PA Not-Ready-For-Newbery Recommended Fiction Titles 2001

Alphin, Elaine Marie.  Ghost Soldier.  New York: Holt, 2001. 0-8050-6158-4. 216p.  $16.95. Gr 5-8. An entertaining blend of paranormal and historical fiction, the story begins when Alexander Raskin and his dad make a trip to North Carolina for a visit with his father’s girlfriend.  Though he hasn’t seen ghosts since the day his mother left them three years ago, now the ghost of a young Rebel soldier attaches himself to Alexander, and they begin a search to discover the fate of soldier’s family.  The historical research and Alex’s efforts to thwart his father’s romance come together in an interesting resolution to the mystery of the Rebel’s missing family.                                                  Candy Blessing

Atkins, Jeannine.  Becoming Little Women. New York: G.P. Putnam, 2001. 0-399-23619-8.  202p. $16.99. Gr. 4-7. A novel of Louisa May Alcott, that tells the story of the family leaving Boston to live on a farm they name Fruitlands when Louisa May is about 11 years old.  Mr. Alcott brings the family to Fruitlands to practice his Utopian view of life in a community he calls the “Newness”.  He hopes to persuade others to join their community, whose members are strict vegetarians, wear linen clothes to avoid wearing cotton from slave labor, and everyone shares work and even shares in the disciplining of the children.  Louisa May and her family experience great struggles in this tough environment, but Louis May survives because of her strong nature and belief in her father.  This is a well-researched novel based on journals, biographies, and letters, etc. Historical Fiction, Fictional Biography     Susan Krenicky                                

Banks, Jacqueline Turner.   A Day for Vincent Chin and Me. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 0-618-13199-X.  119 p. $15.00.  Gr. 4-6. Tommy, one of the few Japanese living in Kentucky, is best friends with a group of racially mixed sixth graders.  He feels pretty secure until his mother (a survivor of a Japanese Internment Camp) becomes involved in organizing a rally in memory of Vincent Chin, an Asian American murdered in Detroit in 1982. He was murdered because, thinking he was Japanese, they blame him for the declining sales of cars and unemployment in the auto industry. Because of the rally, some members of their community spray paint Tommy’s house with the letters KKK.  Tommy is upset because he has always tried to fit in and not draw attention to his Japanese heritage. In the meantime, Tommy witnesses a speeding car almost hit a deaf child in his neighborhood.  When Tommy organizes his friends to place a speed bump on the street to slow down the cars, he realizes that it is okay to support what is right and he resolves his conflict with his mother. Civil Rights Fiction                                  Susan Krenicky                                                

Barron, T.A.  Tree Girl.  New York: Philomel Books, 2001.  0-399-23457-8. 138p. $14.99.  Gr 4-7. Young Rowanna (Anna) cannot remember her mother, but she knows where Master Mellwyn found her ­ in the branches of the tall willow tree on the other side of the forest. Ever since that day, Anna has had an uncontrollable desire to discover her roots. She climbs the fir tree near her cottage by the sea to see the willow, and one day, she disobeys the master and ventures into the forest, where she befriends a bear. The bear, a tree sprite in disguise, assists Anna in her journey through the forest to the willow tree, and they arrive on High Hallow Eve, the most magical night in the forest. Anna is pursued and captured by Master Mellwyn, who returns home to the cottage with Anna. When he suffers an accident, and is nursed back to health by Anna, she discovers the truth of how she came to be with the master, and sees herself as she really is, not as Mellwyn sees her. A happy ending for everyone but Mellwyn.  Fantasy                                                                                                           Rosanne Zajko

Baskin, Nora Raleigh.  What Every Girl (except me) Knows.  Boston: Little, Brown and Company,

2001.  0-316-07021-1. 213p. $16.95. Gr. 6-10.  Gabby has questions about life, puberty, her mother's death, that need to be answered.  She keeps journals and makes lists of what she needs to know to be a "woman".  Gabby's father and brother aren't very helpful. Gabby blames herself for her mother's suicide and eventually takes a trip to New York City to find out the truth.                                  Karen Reese, Sandy Run Middle School Sub         

Bennett, James W.  Plunking Reggie Jackson.  New York: Simon and Shuster,  2001.  0-689-83137-4  204p. $16. Gr. 8-12. Coley Burke is a baseball star of his high school and he is looking forward to a pro career or at least a college scholarship.  He makes a series of poor choices and finds himself ineligible because of poor grades and with a girlfriend who insists she is pregnant.  Coley’s father criticizes every detail of his pitching and reminds him of his older brother’s successes in baseball.  Sadly, the older brother is dead and the family is having difficulty with Patrick’s death.  The book has it all—a pressuring dad, a sports injury, a wise coach and the rush toward a championship.  It also has sex and a hot relationship with Coley’s girlfriend thinking she might be pregnant.  Coley must make mature decisions about his future.  The baseball story will attract readers but the rest of the book reads like a soap opera!   Baseball fiction                                  Peg Kleppinger

Bernson, Linda.  Picture Perfect.  Lunchbox Press, 2001.  0-9678285-1-1. 121p. $3.95 pb.  Gr 7-12.  Cassie Talbert, promising high school art student, is working frantically to finish a painting that she hopes will win the $5000 first prize in the spring art show. Not only will winning help her to gain the recognition necessary to ensure acceptance into a good art college, but the money will do much to alleviate financial pressures at home, the result of her father's faltering business. Her project is going well until she is distracted by feelings of jealousy and the realization that her best friend, Justin, means more to her than simply friendship. This first book in a new paperback series, Seasons, offers light reading that deals with teen issues without being flippant or didactic. Picture Perfect will be a high interest addition to paperback collections. Readers may access updates about the series at www.lunchboxpress.com.  Realistic Fiction.                                                Elizabeth McChesney

Blight, Edward. A Time to Choose. Pacific Grove, CA : Park Place Publications, 2001.  1-877809-87-X  312p.  $15.95  Gr. 9-adult. During World War II 120,000 Japanese Americans were interned in relocation camps.  Blight tells the eloquent story of two families ­ one interned and one stranded in Japan during the war.  From the desolation of Japan, the relocation camps to the Japanese Americans fighting in France and Italy, Blight weaves this inspiring account of the human spirit.  Multicultural              Pat Naismith

  Bock, Dennis.  The Ash Garden: A Novel.  New York: Knopf, 2001. 0-375-41302-2. 281p. $23.00. Grades 10+. Documentary filmmaker
Emiko Amai, a woman who as a six-year-old was scarred in the fallout from the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, becomes involved in the lives of German scientist Anton Boll, a principal in the Manhattan Project, and his wife Sophie who is half-Jewish.  The book explores the consequences of the bomb by three people directly affected by it.  A lot of rich history is included, but the focus is on the human stories of the intersecting lives of Emiko, Anton and Sophie and the legacy of the devastation.  This story is so powerful!  Highly recommended for mature readers in high school. Candy Blessing

  Block, Francesca Lia.  Echo. New York:HarperCollins, 2001.  0-06-028128-6.  215p. $14.95. Gr. 8-12. Echo is the daughter of a beautiful woman and a distant artistic father who are so involved with each other they cannot see the struggle their daughter is going through to find her true self.  Echo struggles with depression, anorexia and lack of self worth.  The story is told both from Echo’s point of view and how others see her. Students who liked Block’s other novel will enjoy this one.  Problem novel                                                   Donna Darmofal

  Bonners, Susan. Above and Beyond.  New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2001. 0-374-30018-6.151p. $16. Gr. 5-7. Research for a school project brings Jerry to the surprising truth about his hero cousin, and his friend Danny's misguided uncle. Jerry gradually sees past Danny's class clown exterior and helps him learn to respect himself and his family. Adventure                                                                     Michelle Stone

Bradbury, Ray. From the Dust Returned. New York: William Morrow, 2001. 0-380-97382-0.

224 p. $23.00. Gr. 8- Adult. Ray Bradbury’s From the Dust Returned is the latest in his long and celebrated body of writings. From Cecy, a beautiful girl who can enter the mind of any living thing on earth, to Uncle Einar, a gigantic winged man who flies only at night, the Elliot family is filled with so many strange creatures that one might assume it would be scary, however it is funny and often poignant, and occasionally both.  In the end, Bradbury’s exploration of the strange and wonderful family leaves us with more of an apprection for our own lives and how we live them. Family. Science Fantasy.           Student from The Haverford School.

Brashares, Ann. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. New York: Delacorte Press, 2001. 0-385-72933-2. 294 p. $14.95  Gr. 9-12. This contemporary novel deals with the special relationship among four teen-aged best friends, Tibby, Carmen, Lena and Bridgett.  When the four girls must part for the summer, they vow to keep in close contact with one another.  A pair of worn jeans, bought at a local thrift shop, is the vehicle to keep them connected.  It is agreed that each one will take her turn wearing the jeans, passing them onto the next with an explanation of where those pants have been and what events transpired.  Although Tibby stays home to work, Carmen visits her father in Charleston, Lena goes to Greece and Bridgett travels to a soccer camp in California, they are always there for one another.  Each one of these girls has a story to tell and by the end of the novel, it is apparent that each one has had experiences that will change them forever.  This is a true "girlfriend" story," one that teen girls will especially enjoy. Friendship                                                                                                                   Joanie Marstiller

Brashares, Ann.  The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.  New York: Delacorte Press, 2001. 0-385-72933-2.  294p. $14.95.  Gr 6-10.At l5 years old, a group of four girls spend their first summer apart. It's a life altering summer for each of them.  Tibby's new friend teaches her patience and acceptance.  Shy Lena finds a boy she can trust and open up to.  Carmen learns to express to her anger and is able to move on with her life.  Bee's impulsiveness and beauty lead her into her to experiences she's not ready for.  The girls take care of and support each other as they share a pair of "magical" pants for the summer. Realistic Michelle Stone

  Bujold, Lois McMaster.  The Curse of Chalion.  Eos, 2001.  0-380-97901-2.  442p.  $25.00. Gr 10+.  Cazaril, former courtier and soldier, survived a betrayal that sent him to a position of slavery aboard an enemy galley. Both physically and emotionally spent at the time of his escape, Cazaril seeks only a quiet haven in which to recover and live out the rest of his life. At thirty-five years of age he is but a broken man. Unbelievably, Cazaril is named secretary-tutor to the Royesse Iselle in the royal household where he served as a page in his youth. It is within his duties as secretary-tutor that Cazaril must face the intrigue, deceit and treachery that threaten the royal court of Chalion. Rich in detail and subtle twists of plot, The Curse of Chalion is an adventure of epic proportions, a veritable page-turner.  Fantasy                         Elizabeth McChesney

  Carbone, Elisa. Storm Warriors. NY: Knopf, 2001. 0-375-80664-4. 168p.  $16.95. Gr. 5-8.   When Nathan, his father and grandfather move to Pea Island, North Carolina, where there is no Klan activity, they become acquainted with the brave men of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station.  Nathan dreams of joining the ranks of these black surfmen as he participates in some of their practices, helps in a rescue and learns all the rules of the station. Based on real rescues performed by these African-America storm warriors along the Outer Banks, this story belongs in your Multi-cultural and Black History collections.                                  Sandra Krieg

  Card, Orson Scott. Shadow of the Hegemon. New York : Tor, 2000.  0-312-87651-3. 365p. $25.95. Gr. 7-adult. Sequel to Ender’s Shadow, this novel parallels Speaker for the Dead of the Ender Quartet.  The super-intelligent students from the defunct Battle School are being systematically kidnapped, and Bean is certain who’s behind it ­ his old rival Achilles.  Unable to fight Achilles alone, Bean is forced to team up with the most unlikely of allies, Ender’s brother, Peter.  Second in a new quartet, this one will create a demand for all of the other Ender books. Science Fiction                         Pat Naismith

Card, Orson Scott. Shadow of the Hegemon. New York : Tor, 2000.  0-312-87651-3 365 p. $25.95 Gr.

7-adult

This book was a thrilling read from beginning to end.  It did not require a lot of character development since the characters were mostly developed in Ender’s Shadow, and this book only concentrated on a small period for the main part.  The story began with a kidnapping and ended with diplomacy after a swift war.  I found it intriguing to read what the author thought the world would be like after a few centuries. When I first read this novel, I thought that Card had selected the countries that would become world powers in a very strange way.  Yet, the more I thought about it, the more it fit into the current situation of the world.  Card also did a great job of sticking to the characters ­ nothing the characters said or did seemed out of character.  This is very hard to find in novels.  The book gave me a different perspective on the future and the situation of the world.  I suggest this novel to anyone. Think about every event and why Orson Scott Card chose it as the most likely event that would take place.

                                                                                Student from Springfield High School (Delco)

  Cart,  Michael.  Sex and Love.  Nre York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. 0-6898-3203-6. 256p.  $18.00.  Gr. 9+. This is not your ordinary collection of shelf-sitting short stories. Cart collects “ten stories of truth,” stories that take a frank and varied look at the first passions, miseries, and the glory of young love. Included in this anthology is Joan Bauer's funny tale of chastity and Michael Lowenthal's erotic, but disastrous story of a first gay experience. My personal favorite is Louise Hawes’ poignant tale of an abortion that triggered an emotional epiphany. Other notable contributors include Garth Nix, Sonya Sones, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Chris Lynch.  This unflinching and honest look at the broad realm of teenage love and sexuality should be very popular.  Short Stories                         Joyce Valenza

Chandler, Elizabeth.  Dark Secrets Don’t Tell.   New York: Archway Paperback, 2001.  0-7434-0029-1  199p. $4.99.  Gr. 8-12.  Lauren has been away from Wisteria for seven years and finally returns home to face the place where her mother was mysteriously drowned.  She is confronted with a family in chaos.  Aunt Jule, her godmother, is still not acting responsibly; her daughter, Holly, is trying to keep the family running and Nora is just a strange child who seems to be haunted.  Lauren wants to help the family but isn’t quite sure how to react to the fear she feels while there.  After a series of mysterious events, Lauren realizes that someone wants her dead.  Who is it? This will keep the reader turning the pages as Lauren considers the possibility of poltergeists or family members wanting her dead. Mystery  Peg Kleppinger

  Choldenko, Gennifer.  Notes From a Liar and Her Dog. New York:  G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2001. 0-399-23591-4. 216p. $16.99.  Gr. 5-7.  Antonia, who prefers to be called Ant, lives in a fantasy world. Feeling invisible in her family, she constructs a world where she is waiting for her “real” parents to find her and her dog and rescue them. Ant believes this so strongly that she tells her teachers that she is adopted. Ant has a problem telling the truth and her art teacher, Just Carol, attempts to help Ant. But, Ant’s lies have disastrous consequences for Just Carol. Ant is a feisty girl with a strong personality, and it is hard to see how her parents overlook her, but sibling rivalry between Ant and her sisters contributes to the conflict. Ant’s one truthful conversation with her mother, and her father’s realization that he, too, avoids the truth are the breakthroughs this observant adolescent needs to find her place in her family.  Realistic fiction                      Rosanne Zajko

  Clements, Andrew.  The School Story. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. 0-689-82594-3.  196p. $16.00.  Gr. 4-7.  Natalie, a twelve year old gifted writer, whose mother is an editor at a Children’s book publisher in New York City, learns that the publisher is interested in stories about school. Natalie decides to write that story but it isn’t until her feisty friend Zoe reads the book that she believes it could be published.  Zoe plots a scheme to see that the book gets published by establishing pseudonyms for Natalie and herself and enlisting the help of their English teacher to set up an agency for the writer.  The story is about school but also about a girl and her father that serves as an outlet for Natalie to express her grief over the sudden death of her father in a car accident.  The story is funny, touching and thoroughly enjoyable. Realistic Fiction       Susan Krenicky

Coles, William. Compass in the Blood. New York: Atheneum,  2001.  0-689-83181-1.   263p. $ 16.  Gr. 7-adult. Dee Armstrong, who in high school wrote a research paper on the famous Pittsburgh prison escape of 1902 facilitated by the jailor’s wife, continues her search for the truth about Kate Soffel in college. She is, however, caught between two other interested parties, a female TV journalist who did a documen-tary on Kate and Kate’s great grand nephew who wants to clear his relative’s name. Follow Dee in her search of Pittsburgh cemeteries for Kate’s elusive grave and diary while she also tries to discover the reason for the hatred between the journalist and descendant. Readers of all ages can enjoy the two mysteries, one current and one historical, both of which reveal that reality and truth may not be what they first appear to be. Mystery - Historical                               Eleanor Howe

Collier, James Lincoln. Chipper. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish, 2001. 0-7614-5084-X. 207p. $14.95. Gr. 5-8. Twelve year-old orphan Chipper is living on the streets in 1895 as a member of the Midnight Rats gang. After a failed burglary attempt, he is taken under the wing of Patcher, a con man. It seems that Chipper resembles the dead brother of a wealthy New York socialite.  It seems that the brother had told his sister that he had a son, and there lays the tale. This story has adventure, loyalty issues, and a thoughtful, well-developed character in Chipper.  Orphans, Relationships, Adventure, Loyalty  Sandra Krieg

Collins, Pat Lowery. Just Imagine. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 0-618-05603-3  $15.00. Gr 5-9. For those students who like to read about the super natural they will enjoy reading Just Imagine. The main character,  Mary Frances uses her gift of out-of-body experiences to escape from the everyday hardships of the depression and a family that is split by what the mother wants and reality. The story is told in the first person, which adds to the charm of the story.  Family                         Margaret Goodlin

Cormier, Robert. The Rag and Bone Shop. Delacorte, 2001. 0-385-72962-6. 154p. $15.95. Gr 7-10.  A young girl is murdered in a quiet neighborhood, and the police call in a professional to interrogate the last person to see her alive: her neighbor and friend, Jason Dorrant.  When Jason is first questioned, it seems innocent enough. Soon, however, Trent, the interrogator, begins to ask personal questions, and Jason becomes suspicious.  Since Trent is known for always getting a confession, he feels the pressure to succeed in this case, even though he is convinced of Jason's innocence. Published posthumously, this book takes its title from a Yeats poem called "The Circus Animals' Desertion." This is a disturbing novel, typically Cormierian, which should appeal to older students and create discussion about its strong theme of good and evil. Psychological Fiction                                                 Pat Bender

Cormier, Robert. The Rag and Bone Shop. New York : Delacorte, 2001.  0-385-72962-6    128 p.  $15.95  Gr. 5-12
Trent is an interrogator ­ he always gets a confession when he delves into "the foul rag-and-bone shop of the heart," (from the Yeats poem).   This new assignment may make his career.  All he has to do is get a 12-year-old boy to confess he murdered his neighbor, a 7-year-old girl.  Problem is Jason is innocent, and Trent realizes it.  Brilliant, taut prose, a troubling ending and a gripping plot create a book you can’t and won’t put down.  A pitty that it was Cormier’s last. Mystery/Drama  Pat Naismith

Crisp, Marty. Private Captain. New York: Philomel, 2001. 293p. $18.00 Gr. 5-8. This is a well-told story of the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of twelve-year-old Ben.  Ben and his dog, Captain, are searching for his older brother who is missing from the Union Army.  In his quest he meets with soldiers from both sides.  Crisp develops the humanness in all her characters.  Neither side is vilified but treated with respect. Crisp does not spare the details, gets in the essential elements and drama of war, without sensationalizing the situation.  This book will be useful as a tie in to Pennsylvania and Civil War history. Historical Fiction                                                 Jeannie Bellavance

Crisp, Marty. Private Captain. New York: Philomel, 2001. 293p. $18.00 Gr. 5-8.

Just before the battle of Gettysburg, Ben Reynolds is searching for his brother Rueben, a captain in the 106th Pennsylvania Volunteers Company.  Their father has died and Ben decided to find his brother to tell him. Danny, his obnoxious cousin, joins up with Ben.  As they meet many different types of people including the Confederates, they begin to realize the importance of each other and realize that the Confederates are not really evil and the enemy, but are real human beings, too. I thought it was a great book.  It was funny and interesting at the same time.  There was just the right amount of history thrown in to give credence to the story.  I think both boys and girls will enjoy this book. I know I did.

Historical Fiction                                                                        Student from Gwynedd-Mercy Academy

Cronin, Thomas W.  As It Is On Mars.  Altona, Manitoba: Tharsis Books, 2001.  0-9687502-0-6.  438p.  $24.95.  YA-adult. 

Set in 2038,this is an excellent “hard science” novel showing outstanding research and providing a hard look at political realities as well.  Following a catastrophe, a Japanese Zen Master and two Americans on Mars are forced into thinking outside the box about every aspect of their existence.  Part of two different missions, located far apart, sent by cultures with different values, each mission is doomed to death for different reasons.  The politics of earth and an unexpected event play into this fascinating scenario.  Great hard science fiction with such compelling characters, cultural and ethical components doesn’t come along that often.  Buy this book for any high school library!    Science Fiction              Pam Kavanaugh

Crutcher, Chris. Whale Talk. NY: HarperCollins, 2001. 0-688-18019-1. 220p. $15.95. Gr. 8-12. T. J. Jones, the bi-racial narrator, didn't set out to turn the jock culture at his school on its ear; he just didn't want to play a sport. But Mike Balfour, the racist football player, bullies special ed. student Chris for wearing the football letter jacket of his dead brother.  T.J. is offered the chance to put together a swim team of interesting characters who in the normal course of high school sports would never have the chance to earn that highly coveted sports letter.  With humor and an astute understanding of the high school culture, Chris Crutcher once again takes an unlikely leader and a group of misfits and turns them into the guys you'd want to hang out with in high school. Swimming, Relationships, High schools, Adoption.                                Sandra Krieg

Cummings, Priscilla. A Face First. New York: Dutton, 2001. 0-525-46522-7. 195p. $16.99.  Gr. 7-12.  Kelley Brennan is in the hospital recovering from the severe burns she received in an auto accident with a truck, and her reaction to injury and disfigurement is a role model for all ages. The medical treatments are gruesome but the nurses, family, and friends are supportive. Looking in the mirror brings her face-to-face with the realty of her injuries and a society that is focused on physical appearance. Kelley goes through pain, anger, depression, and withdrawal before she finally achieves self-acceptance and a desire to make life as full and happy as possible. Fine writing makes this an enjoyable reading experience.         Eleanor Howe

Dams, Jeanne M. Green Grow the Victims: A Hilda Johansson Mystery. New York: Walker, 2001. 0-8027-3355-7. 210p. $23.95. Gr. 8-12.  A murder mystery set in South Bend, Indiana, has a detective who is also a housekeeper in the Studebaker Mansion.  Hilda Johansson is an immigrant who works long hours hoping to bring the rest of her family to the United States.  It is interesting to read about the conflict between the immigrants and the Americans who had arrived at an earlier time.  Hilda is called on to help an Irish politician who is being accused of murdering a political opponent.  As someone who spent twelve years living in the South Bend area, it was interesting to read about the immigrant history of South Bend. The writer includes a history lesson with her murder mystery.  Mystery                                  Peg Kleppinger

Delaney, Mark. The Protester’s Song. Atlanta:Peachtree, 2001. 1-56145-244-0. 214p. $5.95. Gr. 7-10.   This is the fifth book in the Misfits, Inc. series.  Four high school students, Peter, Jake, Byte and Mattie help solve a 30-year-old mystery and save the school librarian’s job.  The story starts in 1970 with a protest concert against the Vietnam War at Trenton State (Kent State).  Josh Quinn loses a leg in a car bombing.  Thirty years later Josh, Byte’s uncle thinks he recognizes the musician who may have planted the bomb.  The Misfits are intrigued and start to follow up on leads.  But so do the FBI and some former National Guard members who are trying to keep a secret.  A fast paced, action packed mystery that will keep readers guessing, the book also offers a little bit of history as the kids find out more about the Vietnam era. The Misfits are anti-heroes but not necessarily nerds.  They are individuals.  Librarians will like the stand against censorship and the students’ research skills.Mystery Jeannie Bellavance

Doss, James. Grandmother Spider. New York: William Morrow, 2001. 0-380-97722-2. 293p. $23.00. Gr. 10-12. This very excellent mystery has readers on the edge of their seats trying to determine whether or not the "spider-like" creature, which has caused two disappearances and several deaths, is real or a supernatural phenomenon. Ute police chief, Charlie Moon, teams up with his friend and colleague Scott Parris to find out why two men mysteriously disappear and then re-appear in bizarre circum-stances and why a third is found murdered in a very unusual way. Charlie's Aunt Daisy, a shaman of her tribe, believes that this creature is a true appearance of the supernatural, and convinces her very impressionable young niece, Sarah, who lives with her, that the creature's appearance is her, Sarah's, fault for killing a spider. As the death toll mounts, and the lies and intrigues become more and more complex, Charlie and his friend must work quickly to prevent more deaths. The satisfying ending to this story will please and surprise even experienced mystery buffs. Mystery             Nancy Chrismer

Downing, Wick. Leonardo's Hand. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2001. 0-618-07893-2. 201p. $15.00. 

Grades 6-10. 

Nard is an orphan boy with a turbulent past, including being born without a left hand.  After being placed with a family on a small pig farm, Nard finally seemed to be enjoying life, despite some of his vandalizing neighbors.  Things really pick up in this story when a disembodied left hand comes and writes a backward message.  It turns out that this hand belongs to the late Leonardo da Vinci, who had made a wish before his death to be reincarnated in someone else.  Nard even named his new hand Vinci.  Many exciting adventures follow involving this very talented, new-found hand.  I really enjoyed this book.  The idea that Leonardo da Vinci's hand could wait 500 years to be joined to another body is definitely a new theme for me!  It is a very different and creative idea.  Fantasy         Student from Franklin Regional Middle School

Eisner, Michael Alexander. The Crusader: A Novel. New York: Doubleday, 2001. 0-385-50281-8.  319p.  $24.95.  Gr. 10-adult.  Brother Lucas, an ambitious monk, is assigned to exorcise demons from Francisco de Montcada, a knight who has returned from the Crusades possessed by the devil (suffering from depression and battle fatigue). Using patience rather than the usual brute force to achieve exorcism, Lucas records Francisco’s confession once he begins to talk. It is a tale of not only the rigors of spiritual and physical training, battle, success, and defeat on the Crusade but also romance, honesty, loyalty, villainy, and betrayal. Accurate historical, cultural, and geographical settings (including the famous castle Krak des Chevaliers) enhance the suspense that culminates with a power struggle between the church, state, and nobility in Spain. The author’s writing truly brings history, adventure, and human character alive while remaining true to the medieval mind and soul.          Eleanor Howe

Elliott, Stephen.  A Life Without Consequences.  San Francisco: MacAdam/Cage, 2001.  0-9673701-7-5  186p. $25.  Gr. 10-adult .  This novel is based on the author’s own experiences as a runaway at the age of 13.  He spent a year of his life living on the roof of a convenience store on Chicago’s north side.  He was made a ward of the court and then lived in a series of large and small group homes and institutional learning centers.  Prior to becoming a writer, he worked as a stripper, cabdriver, bartender and marketing executive.  He was awarded the 2001 Stegner Fellowship from Stanford University as an emerging writer in fiction and poetry.  The story is a horrifying one to read as he traces the life of Paul, a boy with a violent father who brutalizes him until he flees.  Despite the hardship that he faces during his early teen years, he begins to take charge of his life at 16.  He attends a public high school where is finally able to begin to step out of his perilous life. The book is called semi- autobiographical and Paul’s experiences showcase the problems our society faces with abandoned and brutalized children. Homeless Teenagers    Peg Kleppinger

Ellis, Deborah. The Breadwinner. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2000. (published in USA 2001.) 0-88899-419-2. 170p.  $15.95. Gr. 5-8. This timely novel, set in Afghanistan in the mid 1990's, vividly describes the harsh realities of life in this war-torn, struggling part of the world.  The protagonist, eleven-year old Parvana, must disguise herself as a boy so that she may go out onto the streets and earn enough money to feed her family.  This situation came about only after the Taliban arrested her father for the crime of having been educated in a foreign country.  Each day brings on new challenges, as Parvana tries to keep her true identity a secret, since females are strictly forbidden to leave their homes without a male escort.  The story of Parvana and her family provides a true educational, as well as emotional, experience as to life under the Taliban.  Historical Fiction                                                             Joanie Marstiller

Erickson, John W. Moonshiner’s Gold. New York: Philomel, 2001.  0-670-03502-5.  199p.  $15.99.  Gr. 6-10. Riding home on his horse during Prohibition, Riley Dawson finds strangers in a nearby canyon and then a bag of gold in the schoolhouse stove. His newly fatherless family learns they will be evicted from their remote Texas ranch. To help the family in their time of need, Grampy Dawson transforms himself from a restless roaming, but humorous, ne’er-do-well into the real hero of the story, a courageous and witty fiddle-playing participant in the plan to catch the crooks who control the local town and its officers of the law. This well-written mystery with a variety of colorful characters in an accurate historical setting should appeal to even reluctant readers. Mystery- Historical            Eleanor Howe

Ermelino, Louisa.  The Black Madonna.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.  0684871661. 252p. $23  Gr. 10-12.   This novel is set in New York’s Little Italy from the 1940s to the 1960s and reads more like a series of short stories all connected to a neighborhood. In one story, Nick is seriously injured swinging between two buildings, and his mother fiercely protects him while trying to find money to help him recover.  He regains the ability to walk on the day of the funeral of his long lost father who had abandoned the family years ago.  His mother tracked down his father to demand that he return to help his son, only to have him die before they could meet.  In another story, Antoinette prays to the Black Madonna for a son after five daughters and Jumbo is born—so named because he weighed in at 23 lbs!  All three women pray to the Black Madonna, a famous statue in Viggiano, Italy that helps them in times of need.  The stories all explore the relationships between mothers and sons.  The stories sketch an interesting look back at Little Italy when faith played a very important part in everyday life. Italian American Families            Peg Kleppinger

Esquivel, Laura. Swift as Desire:A Novel. New York:Crown Publishers,2001.  0-609-60870-3. 207p.  $22.00.  Gr. 10+ .  A sad but beautifully written story of Jubilo, a telegraph operator who rewrites messages to help people.  Unfortunately, he does not do the same in his personal life.  Now he is on his deathbed, taken care of by his daughter, Lluvia.  He has Parkinson’s disease and cannot speak so Lluvia buys a telegraph and now he can reveal the secrets that have torn his marriage apart.  Like her previous novels, there is a lot of cultural history.  Highly recommend for AP Spanish classes.  Donna Darmofal        

Ferris, Jean.  Of Sound Mind.  Farrar, 2001.  0-374-35580-0   $16.00.   215 p.  Grades 6-10 .  High school senior Theo literally has his hands full in this delightful and poignant coming-of-age story.  Caught between two worlds, as the only “hearie” in a deaf family, Theo is responsible for translating the world to his parents and younger brother, and is particularly exploited by the demands of his sculptor diva-type mother.  He finds a comrade, as well as romance and challenge in purple-haired new student Ivy, the hearing child of a deaf father.  Theo learns he has the power to change his fate after his father’s stroke.  Will he be able to leave his family in Philadelphia to pursue math at MIT?  A great read that explores teen themes of growth, identity and responsibility and allows us a peek into deaf culture. When reading the novel, the reader is able to distinguish what is being signed in bold print.  This is a superb novel and is highly recommended to all libraries. (Set in Philadelphia.) Disabilities, Multicultural            Joyce Valenza & Peg Kleppinger

Fleischman, Paul. Seek. Chicago: Cricket Books, 2001. 0-8126-4900-1. 176p. $16.95. Gr. 7+ .  In his autobiography for his senior project, Rob writes that his life has been filled with voices. Radio has played an important part in Rob’s life as he nightly searched the airwaves for his father, a disc jockey, who left when Rob was born.  Through the many monologues, the reader is introduced to the storyteller grandmother, the union activist professor grandfather, the Spanish teacher mother, the mother’s boyfriend and Rob’s friends.  The narration will ring true with the readers as they relate to these well defined characters.  Fleischman includes directions for performing Seek as Reader’s Theater.  Contemporary Realistic, Radio, Fathers and Sons, Family Relationships   Sandra Krieg

Fletcher, Susan.  Walk Across the Sea.  New York:Athenium books for Young Readers, 2001.  0-689-84133-7. 214p. $16.00.  Gr. 5-9.  The time of the story is 1886. Eliza’s father is the lighthouse keeper in this coastal city in California.  Eliza loves living on the island and in the lighthouse.  One day, Eliza sees a Chinese boy sitting on the rocks that connect the island with the city. Eliza is aware of the prejudice that the people of this coastal city have against the Celestials (Chinese).  Her encounters with this boy are not consistent with what she has been told about the Chinese people.  Eliza is learning to form her own opinions, often opinions that do not agree with her father’s convictions. A series of events conspire to change the lives of Eliza and her family.  What price is Eliza willing to pay for moral integrity?  Historical Fiction       Constance Roupp

Fletcher, Susan. Walk Across the Sea. New York: Atheneum, 2001. 0-689-84133-7. 214p. $16.00.  Gr. 6-10. “ ‘Heathen things,’ Papa called them…I was forbidden to even speak to a Chinaman.”  Eliza Jane Mc Cully finds it difficult to obey her father after a Wah Chung enters her life.  Prejudice divides a community and families in Crescent City, California in 1886.  People fear the strangeness of the Chinese culture and are angered when Chinese workers are hired because they will work for lower wages. Eliza had many worries.  Her mother has miscarried; her father may lose his job as the lighthouse keeper; she loses her faith in God; she questions her father’s rather righteous belief about the Chinese. Fletcher combines all these in a captivating story. Historical Fiction Jeannie Bellavance

Flinn, Alex.  Breathing Underwater. New York:  Harper Collins, 2001. 0-06-029198-2.  263p. $12.76. Gr. 10-12.

This story is about a boy named Nick, who, above all things, loves his ex-girlfriend, Caitlin.  He is one of the most popular kids at school, but no one knows the “real” Nick.  Nick has a very disturbing life at home, which causes him to take out his anger on Caitlin.  The two are very much                

in love, until Nick makes the biggest mistake of his life.  Breathing Underwater is a very fast-paced, heart wrenching story, about love, heartache, and teenage life.  This book is suitable for anyone who enjoys realistic stories.  There are few instances of foul language and compromising situations. Realistic love story                                                                 Palisades High School Student

Fogelin, Adrian.  Anna Casey’s Place in the World.  Atlanta: Peachtree, 2001. 1-56145-249-1. 207p. $14.95.  Gr. 6-8.  Anna Casey hasn’t had it easy.  Her parents were killed in an accident and since that tragedy she has moved several times among relatives until there are no relatives left to care for her.  She becomes a foster child to and is sent to live with Anita Dupree, a matchmaker for lonely hearts.  Anna and Eb, another foster child, settle in with Anita and get to know the small town where she lives.  They meet a cast of characters while adjusting to yet another home. They meet the local environmentalist, a Vietnam vet who hasn’t been able to adjust to life after the war and several children.  While Eb wants to return to his mother who has yet to act responsibly, Anna wants to make her home here.  As the story unfolds, Anna finally begins to feel that she belongs. Anna is one of the most positive young characters in teen fiction.     Foster care fiction                                                  Peg Kleppinger

Fogelin, Adrian.  Crossing Jordan.  Atlanta: Peachtree, 2001.  1-56145-215-7.  140p. $14.95. Gr.  5-7.  A promising first novel that addresses bigotry and prejudice in Tallahassee.  When Cassie’s father finds out that a black family is moving next door, he erects a fence around his house. Despite the fence, and against the wishes of both their parents, Cassie and her new neighbor Jemmie become friends, bound together by their mutual enjoyment of Jane Eyre and their love of running track. As they challenge each other on and off the track, they learn what separates their families. While the premise of the story is believable, at times Fogelin is heavy handed with the motives behind the prejudices of Jemmie’s mother and Cassie’s father, and the event that unites the two families is predictable. Despite this, the development of the girl’s friendship is on target, and girls who read this book may want to read Jane Eyre next. Realistic Fiction                                                                         Rosanne Zajko

Gallo, Donald, R., ed. On the Fringe. New York: Dial, 2001. 0-8037-2656-2. 224p. $17.99.  Gr. 10-adult. Eleven young adult authors, including Joan Bauer and Chris Crutcher, contributed stories to this collection about high school students. The frank portrayals of the bullying, ridicule, and verbal harassment dumped by the in-crowd on the out-crowd demonstrate that anger and resentment accumulate, whether expressed openly or not, and may culminate in acts of violence and verbal or written rage. Dedicated to both the bullies and their victims, the collection presents a picture of our high school culture that the Columbine massacre opened for others to see and write about.  Following the stories are resources, books, help lines, and websites.             Short Stories                        Eleanor Howe

Gallo, Donald R.,ed.  On The Fringe. NY: Dial Books, 2001. 0-8037-2656-2. 226p. $17.99. Gr. 9+.  This collection of short stories centers around those of us who don’t fit the mold of the typical high school student.  These stories are about the oddball, the misfit, and those that follow a different drummer.  Chris Crutcher writes about Gene who is too poor to dress in the appropriate colors for each holiday and the teacher that torments him.  In Ron Koertge’s “Geeks Bearing Gifts,” Renee, of the in-crowd, decides to interview the left-outs for a newspaper article.  As one would expect, the athletes and other cool kids are not presented in a positive light.  However, these stories are meant to make the reader aware of these students and their plight.  Share this with the school counselors.     High Schools, Belonging, Outcasts        Sandra Krieg

Gauthier Gail.  The Hero of Fort Ticonderoga.   New York: G.P. Putnam, 2001.  0-399-23559-0. 231p. $16.99 Gr. 5-8. Set in rural Vermont in 1966, this novel introduces spunky Therese LeClerc, a sixth grade student of French Canadian descent.  Theresa (Tessy) is a “C” student and not very interested in school and is even disappointed when she draws Ethan Allen as the subject of her oral report when her substitute teacher breaks the tradition of assigning the topic to the best student in the class.  Tessy initially gives an incomplete but interesting and irreverent report on Ethan Allen.  She must continue to redo the report over a period of time and even presents one on the class field trip to Ft. Ticonderoga.  Tessy is unsure of herself, uncomfortable with her family and outside the clique of her classmates.  In the process of doing the report Tessy proves herself and learns what is truly important in life.   Historical Fiction                                           Susan Krenicky

Gauthier, Gail. The Hero of Fort Ticonderoga. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2001.  0-399-23559-0. 231p. $16.99.  The cover is less inviting than it should be, but Gail Gauthier’s story of Therese (Tessie) LeClerc’s struggle to grow up, find acceptance in her community and to accept her rural, seemingly ignorant farmer father are compelling. Stodgy and strict Mrs. Ford has made it known that only the best student in 6th grade would get to do the report on Ethan Allen, the hero of Fort Ticonderoga.  Tessie has neither hope nor desire to do it, but through an act of fate and a creative substitute teacher, she is chosen.  What follows is a real change in attitude not only for Tessie but also for the students in her class. Begrudgingly she gives a rather flip report on Allen, highlighting his irreverent qualities. Urged on by the new teacher, she gets caught up into the real story of history and delivers a serialized version of Ethan Allen’s career. Her classmates clamor for more. Gauthier subtly makes a number of points about how exciting history really can be, about family relationships, and about friendship.  Tessie is definitely the underdog and the reader will root for her. Family Relations          Jeannie Bellavance

Gavin, Jamila. Coram Boy. New York:Farrar Straus, 2001. 0-374-31544-2. 237p. $19.00. Gr.7-9.   Set in 18th century England, Otis Gardner is a peddler who actually makes his money in the trade of unwanted children.  He tells the mothers that he is taking the children to the Coram Hospital, a home for abandoned children.  Instead, he abandons the children, buries them or sells them into slavery.  His own son, Meshak, is very slow, but deeply troubled by what he sees happening to these children.  The story develops around an aristocratic family whose son, Alexander, has trained in music at the local cathedral and wants to pursue a career in music but his father refuses.  Alexander runs away to pursue his dream unknowingly leaving behind a young woman pregnant with his child. She is told her child has died in childbirth, but instead the child had been given to Otis Gardner.  Meshak saves the child from death and takes the child to Coram Hospital. Each character only knows pieces of the story and only a few know of the existence of the child.  There is death, love, betrayal and high drama in this historical fiction tale for young adults.  Historical Fiction                                     Susan Krenicky

Ghent, Natali.  Piper.  Custer, Washington: Orca, 2000.  1-55143-167-X.  176p.  $6.95.  Gr. 4-9.  Uprooted after the death of her father, Wesley pleads with her aunt for the life of the runt, after watching the birth of a litter of Australian shepherd puppies.  These are working dogs, on a working farm, and the runt, called Piper, must learn to pull her weight, or be sold as a pet.  Hard work pays off for Wesley and Piper, but a coyote attack could change everything. Animal Fiction     Pam Kavanaugh

Ghosh. Amitav.  The Glass Palace.  New York: Random House,2001.  0-375-50148-7.  474p. $23.95.  Gr. 10+ . This is a wonderful tale that spans more than a century.  Set in India it tells the tale of the colonization of Burma and the exile of the Royal Family.  It is also the love story of a young Indian boy and his love for a servant of the queen. Students studying this country will benefit from this tale. Historical fiction  Donna Darmofal

Gilmore, Rachna.  A Group of One.  New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2001.  0-8050-6475-3.  184p.  $16.95.  Gr. 6-12.  Canadian-born Tara resents the attitude of some of her peers and teachers.  She is Canadian, not Indian, has never lived in India, speaks English as a first language, and doesn’t particularly care about her family history.  Then her Grandmother, Naniji, arrives for a visit.  Naniji fought with Gandhi in the Indian Independence Movement.  Proud and strong at 70, she is horrified that her grandchildren know so little about their heritage.  Resistant at first, the full story of her grandmother’s past, and the reasons for involvement in the movement shock Tara, and compel her to share this history that has never been part of her curriculum.  Being a “regular Canadian” takes on new meaning for those who hear her report.  Multicultural/Family                                                                                           Pam Kavanaugh

Goobie, Beth.  Before Wings.  Custer, WA:Orca Book Publishers, 2000.  1-55143-161-0.  203p. $16.95.  Gr. 8-12.  Two years prior to the start of the story, 15-year-old Adrien had a brain aneurysm and almost died.  Since then, her life has been a waiting game, waiting for “the big one” that will end her life.  Adrien has come to Camp Lakeshore, in Canada, for the summer.  The camp is owned and operated by her aunt, and both the camp and her aunt seem to have a mysterious secret.  At the camp, Adrien meets Paul, who is said to have a sixth sense and who has been dreaming of his own death.  Since her arrival, Adrien has seen the spirits and ghosts of five girls who had been at the camp when her aunt was a counselor.  These elements mix together to create a story that has a poetic, lyric style and a compelling tale to tell.  Supernatural/ghost stories  Constance Roupp

Graff, Nancy Price. A Long Way Home.  New York: Clarion Books, 2001. 0-618-12042-4. 199p. $15.00. Gr. 5-8. Twelve-year-old Riley is not happy with his new home, his mother’s new boyfriend, Sam, who refused to fight in Vietnam and his lack of friends in Sharon,Vermont.  Sam encourages Riley’s interest in the Civil War, where on a class trip to Gettysburg, he discovers a family secret.    He learns courage  manifests  itself in different ways.  Good read that can lead to discussion on different topics.  Problem Novel                      Donna Darmofal

A Long Way From Home is a cleverly crafted novel. I would not recommend it to senior high students but  I would rather expose 7th and 8th grade to this interesting story.  The author has concocted a story using the interesting facts of the Civil War.  In this far away tale a young boy discovers heroism and honor from the history of our proud nation.                                                                     Student from. Scranton  Prep School

Griffin, Peni R.  The Ghost Sitter.  New York. Dutton’s Children’s Books, 2001. 0-525-46676-2. 131p. $14.99.  Gr. 5-7. If ghost stories are traditionally scary and hair raising, this one breaks the mold.  A tragic accident has taken the life of 10 year old Susie shortly after World War II, but Susie doesn’t realize she’s dead. She also doesn’t realize she’s a ghost. But, she’s a non-threatening ghost, and what’s even better, she’s a great babysitter who can be seen only by the youngest children whose families move into her old house.  When Charlotte and her family move into Susie’s house 50 years after the accident, Charlotte and her friend Shannon conjure up the invisible playmate of Charlotte’s baby brother. In an investigative process that would make any librarian proud, Charlotte and Shannon begin piecing clues together in an effort to send Susie to her eternal rest. Although the loose ends are neatly tied up, Susie’s perspective on her predicament is unique, haunting and poignant. Suspense.  Rosanne Zajko

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Impostors. NY: Simon & Schuster, 2001. 0-689-83904-9. 176p. $16. Gr. 6-9. Set in the future, where it is illegal to have more than two children because of limited food and resources, Luke Garner, a secret third child, is sent to boarding school to hide him from the Population Police.  Once at Hendricks, Luke is subjected to hazing by his roommate and ignored or yelled at by his teachers.  Luke, registered as Lee Grant, discovers that one of the boys is a spy for the Population Police. How much has this spy learned about Luke?  Does Luke manage to thwart the spy plans? Your students will eagerly read this to find out. Furturistic, Interpersonal relationships,  Boarding School.                     Sandra Krieg

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.  Takeoffs and Landings. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001. 0-689-83299-0. 208p. $16.00 Gr. 6-9. Confident and popular Lori and her dumpy, insecure older brother Chuck unenthusiastically accompany their mother on a business trip.  Mom, a motivational speaker who is always telling her audiences not to rush life, but to take time to notice details before it is too late, doesn’t appear to be heeding her own words. The kids feel that Mom is on the fast track and has abandoned them for the more glamorous life. Spending time together on the trip finally brings things to a head. Their dad died in an accident eight years before and no one had truly come to grips with their feelings.  The story probes into family dynamics and honesty. Haddix makes these concerns more accessible by letting Lori and Chuck each give their side of the story.  There are occasional interjections from Mom’s point of view as well, which adds to the integrity of the story. This book would be well directed to students with those concerns, but even the general reader will come away with insight.  Family Relations  Jeannie Bellavance

Hansen, Joyce.  One True Friend.  New York: Clarion Books, 2001.  0-395-84983-7. 154p.  $14.00. Gr. 6-10. Amir and Doris discover the true meaning of family as they correspond over a 5-month period.  After the death of his parents, 14 year old Amir is sent from home to home until he locates and moves in with his youngest brother and his foster parents. His ultimate goal is to reunite his brothers and sisters and live with his aunt and uncle.  His challenge is to find them.  Doris faces the difficulty of betraying a friend to save her from drugs.  Through their letters, Amir and Doris help each other make wise decisions and understand what they really want from life.                                           Michelle Stone

Harrar, George.  Parents Wanted.  Canada: Milkweed Editions, 2001. 1-57131-633-7. 239p.  $17.95. 

Gr. 5-7. 

Twelve-year-old Andy Fleck has lived in more foster homes that he cares to remember.  He suffers from ADD and has difficulty adapting to new situations.  The Sizeracy's are a loving couple, eager to have Andy come live with them.  Will Andy be able to trust them?  Do the Sizeracy's have enough love and patience to help a boy as needy and obstinate as Andy? This book is well written and the plot moves along quickly.                                         Judy High, Arcadia University

Harrison, Michael.  Facing the Dark.  Holiday House, 1999.  0-823401491-4. 129p.  $15.95. Gr. 5-9. Told in a voice that alternates between the daughter of the victim and the son of the accused, Facing the Dark draws the reader into a tense novel of deception. On the surface it appears that Charley's (Charlotte's) father has been murdered as the result of road rage. The most obvious clues point to Simon's father as perpetrator of the crime. It has also been suggested that Simon's father, owner of a cab company, has committed the murder in an attempt at a hostile takeover of his rival's company. Neither Charley nor Simon believes that the police have gathered all of the evidence. Charley has a different suspect in mind, while Simon has witnessed important evidence deliberately being destroyed-evidence that could possibly clear his father. After several awkward encounters, Charley and Simon decide to join forces to clear Simon's father and bring the real criminal to justice.  British vocabulary, reflective of the setting, may require some explanation.  Mystery and Detective Elizabeth McChesney

Hautman, Pete. Hole in the Sky. New York : Simon & Schuster, 2001.  0-689-83118-8.  179p.  $16.00.  Gr. 9-12 . A new twist of post-apocalypse science fiction.  A deadly form of the flu has wiped out 90% of Earth’s population.  Those who survive live in isolated areas, fearful of strangers and infection.  A small percentage have survived the disease, but these Survivors all bear the some mental or physical disability.  The remnants of Ceej’s family and friends try to hold out against the Survivors who seem bent on destroying them.  A fast, compelling read. Science Fiction                         Pat Naismith

Hauptman, Pete. Hole in the Sky. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.0-689-83118-8. 179p. $16.00. Gr. 7-12.

In the year 2028, the virulent Grunseth’s Flu devastates most of the world’s population save for a few “lucky” Survivors.  With only the transcendent Grand Canyon as a guide, Ceej Kane experiences both a physical trial and a spiritual calling as he traverses the eerie landscape with his friend Tom in search of his missing uncle and sister.  Along the way, Ceej meets a young Hopi girl who lures him toward a sarcred place free of disease and full of hope.  Have the Kinka, a cult of Survivors who seek to infect others, captured Ceej’s uncle and sister?  Science fiction, Dystopia, New Age    

Laura Brooks, Drexel Intern.

Herman, John. Labyrinth. New York: Philomel, 2001.  0-399-23571-X.  188p.  $17.99.  Gr 9-12. Unhappy at home after the death of his father, Gregory begins hanging out with Jed, a delinquent who plans to leave town on his motorcycle with his girl Virginia, to whom Gregory is also attracted. Gregory tells Jed about his strange dreams and then agrees to steal money and guns to get the trip started. Alternating with this story is the tale of Gregor, one of the Golden Ten teens selected every 10 years to go to a neighboring country. Although his mother denies the honor and strongly opposes the trip, Gregor joins the other nine on the ship. The two stories are eerily similar yet different and spiral closer together in two action-packed adventures that end in confrontation with the monster in the labyrinth. This cleverly constructed easy-to-read page-turner can be enjoyed on three levels: action, psyche, and adaptation of the Minotaur myth.                                                    Eleanor Howe

Hesse, Karen. Witness. New York: Scholastic Press, 2001. 161p. $16.95. 0-439-27199-1. Gr. 8+.

Witness provides a look into prejudice and hate in a small Vermont town through the eyes of various residents.  The unique format of the book provides some interest to the reader but can be hard to follow due to the variety of characters and the varying frequency of their appearances.  In addition, characters lack strong characterization within the monologues.  Some events in the book are clouded with ambiguity and lack the graphic details needed to properly portray the horror of hate.  This lace of detail along with inadequate characterization leave the reader emotionally removed from the story and its characters.  Student from Springfield Twp High School, Mont. Co.

Hill, Pamela Smith. The Last Grail Keeper. New York: Holiday House, 2001. 0-8234-15740. 223p. $17.95.  Gr. 6-10.  Arthurian legend combines with time travel, as Morgan le Fey seeks the help of 16-year-old Felicity Jones in an effort to keep the Holy Grail out of the hands of evil people who intend to exploit it. Felicity has accompanied her mother, renowned medieval studies scholar Dr. Vanessa Jones, to Glastonbury Tor, formerly known as Avalon. Felicity is more intent on studying for her driver’s license, in spite of the flashes of ESP that she does not believe are real. When Morgan makes a dramatic entry into Felicity’s life, Felicity begins to understand that what she thinks is ESP may be something more significant and powerful. Through Morgan, Felicity comes to understand that not only is she descended from the Grail Keepers, whose mission is to preserve the Holy Grail throughout time, but that she is the chosen Grail Keeper of the present time.  Her mission is to keep the dastardly 20^th century version of Mordred from destroying the newly discovered Grail. A knowledge of Arthurian legend is not essential, as the time travel, the struggle of good versus evil, and Felicity’s conversa-tional tone and reactions to situations combine to produce fast paced page turner. Fantasy  Rosanne Zajko

Hobbs, Valerie.  Tender.  New York:  Frances Foster Books, 2001.  0-374-37397-3.  245p. $18.00.  Gr. 7-10. Fifteen year old Liv is a typical non-conformist New York City teen from black makeup to black leather. When her grandmother/caregiver suddenly dies, Liv is sent to California to live with her estranged father. She learns to work through her anger and grief while adjusting to her new life. Don't let the title scare away the boys, it refers to the job of 'tending' to a diver.                     Michelle Stone

Horsley, Kate. Confessions of a Pagan Nun: A Novel. Boston: Shambhala, 2001.  1-57062-719-3.  191p.  $19.95. Gr. 10-adult. Gynneve, a former druid and unbaptized nun at the St. Brigid convent in Ireland, writes her memoirs as she transcribes the classics and prepares to meet an uncertain fate at the hands of a zealous monk. On one level the novel is a depiction of Ireland when Christianity replaced the druids and Gwynneve’s adjustment to a changing world; on a deeper level, it is also her search for wisdom and understanding of human life and suffering and her journey into and beyond rigid beliefs. Her values settle on kindness and love for mate and parents. This is a very well-written unusual novel for the reflective reader who enjoys historical fiction.                                                                         Eleanor Howe

Horvath, Polly.  Everything on a Waffle.  New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2001. 0-374-32236-8.149p. $16. Gr. 6-8.  Newbery honor book, 2002.  Orphaned at 11 years old, Primrose has a lot to deal with.  Everyone thinks she is in denial about her parents' death, but she knows they are simply stranded on a deserted island.  She moves from the babysitter's to her uncle's and finally to a foster home while maintaining her faith in her parents eventual return, and her sometimes disturbing honesty.  Through it all, she has a friend in the owner of a restaurant that serves "everything on a waffle".  Everyone but Primrose is shocked when her parents return.  Each chapter closes with an interesting recipe.  This is a quick moving adventure about hope.    Adventure                                      Michelle Stone

Houston, James D.  Snow Mountain Passage: A Novel.  New York: Knopf, 2001. 0-375-41103-8.  317p.  $24. This novel is about the Donner Party as told through the eyes of James Reed and his daughter Patty.  They were exiled from the party after he accidentally killed one of its members.  He managed to make it over the Sierras, but others did not. Along with more than 80 stranded emigrants, they erected crude cabins below the summit and settled in for a long winter of hunger, cold, madness and cannibalism.  The story is told through his daughter Patty’s eyes and from the perspective of James Reed who attempts to rescue the stranded people.  The story uses trail notes by his daughter Patty that were written when she was in her seventies.  This is a very well-written  historical novel that will capture the interest of readers.  Donner Party   Peg Kleppinger

Howland, Ethan. The Lobster War. Chicago: Cricket Books, 2001. 0-8126-2800-4. 146p. $15.95.  Gr. 5-9. Set on the coast of Maine, two brothers face the future after their father dies.  Dain wants to be a lobster fisherman and his mother hopes that he will go to college and leave fishing.  Eddie is a high school dropout who seems destined to make poor choices.  Their relationship with their mother is fractured by her demand that Dain go to college and her poor relationship with her eldest son. The reader will be captured by the description of the sea, lobster fishing and the danger the young protagonist faces in a dramatic sea rescue.  Dain is faced with many choices about his future that he gradually sorts them out in this novel.   Young Adult Fiction                                         Peg Kleppinger

Ibbotson, Eva. Dial-a-Ghost. New York: Dutton, 2001.  0-525-46693-2. 256p. $15.99. Gr. 5-8. Where do ghosts go to find places to haunt when they’ve been displaced, why to the Dial-a-Ghost Agency.  And if you need a place haunted just come by and speak to Miss Pringle and Miss Mannnering, who will find the perfect ghost for you.  This worked well until the Snodde-Brittles show up looking for a horrible ghost to haunt their manor…the only problem is that the manor really belongs to their young nephew and he is afraid of loud, strange noises.  The reader will be caught up in the series of strange and humorous mishaps that make up this tale.            Fantasy, Ghosts.  Sandra Krieg

Jacques, Brian.  Castaways of the Flying Dutchman.  New York: Philomel Books, 2001. 0399236015. 32 p. $22.95.  Gr. 6-10. 

This book is about a boy named Neb and his talking dog, Den, who are the only survivors of the famous Flying Dutchman.  After the shipwreck, an angel gives them the gift of never aging or dying.  He goes throughout history helping people in need until he hears the sound of a bell, which means he must move on.  In 1896, he goes to a little English town called Chapelvale, and is pulled into a mystery which could save the town from being destroyed.  This is a very enjoyable book to read.  Jacques’ writing is easy to follow.  His colorful writing creates vivid images and allows us to understand the characters.  The absorbing plot takes us through a treasure hunt filled with riddles and non-violent confrontations with a local gang.  The characters are unique and interesting.  It is suspenseful and keeps you interested from the adventure-filled beginning to the satisfying end.  I think that people of all ages should read this book.   Fantasy.                                                                 Student from, Franklin Regional Middle School

Jenkins, A.M.  Damage.  New York: Harper Collins, 2001.  0-06-029100-1.  182p. $12.76. Gr 9-12. Life is changing for football star, Austin Reid.  He no longer feels the excitement to play the game or even the energy to get out of bed.  He forces himself to go through the motions and appear as he has always appeared.  The spark in his life returns when he starts to date Heather.  She is the only person that can make him feel alive again.  It is not long before Austin’s relationship with Heather starts to sour.  As the relationship sours, Austin contemplates suicide.  This moving story will interest many high school students.  It is a quick read and grabs the reader as they move further into the story.  Reluctant readers are likely to choose and enjoy this book.               Karen Hornberger

Jennings, Richard Walker. The Great Whale of Kansas. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 0-618-10228-0. 150p. $15.00. Gr. 5-adult.  This is a quietly philosophical little story that is weird enough to appeal across a wide age range.  The eleven-year-old protagonist is old beyond his years, admits it, and gets on with his life as he wants it to be.  Certainly anyone who has ever dreamed of making a great paleontological discovery, or has visited Kansas, should read this book. Novel                     Pam Kavanaugh

Jennings, Richard W. The Great Whale of Kansas. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2001.  0-618-10228-0. 150p. $15.00. Gr. 5-9. Using droll humor Jennings tells the story of a young boy who, setting out to create a pond in his backyard, discovers a fossil whale over 120 feet long.  The whole town of Melville, Kansas turns out to witness the struggle of the boy to retain his right to his property, fending off the claims of the State Museum that wants to turn the area in to an “educational” theme park.  Paralleled with this is the theme of encroachment on Native American lands by the government in the previous century.  Strangely enough it is the machinations of the 19^th century politicians that save the day. A good story at its most basic level, this book will also be appreciated by more sophisticated readers for its subtle humor and interesting asides.    Jeannie Bellavance

Kanefield, Teri. Rivka's Way. Chicago: Front Street, 2001. 0-8126-2870-5. 139p. $15.95. Gr. 6-10.   The story of 15 year old Rivka, a Jewish girl living in the walled city of Prague in 1778. As a doctor's daughter, Rivka leads a privileged life. She is betrothed to Jakob even though they have never directly spoken. While most women never leave the walled city, Rivka has an unusual curiosity about the city and hills beyond the walls. Her courage leads her to discover her own depth and generosity. Historical Fiction.                                    Michelle Stone       

Kerr, M.E. Slap Your Sides. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. 0-06-029481-7.  198p. $15.95. Gr. 5-9.

As a Conscientious Objector (C.O.) during the Second World War, Bud shoemaker finds that his views in war begin to change attitudes both in his small Pennsylvania town and in his family.  Written with vivid characters and realistic dialogue, M.E. Kerr has written a book to enlighten the reader about the Quakers.  Furthermore, the story shows us the courage in individuals to stick by their “unpopular” decisions.

World War II. Brothers.Quakers.                          Tom Worth, English teacher, The Haverford School.

Kessler, Brad. Lick Creek. New York: Scribner, 2001.  0-7432-0160-4.  299p.  $24.00. Gr.10-adult. After the death of Emily’s father and brother in a coalmine accident, her mother declines into depression and Emily must manage the household. When she takes produce to sell to a nearby elegant hotel, she meets a company representative who later invites her to a company picnic, gets her drunk, and rapes her. Her anger spills over to a young immigrant lineman who falls from a tower and has to recuperate at her home under her mother’s care. Tender honest feelings develop between them, but Emily fears that yet another man will leave her and her unresolved anger from the rape leads them both into great risk. This first novel achieves its own power through sensitive insight into the honest human feelings and sturdy character of its cast, lyric writing full of imagery and West Virginia dialect, and knowledgeable settings in coalmines, power towers, mountains, and farms. Scenes of sexuality are handled graciously.              Eleanor Howe

Killingsworth, Monte.  Equinox  New York:Henry Holt & Co., 2001.  0-8050-6153-3. 118p. $16.95. Gr. 7-9.   Fourteen-year-old Autumn’s simple life in a log cabin on Douglas Island is going to change when her father announces a move to the mainland.  The author tells the story in a one week, beautifully illustrated, journal of Autumns.  She also reveals the secret of her father and mother’s marriage. This well written book will appeals to many Junior high girls.   Family                         Donna Darmofal                                                                                        

Equinox is for those artists that are inspired by words. There is a twist in every chapter that pulls the reader to a roller coaster ride. The ending will make you stop and think about when you were Autumn’s age. This book is a work of literary art.                                                                                                  Student from Prep

Kindl, Patrice.  Goose Chase.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001.  0-618-03377-7. 214p. $15. Gr 6-9. A delightful modern fairy tale about a goose girl with magic hair who weeps diamonds and sheds gold dust.  The book begins with her imprisonment in a tower by the Prince of Dorloo, one of her two suitors. Assisted by twelve geese, Alexandria manages to escape from the tower as well as from several other life-threatening situations.  A strong female character, Alexandria will appeal to fans of Harry Potter and Shrek.  I loved this book. Fairy Tale/Fantasy  Pat Bender

Kindl, Patrice.  Goose Chase.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.  0-618-03377-7. 214p. $15.00. Gr. 8-adult.  A young girl receives riches beyond her dreams because of being kind to an elderly old woman.  Alexandria has many adventures as gold dust falls from her hair and her tears turn to diamonds.  A king and prince want to marry her but she wants freedom.  Her l2 geese come to the rescue.  The ending is truly a "happily ever after".  Fairy Tale             Karen Reese, Sandy Run Middle School Sub         

Klass, David. You Don’t Know Me. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2001. 0-37-438706-0.  272p. $13.60. Gr. 10-12. The title of the book is directed at John’s (the main character) mother.  This story will rip out your heart, chew it up, and spit it out.  John’s life is so troublesome and sad that one cannot help but feel bad for him.  He lives in an imaginary world, in which he compares everything to something else.  He lives with his mother and his abusive stepfather.  John believes he is named after a toilet, and that his real father did it to spite him.  This book is the story of John’s first step into society and how he overcomes his own personal fear of reality.  This book is suitable for individuals who enjoy seeing experiences from another persons’ point of view.  There are few instances of foul language and compromising situations.

                                                                                                                Palisades High School Student

Koss, Amy Goldman.  Stranger in Dadland.  New York: Dial Books, 2001.  0-8037-2563-9. 119p.  $16.99. Gr. 5-8. Every summer since their parents divorce, John and his sister travel from Kansas to L. A. (nicknamed "Dadland") to spend a week with their dad who never seems to pay much attention to them or make much time for them in his busy schedule.  The year John was 12, he went alone. The week started out even worse than other years until finally, a couple days before he was scheduled to go home, something happened to bring them closer together and finally bond.  A heartwarming story that proves people can change and things aren't always the way they seem.          Nancy Moore, Sandy Run Middle School Library Secretary         

Kroll, Steven. Dear Mr. President John Quincy Adams: Letters from a Southern Planter's Son. New York: Winslow Press. 2001. 1-890817-93-7. 121p. $15.50.  Gr. 5-8.  This book talks about the every day life of a president and a southern planter's son.   The president doesn't have the majority and the son thinks slavery and western expansion is a sin.  The book revolves around the Creek Indians and their land.  Nice perspective to presidents.      Sandy Run Middle School Student

Laser, Michael.  6-321.  New York: Atheneum, 2001. $15.00.   0-6898-3372-5.  131p. Grades 5-7.   This autobiographical novel chronicles the Marc Chaikin's sixth grade experience in 1963 in Queens, NY.  For those of us who were also experiencing elementary school the year the president was shot, the bittersweet memories of first unrequited love, the scandal of a divorce, the bullies, the conflicts between the brightest class and the low achievers, the baseball cards, the school plays and projects, will ring true and inspire memories. Young adults may not pick up this one without a booktalk.  But this sweet, coming of age story will appeal to those sensitive young men out there.  It would make a great parent or teacher read-aloud, allowing generations to share sixth grade memories. Historical Fiction                                    Joyce Valenza

LeGuin, Ursula K. The Other Wind. New York : Harcourt Brace, 2001. 0-15-100684-9. 256p.  $25.00.  Gr. 6-adult .  At last, another Earthsea novel!  Alder, a humble sorcerer and mender, has disturbing dreams.  He dreams constantly about a rift in the wall between the land of the living and the land of the dead, and his dead wife calling to him.  When he visits the ex-Archmage Ged on Gont, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever change Earthsea.  Fantasy                                               Pat Naismith

LeGuin, Ursula.  Tales from Earthsea.  New York: Harcourt, 2001.  0-15-100561-3.  296p. $24.  Gr. 8-adult.  Ms. Leguin suggests that the reader tackle these five tales after reading the Earthsea novels.  The tales are from the era before and during the trilogy. The tales provide background to the novels that many will want to read.  “The Finder” describes the youth of Otter and how he played a role in the founding of Roke School. “Darkrose and Diamond” tells the story of two lovers who do not practice magic.  “The Bones of the Earth” is the story of an elderly wizard and his pupil who join forces to oppose an earthquake.  “On the High Marsh” Ged must find a dangerous mage he had driven off Roke Island and “Dragonfly” is the story of a mysterious woman who comes to the Roke School to challenge the rule that only men may be mages. In addition, there is an essay on the history and culture of LeGuin’s Earthsea world.  Critics agree that this collection is a must for Earthsea Triology devotees.         Fantasy  - Short Story                                                                                                   Peg Kleppinger

Lincoln, Christine. Sap Rising. New York: Pantheon, 2001.  0-375-42140-8.  164p. $20.00.  Gr. 10-adult. Each of the dozen short stories in this volume stand alone but have interconnecting characters. The author, a native of Baltimore, writes with an authentic and haunting voice of African American family and social life both in the city and in the surrounding rural poverty. The characters and stories navigate the African American experience between youth and adulthood, old and new lifestyles, and city and country. Short Stories         Eleanor Howe

Linkskold, Jane M. Through Wolf's Eyes. New York: Tor, 2001. 0312874278. 594 p. $27.95. Gr. 6-12. Through Wolf's Eyes is an enticing read that captures the hearts of people young and old.  A riveting tale of a girl raised by wolves, along with political monarchy, friendship and betrayal, this is sure to grab anyone's attention.  Jane Lindskold weaves a tale that will keep you guessing and thirsting for more.  Once started, impossible to finish.  Its adventurous young heroine will keep you guessing -- suspense is a powerful component in this book.  Get a cup of hot chocolate, find a comfortable nook, and enjoy!  Fantasy.                                                                                         Franklin Regional Middle School

Lundgren, Mary Beth.  Love, Sara.  New York: Henry Holt, 2001.  0-8050-6797-3.  199p. $16.95. Grades 10-12. Sara and Dulcie are best friends in a cookie-cutter rich kids school where they stand out for being a foster child and a Korean-American. When Dulcie starts seeing Jon, the popular school quarterback, Sara begins to feel rejected.  Sara is also afraid that Carol, her foster mother, will send her back to the orphanage. The story is told through e-mail messages, journal entries and Sara's Honors English essays. Sara's writing assignments become more personal as her life takes some bad turns.  A disturb-ingly powerful first novel for young adults by a children's author. Psychological Fiction, Family.         Pat Bender

Lupoff, Richard A.  Claremont Tales.  Urbana: Golden Gryphon, 2001.  00-053553  290p.  $23.95.  Gr. 8-12.  There are twelve science fiction stories included in this book.  There are wide range of stories included—mystery to science fiction.  Most of these stories were originally published in magazines including one that was only published in an e-zine.  One story seems to be influenced by a Sherlock Holmes story; another has a character very similar to Walter Mitty. “Black Mist” takes place on a moon of Mars and is a murder mystery.  The stories are entertaining and very readable.  Fantasy Fiction                            Peg Kleppinger

Lynch, Chris.  Freewill.  New York: HarperCollins, 2001. 0-06-028176-6  $15.95 .  Will, whose father and stepmother were killed in a suspicious automobile accident (murder/suicide?), is living with his grandparents and attending a special vocational school. The oddly crafted totems he has created in shop class suddenly begin to appear on the scene of teen suicides in his neighborhood.  The narrator in this stylishly written and unsettlingly novel is not Will himself, but his mind. In effect, isolated Will is talking to himself. He is eventually redeemed with the help of a reporter, his reluctant off-beat “friend” Angela, and his emotionally disjointed grandparents.  An interesting story of the inner struggle of a troubled young man, but it is hard to “love” the characters, and it is challenging to follow the narrative of this very dark Printz honor book.             Joyce Valenza

McConnochie, Mardi. Coldwater: a novel. New York: Doubleday,  2001.  0-385-50260-5  $24.95. Coldwater is an Australian convict island ruled by the father of the three Wolf sisters ­ Emily, Charlotte, and Anne. Captain Wolf rules the island with an iron will and the only means for escape for the three girls is by writing stories about an imaginary land. The dynamics between the three sisters is detailed outlining their fights, shifting alliances, personalities, and temperaments. The book is said to be a work of fiction about the elusive Bronte sisters.  Historical Fiction                   Margaret Goodlin   

McCunn, RuthAnne Lum.  The Moon Pearl.  Boston: Beacon Press, 2000.  0-8070-8349-6.  316p. $14.00.  Gr. 9-12 . Set in 19th century China, this novel tells the tale of three girls who meet in a “girls’ house”, a place where young girls prepare for marriage.  Three girls take a vow of spinsterhood and become outcasts in their village. Eventually they prove to be good business women and gain acceptance.  Their road to success is filled with hardships. Their story gives us insight to a different time period and the characters of three brave young women.  This is a fascinating story that should be on a recommended reading list.  Good esteem builder for girls.             Historical Fiction.                  Donna Darmofal

McDevitt, Jack.  Deepsix.  New York: EOS, 2001. 0-06-105124-1.  432p. $25.00.Gr. 9+ . The planet Deepsix is about to be destroyed by a rogue gas giant.  Spaceship pilot Priscilla Hutchins and a unique team journey across the dying planet to discover what they can about the doomed planet. When their only means of return is destroyed by an earthquake; they must find a way to leave Deepsix.  Set in the 23rd century, this novel will appeal to those interested in science fiction and technology.  Great characters, good comic relief and great adventures make this a worthwhile read.  Science Fiction                                        Donna Darmofal

McDonald, Janet.  Spellbound.  New York: Frances Foster Books, 2001.  0-374-37140-7.  138 p.  $16.  Gr. 9-12.  Raven is a young unwed mother living in the projects of Brooklyn.  Life appears to be very bleak.  She has dropped out of school and begins to realize that she will never be able to support her young son unless she gets an education.  She and her friend, Aisha, another high school dropout mother, share their days in the housing projects.  Raven’s sister tells her about a scholarship program that will allow her to begin a college prep program and then go on to college on a full scholarship.  Despite the complications she faces when her baby’s father reappears in her life, Aisha’s new pregnancy and her day-to-day struggles to find a job to support herself and her baby, Raven struggles to be a success.  Urban teens will identify with the issues that confront Raven each day.  She is such a determined young woman; it is great to see her take the challenges that life has thrown at her and still stay in there fighting. The novel tells the harsh truth about how difficult it is to break free from the projects.  Alternately funny and grim, this gritty realistic story forces the reader to cheer for the resilient Ravens as she struggles against the odds and clings to hope regardless of the obstacles. Teenage Mothers/High School Dropouts.                                Peg Kleppinger & Joyce Valenza

  McDonough, Alison.  Do the Hokey Pokey.  Chicago: Front Street/Cricket Books, 2001.  0-8126-2699-0.  120p.  $14.95.  Gr. 3-7.  Every kid (of any age) can understand Brendan’s reluctance to have his very weird mother, weirder than anyone else’s mother, at his school.  Imagine his horror when she is scheduled to be the DJ for an all-school music and munchies event!  This is a very entertaining look at embarrassment, fear of embarrassment, and being yourself.  Anyone who has ever been part of a family would enjoy this book. Problem Novel/Family                    Pam Kavanaugh

Macy, Sue.  Girls Got Game. New York:Henry Holt, 2001. 0-8050-6568-7. 152p. $15.95.  Gr. 5-adult. This collection of sports stories and poetry by twelve women who have made sports part of their daily life is inspiring and compelling.  These authors have a variety of experiences, in many different sports (one story features synchronized swimming!), but they have in common a passion for sport, and a recognition that women have had to push there way into some games, both personally and historically.  Every middle school and high school that has girls should also have this book, prominently displayed!   Anthology                       Pam Kavanaugh  

Manns, Nick.  Operating Codes. Boston: Little Brown, 2001. 0-316-60465-8. 182p. $15.95 Gr. 6-10 .  Set in a rural town in Britain, Graham and his sister, Matty, sense that something is not right in their new home, the Sentinel House.  The kids saw a frightening man as they arrived, Graham was knocked unconscious in a strange accident and they heard strange noises that sounded like soldiers marching. They soon discover that their new home was once part of a WWI military camp where a young soldier was executed for treason after revealing the camp was testing poison gases on the prisoners.  While Graham and Matty explore the ghost story, it is revealed that their father is working on a super secret national defense project.  He is arrested for publishing defense codes on the Internet, something that he did not do. He is forced to defend himself and through this incident the family learns what has happened at their home.  This is a very suspenseful story that will keep readers involved and questioning. Ghosts-Fiction                        Peg Kleppinger

Marsden, John.  The Night is for Hunting.  Boston : Houghton Mifflin. 2001 0-618-07026-5. 246p. $16.00 Gr. 7-adult . Once again, you won’t be able to catch your breath.  Unarguably the best so far in the Tomorrow series, this installment has Ellie and her fellow teenage commandos “adopting” a band of feral children while hiding out in Hell.  When even that refuge is invaded, the teens must once again pit their wits against the invaders.  Fast-paced action, dark humor and unlikely heroes once again ensure this book’s place in the hearts of teenage readers.  This one stands well alone, but once you get students “hooked,” they will have to read them all.  This series has a healthy cult following. Adventure      Pat Naismith

Matas, Carol. The War Within. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. 0-689-82935-3. 151p. $16.00. Gr.7-10.  This Civil War story is told from an unusual point of view. Hannah is a Jewish girl living in Mississippi and a stalwart supporter of the Confederate cause. Her father and brothers are off fighting in the war, her sister falls in love with a Union officer, and reality hits Hannah when the Confederate forces burn her town and the Union forces take over. Hannah's family is forced to leave their home under Grant's orders that all Jews must leave. Hannah finally realizes that slavery is wrong and that her long-held beliefs may be wrong. Historical Fiction                           Nancy Chrismer

Mazer, Harry.  A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor.  New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001.  0-689-84161-2. 104p. $15.00.  Gr. 5-8.  A short but powerful historical fiction novel telling of the horrors of the attack on Pearl Harbor from the perspective of a young boy, Adam, whose father has recently come to Hawaii as a navy officer assigned to the USS Arizona.  Adam’s father is truly the commander of the household and he commands Adam not to be friends with any children of Japanese heritage because it looks bad for the Navy and the family.  Adam has moved around to many places because of his father’s military career and has trouble making friends and so far the only friends he has made are Japanese.  He reluctantly disobeys his father’s order on the morning of December 7, 1941 and goes fishing with two Japanese friends in the bay at Pearl Harbor. He actually witnesses the attack by the Japanese and then must struggle with his own prejudice as he saves his Japanese friends and goes on to help rescue some of the wounded men.  He sees some horrific things including the sinking of his Father’s ship.  A very realistic and graphic portrayal of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Historical Fiction                          Susan Krenicky

Mazer, Harry. A Boy at War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. 0-689-84161-2. 104p. $15.00. Gr. 5-9. A Boy at War tries to show the difficulties and losses of family that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor created through one boy’s story.  On the day of the attack, Adam, without his parent’s permission, is out fishing with some Japanese American friends, near the site of the ships docked at Pearl Harbor. He discovers that his father was aboard his ship, the USS Arizona when it was sunk.  Read the book to discover what happened to Adam’s father, and what life was like during and after these attacks for the people living on Oahu at that time.  I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure, action and close-escapes. Historical fiction, Adventure,Pearl Harbor.  Student from The Haverford School.

Mead, Alice. Girl of Kosovo. New York: Farrar Strauss, 2001. 0-374-32620-7. 113p. $16.00. Gr. 6-8. Zana Dugolli, an 11 year old Albanian girl, tells the story of her family and their persecution by Serbians in the Balkan conflicts of 1999.  Zana has a Serbian best friend but they can no longer talk or play together because of the ethnic hatred present in Kosovo.  Zana’s family eventually tries to flee their village. Zana’s foot and leg are crushed and her father and two of her brothers are killed.  Zana survives but she and the remaining members of her family, her mother and one brother must struggle to survive in the village because Zana can not travel due to her injury. Zana befriends a British doctor who assists Zana in receiving medical care for her injuries.  The story tells of Zana’s experience in and out of hospitals trying to fix her leg and foot, and through it all Zana keeps hearing her father’s words, “Don’t let them fill your heart with hate.”  War Fiction, Ethnic relations     Susan Krenicky

Melnikoff, Pamela.  Prisoner in Time: a Child of the Holocaust.  Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2001.  0-8276-0735-0. 142p. $9.95. Grades 7-10. Twelve-year-old Jan evades capture by the Nazis by hiding at a neighbor's house. For a whole year, Jan stays out of sight, but one fine day, his wanderings outside result in his neighbors' arrest.  Jan reaches the synagogue where he finds an amulet with the power to take him back to 16th century Prague.  He is there when the Rabbi Loewe creates his famous golem to deal with Jewish persecution.  Jan wanders between centuries but the story ends when he loses the amulet and embarks on a train for Auschwitz.  Holocaust Fiction.                 Pat Bender

Meyer, Carolyn. Beware, Princess Elizabeth. New York: Harcourt, Inc. 2001. 0-15-202659-2.  214p. $17.00. Gr. 5-9. Elizabeth Tudor is wise beyond her years, surviving court intrigue and plots so that she will be, at last, the Queen of England. Starting with the death of her father, Henry VIII of England in 1547 Elizabeth tells her own story through the brief reign of her brother, Edward to the hatred-filled, paranoid reign and death of her sister Mary in 1558.  One admires Elizabeth’s cunning and patience as she waits to succeed her sister.  Life is perilous.  She must toe the line and be ever so careful as to how she presents herself.  As one reads "Elizabeth’s" words one can see that she is indeed a survivor and single-minded.  Meyer does an excellent job of portraying court life and the political atmosphere.  Reading this book along with Mary, Bloody Mary (Meyer, Harcourt, 1999) which is Mary Tudor’s story would make for an interesting study. Historical Fiction                        Jeannie Bellavance

Mikaelson, Ben. Touching Spirit Bear. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. 0-060-29149-4. 241p. $16.95. Gr. 7+. Cole Matthews is a juvenile delinquent headed down the path of destruction. The victim himself of abusive parents, Cole is a bully who takes out his anger on a classmate, nearly beating the boy to death. Rather than enter the juvenile justice system, Cole decides to enter the Circle Justice program proposed by his Tlingit parole officer, Garvey. Even though Cole agrees to live alone on an Alaskan island, he plans to escape at the earliest opportunity. But even alone on the island, Cole manages to self-destruct. His anger drives him to a foolhardy attack on the mysterious spirit bear who also lives on the island. The bear mauls Cole and as he lies suffering on the ground before his rescue, Cole faces reality and begins the long, painful journey back to redemption and forgiveness, and a second chance in the program.  Cole’s anger is searing and his behavior brutal and it is the viciousness of the bear attack that is the catalyst that makes his redemption believable. The importance of forgiveness, repentance and taking responsibility for one’s actions provide the moral compass that directs the actions of all the characters in this hard to put down portrait of survival.     Rosanne Zajko

Miles, Rosalind.  The Child of the Holy Grail.  New York: Crown, 2001.  0609606247.  433p. $22.  Gr. 10-adult.   The legend of King Arthur is retold from Queen Guenevere’s perspective in this third novel of this trilogy.  At the beginning of the third novel, Guenevere has returned to Arthur and is very upset that Mordred has come to the court to become a member of the Kings of the Round Table.  She feels that Mordred is a threat to Arthur and that he wants to be King.  Guenevere is also now involved in the quest for the Holy Grail.  Sir Galahad arrives in Camelot at the age of 14 and many believe he may hold the key to finding the Holy Grail. The story is full of action and readers who have already read the first two novels will be excited to read the conclusion of the story. The two previous novels in this trilogy have been international best sellers. Guenevere, Queen- Fiction             Peg Kleppinger

Modesitt, L.L. Jr.  The Shadow Sorceress.  (Spellsong cycle;Book 4) New York: A Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2001.  0-312-87877-X.  510p. $27.95.  Gr. 9+ . The fourth book in the series follows the adventures of Secca the new Sorceress and her nemesis; the Sea Priests. If a student has read the first three books, there really is nothing new on Defalk where magic arises from music. But this novel is an escape to an unusual world with interesting characters who have great adventures. Fantasy                                                                       Donna Darmofal

Moriarty, Jaclyn. Feeling Sorry for Celia. New York : St. Martin's Press, 2001.  0-312-26923-4. 272 p.  $16.95.  Gr. 9-12. Written entirely in letters, notes, and diary entries,  this delightful novel exposes all the angst and self-doubt that go with being a teenager.  Elizabeth has a lot on her plate: a constantly disappearing best friend, an absent father, a distracted mother, and an English teacher who wants her to rekindle the “Joy of the Envelope,” that is, write to a “Complete and Utter Stranger.”  Not only does Elizabeth write and receive letters from her pen pal, Christina, she also receives letters from zany, fictitious organizations such as the Take a Deep Breath and Calm Down Society.  This wonderfully fresh and funny first novel will attract a wide audience.  Readers will identify with Elizabeth’s problems and cheer her victories. Contemporary Life  Pat Naismith / Jennie Pittman

Morris, Gerald. Parsifal’s Page. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 0-618-05509-6. 232p.  $15.00.  Gr. 10-adult.  Piers, who prefers the nickname Pierre, joins an unknown knight on quest, meets King Arthur, travels with Sir Gawain, and entwines his life and destiny with Parsifal and the faery world and the Grail, learning what is really most valuable along the way.  This is a well-written story that has great plot twists and surprises, humor, and romance.  A most enjoyable read!  Fantasy/Adventure               Pam Kavanaugh

Moshiri, Farnoosh. The Bathhouse. Seattle: Black Heron Press, 2001. 0-930773-62-4. 182p. $21.95. Gr. 9-12.

The Bathhouse reads like a story that could be profiled on our evening news.  This real-life story is about a 17-year old Iranian girl who is living in the family home, in Iran, with her older siblings because their parents had been killed a year earlier in an automobile accident.  She is alone in the house when the doorbell rings.  In walk, with “heavy boots,” five guards.  They quickly ransack the family home not taking any care of cherished family belongings.  She is ordered to dress and while she is doing this she starts to feel her monthly cramps, but she has no time to gather any of her sanitary items.  She is taken to what was the former “bathhouse” in their town and imprisoned for one month ­ there starts the story.  This is an important addition to a high school library when students have to read about other cultures or contemporary fiction.       Joan Schumer, Springfield Twp. High School Library Aide

Na, An. A Step from Heaven. Asheville, NC:Front Street, 2001. 1-886910-58-8. $15.95. 156p. Gr. 9-12.  Young Ju Park, born in Korea, emigrates to the United States with her parents, where her brother, Joon, is born. Her parents must work two and three jobs to get ahead, neglecting the academically talented Young Ju and the academically apathetic Joon. The pressure of work and family become too much for Mr. Park, who resorts to alcohol and physical abuse. The Park children are forbidden to make American friends for fear of their bad influence. The ending is sad but hopeful when Mr. Park returns to Korea and Mrs. Park must decide whether to go with him or remain in America. Realistic Fiction, Family.                         Pat Bender

Na, An.  A Step From Heaven.  NC:Front Street,  2001.  $15.95. 1-886910-58-81 156 p. Grades 5+. When she is five-years-old Yung Ju and her family leave Korea and struggle to make it in “Mi Gook” (America)—ironically a step from heaven.  The story--a memoir of Yung Ju’s life until she prepares for college, eloquently, lyrically, and movingly describes her struggle with language, her relationship with her parents and her brother, and her father’s decline into depression, abuse, and alcoholism. Throughout, the slim novel resonates hope and allows us a peak into the struggles of a troubled Korean-American family in their attempts to acculturate. One of our Korean-American students noted that this family resembled hers, but argued with small points relating to use of Korean idioms.   Multicultural           Joyce  Valenza

Naidoo, Beverley. The Other Side of Truth. New York : HarperCollins, 2001. 0-06-029628-3. 272 p.  $16.95.  Gr. 6-10. Her mother is dead, her father in hiding, when 12-year Sade and her younger brother Femi are forced to flee Nigeria under assumed names.  They arrive in England to find no one waiting for them.  They live on the streets until placed in a foster home.  Will they have the strength to endure?  And will they ever be reunited with their father?  A grim, but hopeful, story made more poignant by actual events taking place in Nigeria.  Winner of the British Carnegie Medal. Adventure/Multicultural Pat Naismith

Nicholson, William.  Slaves of the Mastery.   New York: Hyperion, 2001.  0-7868-0570-6. 434p.  $17.99. Gr. 7-adult. After the first battle, Kestral and Bowman rest in peace at home but not for long.  An army from far away attack Kerstral's and Bowman's home cities.  Kestral and Bowman get separated and must find their way back to each other.  While Kestral wanders and tries to find Bowman, Bowman finds something incredible about himself (something he never knew before). This was a fabulous book, as good as the first book in this trilogy.      Adventure Fantasy.    Sandy Run Middle School Student

Nix, Garth. Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. 0-06-027823-4. $16.95. 487p. Gr. 7-adult.   Lirael, a daughter of the Clayr is without the Sight, unlike all her cousins, which leads her to become a librarian. She creates her one and only friend, the disreputable dog.  Soon, she is 'seen' by the Clayr and is sent to rescue Nicholas, a friend of the royal prince Sameth.  The sequel to Sabriel and just as good. Fantasy/Adventure.          Sandy Run Middle School Student

Nolan, Han. Born Blue.  New York: Harcourt, 2001. 0152019162.  $17.00  288p. Grades  9-12. Neglected foster child Janie, daughter of a heroin addict, knows that because she is not black, it won’t be easy for her to become a blues singer like “the ladies,” Aretha, Etta, Sara, and Billie.  So Janie changes her name to Leshaya, claims that her unknown father was African American, and allows the sorrow of her troubled life to escape through her songs. At 16, Leshaya is a survivor. Following heroin withdrawal and pregnancy she finds herself with a single on the radio and the attention she has so long desired.  Told in first person, in an odd combination of southern and African-American dialects, this is an intense, gritty story of a tragic heroine who tries to build a life and find identity.      Joyce Valenza

Nolan, Han. A Face In Every Window. New York: Puffin Books, 1999. 264p. 0-14-131218-1. $5.99. Gr. 9-12.  JP is a teenage boy whose father is mentally handicapped and whose mother is irresponsible. JP's grandmother has always kept the family going, but when she dies everyone is cast adrift. JP must deal with many unsettling and unpleasant issues when his mother moves them to a house in the country that she won in a contest. She invites an assortment of people to live with them, and in doing so, causes JP to feel extremely left out and lonely. He has a great deal of trouble coping with everything and everyone, but in the end, he realizes what constitutes a real family and real love. Adolescent Issues  Nancy Chrismer

Norton, Andre and Sasha Miller.  Knight or Knave.  Tor, 2001.  0-312-87337-9.  318p.  $23.95.  Gr. 10+.  Although Prince Florian succeeded to the throne of Rendelsham upon the death of his father, the Dowager Queen Ysa deems him unworthy of the kingship. Disfavor for him grows within the court. Because of this, he feels threatened by the mere existence of his illegitimate half-sister, Ashen, and plots her death. But the Ancient Ones who weave a tapestry that defines the fate of humankind have other plans. When Florian’s plot fails and results in his own death instead, new alliances are formed. Even so, a grave danger is building to the north and the alliances will all be tested. Although this is volume two of The Circle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan series, Knight or Knave stands alone on its own merits. Enough background is given within the first few chapters that reading volume one, To the King a Daughter, is not a necessity. Expect two more in the series of this fascinating tale. Fantasy.  Elizabeth McChesney

O'Connor, Barbara.  Moonpie and Ivy.  New York:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001.  0-374-35059-0. 151p. $16.00.  Gr 5-7

Her mother Ruby, who "has gone off the deep end", dumps poor twelve-year-old Pearl at her Aunt Ivy's house.  Pearl pines away for her mother expressing her thoughts through postcards never mailed.  Pearl soon befriends the neighbor boy named Moonpie and learns what a family really is through her relationship with Aunt Ivy and Moonpie.  Interesting ending.                                         Judy High, Arcadia University

Park, Linda Sue. A Single Shard. New York:Clarion Books, 2001. 0-395-97827-0.  $15.00.  152p. Gr 5-8.  Tree-ear is an orphan living in a small potter’s village on the west coast of Korea during the mid to late 12^th century.  Tree-ear and Crane-man live under a bridge in the village that is known for the treasured celadon pottery.  Though very poor, Tree-ear and Crane-man manage to care for each other. Tree-ear earns a spot as apprentice to a master potter, with the hope that one day he also may be allowed to follow that trade.  The story provides insight into the life of a small village during the 12^th century, the art of pottery making and the philosophy of the people.  The book has a most satisfying end.  Author’s Notes at the end of the book provide additional information about the time period. Historical Fiction     Constance Roupp

Peale, Cynthia.  Murder at Bertram’s Bower: A Beacon Hill Mystery.  New York: Doubleday, 2001.  00-063877. 342p. $22.95. Gr. 10-12 . Caroline Ames tries to solve the mystery surrounding the murder of two young women who are being sheltered by her friend, Agatha Montgomery.  Ms. Montgomery runs a home for wayward women and fears that the brutal murders will destroy her good work.  Caroline and her brother, Addington, conduct an unofficial investigation.  This is a period piece set in Boston in 1892 and it reflects the historical time period where there are signs “No Irish Need Apply.”  The prejudices of the time period are described and the reader will see a seamier side of Boston.  There is even suspicion that “Jack the Ripper” might be the true killer in this thriller.  This is the second novel in the series of Beacon Hill Mysteries.  This is a very readable murder mystery.  Mystery                                  Peg Kleppinger

Perabo, Susan. The Broken Places. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. 0-684-86234-4. 254p. $23.00 Gr. 8-12. 12-yr-old Paul Tucker thinks that his firefighter father is a great hero, and he is despondent because he thinks he can never live up to his father's reputation. Paul's life completely changes when his father is caught in a collapsed house trying to rescue Ian, the trapped teen who was responsible for the fire. When Paul's father and Ian finally emerge, Ian has had his foot amputated to allow him to escape and Sonny has lost his spirit. Paul's family and his world are irrevocably changed when he finds out what really happened inside that house. He has to deal with all of the "broken places" within his life and his family, and must decide what makes a real hero. This is a story about true courage. Adolescent Fiction        Nancy Chrismer

Peretti, Frank.  Hangman’s Curse.  Nashville:Tommy Nelson, Inc., 2001.  0-8499-7616-2.  $16.99.  Gr 7-12.  The first book of a new series ­ The Veritas Project.  This exciting mystery involves twins Elijah and Elisha in the strange happenings at Baker (WA) High School.  The story explores the ramifications of the bullying and harassment that are taking place among the student body.  Although told from a Christian point of view, the story is not preachy or didactic.  This is a real page turner. Mystery   Constance Roupp

Pierce, Meredith Ann. Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood. New York: Penguin Group, 2001. 0-670-89247-5. $16.99. 241p. Gr. 6-12.   An ageless youthful girl, Brown Hannah, lives alone at the edge of a mysterious forest. She answers to the magician who lives in the wood. The townspeople come to her for healing, but fear her and the wood. When Brown Hannah begins to understand the magician's treachery, she leaves the woods in search of a cure for her beloved knight. Along the path, she discovers her true self, her origin and the cure for her knight.  Fantasy.                  Michelle Stone

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Abraham Lincoln: Letters from a Slave Girl.Del Ray Beach, FL: Winslow Press. 2001. 1-890817-60-0. 136p. $13.95. Gr. 5-8.  Part of the Dear Mr. President series, this addition is written by Ms. Pinkney, known for her award winning books about African Americans. Through fictionalized correspondence between President Lincoln and the South Carolina slave Letty, the reader follows the events of the Civil War from 1861 through 1863. This well-written story includes historical notes about Abraham Lincoln, a timeline and an index. Readers are encouraged to find out more about the events mentioned by visiting the Winslow Press web site listed at the bottom of most pages. Slavery, Civil War, Abraham Lincoln.   Sandra Krieg

Platt, Richard.  Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2001. 0-7636-0848-3. 64p. $17.99. Gr.4-8.   In 1716 Jake Carpenter, a young boy from South Carolina, boards the Greyhound, a merchant ship bound for the West Indies with a load of salt fish.  Platt with the able aid of illustrator Chris Riddell turns Jake’s diary into a lively adventure filled with pirates, near mutiny and actual history.  Through Jake’s eyes the reader literally learns the ropes of life on the seas.  Platt tells of everyday life, the food, the medicine (or lack of), and the jobs required of all crew members.  Reluctant readers will find this quite enjoyable, especially with the illustrations and diagrams of the ships. Historical Fiction                                        Jeannie Bellavance

Pratchett, Terry.  Thief of Time.  New York: Harper Collins, 2001.  0-06-019956-3.  324p.  $25.00. Gr. 10 +. A young clockmaker is assigned to build the “perfect” clock: one that will stop time.  Thus the humorous fantasy begins. History monk Lu-Tze must prevent the clock from starting.  The British wit is seen in this cleverly crafted novel.  This is a continuation of the author’s Discworld novels . Science fiction                 Donna Darmofal

Pressler, Mirjam. Shylock's Daughter. New York: Phyllis Fogleman Books, 2001. 266p. 0-8037-2667-8. $17.99. Gr. 9-12. Based on the characters in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, this novel tells the story from the points of view of Shylock's daughter Jessica and of her servant Dalilah. Jessica, who has fallen in love with a Christian noble, Lorenzo, rebels against living in the Jewish ghetto. She involves Dalilah in her plotting, and causes much unhappiness through her choices. Shylock's life is destroyed through her choices as well as his own, Jessica herself doubts her future happiness, but Dalilah comes through strengthened and full of hope for her future.  Historical Fiction               Nancy Chrismer

Raphael, Marie.  Streets of Gold.  New York: Persea Books, 2001. 0-89255-256-5.  $9.95.  Gr. 7-9 . Marisia, a young Polish teenager arrives in America at the turn of the 20th century.  Her parents are turned away because her younger sister has tuberculosis. She and her brother Stefan must make their way in New York.  A good story of immigrants and the hard-ships they endured.  Also, an under-standing on what most of our ancestor encountered when arriving at Ellis Island. Historical fiction                          Donna Darmofal                         

Streets of Gold the story of Marisia and her family, set in 1901, begins with her brother being drafted in the czar’s army.  Months later, he returns as a deserter. Her family decides to flee Poland before he is killed.  Upon reaching the U.S., Marisia is faced with a great challenge: she must enter with only her when the rest of the family is turned away. The theme of the book is the personal growth Marisia has.  This story has good style and theme and is suited for Junior high.              Student from  Scranton Prep          

Reiss, Kathryn.  Riddle of the Prairie Bride.  Middleton: Pleasant Company Publications. 1-58485-308-5. 153p.  $5.95.  Gr. 5-8. As part of the popular American Girl History Mysteries series, this novel offers a glimpse into rural life in Kansas during the 19^th century.  Here we meet twelve-year-old Ida Kate, who must drop out of school to care for the farm and her widowed father.  Things seem promising when a young mail-order bride steps off the train.  However, suspicion about this bride-to-be and her true identity cloud any hope of happiness for Ida Kate and her father.  The characters in the novel come alive with emotion, resulting in a story that is hard to set aside until the mystery is solved.  Mystery.  Joanie Marstiller

Robinet, Harriette Gillem.  Missing from Haymarket Square. New York: Atheneum. 0-689-83895-6. 137p. $16. Gr. 5-8. In 1886, life in the Chicago tenements is difficult. Fortunate to have a place to live, Dinah and her family share a one-room apartment with two immigrant families. The children steal money to feed their families and anyone else they can. Dinah's father is actively fighting for unionization and therefore blacklisted, and arrested. It is up to street-wise Dinah and her friends to rescue him. She discovers the value of standing up for what you believe and doing the right thing even in the face of extreme danger. Historical Fiction, Adventure.                      Michelle Stone

Robinet, Harriette. Missing From Haymarket Square. New York: Atheneum, 2001. 0-689-83895-6. 143p.  $16.00.  Gr. 5-8.  The protagonist in this novel, Dinah Bell, is an African American child of 12 who is a seamstress in the factories of Chicago in 1886.  This novel portrays the horrible working conditions at this time in history for immigrants and African Americans, adults and children alike. Dinah’s father is a labor organizer who disappears.  Dinah discovers that he is being held by the Pinkerton’s (private detectives hired by the factory owners).  Dinah and her friends, Austrian immigrants Ben(16) and Oliva(14), who share Dinah’s family’s tenement room, work to free Dinah’s father as well as work 12 hour days in the factories.  Because their wages aren’t enough, the children steal in order to help feed their families and pay the rent on their room.  Throughout the novel Dinah finds her way into some true historical events most importantly, the riots at Haymarket Square.  Although some of the events are a bit contrived this novel gives a brief history of little known historical events and a picture of working and living conditions in the late 1800’s. Historical Fiction                                        Susan Krenicky

Rochelle, Warren. The Wild Boy. Urbaba, IL: Golden Gryphon Press, 2001.  1-930846-04-5. $22.95.  YA.  The story is a simple one: the Liindauzi race is dying out, so they come to earth to domesticate humans and repopulate their race. The aliens begin to achieve their goal when a ‘dog’ and his alien master form a mental bond. Students who are science fiction fans will like the alien human interaction. Science fiction    Margaret Goodlin

Rodowsky, Colby. Clay. New York:Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2001. 0-374-31338-5.  166p. $16.00. Gr 6-10. Eleven-year-old Elsie McPhee is often left alone to care for her younger brother, Tommy. As the story progresses, we become aware that there is something seriously wrong with Tommy and with their family situation.  Elsie, who is home-schooled, is never allowed to be seen in public.  Tommy is uncommunicative, and spends much of his time rocking and moaning.  When Tommy becomes sick and Elsie's mother refuses to let him see a doctor, Elsie is forced to choose between her mother's rigid laws and common sense.  Middle school girls and younger teens will like this story. Family. Pat Bender

Rusch, Kristine Kathryn.  Stories for an Enchanted Afternoon.  Urbana: Golden Gryphon Press, 2001.  1-930846-02-9. 284p. $24.95.  Gr. 9-adult.  Kristine Kathryn Rusch has won most of the major science fiction and fantasy awards and this collection of short stories is a compilation of Rusch’s best work.  This collection includes eleven short stories that have been previously published.  The stories are fascinating and students will find this introduction to science fiction very readable.  Her most famous story, “The Gallery of His Dreams” is a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Awards and also the winner of the Locus Award for best novella.  The story, “Echea” is about a moon child who is adopted by a wealthy Earth family and the trials and tribulations she faces as she tries to adjust to life on Earth.  The family must make a decision about linking her to life on Earth and erasing all her memories of her life on the Moon.  “Millennium Babies” follows babies who were born at the turn of the millennium in 2000 and the impact their birth date has had on their lives.   Students will enjoy reading the stories and discussing the twists in plots and characters that are very unique.  Science Fiction -  Short Story     Peg Kleppinger

Russell, Sean.  The One Kingdom.  Eos, 2001.  0-380-97489-4.  463p.  $25.00.  Grades 10+.  This first book in a new series, The Swans’ War, blends high fantasy with tension-building adventure. Tam, Baore and Fynnol seek fortune and adventure—more than what is available to them at home in the Vale of the Lakes. As they advance on their journey down the River Wynnd they are joined by Fael story finder Cynndl whose lot in life is to carry on the oral tradition of storytelling by recovering forgotten tales of ancient kingdoms. Little do they realize that the stories that Cynndl seeks are ripe with supernatural and mystical power and will have great impact on their lives. Over a century before, the King of Ayr died without naming an heir. Since that time, two royal families, the Wills and the Renné, have vied for control, even to the extent of murdering one of their own. The adventure that Tam, Baore and Fynnol seek draws them into the treachery of these feuding political factions. The One Kingdom is sure to attract genre enthusiasts. Fantasy.                                  Elizabeth McChesney

Ryan, Sara.  Empress of the World.  New York: Viking, 2001.  $15.99  213 p.  Grades 8+ .  Away from parents and home, 15 year-old Nicola (Nic) spends the summer at a program for gifted youth studying anthropology and exploring her identity through her field notes.  She quickly develops a new group of friends—Katrina, the computer geek; Isaac, the West Coast nice guy; Kevin, the sensitive musician; and Battle, the lovely dancer from North Carolina. Nic finds herself attracted to Battle and the two engage in their first intense, but brief, same-sex relationship. The romance and the break-up cause Nic to ponder her sexual identity.  Authentic dialog, themes of friendship and romance, and a convincingly real protagonist will make this one popular among young women.  It will be especially appealing to those bright, alternative types out there. Gay/Lesbian                Joyce Valenza

Salisbury, Graham.  Lord of the Deep. New York: Delacorte, 2001. 0-385-72918-9.  $15.95.  Grades 7-10. After a deckhand is laid off for financial reasons, Mikey begins working on his stepfather’s charter fishing boat in Hawaii.  He adores Bill, his stepfather and boss, and loves feeling useful to his family. When Bill offers to adopt him, Mikey feels fully accepted; something he never felt with his birth father.  On one memorable fishing trip, however, Mikey’s feelings about his stepfather and his life change dramatically.  He learns that an honest man’s integrity can sometimes be challenged, especially when his livelihood is at stake.  This is a hard lesson for a thirteen-year-old boy to learn and one which many boys will face. A good boys’ book with plenty of fishing descriptions.  Family Pat Bender

Sawyer, Kem Knapp. Freedom Calls - Journey of a Slave Girl. Shippensburg: White Mane Kids, 2001. 1-57249-206-6. 181p. $17.95. Gr. 5-9. This is a story of a young girl named Louisa, one of the lucky ones who manages to escape from slavery.  Her undying friendship with Abby, the daughter of a white abolitionist newspaper publisher, along with her strong family ties, illustrates the emotional hardships slaves endured in their search for freedom.  Not only does this book give an excellent picture of life during this period of history, but it is also filled with adventure and excitement.  Just when you think that Louisa is in safe hands and is on her way to freedom, another twist of fate leaves you fearing for her life. Historical fiction.                          Joanie Marstiller

Sedgwick, Marcus. Floodland. NY: Delacorte Press, 2001. 0-385-32801X. 148p. $15.95. Gr. 6-8. Marcus Sedgwick’s survival story looks at a future where global warming has caused much of England to be covered with water. Her parents had managed to leave Norwich on a rescue boat, but young Zoe is accidentally left behind.  She manages to find and repair a rowboat, fend off marauding gangs as she sets off to find her way to higher land and hopefully find her parents.                             Sandra Krieg

Seiffert, Rachel.  The Dark Room: a novel.  New York: Pantheon Books,  2001.  0-375-42104-1.  $24.00  YA. The book is a collection of three fictional stories of young people’s experiences of World War II and its aftermath. The stories deal with how the Germans feel about inheriting the knowledge of the Nazi war crimes and should they be treated as war criminals also?                                      Margaret Goodlin

Sescoe, Vincent E.  Double Time.  Virginia :The Brookfield Reader, 2001.  1-930093-00-4.  191p.  $17.95.  Gr. 7-10. Seventeen-year-old Jason must travel back in time from 2097 to the Civil War to locate his twin sister, Jaynie, who was accidentally transported there from her father’s time machine.  He teams up with a runaway slave, Daniel. Some of their adventures include the Underground Railroad, wartime Washington and even being captured as spies.  Civil War buffs and students interested in time travel will enjoy this exciting tale.   Historical Fiction Donna Darmofal

Double Time is an amazing book depicting future meeting the past. When Jason has to travel from 2097 to the 1800’s during the Civil War, he learns of life and the dangers back then.  He has to save his sister, Jaynie, who is stuck there. Can he save her? Students should read this intriguing book and find out.                                                                                                Student from Scranton Prep

Sijie, Dai.  (translated from the French by Ina Rilke).  Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.  (originally published in French as Balzac et la Petite Tailleuse Chinoise.)  New York:  Alfred A Knopf.  2001.  0-375-41309-X.  Gr. 10adult. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, an award-winning international bestseller, is the story of two privileged childhood friends who are exiled to a remote Chinese village for “re-education” during Mao’s Cultural Revolution.  The teens’ only guilt is being the sons of doctors who are now considered political “class enemies.”  Their days are spent carrying buckets of excrement up the mountainside and mining coal.  Then through a series of comic and clever tricks they acquire a suitcase full of forbidden Western literature packed with great nineteenth-century classic writers:  Hugo, Dumas, Flaubert, Tolstoy and most importantly Balzac.  These books become the motivation and  reward for everything they do, including wooing the beautiful teen seamstress, who lives on the other side of the mountain.  The moral of this tale is that the body may be imprisoned but never the heart and mind.  Highly recommended. Historical Fiction, Multicultural                                Lydia Koehler, Upper Dublin Library Aide

Sleator, William. Marco’s Millions. New York: Dutton, 2001. 0-525-46441-7. 161p. $16.99. Gr. 5-8.  A prequel to The Boxes, this story provides answers to some questions left unanswered in The Boxes.  This story features, Marco, 12 years old, his sisters Lily(11) and Ruth(7).  Lily finds a tunnel in the basement of their home that leads to another world that is inhabited by insect like creatures who communicate telepathically with Lily.  Lily is a medium and the creatures need her to calm “The Unknowable”, a “naked singularity” that has a huge gravitational pull that distorts time.  Once inside the “naked singularity” one can exit to many other universes.  Lily is afraid to enter the tunnel to assist the creatures and Marco, who is extremely adventuresome, goes in her place.  An exciting read that will be sure to draw Sleator fans and other science fiction readers. Science Fiction, Fantasy                                Susan Krenicky

Sleator, William. Marco's Millions. Dutton Children's Books, 2001.  0-525-46441-7. 161p. $16.99.  Gr.  6-9.  A suspenseful prequel to Sleator's The Boxes, this slim novel (161 pages) will draw readers into the mystery of Lilly's psychic power and Marco's fascination with the naked singularity - a force so powerful it can make time stand still. With Lilly's help, Marco is guided through an opening in the basement wall, an opening that only Lilly can see. He encounters a parallel universe and insect-like aliens who are intent on performing a strange ritual in the hopes that it will prevent their god from destroying the planet. The aliens are convinced that Marco, with Lilly's psychic help, can save all inhabitants of all universes. In return, Marco will be given the ability to travel through time and space, without ever growing old. Anyone who has read The Boxes will want to read Marco's Millions. Science Fiction.                                        Elizabeth McChesney

  Sleator, William. Marco’s Millions. NY: Dutton, 2001. 0-525-46441-7. 161p. $16.99. Gr. 5-8. Marco, a curious young boy, thinks about millions in terms of distance not money in this prequel to The Boxes. Traveling into a different dimension thanks to his sister Lilly’s special talents, Marco finds himself helping the creatures of this strange world save their planet and the Earth. The principles of gravity are manipulated, time changes as the effect of gravity is changed, and life goes on back home.  Adventure, Time Travel,Psychic Ability, Brothers and Sisters.  Sandra Krieg

Smith, Roland. Zach's Lie. New York: Hyperion, 2001. 078680617-6. 211p. $15.99. Gr. 5-10. At 13, Jack's life is turned upside down as he enters the witness protection program with his mother and sister. Renamed Zach, he and his family adjust to their new lives never expecting the approaching threat.  With the help of new friends, Zach conquers imminent danger only to face another new life. Adventure.       Michelle Stone

Sones, Sonya.  What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York : Simon & Schuster, 2001.  0-689-84114-0. 259p. $17.00.  Gr. 7-10. Beautifully written in free verse, this novel accurately speaks the language of a teenaged girl, Sophie Stein (note that her initials are the same as the author's) as she struggles with high school, friendship, parental restrictions, and physical attraction. While her friends are away for Winter Break, Sophie and homely Murphy spend time together and fall in love. Once school begins again, Sophie must decide whether to bear her friends' derision or publicly announce her new relationship.  This book will appeal to teenage romance fans. A nice coming of age story written entirely in poetry. Family.                                 Pat Bender & Michelle Stone

Springer, Nancy. I am Morgan le Fay: A Tale from Camelot. New York: Philomel Books. 0-399-23451-9. $17.95. 227p. Gr. 6-12. The story of Morgan's life, from early childhood, until she dedicated her life to revenge on King Arthur at the age of 20. As the daughter of a duke, Morgan was born into privilege until the treachery of King Uther (Arthur's father) killed her father and took her mother away. Although it is written as a companion book to I am Mordred, this books stands on it's own.  Fantasy/Adventure   Michelle Stone                                         

Springer, Nancy.  Rowan Hood - Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest. New York: Philomel Books, 2001. 170 p.  0-399-23368-7.  $16.99. Gr. 5-8. Rowan, a young girl who is forced to disappear into the woods after her mother's murder, is on a quest to find her father, Robin Hood.  Along the way, Tykell, a part-wolf, part-wolf creature, a boy giant and a runaway princess join her.   Rowan, who travels disguised as a boy, finds it difficult to confess to Robin Hood that she is his child, let alone a female child.  However, through many exciting, life-threatening adventures with her newfound friends and her ability to stave off danger, both Robin and Rowan finally find strength and love in one another.  This is a fast-paced, exciting adventure story that kids will find intriguing.  Fantasy.                    Joanie Marstiller

Stark, Peter. Last Breath: Cautionary Tales from the Limits of Human Endurance. New York: Ballantine Books, 2001. 0-345-44150-8. 300p. $24.00. Gr. 10-12. This book is not for the faint of heart. This is a book for those who like extreme sports and are not afraid to read about those who die while participating in them. The author discusses the physiological aspects of death in a variety of extreme situations, and shows the reader the thrills and the risks experienced by the participants. This will be a hit with those teens who like to observe or to participate in life on the edge.  Adventure Fiction                    Nancy Chrismer

Stern, Ellen Norman. The French Physicians Boy.  Philadelphia: Xlibris Corp., 2000. 0-7388-5877-3. 126p. Grades7-10. We met this delightful author when she dropped this book off at our library.  In doing research for another project she came upon a name, date and incident that she couldn’t let drop from her psyche. Dr. David Nassy was a real physician in Philadelphia during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic.  The story tells how he only lost 4 patients out of 100 when other physicians were losing hundreds of patients to this disease.  The story is told by the Jewish Dr.’s  Surinam slave.  Issues of medical ethics, racism and slavery way heavy on the mind of this young man who expresses them in a language more sophisticated than you would expect a boy of this background to have .  Elements are resolved in a rather contrived ending. But, Philadelphia residents will enjoy walking through this time period in old Philadelphia and meeting some real historical figures. Joyce Valenza & Joan Schumer, Springfield Twp H.S. Library Aide

Terpening, Ron. The Turning. Cortaro, Arizona: Desert Bloom Press, 2001. 0-9621452-1-1. 168p. $10.95. Gr. 9-12. A very realistic coming-of-age novel, this book tells the story of Artie Crenshaw, 16-year-old son of an abusive preacher whose family lives in a small town. One night Artie gets off work early from his night job at a cannery, and he makes the decision not to go straight home, a decision that is to affect his whole life. Throughout the night, he meets three very different girls, all of whom teach him things about himself as well as about his world. From Reta Jane, unwed teenage mother who gets him involved in drag racing, loading and butchering pigs in the middle of the night, to sensitive but shallow Wendy, whose house is a party scene gone wrong, to Colleen, who catches him washing blood out of his shirt in a creek, all three girls are involved in his decisions on that fateful night.  Artie also learns some important things about his father, his friends, and an unlikely "carnie", whose ferris wheel he helps to repair. Though set in 1964, the uncertainties and feelings in Artie are echoed in young men today, and make this a very modern, uplifting novel about a young man trying to make sense of his world. Coming-of-Age/Teen Novel              Nancy Chrismer

Thesman, Jean.  In the House of the Queen's Beasts.  New York: Viking, 2001.  0-670-89285-8. 167p. $15.99. Gr. 6-9.  The summer before 9th grade is Emily's opportunity to improve her life. Finally free of a disfiguring scar and the torment of her peers, she and her family move to a new neighborhood, a new school. Emily's first friend, Rowan, helps Emily ease back into a normal life. Meanwhile, Rowan is quietly gathering strength from Emily to fight back and support her mother as they leave her abusive father. By the end of the summer, Emily has new friends and Rowan is free from her oppressive father.    Michelle Stone

Thesman, Jean. A Sea So Far. New York: Viking, 2001.  0-370-89278-5.  194p.  $15.99. Gr 7-12. The contrasting lives and personalities of two Irish American teenage girls, one wealthy and one poor, come together in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Both Jolie and Kate are trying to cope with the death of their mothers and the vicissitudes of life following the disaster, one with illness and the other with loss of employment. They go to Ireland together to find solutions, which turn out to be not what they expected. This is an easy read with emphasis on vivid description of the earthquake, plot, and dialogue.                                     Eleanor Howe

Tobin, Betsy.  The Bone House. New York : Scribners, 2001. 0-7432-0196-5. 219p. $23.00. Gr. 9-adult. When the body of Dora, the village prostitute, is found at the bottom of a ravine, the entire village is shaken.  A chambermaid at the Great House, daughter of the local midwife, is determined to find out the circumstances that led to Dora’s death.  A fascinating mystery, finely-crafted historical fiction ­ in all, an incredible debut novel.  Mystery / Historical Fiction                         Pat Naismith  

Twomey, Cathleen. Charlotte’s Choice. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mill Press, 2001.1-56397-938-1. 184p. $15.95. Gr. 6-9.
The Orphan Train comes to Turner’s Crossing, Missouri on May 9, 1905, bringing Jesse Irwin and forever changing the lives of Charlotte Matthews and her family.  Startingoff as a simple story of friendship between a sheltered country girl and a
streetwise orphan, there is a dramatic turn when Jesse shoots Aaron Phelps who has been abusing her.  Twomey picks up the drama in this seemingly straightforward story
of acceptance.  At first the only conflict is the distrust of the town towards strangers ? orphans, personified by Sarah Avery and her coterie of sycophants. Now
there is shunning and near hysteria.  Charlotte who has become best friends withJesse knows the truth and must decide whether to honor her promise not to tell or to
save her friend.  This is not a light story.
Historical Fiction       Jeannie Bellavance

Udall, Brady. The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint. New York : Norton, 2001. 0-393-02036-3.  384p.  $24.95  Gr. 9-adult . “If I could tell you only one thing about my life, it would be this: when I was seven years old, the mailman ran over my head." This opening sentence grabs you and sets you up the roller coaster ride that will not let you put this book down.  Half Apache, abandoned by his alcoholic mother, Edgar goes from hospital to Indian school to living with a Mormon family.  The dark humor of all his adventures and his innocence will keep you saying, “Just one more chapter…”  You won’t want to put this one down. Adventure / Multicultural          Pat Naismith

Ure, Jean.  Skinny Melon and Me.  New York: H. Holt, 2001. 0-8050-6359-5. 202p.$16.00. Gr. 5-8. This very funny novel, told in the ever popular diary format, is about a British 11 year old named Cherry Waterton and her best friend Melanie Skinner (Skinny Melon).  Cherry begins to keep a diary on the advice of her teacher who claims that the diary will help clean out her cupboard.  Cherry does have a lot in her cupboard.  Much to her dismay, Cherry’s mother has re-married a children’s book illustrator named Roland Butter who tries to win Cherry over by slipping notes written in re-bus format with corny illustrations under her door every day.  On top of this problem, Cherry learns that her mother is going to have a baby, her mother takes back her promise to get them a dog because of Roland’s allergies, and Cherry’s dad also re-married lives a distance away in London and seems to have less and less time for Cherry.  All these problems in Cherry’s life as well as her daily complaints of the school lunch fare, are expressed in her diary in a very entertaining way.  A middle level problem novel with lots of humor.  Realistic Fiction          Susan Krenicky

Vande Velde, Vivian. Alison, Who Went Away. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 0-0618-04585-6.  211p. $15.00.  Grades 7-10. When Alison disappeared three years ago, Sybil's family began to disintegrate. Her mother suffers from depression and spends all her time in the basement watching soap operas. Her father lives openly with a male lover and has little contact with his children. There's a stepfather in the picture who is more sympathetic than Mom, but Bryan, her stepbrother, wets his bed and hates to be alone. When Sybil auditions for a play at a nearby boys' school, she becomes the first member of the family who is able to move on with her life. Family                Pat Bender

Vande Velde, Vivian.  Alison, Who Went Away.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin, 2001.  0-618-04585-6. 211p.  $15.00. Gr. 8-adult.  A story about a young teenage girl learning to cope with her older sister's disappearance, parent’s divorce, mother's remarriage, and finding out her father is homosexual. A lot for a young girl to deal with, yet Susan (Sybil) does so with amazing grace.  It shows how teenagers get on with their lives in difficult times.                                      Karen Reese, Sandy Run Middle School Sub

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Flipped. NY: Knopf, 2001. 0-375-81174-5. 212pp. $14.95. Gr. 6-9. Have you ever fallen in love at first sight? This is what happens to Juli Baker when she sets eyes on Bryce of the beautiful blue eyes in second grade.  Bryce being a typical 7 year-old boy ran the other way as Juli pursued him over the years. Now in eighth grade things have changed; Bryce has become aware of Juli's positive traits and Juli begins to see Bryce as being weak and cowardly.  In alternating chapters, Juli and Bryce show their teenage angst and growing maturity that should appeal to both girls and boys. Self-perception, Families, Relationships                    Sandra Krieg

Von Ziegesar, Cecily, ed. Slam. Foreword by Tori Amos.  New York: Alloy, 2000.  0-14-130919-9.  157p.  $5.99.   Grades 10-adult. Slam is a mixture of contemporary and classic poetry—Shakespeare and Pope beside beat and hip-hop.  A slam is a poetry competition of spontaneous and memorized poems where the performance is rated and the emphasis lies on the personal emotion expressed.  Teen writers should enjoy this varied collection of poetry. Poetry                         Eleanor Howe

Wallace, Barbara Brooks.  Secret  in St. Something.  New York: Atheneum, 2001. 0-689-83464-0.  149p.  $16.00  Gr. 5-7.   A mystery set in the late 19th century New York tenement area, tells of a young boy Robin and his infant brother Danny who live with their cruel step-father Hawker.  When Hawker threatens to harm Danny, Robin runs away in the middle of the night with Danny and finds a home in the basement of a church with a group of street boys.  The illiterate boys call the church St. Something. They band together to earn money on the streets to feed themselves and take care of Danny.  Some exciting plot twists and tense moments make this an exciting read with a warm and wonderful fairy tale ending. Historical Fiction                        Susan Krenicky

Watts, Julia.  Finding H.F.  Los Angeles: Alyson Books, 2001.  1-55583-622-4  165p. $12.95.  Gr. 10-12. Alyson is a publisher of books for the gay, lesbian and bisexual community.  Finding H.F. is a compelling story about H.F. (her name is Heavenly Faith), a young girl who was abandoned by her 16 year old mother shortly after birth.  She grew up with her grandmother in a small town in Kentucky and never felt that she belonged because she thinks she may be a Lesbian.  Her best friend, Bo, is a young man struggling with his sexuality and his only friend is H.F.  When H.F. finds a letter from her mother in her grandmother’s dresser drawer, she is determined to seek her out.  She and Bo leave their Kentucky home and head for Florida where her mother lives.  Their trip is an eye-opening experience for both of them as they come to terms with their sexuality and their lives. They come to realize that they will find a life outside of Morgan, Kentucky. Though the ending ties all the stories together in a rather improbable way, it is a very readable book with interesting characters that will touch students who are struggling with the question of sexuality.  Sexuality and Fiction            Peg Kleppinger

Weaver, Beth Nixon. Rooster. New York: Winslow, 2001.  1-58837-001-1.  301p.  $16.95. Gr. 7-12. Kady Palmer is embarrassed by her family, their poverty, her senile grandmother, and Rooster, the mentally retarded son of the Cuban refugees who live next door. Her initial sarcasm and rejection of her family may well appeal to teen readers who are also becoming independent and critical of their families.  Kady falls in love with Jon, a wealthier neighbor whom she meets water-skiing in the lake, and he provides the means for her to escape her life of penny-pinching and chores. She meets him and his friends after school for afternoon snacks of hash brownies (it is the 1960s), and he is generous with gifts to her. Kady’s honest reactions to two calamities, however, enable her to discover the truth not only about Jon and his friends but also about herself and her family. Kady’s growth and maturity are reflected in the change in writing style.       Eleanor Howe

Weaver, Will. Memory Boy. NY: HarperCollins, 2001. 0-06-028812-4. 160p. $15.89. Gr. 5-9. It is July 2008, two years after Mount Ranier has erupted, setting off other eruptions along the Cascade Range, causing the spread of ash and severe environmental damage. With civilization crumbling around them, the Newell family decides to move to their lake cabin to be safe. Miles builds a wind and pedal vehicle out of bike and boat parts. When moving into the lake cabin does not work out, the family ends up heading into the wilderness. They are looking for the cabin of an elderly man who had told Miles of his experiences living off the land. This is an exciting post-apocalyptic survival tale. Adventure, Survival.         Sandra Krieg

Werlin, Nancy.  Black Mirror: a Novel.  New York:Dial Books, 2001.  0-8037-2605-8.  249p. $16.99.  Gr. 7-12. Sixteen-year-old Frances is convinced that her 17 year-old brother, Daniel, did not commit suicide but was murdered.  She begins an investigation on her own of her boarding school and joins a charitable organization called Unity service. Befriending a slow groundskeeper Andy, the two begin to solve the mystery.  Great for the reluctant reader.  Mystery              Donna Darmofal

  Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray: the Whole Story.  New York: Viking,  2001. 0-670-89495-8.  $17.9.9 YA. The Picture of Dorian Gray is an old classic tale, but what makes it special is the Whole Story Series. This series turns old classics into a wonderful reading experience. The stories are annotated with captions, explanations of history, popular culture, and social customs. They are illustrated with drawings, maps, photographs, etc., many of which date from when the story was written. If you never have reviewed this series, then you should, these books are great.  Highly recommended.   Classics    Margaret Goodlin

Williams, Laura E.  Up a Creek.  New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2001.  0-8050-6453-2. 135p. $15.95. Gr. 5-8. Having an activist mom and no dad makes life a bit difficult for 13 year old Starshine.  She is humiliated when her mom, Miracle, climbs a tree to keep it from being cut down.  While her mom is inaccessible, Starshine must rely on and care for her grandmother and herself.  In the end Starshine chooses to climb a tree herself and is relieved and surprised when others follow her lead.  Coming of age story.              Michelle Stone

Williams, Lori Aurelia.  Shayla’s Double Brown Baby Blues. New York: Simon & Schuster,  2001. 0-689-82469-6.  Gr 7-12. It is a complicated summer for 13-year-old Shayla. She must deal with some really difficult issues. Her father has a new baby that she feels will take her place. Someone is messing with her best friend, Kimba’s mind by sending her packages to remind her of her abusive childhood, that send her into her own little world for hours at a time. Shayla soon realizes that everyone has his or her own set of problems.  Family Life      Margaret Goodlin

Winthrop, Elizabeth.  Dear Mr. President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Letters from a Mill Town Girl.  New York: Winslow Press, 2001.  1-890817-61-9.                  153p. $9.95. Gr. 5-8.   A young (fictional) girl corresponds with President Roosevelt during the depression telling him about herself, her family and the                 mill town they live in.  You can picture what life was like during this era.  The President's responses are realistic. Pictures (some of them) are pretty                  good.  The web site, winslowpress.com was very interesting.                                     Karen Reese, Sandy Run Middle School Sub

Wittlinger, Ellen.  Gracie's Girl.  New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 2002.  0-689-82249-9. 186p. $4.99. Gr. 7-adult. This book shows how a busy family can become closer by working together to help the disadvantaged.  It also encourages the typical young adult to explore who they are and not let peer pressure distract them from helping others. This book is very engaging and easy to read.         Sandy Run Middle School Student        

Wolff, Virginia Euwer.  True Believer.  New York: Atheneum, 2001.  0-689-82827-6.  264p. $17.00.  Grades 7-10. Continuing the story from Make Lemonade, La Vaughn is now a senior in high school, still striving for college. Her best friends, Myrtle and Annie, have found Jesus and spend little time with her. She has a major crush on Jody who does not return her affections. Her mother begins to date a man named Lester who wants them to move in with him. There are so many obstacles thrown her way that La Vaughn becomes doubtful that she will ever succeed in life. True Believer is the second in a trilogy.  A great read! Realistic Fiction/Family/Ethnic Groups.                                       Pat Bender

Wolff, Virginia Euwer. True Believer. New York: Atheneum, 2001. 0-689-82827-6. 264p. $17.00  Gr. 6+. This second in the Make Lemonade Trilogy stands beautifully on its own as a coming of age story of 15 year-old La Vaughn, who is growing up in poverty in the inner city, being recognized for her intelligence, feeling estranged from life-long friends, coping with a new man in the life of her widowed mother, and experiencing her first deep (and unrequited) crush.  Told in an unusual verse/prose format, the realistic story, its characters, and its dialog ring true.  It is an easy read for the reluctant and would make a great read-aloud.  Multicultural?                    Joyce Valenza

Woodrell, Daniel. The Death of Sweet Mister. New York: Putnam, 2001.  0-399-14751-9.  196p. $23.95. Mature 12th+. Shug, 13, is heavyset but obedient to his stepfather Red, an ex-con who drifts in and out of home and initiates Shug to smoke, drink, and theft of drugs. Glenda, his mother, always smoking and sipping her rum and coke “tea,” dresses and walks provocatively, but she and Shug get along well and help each other cope with poverty. Told in the first person by Shug, who mows the lawn in the cemetery where they live, the story is a grim portrayal of rural Ozark poverty and family abuse from which escape proves impossible. Although toothless Granny Akins provides some comic relief, brutal language and behavior pervade and sex is mostly nearby but offstage, except for one explicit encounter. This novel is not for all collections or readers, yet it is a gripping piece of  “country noir” literature, a cautionary tale in which children copy what they see.                        Eleanor Howe

Wooldridge, Frosty.  Strike Three! Take Your Base.  Sterling: Brookfield Reader, 2001.  1-930093-01-2. 160 p. $16.95.  Gr. 5-9.  Bob and Rex Whitman are high school baseball stars who are hoping for college scholarships to help pay their college expenses.  When their father dies while umpiring a baseball game, they must face an entirely new reality. Bob tries to assume the role of eldest in the family while caring for everyone.  He and Rex, a younger brother, face their future by remembering the lessons they learned from their father.  With much pain and sadness the family comes together in this time of tragedy. There are flashbacks and remembrances of their father that tell the reader and quotes at the beginning of each chapter about baseball and life are great.  This is a well-written novel that will draw readers into the story. How they eventually overcome their loss can help any student dealing with the death of a parent.  Family; Baseball            Donna Darmofal & Peg Kleppinger & Margaret Goodlin

Wright, Kristine, ed. A Teen Writer’s Dream: Poetically Correct. Ravensdale, WA: Be-Mused, 2001.  0-9704868-1-2. 187p.Gr. 10-12. This collection of poetry by twelve teenage poets includes both long and short pieces on a variety of topics taken from a website created for teen writers to help them build community and express themselves (www.teenwritersdream.com).  Each teen has contributed from five to ten poems and written a brief introduction about himself/herself.  Teen writers should enjoy this collection and visit the website. Poetry      Eleanor Howe

Wynne-Jones, Tim. Boy in the Burning House. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. 2001. 0374309302. 213p.  $16.00. Grades 7-10.Jim Hawkin’s dad Hub committed suicide, at least that’s what everything thinks. Everyone that is, except Ruth Rose, stepdaughter of Father Eldon Fisher. Ruth Rose is convinced that Fisher, a pillar of the community, murdered Hub. Ruth Rose’s behavior is erratic, especially when she is off her meds. Jim wavers between believing Ruth Rose’s story and dismissing her as a psychotic, but when he begins to ask questions of his own, the answers appear to corroborate Ruth Rose’s accusations. That Fisher was his father’s best friend makes the crime even more heinous. Jim’s discovery of the truth puts his life, and Ruth Rose’s, in danger. Fisher’s maelevence hovers just beneath the surface, and the reader is never quite sure of his guilt or innocence until the end of this well paced, page turning thriller. Thriller                   Rosanne Zajko

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Committee Members:

Jeannie Bellavance, Gwynedd-Mercy Academy, Elementary Div.                Susan Krenicky, Phoenixville Area Middle School

Pat Bender, Upper School Librarian, The Shipley School                             Sandra Krieg, The Haverford School

Candace Blessing, Ephrata High School Media Center                                 Joan Marstiller, Pittsburgh, PA

Nancy Chrismer, Juniata High School Library                                              Leslie Mastronardo, Penn Manor High School

Donna Darmofal, Scranton Preparatory School                                             Elizabeth McChesney, Greenville High School

Margaret Goodlin, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School                                 Susan Mowery, Upper Dublin High School

Karen Hornberger, Palisades High School                                                     Pat Naismith, Springfield High School (Del Co)

Eleanor Howe, Pine-Richland High School Library                                       Constance Roupp, Harlan Rowe Middle School    

Pamela Kavanaugh, Grier School                                                                    Michelle Stone, Sandy Run Middle School        

Margaret Kleppinger, Hatboro-Horsham High School                                 Joyce Valenza, School District of Springfield Township

                                                                                                                                   Rosanne Zajko, Ancillae-Assumpta Academy

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