Chapter Books – Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity
October 21, 2009 at 2:34 pm | In Chapter Books, mystery | Leave a CommentSteve Brixton wants to be a detective. He has read every Bailey Brothers detective novel at least twice, and has already begun preparing for a life of criminal investigation. Yet he is taken completely by surprise when, attempting to check out a book on quilting for a school project, he is accused of treason and becomes embroiled in a plot involving secret agent librarians, national secrets, and numerous police chases. It’s up to Steve to clear his name and solve the mystery.
Author Mac Barnett was writing with tongue firmly implanted in his cheek. As an adult familiar with children’s detective series (think Hardy Boys), it was obvious where many of the tropes he was riffing on originated. It was great the way he played with detective novel standbys, and the ways that those strategies don’t work in the real world. Nevertheless, Steve remains confident in the advice of the Bailey Brothers books.
Although Steve is a seventh grader, the age of the target reader is probably much younger. This is solidly a middle grade novel, from the amusing pictures to the quick pace and short chapters. Although girls will also enjoy the series, this is a solid choice for boys, and it’s somewhat refreshing to see a “boy book” that is funny without body function jokes and features a regular boy who is not a “nerd” or a genius, but simply enjoys reading.
Chapter Book – My Unwilling Witch Sleeps Over
September 16, 2009 at 12:19 pm | In Chapter Books, fantasy | Leave a CommentRumblewick the cat is a familiar. He has signed a contract to help Hagatha Agatha (Haggy Aggy for short, HA for shortest) be witchy. Unfortunately, HA is not a willing witch. She loves toads and frog – but as pets, not spell ingredients. She drives Rumblewick to distraction by going to the Other Side (our world) to play with little girls, instead of creating horrible spells the way she is supposed to be doing. Rumblewick does the best he can, but snoopy familiars are lurking about, ready to tattle on HA and get her in trouble with the witch’s council. What can one cat do?
This is a fabulous new series of beginning chapter books. There are lots of pictures. The text is done in a mock-handwriting font, with lots of embellishments and changes to font size for emphasis, an excellent choice for the over-enthusiastic HA and the slightly histrionic Rumblewick. Haggy Aggy is a sympathetic character, full of little-girl charm, yet managing to be quick with a spell when her ire is up or she is defending helpless creatures. I hope this series becomes popular.
Chapter Book – My Rotten Life
August 26, 2009 at 12:35 pm | In Chapter Books, science fiction | Leave a CommentNathan is having a typically bad day. His heart and feelings are stomped on three times before the school day is over. Commiserating with his friend he mentions that he wishes he were immune to hurt. A weird girl pops up and mentions she might be able to help him with that, since her uncle is a mad scientist. But when Nathan tries the potion, he discovers that a mistake in the creation means that it’s not emotional hurts that are gone, it’s physical ones. Which would be great, except that along with his nerves being dead, everything else is too. In short, Nathan is a zombie. And the window of time in which he can be changed back is narrowing rapidly.
This was a solid book by David Lubar. It’s not as flashy, funny, or strange as some of his previous novels, but it gets the job done. There is plenty for kids to identify with, from feeling left out to triumphing at field day. I think some of the social maneuvering was a little intense for kids that are still in elementary school, but it’s such a prevalent subplot in books these days that I doubt kids will question it.
Why is it that every book that involves kids finding out that they can’t be hurt also involves crazy accidents that let them realize this? Most kids manage to go through their lives without major mishap, and yet every time someone gets a superpower (or, in this case, is turned into a zombie) there is some accident that would normally kill/maim the person, thereby revealing their new powers.
The characterizations are a bit flat, with the clownish/flatulent best friend and nerdy/misunderstood science dork girl rarely rising above their stereotypes. But in a book about a zombie grade schooler, subtle character development is not exactly the point. As a bit of fluffy entertainment, this book hits all the right points.
Chapter Books – Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano
August 12, 2009 at 2:02 pm | In Chapter Books, realistic fiction | Leave a CommentMoxy Maxwell is thrilled to be a part of piano recital. She and her sister Pansy have been practicing their bows all week long. Meanwhile her brother Mark has been practicing actually playing the piano. But Moxy’s talents are wasted on practicing when she could be making fake ermine trim for her cape, or other important aspects to be in a recital.
Although the first book in this series remains the funniest, this is another extremely humorous work. Moxy as a distracted and distractable little girl who knows exactly what she wants out of life (lots of attention) is hilarious. I do think she acts younger than 10 (especially since she is in the third grade) but that’s a minor quibble.
I can see many of the events in this book happening to a rambunctious child. It’s not that Moxy tries to be bad (and unlike the previous book, where Moxy engages in behavior she was specifically told not to do, this book features only things that she did not perceive as being any trouble at the time.) It’s just that trouble happens to her. Despite – or maybe because of? – her somewhat self-centered attitude towards life, Moxy is a very likable character, and one that many children will be able to relate to on one level or another.
The very short chapters and quick pace of the story will appeal to reluctant readers, and there are enough asides and in-jokes from the author that more advanced readers and adults will also be amused.
Chapter Books – Trouble with Mark Hopper
August 5, 2009 at 11:03 am | In Chapter Books, realistic fiction | Leave a CommentMark Hopper has a sister named Beth, brown hair, and freckles. Mark Hopper also has a sister named Beth, brown hair, and freckles. While they don’t look alike, these details, plus their shared names, create havoc when the first Mark moves into the second Mark’s town just in time for the first day of middle school. Confusion, not surprisingly abounds. One Mark is an average student, the other an overbearing honor student. When misunderstandings put both Marks in the honors courses, the “average” Mark is thrilled to be considered an honors student, and desperate to prove he can keep up. A math teacher assigns Mark to tutor Mark in an obvious attempt to end the hostilities that have developed between them, and slowly they start to realize the upside to having the same name. There is potential for mischief…
This was a solid book. It wasn’t exceptionally great, but it also wasn’t bad either. The sort of book that you read and enjoy, maybe even recommend to friends, but which is not going to stay with you for years. That’s fine, we need books that fill the gap between classics and throwaway series.
The plot is fairly predictable, although I had anticipated a bit more hijinks. The author does a commendable job trying to make the “bad” Mark both sympathetic – you can sort of understand where his behavior stems from – and unlikeable at the same time. I did like the unspoken sentiment that leadership and being a team player are skills that can be learned by anyone with the proper motivation, rather than just innate skills that you either have or you don’t. This message is undermined later in the book, but that it was there at all makes me happy.
Chapter Books – Highway Robbery
July 29, 2009 at 11:02 am | In Chapter Books, historical fiction | Leave a CommentA young eighteenth century boy is telling his story to gentleman, whom he refers to throughout as “sir”. A ragamuffin on the streets, he is asked to hold a man’s horse, with the promise of a monetary award when the man comes back. True to his word, the boy resists all attempts by others to buy or otherwise take away the magnificent horse. But while doing so, he starts to realize that this horse is not just any other beast: she’s Black Bess, the famed horse of notorious outlaw Dick Turpin. And it’s just possible that the constables might want to use the boy as bait in a trap…
This is a great short chapter book, a good match for kids who are beginning to transition into longer books and, at 118 pages filled with illustrations, perfect for reluctant reader book reports. The conversational tone keeps the prose light and breezy. Despite the fact that up until the last chapter the entire book takes place in the exact same spot, there is a surprising amount of action and suspense. The wickedly subversive ending is wonderfully done, and requires an entire rethinking of the book that you have just finished reading. I can almost guarantee this will end up being used in classrooms, both to showcase good writing and to discuss how the ending might change the view of the rest of the book.
The illustrations that pepper the book are excellent as well. The cover illustration is very different from the pictures in the book. The inside illustrations are line drawings that I felt captured the tone and historical feel of the book extremely well.
All in all, this is the total package: great illustrations, great writing, great plot.
Chapter Books – When You Reach Me
July 22, 2009 at 10:15 am | In Chapter Books | Leave a CommentIt all started, Miranda decides, when Sal is punched in the stomach for no reason. That’s the day he stops speaking to her. It’s not long before that that her extra key goes missing from its hiding place, that a crazy man shows up on the street corner, and that she starts getting mysterious notes. Notes that contain information that no one could possibly know ahead of time. “I am coming to save your friend’s life and my own” one note says. But how? And why? And who is sending these notes? Miranda has no idea.
This is an incredibly remarkable novel. All of the various elements, from the weird notes to Miranda’s mother’s entry into the $20,000 Pyramid to her helping out at a local deli, they all meld together perfectly. There are no wasted plot threads, no extraneous matter that could have been excised. In an age of books that increasingly need editing, that is a wonderment in itself. The language is also fantastic, conjuring imagery that blooms in the mind.
The relationships are very well done as well. While I didn’t entirely believe her sudden change of heart in regard to Julia, I could see the reasoning behind it, and was willing to go along with it. Her relationship with her mother is fabulous. I particularly loved the scene where Miranda, very stressed out about her first sleepover with a new friend, is extremely startled to discover that her not-a-morning-person mother has gotten up early to make the girls omelets. Miranda says “I wanted to hug her. But didn’t.” How many of us, aged twelve, can relate to that scene?
The plot is intriguing as well. I wish that I had not read some of the reviews ahead of time because knowing that MINOR SPOILER ALERT the book features time travel END SPOILER meant that I saw a lot of the twists coming well ahead of time. I’m not sure I would have picked up on some of the turns if I hadn’t been primed for them ahead of time, but even seeing them coming, I was still intrigued to see where the author was going to go with the ideas.
Between the strong characterizations, equally strong relationships between the characters, the evocative language and strong plot, I will expect to see this book garnering awards left and right. I can also see it becoming a favorite book, read over and over and savored at length by certain children.
Chapter Books – Dinosaur Cove
July 15, 2009 at 2:02 pm | In Chapter Books | Leave a CommentJamie has just moved to Dinosaur Cove. He’s excited about collecting dinosaur fossils, which are plentiful in this area. On his first day of exploring he meets Tom, who brings him to see an old smuggler’s cave. But both boys are surprised when they follow a secret hole in the cave and end up going back in time. Suddenly they’re surrounded by dinsosaurs! But, while the wannanosaurus they meet is very friendly, the T. Rex is not….
Attack of the Tyrannosaurus is the first in a series of books about the Dinosaur Cove. In reading the book, I was reminded of the Rainbow Magic Fairy books, only this time targeted at boys. Both series are quick reads, transitional chapter books intended for second or third graders. Both series lean towards action rather than character development, and both are heavily illustrated. I am fairly confident that the Dinosaur Cove books will pretty quickly find the same loyal and enthusiastic fan base that the Rainbow Fairy books have found.
While the book is not high literature, it’s also not trying to be, either. It knows what it is, and fulfills that role gladly and well. Have a boy who doesn’t like to read? Hand him a book filled with action and dinosaurs, and chances are good that he’ll be willing to give it a try. The chapters are short, so the flow moves quickly, and there is enough action to keep the pages turning. While this first book did not have much of a plot, other than the discovery of the dinsaurs, just looking at the titles and cover illustrations of subsequent books in the series makes it clear that helping their wannanosaurus friend, saving each other, and rescuing modern devices stolen by curious dinos will all provide fodder for further plot development. Highly recommended for eight year old boys.
Chapter Books – Schoolyard Mystery
July 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm | In Chapter Books, mystery | 1 CommentCharlene is one of the smartest girls in the class. Justin is partially deaf and has a radio that picks up signals from his teacher’s microphone. Chip had an accident in a cave and is now invisible. Together they decide to become Invisible Inc., a group of second graders determined to right wrongs using their special abilities.
Because the teacher often forgets to turn his microphone off, Justin overhears a lot of information. When the new ball the school bought just for the second grade is popped, he is shocked to hear the shyest girl in class confessing. He and his friends don’t believe her, and they set out to find who is blackmailing her into admitting to a crime she didn’t commit.
This book is intended for second graders, and barely squeaks into the Chapter Book category.There is a surprising amount of plot for such a short book, but character development is necessarily limited. I liked the inclusion of a kid with a hearing impairment who was mostly accepted as normal by the rest of the class. Having worked previously with a child who had a microphone and radio set, I can attest to the fact that it is easy to forget to turn the microphone off when not talking to the class. Chip’s invisibility seemed a little extreme to me, when the rest of the book was realistic, but I’ll accept it for what it is. Overall a nice solid choice for kids who are just beginning to make the transition from early reader to chapter book.
Chapter Books – Frog Princess
July 1, 2009 at 3:35 pm | In Chapter Books, fantasy | Leave a CommentPrincess Esmerelda – better known as Emma – is hardly what one expects from a princess. Her laugh is more of a donkey’s bray than tinkling bells, and she would rather spend time in the swamp than chitchat with a prince. While trying to avoid a particularly unwanted suitor, she stumbles across a talking frog that insists he used to be human. All he needs to turn back into a prince is for Emma to kiss him. Reluctantly she agrees. But when she puckers up the result is not what either of them were expecting: Instead of Eadric becoming human, Emma is turned into a frog!
This book was quite cute. It had a mostly unexpected twist on an old fairy tale, and contained quite a bit of humor. The princess was pro-active, literacy helped to save the day, and the magic followed its own internal rules. In short, the book had everything I need to make me love it. And yet, somehow, I didn’t. I’m not sure why, but I just couldn’t get hooked.
Part of it was that Emma keeps telling us that she finds Eadric obnoxious, when really he hasn’t done anything terribly annoying. It’s obvious that the author was just trying to set up some romantic tension and needed to do it in a manner that the average 8-12 year old could relate to. I can understand that. Most kids in that age group still think boys are icky and would either not understand or be bored by standard romantic tropes. But at the same time, being constantly told something, instead of being shown, is annoying.
Other than that, though, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was that rubbed me the wrong way. I have had legions of girls, and many of their mothers, tell me that they absolutely loved this book, and its many sequels fly off my shelves. So obviously I am in the minority. I didn’t think it was a bad book, just not one that I was in love with. Perhaps I was simply overestimating it based on all of the praise other people had given to me.
Disney’s Frog Princess movie will be out soon, and while it is very different in most respects, the central premise (kiss turns princess into frog) appears to be the same. I suspect that a lot of kids will end up reading this book thinking it is about the movie, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, since it will expose them to this entire series.
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
