Title: Crunch
Author: Leslie Connor
Age Range: 10 and up
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will be release May 2010
Crunch is part mystery, part realistic fiction, and part science fiction but in an entirely realistic way. It's about a complete lack of fuel and how suddenly bikes are a lot more valuable. And with so many bikes on the road, you're going to need a repair shop. Dewey Marriss's dad runs a bike repair shop, but he got stuck up in Canada with Dewey's mom. So that leaves Dewey and his four siblings to run the place, repairing bikes, dealing with customers, doing farm chores and tolerating each other and a kleptomaniac neighbor, which they manage to do wonderfully, remaining cheerful under stress for the sake of the five-year-old twins, Eva and Angus. But when a surprising thief is caught stealing parts from the Bike Barn, they're featured on television, bringing in customers they never wanted. Soon everyone is under too much strain and they snap. Can Dewey bring everyone back together again before their much awaited parents return home?
With an engaging (although a bit confusing), beginning and distinctive characters, Crunch is a book that most readers will find enjoyable. I wish that Leslie Connor had said more about why there was a lack of fuel, but doing so might have made the book sound preachy. I was really struck by how much fun it would be to bike down the freeway with other riders, hardly worrying about traffic!
Showing posts with label Rose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rose. Show all posts
March 28, 2010
Hawksmaid by Kathryn Lasky
Title: Hawksmaid
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Age Range: 10 and up
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will be released May 2010
With strong characters and a well-developed plot line, Hawksmaid pulls the reader into a new version of the story of Robin Hood. Seen through the eyes of Matty Fitzwalter (who would later take the name Maid Marian), Robert Woodfyn (later Robin Hood) and the hawks Matty learns to fly, this story tells of corruption, loyalty and coming of age. For an added twist, author Kathryn Lasky masterfully brings in the ancient art of falconry.
I found this book impossible to put down and very well done. My one problem with it was that when the author told the story from the hawks point of view they didn't seem very hawk-like. They were too pack-minded and hawks tend to be solitary birds. But other than that one detail this story was a great read.
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Age Range: 10 and up
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will be released May 2010
With strong characters and a well-developed plot line, Hawksmaid pulls the reader into a new version of the story of Robin Hood. Seen through the eyes of Matty Fitzwalter (who would later take the name Maid Marian), Robert Woodfyn (later Robin Hood) and the hawks Matty learns to fly, this story tells of corruption, loyalty and coming of age. For an added twist, author Kathryn Lasky masterfully brings in the ancient art of falconry.
I found this book impossible to put down and very well done. My one problem with it was that when the author told the story from the hawks point of view they didn't seem very hawk-like. They were too pack-minded and hawks tend to be solitary birds. But other than that one detail this story was a great read.
March 27, 2010
Charles Darwin and the Mystery of Mysteries
Title: Charles Darwin and the Mystery of Mysteries
Author: Niles Eldredge and Susan Pearson
Age Range: 9-14
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will not be released until May 2010
This enjoyable book on the life of Charles Darwin is well worth reading. It's very informative and covers all aspects of his life and work in a way that is easy to understand without having to reread every sentence twice. It tells of how Darwin pieced together the mystery of Natural Selection and the people who influenced him to do so. In the margins are facts about those people and things that happened during Darwin’s lifetime, but they are not so frequent as to disrupt the story.
Charles Darwin and the Mystery of Mysteries is a must read book!
Author: Niles Eldredge and Susan Pearson
Age Range: 9-14
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will not be released until May 2010
This enjoyable book on the life of Charles Darwin is well worth reading. It's very informative and covers all aspects of his life and work in a way that is easy to understand without having to reread every sentence twice. It tells of how Darwin pieced together the mystery of Natural Selection and the people who influenced him to do so. In the margins are facts about those people and things that happened during Darwin’s lifetime, but they are not so frequent as to disrupt the story.
Charles Darwin and the Mystery of Mysteries is a must read book!
Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth
Title: Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth
Author: Sandra Dutton
Age Range: 8-12
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will not be released until June 2010
Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth tells the story of a girl who starts noticing that what her teacher teaches about fossils and what her pastor teaches at church don't agree. She persists until finally her mom pulls her out of school to homeschool her with the
Bible. But Mary Mae isn't happy being homeschooled and tries to find ways to go back to school. The ending is satisfying, with both parties coming to an agreement that works out.
As a (non-Christian) homeschooler myself, my bone to pick with this book was that homeschooling was portrayed in a negative and untruthful
light. While the situation in the book could happen (and unfortunately does occasionally) a majority of the time homeschooling is a much more postive and well thought out experience.
Over all, I think that this book encourages kids to think and decide for themselves whether they believe in Creationism, Evolution or both but with a slightly heavier emphasis on Creationism.
Author: Sandra Dutton
Age Range: 8-12
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will not be released until June 2010
Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth tells the story of a girl who starts noticing that what her teacher teaches about fossils and what her pastor teaches at church don't agree. She persists until finally her mom pulls her out of school to homeschool her with the
Bible. But Mary Mae isn't happy being homeschooled and tries to find ways to go back to school. The ending is satisfying, with both parties coming to an agreement that works out.
As a (non-Christian) homeschooler myself, my bone to pick with this book was that homeschooling was portrayed in a negative and untruthful
light. While the situation in the book could happen (and unfortunately does occasionally) a majority of the time homeschooling is a much more postive and well thought out experience.
Over all, I think that this book encourages kids to think and decide for themselves whether they believe in Creationism, Evolution or both but with a slightly heavier emphasis on Creationism.
September 13, 2009
Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti
Title: Leaving the Bellweathers (released September 22, 2009)
Author: Kristin Clark Venuti
Age Range: 9-12
Reviewer: Rose
This is a tale of trials endured by Benway, the Bellweather family’s indentured butler, who wishes to leave employment, but cannot because of a family promise made 200 years ago. His trials include Endangered Albino Alligators, cleaning up after five children including triplets who only speak in a shout or a whisper, and dealing with Dr. Bellweather’s drastic sense of humor. Benway, who knows that the 200 year promise is almost over, can’t wait to leave the chaos and lack of appreciation. But as the time gets closer, the Bellweather children, realizing he how much he does for them, each work in their own strange way to convince him to stay.
Action-packed doesn’t even begin to describe this book. Even children who don’t care much for reading will be eagerly turning each page to see what this crazy household comes up with next.
Author: Kristin Clark Venuti
Age Range: 9-12
Reviewer: Rose
This is a tale of trials endured by Benway, the Bellweather family’s indentured butler, who wishes to leave employment, but cannot because of a family promise made 200 years ago. His trials include Endangered Albino Alligators, cleaning up after five children including triplets who only speak in a shout or a whisper, and dealing with Dr. Bellweather’s drastic sense of humor. Benway, who knows that the 200 year promise is almost over, can’t wait to leave the chaos and lack of appreciation. But as the time gets closer, the Bellweather children, realizing he how much he does for them, each work in their own strange way to convince him to stay.
Action-packed doesn’t even begin to describe this book. Even children who don’t care much for reading will be eagerly turning each page to see what this crazy household comes up with next.
September 12, 2009
Redwoods by Jason Chin
Title: Redwoods
Author: Jason Chin
Age Range: 4/5+
Reviewer: Rose
Follow the adventures of a boy who steps off the New York Subway and into a giant redwood forest. Watch him learn about how these trees survive, grow, and even how their crown is an almost separate ecosystem! Written and illustrated in a fun and unusual way, this book will capture the attention of readers of all ages.
Author: Jason Chin
Age Range: 4/5+
Reviewer: Rose
Follow the adventures of a boy who steps off the New York Subway and into a giant redwood forest. Watch him learn about how these trees survive, grow, and even how their crown is an almost separate ecosystem! Written and illustrated in a fun and unusual way, this book will capture the attention of readers of all ages.
September 10, 2009
How to Write Your Life's Story by Ralph Fletcher
Title: How to write your life’s story
Author: Ralph Fletcher
Age Range: 6-12
Reviewer: Rose
From the author of A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You and Marshfield Dreams, this book starts in a new way. The introduction (a must read) is about his father’s ‘Buffalo’ and his memories around it. Ralph then goes on to describe how to map out your life. He also tells you four lies about writing your life’s story. Through out the book, he includes some samples of kids’ writings, which I find necessary in a book that is for kids. Interviews with three adult authors are also included.
I enjoyed this book, although it was not too inspiring. I would really recommend it if you were looking for a book that showed you a step by step process of how to write your life’s story, however if you already knew how to write a story, this book is more for beginners.
One part that I found particularly useful was the list of multi-genre. He listed several new types that I had not come across, including weather report (describing yourself as if you were weather), recipe, and obituary. I enjoyed his metaphors and found that he really knew how to begin and end a book. I look forward to read more of his books.
Author: Ralph Fletcher
Age Range: 6-12
Reviewer: Rose
From the author of A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You and Marshfield Dreams, this book starts in a new way. The introduction (a must read) is about his father’s ‘Buffalo’ and his memories around it. Ralph then goes on to describe how to map out your life. He also tells you four lies about writing your life’s story. Through out the book, he includes some samples of kids’ writings, which I find necessary in a book that is for kids. Interviews with three adult authors are also included.
I enjoyed this book, although it was not too inspiring. I would really recommend it if you were looking for a book that showed you a step by step process of how to write your life’s story, however if you already knew how to write a story, this book is more for beginners.
One part that I found particularly useful was the list of multi-genre. He listed several new types that I had not come across, including weather report (describing yourself as if you were weather), recipe, and obituary. I enjoyed his metaphors and found that he really knew how to begin and end a book. I look forward to read more of his books.
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