins to unravel quickly and she loses focus on school, cheerleading, and former friends. Hiding the truth becomes much harder until, finally, Rogerson beats Caitlin in front of her home while her parents are throwing a party. Rogerson is arrested and Caitlin is sent to a home where she begins to heal. As she heals, communication with family and friends is restored and Caitlin is on her way to recovery. Dessen’s latest engulfs the reader and becomes more and more climactic as each page is turned. Your heart will break, but the book ends with a very satisfying conclusion. It will be hard to keep this one on your shelves. Karen Hornberger

DiCamillo, Kate. Because of Winn Dixie. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2000. 0-7636-0776-2. $15.99. Grades 5-8.  India Opal Buloni is a lonely child in a new place. Her father, the preacher, is a kind man, but Opal, being ten years old, requires more attention than he is able to give. Opal’s mother abandoned the family which resulted in their move. Now it’s summer, and there’s no school where Opal can meet kids. But one day, she’s in the Winn-Dixie supermarket, and there’s a dog trapped in the produce section, knocking over vegetables and the manager. Opal immediately falls in love with the mangy animal and brings him home to the trailer where she lives with the preacher. She names the dog after the supermarket and theirs is a friendship which eventually affects the entire town. Winn-Dixie fills a void in Opal’s life and their lives intertwine with many others in the town. An endearing story filled with love and hope. Pat Bender

Dietz, Heather, Ed. Newbery Girls: Selections from 15 Newbery Award Winning Books Chosen Especially For Girls by Heather Dietz. New York: Margaret McElderry, 2000. 0-6898-3931-6. $18.00. Grades 4—7.  Great book, just enough of each story to peak an interest in reading the entire book. Strong female characters and role models. Marsha Althouse, Teacher, Sandy Run Middle School

Doucet, Sharon Arms. Fiddle Fever. NY: Clarion, 2000, 166 pp. (includes glossary of Cajun words and introduction to Cajun history). 0-618-04324-1. $15.00. Grades 7-12.  'Nonc Adolphe returns to his Louisiana home at Christmas time and charms the whole town with his Cajun fiddle playing, especially his nephew Felix but definitely not his sister Marie who thinks he is a lazy vagabond. When Mamam (Marie) refuses to allow Felix to learn the fiddle, he secretly begins to make his own from a cigar box, leftover wood, screen wire, and thread for a bow. Papa understands the fire in the blood of a 14 year-old boy, but Mamam's stern and rigid rules are counterproductive and foster rebellion in Felix who only wants to satisfy his love of music. On Mardi Gras Felix jumps aboard the wagon in his homemade costume and mask and plays with the rest of the local musicians. Tipsy, he falls out and breaks his fiddle and collar bone. Felix nonetheless retains his satisfaction and pride in having made his fiddle, and after he tries to run away both he and Mamam realize their mistakes and find a way to compromise. This is a well-written coming-of-age story for all, especially those who enjoy music and Cajun culture. Eleanor Howe

Dowell, Frances O'Roark. Dovey Coe. New York: Anthenum Books for Young Readers, 2000. 0-689-83174-9. $16.00. Grades 6-9.  This is a poignant story of a young girl and her close-knit family living in the hills of North Carolina. When Dovey's sister is courted by Parnell Caraway, the son of the richest family in town, people thought she was the luckiest girl in town. Only Dovey knew the true side of Parnel, and it's not a pretty side. When Parnell's marriage proposal is thwarted, he is out for revenge. Unfortunately, Dovey gets caught up in Parnell's scheme, resulting in tragedy. This combination of humor, warmth, and mystery makes for a wonderful, well-written novel, in the same league as To Kill a Mockingbird. Joanie Marstiller

Erickson, Ben. A Parting Gift. New York: Warner Books, 2000. 0-446-52530-8. $19.95. Grades 8-12.  In this very moving story, Josh Bell, a typical seventeen year-old high school senior, makes friends with an old man for whom his single mother prepares meals-on-wheels in order to add to the limited family finances. The relationship between Josh and 84-year-old William Davis is built slowly as each learns to respect and respond to the other. Emotionally hurting from the absence of a father who doesn't care about him, Josh finds in William a mentor and eventually a valued friend. The intangible gifts that William bestows on Josh are priceless, and the gifts of a listening ear and companionship that Josh gives to William in return are beyond value. From William's stories, Josh learns what is important in life and what is not. The final gift that William gives Josh changes Josh's life forever. The messages in this book are uplifting, beautiful, and not to be missed. Nancy Chrismer

Etchemendy, Nancy. The Power of Un. Chicago: Front Street, 2000. 0-8126-2850-0. $14.95. Grades 4-6.  Gib Finney is amazed when given a device that "undoes" a select amount of the immediate past. When terrible things begin to happen, Gib "undoes" time and learns how seemingly insignificant actions contribute to future events. Eventually, he is able to change the past so that the future does not include his sister’s untimely death. When the "unner" is destroyed, Gib realizes it was his future self that created the device, and time-traveled to bring it to his present day self. Michelle Stone

Etchemendy, Nancy. The Power of Un. Chicago: Front Street, 2000. 0-8126-2850-0. $14.95. Grades 4-6.  Imagine if you had the power to return in time to change a tragic event that had been set in motion by other events. Would you know which event to change? Would changing that event cause other tragedies? If God’s in charge, should you be changing the master plan? These are the questions Gib Finney asks himself as a visitor from the future gives him an "unner", a device that propels him back in time and gives him the opportunity to save his young sister from being hit by a truck and falling into coma with no hope of recovery. Gib’s changing of events has other consequences just as tragic, but he has the opportunity to "do-over" and learn from his mistakes, and to also learn that are some things you just can’t change. The quick pace and easy dialogue segue into philosophical questions about life, fate, and free will that will give middle readers something to think about. Rosanne Zajko

Etchemendy, Nancy. The Power of Un. Chicago: Front Street/Cricket Books. $14.95. 0812628500. Gr. 5-8.  The Power of Un is a story about a young boy named Gib. Gib decides to go to the fair with his dog-loving sister, Roxy and his friend Ash. Gib and Ash go on the rides with Roxy but afterwards Gib and Ash go on a ride by themselves. They leave Roxy at the entrance, but she sees a stray dog and automatically begins chasing after it. She runs into the road and is hit by a car. Gib with his magical machine called the "Unner" can undo events within a certain amount of time. Gib chooses to undo certain hours which saves Roxy. The next time they go to the fair the dog shows up again, but I think I’ll leave the end for you to find out. This book was very good and I recommend it to anyone in grades 5 through 7 and maybe some 8th graders, however, I don’t think a 12th grader would enjoy this book. Nancy Etchemendy is a great writer and I look forward to reading more of her books. Student from The Haverford School

Etchemendy, Nancy. The Power of Un. Chicago: Front Street/Cricket Books, 2000. 0-8126-2850-0. $14.95. Grades 5-9.  With a device called the Unner, middle-schooler Gib Finney is able to erase a mistake in life, much like a computer's "undo" command. This seems like a dream come true, until Gib must face a life changing decision following a fatal car accident. This was an excellent book. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I read it, and showed a real problem that time travelers would face - the desire to change something to the way they want it. Student from Franklin Regional Middle School

Ewing, Lynne. Goddess of the Night. New York: Hyperion, 2000. 0-7868-0653-2. $10.00. Grades 6-10.  Ewing veers from the realistic genre of Drive-By and Party Girl to urban fantasy in the Daughters of the Moon series. Goddess of the Night is book one of the series. In Goddess of the Night, Vanessa has a secret she is keeping from everyone but her best friend. Vanessa has the ability to become invisible. Her best friend has a secret power of her own, she can time travel. Vanessa would like nothing more than to be normal. It is difficult to control her powers and she becomes invisible at very awkward times. Just as much as Vanessa dislikes her powers, her best friend Catty embraces her powers and uses them often, believing it is important to gain control of her powers. What the two do not know is that they are goddesses of the moon and their lives are in danger. As the story progresses, the girls learn of their identity and others like them. It is not long before they both must fight powerful forces of evil. Students who liked Klauss’ The Silver Kiss and Blood and Chocolate and Vande Velde’s Companions of the Night will enjoy this new series. Karen Hornberger

Ewing, Lynne. Goddess of the Night. New York: Hyperion, 2000. 0-7868-0653-2. $10.00. Gr 6-10.  Goddess of the Night is imaginative and adventurous. It brings novels and characters into a whole new perspective. This is the first of the "Daughters of the Moon" series, and is a spectacular introduction. It has so many twists and turns it will leave you completely spellbound. The story is of four teenage girls who live abnormal lives in a normal world. They come together and help each other in their time of need. It is a war between good and evil in the present time, between teenagers. Student from Springfield HS

Farber, Erica and J. R. Sansevere. Circle of Three: Tales of the Nine Charms. New York: Delacorte Press, 2000. 0-385-32613-0. $15.95. Gr 5-9.  This fantasy novel is about Niko, a prince from the past, Aurora, a gypsy from the past, and Walker, a class clown from the future. Niko and Aurora meet, and they manage to run away from the horrible, murderous Dragons, a group of evil knights. When Niko accidentally pulls the hilt off of his sword, they find the Nine Charms in a secret compartment inside. One of the charms is accidentally dropped into a stream and travels to the future, where it is found by Walker, the class clown. This results in his being transported back to Niko and Auroer's time, where he finds himself in a training camp with a harsh captain. How they are mysteriously linked together by an unseen force makes for a captivating and interesting tale of fate, power and high adventure. This novel ends leaving you in great suspense, eager for the sequel to come out. Everyone should read this book! Student from Franklin Regional Middle School

Ferris, Jean. Eight Seconds. Harcourt,2000. 0-15-202367-4 $17.00 Young Adult  On the surface this is a story of spending a summer at rodeo camp, but in reality it is the story of two young men and their discovery that they are gay. It is a story of a young man’s struggle to find himself and deal with the world around him. Margaret Goodlin

Fienberg, Anna. Borrowed Light. New York: Delacorte Press, 1999. 0-385-32758-7. $14.95. Grds 9-12.  Sixteen-year-old Callisto has a constantly grieving mother, a father who doesn't deal in reality, and a five-year-old brother to take care of. She's left to fend for herself when she gets pregnant by her first surfer-dude boyfriend who was never interested in her anyway. Callisto travels deep within herself to figure out what to do. In the end, her decision brings her family together and back to reality while giving her a new chance at love along with a friendship. This book was beautifully written and portrays the life of a young, pregnant girl trying to find her place in the world. Student from Greenville HS

Frank, E.R. Life is Funny. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2000. 0-7894-2634-X $17.95 Grades 10-12.  E.R. Frank beautifully portrays the lives of many teens in her first novel. The novel is comprised of many short stories set in Brooklyn, NY in which different teens are the main focus. Because the teens lives entwine with each other, the characters are mentioned often in multiple stories. The reader learns about the teens through different perspectives. This first time author has a wonderful talent for portraying teens realistically. Not only do the settings come to life, but the way the teens talk and behave is very real. Your readers will not want to put this one down and will want it to continue beyond the final page. Karen Hornberger

Friedman, Robin. How I Survived My Summer Vacation ... And Lived to Tell the Story. Chicago: Front Street/Cricket, 2000, 173 pp. 0-8126-2738-5. $15.95. Grades 7-10.  Jackie Monterey (13) is totally embarrassed by his earthy-crunchy parents who edit and publish offbeat books. He refuses to eat tofu and bran muffins for breakfast and won’t go to Computer Camp. He is determined to write a novel over the summer because his kindergarten teacher once told him he had promise as an author. He makes no progress with his novel but has lots of fun with his buddies Nick and Garus, talks with his friend Mallory, gets a first girl friend, and swims well for the town team under a macho coach. Readers will enjoy Jackie's snappy first sentences for all the novels he starts to write based on the previous day's events. They will also laugh at the teens' adopted personas: a ladies man who faints at sight of his girl, a writer who can't write, and a wimp with a fake British accent who tags after the ladies man but wins his girl in the end. Jackie learns to see people in more than black and white and to succeed by being honest, starting small, making changes, and keeping an open mind. There is lots of good fun in this author’s first novel. Eleanor Howe

Fromm, Pete. How All This Started. New York: Picador, 2000. 0-312-20933-9. $23.00. Grades 10+.  Abilene and Austin Scheer were named after cities in Texas visited by their parents when they were newlyweds. That's how all this started, according to their father. Abilene made quite a name for herself in high school as the only girl to ever make the varsity baseball team. Even then, her unusual behavior hinted at darker times ahead. Austin, at age 14, is a top quality pitcher, but Abilene redshirts him until 10^th grade. During this time, Abilene's manic-depression truly exhibits itself. She disappears for days at a time and almost ruins Austin's arm for good. Their parents spend a lot of time speaking to a professional and worrying about where Abilene is. Austin turns against his parents while trying to help Abilene, whom he adores. A sad story about how mental illness can affect every member of a family. Pat Bender

Gaeddert, LouAnn Bigge. Friends and Enemies. New York: Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-82822-5. $16.00. Grades 5-8.  As the son of a Methodist minister life is difficult enough for fourteen-year-old William. He is expected to be a model citizen in all ways, even if it means attending church service three times on Sunday. Forced to leave his lifelong friends behind after his father is assigned to a new congregation, William is convinced that his first year in high school is going to be exceptionally challenging. He has no idea how challenging when he meets and makes friends with Jim, a Mennonite boy from his class. Just when William thinks that in Jim he has found the same kind of friend as those he left behind, Pearl Harbor is bombed. The intolerance and hatred that is dividing nations threatens to divide William's town, and worse, his friendship with Jim. Carried away by the excitement of patriotism, William has some difficult decisions to make concerning Jim's Mennonite pacifism and his own intolerance of Jim's beliefs. At times emotionally charged, Friends and Enemies provides realistic outcomes to complicated situations. Elizabeth McChesney

Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Loses Control. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000. 0-374-39989-1. $16.00. Grades 5-8.  Just when it appears that Joey Pigza has his life and ADD under control, a summer with his father Carter destroys the progress he has made. Joey’s mother isn’t convinced that a summer with her ex-husband is in Joey’s best interests but she wants Joey to have the opportunity to know the father who has been absent from his life. From the outset, Carter exhibits the same symptoms of ADD as Joey, but unlike Joey, has never been able to live with the disability. Joey soon becomes frightened of the father who drinks too much, who pushes him to the star pitcher on the Little League baseball team, and who flushes his medicated patches down the toilet in an effort to help Joey "tough out" his ADD. In this Newbery Honor book, Gantos presents a sympathetic portrait of a little boy lost between his self-centered grandmother and his out of control father, while at the same time giving voice to a lovable character who is a survivor. Rosanne Zajko

Garden, Nancy. Holly’s Secret. New York: Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2000. 132 pgs. 0-374-33273-8. Grades 4-9.  What is a family, anyway? This delightful little book explores large questions: Who am I? Who do I want to be? What is really important? And "How does it feel to have two gay moms! Pam Kavanaugh

Garfield, Leon. Black Jack. NY: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2000, 197 pp. (first published in 1968). 0-374-30827-6. $18.00. Grades 10-12.  When Bartholomew "Tolly" Dorking (14), a softhearted law-abiding apprentice to a draper, is snatched to baby-sit a viewing, the corpse (Black Jack) rises from the coffin and helps him escape by pushing him out the window. Their adventures together carry them through the slums of London to a traveling circus complete with quack apothecary, a "pretty young thing," and dwarves who intimidate the giant Black Jack. Tolly wants to return to his uncle, the ship captain, but falls in love with Belle and loyally rescues her from chains in the madhouse. This robust, rollicking, and romantic tale has many hilarious episodes but also offers testimony to the power of love to heal and succeed. The memorable and unique assortment of characters illustrates the vicissitudes of life and the need to keep both heart and wits ready. Rich vocabulary and dialect, intricacy of plot, and detailed settings contribute to this Carnegie Medal honor novel of good versus evil and the ability of good character to succeed, if only with the help of fate or the felon Black Jack. Eleanor Howe

George, Jean Craighead. Frightful’s Mountain. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books, 1999. 0-525-46166-3. $15.99. Grades 4+. This is the third book of the trilogy that began in 1959 with My Side of the Mountain (a Newbery Honor Book) and continued with On the Far Side of the Mountain. This book was written in answer to a young fan’s question, "What happened to Frightful?" When Sam Gribley is forced to release his peregrine falcon, Frightful, the story that develops tells of Frightful’s dangerous adventures when she faces DDT, power lines, bird trading criminals and worst of all, life without Sam. Can Frightful survive the dangers and learn to mate, brood chicks and migrate in winter? As Robert Kennedy, Jr. writes in the foreword: "Sam Gribley’s adventures…captured my boyhood imagination, turning me into a lifelong falconer, and helped inspire my career as an environmental lawyer. Every Sam Gribley fan will be enthralled by these, his latest adventures. Frightful’s Mountain was worth the wait." Debbie Beucker, LMS Franklin Regional Sr. HS

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Nory Ryan's Song. New York: Delacorte, 2000. 0-385-32141-4. $15.95. Grades 5-9.  Nory Ryan lives in the poor town of Maidin Bay on the West Coast of Ireland. While her father is away fishing, it's up to Nory to find food for her sister, brother, grandfather and an old sickly woman named Anna. It's the beginning of the Irish potato famine and the people of Ireland are starving. Many owe back rent to their landlords and are forced to give up their livestock. Now that the potatoes are rotting in the fields, there is no choice but to beg for food, or hope to find passage to America. Nory is a strong female character upon whose young shoulders lay the responsibilities of a much older person. Middle school girls, in particular, will sympathize with Nory's problems. Pat Bender & Leslie Mastronardo

Gilbert, Barbara Snow. Paper Trail. Asheville, N.C. Front Street, 2000. 1-886910-44-8. $16.95. Grades 7-10.  As far back as he can remember 15-year-old Walker Morgan and his parents have been members of the anti-government militia group known as The Soldiers of God. But Walker remembers something else: the family’s terrifying but failed attempt to escape the Soldiers when they discover that Walker’s father is an undercover FBI agent who has infiltrated the group. Snow deftly weaves the narrative of the escape and Walker’s recollections growing up in the community with news clippings and actual government reports on militia activities and beliefs to create an unsettling portrait of life in a right wing organization. Rosanne Zajko

Gordon, Noah. The Last Jew. St. Martin’s Press, 2000. 0-312-26504-2 $24.95 Grades 10+  The novel works on several levels. It is a historical fiction about the Middle Ages, the expulsion of the Moors, the Spanish Inquisition, an adventure story and a murder mystery. It is seen through the eyes of a young Jew, that loses his family and religion, while moving around the country trying to stay alive. A good read. Margaret Goodlin

Grove, Vicki. Destiny. New York: G. P. Putnam’s, 2000. 0-399-23449-7. $16.99. Grades 6-9.  Destiny is a girl with three younger siblings and a mother who is out of touch with reality who believes that she will win the lottery and be able to escape poverty. Her mother’s worthless live-in boyfriend, Jack, forces Destiny to go door-to-door selling rotten potatoes in order for the family to survive. Destiny loves art and spends her free time carving creatures out of the potatoes and caring for her brothers and sisters. Her art teacher gets her a job reading to an elderly, former teacher, Mrs. Peck, and Destiny’s world is opened to Greek and Roman mythology when she reads. As she reads to Mrs. Peck, she discovers a terrible family secret about what actually happened to her younger brother, Nathan. Gradually the family will begin to look for answers to their terrible predicament the reader will cheer for them as they begin a new life together. Peg Kleppinger

Gutcheon, Beth. More Than You Know. New York: William Morrow, 2000. 0-688-17403-5 $24.00 Grades 9-12.  Two stories of first love blend together to create More Than You Know. A young girl named Claris, in the era of the Civil War, falls in love. She feels as if she is an alien in a family of energetic, outgoing people. When she meets Danial, she knows instantly that she’s found her true match. Danial is quiet and soft spoken, as she is. Another young girl named Hannah, in the era of the Great Depression, feels abandoned by her father and unloved by her stepmother. She is extremely lonely until she meets Conary. When they meet, she feels like he truly understands her. Claris marries her love only to find that he is moody and very strict. They spend a long, loveless marriage that ends when Danial is murdered in their home. Meanwhile, Hannah and Conary are plagued by a ghost and soon learn of the life of Claris and Danial Haskins and their daughter Sallie. The two become involved in the story of local tragedy as their own love story buds. As Hannah and Conary are haunted by the ghost, the reader will become haunted by the events of both stories and the tragic Karen Hornberger

Haahr, Berit I. The Minstrel’s Tale. New York: Delacorte, 2000. 0-385-32713-7. $15.95 Grades 6-8.  Set in 14th century England, this story tells of 13-year-old Lady Judith of Nesscliff young women whose stepfather has announced her betrothal to a gruff middle-aged man. Judith has no desire to wed at her young age and would much rather pursue her musical talents. So, Judith decides to follow this dream based on information provided by Robin a "King’s Minstrel" whom Judith meets and is enamored with at her betrothal banquet. Judith’s dream can only happen if she disguises herself as a boy "Jude" and escapes from her family to travel to Kent to become, like Robin, a minstrel to King Edward. Many events occur during Jude’s travels and eventual arrival at the castle in Kent. Provides a look at life in the Middle Ages. Susan Krenicky

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Turnabout. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000. ISBN0-689-82187-5. $17.00 Gr 6-10.  It is 2085 and 2 teenage girls are trying to decide what to do with their lives. Norma but not really because back in 2000. Melly and Anny Beth, both nearly 100 years old, were given shots to make them grow younger. At some point the doctors were going yo give them another shot to stop the process. Some how the antidote did not work. Anny Beth and Melly decide to leave Project Turnabout and to lead independent lives ? lives that are different What happens as they live their second 100 years in reverse? Both go to college and lead useful lives, but must be on the move, as they become younger. What will happen when they need a parent? Haddix presents some ethical problems that we may have to deal with as medicine and science probe into what makes life. In addition her portrayal of the future society is a little chilling. There is an aspect of 1984 as Melly and Anny Beth try unsuccessfully to drop out of society. Jeannie Bellavance

Hahn, Mary Downing. Promises to the Dead. New York. Clarion Books, 2000. 0-395-96394-X. $15.95. Grades 5-8.  Jess, a 12 year-old orphan, lives with his uncle on Maryland’s Eastern shore during the early days of the Civil War. Jess has an unexpected encounter with Lydia, a pregnant, runaway slave and her seven-year-old son, Perry. Before she dies in childbirth, Jess promises Lydia that he will deliver Perry to safety despite his misgivings over aiding and abetting escaped slaves in a Union state with Southern sympathies. In order to honor his promise, Jess and Perry embark on a harrowing journey to freedom while being pursued by a ruthless slave catcher. Jess eventually discovers the secret of Perry’s parentage in this page-turner that raises questions about racial identity. Note: Brief dialogue about miscegenation. Rosanne Zajko

Hanley, Victoria. The Seer and the Sword. New York: Holiday House, 2000. 0-8234-1532-5. $17.95 Grades 7-12.  Princess Torina, the daughter of a powerful king, is presented with two gifts from her father. The first is a crystal in which she can see the future. The second is a slave, the young prince of the kingdom her father has just overthrown. Torina asks of her father that he free Landen, the slave. The king indulges his daughter and sends Landen to be trained as a warrior. A friendship between Torina and Landen develops, but is halted when Torina must be trained to be a proper princess and future queen. In time, Torina forgets the depth of their friendship and falls in love with an evil man. At this point, the struggle between good and evil begins. This fairy tale for young adults is complete with suspense, hope, and emotion. Hanley’s first work is a true success and her characters stay with the reader long after the final page is turned. Karen Hornberger

Harrigan, Stephen. The Gates of the Alamo. New York: Knopf, 2000. ISBN 079-44717-Z. $25.00. YA.  Steven Harrigan has written a strong story, with vivid characters whose lives give intimacy and power to the narrative. Edmund McGowan, a quiet, rather solitary American botanist commissioned to produce a botanical record of the Texas territory for Mexico, begins the narrative. He falls in love with Mary Mott, a self-sufficient Irish immigrant widow trying valiantly to cope with her 16 year-old son Terrell. Terrell struggles in that agonizing age, no longer boy — yet not a man, dealing with questions of loyalty to and support of Texas or Mexico. Harrigan has also given reasonable time to the Mexican side of this struggle: Santa Anna, the Mexican general; Teleforo Villasenor, a mapmaker and Las Montoya, sergeant of a Mexican rifle company are other major characters. The dramatic battle of the Alamo runs second to the emotional epic of Harrigan’s characters. You don't have to be a fan of historical fiction to enjoy this book. Tom Matthews / Candy Blessing

Heisel, Sharon E. Precious Gold, Precious Jade. NY: Holiday House, 2000, 186 pp. 0-8234-1432-9. $16.95. Grades 5-10.  An-Li (Leeana) and her mother have moved to a small mining town in Oregon where her mother sells baked goods to Chinese miners working the trailings. Although Leeana is quiet, polite, and a very good student of both Chinese and English at school, some of the other students make fun of her. She shows her inner strength when she diverts a wildcat from Angelina (14) and Evangeline (7) Stuart in the woods. The American sisters visit the Lee home and are made very welcome by the kind, courteous, and generous extended Chinese family. There is, however, growing resentment against the Celestials because they take gold and jobs. Although the Stuart family is not prejudiced, they receive threats from local bigots because of the girls’ friendship. Incidents of bigotry become more vicious and erupt into violence, forcing Angelina to choose between friendship and safety. This is a realistic, well researched, and highly readable story of the prejudice against Chinese immigrants that led to discriminatory legislation. Eleanor Howe

Hesse, Karen. Stowaway. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2000. 0-689-83987-1 $17.95. Grade 5+.  Stowaway is the fictionalized diary of Nicholas Young, an actual stowaway on the Endeavor. Using the diaries of Captain Cook, Mr. Bootie, the midshipman, and Joseph Banks, a naturalist on board, Hesse brings to life the adventures Nick encountered traveling around the world to find a new continent. Through Nick’s eyes, the reader meets the indigenous peoples of New Zealand and Australia, survives a hurricane and watches as crewman and friends die from typhoid. Nicholas’ journal will be enjoyed by students as young as Fifth grade through High School reluctant readers. Sandra Krieg

Hesse, Karen. A Time of Angels. New York: Hyperion Books, 2000. 277p. $16.99. Grades 9+.  Historical fiction Novel. - While their mother and father are in Europe during the Great War, Hannah and her sisters are left with their Tanta Rose and her companion. Here they find themselves fighting to survive from their hunger as well as the plague of influenza. Very easy to read; well written. View the relationship and importance of family and friends and how love is so important. Virginia Herring

Hicyilmaz, Gaye. Smiling for Strangers. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2000. 0-374-37081-8. $16.00. Grades 6-10.  "If your need is too great, people cannot bear it and they turn away from you." states Nina Topic, a fourteen year old girl running to safety. The war in former Yugoslavia has changed everything in Nina's life. Nina, now alone, uses each lesson she has learned in order to survive. As she travels, she forces herself to forget all memories of her beloved family and country. Her journey to England is physically and emotionally difficult. She averts danger and finds her way to safety, but the emotional journey is far from over. Nina has changed along with everything else in her life. The author leaves the reader at the point where Nina begins to be ready to heal. Students interested in survival during a war will truly enjoy this book, especially students familiar with Zlata's Diary. Karen Hornberger

Hill, Kirkpatrick. The Year of Miss Agnes. New York. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2000. 0-689-82933-7. $16.00. Grades 4-6.  A charming story of the effect one teacher has on the lives of students in an Alaskan Athabascan village. Ten-year old Fred (Fredericka) is enchanted with Miss Agnes Sutterfield, a British teacher whose zest for teaching opens up a new world to her students, something no other teacher had ever been able to do. In a seamless narrative, Fred describes a dedicated teacher who challenges students to have pride in themselves and their heritage. Fred also describes the seasonal lifestyle of many native Alaskans in 1948. Even though Miss Agnes is adored by her students, she is homesick for her native England and makes plans to return there after the end of the school year. It’s evident that the students in the one room schoolhouse will miss their teacher, but she is leaving them with gifts that ever teacher strives to impart to their students. Hill, a former teacher, spent much of her career teaching in one room school houses in Alaska and has created an authentic setting for the achievements of Miss Agnes and her students. Rosanne Zajko

Hite, Sid. Stick and Whittle. New York: Scholastic, 2000. 0-439-09828-9. $16.95. Grades 5 +.  This fun and exciting historical adventure involves two men both names Melvin. The older of the two, Melvin Fitchett is a Civil War veteran. He fought at Gettysburg for the Confederacy and then had a horrible experience at Wilderness when he lost his friend and was wounded himself. Everyone thought Melvin had died at Wilderness because he had thrown his jacket over his friend’s body as he was dying, including Melvin’s sweetheart Evelyn. Melvin is off the look for Evelyn and to get money he deposited in Wells Fargo bank years ago. The younger Melvin, Melvin Smythe, who says he is sixteen but looks to be about twelve or thirteen, meets up with Big Melvin on the trail. Little Melvin is an orphan who was brought up in an orphanage in Chicago but flees when the big fire hits. (Later he says he is the one who started the Chicago Fire.) The two Melvins name each other Stick (Big Melvin) and Whittle (Little Melvin) so they aren’t confused. Whittle joins stick in his quest to find Evelyn and their adventure leads them to freeing Evelyn, now a governess, from kidnappers who have taken her and her young charge. On the trail they meet up with two Cheyenne Indians who eventually help them in their plan to free Evelyn. A fun historical novel that would be a good read aloud. Susan Krenicky

Hobbs, Valerie. Charlie’s Run. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2000. 0-374-34994-0. $16.00. Grades 5-8.  Charlie is eleven years old and his parents are getting a divorce and he can’t imagine them not being a family. He is tired of being "Mister Sunshine" the one in the family who always accepts things without complaint. So, Charlie decides to teach his parents a lesson and as a result they won’t get divorced. Charlie’s plan is to run away for a day or two but when he meets up with another runaway, Doo a fourteen-year-old, Charlie ends up headed for the California coast. Doo is running away from an abusive stepfather and an alcoholic mother. Doo is going to find her father, who, as she discovers, is in jail for drug dealing. Charlie and Doo take to the streets and experience the tough side of runaway kids and Charlie discovers that even if his parents divorce, he still has a home and a loving family. Susan Krenicky

Hoffman, Alice. The River King. New York: Putnam, 2000. 0-39914599-0. $23.95. Grades 10-12.  Set in a New England prep school, this story deals with age-old teenage issues of conformity and individuality. The two main characters, Carlin and August, are non-conformists who quickly find each other and fall in love. This becomes problematic to the rest of the cliquish dormitory residents who plot the destruction of the pair. When August is murdered, teachers and police get involved to solve the crime. This novel is brimming with ghosts, river imagery, poetic prose and complicated relationships. Young adults who love Hoffman's other books won't be disappointed. Susan Mowery

Honey, Elizabeth. Don’t Pat the Wombat! New York. Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0-375-80578-8. $14.95. Grades 5-7.  The breezy first person narration, short chapters, and creative doodles and photos will attract students to this book, but the Australian slang may slow them down. Sixth grader Mark Ryder and his friends are going on a school camping trip with Mr. Cromwell (a.k.a. Crom the Bomb), the most detested teacher in the school. Crom the Bomb has it in for Mark’s friend Jonah, and a canoe trip with Crom the Bomb and Jonah ends in what appears to be an accident. Jonah survives the experience and his quiet dignity and individuality triumph over Mr. Cromwell’s nastiness. Rosanne Zajko

Hopkinson, Nalo. Midnight Robber. New York: Warner Books, 2000. 0-44667560-1. $13.95. Grade 10-12.  Combining fantasy and science-fiction, Hopkinson writes a tale of a sixteen-year-old girl, Tan-Tan, who is a victim of incest and subsequently murders her father. She then becomes a runaway on the planet Toussaint. Tan-Tan has many adventures and finds help and friendship in the primitive area of New Half-Way Tree. The language and sounds are that of the Carribean and of Carnival which may be a bit complicated for teens but definitely worth the trouble. Susan Mowery

Isaacs, Anne. Torn Thread. New York: Scholastic, 2000. 0-590-60363-9. $15.95. Grades 5-10.  Based on the life of the author’s mother-in-law, Torn Thread is the haunting story of two sisters struggling to survive each day of their Nazi work camp imprisonment in Czechoslovakia. Forced to work with dangerous thread spinning machines, Eva and her sick sister, Rachel, fend off hunger, disease, and brutal conditions to survive one hour at a time, against all odds. This brutal yet heartrending account is a wonderful addition for middle level readers. Based on a true account of Isaacs’ mother-in-law’s experiences. Leslie Mastronardo

Isaacs, Anne. Torn Thread. New York: Scholastic, 2000. 0-590-60363-9. $15.95. Grades 5-10.  12-year-old Eva and her frail older sister Rachel are sent by their father to a work camp in Czechoslovakia to keep them from certain death in Auschwitz. Their struggle to cope with harsh labor, poor food, unsanitary conditions is brightened by their fierce determination to help each other and to find their family. Based on a true account of Isaacs’ mother-in-law’s experiences. Pat Naismith

Jacques, Brian. The Legend of Luke. Ace Books, 2000. Grade 5-10.  Martin the Warrior and his band of friends leave Redwall Abbey in search of Martin’s heritage. What he finds are old companions of his father, who tell the rousing seafaring adventure of Luke the Warrior, his abandonment of Martin and his efforts to avenge the death of his wife, Martin’s mother, Sayna. Number 12 in the Redwall series, best read after Martin the Warrior. A must for Redwall fans. Pat Naismith

Jacques, Brian. The Legend of Luke. Ace Books, 2000. Gr. 5-10.  Brian Jacques has done it again! He starts by bringing the reader up-to-date with events in the series, and then snares you in the book. The adventures, the thrills, the hares, everything makes the reader feel as if he/she is part of the adventure! The mast of willful suspension of disbelief has done it again! Student from Springfield HS (DELCO)

Jance, Judith A. Devil’s Claw: a Joanna Brady mystery. New York: W. Morrow and Company, 2000. 0-380-97501-7. $24.00. Young Adult.  Sheriff Joanna Brady is preparing for her wedding and becomes involved in solving another murder, Sandra Ridder , convicted of murdering her husband 8 years ago, is recently released from prison and is found murdered at the entrance to a desert canyon. Sandra’s 15-year-old daughter is reported missing about the same time and Joanna’s old neighbor Clayton Rhodes is found dead. Clayton’s estranged daughter appears on the scene and discovers that Joanna has inherited the ranch. She begins to cast suspicion on Joanna and her father’s death. Are all of these incidents related? The intriguing drama unfolds around Joanna’s wedding plans. Girls will love Joanna’s strong character and her ability to solve the crime. Susan Krenicky

Jin, Ha. The Bridegroom. New York: Pantheon Books, 2000. ISBN0-375-42067-3. $22.00. Grade 10+.  A collection of twelve short stories set in contemporary China that are not overtly political, but deal with the politics of daily life in a society recovering from the Cultural Revolution, and experimenting with the blend of free-market enterprise and a totalitarian government. The author, a National Book award recipient for his last short story publication, Waiting, weaves his tales masterfully. Three of the stories in this anthology have been chosen for inclusion in The Best American Short Stories. Recommended for older teens and advanced reading classes. Candy Blessing

Johnson, Emily Roads. Write Me — If You Dare! Chicago: Front Street, 2000. 0-8126-2944-2. $15.95. Grades 3-7.  Maddie’s mother died three years ago and she seems content to keep what is left of her family, her father and grandfather intact. She cooks and helps her father and grandfather with their beekeeping business. She also has become somewhat obsessive about little rituals she does that she feels will keep her family from further harm (the mother died in an automobile accident). One day while walking out in the woods near her home she finds a popped balloon with a note from someone name Pearl Paradise with a return address and the message, "Write me if you dare!". Maddie does write to Pearl and begins a strange correspondence with her. The things Pearl talks about the words that she uses are very old fashioned. In the meantime, Maddie’s father begins to date a woman named Blanche and Maddie is not happy about the situation. She wants things to remain as they are. She relates her problems to Pearl even though Pearl is mystery. In fact, Maddie has begun to think Pearl is a ghost. Eventually, Maddie learns that Pearl is an old woman in a nursing home. Pearl helps Maddie deal with death and her father’s intended marriage to Blanche. Part mystery and part coming of age, good for a young middle school child. Older children will think the story too trivial. Susan Krenicky

Johnson, Emily Roads. Write Me — If You Dare! Chicago: Front Street, 2000. 0-8126-2944-2. $15.95. Grades 3-7.  Maddie, her father and grandfather pulled together after her mother died. Maddie has taken on must of the household responsibilities. Her compulsive rituals keep bad things, like car accidents, from happening to her loved ones now, though they don’t interfere with her life. Maddie is content until her father starts dating. She writes all about the awful woman to her mysterious pen pal, Pearl, who has led her to believe she is a ghost. When Maddie meets Pearl, she is 90 years old and dying in a nursing home. Thankful they had the chance to meet, Maddie learns that people need companionship. She now understands and accepts her father’s girlfriend. Michelle Stone

Johnson, Emily Roads. Write Me — If You Dare! Chicago: Front Street, 2000. 0-8126-2944-2. $15.95. Grades 3-7.  Instead of a message in a bottle, eleven-year old Maddie Pruitt finds a message attached to a balloon, daring her to respond. Maddie has been compulsive about routines ever since her mother died several years before in a car accident, and she sees the message as a sign. Thinking that she is responding to a 14-year-old girl, Maddie quickly suspects there is something odd about her pen pal. She concludes that she is corresponding with a ghost. When she ultimately discovers the true identity of her ghostly pen pal, Maddie learns a valuable lesson about life and overcoming obstacles that help her deal with her mother’s death and now, her father’s remarriage. Rosanne Zajko

Karr, Kathleen. The Boxer. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2000. 0-374-309213 $16.00 Grade 5-9.  In the late 1800’s, Johnny Woods, a fifteen-year-old immigrant, is struggling to support his mother and siblings by working for 5 cents a day in a sweatshop. Dreaming of returning to school and moving his family out of the New York tenement to Brooklyn, Johnny signs up to fight at a local bar. These backroom fights were illegal, the bar is raided and Johnny ends up in prison. In prison he has the good fortune to meet former lightweight champion, Michael O’Shaunnessey. Michael recognizes Johnny’s ability and trains him to be a real boxer. This coming of age story gives voice to Johnny’s struggle for an education, determination to help his family, and efforts to become a better boxer because that is what will allow him to accomplish the first two. This is an engaging story for all student grades 5 through 7 and reluctant readers grades 8 and 9. Sandra Krieg

Kerner, Charlotte. Blueprint. Lerner Publications, 2000. 0-8225-0080-9. $16.95. Gr. 9-12.  What if, as in today’s news headlines, scientists successfully cloned a human being? At the end of the twentieth century, Iris Sellen, afflicted with MS, approaches a Canadian doctor to have her twin created. But, her "daughter-twin," Siri, rebels against the mother who created her and destiny imposed on her. A powerful and compelling novel that deftly examines the moral and psychological ramifications of cloning. Pat Naismith

Kessler, Cristina. No Condition is Permanent. New York: Philomel, 2000. 0-399-23486-1. $17.99. Grades 7-12.  The author is a former Peace Corps volunteer who has stayed in Africa for sixteen of the past twenty-five years. Her story takes place in Sierra Leone where she once lived and endured a similar life of no running water, rarely having electricity, no bathrooms, snakes and dangerous insects. Jodie is a high school student whose mother announces one day that they will be moving to Africa where she has received a grant to continue her studies. Jodie is very reluctant to make the move and it is difficult for her to adjust to the language of Krio, which is spoken by the people she will be living with while her mother continues her work. She becomes friends with Khadi, a teenage girl who also lives in the small rural village. When Khadi starts disappearing with a secret society, she attempts to learn what is happening and is horrified to find out that the ceremony being prepared is for female circumcision. Jodi and her mother are forced to flee when Jodie interferes with the secret society. The novel explores the clash between traditions and today’s society. While this novel is very interesting, a word of caution must be given. The characters speak in Krio and it can be frustrating for the reader. There is a guide to the vocabulary in the back of the book that will provide assistance. Peg Kleppinger

Kimmel, Elizabeth Cady. Visiting Miss Caples. New York: Dial Books, 2000. 0-8037-2502-7. $16.99. Grades 6-9.  As part of a class assignment, 13-year-old Jen is assigned to read to an elderly shut-in, Miss Caples. At first, Miss Caples seems to be totally unresponsive to Jen's readings, until Jen starts to become curious about the many old photographs that are all around the apartment. Suddenly, Miss Caples comes to life and so do the people in the photographs, as Miss Caples reveals some deep, dark secrets from her youth. Despite the 70-year age difference, Jen discovers that her life parallels that of Miss Caples' earlier life. Miss Caples' revelation of a plot devised against one of the people in a photograph reminds Jen of a similar experience in her own life. This is truly a compelling and moving story. Joanie Marstiller

Konigsburg, E. L. Silent to the Bone. New York: Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83601-5. $16.00 Grades 6-8.  Konigsburg in her inimitable fashion examines the heart of a trouble teen in a most creative and thoughtful way. Through his friend, Connor, Branwell Zamborska is finally able to tell the truth about what happened the night his little half-sister, Nikki slipped into a coma. Branwell, struck dumb by the trauma, is unable to explain his innocence. It is up to Connor to unravel the truth about the vixen of an au pair, Vivian. As in A View from Saturday Konigsburg delves below the surface of this mystery and examines issues such as shame and embarrassment, the meaning of family and friendship. Because there is mention of sexual awareness, I would recommend caution in giving this book to readers younger than 6th grade. Jeannie Bellavance

Konigsburg, E. L. Silent to the Bone. New York: Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83601-5. $16.00 Grades 6-8.  What Branwell Zamborska saw happen to his baby sister, Nikki, renders him mute. Only his best friend, Connor, is able to communicate with him. The horrible thing that caused Nikki's coma and the British au pair's involvement begins to emerge from Branwell's silence in little pieces each day that Connor visits Branwell at the Juvenile Behavioral Center. In the meantime, Connor joins forces with his own half-sister to get to the bottom of the story. Most of the adults in the story are bumbling idiots and it takes a thirteen-year-old boy and his non-speaking friend to prevent this sort of thing from happening again. There are subtle implications of sexual situations but the book is well-written and should appeal to young adults. Pat Bender

Konigsburg, E. L. Silent to the Bone. New York: Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83601-5. $16.00 Grades 6-8.  What really happened on Wednesday, November 25, that caused 13-year-old Branwell Zamborska to become mute? If he was not responsible for dropping his baby sister Nikki and causing her coma, then who was? Was it the sexy British nanny? Best friend, Connor, visits Bran in juvenile behavioral center, and slowly uncovers the answer to the mystery using a code that eventually breaks the silence. Cleverly written and full of suspense, the book reveals the dark secrets of a young man’s private world and explores the complicated emotions relating to remarriage and step-children. Joyce Valenza

Konigsburg, E. L. Silent to the Bone. New York: Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83601-5. $16.00 Grades 6-8  I thought this book was good and also very suspenseful. Through the entire book you are trying to figure out what really happened…I thought it was very good because of the way Branwell and Connor’s relationship was and how special it is. Also the books made you appreciate silence more. These boys did a lot of growing up and learning throughout the book. I highly recommend it to everyone. Student from Gwynedd-Mercy Academy

Koss, Amy Goldman. The Girls. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2000. 0-8037-2494-2. $16.00. Grade 7-9.  A good novel that will help young girls understand popularity without preaching. Each chapter is by one of five girls friends who are ruled by their "friend" Candace. A look at the different lives of the parents helps to show the differences in all of our families backgrounds. In the end Candace never changes but the other girls realizes what friendship really is. Virginia Herring

Kurtz, Katherine. King Kelson’s Bride. Ace, 2000. 0-441-00732-5. $ $22.95. Grade 7+.  Kelson, King of Gwynedd, has been unlucky in love. His first queen dead, his true love beyond his reach, will he finally find love again in an arranged marriage? That is before scheming Torenthi princes destroy all he has built? This may be the novel Kurtz fans have waited seven years for — a happy ending for Kelson and the Deryni Chronicles. Great for fans, but also for newcomers to the series. You’ll want more! Pat Naismith

Lasky, Kathryn. Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles (Royal Diaries). NY: Scholastic, 2000, 236 pp. (family tree, ill, ports.). 0-439-07666-8. $10.95. Grades 7-12.  Maria Antonia (1755-1793) was the youngest child of a large family born to Empress Maria Teresa of Austria whose goal was to secure peace and power by marrying her children to thrones around Europe. Antonia's childhood had some light moments but also tragedy. Her fictional diary chronicles the 2 years (ages 14-15) around the proposal of marriage from the Dauphin of France, Louis Auguste: her courtship, her mother’s training her to be Queen of France, her traumatic entry into France, and the hatred coming from Mme. DuBarry. The diary vividly depicts the pettiness, insulation, and extravagances of court life at Versailles; gossip, spies, favors, and opulence abound. The Hapsburg court was happy and restrained by comparison. Both Marie Antoinette and Louis Auguste disliked court life and preferred the more simple pleasures of picnics and locksmithing. Well researched and well written for young adults, the diary is supplemented by illustrations and informative text about the period. Eleanor Howe

Lawrence, Iain. Ghost Boy. Delacorte Press, 2000. 0-385-32739-0 $15.95. Grades 7-10.  Fourteen-year-old albino, Harold Kline, joins the circus to escape an unbearable life of being taunted and called "ghost" or "maggot" by other students. Also his beloved father died and his older brother is missing in Vietnam. His mom has remarried and is cold and withdrawn. Even in the circus he learns there are two groups, the freak and everyone else. Fascinating characters and great dialogue will help students feel what it really is like being different. Donna Darmofal

Lewis, Wendy. Graveyard Girl. Alberta, Canada: Red Deer Press, 2000. 0-88995-202-7. Grades 9-12.  Not nearly as morbid as the title suggests, the stories in this volume are interconnected by a happy event: the re-creation by high school students of the famous wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. We meet each of the players later in their lives, and the portraits we see in the cameo slices are interesting. All of the actors/actresses from the fairy tale wedding had to face real challenges and tragedies in their everyday lives. The prologue takes places in 1999, which is where the stories end later in the book. Throughout the main part of the book we meet the individual personalities and see the events since high school from their unique perspectives. Though the format is unusual, it is not difficult to follow. Each person reveals his or her role in the mock wedding that took place years before in a way that contrasts one-time fantasy to the reality of their actual existence. Nancy Chrismer

Lisle, Janet Taylor. The Art of Keeping Cool. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. 0-689-83787-9. $17.00 Grades 5-8  In order to survive a negative grandfather, a father who is missing, and his cousin; all within the tensions of World War II, Robert has become an expert at "the art of keeping cool." He likes to draw and befriends a German artist, who also becomes his teacher. But, how can Robert keep cool when his friend is arrested for being a spy. Great for those historical fiction readers. Margaret Goodlin

Lytle, Robert. Three Rivers Crossing. Spring Lake MI: River Road, 2000, 161 pp. 0-938682-55-5. $15.95. Grades 7-10.  Walker Morrison, 7th grader, has heard but not really listened to family stories and history class lectures about his ancestor Rev. Lemuel Taylor who first settled the nearby town of Stony Creek, MI. Walker would rather look out the window, ride his bike, pursue the beautiful new French foreign exchange student, or go fishing. After he hooks a strange big fish in Stony Creek, he drowns and wakes up in the care of Rev. and Mrs. Taylor who take him home and make him part of their family. Walker becomes good friends with their son Dan and develops the courage to tell him why he looks different and doesn't know how to do farm chores. Working, playing, and eating together makes Walker feel more a part of this family and community than he ever did in the 21st century. This time travel novel provides an interesting and informative means for offering a critique of current life and comparing it to life in the 19th century. Lively and authentic writing, good settings, credible characters, and several interesting twists at the end of the book keep the reader engrossed. Eleanor Howe

Mack, Tracy. Drawing Lessons. NY: Scholastic, 2000, 168 pp. 0-439-11202-8. $15.95. Grades 7-10.  Aurora Forrester, who is going into 7th grade, has been drawing for years with her artist father and through this activity they have become very close. For Rory, drawing is a way to retain something that has been lost, and she sketches a favorite tree just before it is cut down. Although she and her father plan to do a painting for her mother's birthday, he leaves the family quite suddenly and Rory goes into withdrawal and depression. She refuses to draw or contribute to an art contest at school, and she won’t see her best friend Nicky. When she realizes the limits of her father’s love for her, she confronts him with his lack of responsibility and then runs away. Rory ultimately pulls herself back together with Nicky and with art and creates a vision of her own in her work. First person voice and very fluid writing in this sensitive and insightful first novel bring the reader into Rory's thoughts and feelings about art, her friendships, and her reaction to her father's leaving. Eleanor Howe

Mackler, Carolyn. Love and Other Four-Letter Words. NY: Delacorte Press, 2000. 0-385-32743-9. $14.95. YA  Sammie Davis is a sixteen-year old having to deal with he parents splitting and her mother packing them up and moving to New York City. Four out of five teenage girls who read this book finish it in one day, they like it that much. Quick Pick for Reluctant readers. Margaret Goodlin

Mahy, Margaret. 24 hours. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000. 0-689-83884-0 $17.00 Young Adult  Ellis just graduated from prep school. Within twenty-four hours he will experience a world that he was shielded from while attending prep school. The underworld of juvenile drinking, fast driving and reckless adventure. Fast moving adventure story, good for the male reluctant reader. Margaret Goodlin

Martin, Ann M. The Doll People. New York: Hyperion, 2000. 0-7868-0361-4. $15.99. Grades 3 — 6(or any doll or dollhouse lover).  A charming story about a 100-year-old dollhouse and its dolls who come alive when humans are not around are frozen at the age that they were created. The dolls and their house have been in the Palmer house since they were bought from a catalog and they have been passed down from generation to generation. They now belong to Kate an 8-year-old little girl, the granddaughter of the original dollhouse owner. The Doll family has remained the same during these years with the exception of their Auntie Sarah who disappeared 45 years ago. Annabelle Doll wants to find Auntie Sarah and discovers clues about her disappearance. Her parents don’t want her to leave the dollhouse to search for Auntie Sarah for fear she will be seen. Being seen by humans causes "doll state" or even worse "permanent doll state". When Kate’s younger sister gets a new modern pink plastic Funcraft dollhouse and family, Annabelle’s quest to find her Auntie really begins. These new adventurous doll neighbors have a girl Tiffany, Annabelle’s age who becomes Annabelle’s very first friend. The Funcraft family is wacky, daring and fun. The new neighbors even begin to visit back and forth at night. The Doll family sees its very first microwave, barbecue, TV and VCR. The illustrations and borders are wonderful and add to the theme. Susan Krenicky

Massey, Sujata. The Floating Girl. New York: HarperCollins, 2000. 0-060019229-1. $24.00. Grades 10-Adult  This is the fourth novel in a detective series with Rei Shimura, an amateur detective, who is working for a monthly magazine in Tokyo writing about art and antiques. When her magazine decides to attract a wider audience by writing about the history of comic-book art, she is drawn into the world of comics where young Japanese dress as characters from their favorite comic characters and even publish alternative adventures for those characters. When her art story turns into a murder investigation, Rei becomes involved in attempting to solve the murder of a man who is deeply involved in doujinshi, the alternative adventures that expand upon the adventures of various cartoon heroes and heroines. This mystery novel explores the Japanese youth culture and vividly describes the youth scene in Tokyo. The characters in this novel point to a youth culture that is expanding and changing their traditional roles in Japanese society. Peg Kleppinger

Masterman-Smith, Virginia. First Mate Tate. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2000. 0-7614-5075-0. $14.95. Grades 5-9.  First Mate Tate, an eighth grader, is the oldest of 6 children. Her parents are addicted to gambling and leave the responsibility of all of the children in her hands. First Mate tries to hold the family together and keep food on the table by working a paper route. Her father eventually takes all of the paper route money she has saved and gambles it away, too. Her father looses the family boat business and First Mate, determined to buy back the business started by her grandfather, sets up a lending business based on the principals of the loan sharks who bother her father. The story tells of the terrible struggles of a family torn apart by a gambling addiction. This novel would be a nice addition to an area that is not often addressed in children or young adult literature. Susan Krenicky

McAllister, Margaret. Hold My Hand & Run. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1999. 0-525-46391-7. $15.99. Grades 5-8.  I enjoyed Hold My Hand & Run. It's amazing what Kazy goes through to save Beth. A large and miraculous change comes over both girls through their journey together. After Beth's mom, Eliza, dies Aunt Latimer comes to live with them. She beats the girls constantly. Their father never does much to help. Kazy can't take it anymore, so she runs away with Beth to find themselves a safe place to live.  Student from Franklin Regional Middle School

McCaffrey, Anne. The Skies of Pern. Ballantine Books. 0-345-43468-4. $25.00. Grade 9+.  Now that Thread has been eliminated, the Pern saga has ended. Think again! New dangers — the rediscovered Terran technology threatening to destroy Pern’s way of life, a fiery comet and more prove to McCaffrey’s legion of fans that the adventure is not over yet! Pat Naismith

McCormick, Patricia. Cut. Chicago: Front Street Press, 2000. 1-886-91061-8. $16.95. Grades 7+.  When we meet Callie at Sea Pines (a.k.a. Sick Minds) a treatment facility for teenage girls with psychological issues--eating disorders, drug and behavior problems--she is silent, withdrawn, and self-destructive. Callie cuts herself, using self-mutilation as a cry for help from a dysfunctional family. We slowly learn of her sickly, asthmatic brother; her emotionally paralyzed mother; and her withdrawn father. We learn that Callie is depressed and overburdened with the responsibility she feels for caring for this family. The thrill of watching her own blood pour somehow helps. Though the climactic resolution feels way too neat, the slow work towards Callie's healing feels realistic. McCormick's sensitive story will appeal especially to young women, who may (unfortunately) relate to the family pressures Callie feels. Joyce Valenza

McDonald, Joyce. Shadow People. New York: Delacorte, 2000. 0-385-32662-9. $15.95. 9-12.  Four students who live in a rural New Jersey meet each other at an abandoned Boy Scout Camp and evolve into the Lords of Destruction. The teens feel alienated from their families and people at school. Lydia was abandoned by her parents when they divorced and she lives with an aunt; Gabriel’s brother, Ben, had been murdered; Hollis’ parents have divorced and his mother struggles to raise him and Alec has been involved in criminal activities for years. Their alienation from society leads them to commit a crime that results in the death of a homeless man. This is a disturbing novel that will spark much discussion with teens about what happens to students who are facing many problems with little support. Peg Kleppinger

McGrady, Kayla. Dead Ball Foul (Silver Dagger Mysteries). Overmountain Press, 2000, 210 pp. 1-57072-117-3. $22.00. Grades 7-12.  Referee Paul Sanders calls two fouls against the local high school football team, the Mustangs, one of which is a dead ball foul against senior star Aaron Tyler. After the Mustangs lose the game, Paul is murdered in the men's room with Aaron's penknife that was left in the locker room during the game and could have been picked up by anyone. Suspects with a motive include Aaron, the coach whom college scouts were evaluating, and janitor Roscoe Thompson. Tricia Lakely wants to find the murderer of her friend Paul and believes Aaron is innocent. She and her boyfriend Luke Benson do the thinking, planning, and investigating, including a few scary episodes of breaking-and-entering to get evidence. All the teens in the story are nice kids, and there are no social issues or problems in the story. Between detective episodes the friends get together to study and eat. Written by a teen, the novel’s first person style is engaging, and the fast pace and realistic dialog make this a page-turner you can't put down until the final exciting kidnapping and chase scenes end. Eleanor Howe

McGuinn, Charlotte. Place Last Seen. New York: Picador, 2000. 0-312-24227-1. $13.00. Grds 9+.  A memorable story that will linger with you for a long time. A family is on a weekend camping/hiking trip when their 6 yo Down’s syndrome daughter is lost during a game of hide’n seek with her 9 yo brother. The story moves from family character to search team members on a rotation as the search continues. The character development is excellent; you feel what they are experiencing. Suspenseful, emotional, complex a real page-turner. Students interested in the outdoors will devour this book. A very good read for the males in your school. Highly recommend this one. Joan Schumer, Staff, Springfield HS Library (Mont Co.)

McInerny, Ralph M. Grave Undertakings. New York: St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2000. 0-312-20309-8. $24.95. Grades 8—12.  Father Dowling is again involved in solving a crime in his calm methodical way in this mystery about a slain local mobster, Vince O’Toole. No one is interested in the murder until someone tries to dig up Vince O’Toole’s grave on Halloween night. Mrs. Mimi O’Toole wants to move the body to another location and when they dig up the grave the casket is empty. A flurry of incidents and intertwining of characters begins involving Mrs. O’Toole’s son a monk in a religious cult, the mob leader’s daughter, a private detective and his son, the funeral director, as well as Father Dowling and his housekeeper. The story evolves chapter by chapter, each one told from the perspective of the character. A good read. Susan Krenicky

McKay, Sharon. Charlie Wilcox. NY: Stoddart Kids, 2000. 0-7737-6093-8. $ 7.95 . Grades 9-12.  Charlie Wilcox, small and club-footed, stands up to bullies and can't wait to follow the family tradition and go to sea and sealing. Following an operation on his foot and hospital escapades with paraplegic Davy, Charlie overhears only part of a comment from his beloved father and decides to run away to sea to prove himself. He stows away on a ship headed not for the seals but for World War I and finds himself alone and penniless in England. He gets to Canadian hospital unit in France and volunteers in the Red Cross. Too many coincidental battlefield encounters with previous friends stretch credibility but provide a way to describe the deplorable conditions in the trenches and hospitals. Charlie saves the life of a ship-board friend by keeping him alive on the battlefield, sends his nurse home on his return ticket, and misses his way out by going back for his father's spy glass. Charlie's spunk, resourcefulness, loyalty, and honor are an inspiration to "do what's right with all your might" that unknowingly repeat his mother's care for him as a two-pound baby. This novel, loosely based on the author’s uncle’s life, received a nomination for the Canadian Council on the Arts Governor General’s Literary Award. Eleanor Howe

McKinley, Robin. Spindle's End. Putnam. 0-399-23466-7. $19.99. Grade 6+.  From the author of Beauty and Rose Daughter, comes this wildly inventive retelling of Sleeping Beauty. "Rosie" grows up as the niece of the fairy who whisked her away from evil on her name day. And saves herself and the village in a most unconventional way! A feisty heroine and a delightful twist on the old fairy tale. Pat Naismith

McKissack, Pat. Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba (Royal Diaries). NY: Scholastic, 2000. 0-439-11210-9. $10.95. Grades 7-12.  Nzhingha (1582-1663) begins a diary at the behest of her tutor, Portuguese missionary Father Giovanni Gavazzi. Its two years begin when she is 13 and chronicle her change from an outspoken adolescent who fears evil in Giovanni and Njani and then matures to see that good and evil are found in each person and both sides in a conflict. Nzingha is an outspoken and determined young woman: she speaks without reason at a tribal council and later learns to think before speaking. Ignored by her father at first because she is a girl, he comes to recognize that she has more ability than brother and takes her on male hunting trips. Well-researched and well written for the young adult audience, this fictional diary is supplemented with background information on Nzingha who is known only because of Father Giovanni's records: she was baptized for unsure reasons but her own tribe did not accept her as their leader because she was a woman and the daughter of a slave concubine, and after her brother was found dead, she was appointed Queen and fled to hills where she led those opposing slavery. Eleanor Howe

McLaren, Clemence. Waiting for Odysseus. New York: Atheneum Books, 2000. 0689828756 $16.00. Grade 6-10.  Ms. McLaren has provided the reader with a refreshing view of Odysseus’ twenty year voyage home. Told from the viewpoint of four women: his wife, Penelope; Circe, the beguiling witch; Athena, the goddess who championed him; and his nurse, Eurycleia. McLaren stays true the original tale bringing to life the varying personalities and perspectives of the women in Odysseus’ life. This would be a great book for classroom discussion after reading The Odyssey and would work well for Book Clubs. Sandra Krieg

McPhee, Peter. Runner. Toronto, James Lorimer & Co. Ltd., 1999. $6.95 (paperback) , 1-55028-674-9, Gr. 8-12.  Kyle’s sister, Meghan, has run away from home to live on the streets of Calgary. In searching for her, Kyle has found her diary. He uses the diary in his attempt to locate Meghan and convince her to return home. This book takes an honest look at survival on the streets. It is a compelling story. Constance Roupp

Meyers, Annette. Murder Me Now. New York: Times Warner, 2001. ISBN 0-89296-695-5. $23.95. Grade 11+.  Heroine Olivia Brown, is an acclaimed poet who dabbles in solving mysteries, especially those involving her social set of writers, artists, actors and journalists who make Greenwich Village their home. When a friend’s nanny is murdered, Olivia becomes embroiled in the case. Period details and bits of social history from the 1920’s create a feeling of authenticity; much consumption of alcohol, advocacy of free love, gangsters and speakeasies call to mind the hippie 60’s! Any reader with a taste for mysteries or period settings might enjoy the book. Linda Matthews / Candy Blessing

Mills, Claudia. Lizzie at Last. New York: Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2009. 0-374-34659-3. $16.00. Grades 5-7.  A sequel to Losers, Inc. and You’re a Brave Man, Julius Zimmerman, this realistic fiction title presents Lizzie Archer as the heroine as she enters seventh grade. Lizzie is the smartest girl in the class in math. She loves to read and write poetry (especially Emily Dickinson). And, she loves to wear long white lacy dresses to be like Emily Dickinson. But she is considered a nerd. This year Lizzie will be going to seventh grade and wants to change her image so that she can be popular. With the help of her aunt who is visiting, Lizzie changes her wardrobe to jeans and tank tops. She also tries to change her personality. She deliberately makes mistakes in math class and joins the popular crowd in activities she doesn’t really like. This is a great middle school book that portrays the struggles students go through in accepting their identity in a world that places so much peer pressure on fitting in. Susan Krenicky

Moriarty, Jaclyn. Feeling Sorry For Celia. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2001. 0-31226923-4. $16.95. Grade 8-10.  Moriarty's book is an intriguing look at a fifteen-year-old girl's life as told through pen-pal notes and letters left on the refrigerator. It deals with the typical, angst-ridden issues of self-esteem in adolescence. Elizabeth Clarry is also dealing with the divorce of her parents and the problems which present themselves. Set in Australia, this book will appeal to many girls with an interest in a different culture and other characters and situations with whom they may identify. This novel had positive student appeal. Susan Mowery

Muller, Marcia. Listen to the Silence. Warner Books, Inc.,2000. 0-89296-689-0. $23.95 Grades 9+.  In the latest Sharon McCrone mystery, the private investigator becomes enmeshed in a family secret. After her father’s death she discovers she was adopted and begins to look for her real family. Anyone who is a follower of Sharon McCrone or loves a good mystery will enjoy the twists and turns of this book. This book also explores the true meaning of family. Donna Darmofal

Murphy, Rita Night Flying. Delacorte Press, 2000. 0-385-32748-X . $14.95. Grades 8-10.  All the Hansen women can fly, and 16 yr.old Georgia is preparing for her solo flight. Georgia lives with her mother, two aunts and a domineering grandmother. Aunt Carmen comes to visit and causes turmoil in the family. Secrets abound in this unusual family. Set in rural Vermont, this is an amusing, moving and thoroughly enjoyable story that girls will find hard to resist. Donna Darmofal

Myers, Anna. When the Bough Breaks. New York: Walker & Company, 2000. 0-8027-8725-8. $16.95. Grds 7-12.  Fifteen-year-old Ophelia is in foster care after tragedy strikes leaving her brother and parents dead. When she takes a job reading to ninety-two year old recluse, Portia McKay, Ophelia realizes that they have more in common than their Shakespearean names. Both harbor horrific secrets from their past and are reluctant to open up to anyone. As their friendship develops, both begin to slowly reveal their troubled past. This fast paced and gripping story is told through these two main characters’ points of view. A well-written tale of loss and redemption. Leslie Mastronardo

Nance. John J. Blackout: A Novel. New York: G. P. Putnam’s, 2000. 039914594-X. $23.95. Grades 10-Adult.  Kat Bronsky is an FBI agent and a terrorism specialist who becomes involved in a very suspenseful case involving jumbo jets, the FBI, CIA, and a destructive laser weapon that is capable of blinding pilots. Kat is scheduled to leave Hong Kong after presenting an anti-terrorism speech when she meets Robert McCabe, a Washington Post reporter. He tells her that he has received information about a terrorist plot and he fears for his life when he realizes that he is being targeted by unnamed terrorists. Kat, Robert and several passengers are then involved in terror-filled adventure as they try to decide who can help them and who is attempting to kill them. The reader will find this book hard to put down because of the hair-raising non-stopping action. Nance is an aviation analyst for ABC World News Tonight, a licensed aerospace attorney, an Air Force Reserve officer and a pilot for a major airline who has written an exciting novel. Peg Kleppinger

Napoli, Donna Jo. Beast. New York : Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83589-2. $17.00 Gr. 7-10.  Brilliant retelling of Beauty and the Beast from the Beast’s point of view. Based on Charles Lamb’s version of the tale, in which the Beast is a Persian prince named Orasmyn, this exquisite portrayal of Persian and Islamic culture is a delight to the senses. Not just another romance, even boys will enjoy this! Pat Naismith

Napoli, Donna Jo. Beast. New York : Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83589-2. $17.00 Gr. 7-10.  In this new interpretation of the classic tale, "Beauty and the Beast," Orasmyn, a Persian prince, has been transformed by a curse into a lion, to be redeemed only by the love of a woman. The new twists involve a completely male, very animal, and Islamic perspective. Our prince travels across Asia to an abandoned chateau in France and plants a rose garden for the woman he hopes to find to love him. Though the journey across the continent is slow, the pace picks up with a delightful friendship a little fox and a sweet romance. Joyce Valenza

Napoli. Donna Jo. Beast. NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. $17.00. 0-689-83589-2. Gr. 6+  Beast is the prequel to the story Beauty and the Beast, with a new spin on the way the Beast came tobe. In this story, the Beast comes from Persia and is originally Prince Orasmyn. However, due tp a poor decision, he falls under a curse that transforms him into a lion and he must earn a woman’s love in order to undo the curse. He travels far and wide in a quest to find a woman that will love him.  This book is a quick, easy, and exciting read that is well written and puts the story of Beauty and the Beast into a new perspective. This story is told from a first person point of view providing the emotions of Orasmyn (Beast) and also gives an account of all his flaws. Student from The Haverford School

Napoli, Donna Jo. Beast. Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83589-2. $17.00. Gr. 7-10.  Great prologue to Beauty and the Beast. The author researched the Persian culture and religion well. Near the end, I felt that the author went a little overboard with feelings, but that's just me. The ending was also too abrupt for me. Student from Springfield High (DELCO)

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. The Grooming of Alice. NY: Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-82633-8. $16.00. Grades 9-12.  Alice and her friends Pamela and Elizabeth plan to spend the summer before 9th grade getting in shape by running and losing weight. Each of the girls has another issue to resolve: anorexia, staying at home alone, and getting along after a parent leaves. A crisis develops when Pam runs away from home and Alice, deceiving both fathers, keeps her secretly at her house. The parents are sensible and offer good solutions. Alice's father shows Alice how she could have explored options and resolved the tension between two goods (being a friend and being honest to parents). To address concerns about Pam’s eating habits, her mother sends the friends to a Girls Seminar where they are encouraged to eat well and explore themselves sexually (this may be offensive for some readers). Written in the first person with very realistic and enjoyable dialog among the teens, this is a fun read about the everyday ups and downs at home and between friends and the unexpected things that happen in their lives during one summer. Eleanor Howe

Naylor, Phyllis. Jade Green. Atheneum Press,1999. 0-6898-2005-4 $16.00. Grades 7-10. Great ghost story that will appeal to the most reluctant reader. Fifteen year old Judith Sparrow goes to live with her Uncle Geoffroy. One condition that he imposes is that nothing green be brought into the house. A young girl, Jade Green, mysteriously died by cutting off her hand with a cleaver. Judith hides a green picture frame and then seems to be visited by the dead girl. How this mystery is solved will make this book hard to keep on the shelf. Donna Darmofal

O’Connell, Rebecca. Myrtle of Willendorf. Asheville, NC: Front Street, 2000. 1-886910-52-9 $15.95 Grades 9-12.  Myrtle of Willendorf is an eloquent story. The story takes place while Myrtle, a very heavy girl, is in between her freshman and sophomore years of college. She is sharing an apartment with her freshman year roommate, Jada. Jada is rooming with Myrtle out of convenience; she needed someone to share a sublet with so she could stay at school in the summer to be near her boyfriend. Throughout the story, there are flashbacks to a high school friendship that ended painfully for Myrtle. Myrtle’s college life is also very painful. She faces blatantly rude peers, her roommate that constantly tries to improve Myrtle with well meant advice, and Myrtle, herself who believes so little of herself, she fails to see her immense talents. As the story comes to a close, Myrtle begins to come to grips with who she is on the inside. O’Connell’s character portrayals will haunt the reader. Very well done in only 116 pages! Karen Hornberger

Ondaatje, Michael. Anil’s Ghost. Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0-375-41053-8. $25.00. Grades 10+.  The story of Sri Lanka from 1985 through the 1990’s, when the government vs. people vs. gorillas and the country was in turmoil. The book focuses on complex and deep characters more than a story line. Recommended for the more mature reader. Margaret Goodlin

Oughton, Jerri. Perfect Family. Houghton Mifflin, 2000. 0-395-98668-0. $15.00. Grade 6-12.  It’s 1955, and the O’Neals of Lily, North Carolina are just like those families on television — perfect. That is until Evelyn Sue runs off in search of James Dean and Welcome becomes pregnant. Welcome comes up against the hard-line values of her small southern town and is shipped off to her Aunt and Uncle in Virginia Beach. A poignant look at life in the 50’s and the hard decisions a teenage girl must make. Pat Naismith

Park, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. New York: Atheneum., 2000. 0-689-83912-X. $15.00. Grades 6-8.  Jake is grateful for his name but that's the only thing he seems to like about his life. He lives with his mother and grandfather, Skelly, a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. Skelly's sometimes bizarre behavior is a source of constant embarrassment to Jake, who, with his mother and a day nurse, are Skelly's primary caretakers. Jake's resentment builds to a climax until the day Skelly disappears. In the few days Skelly is gone, Jake learns some hard lessons and he eventually replaces his bitterness with compassion. A touching story for middle school students. Pat Bender

Park, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. New York: Atheneum., 2000. 0-689-83912-X. $15.00. Grades 6-8.  Jake’s beloved Grandfather Skelly has Alzheimer’s disease and Jake’s life begins to change. He no longer invites friends over because Skelly might do something embarrassing. Jake has to help care for Skelly and resents his cousin who only has to visit once a week. Barbara Parks uses humor to present this realistic portrait of living with someone with Alzheimer’s disease and how Jake comes to accept his Grandfather. Sandra Krieg

Park, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. New York: Atheneum., 2000. 0-689-83912-X. $15.00. Grades 6-8.  Park presents us with a close up view of living with Alzheimer’s Disease from the viewpoint of eighth grader Jake Moon. Jake’s grandfather Skelly, with whom Jake and his mother live, has been diagnosed with the disease. The disease has altered Jake’s close relationship with the grandfather he once adored, and has put Jake in a caretaker role. Jake’s embarrassment about his grandfather’s condition further alienates him from his grandfather, yet he finally puts his reputation on the line to rescue Skelly, who becomes disoriented at Jake’s 8th grade graduation. Park portrays a young teenager who has not only graduated from school, but has also graduated from a self-centered attitude to one of compassion. Rosanne Zajko

Park, Linda Sue. The Kite Fighters. New York: Clarion Books, 2000. 0- 395-94041-9. $15.00. Grades 5-8.  Set in fifteenth century Korea, this is a tale of two brothers growing up in a land of tradition and family honor. Kee-sup, the older and the heir to all the privileges of the Lee household, is a gifted artisan who creates magnificent kites. Young-sup is the younger brother whose talent lies in flying the kites. As the New Year’s Celebration and the prestigious kite fighting celebration approaches, their kites and flying tricks catch the attention of the boy king of Korea. The brothers’ develop a secret friendship with the young king. Impresssed with Young-sup’s abilities, the king asks him to fly a royal kite in the upcoming festival. This, however, is an honor and a responsibility befitting an elder brother. Their father insists that Kee-sup uphold the family honor, but the boys know that Young-sup is the better skilled kite fighter. The resulting kite flying sequences are both informative and suspenseful. This is a touching story of two brothers bound by tradition and sibling rivalry. Leslie Mastronardo

Paulsen. Gary. The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 2000. 0385326475. $15.95. Grade 10+.  This first person narrative tells the story of a sixteen-year-old boy who has run away from his drunken mother’s sexual advances. He finds work in the beet fields of North Dakota and friendship from the Mexican pickers. He travels with the Mexicans until he glimpses a beautiful girl and stays behind to drive a tractor for her dad, but a brush with the law sends him running. He lands a job as a shill for a carnival and meets the sensual Ruby. High School boys will relate to the realistic language and sensual scenes in this coming of age story. Sandra Krieg

Pevsner, Stella. Is Everyone Moonburned but Me? New York: Clarion, 2000. 0-395-95770-2. $15.00. Grades 6-9.  The story of three sisters who’s divorced parents are contemplating remarriage. Hannah, 13, feels inadequate around her older and younger sisters. Hannah holds the family together when crises arise and is amazed to find out just how much they count on her. This book deals with divorce, the blending of families and how to feel acceptance and worth. Sharon Curran, Secretary, Sandy Run Middle School

Philbrick, Rodman. The Last Book in the Universe. New York: Blue Sky Press, 2000. 0-439-08758-9. $16.95. Grades 5-10.  It’s a chaotic world of gang violence and pollution, unless you are one of the fortunate, genetically improved people living in Eden. The books were burned long ago. Technology was destroyed and forgotten. Through dangerous territory, Spaz must travel to visit his dying sister. Ryter, the only character old enough to remember reading and writing, joins him for one last adventure. Students who enjoy fast paced adventure won’t be able to put this one down. Michelle Stone

Platt, Randall Beth. The Likes of Me. New York: Delacorte, 2000. 0-385-32692-0. $15.95 Grades 8-10.  In The Likes of Me, a sheltered albino girl named Cordelia falls for a new employee of her father's logging company named Squirl. During a day out in the woods, Cordelia runs into Squirl and innocently believes his romantic actions are based on true affection. At the end of the day, they are both caught by Cordelia's overprotective father. Cordelia is sent home and is led to believe that she may be pregnant after talking to her stepmother; at the same time Squirl is fired from the logging company. Cordelia follows Squirl, who she thinks is the father of her child, to Seattle only to become entangled in the web of both Squirl and his sister. This coming of age novel will appeal to students who are seeking insights to teenage life in the past. Karen Hornberger

Plummer, Louise. A Dance for Three. New York: Delacorte, 2000. 0-385-32511-8. $15.95. Grade 7-12.  When 15 year old Hannah Ziebarth finds out that she is pregnant, she thinks everything will work out ok. Hannah is soon hit with the harsh reality that her dreams of having a big happy family will not come true. I was so interested throughout the entire story that I could not put the book down. The story is told from three different characters’ perspectives so that you can comprehend how each person is feeling and know what they are going through. Student from Sandy Run Middle School

Plum-Ucci, Carol. The Body of Christopher Creed. San Diego: Harcourt, 2000. 0-15-202388-7, $17.00. Grades 6+.  Recent school violence has put the spotlight on students who are bullied and teased at school. This novel makes the point that such treatment affects both victim and tormentor. When Chris Creed, the "class freak", vanishes suddenly, reactions are varied. For Torey Adams, named in the alleged suicide note, the disappearance becomes a life-altering event. The novel recounts his version of the events surrounding the disappearance and his subsequent involvement in the case. Readers will identify with characters who range from the school bully to so-called perfect students Lke Torey, readers may realize that people are not always what they seem. A blend of mystery and suspense, this book should prove popular with teen readers. A winner by a first-time novelist. Starred review in SLJ and Notable/Best Books (ALA). Linda Matthews / Candy Blessing

Price, Reynolds. A Perfect Friend. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. $16.00, 0-689-83029-7, Gr. 7-12.  A perfect friend for Ben is an elephant. His mother, who died a year ago, had a love for elephants and Ben shares the same love. Ben has the opportunity to meet an elephant up close and personal when a small circus comes to town. Through meeting and "speaking" with Sal, the elephant, Ben is better able to deal with the death of his mother. This story has an almost surreal atmosphere about it. Constance Roupp

Pullman, Philip. The Amber Spyglass. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 518 pgs. 0-679-87926-9. Grades 5-12.  This is Book III in the His Dark Materials series, following The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife, and should be in all collections containing those two. This is, as one expects from Pullman, consummate fantasy for the "real readers" who want length and complexity and philosophy with their recreational reading. Pam Kavanaugh

Pullman, Philip. I Was a Rat. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0-375-80176-6. $15.95 Grades 4-8.  Roger has no memory of why he is dressed in a torn page’s uniform. Roger has an indiscriminate taste in food, actually the rotten the better. Roger also claims that he was a rat. If the reader carefully follows the newspaper clippings thoughtfully inserted by Pullman, he/she will unravel the mystery of Roger’s origins. In the meantime, Roger’s adventure is like a maze. One minute Joan and Bob adopt him. Then he is in a freak show, then the sewer scurrying for his life. Although on a slightly easier level, this fairy tale belongs with other retellings such as Zel, Ella Enchanted, and Beauty. Jeannie Bellavance

Richardson, Bill. After Hamelin. Annick Press Ltd., 2000. $8.95 (paperback), 1-55037-628-4, Gr. 6-12.  It has been one hundred eighty years since the Pied Piper stole the children from the town of Hamelin. Penelope, the only child not to have been stolen that fateful day, shares her story of wonderful adventures that occurred when she is sent on a mission to rescue the stolen children. This is a compelling story of magic, friendship and courage. Constance Roupp

Roberts, Willo Davis. Hostage. New York: Anthenum Books for Young Readers, 2000. 0-689-81669-3. $16.00. Grades 5-8.  With school permission, sixth grader Kaci walks home in the middle of the school day to quickly retrieve her asthma medicine. While upstairs, she hears noises and realizes that she was along in the house with someone (or could it be more than one?) who had no right to be there. Suddenly, she finds herself being held hostage, along with her elderly neighbor. The reader is led through a series of adventures as Kaci realizes that these people mean business and will stop at nothing, not even murder, to get away with the goods without being caught. Joanie Marstiller

Robinet, Harriette. Walking to the Bus-Rider Blues. New York: Athenium Books, 2000. 0-689-83191-9. $16.00. Grades 6-8.  The story of 12 year old Alfa takes place during the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alambama in 1956. Alfa, his sister and grandmother struggle to earn enough money for their rent and food while participating in the bus boycott to gain equality for the African Americans in the south. Students reading this book will gain a clearer understanding of what life was like in the South during that era. There is some potentially offensive language in the beginning chapters, but it doesn’t detract from the story. Sharon Curran, Secretary, Sandy Run Middle School

Rodowsky, Colby. Spindrift. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2000. 0-374-37155-5. $16.00. Grades 5-8.  Cassie lives at the Spindrift, a bed and breakfast run by her grandmother in Bethany Beach. Cassie knows the Spindrift by heart, and she knows all the people who have stayed there and who come every year. Cassie has spent countless summers at the Spindrift, but this summer will be full of surprises, both wonderful and devastating. Cassie sees her brother-in-law Mickey with another girl, but he tells Cassie it was his twin. Cassie’s sister Cindy is pregnant, and Cassie wants to believe Mickey, but deep down she’s not sure he is telling the truth. In addition, the Spindrift, the home Cassie knows and loves, is being sold. How can she let go of the home that she holds so dear to her? I loved this book because it was about overcoming obstacles and finding your true self. Student from Ancillia Assumpta Academy

Rowling, J.K, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Scholastic, 2000. 0-4391-3959-7 25.95 Grades 4+  Harry, now 14, faces new challenges. In the best (and the thickest) of the series, Harry gets to attend the Quiddich World Cup with Ron and his family. He returns to Hogwarts for the fall term to discover there’ll be no Quiddich this year. Though he is too young, he is somehow sucked in to participating in the treacherous Triwizard Tournament, competing against older champions from two foreign schools of wizardry. There are new types of magic, more information about Harry’s past, and much more danger initiated (of course) by "he who cannot be named." The excitement never stops; the pages keep turning, to a fabulous good-vs-evil crescendo. Joyce Valenza

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Esperanza Rising. New York: Scholastic, 2000. 0-439-12041-1. $15.95. Grades 6 — 9.  Esperanza is a 12-year-old Mexican girl who has lived the life of a privileged landowner’s daughter. She is happily awaiting the celebration of her thirteenth birthday when her life is shattered by the murder of her father by Mexican bandits. Her father’s stepbrothers are powerful bankers and they want to take over the family’s ranch and force Esperanza’s mother to marry one of them. She refuses and the brothers have the home burnt to the ground Esperanza and her mother escape the house and eventually flee Mexico to the United States with their cook and gardener to work in the fields in California. Esperanza’s life has totally changed and she and her mother must adapt to hard physical labor in the fields and the difficulties of racial and ethnic discrimination during the labor-organizing era of the Depression. Esperanza must develop into a new self-sufficient young woman without the privileges she enjoyed in her former homeland. A wonderful multicultural novel that is ideal for classroom discussions on historical, cultural and sociological issues. Susan Krenicky

Salzman, Mark. Lying Awake. NY: Knopf, 2000, 181 pp. 0-375-40632-8. $21.00. Grades 10-12.  Sister John, a successful published poet, has lived for 28 years in the convent at Carmel, CA when she begins to have severe headaches that cause her to miss important parts of convent life and be at Fault. The diagnosis as petit mal epilepsy is a serious one because epilepsy is one of two grounds for denying admission to an order: epileptic seizures may lead to compelling but false visions and ecstasies. They may also be the source of Sister John’s talent as a poet. Sister John must decide whether to have the surgery that can correct her illness, and the decision leads her to reflect back over her life, her mother who abandoned her to have another family, her entry into the convent, and the emptiness she felt after the first few years there before she began writing the poetry that brought income and envy to the convent. Sister John wavers between devotion and doubt, faith and reason, self and others, but ultimately makes a decision. Interspersed in the story are Sister's memories and lyrical religious poems. This unusual novel offering a glimpse at monastic life is best suited for the mature reader who is introspective and philosophical. Eleanor Howe

Schwartz, Virginia Frances. Send One Angel Down. Holiday House, 2000. 0-8234-1484-1. $15.95. Grades 7-10.  Based on a true story, Eliza is born into slavery and experiences its horrors at an early age. This story is told through the eyes of her cousin Abram who tries his best to protect her. It is obvious that she is the daughter of a slave mother and the master of the house, and because of this she is despised by the master's two daughters. She is comfortable at first within her slave family, who have the jobs of managing the birthing cabins on the plantation. The master's two daughters at first befriend her when they are all very young, but soon grow to hate her. The girls are as determined to destroy her as her cousin Abram is to protect her. Through the horrible experiences she has, her spirit and Abram's spirit hold onto the hope that some saving event will happen, and eventually it does. Even though it means she is lost to her family, especially to Abram and to her mother, she is sent to her freedom. Nancy Chrismer

Schwartz, Virginia Frances. Send One Angel Down. Holiday House, 2000. 0-8234-1484-1. $15.95. Grades 7-10.  Light skinned , blue-eyed slave Eliza’s life story is seen through the eyes of her cousin Abram. He takes us from the breeding cabins to the cotton fields and finally the horrors of a slave auction block. A riveting story that will hold the attention of readers. The characters are portrayed realistically and one feels what it was like to be a slave in pre-Civil War era. . Through the horrible experiences she has, her spirit and Abram's spirit hold onto the hope that some saving event will happen, and eventually it does. Even though it means she is lost to her family, especially to Abram and to her mother, she is sent to her freedom. Highly recommend this. Donna Darmofal

Scottoline, Lisa. Moment of Truth. HarperCollins, 2000. 0-06-019609-2. $25.00. Grade 11+.  Philadelphia author Scottoline serves up a taught and gripping legal thriller. Lawyer Jack Newlin, killed his wife in a fit of drunken passion. Or did he? The further defense attorney Mary DiNunzio delves into the murder, the clearer it becomes that Jack is covering up something. Great suspense from the winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award. Pat Naismith

Scottoline, Lisa. Moment of Truth. HarperCollins, 2000. 0-06-019609-2. $25.00. Gr. 11+.  Thought not a true mystery, this book is a wonderful legal thriller. Maybe not as great as John Grisham's works, but she ahs written it in such a way that if you skip pages, you'll be lost. It kept my interest until the last page. Student from Springfield High (DELCO)

Sears, Richard. First Born. New York: Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2000. 0-312-87250-X. $24.95. Grades 10+.  A science fiction thriller that combines religion and the X files. Forty-five year old Molly Reed gives birth to an exceptional child. Can this child be from another planet? CIA investigator Casey Armstong is assigned to solve the mystery. What her research leads to will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Students who enjoy mysteries, science fiction and thought provoking action will enjoy this one. Great for high level 9th graders as well as 10-12 graders. Donna Darmofal

Sears, Richard. First Born. New York: Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2000. 0-312-87250-X. $24.95. Grades 10+.  This takes place in the present time. It is a light science fiction and psychological thriller. A secret company believes a child is not human but a hybrid human/alien. They hire psychological remote viewers to find the child and to discover the truth about the child's "humanness". There is lots of actions. Great for high level 9th graders as well as 10-12 graders. Virginia Herring

Smith, Roland. The Last Lobo. Hyperion Books for Children, 1999. 078680428-9. $15.99. Grades 5+.  Fifteen-year-old Jake goes to visit his grandfather on the Hopi reservation in Arizona and become involved in saving the endangered Mexican wolf who has been killing livestock. The problems he encounter make for an easy read. Students will learn about cultural and environmental concerns in this suspenseful story. Great for boys! Donna Darmofal

Spinelli, Jerry. Stargirl. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0679886370. $15.95. Grades 6-12.  When Susan Caraway, alias Stargirl, matriculates at Mica High School after being home-schooled, her effect upon the complacent student population becomes immediately apparent. Stargirl is different from the rest of the homogenous students. She dresses differently and carries a pet rat and a ukelele. She seems not to care when others whisper about her. When she joins the cheerleading team, she cheers for both teams. She sings to strangers and makes cards for those who are celebrating or in need. She falls for shy Leo, who secretly prefers that she were like everyone else. When she caves in and becomes ordinary to please Leo, he is thrilled until he realizes that they are both being shunned. Eventually Stargirl disappears from school and the loss of this unique personality is evident in the legacy she leaves behind. High school students will identify with the problems of being different in a school setting. Pat Bender

Spinelli, Jerry. Stargirl. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0679886370. $15.95. Grades 6-12.  Pocket Mouse. Mudpie. Hullygully. Stargirl. Whenever the name didn't fit anymore, Susan Caraway changed it. She wasn't her name. Her name was something she wore. When it got worn or outgrown, she replaced it. Home schooled until her sophomore year, Susan is naïve to the dangers of non-conformity and caring in a way that no one can understand. Initially, she is an outcast and the object of jokes and snide remarks. Unexpectedly, Susan's popularity soars. Then as quickly as her popularity rises, it plummets, making her the object of extreme ridicule. Leo is caught in the middle. Susan, a.k.a. Stargirl, is his first love, but their relationship is seriously threatened when the entire student body shuns them. Unable to deal with the isolation, Leo urges Stargirl to become "normal." And the cost? Stargirl's true self. Jerry Spinelli has written an emotionally charged tale that addresses individuality, peer pressure, and the pain of young love. Elizabeth McChesney

Spinelli, Jerry. Stargirl. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0679886370. $15.95. Grades 6-12.  Life of a 10th grader is difficult and confusing for most teens, but Stargirl enters her first year at Mica High unusually self-assured and generous. She is unaffected by her classmates disdain for her ukulele playing, her odd clothes, and the multiple things she does for others. By the time Stargirl and Leo fall in love, the rest of the school is shunning her. Initially, Leo is blind to anything by Stargirl, but when reality sets in, he must choose between love and his peer’s acceptance. Stargirl attempts to conform, but cannot repress her generosity and thus sustain her classmates’ approval. She completes her first and only school year at Mica leaving behind a legacy of community service. This is by far the best young adult novel I have read this year. Jerry Spinelli has insightfully captured the complicated life of teenagers and their struggle between acceptance and individuality. Michelle Stone

Stark, Lynette. Escape from Heart. Harcourt, Inc., 2000. $17.00, 0-15-202385-2, Grade 6-8.  The Mennonite colony of Heart used to be a place of joy and love before Hezekiel Whitenstone became the leader. Hezekiel rules Heart Colony with an iron will. Because of Hezekiel’s cruelty, his wife leaves the colony. Soon Sarah, her mother and her brothers and sister also leave the colony. Sarah discovers information that will prove to the other members of the colony that Hezekiel is not the man of God that he claims to be. Sarah has to decide whether she will live a new life outside the colony or return to the life she knew. Constance Roupp

Stone, Phoebe. All the Blue Moons at the Wallace Hotel. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 2000. 0-3136-81645-0. $15.95 Grades 4-8.  This book is about healing, about a family learning to live again. The setting is in the early 1960ís in upstate New York. Four years earlier Fionaís and Wallaceís father was murdered. Their mother, a sculptor, has shut down. Fiona and Wallace are practically raising themselves in the old mansion on top of the hill. Fiona is embarrassed by the now shabby home. Fiona who longs for acceptance is a contrast to Wallace who doesn’t care. Fionaís dream is to be a ballerina. Fiona desperately wants to be in a recital but loses the chance when her little sister, Wallace disappears. That incident is a wake up call to everyone. Another contrast is that of the ballet teacher, a Cuban exile, who lost everything including her family. Stone skillfully brings about a satisfying but not trite happy ending. Jeannie Bellavance

Stone, Phoebe. All the Blue Moons at the Wallace Hotel. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2000. 0-316-81645-0. $15.95. Grades 4-6.  All the Blue Moons at the Wallace Hotel is about Fiona Harper, a young girl who lives with her mother and little sister Wallace in their old mansion nicknamed "The Wallace Hotel". Wallace is as strange as her name. She wears two party dresses at once, considers an old lady with an atrium full of her birds her friend, and doesn’t seem to mind what others think of her. Unlike Wallace, Fiona longs to be accepted by her peers. When she gets the chance to dance in the local dance studio’s Christmas play, she works determinedly, knowing insider herself that she is destined to be a dancer. She hopes that this will pull her family out of the shadows of a silent tragedy. But when Wallace vanishes, Fiona risks missing the dance tryout she has worked so hard and so long to get. Student from Ancillae Assumpta Academy.

Strasser, Todd. Give a Boy a Gun. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000. 0-6898-1112-8 $16.00 Grades 9-12.  Strasser’s latest work is a fictionalized account of two boys who hold a school at gunpoint during a school dance. The work is a compilation of interviews with fictitious individuals involved, tied together with factual statistics and quotes that are placed at the bottom of many pages. Violence is only one of many topics brought up in this novel. Readers will find themselves questioning many issues such as bullying and equal treatment — this book REALLY makes you think about a multitude of issues. Strasser’s writing has a bias towards supporting gun control, yet his facts are supported. This powerful book has not even hit the shelf yet in our library yet the controversy is strong. A must read for guidance counselors and school psychologists, etc. etc. etc.! Karen Hornberger

Strasser, Todd. Give a Boy a Gun. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000. 0-6898-1112-8 $16.00 Grades 9-12.  What he did for group pressure (and Nazism) with The Wave, Strasser does for school violence with this gripping novel. Gary and Brendan, tired of being beaten up and harassed, bomb a school dance. The experience is shared through short accounts by parents, students and the troubled teens themselves. A disturbing novel that covers all the opposing viewpoints about gun control, bullying, school violence, etc. You won’t be able to put this one down. Pat Naismith

Strasser, Todd. Give a Boy a Gun. NY: Simon & Schuster. $16.00. 0-689-81112-8. Gr. 7+  Written in the wake of the infamous Columbine High School massacre, Todd Strasser’s Give a Boy a Gun tells the story of Gary. Searle and Brendan Lawlor, two teenage boys, who hold fellow students and teachers hostage at a High School dance. Interestingly, Strasser uses excerpts from interviews with the boys close associates, internet chat room conversations and Gary and Brendan’s own suicide notes to give the reader a close look in the minds of these boys, what drove them to commit such a terrible crime and how it affected the lives of their family and peers.

The book is tremendously effective in getting the reader to identify with the boys. Gary and Brendan are neither monsters nor psychotic serial killers, as one might expect. There was nothing terribly wrong with their upbringing. They’re like most teenagers, dealing with the same issues of popularity and peer pressure. Seen as "outcasts" and "nerds" by the popular crowd, the boys have a difficult time fitting in. Constantly bullied by the school’s "jocks," Gary and Brendan come to the point where they have almost no regard for human life, theirs or those of their peers.

In addition to describing the events leading up to the hostage situation at the school dance, Give a Boy a Gun addresses the issues of gun control, tolerance, and many other issues prevalent in today’s society. It is a thought provoking book, and I strongly recommend it. Student from The Haverford School

Strickland, Brad. The Beast Under the Wizard’s Bridge. New York: Dial Books, 2000. 0803722206 $16.99. Grade 4-7  John Bellairs’ fans of all ages will be happy to discover Brad Strickland’s book featuring Lewis Barnavelt from Bellairs’ The House with a Clock in its Walls. Lewis sets out to discover why his Uncle Jonathan is so upset about the old iron bridge being torn down. With the help of Mrs. Zimmerman and Rose Rita, Lewis leads the reader through the twisting plot to solve this enjoyable mystery. Perfect for those readers who like a good mystery with a bit of science fiction and suspense thrown in for good measure. Sandra Krieg

Sturtevant, Katherine. At the Sign of the Star. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2000. 0-374-30449-1. $16.00. Grades 5-9.  Set in 17th century London, this is the story of young Meg Moore, an only child of a prosperous bookseller. Meg feels her future is threatened when her father remarries, fearing that her rightful inheritance may no longer be hers. Meg resents her new step-mother and goes to great lengths to let her know of her ill feelings towards her. Only when Meg's father gives her a choice -- either accept her stepmother or move elsewhere -- does Meg come to grips with her situation. The characters and plot in this books are so well developed, you will feel as if you are a part of it all. Joanie Marstiller

Sturtevant, Katherine. At the Sign of the Star. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2000. 0-374-30449-1. $16.00. Grades 5-9.  This story takes place in 1677 in London during the restoration period. The heroine is 12 year old Meg Moore whose mother has died. She is the only child of a bookseller and their home is located in the shop named "At the Sign of the Star". Meg enjoys working in the shop and listening to the writers and playwrights who come discuss their writing and those of others and to try to get Meg’s father interested in publishing their works. Meg plans on inheriting her father’s business some day but these hopes are dashed when Meg’s father marries Susannah Beckwith. Meg’s behavior towards Susannah is awful. She is insulting and disrespectful. However, almost immediately Susannah becomes pregnant and Meg remembers all of her mother’s births and babies deaths and becomes reluctantly caring towards Susannah. This becomes even more significant when Susannah asks Meg to care for the baby and be its mother if she should die in childbirth. Important factual information regarding the life and role of women, important writers, medical procedures, food, and wedding customs during this period are portrayed. Meg eventually learns that she has many options in her life besides inheriting her father’s bookselling business. Avery good historical fiction novel for middle school students with strong female characters. Susan Krenicky

Sutherland, Robert. A River Apart. Ontario, Canada: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2000. 1-55041-652-9. $14.95. Grades 6 —8.  The story takes place along the St. Lawrence River at the outbreak of the War of 1812. The British and Canadians are on one side of the river and the Americans on the other. However, the families on both sides have been friends and neighbors all along and are forced to take sides. Jared and Leah Jackson are Americans whose father is deeply involved in the efforts to fight the British and the Canadian neighbors. Their best friend James is Canadian and Mr. Jackson had forbidden Jared and Leah to see him. Both boys and their fathers become involved in fighting for their respective countries. The encounters between the two sides and the boys due to their relationships are very exciting. The book also gives an interesting look at this period of history. A nice historical fiction novel for middle school students. Susan Krenicky

Tamar, Erika. The Midnight Train Home. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0-375-80159-6. $16.95. Grades 5-8.  The year is 1927, the place is the railroad station in New York City. Here is where we meet the O'Rourke children, Deirdre, age 11, Sean, age 13, and James, age 3. They have been abandoned by their single mother and left in the care of the Children's Aid Society. Before this practice was outlawed in the 1930's, children like the O'Rourkes were put on trains and taken from town to town, much like animals, in the hopes that someone would take a liking to them and take them home for adoption. It was Deirdre and Sean's utmost hope that the three of them would always remain together. The Children's Aid Society knew better. James is the first to be adopted, then the other two, all to different families. Deirdre is taken in by a minister and his wife, well-respected members of the community. However, life in this household is anything but happy for Deirdre, until she finds herself attracted to the life of vaudeville. At last, she feels loved and part of a family. Finding her brothers is what she wants most in life. This historical novel will keep you turning the pages, all the while hoping that these young orphans find the happiness they deserve. A wonderful, heartwarming and fast-paced story. Joanie Marstiller

Thesman, Jean. Calling the Swan. New York: Viking, 2000. 0-670-88874-5. $15.99. Grades 8-12.  Skylar’s family is attempting to recover from the tragic disappearance of her older sister, Alexandra. Skylar’s mother is so worried about her daughter that she doesn’t want to her go anywhere without a member of the family and is smothering her with concern. Skylar is finally able to move on with her life after spending a summer in school with students from various schools who do not know her secret about her sister’s disappearance. She is finally able to relinquish her imaginary friendship with Alexandra and form friendships with her classmates. This is a novel about emotional recovery and how friendship can help heal the wound that Skylar feels. Students will feel compassion for Skylar and her grief. Highly recommended. Peg Kleppinger

Thompson, Julian F. Terry and the Pirates. New York: Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83076-9. $17.00. Grades 9-12.  Terry decides it's time to spread her wings and grow. She runs away from home and stows away on a local sailboat. To her surprise, she also finds the boat owner's son also running away. Together they sail merrily along until, during a storm, Terry's new friend is swept overboard. Then, pirates capture Terry. Eventually Mick comes to help rescue Terry from the money-hungry pilots who pretend to befriend her and Mick's father comes with the Navy to rescue them. The book was humorous and well written. Student from Greenville High School

Trueman, Terry. Stuck in Neutral. New York : HarperCollins, 2000. 0-06-028519-2. $14.95 ; $14.89. Gr. 7-10.  Even though he’s sure that his father is doing it out of love, Shawn is certain that his father is planning to kill him. A heart-wrenching story of a teenager afflicted with cerebral palsy, who although he cannot communicate, lives a very full life in his mind. Pat Naismith

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0-375-80265-7 $14.95 Grades 4-8.  Sammy Keyes and her friends solve the mystery of Moustache Mary’s hidden gold while exposing a methanphetamine dealer, literally saving the ranch and helping to end a century old feud. Van Draanen incorporates a lot of droll humor with Sammy’s wry observations on life and people. Subtly Van Draanen weaves in the value of family and friendship. Jeannie Bellavance

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. 0-375-80265-7 Grades 4-8.  This book was a page turner. There were characters that each represented the opinions and feelings seventh graders have as they grow up. The girls also experience what it is like to be older. The best part of this book was the ending when everything was solved and you finally realize all the clues. Student from Gwynedd-Mercy Academy

Velde, Vivian Vande. Murder Can Be Magic. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2000. 0-15-202665-7. $17.00. Grade 6-9.  When you are a witch who can work only a few useless spells and you're also a teen, things can be a little crazy. Able to escape most of her predicaments, Nola finds herself and her mother in the middle of a murder. Without letting the town people know she is a witch she must trick the murderer into confessing or she and her mother will be blamed. A fun story. Virginia Herring

Wallace, Barbara Brooks. Ghosts in the Gallery. New York: Atheneum, 2000. 0-689-83175-7. Grades 3-6.  Jenny is eleven years old and an orphan. Her mother has just died a few years before this her father and stepfather. The problem is they lived in China. There is no one in China to care for her. However, before her mother died, she gave Jenny instructions and made arrangements for her travel the America and to the Graymark house. Jenny’s mother always told her she was a Graymark but she had no proof. Jenny arrives at Graymark in the middle of the night. No one believes she is related and they want to send her back. Jenny has no choice but to stay and be a servant to the family. It is a wonderful story of drama, mystery, suspense, and betrayal set in a gloomy seaside mansion with an equally gloomy portrait gallery of the Graymark ancestors. A good read. Susan Krenicky

Wallace, Rich. Playing Without the Ball. Knopf, 2000. 0-679-88672-9. $15.95. Grade 9-12.  Jay McLeod is on his own. His mother deserted him at age 9. His father moved to California in search of a better job. And Jay is finishing out his senior year, living over the bar where he works in exchange for his room. Jay lives, breathes, eats and sleeps basketball. Wallace, a coach and sportswriter, has a keen eye for sports situations and youthful sexual encounters. Because of the latter, this book is recommended for more mature readers. My high school students (male and female) loved it! Pat Naismith

Wallace, Rich. Playing Without the Ball. Knopf, 2000. 0-679-88672-9. $15.95. Grade 9-12.  Playing Without the Ball is about a boy names Jay whose mother left when he was little and his dad raised him. Then Jay finally decided at 16 that he wanted to live on his own. Jay played basketball every morning. His friend Sarita (Spit) played at Shorty’s where he worked every weekend. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about basketball and drugs. Student from Springfield High School (DELCO)

Walters, Eric. Caged Eagles. Custer, WA: Orca Publishing, 2000. 1-55143-139-4. $6.95. Grades 7-9.  This sequel to War of the Eagles can easily stand alone. It is the story of a Japanese-Canadian boy and his family and takes place as they are removed from their home and village by the Canadian government and sent to a relocation camp. The World War II fear and distrust of Japanese, even those who are full Canadian citizens, are very evident in this realistic story. Tadashi Fukushima and his family are forced to leave their fishing village on the British Columbian coast and move to a relocation camp where they are housed in animal stalls in a barn. They must endure the loss of their home, their security, and their livelihood, as even their fishing boat is taken from them. Tadashi must learn to cope with racism from other teens and adults, and must learn to do what is necessary to survive in this horrendous situation. He does so successfully in spite of his world being altered beyond imagination, and the reader is left knowing that his human spirit will endure, even though the family's future is unknown. Nancy Chrismer

Waugh, Sylvia. Space Race. New York . Delacorte Press, 2000. 0-385-32766-8. $15.95. Grades 5-7.  Thomas Derwent has a secret. He is not really a motherless 11 year-old English schoolboy, but rather a being from the planet Ormingat who has traveled to Earth with his father in a miniature space ship. Their mission is to observe human behavior for five years and then return to Ormingat by a specified date, or face being left behind. As a reluctant Thomas and his father prepare to rendezvous with their spaceship, a traffic accident separates the two. Thomas, not knowing how to contact the spaceship, is tempted to return to his former life but realizes that his love for his father is the most important thing in his life and he does everything in his power to be found. Father and son are eventually reunited before the spaceship leaves without them. This well written story has elements of science fiction and fantasy, as well as a distinctly British flavor. The accident separating Thomas and his father is contrived, but the reactions of both to this disaster are interesting. Rosanne Zajko

Weiss, M. Jerry and Helen S. Weiss. Lost and Found. New York: Tom Doherty Associates Books, 2000. 0-312-87048-5. $19.95. Grades 7+.  In this collection of short stories authors share their real life experiences that inspired them to write these stories and others. The stories range from realistic to science fiction. The variety of stories represented here should satisfy a diverse group of readers. Adele Griffith’s story, "As Skinny Does" gives a new twist to the fashion conscious, super thin crowd. Eleanor Tate ‘s "Tell Me Who You Hang Out with and I’ll Tell You What You Are" is quite eerie but satisfying. Jon Sciezka, irreverent as usual, parodies Mother Goose in "Thirteen Diddles." A definite plus for your short story collection. Jeannie Bellavance

Welsh, Sheila Kelly. The Shadowed Unicorn. Chicago: Front Street/Cricket Books, 2000. 0-8126-2895-0. $15.95. Grades 5-7.  Brendan, Nick and Ami move to an old family farm in Pennsylvania from New York City after the unexpected death of their father. Nick and Brendan are twins and together they are coping in a normal way with this death. Ami, however, locks herself in her room and becomes obsessed with unicorns. She studies them in her room and plans on ways to capture the unicorn that she believes she has seen in the woods around their farm. She convinces Nick and Brendan to go along on the search. They end up on the property of an old man who does not like trespassers and he captures Ami and Nick. They are rescued and it turns out that the "unicorn" Ami has seen around the property is the old man’s horse. He is actually a lonely old man and he doesn’t really want the horse and offers Ami the horse. A bit trite. Susan Krenicky

Werlin, Nancy. Locked Inside. New York: Delacorte, 2000. 0-385-32700-5. $15.95. Grades 6-10.  Marnie Skyedottir is locked inside on several levels. A loner, she spends an inordinate amount of time in a fantasy game on the Internet hiding from, escaping from people and life in general. Kidnapped by a woman, who believes that Marnie is her sister, she is locked inside a basement. She finds herself thinking about her relationships with others including her deceased mother, Skye. Plenty of life philosophy is spouted under the guise of Skyeís writings. This is not overbearing and does not detract from the rest of the story. There is enough action as the Elf, her on-line nemesis to whom she has reached out, tries to rescue her. There is plenty of food for thought in this powerful book. Jeannie Bellavance

Werlin, Nancy. Locked Inside. New York: Delacorte, 2000. 0-385-32700-5. $15.95. Grades 6-10.  I thought the book, Locked Inside, was a very good book. It was very realistic and the symbolism within it was very "gripping." MarnieÖis locked inside her and is kidnapped and locked inside a tiny room. Only then does she find her true self. The most interesting part of the book is when Marnie does try to escape from what she thinks will be her death. Student from Gwynedd-Mercy Academy

Whelan, Gloria. Homeless Bird. New York : HarperCollins, 2000. 0-06-028454. $14.95; $14.89. Grade 6+  "What if I don't like him?"  "Of course you will like him."  "But what if I don't?"  Maa impatiently slapped at a fly. "Then you must learn to like him."  This little gem, a National Book Award Winner, tells the story of 13 year-old Koly, who marries a sick young man whose parents merely want her dowry for his treatment. And so Koly finds herself widowed and alone in a large city with hoards of others equally hopeless women, in a country that has no place for widows. Through her own perseverance, her skill with a needle, and a bit of luck, Koly manages to find happiness. Young girls will adore this book that offers a dramatic and carefully crafted peek into another culture with the right bit of romance. Whelan does an admirable job crafting a believable and sympathetic character, delivering a lyrical story, interwoven with Hindi terms and careful research. Joyce Valenza

White, Ruth. Memories of Summer. New York: Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2000. 0-374-34945-2. $16.00. Grades 6-12.  The story of a young girl, Lyric, growing up in the 1950’s, living with her father and older sister. As her sister, Summer, slowly slips in and occasionally out of schizophrenia, Lyric is forced to take on responsibility for her care and protection. Lyric finally has to reveal her awful secret to her classmates, but learns who her true friends are. When Summer’s condition worsens Lyric and her father must live with another terrible loss, and have her committed. Michelle Stone

White, Stephen. Cold Case. New York: A Dutton Book, 2000. 0-525-94526-1. $24.95. Grades  An intriguing tale of blackmail, deception, murder and eventually justice, outside of the courtroom. This story tells us of secrets that destroyed the happiness of the families involved. The author does a wonderful job portraying the real emotions that are hidden deep inside each of us and how these tragedies form such strong bonds among the people hired to solve the murder that was left unsolved for ten years. Fran Black, Aide, Springfield (Mont Co.) 

Williams, Barbara. Making Waves (sequel to Titanic Crossing). NY: Dial, 2000, 215 pp. 0-8037-2515-9. $17.95. Grades 7-10.  Emily Brewer (12), survivor of the Titanic, returns to school in Baltimore and writes of her post-trauma adjustments to another survivor, Albert Trask (13), who is tutored at home in Virginia. She makes friends across the social classes at school and then meets Maggie, an orphaned Irish seamstress, at the railroad station when she tries to visit Albert. Emily invites Maggie to live at Brewer House, her aunt’s new settlement house, and Maggie gets a job in a Jewish garment factory that exploits child and women laborers. Appalled at the conditions in the sweatshop, Maggie and Emily march in protest. Meanwhile Albert writes to Senators to protest class discrimination in the rescue operations on the Titanic. The characters are well drawn but not in depth (Maggie is based on girl who became union leader at 14), and the plot moves sometimes improbably quickly from one incident to the next. Nevertheless, readers may applaud the social consciences of these three young adults, and this depiction of teen life in the early 20th century may be an eye-opener for today's teenagers with leisure time to spare. Eleanor Howe

Williams, Carol Lynch. Carolina Autumn. Delacorte Press, 2000. 0-385-32716-1 $14.95 Grades 7-10  Carol Lynch Williams’ light hearted and sensitive writing style makes her books popular among young adults, this one is no exception. Junior high girls will identify with Carolina as she gets her first bra, her first boyfriend, and suffers the loss of her father and older sister. The books short length and easily readability make it perfect for the reluctant reader. Margaret Goodlin

Williams, Laura E. The Executioner’s Daughter. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2000.0-8050-6234-3. $15.95. Grades 4-7.  Lilly is the 13 year old daughter of the town executioner/healer in medieval England. She is very close to her sweet gentle mother who holds a secret that when Lilly finally learns about helps to change Lilly’s fate in life. Although rather gory at times this book has a lot of good and insight into life in a medieval family. An easy read. Joan Schumer, Staff Springfield HS Library (Mont. Co.)

Williams, Lori Aurelia. When Kambia Elaine Flew in from Neptune. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000.0-689-82468-8. $17.00. Grades 9+.  The author takes what could have been a horrible, depressing story about child sexual abuse and turns it into an unforgettable story. Twelve-year-old Shayla has a lot to deal with; her older sister, Tia, has run away, her father, who has other children like her in the neighborhood, has moved back in, and her strange neighbor, Kambia Elaine, is hiding a terrible secret. Students will have a hard time resisting the great characters and the author’s wonderful use of words. Donna Darmofal

Williams, Lori Aurelia. When Kambia Elaine Flew in from Neptune. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000. 0-689-82468-8. $17.00. Grades 9+.  This is about a young black girl moving into a neighborhood. She is abused by the men who come to see her mother. She escapes by making up strange tales for her neighborhood girl friend. It is very easy reading and the author does an excellent job in depicting how children react to circumstances beyond their control. Virginia Herring

Willis, Patricia. The Barn Burner. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2000. 0395-98409-2. $15.00. Grades 5-7.  An action packed story that takes place during the Great Depression. 14 year old Ross, the oldest of 6 children, tries to help his family by working for food. Life is very stressful and a misunderstanding leaves Ross believing that his mother wants him to leave. After weeks of riding the rails and barely eating, Ross heads south and into the country. He sleeps in barns and eats when he can. One night, Ross wakes to smoke. Fearful that he will be accused of setting the fire, Ross runs. On his way out of town, Ross offers help to Mary and her three children as they move into a shack, they offer Ross a home and the opportunity to clear his name. Michelle Stone

Wittlinger, Ellen. What's in a Name. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000. 0-689-82551-X. $16.00. Grades 7-12.  Ten teenagers living in Scrub Harbor, Massachusetts. Each struggling for a sense of self. Each wanting to feel secure, but longing to break away. Forced into a move from Vermont to Massachusetts in time for the beginning of his senior year, Adam goes from being Mr. Popular to being Mr. No Name. Georgie's movie-star-want-to-be father suddenly reenters her life, after a six year absence, with an invitation that she leave her mother and go to live with him in California. O'Neill, at age fifteen, shocks his family and friends with the revelation that he is gay. As they struggle for their own identities, so, too, does the town struggle. The citizens of Scrub Harbor become divided over whether or not the name of the town should be changed to the "classier" Folly Bay. Through the eyes of each of the teens the community becomes real, and each struggle heartfelt. What's in a Name addresses issues of class, race, and personal identity without being didactic. Don't miss this one! Elizabeth McChesney

Woodson, Jacqueline. Miracle’s Boys. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2000. 0-399-23113-7. $15.99 Gd. 6+  Lafayette is full of questions. He wonders why his daddy had to die, and his mother. He wonders why Charlie came back from the detention center a different person than when he left. Why did all these things happen? Now his older brother Ty’ree is responsilble for taking care of the family and isn’t able to afford to go to college. This story is about caring for and loving members of ones family even when the going is tough. It is this love that will hold the three brothers together, if anything can. This book received the Correta Scott King Award. Constance Roupp

Yolen, Jane and Robert J. Harris. Queen’s Own Fool. New York: Philomel Books, 2000. 0-399-23380-6. $19.99. Grades 7+.  A collaborative novel by Jane Yolen and first time Scottish author, Robert Harris. Tells about the life of Mary Queen of Scots from the perspective of her "own fool", Nicola Ambruzza. Based on some known facts regarding a favorite fool that Queen Mary was said to have had, the details about Nicola are made up but portray much of the inside life of Mary and her court and royal politics during that time period. Nicola joins Mary’s court when she performs for Queen Mary, the wife of the newly crowned King Frances of France. Queen Mary enjoys the performance and talking with Nicola that she invites Nicola to be her fool. Nicola eventually travels with Queen Mary to Scotland when King Frances dies and the Queen decides to return to Scotland to again rule over her people there. Mary marries two more times and Nicola is involved intimately in Mary’s life and her constant problems with her husbands and the Protestants. Nicola is often asked to gives truthful advice to Mary through much of this turmoil and Nicola gets involved in plots to free Queen Mary when she is imprisoned. Eventually, when Mary goes to England to ask for help from Elizabeth, Nicola is sent back to France with a handsome payment. An interesting look at court life during this time period. Susan Krenicky

Committee Members:Jeannie Bellavance, Gwynedd-Mercy Academy, Elementary Division; Pat Bender, Upper School Librarian, The Shipley School; Candace Blessing, Ephrata High School Media Center; Nancy Chrismer, Juniata High School Library; Donna Darmofal, Scranton Preparatory School; Margaret Goodlin, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School; Virginia Herring, West Allegheny High School; Karen Hornberger, Palisades High School; Eleanor Howe, Washington Park School; Pamela Kavanaugh, Grier School; Margaret Kleppinger, Hatboro-Horsham High School; Susan Krenicky, Phoenixville Area Middle School; Sandra Krieg, The Haverford School; Joan Marstiller, Pittsburgh, PA; Leslie Mastronardo, Penn Manor High School; Elizabeth McChesney, Greenville High School; Susan Mowery, Upper Dublin High School; Pat Naismith, Springfield High School, Springfield, PA; Constance Roupp, Harlan Rowe Middle School; Michelle Stone, Sandy Run Middle School; Joyce Valenza, School District of Springfield Township; Rosanne Zajko, Ancillae-Assumpta Academy

Return to PSLA Lists

Return to Virtual Library