Staff Picks

Picture Books

Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex
By Lisa McClatchy
Illustrated by John Manders
Random House
What if you invited a Tyrannousaurus Rex to your birthday party and he actually came? How much pepperoni pizza would you need? (He is a carnivore, after all!) What kind of party games would you play? (Twister? Pin the tail on the dinosaur?) In the delightful new picture book DEAR TYRANNOSAURUS REX, a little girl named Erin writes a letter to a real dinosaur, letting him know exactly how much fun he'd have at her party. Every page highlights a possible party activity, and showcases the T-Rex having a blast with Erin and her friends. Illustrator John Manders' vibrant and humorous illustrations perfectly depict the imaginative and charming text. This book is sure to be a winner with the picture book set. Bravo, Lisa McClatchy, for remembering that girls love dinosaurs too!

Firehouse
Written and Illustrated by Mark Teague
Scholastic
After the 72nd time I read FIREHOUSE to my young son, I realized something rather unusual...I still enjoy every page of it! As most parents of a toddler can attest, even the books we loved as children, can start getting a little, shall we say, tired somewhere around the 47th -50th time you've been asked to read it.

Mark Teague really hit on something with this book. The text is simple, aimed right at that 2-4 year old audience (nice and quick for a tired parent), the story is straightforward (no need to stop and explain some subtext to the plot). The sentence structure is clear and vocabulary is easy (no need to quickly rearrange or substitute words to make it understandable). All of this makes it incredibly appealing to children and parents. But what keeps kids and parents coming back again and again are definitely Teague's illustrations. He is a master. He can create movement and convey emotion without ever weighing his pictures down. His fire trucks race right across the page; his firemen fly down their poles.

In the spirit of the book's child-friendliness, I thought it might be nice to get a recommendation from the target audience about this book, so I asked my 3 year old, "What do you like about FIREHOUSE?" He thought about it for half a second and said, "I like the fire truck. And I like when Edward puts on the fire hat and it falls over his face, that is so funny."

So there you have it. A review (which is probably longer that the book) from a 40 year old mom and a review from a 3 year old boy that is short and sweet (and probably much more to the point).

MY GARDEN
Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
HarperCollins Publishers
A girl helps out in her mother's garden, but in the garden of her imagination, there are chocolate rabbits, tomatoes as big as beach balls, flowers that change color, and seashells.

My Garden is a wonderful addition to Kevin Henke's growing collection of books for the toddler set. Youngsters' imaginations will be inspired as a little girl fantasizes about a garden full of jelly bean bushes, strawberries that glow at night , flowers with polka dots and patterns. Henkes uses beautiful springtime colors in his delightful artwork that complements this charming story perfectly.

Perfect for two to three year olds this book makes a great birthday gift or addition to any toddler's bookshelf.

Elementary Grades

Word After Word After Word
By Patricia MacLachlan
HarperCollins
Patricia MacLachlan's latest absolutely blew us away! Set in an elementary classroom, Word After Word After Word tells the story of what happens to a group of young writers when a passionate author comes to speak in their school. This could be a perfect read-aloud to start the year off on a creative note, or it could be a wonderful book for reading circles.

Middle Grades

A Long Walk to Water
By Linda Sue Park
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
128 pages doesn't seem like enough to contain the astounding true story of Salva Dut, who must flee from his village in Southern Sudan in 1985 only to cross Africa in search of safety, and yet this slim novel packs incredible punch. Ms. Park is in top form here, and her sparse prose suits the dry landscape Salva travels. Every single bookseller at our store has read this and been blown away by this gem, and we have no doubt kids will be too.

Because of Mr. Terupt
By Rob Buyea
Random House
In this poignant first novel, new teacher Mr. Terupt surprises his fifth-graders with his offbeat and exuberant educational style. The point of view shifts between seven of his students, and author Rob Buyea portrays the characters’ adolescent emotions as they deal with friendship issues and bullying with great sensitivity. One fateful winter day, an accident changes everything, and the students must face the possibility of finishing fifth grade without their beloved teacher. Following in the footsteps of Andrew Clements and Gordon Korman, this lovingly rendered portrait of an amazing teacher--not to mention seven memorable students--is both inspirational and compelling.

The Cruisers
By Walter Dean Myers
Scholastic
Books for middle schoolers seem to be getting longer and longer, but Walter Dean Myers bucks the trend in his new series, The Cruisers. Weighing in at only 115 pages, Myers manages to give his four main characters plenty of adolescent attitude and spunk while also tackling the subject of slavery during the Civil War. Zander, Kambui, LaShonda, and Bobbi all attend the Da Vinci Academy for the Gifted and Talented in Harlem, but all of them are wondering if the pressure to push for the best grades is really worth it in the end. When they start to let their marks slip (and write a few cynical editorials for their alternate newspaper, The Cruiser), their assistant vice-principal Mr. Culpepper has a difficult assignment for them: become peaceful negotiators as their class debates the Union and Confederate sides of the Civil War.

What starts as a school assignment turns ugly, and those on the Confederacy side start making comments about “selling” some of their classmates. Zander and his fellow Cruisers want to fight back, but they must seek a peaceful solution if they want to stay at Da Vinci Academy. Myers shines a light on the Civil War and its myraid causes, while also getting into issues of the free press and freedom of speech. Zander also deals with divorced parents who are waging their own war, and he must keep peace as best he can with them both. The Cruisers is a great option for reluctant middle school readers, because it features characters who are bright—like a lot of reluctant readers are—and who are a little cynical about what all these hours of education are really giving them. Zander handled the peacemaker role an in interesting way, and a lot of good debate could rise from the racial and social entanglements the Cruisers face along the way.

The Grimm Legacy
By Polly Shulman
Penguin
In a season where dystopia is the new utopia and boyfriends (or girlfriends) either have demonic (or angelic) tendencies, The Grimm Collection is a welcome oasis of clever plotting and wonderful re-imagining of old tales. Elizabeth, our heroine, spends her days trying to please her stepmother and two stepsisters. When on the way to school in downtown New York, she encounters a homeless woman wearing only sandals in the brutal cold. Elizabeth gives the woman her gym sneakers, and this kind deed has unexpected repercussions: she is invited by her enigmatic history teacher to interview for a job at the New York Circulating Material Repository. Curious and in need of extra cash, Elizabeth goes to the interview, and is subsequently hired at the Repository, which she comes to learn is a library of sorts for magical objects. There are objects going missing from the Repository, however, and Elizabeth must choose which of her new co-workers are worthy of trust as they search out the thief.

There is something wonderful about reading a book that takes you away to a place you’d really like to go, and The Grimm Collection does just that. I can’t tell you how much I want to go to the Repository now (you know, provided it actually existed). Everything about it is so whimsical (and a little dangerous), and Polly Shulman did such a wonderful job choosing the objects to feature. Elizabeth is a brilliant heroine, and I rooted for her from page one, but I also really liked the supporting cast. The amazing thing about this novel is that it’s a perfect fit for so many ages. It would make a charming read for a savvy eleven or twelve year old, but older teens will enjoy the romantic possibilities between the characters as well as the magical rules of the world; you can borrow a magical artifact if you get clearance from the Repository, but you have to leave something of yours behind, which could be your sense of humor, your singing voice, or even your firstborn child. This is a must-buy for any middle school librarian looking for something original and—dare I say it—perhaps even a little sweet.

Justin Case: School, Drool and Other Daily Disasters
By Rachel Vail
Feiwel & Friends
As the new school year begins, there are often two camps that describe many of our customers. There’s the kids who cannot wait to get back to school, and there are the kids who go back kicking and screaming. Justin Case is the latter, but he’s not much of a kicker or a screamer; he’s more of a worrier. He’s scared to start third grade, he’s scared his best friend (who is a girl) won’t get to be his partner anymore, and he’s scared of the new teacher. Justin’s family is very supportive and tries to soothe his fears, but his little sister positively shines with confidence, almost like a mini-Clementine with a bit more self-control. His dad continually drags him into team sports after school, and Justin often feels like an athletic disappointment. Despite his anxieties, third grade proves to be a time for Justin to finally conquer a few of his fears—like the rope in gym class—and to remain true to himself, and his beloved stuffed animals. The art is comic-styled and really quite fun to look at, and the journal/diary format works incredibly well. Kids between the ages of 7-9 in particular will feel a great kinship with Justin, since he’s going through some of the same elementary struggles they’re facing, and because Justin himself is so darn likable. At 256 pages (including quite a bit of artwork), this book will really resonate with strong readers, but could very well be a read-aloud. A fantastic pick for younger kids who want something that will make them laugh like Wimpy Kid but without the middle school undertone.

The Popularity Papers
By Amy Ignatow
Harry Abrams
This utter romp of a graphic novel/journal/hybrid celebrates the agony and the ecstasy of girlhood, when you're not quite in junior high yet, and you're definitely not at the top of the social food chain. Two best friends, Julie and Lydia, decide to investigate what exactly makes the popular group popular, and they create a notebook of experiments and observations, a la National Geographic, where they record all their findings. (Francis Bacon would be proud!) Julie's the artsy one, and her comic art is both hilarious and adorable, while Lydia is the one who can sing and isn't afraid of embarrassing herself in public (much). Both girls end up stretching themselves, trying new things, growing up a bit, and forgiving one another through one crazy year of school. This is a MUST read for any girl /Wimpy /fans out there, and even if the graphic thing isn't your cup of tea, it's too good a book about friendship to miss. (Did I mention you'll be laughing like a loon through the whole book? You will. Trust me.) Local girl Amy Ignatow hit it out of the park on her debut. THE POPULARITY PAPERS is a winner!

Reckless
By Cornelia Funke
Little Brown
When it comes to Cornelia Funke, I have no critical faculties. I can't lie; I love everything she does. I adore how she allows her novels to unfold, sometimes even somewhat slowly. Cornelia will make you wait, but she will make the wait worthwhile.

RECKLESS is the latest book from Ms. Funke, and as usual, her story grabbed me from the first page. The setting: modern-day-ish Europe. We meet Jacob Reckless, a young boy exploring his father's study. Everything is covered with dust; his father is long gone. Jacob examines a curious mirror in the study, and through the mirror, he discovers another world on the opposite side. Flash forward to years later; Jacob is now a very experienced treasure-hunter in the Mirrorworld (and has the scars to prove it), and his younger brother, Will, seeks to leave the real world to follow Jacob in the fairy-tale-esque land beyond the mirror. Their time together takes a disastrous turn, however, when Will is attacked by a Goyl, a humanoid race made of stone. The vicious blow starts a chain reaction in Will's body; he is slowly turning to stone. Jacob, who has always felt responsible for his younger brother, seeks to find a cure, but in the Mirrorworld, nothing comes easily, and everything has a price.

RECKLESS is really for the same kind of reader that loved the INKHEART trilogy; the story is complicated and compelling, and it occasionally gets a little grim (no pun intended). RECKLESS takes its fairy tale inspirations very seriously; there are indeed witches who eat children, there are spells that will turn you into a tree for hundreds of years, and the unicorns will gore you if you get too close. Yet there are also kind deeds as well, and courageous acts, and moments of great love. I won't lie…I made myself dole out the last hundred pages over several days, only because I wanted to make the story last a little longer…I didn't want the spell to end. I have been assured by our Little, Brown rep that a sequel is indeed in the works, and for that I'm very grateful, because I'm not ready to let go of the Reckless brothers anytime soon.

Trash
By Andy Mulligan
Random House
Heartbreaking. Heart-pounding. Heart-warming. These are the words that come to mind when I think Andy Mulligan's brilliant novel TRASH. In an unnamed Third World country, Raphael and his two friends Gardo and Rat eke out a bleak existence. Living in large metal containers at a dumpsite, they scrounge for food and scraps as they sort through trash every day. One would think the despair of this life would crush these boys, but somehow they maintain a spirit of loyalty and love that allows them to surmount the steepest obstacles. It is because of their amazing character that they are able to survive the harrowing consequences that are unleashed on them following the "unlucky-lucky day" when they find something far more valuable than anyone could imagine in the trash.

This is a story that will leave you breathless, it will open your eyes, it will make you think, but most of all it will open your heart to three young boys that you will never forget.

Young Adult

Dark Life
By Kat Falls
Scholastic
In a future America where rising seas have claimed much of the land, leaving Topsiders to pack themselves in tiny stacked apartments, some people have taken to the ocean. These pioneers live on the ocean floor, farming the sea and sending crops to the government in exchange for their homesteads. This is where Ty Townsend has lived all his life. He was the first child to be born in the undersea community of Benthic Territory and he loves it there. But when outlaws threaten the safety of the settlers, Ty must do what he can to save the only home he's ever known. And when a Topsider girl appears, searching for her prospector brother, she'll join him on his quest and together they'll find that there are secrets being kept about the Dark Life.

Kat Falls deftly creates a society above and below sea level that is both complete and complex in its structure. In fact her undersea colony is so well-developed that it will leave you wondering not if this could one day be possible, but just how soon it will be until we start colonizing deep under the sea. Wonderful world-building aside, this book is a thrilling a combination of action and adventure, sci-fi and fantasy. Filled with engaging characters you root for and moments that take your breath away, this is a book you won't want to surface from until the very last page. So dive in and enjoy!

Morpheus Road: The Light
By D.J. MacHale
Simon and Schuster
Marshall Seaver is being haunted. In the first installment of this chillingly compelling trilogy, sixteen-year-old Marshall discovers that something beyond our world is after him. The eerie clues pile up quickly, and when people start dying, it's clear whatever this is, it's huge. Marshall has no idea what's happening to him, but he's soon convinced that it has something to do with his best friend Cooper, who's been missing for over a week. Together with Coop's sister, Marsh searches for the truth about what happened to his friend, ultimately uncovering something bigger than he could ever have imagined.

I'm going to say it and I'm going to say it loud and proud: this book scared the socks off me. Seriously, I-would-not-go-into-the-basement-to-change-the-laundry kind of scared. And I loved it! Not only was it a creepy thriller, the characters were very real and just as freaked out as I was. If you're the kind of reader who wants a book to start with a bang and never let up, MORPHEUS ROAD: THE LIGHT is for you. We are talking adrenaline central. Fans of D. J. MacHale's previous series PENDRAGON will not be disappointed, and newcomers to his writing will be salivating for the sequel. Don't say I didn't warn you…keep the lights on!

Revolution
By Jennifer Donnelly
Random House
A silver key worn on a red ribbon. A diary lost for two hundred years. Andi, a broken girl in Manhattan, brash and desolate. Alex, a betrayed girl in Paris, heartsick and fearless. Revolution is an epic story about truth and forgiveness, about music and history, about fraternity and liberty, about family and blood. Andi's narration swept us off the page and into her world, from halls of her snide prep school to the darkest catacombs beneath Paris, and we rooted for her every step of the way.