Children's Book Reviews: Week 6/4/2007
by Staff -- Publishers Weekly, 6/4/2007
Picture Books
Will You Read to Me?Denys Cazet. Atheneum/Jackson, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4169-0935-4
This sweet-tempered book features lonely Hamlet-a pig who just doesn't fit in with the rest of his family. He wears clean tennis shoes, doesn't like mud and loves to read and write poetry. Hamlet's benighted parents not only refuse to read his new book to him, but they belittle his efforts to write poems. "It's a good thing there's not two of him," says one relative, and Hamlet's brother adds, "Twins.... Hamlet and Eggs." The slovenly, mean-spirited hogs fight through the mud to get to their fresh slops as sweet-tempered Hamlet wanders off towards the farmer's pond undaunted. When Hamlet mistakes his pond reflection for his twin, he is disappointed when the "twin" doesn't respond to the poetry he recites. But he soon finds he's had an appreciative audience all along when a multitude of woodland critters ask, "Will you read to us?" Hamlet's endearing misbuttoned shirt, floppy ears and insouciant grin help Cazet (The Perfect Pumpkin Pie) convey that this is a child-sized Everypoet rather than a priggish stick in the mud. The full-bleed watercolor and colored pencil illustrations feature the golden hues of sunset and deep greens and blues of the pastoral landscape, making it evident how nature has captured Hamlet's eye. Ages 3-6. (June)
Nini Here and ThereAnita Lobel. Greenwillow, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-078767-7
Lobel brings back the cat featured in One Lighthouse, One Moon in this fetching portrait of a pet subjected to a move. Nini is first seen contentedly gazing out the window of her city digs, where she quickly realizes something is afoot. Spying a large pile of suitcases, books, shoes and other paraphernalia, the perceptive kitty suspects the worst: "Oh no," she thinks, "They are going away. They are going without me." But then she spots "the big black thing" (a cat carrier), which she clearly deems a less than appealing alternative to being left behind. Zipped into the carrier, she meows in protest, but eventually falls asleep, dreaming that she's floating on a cloud, flying in a hot air balloon, sailing in a small boat and riding on both an elephant and a rocking horse-all amusingly depicted in colorful watercolor and gouache paintings. When she awakens after reaching her destination, Nini-and readers-are treated to a breathtaking, full-spread vista of a sprawling backyard, lush with flowers and trees. At first, Nini somewhat skeptically views the local fauna-birds, butterflies, a scurrying mouse and a cheerful-looking dog ("Nini was not sure he was a friend"). But after watching a brilliantly hued sun set and a glowing white moon rise from a new windowsill perch, she curls up in a chair, reflecting that while everything is different, "they did not go away without me." Lobel's realistic renderings of the endearing tabby's visage reveal a range of emotions that cat-familiar readers will recognize. A simple, comforting slice-of-feline-life story. Ages 3-7. (May)
I Can Dress Myself!Birte Müller, trans. by Marianne Martens. North-South, $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7358-2128-6
Müller's (Felipa and the Day of the Dead) breezy story centers on an independent-minded young rabbit who refuses her mother's help when it's time to get dressed. "No, thanks. I'll dress myself," Daisy insists, adding, "Rootie will help me." In a somewhat bizarre sequence, Rootie, her toy carrot, springs to life and rejects Daisy's choice of a purple dress, saying that she hates purple and asking if Daisy has any orange clothes instead. Alas, the youngster's orange sweatshirt is wet and hanging on the clothesline, and other clothing hurdles follow: her green checked pants are too small, her striped pants too big and her blue sweater is at Grandma's for mending. As Daisy resolutely puts the kibosh on each wardrobe option, her parent's patience wanes. In a wry if predictable conclusion, Daisy dons the very outfit her mother had attempted to hand her at the start. Daisy proves to be a less flexible parent than her own mother, as she firmly tells Rootie that she cannot come with them to the playground unless the carrot dons her green pants. Müller adds playful and appealing flourishes to her brightly hued, childlike art, including wall and floor coverings that mimic the colors and patterns of Daisy's apparel. A kid-pleasing extra enables readers to help Daisy get dressed: two sheets of sturdy stock offer a Daisy paper doll along with the clothing featured in the tale. Ages 3-up. (May)
Goat and Donkey in Strawberry SunglassesSimon Puttock, illus. by Russell Julian. Good Books, $16 (28p) ISBN 978-1-56148-572-7
Puttock and Julian's (Horsey) latest collaboration, this sprightly debut tale in the Goat and Donkey series, introduces best pals who, at first glance, seem quite different. The cupboard is bare, but Donkey is too busy to go to market. When Goat offers to go, Donkey is afraid his friend might botch the task, since "Goat was often muddly and forgetful." Donkey diligently makes a shopping list: apples, carrots, cabbages and strawberry ice cream. As Donkey paints at an easel, Goat trots off and gets "quite giddy" when he spies all the tempting wares at the marketplace. Checking his list, he finds that Donkey's handwriting is "very hard to read" and he indeed does get muddled. Instead of buying food, the comically distracted animal purchases items he decides Donkey would certainly want: a fruit-festooned sun hat, a shiny trumpet, an inflatable octopus and-remembering that the final item on the list "has something to do with... strawberries!"-a pair of green polka-dot sunglasses decorated with plastic strawberries. Good-natured Donkey is very appreciative of the gifts, but tells his sidetracked buddy that they must return to market for food. In a wry final scene, the two are very much on the same wavelength as they enjoy strawberry ice cream cones, with a vegetable-filled basket and several newly purchased playthings at their feet. Featuring electric hues and amusing particulars, Julian's playful pictures capture the bond between these fast friends. Ages 4-7. (June)
My AmericaJan Spivey Gilchrist, illus. by Ashley Bryan and Gilchrist. HarperCollins. $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-079104-9
In celebration of this country's diverse population comes a title that marries color and copy to create a luminous work of art. Set to Gilchrist's (When the Horses Ride By) poetic verse, the text offers a series of questions that does not necessarily beg responses, but rather prompts children to take a closer look at the world around them. The words roll effortlessly off the tongue ("Have you seen my country? Seen my magic skies? Seen my mighty waters? Have you seen my land?"), though the page breaks occasionally interrupt their flow, which may have the effect of pushing readers ahead to finish the phrase. However, if the text propels things forward, the illustrations certainly invite lingering. Gilchrist's muted watercolors showcase sweeping naturalistic landscapes of swirling skies in majestic purple and golden hues and children exploring or integrated into the seas and universe around them. Bryan's spreads, in contrast, vibrate with a neon palette and seem to make visible the powerful energies that emanate from the natural world and its inhabitants. The alternating styles of illustration underscore the multitude of experiences and viewpoints that make Americans unique, furthering the text's tone of tolerance and acceptance. The final pages pay tribute to a modern world where peace is paramount: an international grouping of men and women stand smiling together, their hands firmly clasped in unity-a hopeful message to which future generations can aspire. Ages 4-8. (June)
The Wicked Big ToddlahKevin Hawkes. Knopf, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-375-82427-2
In this amiable tall tale, Hawkes (Library Lion) introduces a Paul Bunyan-esque baby who wreaks havoc with lobster pots and playfully blows sailboats across a bay. On "the snowiest day of the year,"an overloaded stork struggles to deliver an enormous parcel to Maine. The next spread shows a plump, gargantuan infant arm reaching across a hospital room as baby's Toddie's new parents and three siblings gape. "Uncle Bert whistled, 'That's a wicked big toddlah ya got theyah, Jessie!' " Subsequent spreads visualize Toddie's early months with his doting family in the Maine woods. He comes home from the hospital on a flatbed truck, dressed in an enormous red onesie and "booties that Mimmie Newcomb had knitted for him" (shellshocked Mimmie has wrapped her hands in bandages after her knitting ordeal). At diaper-changing time, family members don white toxic-cleanup jumpsuits and man a fire hose out on the lawn. Soon Toddie learns to speak and greets his relatives "in his biggest Maine voice," saying, "hihowaahya?!!" Kid-pleasing scenes imagine Toddie bathing in the bay with fishing boats as toys, devouring an entire ice cream truck and being covered in fresh maple syrup after squeezing a tree trunk (and getting forest creatures, tin buckets, lumberjacks and relatives stuck to himself in the process). Hawkes's droll paintings capture the state's changing seasons and crisp blue skies, while poking affectionate fun at rural living: the family bookshelf covers "Huntin'," "Fishin' " and "Sailin'," and many locals sport red-and-black hunting caps with earflaps. Readers needn't be from Maine to revel in the regional colloquialisms and slapstick gags that invigorate this larger-than-life story. Ages 4-8. (June)
DogkuAndrew Clements, illus. by Tim Bowers. S&S, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-689-85823-9
Clements (Lunch Money) cleverly combines haiku and an endearing canine protagonist in this jaunty tale, written primarily from the pooch's perspective. After the friendly creature arrives on the doorstep of a family's home, the mother lets him inside and tends to his needs: "First food, then a bath./ The food was a lot more fun./ Still, it all feels good." As the animal happily accepts scraps at the breakfast table, an important topic surfaces: "A dog needs a name./ Rags? Mutt? Pooch? No, not Rover./ Mooch. Yes, Mooch! Perfect." The pup is bored when the kids go off to school and their mother is outdoors gardening, but Mooch soon finds a solution ("Chew on dirty socks./ Roll around in week-old trash./ Ahhh... that's much better"). Sitting in on a family meeting, Mooch mistakenly overhears the word "pound" and is fretful when the father drives off in his car. But the new pet is overjoyed when the man returns with propitious purchases: "A new doggy bed!/ Food, a bowl, a squeaky toy!/ Mooch has found his home." Never forced, Clements's nimbly crafted verse flows freely and delivers ample humor. Bowers's animated oil paintings comically capture the playful pup's antics, revealing Mooch in the tub, eagerly shaking water and suds all over the mother; smiling while riding in the car, his head stuck out the window; and half submerged in the overturned garbage can. A spirited demonstration of the versatility-and fun-of haiku. Ages 4-8. (June)
My Father's HouseKathi Appelt, illus. by Raúl Colón. Viking, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-670-03669-1
With the Bible verse John 14:2 as inspiration ("In my Father's house are many mansions") and a tip of the hat to Al Gore on the dedication page ("in gratitude for his service and commitment on behalf of our beautiful blue planet"), Appelt (Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers) and Colón (Doña Flor) offer appreciation for the beauty and wonder of creation. The gentle text, written in four-line stanzas, is spot-on in its meter and occasionally imbues locations throughout the natural world with household analogues (mountains become "porches wrapped in snow/ Where black bears dine on cherries" and the tundra is imagined as a ballroom "filled with dancing northern lights"). Colón's paintings beautifully convey a childlike reverence. Rendered in softly radiant hues and comfortingly rounded and curvilinear shapes, the images bring to mind vintage murals; fine, undulating lines, reminiscent of engraving, give the pictures dynamism and textural depth. Ultimately, text and artwork combine to make a soothing, spiritually resonant offering for environmentally conscious readers. Ages 4-up. (May)
You're a Grand Old FlagGeorge M. Cohan, illus. by Warren Kimble. Walker, $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8027-9575-5
Kimball's (The Cat's Meow) crisp folk art pays star-spangled tribute to Cohan's rousing patriotic song. Rendered in acrylic paint on distressed wood, the inventively textured paintings integrate images of Old Glory in wry ways as they accompany the lyrics. An eagle standing against the backdrop of the flag sports a vest featuring stars and stripes ("You're a high flying flag"). A pumpkin-headed scarecrow flanked by a pair of unfrightened crows with miniature flags in their beaks wears a star- and stripe-studded tuxedo and top hat ("You're the emblem of") and an indisputably proud rooster sports similarly flag-inspired formal wear ("Where there's never a boast or brag"). Kimball balances these entertainingly eccentric interpretations with more conventional renderings: a boat sails serenely past a lighthouse as two flags stand in the background ("And forever in peace may you wave") and a bell-topped one-room schoolhouse sits between two high flying flags ('Neath the Red, White, and Blue"). Kimball wraps up with a note on Cohan's creation of the song (originally titled "She's a Grand Old Rag," which proved too controversial), a brief roundup of "Flag Facts" and a score of the song. This patriotic paean will find an appreciative audience among folk art aficionados. Ages 5-8. (June)
Fiction
The Lacemaker and the PrincessKimberly Brubaker Bradley. S&S/McElderry, $16.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-4169-1920-9
Bradley (For Freedom) gives readers a glimpse of the overwhelming poverty the French people suffered before the French Revolution and juxtaposes it with the luxuries enjoyed by their royals. Eleven-year-old Isabelle lives with her mother and grand-mère in poverty, eking out a meager living by making lace; her older brother, George, supplies a few coins from his job as a palace stable hand. One day, Isabelle delivers a piece of lace intended for the Princess of Lamballe and literally runs into Queen Marie Antoinette. She is introduced to Princess Thérèse, who desires Isabelle to be her playmate, thus beginning a somewhat odd friendship and Isabelle's dual life. In the morning she helps her mother and grand-mère make lace; in the afternoon she lives a fairy-tale life. As Isabelle becomes more involved with palace life, George forces her to see the growing unrest caused by the king and queen's lavish spending and scant regard for the peasants. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy the numerous details about Louis, Marie Antoinette and Versailles that are neatly woven into the story and will be further be drawn into Isabelle's adventure as she flees the palace as it is attacked by angry peasants, thus ushering in the French Revolution. Ages 8-12. (May)
AwakeningRobin Wasserman. Scholastic, $5.99 paper (224p) ISBN 978-0-439-93338-4
The first title in Wasserman's Chasing Yesterday series puts a supernatural spin on a classic amnesia storyline. A girl awakens in the aftermath of a powerful explosion, with only the shadowy memory of a man standing over her body. She is taken to a hospital to recover from her extensive injuries; when her doctors discover she has no memories of who she is, she christens herself JD-short for Jane Doe. Because her family cannot be located, JD is taken to a juvenile hall, where she befriends an orphan named Daniel. JD is plagued by nightmares both when she sleeps and often during the day (in one she is in a grassy meadow and a helicopter crashes in front of her), and several strange incidents hint that she has a vast reserve of power within her that erupts when she's threatened. A woman claiming to be JD's mother eventually comes for her, but JD has no memory of her mother or her former home, and she clings to her self-created identity. Her mother takes her to see Dr. Styron, a psychotherapist, in an attempt to recover her memory, and while he says that she is making progress, JD's distrust of both him and her mother only increases. Ultimately, JD decides to flee her mother and Dr. Styron, convinced that they are not who they claim to be. A thrilling climax will likely whet readers' appetites for the next installment. Ages 8-up. (May)
QuakingKathryn Erskine. Philomel, $16.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-399-24774-3
Erskine's debut juggles a number of hefty subjects and themes (religious faith, American patriotism, anti- and pro-war attitudes, bad parenting), but with mixed results. Fourteen-year-old Matilda ("Matt") believes that "life is safer alone." She has been unwillingly shuffled around distant family members' homes after being taken away from her abusive father, and is eventually sent to live with a Quaker couple, Jessica and Sam, and their disabled adopted son, Rory. Adjusting to her new life is tough, and sarcastic Matt doesn't make it any easier for her new, overprotective guardians. She's generally belligerent, dismissive of Rory and frequently antagonizes her pro-war World Civics teacher, whom she dubs Mr. Warhead (who "is so patriotic he is practically drooling red, white, and blue"). Amidst this "disaffected youth attempting to adjust to her new school and family" plotline, Erskine adds scenes involving Matt's introduction to Quakerism, a vicious school bully and the town's division over the war in the Middle East, but she doesn't always dig deep enough to flush out the questions that are raised. What happened to Matt's birth parents? Would a blatantly prowar teacher realistically be allowed to proselytize to his students in a public school setting? What does Matt really think about Quaker values? While thought-provoking at times, this story tries to cover a great deal of ground and might have fared better if the author focused on one or two main issues in greater depth. Ages 11-up. (June)
Girl at SeaMaureen Johnson. HarperTeen, $16.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-06-054144-6
When Clio was a kid, she invented a popular adventure board game with her father, which allowed them to live an adventurous life that included trips to Peru, Greece and Japan. But after the money disappeared and Clio had a scuba diving accident (her father allowed her to get a tattoo over her scar), her parents fought nightly and eventually "sat down to tell her that sometimes parents don't get along and can't be married anymore." Now years later, circumstances throw 17-year-old Clio and her estranged father together for another adventure, this time aboard his luxury yacht; he has assembled a strange crew, including his archaeologist professor girlfriend and her cute young assistant, Aidan, to embark on a mysterious expedition. The author masterfully weaves together plenty of plot points, from the unresolved tension between Clio and her father, to the strange attraction between Clio and Aidan, which at times "practically crackled." Flashbacks to another adventurous father and daughter more than 100 years before add depth to the story and provide clues to the crew's secret mission. Spirited Clio is immensely personable and witty and Johnson (Devilish) paints her summer at sea vividly, including well-crafted descriptions of everything from a scuba dive through a shipwreck to a touching father-daughter reconciliation. Ages 12-up. (June)
Kat Got Your TongueLee Weatherly. Random/Fickling, $15.99 (208p) ISBN 978-0-385-75117-9
Although this novel's premise-traumatized teen suffers from amnesia-may seem soap-operatic at first, Weatherly (Child X) infuses enough complexity and intrigue into the plot to keep readers absorbed. Nobody knows why 13-year-old Kathy ran out in front of a car or why her resulting injuries have triggered a loss of memory. More mysteries arise as Kathy (who now prefers to be called "Kat") discovers unsettling facts about her past. She learns that she was once a gifted musician, but no one can tell her why she gave up playing the violin. Her father is dead and her mother seems reluctant to talk about him. Most puzzling of all is the odd behavior of the three girls who were supposedly her best friends. Instead of being sympathetic about her plight, they seem angry at her, believing that she is faking her illness. Flashing between past and present, the author offers insight to the girl's troubled state of mind before the accident and simultaneously traces her difficult reentry into a world full of strangers. Connections between Kat's love of music, her father's death and her friends' hostility finally come to light when a hidden journal is discovered that explains the sequence of events leading to the heroine's accident. Even though the novel ends before her memory returns, teens will rest assured that recovery is imminent as Kat comes to terms with the person she used to be and a past that cannot be totally erased. Ages 12-up. (June)
Peak Roland Smith. Harcourt, $17 (256p) ISBN 978-0-15-202417-8
Here's the perfect antidote for a kid who thinks books are boring. In his latest, Smith (Cryptid Hunters) introduces 14-year-old Peak Marcello (named by his mountaineering parents) as he's arrested for scaling Manhattan's Woolworth Building, in an attempt to graffiti his tag-a blue mountain peak-high on the side of it. Peak is headed for a long stint in juvie when his estranged father swoops into the courtroom with a solution that will get the media's newest darling-the papers have dubbed Peak "Spider Boy"-immediately and far out of sight. Before the trek to China, where Peak's father runs a commercial climbing operation on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, Peak's English teacher, Vincent, gives him two notebooks to fill, which will complete his requirements for the school year. This conceit allows Peak to tell his story in his own wry voice and to share lots of Vincent's advice. "A good writer should draw the reader in by starting in the middle of the story with a hook," Peak recalls. "I guess Vincent thinks readers are fish." The hook here is irresistible-Peak will try to become the youngest person ever to scale Everest-overcoming Chinese bureaucrats, resentment of his father, rivalry with a Nepalese teen who has the same goal, avalanches, icy crevasses, howling winds, searing cold and many, many frozen corpses to reach the 29,028-foot summit. The nifty plotting, gripping story line and Peak's assured delivery give those who join this expedition much to savor. Ages 12-up. (May)
The Breakup BibleMelissa Kantor. Hyperion, $15.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-7868-0962-2
Jen is crushed when her boyfriend tells her "it would be better if we were just friends." Making matters worse, she catches him kissing another girl from the school paper, where she also works. Jen cannot sleep, cries constantly and thinks she "could actually die of heartache." Even with supportive friends and family-and opportunities to advance her journalism career-it takes time to move on. Kantor (Confessions of a Not It Girl) successfully juggles several storylines, including Jen's work on a controversial article about race relations at school, her mother's attempt at romance after years on the sidelines and even a fun first date for Jen with a boy who bravely takes her salsa dancing. These threads make Jen's world seem very real and reflect her growing sense of self. Readers may not know what to make of the actual self-help book Jen's grandmother buys her (called The Breakup Bible); full of clichés (such as "A fabulous, foxy lady such as yourself knows when it's time to say good riddance to bad rubbish!), the cheesy book seems to help Jen at times, but ultimately ends up in the trash. Jen goes through much of the book thinking "I'm so sad, I'm so sad, I'm so sad," which may overwhelm readers, but in the end, they will likely be convinced both of Jen's readiness to move on and of her ability to see the good and the bad in her first romance. Ages 12-up. (May)
Tips on Having a Gay (ex) BoyfriendCarrie Jones. Llewellyn/Flux, $16.95 (360p) ISBN 978-0-7387-1050-1
Jones's debut novel has a provocative premise: Belle is stunned when her longtime boyfriend Dylan-the Eastbrook High School "Harvest King" to her "Harvest Queen"-reveals that he is gay. She questions her ability to know who anyone truly is ("How long did he know? How many times did he kiss me and wish I were a boy?.... How could I not notice?"), but also worries about how Dylan will be treated in their small Maine town. Belle is surprised to find out that, days after their breakup, Dylan already has a boyfriend; she cautiously begins her own romance with Tom, who has long carried a torch for her. Jones offers a convincing small-town environment ("There are no secrets in Eastbrook," Belle jokes with "a hideous movie ghoul laugh") and the author's poetic prose ably captures her heroine's emotional upheavals ("Each want stomps itself into my heart.... I want a life where there are four stable walls and the people I love are who I expect them to be"). An array of major plotlines-Belle's heartbreak, her and Dylan's new relationships, a thug that threatens both Dylan and Belle and the former couple's attempt to salvage their friendship, among others-can make it difficult to know where to focus. Additionally, some character quirks, such as a German teacher's proclivity for dressing in costume, seem a bit scripted. Still, even those who can't identify with Belle's exact situation should readily empathize with her and gladly accompany her as she gradually rallies and finds new love. Ages 12-up. (May)
Touching SnowM. Sindy Felin. Atheneum, $16.99 (240p) ISBN 978-1-4169-1795-3
Beginning with the chilling statement, "The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone," first-time author Felin draws readers into the chaotic, often violent world of a Haitian-American girl's coming-of-age in upstate New York during the 1980s. Karina, the 14-year-old narrator, expresses her feelings of isolation at school, where she is often taunted, and explains why her situation is even less bearable at home. There, she and her seven siblings and cousins live in constant fear of being beaten by "the Daddy," her "too-fat-for-his-pants" stepfather. After one of his "beat-ups" nearly takes the life of Karina's older sister, Karina knows that someone should contact the authorities. But getting the police involved could do as much harm as good: Karina's cousins-illegal aliens-might get sent back to Haiti and her mother might have to go on welfare. Not only does Karina keep silent about her stepfather's actions but she even takes the blame for her sister's injuries. Candid first-person narrative brings to life the terror, anxiety and pain Karina is forced to endure throughout her family's ordeal, as well as the joy she experiences when she eventually finds a confidante with whom she can share her secret. Despite its disturbing imagery, the book carries a strong message about the complexities of abuse and why victims are not always willing to take a stand. Teens will keep pages turning to learn how and under what circumstances Karina takes her revenge. Ages 12-up. (May)
The Upper ClassHobson Brown, Taylor Materne and Caroline Says. HarperTeen, $8.99 paper (288p) ISBN 978-0-06-085082-1
Assigned as roommates at the prestigious Wellington boarding school, brash Long Island native Nikki and Connecticut-bred Laine are as different as can be. Each girl is uniquely troubled: Nikki's mother is dead, and at Wellington, her sexy clothes and big mouth mark her as a misfit; Laine's parents are divorced, and while her highbrow background helps her fit in, she's unable to stand up to anyone, including her dorm's alpha girl, who frequently targets Nikki. The trio of authors, former boarding school chums themselves, has created a readily believable environment and characters (and of course, there is no shortage of bad behavior at Wellington.) Popular girls bet on "which new girl will leave first"-Nikki is a prime candidate-and circle other girls' body flaws with markers, adding derogatory words. Nikki must meet with the dean after she's caught with a boy out in the woods. Teens will not be surprised when Nikki and Laine eventually learn to like-and lean on-each other, though their bonding over Thanksgiving break does not feel entirely convincing. Still, the authors' often lyrical language ("Tree branches clatter in the cool autumn night. Clouds move fast over the moon, changing the shadows, and light pools on the roofs.... It's moments like these when she belongs to no one, not even herself") breathes life into this take on a classic culture clash story. Ages 14-up. (May)
Nonfiction
A Puffin's YearKatherine Zecca. Down East, $15.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-89272-742-1
The rugged seabird known as the "clown of the ocean" lands on the pages of this nature chronicle, the first book that illustrator Zecca (River Song) has written. Painted in deep greens and gray-blues, it focuses on the nesting and chick-rearing habits of the Atlantic puffin when it comes ashore for a few weeks each summer. A conversational narrative tells the story of a mating pair as they fight off seagulls, claim a burrow and hatch their puffling on a remote island nesting colony. "Whee-er-er, whee-er-er! the puffling cries because he is hungry. Mama puffin arrives and lays her mouthful of live fish close to the front of the burrow." Readers glimpse inside the chick's snug, dark temporary home in several close-up spreads, which are some of the best in the book for their intimacy and realism. The darker values that dominate many of the scenes (dark green vegetation against dusky skies) often give the paintings a stark, flat feel. A somewhat didactic endnote from the director of the National Audubon Society's Project Puffin concludes the tale, asking readers to, among other things, "stay informed about conservation issues and to vote for environmentally responsible lawmakers." Ages 5-8. (June)
DinosaursJohn Long. S&S, $16.99 (64p) ISBN 978-1-4169-3857-6
This informative volume is one of four-the others are Oceans, Space and Egypt-launching the INsiders series of paper-over-board books that explore various subjects in arresting visual detail. The textured, glossy cover art of the books features close-up images (in this case a ferocious-looking dinosaur bares its sharp teeth) hinting at the attention-grabbing illustrations within. Richly hued, crisp computer-generated art and 3-D model imagery serve as a stunning and sophisticated graphic counterpoint to the educational text. The series' format breaks the information into two categories: "INtroducing" and "IN focus," the former offering an overview and the latter providing "fast facts at your fingertips." Dinosaurs' first section covers such topics as occurrences in the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods; dinosaur anatomy, attack and defense strategies; how they raised their young and the discovery and interpretation of fossils. The following section zeroes in on specific dinosaur species, spotlighting physical characteristics, behavior and the locations where their fossils have been found. Throughout, facts are presented in concise blocks of text and extended captions. This and the other INsiders titles conclude with an extensive glossary and index, recommending this accessible, eye-pleasing series as a reference tool as well as diverting recreational reading. Ages 8-12. (July)
I Want to Live: The Diary of a Young Girl in Stalin's RussiaNina Lugovskaya, trans. by Andrew Bromfield. Houghton, $17 (304p) ISBN 978-0618-60575-0
In this revealing diary, 13-year-old Nina Lugovskaya gave a true account of her life during Stalin's Great Terror. Nina's diary begins on October 8, 1932 and continues as she records her observations about school, friends, crushes and her family life, along with angry commentary about Stalin's restrictive regime: "Today they herded us out to march around the streets, which made me absolutely furious.... Walking over the cold, gray ground in the damp, dull light of an autumn day... and cursing Soviet power to myself." Her family was subjected to constant raids by the NKVD (Stalin's secret police) because of her father's involvement in the Socialist Revolutionary Party. She was cruelly teased by classmates because of her lazy eye and her academic struggles made her depressed-suicide is a topic she revisits throughout her diary. Nina's final entry occurs on January 3, 1937; the next day her diary was confiscated during a raid by the NKVD. During intensive interrogation, Nina (falsely) confesses to a plot to assassinate Stalin and she, her mother and twin sisters are sentenced to five years of hard labor in Kolyma prison camp, where they miraculously survived; Nina herself worked as an artist and lived until the age of 74. Lugovskaya's diary, which was found in the NKVD archives, stands as a compelling historical artifact and Nina's story gives a moving-if relentlessly melancholy-personal account of life in Communist Russia. Ages 12-up. (June)
Comics
Re-GiftersMike Carey, Sonny Liew and Marc Hempel. DC/Minx, $9.99 paper (144p) ISBN 978-1-4012-0371-9
Carey's (God Save the Queen) story of a young martial artist in love is funny and touching in equal parts and is carried off in fine style. Jen Dik Seong (Dixie) is Korean-American, and her outlet ishapkido, a form of martial arts that originated in Korea. She also sports a "life-threatening crush" on fellow competitor Adam, and in an effort to win his affection, she buys him an expensive statue-with the money she was supposed to use to enter the big upcoming tournament. Adam doesn't care about the statue and re-gifts it to the girl of his dreams; since she no longer has the money to buy a seat, Dixie has to get into the tournament the hard way, through open trials. Adam shows his true colors shortly before the finals, asking her to throw the match; spunky kid that she is, Dixie refuses, and with help from a "bad boy" with a heart of gold named Dillinger, regains some much-needed inner confidence. Dixie is a charming and spirited protagonist, one who often breaks narrative to address the reader ("Don't even read this chapter-please!" she exclaims several panels before getting grounded; elsewhere she fusses at a friend to get out of her caption box). Liew and Hempel's (My Faith in Frankie) artwork is angular and wiry, ethnicities hinted at but played down; fight scenes are kinetic and slightly stylized, with a touch of manga influence. Ages 12-up. (June)
Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Ageed. by Ariel Schrag. Viking, $18.99 paper (224p) ISBN 978-0-670-06221-8
If you can survive junior high, you can survive anything!" That's cartoonist Jace Smith's inspirational promise in this collection of 17 comics covering those universally awkward middle-school years. The agonies depicted are the kind that leaves scars: betrayal over Spin-the-Bottle, schoolyard taunting, hazing by cheerleaders and wedgies aplenty. Every reader will have something to readily identify with: Dash Shaw's young hero wonders if he'll ever find love despite having a face full of zits. Gabrielle Bell's heroine wears the same clothes every day, earning her the nickname "Stinky." Lauren Weinstein's Becky tops off a miserable stay at a horse camp by getting her period. The stories range from crudely drawn but deeply felt to truly literary, such as Daniel Clowes's tale of an introverted boy's summer with his grandparents. Editor Shrag contributes two of the strongest stories. In one, girlish cattiness earns karmic retribution with a bus ride to a bad part of town. In another, the hapless heroine chooses to carry around her own poop in her backpack rather than admit a social faux pas. The situations are often hilarious in retrospect, but the contributors make their emotional painfulness at the time fully apparent. This collection should help those in the midst of similar social travails realize that they, too, will someday look back and laugh at it all. Ages 12-up. (May)
