All are invited to attend a talk by E.Lockhart at the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814 on Thursday Feb. 16, 5pm. Copies of her books will be for sale through an arrangement with Politics and Prose Bookstore. She will sign books after her talk.
The Washington Children's Book Guild is hosting author Ruta Sepetys, author of the book Between Shades of Gray, a popular book among our group, at a luncheon at the Channel Inn in Washington D.C. on Thursday January 19. The meeting begins at noon and ends at 2 p.m. For details about Ruta's talk, luncheon options and the work of the Guild check out the guild's blog, www.childrensbookguildblog.blogspot.com
If you would like to attend contact member Edie Ching, edie.ching@verizon.net
This view shows all of the books in this age group that have been selected in years past and nominated for the current year (but not yet selected). The nominations are marked by a "Nomination(not yet selected):" label.
While at times the inclusion of secondary information interferes with the flow of narration, this is an important book because it shows how Temple ultimately embraced her "different" way of looking at the world and used it to change the way livestock are treated and lead to slaughter. It celebrates animal rights as well as the human right to be accepted for one's talents, even if they are not ones recognized by the main stream.
In 1957 the Little Rock Nine integrated Central High School. The following year all the high schools in Little Rock were closed to stop integration. This little-known piece of history is brought to life through the character of 12-year-old Marlee Nisbett, who is so shy she appears mute. Everyone in Marlee's family and community is affected by the closure of the high schools, and when Marlee is faced with bullies, racism and injustice, she finds her voice. 10-14. Lisa Cosgrove-Davies
In the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union, ten-year-old Sasha idolizes his father, a devoted Communist and looks forward to the day he can join the Young Pioneers. Then police take his father away, the neighbors immediately possess his room in the communal apartment, and his aunt can’t take him in because her husband fears reprisals. In fact, no one trusts anyone in this stark time, and Sasha, now homeless, is terrified of what will happen when his teacher and classmates find out about his father’s arrest. Gradually, he has to re-evaluate his own perceptions, values, and beliefs. This is an unusual topic for grade school, but a lesson about blind belief still relevant. The novel is a quick and chilling read for an older audience than the cover and layout suggests. Ten to Fourteen. Annette Klause
The title tells us what we all know about Amelia Earhart: Amelia was Lost. Yet the introductory chapter about her final days is so rivetingly developed and sprinkled with possibilities that hope is rekindled. Following this chapter, which ends with the question "Where is Amelia?", a dual narrative begins with a straightforward but interesting chronological biography of Earhart interspersed with chapters that continue the mystery of the first chapter. Finally as the biography reaches the end of Earhart's life, the chapters converge, and it is reaffirmed that Amelia is indeed lost. This conceit works well. The pages of the chapters about the mysterious final days are set on a different background, and the biographical chapters flow smoothly around them. Ages 10-14 Maria E. Gentle
In his new school, eighth grader Travis hides the fact that he can't read but his secret is discovered by mouthy Velveeta and a perceptive and sympathetic teacher who sets him on the road to literacy with a Kjelgaard book. Everyone has secrets in this moving story: Travis's grandfather doesn't tell him what happened to his dog; Velveeta won't reveal where she actually lives. References and parallels to THE BOOK THIEF abound, and Travis's pejorative nickname comes from the Dr. Seuss book. This is a book about reading both for those who struggle and those who love it. Ten to fourteen.
Kadir Nelson has crafted another unique look at African American life in this bold telling of American history through their perspective. The voice of a female narrator weaves the story from slavery to freedom and all in between. In addition to the compelling illustrations, the choices that Nelson makes as to which incidents should be featured make this ambitious undertaking work more often then not. Ten to Fourteen.
An African American matriarch ties the story of her people to major incidents in American history, noting the omissions, the hardships and the few but powerful triumphs.Dramatic full page illustrations feel like a family album filled with courage and dignity.
Hazel’s father has left, creating emotional and financial hardships which force Hazel to leave her creativity-fostering school for one of multiple-choice tests and straight rows of desks. Here, though, she has her best friend and companion in magic and fantasy super-hero baseball games, Jack. But taunting classmates, Jack’s own family troubles and a mysterious shard of glass in the eye pull them apart. When Jack disappears, Hazel sets off on a journey through frozen woods populated with the Snow Queen and other characters from Andersen’s fairy tales to save him. Spell-inducing prose convincingly interweaves a harsh reality with perilous fantasy to evoke the power of love and friendship. Ten to Fourteen. Kathleen Neil
Two stories - one told in words and the other in Selznick's inimitable detailed drawings - intertwine and collide in fascinating ways, although they are about two different children in two different times. Wonderstruck delves into realms of history the reader may never have encountered before - museum history, Deaf culture... but can't help but be drawn in, as are your eyes to Selznick's art. Ten to Fourteen. Rhona Campbell
Second in the series, but standing alone, this is the story of engineer Fever Crumb and her friendship with Arlo, an inventor who is obsessed with the desire to fly. They live in a time and place where change is not appreciated and various political groups want to control inventions for their own devious purposes. Ten to Fourteen.
Blumenthal brings Prohibition to life in this compelling read. She makes the origins of the 18th amendment and the role women had in its passage as exciting as the lawlessness that ensued. Filled with fascinating details like the “warnings” on grape concentrate containers that described exactly how to make wine, and the fact that Al Capone’s brother was a prohibition agent. I do wish the publisher had spent more on the book’s production, but that doesn’t take away from the overall quality. Ten to Fourteen. Rebecca Purdy
