Welcome to the Book Review Archives All book reviews will be archived here indefinitely.
Title: The Sky’s Not Falling!Why It’s OK to Chill About Global Warming Written by: Holly Fretwell Hardback: 126 pages Publisher: World Ahead Media / Kids Ahead Books ISBN: 978-0-976726-94-4 Publication:September 2007
The Sky’s Not Falling! Why It’s OK to Chill About Global Warming, by Holly Fretwell is not your typical mainstream book, but it will enlighten our children and definitely the adults around them about global warming. “How do you choose to live your life and how we can together make this world a better place for all children of the future.”Is a profound statement and it is meant to get your brain churning so that the reader as an individual realizes that they can make a positive impact on the environment on a daily basis. Written in terms that 8-12 year olds can make sense of and not panic about global warming.Fretwell presents the complex material in simple to understand terminology for all levels of understanding and learning. Fretwell, a natural resources management expert and professor at Montana State University.To interview the Holly, contact Judy at marketing@worldahead.com or 310-961-4170. Book review written by Donna M. McDine for Pump Up Your Book Promotion
Title: Remembering Raquel Written by: Vivian Vande Velde Hardback: 137 pages Ages: 12 & up Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 978—0-15-205976-7 Publication: November 2007 There are times when someone drifts through every day life without being noticed all that much by the people around them.Fifteen-year-old Raquel Falcone is that person in Remembering Raquel.Her life appears to be quite mundane and her life is told through the eyes of her best friend, family, classmates, and the woman that accidentally struck her with her car.
The death of Raquel shakes the community to their core and it proves how we all affect one another’s lives even if for a brief moment.At first it appears that Raquel would have no lasting impact on the town she resided in.As one classmate put it, “”Oh crap.That makes me the class fat girl.”But through the eyes of the people she did come in contact with we learn of Raquel’s gentle kindness, the traumatic impact of her mother’s death from cancer, the perception of Raquel from her classmates and the heartwarming frustration of her best friend.Even through cyber-space it is shown how Raquel did connect with others in her own way. Vivian Vande Velde is an Edgar Award winning author and tackles the array of emotions that all age levels go through when a death occurs.Whether the emotions seem to be warranted or not Remembering Raquel will tug at your heart.
Title: My Feet Aren’t Ugly ~ A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out Written by: Debra Beck Genre: Self-help Publisher: Beaufort Books ISBN: 978-0-8253-0542-9 Pages: 129 Price: $12.95 Publication: April 2007
The Long Awaited Guide to Steer Our Daughter’s in the Right DirectionDebra Beck’s My Feet Aren’t Ugly ~ A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out is chock full of information that not only your daughter will find useful in navigating the adolescent years into young adult hood....
Title: Voice of the Angels Cookbook ~ Talk To Your Food! ~ Intuitive Cooking Written by: Dyan Garris Hardback: 157 pages Publisher: Journeymakers, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-9776140-2-8 Publication: August 2007 What better time to have the cookbook, “Voice of the Angels Cookbook Talk to Your Food!” by Dyan Garris on hand at the holiday season! Spiritual thoughts are sprinkled throughout the cookbook to remind you to slow down and savor life, especially when cooking.The components of taking the time to enjoy the process of cooking and taking slow satisfying bits are key to enjoying your food.Also, incorporating mental clarity and love are important in obtaining the best results with the recipes you prepare. Recipes include desserts; salads and sides; appetizers and dips; entrees; pastas and layered dishes; seafood dishes, and soups.The abundance of recipes are sure to please the most seasoned cook’s taste buds. Dyan Garris is a clairvoyant, clairsentient, and clairaudient.She is also the author and developer of “Voice of the Angels – A Healing Journey Spiritual Cards.”Please visitDyan Garris at: www.voiceoftheangels.com or www.newagecd.com to read and discover more wonderful information about Dyan.
Title: Hiss Me Deadly Written by: Bruce Hale Hardback: 118 pages Ages: 8 to 12 Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-15-205482-3 Publication: October 2007
Crime has run rampant at Emerson Hicky Elementary.Chet Gecko and his sidekick Natalie have been put on the case to solve the mysterious disappearance of expensive items by Principal Zero. “Uh…” I gaped.“You, uh, want to hire me?”Mr. Zero leaned onto his forearms.“Gecko, despite your faults, you actually have solved a case or two.” To add insult to injury Mama Gecko’s pearl necklace is also missing.Much to the dismay of Chet he needs to solve the case quick, before Mama Gecko finds out his little sister borrowed the necklace without permission.Chet and Natalie are racing against time to discover the thief before the Fair at the end of the week with the display of the Flubberjee Egg.If not, it could mean the end of the detective duo. Hiss Me Deadly is the thirteenth installment of the Tattered Casebook, with the return of the wacky and hilarious characters of Chet and Natalie. Bruce Hale has once again delivered a fast-paced mystery that is sure to delight the middle grade reader.Visit Bruce at: http://www.brucehale.com
Title: Savage Survival Written by: Darrell Bain Paperback: 232 pages Publisher: Twilight Times Books ISBN: 1-933353-66-X Publication: September 2007 Darrell Bain is the author of approximately two dozen books and he has triumphed again with Savage Survival.
Savage Survival will immerse you from the beginning with its non-stop action from the very first page.The depths of the main character Lyda Brightner will be forever imbedded in your mind.
The earth is taken over by alien beings and millions are taken captive.Trials and tribulations are inflicted on the surviving population.Ms. Brightner overcomes enormous obstacles from the start.The death of her parents, being raped at the age of eleven to taking on the role of leader repeatedly.Her intuition and desire not be destroyed by the aliens leads her on a journey of self discovery and love.
You will be delighted to see how Ms. Brightner and others react in the face of adversity all the while asking why are the aliens doing this.
Visit Darrell Bain at www.darrellbain.com to discover his other books.He welcomes correspondence from his readers.
Title: A Crooked Kind of Perfect Written by: Linda Urban Hardback: 211 pages Ages: 8 to 12 Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-15-206007-7 Published: September 2007
Middle Grade Book Review - by Donna M. McDine
Zoe Elias aspires to be a prodigy piano player and holds onto her dreams of Carnegie Hall.She believes that if she can only get a baby grand piano her wishes will come true.She is dismayed that her father buys a Perfectone D-60 electric organ instead of a beautiful piano.Not only does Zoe have to deal with her disappointment she is dumped by her best friend Emma.Before she knows it, Zoe accepts an invitation to play in the Perform-O-Rama organ contest.Determined to do well in the contest, Zoe practices after school everyday.
Zoe’s family consists of herself, her mom, and her dad.Mom is always at work and her Dad is a recluse.His favorite pastime is taking mail diploma courses from Living Room University.The times he does venture out, result in chaos.He always gets lost and has to call Eastside Wreck and Tow for directions every time. What is a girl to do? Friendship is found in the most unexpected person, Wheeler Diggs.Wheeler is from school and his family life is not exactly what you would call perfect either and develops an endearing friendship with Zoe and her father.
Linda Urban creatively brings Zoe and company alive through their quirks and responsiveness to their circumstances.You will be intrigued from the first words to keep reading this fine novel about perception of families and how everything is not what it seems.
Title: Garden of Eve Written by: K. L. Going Hardback: 232 pages Ages: 8 to 12 Publisher: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-15-205986-6 Publication: September 2007 Middle Grade Book Review - by Donna M. McDine Evie and her mom had a very special relationship where they were able to bring their imaginations into the world of magic through bedtime stories.Evie longs for the days before her mother became ill, but it is not to be when her mother dies.In hopes of a new start Evie and her father move to Beaumont, New York where Evie takes a journey into a fairy tale of her own. At first the dismal apple orchard that her father purchased is too dreary for Evie and to top it off it’s next door to a cemetery.The events that occur after Evie meets a boy that looks just like a local boy that died, the curse of the farm and the girl that vanished, and the gift of a single seed are nothing less than spectacular. Her father has always been a scientific man and that if there is no explanation than it cannot be real.“Evie,” he said at last, “you know I’m a realist.I always have been.I trust what I see with my eyes, and it’s hard to believe anything you’ve told me is true…”“But I can tell you this, I’m not going to make the same mistake again.If you need a seed to find Adam and bring him home, then, by God, we’re going to find a seed.” Through her journey Evie’s father begins to BELIEVE in the unexpected and unexplainable.
K.L. Going immerses you in the heart and soul of Evie from the start and you’ll feel the beat of your heart in your head with every word you read.Kudos to K.L. Going for this wonderful heartfelt novel! Visit K.L. Going at: http://www.klgoing.com
Title: So B. It Written by: Sarah Weeks Ages: 10-up Publisher: Laura Geringer Books/HarperCollins ISBN-10: 0-06-441047-1 ISBN-13: 978-0-06-441047-2 Publication: April 2004
Middle Grade Book Review – by Donna M. McDine “So B. It,” is a Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner and it will transport you into the life of Heidi. Heidi has no idea where she was born, her birthday, her father, and how she finally arrived at the doorstep of Bernadette.Their new neighbor who has “angora phobia” (which is the fear of going outside) takes them in, and teaches and nurtures both mother and daughter as best she can.Discovering the truth of her background is difficult with her mother’s mental disability, which has left her with a limited vocabulary of 23 words.Even though they have no means of income, their rent and utility bills are mysteriously paid each month. Heidi’s life is basically confined to the two adjoining apartments, until she gets older and is able to go to the store by herself.For quite some time Heidi accepts her life for what it is, but becomes curious when she discovers an old camera with undeveloped film inside.Heidi gets the film developed and discovers photos of her mother at a Christmas party at a place called Hilltop Home in Liberty, New York. Heidi travels by herself to Liberty, NY, to uncover the truth of their identities.What Heidi uncovers and doesn’t will be heartbreaking and spellbinding for any reader of this wonderfully written novel. About the author: Sarah Weeks is an accomplished sing, songwriter, and children’s book author.She conducts school visits throughout the U.S., presenting her books, songs, and shares the creative process of writing for children.Her publishing credits include more than thirty picture books and middle grade novels. Visit Sarah Weeks at: http://www.sarahweeksbooks.com
Title: Victory Written by: Susan Cooper Harback: 196 pages Ages: 9-12 Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books ISBN-10: 1-4169-1477-3 ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-1477-8 Publication: 2006 Middle Grade Book Review – by Donna M. McDine Both eleven years old, Sam Robbins lives in 1803 and Molly Jennings lives in 2006, but their lives cross an emotional barrier 200 years apart that transforms Molly’s life. Overcome with the loneliness after the death of her father, Molly Jennings finds herself moving to Connecticut in the United States from her native England when her mother remarries an American man. Desperately trying to find her place in her new family, Molly reluctantly joins her family in an outing to Mystic Seaport. As the rain hinders the trip, Molly and her family wander into a used bookstore for shelter. For reasons unknown to Molly, she is drawn to a grimy old book about Admiral Lord Nelson who is named the hero of the Battle of Trafalgar. Unable to explain her excitement over this find, Molly purchases the book. Soon afterwards, while reading the book, she finds a note about the small piece of flag found with it. Apparently, it is from Lord Nelson’s ship, Victory, and it is the prized possession of a person by the name of Samuel Robbins. While Molly’s mother tries to make their new home as pleasant as possible, Molly continues to miss her home in England. In an attempt to please Molly, her mother surprises her with a trip to her grandparents in England. While out with her grandfather, they visit the restored Victory ship in Portsmouth, England where strange happenings occur with visions and voices heard only by her. While Molly continues on her own adventure, she makes an exciting connection of her families past. She learns of the young Sam Robbins, who was kidnapped by the “press gang” at the age of eleven, along with his uncle, and brought into the Royal Navy. Sam finds himself in terrible conditions, having to do the most menial tasks. In spite of this, Sam is a quick learner and eventual loves the sailing life. However, he continues to endure horrors and heartaches beyond his imagination. The novel switches back and forth from current time to the past in alternating chapters. Molly’s life is told in third person, while Sam’s life is told in first person. While this type of writing can be difficult for the most seasoned author, Susan Cooper expertly takes you on this adventure where you find yourself immersed in the lives of Molly and Sam. Visit Susan Cooper at: http://www.thelostland.com
Title: Firegirl
Written by: Tony Abbott
Soft cover: 145 pages
Ages: 8-12
Publisher: Little, Brown for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-316-01170-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-01170-9
Publication: September 2007
This week’s Middle Grade Book review for The National Writing for ChildrenCenter - by Donna M. McDine
The most important thing in Tom Bender’s life at St. Catherine’s School was to gain the attention of Courtney Zisky and to take that long awaited ride in his best friend Jeff’s uncle’s Cobra. However, his life is about to change in unexpected ways when a new student is introduced by Mrs. Tracy.
“I felt as if everyone’s eyes were on me.I must have dropped a gallon of sweat into my shirt.I felt my arms, sides, and waist dripping wet.But with that curled thing held out in the air toward me, I couldn’t not take it.I had to hold it.My hand reached out to hers and took it.I held it lightly, and I think she helped by not squeezing.My hand must have been sweaty.Her palm felt pretty normal.The skin felt cool.”
Firegirl is presented in the first person from the events leading up to the introduction of the new classmate, Jessica Feeney, through the small steps that Tom takes in establishing a friendship with Jessica.This heartwarming novel will inspire you.Share this book with your students and/or children and show them that simple acts of kindness can go a long way in making people feel loved and accepted.
It is no wonder that Firegirl is the recipient of The Golden Kite Award by the SCBWI.
