The Giver

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Delacorte Press, New York, 1993. 179 pages.  Tr. Pbk. $8.95 ISBN 0385732554

Plot Description:

Jonas is about to become a Twelve, the age at which member’s of his community begin training for their future profession.  In Jonas’ community everyone’s profession or assignment, is assigned by the Council of Elders.  The Council is also in charge of choosing one’s spouse and assigning couples their children, one boy and one girl for each family.  When the day comes to receive his assignment, Jonas is chosen for the honor of becoming the next Receiver of Memories.  Jonas doesn’t understand what this means until he beings this training with The Giver, who was the Receiver of Memories before Jonas was chosen.  The Giver transfers memories of the past to Jonas and in the process Jonas learns about things his community has disavowed such as color, weather, pain, sadness, and love.  Jonas’ community decided long ago to embrace sameness.  In his new position Jonas is privy to information that normal citizens are not allowed to know and it is this information that has Jonas questioning the way of life in his community.

Review:

Lois Lowry’s The Giver, is quietly powerful and emotional.  Jonas’s community seems like a benevolent place to live, but underneath it is ugly and controlling.  Lowry raises important moral questions in The Giver, including how people can be manipulated by their leaders and how far will one go to see justice served.  The Giver brings up the question of free will and whether people are happier having their lives laid out for them or whether they are happier being able to make their own decisions about their lives and future.

Genre:

Science Fiction
Dystopian

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Grades 4-8

Similar Books:

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Awards/Honors:

ALA Notable 1994

Newberry Award 1994

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults 1994

Author’s Website:

http://www.loislowry.com/

Smile

Telgemeier, Raina. Smile. Graphix, New York, 2010. 214 pages.  Tr. $21.99 ISBN 9780545132053

Plot Description:

Raina is not thrilled about getting braces, but braces are nothing compared to what Raina goes through after she accidentally trips and knocks out her front two teeth.  The dentist tries to reimplant Raina’s teeth, but they do not heal correctly, leading to further dental work for Raina.  Back at school Raina’s friends tease her about her dental work, as if middle school weren’t tough enough as it was?  Since Raina’s teeth did not heal properly the orthodontist proposes removing the two front teeth entirely!  But he has a plan, he will insert two fake teeth and over the course of several months he will shift the rest of Raina’s teeth toward the center disguising the missing teeth.  As Raina’s real teeth shift, the orthodontist will shave down the fake teeth until her real teeth replace them.  Throughout middle school Raina deals with teeth casts, braces, and head gear, but it is all worth it when she debuts her beautiful new smile when she gets to high school.

Review:

I loved Smile!  Raina Telgemeier’s autobiographical graphic novel brought me back to my own experiences at the orthodontist as a child.  Lucky for me I didn’t have to endure nearly the amount of dental work Raina did!  Telgemeier has a fun and bubbly style of writing that matches her amusing, bold and colorful illustrations.  Any tween who is undergoing orthodontic work will be reassured by Raina’s experience, especially since just getting braces is nothing compared to all the dental work poor Raina went through. 

Genre:

Graphic Novel

Nonfiction

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Grades 6-9

Similar Books:

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Awards/Honors:

Cybil Award 2010

Will Eisner Award 2010

YALSA Best Graphic Novels for Teens 2011

Author’s Website:

http://goraina.com/

The One and Only Ivan

Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan. Harper, New York, 2012. 305 pages.  Tr. $16.99 ISBN 9780061992254

Plot Description:

Ivan is a silver back gorilla who has spent most of his life living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall.  Though Ivan was born in the wild, he does not remember much about his parents or his sister, since he was captured and sold as a baby.  When Ivan was young and cute he drew a large crowd at the Exit 8 mall, but now he mostly spends his days in his domain watching television or drawing picture to be sold in the gift shop.  Ivan’s only friends are Bob and stray dog, Stella the elephant in the cage next to his and Julia, the daughter of the janitor, who comes into work with her father and draws with Ivan.  Then one day the Exit 8 mall gets a new resident, a baby elephant named Ruby.  Ruby is understandably scared, but Stella immediately takes to the younger elephant.  But Stella is sick and knows she will die soon, so she charges Ivan with taking care of Ruby and he makes it his mission to find a better home for Ruby. 

Review:

Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan is a sweet tale about friendship and love.  The One and Only Ivan is a quick read that will pull at your heartstrings and when you read about how Ivan, Stella, and Ruby are mistreated.  Despite the emotional element in Applegate’s Newberry winning novel, I did not feel particularly attached to the characters and believe Applegate could have done more to develop the personalities of the animals.  While Applegate could have developed her characters a bit more, the overall tone of the story is charming, which is accentuated by the cute illustrations by Patricia Castelao.

Genre:

Fantasy

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Grades 4-7

Similar Books:

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Awards/Honors:

ALA Notable Children’s Book 2013

Newbery Award 2013

Author’s Website:

http://theoneandonlyivan.com/

Scumble

Law, Ingrid. Scumble. 2010. Dial Books for Young Readers, 400 pages. $16.99 ISBN: 9780803733077

Plot Summary:

Ledger, Ledge, Kale and his family are on their way to his Uncle Autry’s ranch in Wyoming for his cousin Fish Beaumont’s wedding. Ledge spends the trip sitting in the back of the minivan trying not to blow the whole car apart. You see, Ledge and his family are special, savvy special. A savvy is a unique magical ability that manifests at age 13 in Ledge’s family and Ledge just turned 13 the week before. Ledge is disappointed in his savvy and his new found ability to break any man-made object and is having a hard time controlling his new power which is evident to the whole family when Ledge takes down his Uncle Autry’s barn on top of them all. Ledge’s parents decide Ledge and his sister should spend the summer at the ranch while Ledge learns to scumble or control his new power. Trouble ensues when Ledge meets local girl Sarah Jane and gets caught up in her tall tales.

Critical Review:

Scumble is Law’s companion to her previous novel, Savvy and is just as good as its predecessor. Scumble takes place eight years after Savvy and Mibs Beaumonts memorable thirteenth birthday and centers around her cousin Ledge. Scumble brings back old characters, but the story is all Ledge’s, though I did enjoy knowing how things turned out for Mibs and Will. Ledge is a frustrated teenager and spends a lot of his time running away from his savvy and himself and being afraid of his new power. Scumble is another winning coming of age story with just as much adventure and twists and turns as Savvy.

Genre:

Fantasy

Interest/Reading Level:

4^th grade to 7^th grade

Similar Books:

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Author’s Website:

http://www.ingridlaw.com/

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword

Deutsch, Barry. Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword. 2010. Abrams, 137 pages. $15.95 ISBN: 9780810984226

Plot Summary:

Mirka likes her stepmother, Fruma, despite that Fruma is extremely argumentative. In fact Mirka sometimes argues with her stepmother for amusement. One day Mirka loses her way and stumbles upon the house of a witch. Later she brings her siblings and Mirka eats one of the witch’s grapes and is then attacked by a monster. The monster is actually a very ferocious pig, but seeing as no one in Hereville eats pork, being a Jewish town, Mirka has never seen a pig before and understandable mistakes this particular vicious pig for a monster. The pig continues to harass her and steal her homework, until finally Mirka confronts the pig. Not expecting an answer Mirka is surprised when the pig tells her that she is guilty of stealing from the pig’s mistress and that the pig will continue to harass Mirka in punishment. Not one to back down Mirka tries to trap the pig and after almost drowning each other, Mirka and the pig come to a truce.

Later in the day Mirka stumbles upon the pig again, only this time he has been trapped by some older boys. Mirka rescues the pig and as a reward the witch tells Mirka where can find her own sword. The only catch is that the sword is guarded by a troll that Mirka must defeat. The witch does not tell Mirka how to defeat the witch, but tells her that her stepmother has all the information Mirka needs. Mirka is determined to learn how to defeat the troll and get a sword of her own.

Critical Review:

Hereville is based on the hit web comic of the same name, but with all new artwork and an extended story. Mirka is an unstoppable and courageous heroine. Hereville is not only a comedic adventure, but also informative about the Orthodox Jewish faith. Deutsch describes the weekly celebration of Shabbos. This was a fun graphic novel, filled with humor. My favorite part was Mirka’s battle with the pig, which Deutsch successfully sold as a monster.

Genre:

Humorous Fiction

Graphic Novel

Fantasy

Interest/Reading Level:

5^th to 7^th grades

Similar Books:

Into the Volcano by Don Wood

Rapunzle’s Revenge by Shannon Hale

Awards/Honors:

Andre Norton Award Nominee 2010

Eisner Nomination 2011

YALSA Best Graphic Novels for Teens 2011

Author’s Website:

http://www.amptoons.com/

Book Website:

http://www.hereville.com/webcomic/

The Magic Thief

Prineas, Sarah. The Magic Thief. 2008. Harper Collins Publishers, 419 pages. $16.99 ISBN: 9780061375873.

Plot Summary:

When Conn an orphaned pickpocket steals the wizard Nevery’s locus magicalicus and is unharmed Nevery takes Conn on as an apprentice. As an apprentice Conn is sent to school at the Acedemicos where he becomes friends with Rowan. Conn is given a month to find a locus stone of his own and spends days searching the city. During this time Conn is also gathering evidence on the problem Nevery was investigating, about who is stealing the city’s magic. Though Nevery does not believe it, Conn is convinced that Underlord Crowe is involved with the missing magic. It is not until he searches the Sunrise district of the city that Conn finds his locus stone in the form of the Duchess’s emerald. With help from Nevery the Duchess relinquishes her emerald to Conn, who proves to be a powerful wizard with a locus magicalicus to focus his spells. When Conn is attacked by the Underlord’s minion’s he is even more convinced that Underlord Crowe is involved in the missing magic and sets out to prove it.

Critical Review:

Prineas weaves an intriguing mystery in The Magic Thief. The missing magic is not the only mystery Prineas presents, Conn himself is a mystery and the reader learns something new about the hero with every page. It seems that adults never listen to Conn, something many readers might relate to. Conn is constantly underestimated by friends and enemies alike, but in the end he proves to be smart, resourceful and powerful.

Genre:

Mystery

Fantasy

Interest/Reading Level:

4^th to 6^th grades

Similar Books:

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach

Awards:

2008 Cybil Award Finalist

Author’s Website:http://www.sarah-prineas.com/

Book Website:

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/magicthief/

Shakespeare's Secret

Broach, Elise. Shakespeare’s Secret. 2005. Henry Hold and Company, 250 pages. $16.95 ISBN: 0805073876

Plot Summary:

Being the new kid in school is nothing new to Hero Netherfield and neither is being teased for her unusual name. Hero’s dad is a Shakespeare scholar and named both Hero and her older sister Beatrice for characters in the play Much Ado About Nothing. Though Hero has trouble making friends at school she does make friends with their elderly neighbor Mrs. Roth, who explains the history the Netherfield’s new home. Mrs. Roth tells Hero how the last owners Mr. and Mrs. Murphy had an antique jeweled necklace that had been in Mrs. Murphy’s family for centuries. The necklace was incredibly valuable especially the large diamond pendant. The Murphy’s were unable to afford to insure the whole necklace, but they did insure the diamond. A few months later shortly after Mrs. Murphy had fallen ill the diamond was stolen from the Murphy’s home. The strange thing was the thief only took the diamond from its setting and left the bejeweled necklace behind. Hero with her new friend Danny, who happens to be the sheriff’s son, searches all over the Netherfield’s house in search of the missing diamond, convinced that Mr. Murphy staged the theft to obtain insurance money to help pay for treatment for Mrs. Murphy. Hero, Danny, and Mrs. Roth discover a bigger mystery than they anticipated when clues link the necklace to the Tudor family and the perhaps the real identity of William Shakespeare.

Critical Review:

Shakespeare’s Secret is an intriguing mystery that begins with a jewel theft and ends with a potential explanation of who is responsible for Shakespeare’s plays. Steeped in history, Broaches story is a page turner where than more than one identity will be revealed!

Genre:

Mystery

Interest/Reading Level:

5^th to 8^th grades

Similar Books:

The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Awards:

Edgar Allen Poe Award Juvenile Nominee 2006

ALA Notable Children’s Book 2006

Author’s Website:

http://www.elisebroach.com/

The Spies of Mississippi

Bowers, Rick. Spies of Mississippi: the True Story of the Spy network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement. 2010. National Geographic Society, 120 pages. $16.95 ISBN: 9781426305955

Plot Summary:

Bowers tells the story of the shocking history of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission which was established in 1956. The Commission’s aim was to ensure that segregation remained in place and to take down those in favor of integration. The Commission partnered with The White Citizens Council and the Ku Klux Klan. They also recruited African American citizens to spy on their own communities, especially anyone challenging segregation and state civil rights leaders. Through the actions of the villains Bowers also introduces the Freedom Rides in which student activists from Northern universities traveled to the South to register African Americans to vote.

Critical Review:

Bowers meticulously researched book reveals an important and terrible part of United States history. Segregation is not something we like to think about as Americans today because it is a disgusting and ugly part of our country, but it is important not to forget what it was really like when segregation was law. If we forget about segregation we may fall back into old ways and that is the lesson of Bowers book. I know in my history classes growing up, segregation was skimmed over; texts never revealed the true brutality and racism that formed the foundation of segregation.

Genre:

Non-fiction

Reading Level:

Grades 6^th -10^th

Similar Books:

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose

Awards/Honors:

Booklist Top Ten Black History Books for Youth 2011

YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-fiction

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. 2004. G.P. Putman’s Sons, 228 pages. $16.25 ISBN: 9780756970208

Plot Summary:

Its 1935 and Moose and his family are moving to the high security prison in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz. Moose’s father got a job as a guard on Alcatraz and Moose’s family needs the money to send Moose’s autistic sister Natalie to a special school in the city. Moose is not excited about leaving his friends in Santa Monica and moving to a rock in the middle of the bay. Despite his worries about moving, Moose soon makes friends with the other kids who live on the island and with kids he attends school with, in the city. When Natalie initially is rejected from the special school, the whole family helps her prepare to the next years interviews. Despite all of Natalie’s progress, Moose worries she will not get into the school because their mother is lying about Natalie’s age.

Critical Review:

Moose is an outstanding narrator and very identifiable with tween readers. Moose is 12 and 5 foot 11 inches, he often feels out of place because of his height and because of Natalie’s autism. Despite feeling frustrated at having an autistic sister, Moose genuinely cares for Natalie. He does his best to help her improve socially so she can get into school the next year and he is protective of her safety, knowing that she does not recognize danger the way other people do. Al Capone Does My Shirts is a fascinating historical novel; Choldenko’s description of life on Alcatraz feels very real. Kids are sure to love this peek at life in the infamous Alcatraz when it was still a functioning prison.

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Humorous Fiction

Reading Level:

Grades 6 to 9

Similar Books:

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt

Awards/Honors:

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults 2005

ALA Notable Book 2005

Newberry Honor Book 2005

Sid Flieschman Humor Award 2005

Author’s Website:

http://www.choldenko.com/

Moon Over Manifest

Vanderpool, Clare. Moon Over Manifest. 2010. Delacorte Press, 351 pages. $16.99 ISBN: 9780385907507

Plot Summary:

Abilene is sent to live in Manifest, Kansas for the summer of 1935, when her father, Gideon, gets a job at the railroad in Chicago. All Abilene knows about Manifest is that her daddy lived there for a time as a boy and that he still had contacts there. Abilene does not understand why her daddy is sending her away; she had always stayed with him before, riding the rails from town to town looking for work. Abilene is suppose to be staying with Pastor Shady Howard, but when Abilene meets Shady he is hardly what she expects and neither is his house. Shady is not only the Baptist pastor, he also runs the local bar and bootlegs his own whiskey. Gideon had lived with Shady too, when he was in Manifest and Abilene quickly begins looking for clues about her father’s past, discovering a box of old letters and mementos in her room. Hoping the letters belonged to her father she was disappointed to see they were addressed to a Jinx from a Ned Gillen written in 1918. Knowing her father was in Manifest in 1918 she continues reading the letters getting caught up in the stories of a spy called the Rattler, which she shares with her new friends Lettie and Ruthanne.

Out one night spying with Ruthanne and Lettie, trying to discover the identity of the Rattler, Abilene loses the compass her daddy gave her. Later that night she sees it hanging from the porch of a house. Trying to steal the compass back Abilene breaks a pot and runs off. The next day, the old woman who lives in the house, Miss Sadie agrees to return the compass to Abilene, but first Abilene must work off the pot she broke. While Abilene works Sadie tells her stories about the town of Manifest in 1918, filling in gaps in the letters. Later Abilene shares the stories with Lettie and Ruthanne.

Abilene search for her father’s past also leads her to the newspaper office where she begins helping out local report Hattie Mae Macke. In exchange Hattie lets Abilene take any of the old newspapers she wants so she can continue to dig into the past. Abilene makes some startling discovers about the town of Manifest and about her father’s past that lead her to understand him and why he sent her away much better.

Critical Review:

Vanderpool’s, Moon over Manifest, is a magnificent and beautifully written novel. All of the characters of vivid and well developed. While Abilene is trying to find her father’s history she discovers a mystery that took place seventeen years earlier. Vanderpool paints a picture of life in the Midwest in both 1918 and 1935, both of which were tumultuous times with World War I and the Great Depression. Vanderpool also tackle the issue of racism and the existence of the Ku Klux Klan in the area at the time. Though the town of Manifest is not real it is clearly stated in the book that the town is located close to the border with Arkansas. Moon over Manifest is an excellent example of great historical fiction for tweens.

Genre:

Historical fiction

Mystery

Interest/Reading Level:

6^th to 9^th grades

Similar Books:

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Awards/Honors:

ALA Notable Book 2011

Newberry Award Winner 2011

Author’s Website:

http://www.clarevanderpool.com/

Ella Enchanted

Levine, Gail. Ella Enchanted. 1997. Harper Trophy, 232 pages. $16.99 ISBN 0060275111

Plot Summary:

Ella of Frell has been cursed since birth when meddling fairy Lucinda gave Ella the “gift” of obedience. Ever since Ella has to obey any command she is given. Only two people know about Ella’s curse: her mother and beloved fairy godmother Mandy. When Ella’s mother passes away her father sends her to finishing school with the obnoxious daughters of Dame Olga, Hattie and Olive. It does not take Hattie long to figure out Ella’s secret and she proceeds to make Ella’s life miserable until Ella runs away from school determined to find Lucinda and put an end to her terrible curse. Along the way Ella encounters Prince Charmont, or Char, with whom she develops a friendship that continues through letters and eventually turns into more.

Unable to contact Lucinda, Ella returns home to find her father broke and proposing marriage to the Dame Olga. So much for escaping Hattie’s torture; with her father travelling constantly, Ella is now forced to become a servant in her own home. When Ella realizes her curse could be used against Prince Char she knows she must find a way to break the curse or give up the man she loves.

Critical Review:

In Ella Enchanted Levine puts a new spin on Cinderella. Despite her curse of obedience, Ella is free thinking and a little bit rebellious! Ella is independent and in the end determines not to be used and bullied by others. Ella does not wait around to be saved, she realizes that the only person who can control her fate is herself.

Genre:

Fantasy

Interest/Reading Level:

5^th to 8^th grade

Similar Books:

Savvy by Ingrid Law

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

The Tale of the Frog Princess by E.D. Baker

Awards:

Newberry Honor Medal 1998

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults 1998

Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature 1999 Finalist

ALA Notable Children’s Book 1998

Author’s Website:

http://www.gailcarsonlevine.com/

Inside Out & Back Again

Lai, Thanhha. Inside Out & Back Again. 2011. Harper, 262 pages. $15.99 ISBN: 9780061962783

Plot Summary:

Ha Kim is 10 years old and lives with her mother and three older brothers, Khoi, Vu, and Quang, in Saigon, Vietnam in 1975. Ha’s father was in the navy, but he disappeared 9 years earlier. Ha and her family are poor, but happy even with the loom of the North Vietnam army nearing. Ha’s mother finally decides they must leave Vietnam when the Communist take Saigon. After weeks of drifting in the sea subsisting on decreasing rations of rice and water, in small crowded conditions, the refugees are rescued by the American Navy and transported to Guam.

Ha’s mother decides that the family will restart in America and they are taken to a refugee camp in Florida where they wait for an American to sponsor their family. Finally a car salesman from Alabama sponsors the family and they soon move to Alabama to restart their life. Ha has difficulty adjusting to her new home. She has gone from being smart to being dumb, not always understanding English. The boys in her class tease her for her poor English and for being the only Asian student. Ha’s neighbor, a retired schoolteacher, Miss Washington, tutors Ha in English and helps Ha to deal with her bullies. With the help of the family’s sponsor and Miss Washington Ha and her family make friends and build a new life for themselves in America.

Critical Review:

Lai’s novel Inside Out & Back Again is written in simple flowing verse told in Ha’s voice. Lai has accurately capturedthe immigrant experience, having had a similar childhood to Ha’s. The reader can feel Ha’s intense emotions: her frustration at being treated like she is stupid, anger at being bullied and being the target for racism, and nostalgia for her old home. Ha may have difficulty in her new home at first, but eventually she makes friends and overcomes her bullies. Ha is bring and quickly learns English with the help of Mrs. Washington. While the family ends up alright, they make many sacrifices to make their home in Alabama. The family faces racism at school and in their neighborhood. They sacrifice their beliefs by being Baptized and joining the Southern Baptist Church in order to fit in and be accepted by their neighbors and after a brick was thrown through the family’s front window

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Reading Level:

5^th to 7^th grades

Awards/Honors:

ALA Notable Children's Book 2012

National Book Award 2011

Newberry Honor Book 2012

One Crazy Summer

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. 2010. Amistad, 218 pages. $15.99 ISBN: 9780060760885

Plot Summary:

Delphine and her sisters are on their way to spend the summer of 1968 in Oakland with their mother, Cecile, who abandoned her daughters seven years ago. Cecile reluctantly picks her daughters up at the airport, When Cecile sends her daughters down the street to pick up take out for dinner, and bans them from her kitchen, Delphine is pretty sure her mother is crazy. The girls lose all hope of an exciting California summer with trips to Disneyland when their first morning Cecile sends them to the community center for the free breakfast the Black Panthers serve every day and tells them not to come back until the evening. As the oldest, eleven years old Delphine steps up to take care of her sisters and stand up to Cecile. Throughout the summer Delphine grows into a strong young woman and finds it in her heart to forgive her mother.

Critical Review:

Although the Black Panthers play a role in Williams-Garcia’s book, I do not think she fully explained to her readers the Panthers’ movement and the racial tensions present in Oakland in the ‘60s. Though Williams-Garcia does not adequately explain the times period she does a beautiful job developing the characters. Delphine, Vonetta and Fern each have their own unique personalities and they relationship between the characters is very realistic.

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Multicultural Fiction

Reading Level:

4th to 7^th Grades

Similar Books:

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia

Awards:

Newberry Honor Book 2011

ALA Notable book 2011

2011 Coretta Scott King Author Award

2011 Scot O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction

2010 National Book Award Finalist

Author’s Website:

http://www.ritawg.com/

The Westing Game

Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game. Puffin Books, New York, 1978. 217 pages.  Tr. Pbk. $4.99 ISBN 0140386645

Plot Description:

The residents of Sunset Towers were handpicked to live in the swanky apartment complex.  Not long after moving in the residents notice that the long empty Westing Estate has an occupant again.  Sam Westing, the town’s self-made millionaire has returned to town, but not for long, the next day the papers announce his murder.  That day 16 people receive invitations to attend the reading of Westing’s will.  All of the people invited are connected with the Sunset Towers, either they lived there or worked there.  In the will, Westing has stipulated that the 16 people be paired into 8 teams and has challenged them to discover the person among them responsible for his death!  The team to uncover the murderer will inherit the vast Westing fortune, but someone is out to stop them from discovering the truth!

Review:

The Westing Game was a bit slow to start and keeping track of so many characters was a bit difficult, but the mystery Raskin weaves is clever and unpredictable.  The mystery of Sam Westing’s death goes much deeper than it first appears.  Turtle is an extremely clever young girl, though she comes off much younger than her 13 years and is not always the most likable character.  While I found myself caught up in the mystery as it became more complex, I never found myself emotionally invested in the book or the characters.  This might be because with so many characters, Raskin could not fully develop all of them and if she had the book would have been far too complex. 

Genre:

Mystery

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Grades 4-7

Similar Books:

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Awards/Honors:

Newberry Award 1979

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Konigsburg, E.L. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Antheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, 1967. 162 pages.  Tr. pbk. $6.99 ISBN 9780689711817

Plot Description:

Feeling ignored by her parents Claudia decides to run away in order to get their attention.  Caudia recruits her younger brother Jamie to tag along, in part because she get along with him best of all his brother and because unlike Claudia, Jamie is great at saving money.  With Jamie and his savings, $24, on board, Claudia proceeds to make plans for herself and Jamie.  Claudia and Jamie board the train in Connecticut and get off in New York City, where Claudia directs them to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, their home away from home.  Each evening Claudia and Jamie hide in the bathroom until the museum staff leave and each morning they hide there again until the museum opens.  While staying at the Met the children become caught up in the mystery of the museum’s latest acquisition, an angel sculpture that the museum believes is a lost piece by Michelangelo.  Claudia and Jamie set out to confirm the identity of the sculpture’s creator, wherever it might take them.

Review:

Jamie and Claudia are strangely independent for children so young.  I was surprised that they decided to run away to New York City, somewhere so far from home, but I was impressed at how well they managed on their own.  I did sympathize with their parents, who are not actually in the story, but who must have been frantic that two of their children were missing for a week!  At times the dialogue between Jamie and Claudia seems a little unbelievable for a nine and twelve year old, despite that Konigsburg’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a clever mystery revolving around a lost piece of art. 

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level

Grades 4-7

Similar Books:

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Awards/Honors:

Newberry Award 1968