Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Truesight by David Stahler Jr. Eos, 2004. 168 pgs. Chapter book. Truesight is a futuristic story of a Utopian society on a distant planet. There are two cities on this planet Melville is home to the Seers, people who can see. Harmony is the city of the blind. The people of Harmony are descended from a group of people on Earth who decided to embrace their disability of blindness and create a Utopian society of only blind people. They decide to carry the concept of their society even further and genetically alter their unborn children so they would also be blind. 13 year-old Jacob is an active member of Harmony until he starts experiencing severe headaches. His physical suffering causes him to act and react differently to his environment and the people around him. This book falls right in my favorite genre of children's literature, futuristic science fiction. It is the first of a trilogy. The library has copies both in Juvenile and YA. It will probably find more readers in the YA sec...

THE WEDNESDAY WARS By Gary D. Schmidt Clarion, 2007. 264pp. Children's and Young Adult Fiction. Holling Hoodhood, seventh grader at Camillo Junior High, is stuck alone in his English class on Wednesday afternoons because he is a Presbyterian and attends neither Catechism nor Hebrew School with his classmates. Upset at not having a free prep period in the afternoon, Mrs. Baker, his English teacher, first makes him clap erasers and clean chalkboards (until the great chalk-dust/cream puff disaster). By and by they read Shakespeare. This exquisitely well-written book follows Holling through the course of the 1962-63 school year as he memorizes passages from Shakespeare's plays, lands a role as Ariel in The Tempest, makes the cross country team, and discovers the man he wants to be will not be a man like his father. Sad, funny, and deeply touching by turns, Holling's story is also the story of America during the Vietnam War, of decency and good humor at an early age, and the pow...

Dragonsdale by Salamanda Drake Chicken House/Scholastic, 2007. 269 pgs. Chapter book. Cara works at her father's dragon stables (called Dragonsdale), with friends Breena, Wony, and Drane. Everyone else (except newcomer Drane) gets to ride the dragons, participating in the yearly shows and competitions. Cara isn't allowed to ride since her mother died in a riding accident. Her favorite dragon, Skydancer is untameable, but responds well to Cara since they grew up together. Hortense, the suitably named villianous girl is nicely hateable, and the other characters add instead of distract. The ending is predictable, but still fun - readers will sigh in relief when she gets to ride her dragon. Between the cover, the subject matter, and the author's pseudonym, it all seems exceptionally cliche. However, it was a fun read, with an enjoyable plot and likeable characters. This is perfect for hi/lo readers, although boys might find this a little girly. It also would be great for reader...

SAMUEL BLINK AND THE FORBIDDEN FOREST By Matt Haig G.P. Putnam's, 2007. 316pp. Children's Fiction. Samuel and Martha move in with their javelin-throwing aunt in Norway after their parents are killed in an accident. Martha has stopped speaking since the accident, and Samuel resents his aunt's rules, especially the one to keep out of the forest. When Martha wanders into the woods alone, Samuel goes after her, and they both meet trolls, huldres, slemps, and--scariest of all--the Changemaster. Samuel Blink ... may be one of those books children like better than adults. The humor is not terribly funny and tends to defuse the tension rather than relieve it. Consequently, one never senses that the children are in any real danger. Still, kids might enjoy the Truth Pixie and his poisonous soup and Troll the Left and Troll the Right. To see Matt Haig's true talent, see The Dead Father's Club , an adult/young adult book.

Red Moon at Sharpsburg By Rosemary Wells Viking, 2007. 236 pp. Chapter book. A Civil War historical fiction narrated by thirteen year old India Moody. India is tutored by Emory Trimble who teachers her science and how to look through a microscope. She is determined to attend Oberlin College in Ohio, where girls are welcome. As a result of the war India and her family are forced to leave their home and live with relatives. India also sets out on a dangerous search for her father, who has been listed as missing. All of these changes and challenges result in a wiser and more experienced India in the end. A few of the war scenes are graphic and bloody. Proof that Rosemary Wells is a great writer of both picture and chapter books.

LEEPIKE RIDGE By N. D. Wilson Random House, 2007. 224pp. Juvenile Fiction. Leepike Ridge is a bit unusual these days in that it is an adventure book that doesn't involve fantasy, magic, or bonding with one's formerly estranged relatives. Tom Hammond lives in a house chained to a rocky cliff with his mother who is about to marry a dweeby schoolteacher (Tom's father died some years earlier). Upset about his mother's relationship with Mr. Veatch, Tom floats down the stream at the bottom of the cliff on the foam from a packing box, and gets sucked into an underground cavern with no apparent way out. There he finds dead bodies, a stranger from his own past, the possibility of a great treasure, and danger. Characters with mythological names people this adventure novel whose author acknowledges influences from Mark Twain and Homer. Though Wilson's first book has some rough edges and things that don't make sense, it is still compelling reading, especially for youngs...

A Drowned Maiden's Hair: a melodrama By Laura Amy Schlitz Candlewick Press, 2006. 389 pgs. Chapter book. This book is about an eleven year old girl named Maud. Full of spice, spunk, and a more than healthy dose of naughtiness, she isn't exactly the model orphan. When she is chosen over more "proper" candidates to be adopted by a trio of old, well-to-do ladies, she is delighted to be rid of the orphanage and in a real home, even with the mandate that as such she must remain hidden as their "secret child." However, as her role in the old ladies' lives becomes increasingly complicated, she must make difficult choices which take her down new and unknown paths. This book provides a very entertaining and enjoyable read. I found the plot to be very unique and interesting and the story immediately captured my attention. The characters are well developed and are one of the strongest points. I highly recommend this book--it's a great story!

Desert by Tom Warhol Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2007. 80 pgs. Juvenile nonfiction. This informative book is perfect for children doing research (or some side reading, hopefully?). There are colorful photographs that compliment the text, and the cover is brightly colored and appealing. The information is accurate and accessible, and is divided into subject-headed chapters. A glossary and index is included in the back as well as a further reading page with books and websites for more information. Overall this is very well done, and of course, is part of a series, Earth’s Biomes , including Grassland , Water , Tundra , Forest , Chaparra , Scrub , and Desert . This series is ideal for ages 8 – 12.

Theodosia and the Serpent of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 344 pgs. Chapter book. As the daughter of an Egyptian curator and archaeologist, Theodosia Throckmorton spends much of her time getting rid of curses on the artifacts in their museum. Her oblivious and very busy parents take almost no notice of her, and her brother is predictably a pest. The plot really thickens when an artifact with the ability to curse and destroy England is stolen. Of course, it is up to Theodosia to solve the mystery and return the artifact. An action packed mystery, this book is tightly written. The Egyptian mythology is accurate, adding a touch of the fantastical. The characters are believable, although a little raw in places, and the plot is a lot of fun. This first book in what will probably be a series had a few ‘set-up’ areas to explain some of the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’, but this gives me hope that the next books will be even better. A good recommendation for anyone who lik...

Hannah West series By Linda Johns Sleuth Puffin. Chapter books. Here is a fun new mystery series for girls. Linda Johns has created a unique lifestyle for her main character Hannah West. Hannah and her mother Maggie are left homeless when Maggie is laid off from her job. Fortunately, her mom sidelines as an art critic for a local publication and she knows many wealthy people. These contacts give them the idea to become professional house-sitters (and pet-sitters ) in the Seattle area. This job requires them to change residence every few weeks, but through much effort and sneakiness Hannah manages to convince people that she still lives at her former home so she can continue to attend school with her friends. Hannah is Chinese, she was adopted by Maggie when she was a baby. The first book in the series is Hannah West in the Belltown Towers, the duo live in a downtown condo and stumble on a mysterious art theft. Then comes Hannah West in Deep Water , the Wests are houseboat-sitting and...