Turtle in Paradise

Turtle in Paradise
by Jennifer L. Holm
Random House, 2010. 208 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 9-12
Hardcover: $16.99

Annotation: Promising her a bit of paradise, Turtle's mama sends her down to Key West during the depression.

Summary: When Turtle's mama finds a job as a housekeeper to a woman who doesn't like children, the only solution is to ship Turtle and her cat, Smokey down to Key West to her sister's family. But when Turtle arrives, she learns the letter heralding her coming hadn't made it and that she's an unwelcome surprise. Unwelcome to her three nasty boy cousins that is. Turtle's known a lot of mean kids in her day so she's prepared. But she's not prepared for the shabby strangeness that greets her, completely different than her mother's glowing accounts of a picture-perfect paradise. The island is full of run-down buildings and people with strange nicknames, there's scorpions to contend with, new foods like alligator pears and "cut-ups" and her cousins won't even allow her into the diaper gang--a trio of boys who babysit the "bad" babies on the island in return for candy. The island has it's good points though, Slow Poke lets her come sponging with him, there are new flavors of ice-cream to try and Turtle finds out her grandma's still alive, contrary to what her mama told her. And when Turtle finds a treasure map in her grandma's piano, it might just be the break she's been looking for and a way out of this so called paradise.

Evaluation: Blending a prodigious array of historical research and the lure of a charasmatic orphan, Turtle in Paradise is an indubitable success. Superb characters and local color mingle easily and the story relies equally on both. Turtle is one spunky little girl and her approach to life is just like her name, she's got a hard shell, but there's a softness to her underbelly that years of hardship can't quite erase. And through the grace of good writing, Turtle eventually learns that not all kids are terrible and not all adults are sweet.

Holm's is a superb visualist and her similies and metaphors spice the writing with flavorful ingenuity. Some of my favorites were, "It's so hot that the backs of my legs feel like melted gym, only stickier." And, "Mama keeps hers(hair) long as a good dream, cuz that's the way Archie likes it." Also, "Truth is, the place(Key West) looks like a broken chair that's been left out in the sun to rot." The result is just as fresh as the ripe alligator pears found on the island. It's a must-read for everyone and comes with a high recommendation from yours truly.

Significance: Turtle's vision of paradise shifts as she learns that living on Easy Street in a Sear's house called The Bellewood is really no contest for the true paradise that comes from living with your family in a tiny ramshackle house on a poor island in the Keys.

Awards: The Golden Kite Award Winner, 2011 / Newbery Honor Award, 2011

Breaking Night

Breaking Night: a memoir of forgiveness, survival and my journey from homeless to Harvard
by Liz Murray
Hyperion, 2010. 334 pgs.
Adult Fiction with YA Interest
Hardcover: $24.99

Annotation: When finding food and a place to sleep are top priorities, suddenly school doesn't seem so important.

Summary: Liz Murray had an unorthodox childhood. Her parents were drug addicts who could barely survive till next month's government check, so feeding their two children was an afterthought at best. With her dad in and out of jail and her mother in and out of the psych ward, Liz struggled just to find enough food to survive each day. Her hair was lice-ridden and the stench of her unwashed body and squalid clothing caused the other school children to ridicule her. Needless to say, it didn't make for a pleasant learning experience and so with no one who cared, Liz decided to skip most days, only showing up to take the end of year tests. She managed to pass on to the next grade each year due to her excellent reading skills honed from years of devouring her dad's collection of true crime novels--which he would check out at the library under numerous aliases and never return. Abused by her mother's friends and neglected by her parents, at one point Liz is even carted off to a state run girl's school where she suffered the mean-spirited bullying by some of the other girls. Returning home, Liz finds that nothing has changed. Finally, forced out of her house at fifteen, Liz became homeless, riding the trains all night, sleeping in friends' apartments or random stairwells. Scavaging food and sleeping arrangments was always a challenge, but Liz found a family in other troubled youth and with the help of her friends she managed to survive.

After AIDS claimes her mother, Liz remembers her mother's dream for her to finish high school and so she goes searching. She hears of an alternative high school that just might accept her and after being admitted, resolves to finish all 8 semesters in just 2 years. Still homeless, she lugs her books and other scant belongings along with her and with the help of her makeshift family of friends she studies like a demon, earning top grades and a leadership position in her school. During a special school trip to Boston, she discovers the magic of Harvard and with encouragement from her teacher, decides to take a long shot at a school most students wouldn't dream of, let alone a homeless girl. But even if she's accepted, Liz would never be able to afford college; however, with nudging from her guidance counselor she applies for a hefty New York Times scholarship. The scholarship is based on the answer to one simple question, "What challenges have you had to overcome in life?" and with that Liz begins writing her life story, because every day was a challenge and every night was a misery.

Evaluation: Liz Murray's story is heartwrenching, but she tells it with a compelling voice. Her prose is clear, readable and ultimately uplifting. With a childhood that cannot really be described as such, because Liz did not have the good fortune to actually be a child, she uses her experiences to propel her forward, rather than as a means to justify failure. Although many individuals would be reticent to reveal such personal indelicacies, Liz instead shares her memoir with candor and her words and accomplishments prove immensely inspiring. I had a hard time putting the book down and am grateful for Liz's courage and her resilient spirit. I found the following passage especially thought provoking. Liz writes, "I was always seeing myself through the eyes of adults, my parents, caseworkers, psychiatrists, and teachers. If I saw a failure in their eyes, then I was one. And if I saw someone capable, then I was capable." A beautifully expressed sentiment with a cautionary tale for all adults who work with youth. But what was written for adults will resonate with teens, especially those coming from troubled backgrounds themselves. Without doubt, Breaking Night is a triumph of will and a true light to the world.

Significance: Liz's story demonstrates that with hard work and intense determination, anyone can overcome the challenges their circumstances would appear to dictate. She excelled with help from some dear friends and excellent teachers. She proved that the responsibility for her future rested with her and not with her past. Liz demonstrates yet again that education has real power to change lives. But, perhaps an even greater achievement than Liz's eventual graduation from Harvard was her ability to honestly forgive both of her parents for their addiction and neglect and that is what makes the book an inspiring read for everyone.

Personal Choice: Although a bit long, the title was an immediate draw and I couldn't wait to find out more about Liz's personal triumph.

Awards: Alex Award, 2011

A Time of Miracles

A Time of Miracles (Les Temps des Miracles)
by Anne-Laure Bondoux
translation by Y. Maudet
Delacorte, 2010. 180 pgs.
(originally published in French, 2009)
Young Adult Fiction / Middle Readers
Hardcover: $17.99

Annotation: Koumail and his adopted mother struggle through the turbulent Caucases on his way to reclaim his French citizenship and reunite with his birth mother.

Summary: Born a French citizen under the name of Blaise Fortune, Koumail now resides in the Republic of Georgia with Gloria, the woman who saved him from a horrific train accident which injured his mother. Gloria rescued Blaise from the train, slipping him from his mother's bosom as she whispered his name, but Gloria was forced to flee the scene before she found out what happend to the woman. Since then, the two impoverished souls have been a comfort to one another, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union, unrest and fighting break out and Gloria feels it is now time to begin their journey to France--to reclaim Blaise's rightful heritage and find his birth mother. Along the way Koumail meets many friends and endures endless hardship. As they travel from refuge to refuge, slowly moving across Europe, Koumail begs for the story of his mother and his rescue time and again and with each telling Gloria reveals more details.

With each step of their journey Koumail learns more about life, meets both evil and good and looks forward to meeting his mother. But as the two are forced to keep moving by the encroaching army and lack of food, they find themselves again walking to their next refuge with Koumail trying to imagine his feet belong to another child, because if they are not his, he will not be able to feel the deep cold and the bleeding soles that remind him of his suffering. Gloria's hacking cough is a worry to Koumail, but she assures him she will not die until he has no more need of her. Struggling to navigate their way through a war-torn country, the two finally find themselves at the end of their journey and the French border is so close, but both Gloria and Koumail might not be able to make the crossing and Koumail can't imagine a life without her. And when Koumail/Blaise ultimately discovers the truth about his family, what will he do?

Evaluation: A Time of Miracles is a magnificant book and Bondoux does a remarkable job as she takes us on a journey of discovery. The tragedy of life in the Caucasus is artfully laced with experiences of exquisite compassion and rather than being ponderous and depressing, the beauty of Gloria and Koumail's souls offer a resplendant hope that people can indeed triumph. The mystery of Koumail/Blaise's past is divulged piece by piece so that the reader's attention is cleverly kept and each of Koumail's experiences offers another look at a desperate childhood, made bearable by human kindness. One of my favorite sentiments as taught by Gloria reads, "Never despair of human beings. For every person who lets you down, you'll meet dozens of others who will help you". The translation is quite good and the book is recommended for sophisticated middle readers or young adults.

Significance: There is a wider world of suffering and heartbreak that some readers can only imagine, but the power of the human spirit to triumph over them both and the beauty and strength of a mother's love make each experience a miracle. Koumail is like each of us, struggling to find out who he is and wrestling with the discouragements and the triumphs that define our being, no matter what our parentage.

Personal Choice: A Time of Miracles was originally published in French and because I speak the language, I felt a certain kinship with the book. And because it was published in the U.S. on my exact birthday, it was doubly auspicious and certain of making my 'to-read' list.

Awards: Batchelder Winner, 2011

Clementine's Letter

Clementine's Letter
by Sara Pennypacker
illustrated by Marla Frazee
Hyperion, 2008. 150 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 5-10
Hardcover: $14.99

Annotation: After finally getting the hang of 3rd grade, Clementine might lose her teacher to an archeological dig.

Summary: Clementine is no stranger to the principal's office and she and Mrs. Rice are old friends. But for once, she's only being sent to retrieve her for a special announcement. Except it turns out to be the worst announcement in Clementine's life. Mrs. Rice tells Dr. D'Matz's third grade class that she's nominated their teacher for a special archaeological dig in Egypt, which means he'll be gone for a whole week and potentially the rest of the year. Clementine is dismayed because she and Mr. D'Matz have finally come to an understanding and she's actually liking school now and definitely not looking forward to a substitute. Just as Clementine predicted, Mrs. Nagel comes in and starts being mean to her and changing all the rules around. So when her class is asked to write letters to the nomination committee deciding Mr. D'Matz's fate, Clementine decides to make sure her letter will keep Mr. D'Matz right where she wants him--in her class as her teacher. But will her mischievous letter ruin her relationship with her favorite teacher?

Evaluation: Coming third in the series, Clementine's Letter is a delightful story and you haven't already, you'll fall in love with Clementine's precocious personality and tender heart. There's lots of humor and Clementine's voice is well written and thoroughly likeable. Pennypacker creates a cast of peripheral characters that complement Clementine and add spark to a charming tale of unintentional mischief.  The bond between Mr. D'Matz and Clementine is sweet and the story will conjure up fond memories of your own favorite grade school teacher.  Frazee's illustrations capture Clementine's spunk and the story and the images are a perfect pairing. It's sure to be a hit with kids of all types and temperaments, but it is especially suited for those children who find themselves in trouble at school more often than not.

Significance: Pennypacker teaches us that when you love someone, sometimes you have to let them go.

Personal Choice: Admittedly, the cover lured me in and I fell in love with Clementine's adorable curly, red hair which reminded me of little orphan Annie. Both girls have a zest for life and the gumption to make things happen while performing large acts of charity for the adults in their life.

Awards: Christopher Winner, 2009

Room

Room
by Emma Donoghue
Little, Brown, and Co., 2010. 321 pgs.
Adult Fiction with YA Interest
Hardcover: $24.99

Annotation: Imprisoned by a madman, Jack and his Ma live in a single 11x11 ft room for years with no hope of escape.

Summary: Jack is turning 5--his favorite number. His mother bakes him a cake like any other good mother would do. However, Jack wants 5 candles on the cake, a simple request, but when you're locked in a single room for 7 years by the hands of a madman, no request is ever simple. Kidnapped at 19, "Ma" has been imprisoned and abused by her kidnapper for long, tortuous years. Her son Jack was born into this very room and having never left, has zero concept of the world outside. Sure they have a small tv, but to preserve his innocence and perhaps his sanity, "Ma" tells Jack that what happens on tv is only make believe and so he never realizes there is a whole world out there that he is being kept from experiencing. His friends are Dora the Explorer from the tv, a long snake made of eggshells and the remote control. Christened "Old Nick" by Jack, their captor unlocks the industrical strength door every evening at 9pm to visit "Ma" and fulfill his filthy lust and every night "Ma" forces Jack into the wardrobe minutes beforehand to keep him safe. "Old Nick" takes away their garbage, grudgingly buys them food and once a week allows them a special Sunday treat, such as grapes or crayons--all things most children take for granted. As he grows, Jack starts asking questions that Ma finds increasingly hard to answer and so she tells him the whole story, but Jack's small mind has trouble taking it all in and grasping the magnitude of the injustice that's been perpetrated. But one night Jack and "Ma" conceive a plan for escape and it all hinges on 5-year-old Jack's ability to play dead.

Evaluation: Told from 5-year-old Jack's perspective, the experience of Jack and his mother takes on a bizarre innocence that only a child could relay. Donoghue does an incredible job at portraying the mind of a child whose view of reality is dysfunctional and distorted. Jack and his mother's approach to life is heartbreakingly simple. They wake up, eat a rationed breakfast, take a bath together, watch 1 show on tv (2 if Jack is lucky--but Ma doesn't want him to rot his brain so tv is kept to a minimum), do Phys Ed--which consists of strength maintaining exercises--eat lunch, play together, color, tell stories, eat dinner, brush their teeth (because for years Ma didn't take care of hers and now they are rotting and she has horrible pains), watch 1 more show on tv, read 1 or all of the 5 books they've been alloted and then go to bed--only to do the same thing the next day and the next and the next. Their only diversion is the small, steel enclosed skylight that gives them their only connection with the outside world. One day Jack spies a plane through the tiny opening, just like on tv, and this highlight keeps him excited for days on end.

Donoghue's Jack is both prodigiously bright and exceptionally naive, making for a endearing character the reader yearns to protect and educate. Jack speaks of "room" and "table", "wall", and "rug" without articles and without a proper sense of perspective. He still breast-feeds at five years and while the concept is a bit repulsive to most of America, it is a symbol of "Ma's" commitment to nurture her child and preserve his innocence, while providing him nourishment. "Ma" is a fierce protector and her character, while a secondary one, demonstrates the will of a mother when faced with tragic odds. She is remarkably resilient, keeping Jack occupied and setting a scheduled routine, doing her best to keep him and herself healthy and trying to provide as normal a childhood as possible in their extreme circumstances.

"Old Nick" is a peripheral character and his evil actions dictate Jack and Ma's life, but he cannot take away their spirit and their love for each other. Donoghue's gift lies in her ability to show us our own world through the eyes of a unique little boy. Little things take on great significance and you'll never look at the freedom to get up, put on shoes and and walk outside as a commonplace experience again.

I listened to the audio version of this book and while I was initially irriated by the voice of Jack, I came to love his childlike enthusiasm and I have to give high kudos to the actor who portrayed this precocious child. In short, Room is a fascinating read for adults while utterly appropriate for teens and will appeal to anyone searching for the next good book.

Significance: Room celebrates the resiliency of people faced with incredible challenges and the ability of a child to save his mother, both phsyically and mentally.

Personal Choice: I'd had several recommendations from people I trusted and the premise behind the novel intrigued me.

Awards: Alex Award, 2011

Extra Credit

Extra Credit
by Andrew Clements
Atheneum, 2009. 183 pgs.
Reading Level: ages 9-12
Hardcover: $16.99

Annotation: Forced into an extra credit project to keep from failing sixth grade, Abby begins a pen pal relationship with a boy in far off Afghanistan.

Summary: Abby doesn't dislike everything about school, gym class is fun at least. But her dislike of school translates into her dislike of homework and when Abby gets the news that her lackadasical attitude is going to keep her in the sixth grade for an additional year, she panics. Begging her teachers for one more chance she is offered an extra credit project that turns into a pen pal relationship with a student in Afghanistan.

Sadeed is by far the best student in his village, but when his teacher tells him about the important opportunity he will have--that of writing to a young American girl--he feels that writing to a girl is beneath him. But the village elders have voted and his sister, Emira, will be the American girl's pen pal while Sadeed will help her due to his command of the English language. However, not everyone is happy with the correspondence between their respective countries and both Sadeed and Abby will have to navigate the cultural clashes that transpire.

Evaluation: Told from the perspective of both Sadeed and Abby, Clement does an admirable job of presenting both sides of a story. He introduces some of the problems inherent in each countries' relationship with the other and creates a plot wherein those differences are minimized. Sadeed and Abby come to realize they are not very different from each other, even though they live very far apart in supposedly very different cultures. They two children recognize that they can learn from each other (would that our countries would learn this). Abby learns to appreciate her Iowa corn fields, which Sadeed says are "like a smile from God's face", and that mountains are sometimes seen as obstacles rather than playthings. Sadeed realizes that not all girls are blockheads and that climbing mountains can be as fun as Abby says it is. Clement's book simplies the complexity of Afghan/American relations, while introducing children to the basics. In the end, the children must end their new found friendship due to prejudice, ignorance and potential danger. Thus, Clement's mesage is clear, if the world would listen to it's children, we'd all live in a simpler, more peaceful society.

Significance: Afghanistan and the United States have a violent relationship and various factions would like to see the end of one or the other. This book is a simple introduction to the differences that exist between the two countries and it allows children to receive a small taste of the larger conflict. We also see a protagonist who struggles with school, but with hard work achieves the goals she and her school have set for her.

Personal Choice: Reading Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea wetted my appetite for more books about Afghanistan.

Awards: Christopher Award Winner, 2010

American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese
by Gene Luen Yeng
First Second, 2006. 240 pgs.
Young Adult: Graphic Novel
Hardcover: $19.95

Annotation: Yeng explores the complexity of identity with humor and wisdom.

Summary: Across the expanse of three separate plots, Yeng examines the nature of identity. First comes the intimidating Monkey King. Born of a rock he rules a mountian of monkeys, but when turned away from a party in Heaven, decides to transform himself in order to never be rejected again. Then we have Jin Wang, the only Chinese boy in his class until the Taiwanese Wei-Chen moves in. Not only bonded by the butt of racial snears, the two find they have a love of transformers and soon become fast friends. And finally we have Danny, whose horribly stereotypical cousin Chin-Kee arrives, making Danny's life miserable as he strives to navigate highschool with a family member whose embarrassing differences might make him an outcast.

Evaluation: A graphic novel is a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels, and often aimed at mature audiences. (So says http://www.wikipedia.org/)

My previously uninformed perception was that graphic novels were a combination of the best in illustration with a mediocre plot thrown in to make them…something more than a children’s picture book. My bad. Super cool graphics?--Check. Simple plot?--Negative. American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first graphic novel to win the American Library Association's Printz Award.

The adventures of the Monkey King, Jing Wang, Wei-Chin, and crazy cousin Chin-Kee are sure to capture your attention. The three separate plots of the novel explore the difficulties of being Chinese-American in a society where stereotypes abound. Being a teenager is hard in any country, and being ‘different’ can kill your social life--especially when your accent, appearance, and relatives differ so drastically from the ‘norm’. The temptation to give in to peer-pressure and blend with the cool crowd is nearly irresistible, especially when transforming yourself would make you more acceptable. Adhering to ancient cultural traditions seems unappealing when trying to navigate the hallways of high school, or rule a mountain of monkeys. And the question is…accept it or reject it? The novel is full of a “should I really be laughing at this?” style of humor that the Politically Correct Police would be sure to censor. Yet, Yang simultaneously draws a mesmerizing tale while teaching some extraordinary values. And when the intricate plot lines magically intertwine in the last pages, the beauty of the tale is overwhelming. Deep enough for a college thesis and light enough for a young teen, this graphic novel is a masterpiece of ingenuity.

Significance: American Born Chinese addresses the difficulty of being a minority--in any sense of the word--during the formative teen years. The novel offers superb discussion points on relevant young adult issues, such as: How do you navigate social and cultural differences and if you can transform yourself, is it advisable? Should you remain true to your traditional family values? How can you integrate successfully into a new society while still honoring your native culture? These and other cultural/social quandries make this book a great read for any teens struggling with difficult identity issues.

Personal Choice: I have a strong interest in Chinese culture and had never read a graphic novel, so with that combination of variables, I had to give this new genre a try and was utterly blown away by Yeng's genius in the process.

Awards: Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2007 / Printz Winner, 2007 / ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Top Ten List / National Book Award Nominee, 2007 / San Franciso Chronicle Best Book of the Year / NPR Holiday Pick / amzon.com Best Graphic Novel/Comic of the Year / Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year / Booklist Editors' Choice Book

Ernest Hemingway: A Writer's Life

Ernest Hemingway: A Writer's Life
by Catherine Reef
Clarion, 2009. 183 pgs.
Reading Level: Young Adult  / Older Children
Hardcover: $20.00

Annotation: Obsessed with war, bullfights and big game hunting, Hemingway's lifestyle fueled his writing.

Summary: Born at the turn of the twentieth century, Ernest Hemingway grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. Son of a doctor father and a stylish mother, he was raised in a religous, gentile environment. Growing up, his father was quick to teach him to love the outdoors and he learned to fish, boat and camp at an early age. Hemingway's affinity for the outdoor lifestyle was a prevailing trait throughout his life and he later traveled the world in search of new, exciting adventures on land and on sea. With a penchant for writing Hemingway found his first employement as a cub reporter, but soon left to join in the excitement of war, becoming a Red Cross ambulance driver in Italy. War suited Hemingway and he was to use his war experiences, then and later, as the basis of many award winning novels and short stories. He came to be known for a new kind of writing. His brief sentence structure, that tried to elluminate the essence of a thing while leaving much of the detail implied, was later dubbed "stream of consciousness". While he experienced both success and failure as a writer, he won the hearts of both the critics and the public and managed to garner a Pulitzer and a Nobel prize for literature. The writer was a blustery, creative type who thrived on the violence of the bullring in Spain, deep sea fishing in the Florida keys and big game hunting in Africa. He fell in and out of love with four different wives and had three children total. A hard drinker, Hemingway was prone to mood swings and tempermental outbursts, especially towards the end of his life. Living around the world in places like Paris, Spain, Key West, Cuba and Sun Valley, Idaho, Hemingway experienced life like few people and throughout his tempetuous career was obsessed with truth, courage and death.

Evaluation: Reef pens an interesting, clear biography of Hemingway's extraordinary life. The book is well researched, with just enough anecdote to make it a robust, lively portrait. All the pertinent details are included, from birth till death and the book is large, with large print and peppered with photographs that nicely augment the text. Not only does the life sketch include all of Hemingway's publications, but Reef manages to connect each of Hemingway's experiences to his writing, which allows the reader to understand the basis for Hemingway's work. The book serves a reading level that addresses either advanced children's readers or young adults, so the title has excellent crossover appeal. Ernest Hemingway: a Writer's Life is a solid exposition and I enjoyed getting to more about Hemingway's legendary personlity.

Significance: Hemingway won both a Pulitzer prize and the Nobel prize for literature for his short novel, "The Old Man and the Sea". A master of clean, spare writing--sometimes referred to as "stream of consciousness"--Hemingway's influence on modern literature was immense and a study of twentieth century writers must include this infamous personality.

Personal Choice: I have a fondness for Hemingway and was excited to learn more about his life. I loved "A Sun Also Rises", "A Moveable Feast", "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" and immensely enjoyed "In Love and War" - the story of Hemingway and his nurse friend, Kurowsky.

Awards: Golden Kite Honor Recipient, 2010 / YALSA: Excellence in Nonfiction Nominee, 2010