About a Book - The Surrender Tree

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom, by Margarita Engle

Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist Margarita Engle describes this book as a "history in verse." The story takes place during in Cuba during the nation's struggle for independence in the second half of the 19th century.

The main character is based on a real historical figure - legendary healer Rosario Castellanos Castellanos (known as Rosa la Bayamesa). Rosa is a freed slave - although not recognized as free by the Spanish government, and so she is persecuted as a runaway. She hides out in a cave in the forest, using her knowledge of traditional medicine to heal injured rebels, runaway slaves, and Spanish soldiers alike. She does not turn anyone away.

The story is told in short poems from different perspectives including that of Rosa, her husband Jose, her young apprentice Sylvia, a slave catcher nicknamed Lieutenant Death, and others. The Surrender Tree is a beautiful book. The characters are compelling and the descriptions of Cuba's natural landscape, and its flora and fauna, are full of wonder. There are very real and desperate injustices remembered in this story, but the depiction of such heroes as Rosa la Bayamesa leaves the reader hopeful.

This winner of the Pura Belpre Award and Newbery Honor Award is highly recommended!

About a Book

Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

Lonnie, or "Locomotion" as his Mama called him, is a twelve year old living in Brooklyn with his foster family, across the borough from his little sister, Lili. Through his letters to Lili, we learn about Lonnie's life and his thoughts on family, school, friends, war, peace, poetry...

Miss Parry highly recommends this book - while it might make you feel sad at times, it is ultimately really hopeful and will also make you smile. Lonnie is a great character - he's cool, he's thoughtful, and he's a poet. Jacqueline Woodson first wrote about Lonnie in the book Locomotion, which is a novel in verse (a story written in poems). Check out both!

We Have a B.I.N.G.O. Winner!

Dear reader, did you know about our Masterpiece Bingo game? Well, you can pick up a BINGO card from the children's room, and each square contains the title of a book from our "Classics" collection. Cross out books you've already read, and then read enough books to get BINGO (5 in a row). You can read aloud with your family, listen in an audio format, or read independently. Once you've got BINGO, you can claim your prize of a $20 gift certificate to Giordano's Pizza. The contest runs through December 31st.

We celebrated the announcement of our first BINGO winner this week! Mary Bea Halloran claimed her prize and received a special pizza box trophy for being the first winner. Not only did she get five in a row, she filled up half her BINGO card! Mary Bea is an avid reader, and for those of you out there looking for a good book here are two of her recommendations (one from the Classics section, one a more contemporary pick):

Sounder by William Armstrong (Find it at J CLASSICS ARMSTRONG)

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Find it at J FICTION HADDIX)

About a Book - The Fledgling

Georgie Hall wishes she could fly. Everyone knows Georgie's kind of a dreamy girl, but no one expects she will actually get her wish when she befriends a wild goose stopping over with his flock. Georgie loves her Goose Prince, brings him presents, and the Goose Prince shows her how to fly. Flying is dangerous, though - especially when there are people in town like Mr. Preek who has his sight set on hunting Georgie's Goose Prince.

A Newbery Honor Book, Jane Langton's fantasty The Fledgling is a wonderful story for any day, and a perfect story for a day in fall.

About a Book - Midnight Blue

Midnight Blue is a captivating tale that weaves fantasy and reality together. It is the story of Bonnie, who runs away from home and her evil grandmother ("Grandbag") by way of a mysterious hot air balloon. The magical balloon ride lands her in another world which strangely parallels her own, only much more loving and beautiful. That is, until evil Grandmother Marvell enters the picture...

This is a strange and beautiful story. If you like fantasy or books with both fantastic and realistic elements (think: A Wrinkle in Time), try reading Midnight Blue. Miss Parry highly recommends!

About a Book - The Green Glass Sea

The Green Glass Sea tells of two girls: Dewey and Suze. Dewey loves to invent and build things - things like radios, robots, and other "gizmos". Like most people in town, Suze thinks Dewey is really strange, but when Dewey's father goes away and she has to move in with Suze's family, the two form an unlikely but strong friendship. Sounds like an ordinary enough story....

But, it isn't ordinary after all. The Green Glass Sea takes place in a town called Los Alamos in the 1940s, during World War II. Los Alamos was a secret place in the middle of the desert, where some of the most brilliant scientists from all over the country were sent to live with their families and work on a top secret mission - to build and test the atomic bomb. This is where Dewey and Suze live their story, and even they don't realize the nature of the project their parents are working on and how it will change the world.

Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction, this is a fascinating novel which will provoke much thought and discussion. This is also a Reading Olympics pick for Fall 2008, so get an early start!

About a Book - Blow Out the Moon

In Blow Out the Moon, author Libby Kopponen has written a novel based on her own experiences as a young girl moving from America to London in the 1950s. Spunky young Libby struggles with the many changes, dreary weather, and her new school where students and teachers treat her cruelly. When Libby is sent to a boarding school in the English countryside, however, her luck takes a turn for the better, and the novel starts to pick up as well. Readers will enjoy tales of Libby's and her friends' adventures at school, including horse back rides and a midnight picnic feast broken up by the headmistress. Kopponen even includes pictures and memorabilia from her experiences with captions - kind of like a scrapbook.

If you're interested in England and the English, or if you like boarding school stories like Roald Dahl's Boy or even the Harry Potter series, you might want to check this one out!

About a Book - Wolf Brother

Wolf Brother, the first book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Series, is part wilderness survival story, part adventure, part fantasy. Torak lives in a prehistoric forest some 6,000 years ago, and his father (Fa) has just been killed by a bear posessed by an evil demon spirit who, if not stopped, will destroy the entire forest. Before Fa dies, Torak swears an oath to his father, which begins his journey to learn of his very unusual destiny. Torak receives an unlikely guide along the way - a wolf cub who has also lost his family to the bear. The fact that Torak and the wolf can speak to each other indicates Torak's mysterious destiny, and also the secrets of his past.

Wolf Brother is also a nominee for the 2009 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award. If you like it, check out the sequels: Spirit Walker and Soul Eater. (There will be more to come!) This is a great series to suggest for fans of adventure stories and also fans of fantasy like Harry Potter.

Check out Wolf Brother today - in print or on audio cd!

About a Book - Gossamer

Have you ever wondered where dreams come from? In Gossamer, a fantasy novel by Lois Lowry, we enter the world of the dream-givers - tiny imaginary creatures who bestow dreams on humans. The dream-givers gather memories by touching everyday objects, and then weave these memories into dreams. Littlest One is a tiny and curious dream-giver, assigned to a home where a lonely woman and an abused boy are forging a friendship. Littlest One weaves dreams to bring them strength and healing, but must fight against the Sinisteeds, deranged dream-givers who bestow nightmares that bring fear and sadness.

If you like Lowry's other novels, including The Giver, you might enjoy this book, which was just announced as a nominee for the 2009 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award.

We also have this book in audio format!

About a Book - 100 Cupboards

Life seems ordinary enough in Henry, Kansas, where young Henry York has been sent to live with his Uncle Frank and Aunt Dotty. Ordinary enough, indeed - until the plaster in Henry's room begins to chip away and he discovers 100 cupboards hidden behind the wall; cupboards that are actually portals to other worlds. Henry, along with his cousin, Henrietta, secretly begin to learn the secrets of the cupboards, and Henry's true identity.

100 Cupboards, by N.D. Wilson, is the first book in a fantasy trilogy. Read it and you'll be waiting anxiously for the second volume to come out next year. We also have a great audio version of this story on cd - how do you like that?