All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook
Leslie Connor
HarperCollins, 2016  378 pgs.
Grades 5-7
Realistic Fiction

Perry has not had a normal childhood. He has spent his whole eleven years living in a correctional facility. Perry's mother entered the facility pregnant with him after accidentally causing the death of her father in a car crash. After Perry's birth the kind warden at the facility made it possible for Perry to stay, eventually leaving every day for school and returning home to his unconventional "family". Perry and his mother long for the day when she is released on parole and the two of them can share an apartment and a life on the "outside". These dreams come crashing down around them when Perry's best and only friend Zoe's stepfather, the county's district attorney, becomes aware of the situation. He is appalled at Perry's unusual living situation and demands Perry's immediate removal, offering his own house as a  temporary foster home. Beyond this, the DA is blocking Mom's parole hearing and fighting to keep her in prison. The warden loses her job, Perry is ripped away from the only home he has ever known, and it looks as if Mom is not getting out any time soon. It is up to Perry to discover the truth behind the accident that sent Mom to prison. There seem to be holes in the story and Perry needs to get to the bottom of the case in order to prove her innocence. Meanwhile, Mom is doing nothing to help herself. What is she hiding? We find out as the novel moves along to a final dramatic courtroom scene, where Perry must speak up to defend his little family and the person he loves the most in the world.

As Connor points out in the afterward, children with one or more parents living in a correctional facility is reality for one out of twenty-eight children living in the United States. This book brings to light some of the struggles and and experiences shared by these children and legitimizes their stories. Through Perry we see that people serving time in prison have made mistakes, but still are real people with feelings and families. Mom has made the best of a bad situation, getting her degree while behind bars, trying to be the best mother she can, and helping other inmates adjust to prison life and to prepare for release. Perry is a good natured and optimistic kid. His whole life comes crashing down when he is forced to leave his home and move into a strange house, but he never gives up hope and works hard to achieve the goals for which he aims. Perry and Zoe even befriend the school bully in order to get help with a video project to present at Mom's trial. This book has interesting characters and a good plot. There is a mystery element as Perry discovers Mom's file and tracks down the details of the case. And, best of all, the mystery does get solved by the end as the reader learns the true details behind the accident and Mom's motivation for confessing. Life is complicated and your path can change in a blink of an eye. This is one of the messages delivered by Connor, as well as that people have many shades of both good and bad and aren't always what they seem at first glance. This was an enjoyable story with some good messages, character development and a happy ending. My only complaints are that it was too long and it may have been sewn up a bit too tidely, but kids like a fairy tale ending, so I will forgive this. Kids will be interested in reading a book about a fellow child who lives in a prison and the inviting cover will welcome them in. The light-hearted nature of the story keeps the book age appropriate and upbeat even though the subject matter is gritty and serious.

Girl in the Blue Coat

Girl in the Blue Coat
Monica Hesse
Little Brown, 2016  301 pgs
Grades 8-Up
Historical Fiction/Mystery

Hanneke is a runner on the black market in World War II occupied Amsterdam. Her employer, a mortician, uses the ration cards from dead people to acquire good for resale at inflated prices. Because of her connection to the "underground", a neighbor, 
Mrs. Janssen, implores Hanneke to help her locate a missing Jewish teenage girl that she was hiding in a secret room in her pantry. Hanneke gets caught up in the disappearance of Mirjam, who was last seen wearing a blue coat. Finding Mirjam will somehow compensate for the guilt and loss surrounding the death of her boyfriend, who was killed during the Nazi invasion. The late boyfriend's brother, Ollie, agrees to help Hanneke locate Mirjam, sweeping her into the world of the Dutch underground. Through these new contacts Hanneke meets some courageous young people who are willing to sacrifice their own lives to save their countrymen. Surprises await Hanneke as her quest continues, including the nature behind Ollie's romantic intentions, the fate of the new friends she has met, and the whereabouts of Mirjam. Nothing is what Hanneke originally thought as she slowly begins to unravel the truth behind the missing girl's whereabouts and painfully begins to come to terms with her own loss.

So many holocaust books have come out in the last few years and I feel as if I needed a break from them. The Girls in the Blue Coat seemed to be a fresh take on the genre, so I gave it a try and was glad that I did. As much of a mystery as a work of historical fiction, Hesse adds a bonus layer of a young woman coming of age during a terrible time and wrestling with terrible guilt. We see Hanneke grow from a self-absorbed teenager worrying about her own survival and grief to a much more developed adult, willing to help her society as a whole and seeing beyond her own needs and feelings.The mystery offers plots twists that I didn't see coming and Hanneke herself tracks down the clues, often at great personal peril. Throughout the story, as more of the truth is revealed behind the characters, readers are exposed to the daily life of occupied Amsterdam during the second world war. Hesse has done her research and the setting feels rich and authentic, allowing readers to experience what life was like during this time. Growing up I read and re-read Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl and Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place, true accounts of the Holocaust in the Netherlands. The Girl in the Blue Coat, though fictionalized, is historically accurate and a great companion to the before mentioned titles. Although the main character of this book is a girl, both male and female readers will enjoy the story and it has a great potential for classroom connections. A great tale that will make the reader's life richer for spending time with it.

Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White

Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White
Melissa Sweet
HMH, 2016  161 pages
Grades 3-7
Biography

Veteran children's book creator and two-time Caldecott honor winning artist takes on both the writing and artwork in this new biography tracing the life and works of E.B. White. Little is known of this important contributor to children's literature. White's Charlotte's Web is considered by some to be the best children's book of all times. It's certainly important and has stood the test of time. Readers learn the story behind the writer of this classic tale, among others, from his childhood in upstate New York, summers in Maine, college years, and career writing for The New Yorker. Why do we know so little about E.B. White? Its because he lived a quiet life, spending most of his time in rural Maine. He was a lover of farm animals, dogs, and boats. He hated public appearances and large gatherings. White occupied himself puttering around the farm, sailing on the nearby lake, spending time with his family, and writing essays, letters, his column for The New Yorker and, yes, wonderful children's books. This volume is infused by the characteristic collage/watercolor art work of Sweet, as well as family photographs contributed by White's granddaughter. The granddaughter also penned an afterward. Other extensive back-matter includes an index, bibliography, author's note, and timeline. Many quotes and except's from White's writings are incorporated within the text and this is my favorite: "Anyone who writes down to children is simply wasting his time. You have to write up, not down. Children are demanding. They are the most attentive, curious, eager, observant, sensitive, quick, and generally congenial readers on earth." Hear, Hear!

If Charlotte cracked into this book about her author E.B. White she would weave the word "stunning" into her web. Sweet has pulled together a well written and visual feast for young people. I first encountered the gorgeous end-papers, a mix of watercolors and White's musings about chickens, and turned the page to encounter a family tree and an alluring photo of the White family when E.B. was but a baby. From there the reader turns the page to be greeted by a beautifully constructed page containing this quote of White's: "I believed then, as I do now, in the goodness of the published word: it seemed to contain an essential goodness, like the smell of leaf mold." At this point I was hooked and fell into this book and was dazzled page after page. Sweet lovingly and artistically traces the quiet life of White in a respectful and thorough manner. I knew very little about this important author and now feel as if he is a friend. The design of the volume is perfection and the blend of words, original artwork, historic artifacts, and photographs works much like a symphony. Even though White's life was simple and quiet, the book is never boring and the visual will keep readers turning pages. This was my favorite book of the year. Will it win the Newbery? Probably not, since the artwork is partly what makes it so special. That said, a picture book won last year, so all bets are off. Although the lack of diversity in both the subject matter and the author/artist will not do it any favors. It certainly will show up on "best book" lists and is much deserving of any honors it receives.

The Poet's Dog

The Poet's Dog
Patricia MacLachlan
HarperCollins, 2016  88 pages
Grades 2-5
Animal/Fantasy

This lyrical jem of a book starts out with a poem by the author:

Dogs speak words
But only poets
And children
Hear

This poem sets the stage for what is to come. Our narrator is Teddy, an Irish wolfhound. Teddy finds two children lost in the woods during a snowstorm. He escorts them back to the remote cabin he previously shared with an elderly poet who has since passed away. Because the poet read to him incessantly, Teddy acquired to gift of speech. Unfortunately, only poets and children have the ability/imagination to hear him. The lost children, Nickel and Flora spend several days with Teddy in the cozy cabin, staying warm by the fire and forging the kitchen for food. As the children hunker down during the storm, italicized sections tell the story of the "before time", when Teddy lived with his poet, who eventually become sick and died. Teddy has not been able to leave the cabin for a new home and his life has continued in a state of mourning limbo. Eventually the storm lifts. The children's father arrives with a surprising connection to Teddy and a new lease on life for the old dog.

This is a slight, quiet story that is not as simple or juvenile as it first appears. MacLachlan, of Sarah, Plain and Tall fame proves that she's still "got it". This carefully constructed volume reads much like a poem written by the former master of our hero. Her love of poetry and words and respect for the power of reading shines through and will surely encourage young readers to delve into the magic of words, perhaps taking a crack at writing their own poems. Her love and understanding of dogs is also evident in this story and she manages to portray our narrator in a believable and genuine way. The story is simple, yet has a plot, conflict, and never is boring. The flash back portions are easy to follow and add surprise to the tale as Teddy's past is slowly revealed. Margins are wide, text is large, and chapters are short, making this a quick read. I read it during one lunch hour with people walking in and out and talking at me. The story would make an excellent read aloud and would serve as a wonderful introduction to poetry units. The ending is deliciously happy, landing Teddy in his new forever home and leaving our characters safe, sound, and gloriously happy. It doesn't get batter than that!

The Dark Days Club

The Dark Days Club
Alison Goodman
Penguin, 2016  472 pages
Grades 9-Up
Fantasy/Romance/Historical Fiction
Lady Helen Series #1

Eighteen-year-old orphaned Lady Helen Wrexhall is about to make her debut in the Regency London world of 1812. Her social standing and eligibility is helped by a considerable fortune, but tainted by her dead mother's reputation of being a traitor. Disreputable Lord Carlston returns to London after a long absence (did he kill his wife?) and he begins to pay unwanted attention to the new debutante. A desirable suitor and family friend, the Duke of Selburn, also begins to make advances. Meanwhile, a maid in the household goes missing and Lady Helen and her trusty lady's maid attempt to solve the mystery. As her ball approaches, Lady Helen starts to feel weird twinges. An heirloom belonging to her mother and several convoluted conversation with Lord Carlston reveal that she inherited from her mother the power to be a "Reclaimer", an elite group of individuals with supernatural abilities designed to fight "Deceivers", carefully disguised demons camouflaged among society draining humans of their life force. The Dark Days Club is a group of both Reclaimers and civilians, pledged to rid the world of this evil and they long to have Helen join their ranks. The problem is, Lady Helen is reluctant to join. It involves violence, great physical pain, and the absence of a normal life. She knows the best course of action is to find a way to escape her destiny as a Reclaimer and marry the Duke, yet she struggles with protecting the world from the demons and her growing feelings for the dark Lord Selburn. The fate of the missing servant is revealed and Lady Helen's choice appears to be made, yet some questions remain unanswered leading readers to the next installment in the series The Dark Days Pact, scheduled be be released next month.

I am a big fan of books set in Regency England and was eager to finally have a chance to read this book. The publisher labeled this book as a mash-up between Jane Austen and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and that description is pretty accurate. Lady Helen is living within the restrictions of her time and place, under the watchful eye of a controlling and judgmental uncle. The fact that she's a Reclaimer comes as a surprise to everyone, especially herself, as she seems so ill-fitting for the position. Once Lady Helen grows into her powers, her qualifications seem secure and with help of her side kick/lady's maid, is ready to take on the bad guys. There is enough supernatural in this book to satisfy those fans and enough romance to please that audience as well. The prerequisite love triangle in the post-Twilight world of teen fiction is predominate in the plot and heart straining. Readers will understand Helen's predicament on how to chose the right path and suitor and be rooting for both choices. The supernatural elements are believable to the story and make for a fresh take on this genre. I felt that the book was too long and I started to get a bit antsie about halfway through. The plot twists and action kept me going to the end, although I don't think I will invest the time in reading the sequel. The mystery behind the missing maid was not solved by Lady Helen, which was a bit disappointing and its solution was a bit of an afterthought. This said, young readers won't care. They will want to see Lady Helen kick more demon butt and be anxious to know which guy she ends up choosing. And what did happen to Lord Carlston's wife? This answer alone will lead readers along to the next installment.

As Brave as You

As Brave As You
Jason Reynolds
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, 2016  410 pgs
Grades 4-8
Realistic Fiction

Genie is a very thoughtful and sensitive eleven-year-old boy. His head burns with questions and his heart burns with emotions. He and his older brother Ernie are sent to rural Virginia to stay with his parental grandparents, who he doesn't really know, while his parents travel to Jamaica to try to work out their marriage. Life in Virginia is as different from Brooklyn as you can get. To further complicate matters, Genie discovers that Grandpa is blind, a fact that no one chose to reveal beforehand. Ernie, who is about to turn 14 and is very cool and tough, takes to the new surroundings as he strikes up a friendship/romance with a neighboring girl. Genie spends time connecting with his Grandfather, discovering that even adults have guilty feelings, get scared, and sometimes don't have all the answers. The boys spend their days doing chores for the first time, such as helping Grandma grow peas and sell them at a local farmer's market, running around exploring the woods, and forging new relationships. As Ernie's birthday approaches, Grandpa is determined to participate in the local coming-of-age tradition involving learning to shoot a gun, which yields predictably disastrous results, bringing many old feelings and hurts to the surface in the adults around Genie that he doesn't fully understand. By book's end many feelings are processed, old hurts forgiven, and relationships mended. Genie and Ernie return to Brooklyn older, wiser, and richer for their summer in the country.

This book is a departure for Reynolds, who tends to write urban fiction. A little less intense than his other work and infused with humor, As Brave As You still manages to pack a lot of content within its pages. Themes explored by Reynolds include connecting to your past, the benefit of young people having chores, the importance of honesty, owning up to your mistakes, letting go of guilt, the definition of what manhood means, the dangers of guns, what defines being "cool", the importance of family, and what it means to be brave. Both Genie and Grandpa have regrets that they must atone for. As the summer goes by and they venture together out into the night, Genie helping Grandpa to face his fears of the outdoors, they both learn to let go of their mistakes and try to put them right. Every character experiences growth throughout this novel, which is more character driven than plot intensive. I applaud Reynolds in the way he manages to capture Genie's voice and keep it consistent throughout the book. I feel like this is Reynolds's greatest gift as an author. My only complaint is that the book is a little long. That said, it is so finely written I wouldn't want anything edited out. I also feel that the cover doesn't do it any favors. I've had this book in my library since it's release in May and it hasn't been circulating. I don't know if its because of the cover, the length, or if rural Virginia doesn't appeal to New Jersey youth. At any rate, this is a fine piece of middle grade fiction that kids would enjoy and befit from spending time with if they gave it a chance.

Gertie's Leap to Greatness

Gertie's Leap to Greatness
Kate Beasley
FSG, 2016  249 pgs
Grades 3-5
Realistic Fiction/Humor

Gertie is has an important mission: to become the greatest fifth grader in the entire universe. This mission is the result of her estranged mother's impending move from her small southern hometown. If she became the "best" than her mother would love her and want her as a daughter. Gertie lives with her doting father, who is often away at his job on an oil rig, and her great-aunt Rae, whose no-nonsense, yet nurturing parenting has provided Gertie with a loving and secure home. A first day of school presentation with a zombie-frog looks like it will seal Gertie's success, but a surprise awaits her. A new girl from Hollywood moves to town and is put in Gertie's class. Mary Sue's father is a director and she knows the most famous teen actress, insuring her immediate popularity and squelching Gertie's chance of stardom. Gertie pulls out all of the stops to surpass Mary Sue in both popularity and success with disastrous results. She manages to alienate practically the whole class, loosing long-time friends in the process, and even offending the pain-in-the-neck little girl that Aunt Rae babysits. Gertie and Mary Sue go toe-to-toe in an audition for the lead in the school play. Gertie gets what she wants and it looks like she may achieve her mission after all. A surprise visit to mother leaves her with more doubts than ever and then a bad choice at school puts her in the dog house. All works out for the best by the end and some relationships are restored, yet not exactly in the way Gertie was aiming for.

Beasley introduces the latest feisty girl character in the tradition of Ramona and Clementine, although for a slightly older audience. Gertie tries hard to get things right, but always just misses. Sometimes the results of her failed efforts are hilarious and sometimes they are heartbreaking. Kids will relate to her eagerness to gain control over her world and applaud her spunk and determination to this end. Why is it that when a parent is unable to provide nurturing to a child, that is the parent's love that the child craves the most? Gertie is surrounded by loving and supportive adults, yet craves a relationship with her mother. Gertie's mother, for reasons we never know, is unable to mother her spirited offspring and Beasley does not offer a magical solution. Instead, Gertie learns to come to terms with the failed relationship and to appreciate the functional folks she does have in her life. Some of Gertie's choices and mishaps had me a bit on edge and the book was not as funny as it appears to be. Much like Ramona, Gertie's impulses and real-life situations are heart-breaking, but she learns from her mistakes and grows from these experiences. Gertie's teacher is especially understanding when the youngster messes up big-time and kids will learn that teachers are human too and care about all of their students equally, even when it feels like they like some more than others. Black and white illustrations, contributed by Jilian Tamaki, are well done and are interspersed throughout the book, yet not in every chapter. The book is for an older audience than the picture on the cover indicates and the subject matter is more serious than the description would lead readers to believe. Its a book with hidden depth that explores the confusing trials and tribulations of growing up.

Life in a Fish Bowl

Life in a Fish Bowl
Len Vlahos
Bloomsbury, 2017 336 pgs.
Grades 8-Up
Realistic Fiction

Jackie, a shy, socially awkward teen, has a very predictable and typical teenage life. This all changes when her politician father is diagnosed with a inoperable brain tumor. In order to secure his family's financial future, Dad puts his life up for auction on eBay. The company pulls the sale, but not before it has become the subject of national news and a bidding war. A TV producer approaches the family and convinces them to become the focus of a reality TV show. The crew moves into the family home, recording the process of his death and the effect on the family. Alternating points of view trace the family's journey including Jackie, her father, the TV producer, a nun who wants to save the father's soul, a wealthy mad-man who is looking for a thrill money can't buy, and the brain tumor itself. The producer is unscrupulous and ambitious. He edits the footage to make the father look worse than he is and to manipulate the situation in order to appeal to America for high ratings. Jackie takes matters into her own hands by taping what is really happening behind the scenes. With the help of a boy from Russia who she has met on-line and a teen girl who has connected Jackie's story to the video game world Jackie is able to run an alternate show on YouTube depicting the reality behind the fiction contrived by the television network and the dishonesty and corruption displayed by the crew. Meanwhile, Dad wants to die peacefully and not live out his life suffering in a state of vegetation. Can the family regain control of their household and help Dad get his final wish? 

Vlahos turns from the rock and roll world of The Scar Boys and Scar Girl to the reality behind reality television. Multiple points of view narrate the tale, adding depth and understanding to a complicated situation. All of the voices are written distinctly and the narration is never confusing. Having lost a mother to a brain tumor, I know a bit about this world. Vlahos traces the journey accurately and respectfully. He clearly did his homework and the deterioration of Dad's memories felt very close to home for me. Teens exposed to a wide variety of reality TV will benefit from the seeing how contrived production of these shows really is. Vlahos raises the question "how valuable is a human life?" by first putting a life up for bid on eBay and then deciding whether or not Dad has the right to chose his own death. The nun offers a contradictory perspective, yet seems a bit crazy and tightly wound, promoting Vlahos' apparent agenda that people do have the right to chose when to die when terminally ill. The plot never stops moving and offers twists and turns along the way, encouraging readers to keep turning pages even though the subject matter gets heavy. Jackie's on-line friend from Russia seemed sketchy to me and I wan't sure if he was a real teenage boy, but it turned out he was the real deal, which had me breathing a sigh of relief. Jackie's friends are all on-line, which seemed sad to an old-timer such as myself, but is indicative of today's youth culture. The book steamrolls along to an exciting crescendo and then ends in a satisfying conclusion with no loose ends, which teen readers will appreciate. A fun book reflective of today's society with a lot to say and many layers.

Dog Man

Dog Man
Dav Pilkey
Scholastic, 2016  231 pgs
Grades 2-6
Graphic Novel/Humor

George and Harold, our heroes from the popular Captain Underpants series, find some comics they created in their early days. The boys take the rough manuscripts and clean them up, presenting four separate comics or chapters featuring the new/old hero Dog Man. The first comic presents Dog Man's back story. He began as a team of two: a human police man who was strong, yet stupid and his canine companion who was physically week, yet smart. After a tragic accident the doctors sewed the dog's head, complete with his superior brain, onto the human police body and a new super hero is born! The next comics/chapters feature separate conflicts with evil nemesis, Petey the cat, a cunning and resourceful villain. In every instance craziness and mayhem ensues with Dog Man always coming out of top. Robots, evil hot dogs, a giant Philly cheese steak, and plenty of Pilkey's characteristic irreverent humor is all part of the fun. Pilkey includes his classic flip-o-ramas, this time in triplet, and offers a how-to drawing section in the back of the book. A preview of the next installment will have readers clamoring for its release, which is scheduled for the new year.

Is it wrong that I'm a huge Dav Pilkey fan? I know parents are against him for his potty humor and lack of educational and moral content in his work, but he is just so darn funny. Pilkey works on many levels. On the surface he adds cheap jokes, underwear, and slapstick humor to keep his young audience giggling. Below the surface are witty puns and subtle social commentary. I have yet to get through any title by Pilkey from his picture books to his chapter books without laughing out loud. Dog Man started out with a joke about Tony Orlando and Dawn that made me laugh so loud in the library staff room that I got a dirty look from the reference librarian. Closer to Super Diaper Baby in style and format, Dog man is  a graphic novel and not a chapter book. The hero is fresh, funny, and lovable. the triple flip-o-ramas are impossible to resist and feel like magic. Dog Man is deceptively simple. Pilkey conveys emotion and plot within his child-like cartoons and messages about government corruption, the rigidity of the educational system, and, my personal favorite, the power of books, are hidden within the madcap stories. The action never stops, the humor never flags, and readers will eat this book right up. Even the most reluctant reader will enjoy it and can easily be coaxed into reading. I bought four copies for my library and have such a long wait-list that I ordered two more. Lets hope Pilkey never fully grows up and keeps the zaniness going for a good long time!

The Last True Love Story

The Last True Love Story
Brendan Kiely
Simon & Schuster, 2016  276 pgs.
Grades 9-Up
Realistic Fiction

Seventeen year old Hendrix spends his life as an observer. His days consist of going to school, where he does not fully engage, and then spending time with his elderly grandfather at his nursing home. A chance encounter with an interesting guitar playing classmate shakes Hendrix's life up beyond his wildest dreams. Corrina encourages Hendrix to "borrow" his mother's car and leave their southern California home home to journey to the east coast. Gpa, the grandfather, is suffering from Alzheimer's and the continuing loss of his memories is frustrating and sad. Hendrix offers Gpa one last experience: to travel to the place where he and his deceased wife fell in love and were married many years previously. This unlikely trio, complete with Hendrix's inappropriate dog, hit the road traveling through the desert and beyond, meeting interesting characters along the way and encountering unexpected situations. Through the journey Hendrix learns of the truth behind his deceased father's past and encounters someone from it who can shed light on this missing chapter, while introducing him to a family that he didn't know he had. Eventually the parents of the teenagers and the nursing home staff realizes that the group has escaped and make attempts to retrieve them. Will this wandering band of travelers complete their quest and make it to New York before they are forced back to California? 

Kiely, co-author of All American Boys, heads in a much different direction, offing teens a classic road trip novel with a twist. Two very different teenagers escape their unbearable lives together, predictably falling in love, yet changing and maturing in unexpected ways. The twist comes in the form of Gpa, who is suffering from Alzheimer's and is rapidly loosing his memories and must be monitored at all times. Hendrix takes control of his life and tries to save his grandfather the only way he can think of. Is it the best idea to take Gpa on the road without his meds and permission? Perhaps not, but it makes for a great story and Hendrix certainly learns and grows from the experience. Kiely clearly "respects the road trip" and the story does not disappoint in the way of crazy characters and situations often seen in this genre; some good and some not so good. Hendrix faces the truth behind his parent's marriage and even though his father is long-since dead, meets someone along the way who sheds light on his family and his place in it. Gpa is dealing with not only the loss of his memories and his true love, but is still wrestling with his experience in the Vietnam War and, partly through Corrina's music, finds peace with that volatile time in his life. This book is plot driven, dialogue heavy, and action filled. Reluctant teens will enjoy it and it reads quickly. Since the main character is a boy, it is boy friendly-although the title may put male readers off. Regardless, The Last True Love Story will draw in a wide audience of readers and is very enjoyable. Kiely proves that a road trip is not about the destination, but what happens along the way and how it can change the traveler.

The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot
Peter Brown
Little Brown, 2016  273 pgs
Grades 3-6
Science Fiction

After a devastating hurricane destroys a cargo ship one lone robot, model ROZZUM unit 7134, survives and washes ashore onto a island inhabited only by forest creatures. At first the animals resist the strange intruder, but Roz eventually learns to speak the language of the forest animals and, by lending a hand where needed, starts to make friends and break down barriers. When she accidentally crashes into a goose nest, obliterating all but one egg, Roz feels responsible. She takes care of the remaining egg and when a little gosling is born, Roz adopts him as her own son and names him Brightbill. Roz learns how to be a mother, all while eliciting help in building shelter for her new charge and seeking advise on how to raise a young goose. Throughout the summer Roz and Brightwing have many adventures helping the other forest creatures, making friends, and maturing and acclimating to the environment. As fall arrives a new challenge awaits the unconventional family: Brightwing must migrate to a warmer climate leaving his mother behind. Roz has a difficult winter, as do all the remaining animals, until at last spring arrives. Spring brings Brightwing back to the island for a joyful reunion, as well as new unwanted guests. Roz's whereabouts has been detected and soldier robots have been sent to retrieve her. Roz must depend on her furry friends to help her remain in her home and banish the unwanted intruders.

I have long enjoyed Peter Brown's picture books and was eagerly awaiting his fiction debut. The Wild Robot manages to capture Brown's quirky sensibilities, all while showcasing his inspired illustrations. This book, while quiet in nature, has a quickly moving plot and a simple, yet entertaining story line that will engage readers and keep them turning pages. The chapters are short, the margins are big and print is a decent size for readers of all ability levels. Brown combines his love of nature and technology in this story, making it something completely unique to children's fiction and helping to spark the imaginations of his audience. Robots are cool and are of interest to today's kids. The premise of a robot surviving in the wild will draw in young people. Themes conveyed in this novel include protecting the environment, acceptance of non-traditional families, its okay to be different, cooperation is beneficial to society, being nice goes a long way, and little guys can rise to the top. The real stars of the book are the sophisticated illustrations, which will help draw in reluctant readers and greatly enhance the text. This is a deceivingly simple and sweet story, which has a lot to say, all while entertaining young people and helping to allow their imaginations to soar.

In Due TIme

In Due Time: Stay a Spell & Wrong Place. (Really) Wrong Time
Nicholas O. Time
Simon & Schuster, 2016 155/134 pgs
Grades 3-6
Fantasy/Historical Fiction
In Due Time Series #2 & #3


Stay a Spell

Spelling-challenged fashionista, Jade, gets an offer from her school librarian, Ms. Tremt, that she can't refuse. She is invited to travel back into the past with two friends. After much consideration Jada chooses 1977 to a Hollywood movie studio costume shop where her Aunt Katy is interning. The three friends enter the world of disco balls and polyester as they encounter Aunt Katy hard at work as a teenager. With only three hours in the past there is no time to see Star War in its original release, but they do have enough time to tour the costume shop, visit a famous record store and save the day for Aunt Katy. Surprisingly enough, Jada helps Aunt Katy out by fixing a spelling mistake that saves her internship and changes the course of her career in the future for the better. The three time explorers manage to make it back before its too late, but who is the strange man who seems to be following them? Is he trying to steal the Book of Memories?

Wrong Place (Really) Wrong Time

Luiz, who traveled along with Matt in volume one, has his turn for an adventure. With unclaimed treasure on his mind, Luiz plans on going to the pirate ship of Captain Kidd to find the notorious bandit's hidden secrets. He takes along new kid, Patrick, who is initially unfamiliar, becomes an instant friend with much in common as the adventure progresses. Luiz tells his older brother Rafael about the opportunity, but Raf doesn't believe him. How can he prove to his brother that time travel is for real? Once the adventure begins it becomes clear that the Book of Memories is not working as it ought to. To make matters worse, the new friends appear to be followed by Tim Raveltere, who's evil purpose is now revealed: to collect formidable characters from the past in order to achieve power and money. The pirate life is not as glamorous as Luiz and Patrick expected and the adventure leads to potentially deadly results. Once back in the present, all seems well until Luiz wakes up to find a Viking, King Tut, and Charlie Chaplin in his bedroom. While Ms. Trent was distracted the day before, he took the Book of Memories home to prove to his brother that time travel is real. Raf now is a  believer, but is stuck along with his brother and Patrick, trying to corral  the gang from the past back to their own time. Where is Ms. Tremt? They need help now before it’s too late

In Due Time is my new favorite time travel series. It is full of action, adventure, and humor with a bit of history thrown in. Lighter than Magic Tree House it will attract fans of that series, plus new ones that find the Magic Tree House a bit intense. This series makes time travel seem possible and lays out the rules in a clear and sensible way. The cast is diverse in both race and gender, inviting everyone to find someone to identify with to go on an armchair time travel adventure. History is revealed in an entertaining way and volume two even explains Einstein's theory of relativity, thus making time travel possible, in an accessible way that even this old brain could comprehend. I particularly enjoyed volume two, since it was set in the 1970's, the decade of my youth. Much was as the author describes. My only quibble was with the use of the word "groovy", which was more of a hippy word. The 1970's was a quickly changing decade and by 1977 no one was saying groovy anymore. Much like Ms. Tremt, I can do the hustle, although the record stores in Syracuse where I grew up did not break out into a performance flash-mob of the dance. Maybe that was a LA thing. At any rate, I enjoyed seeing my childhood as a time traveling destination in the deep past. Believe it or not, I was not alive during the time of Captain Kidd, so I have no first hand experience on the authenticity of this time period. It seemed accurate to me with the smells and sensibilities of the pirate population. A new nemesis is introduced in volume two and carrying over into volume three, giving the series a plot-line that will unify it and lead readers to the next installment. Number four is set for release next week,followed by five and six next year. This series is a fun and educational introduction to the time travel genre likely to be enjoyed by a large cross-population of young readers. 

Book Scavenger

Book Scavenger
Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Holt/Macmillian, 2015  350 pgs
Grades 4-7
Mystery

Emily and her family are on yet another move. Her parents run a successful blog called "50 homes in 50 states" and move to a new state every year. This year the family is in California giving San Francisco a try. Right away Emily makes a friend in her upstairs neighbor, a boy named James with an unfortunate cowlick and a shared passion for puzzles and ciphers. Emily's favorite game is called "Book Scavenger" and it is a big interactive scavenger hunt for books hidden by and for a massive on-line community. The game is run by eccentric San Franciscan native Garrison Griswold. Our story begins as Griswold is shot by villains attempting to steal a book that will launch his new interactive game. Emily and James find the book. quite by accident, which leads them off on a rollicking adventure through the city, solving clues and hitting dead ends, all while being chased by the "bad guys". Emily's older brother temporarily leaves his cult-like following of his favorite rock band to join the two friends in their quest. A local bookstore owner and friend of James also pitches in as consultant and support. References to famous landmarks around San Francisco, as well as famous citizens and books are all featured in this homage to the great city. Will the team solve the mystery and find the treasure before the bad guys do? Will Mr. Griswold survive the shooting? Has Emily made her first real friend and fallen in love with her new city only to have it all yanked away in yet another move?

The Book Scavenger has done for bookstores what Mr. Lemoncello's Library did for libraries. I love books that glorify books and this title may be my new favorite. The volume starts out with the description of the on-line game "Book Scavenger", which sounds way more awesome and time better spent than Pokemon GO. Next, we get into the story itself, which begins with a shooting of the game's inventor, who is holding a mysterious new game. Finally, we meet our puzzle loving heroes, who discover the book that will lead them to the new game and the story really takes off. Readers will try to figure out clues right along with Emily and James as they are led from one landmark and book to another. The plot never lags as clues are solved, red-herrings dismissed, and relationships evolve. Bertman offers a surprising amount of character development for a mystery and both Emily and James are fully realized characters, who grow along the way. Kids unfamiliar with Edgar Allen Poe may want to crack into one of his stories, as well as the one of the many books mentioned within the pages. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see a bibliography of the books mentioned at the back of the volume for kids to maybe go onto further reading. Bertman writes a true love-letter to San Francisco and the setting is integral to the overall tale. The plot line of Emily not wanting to move gets solved a little too quickly and easily, but this is a minor quibble. The main mystery is solved in a satisfactorily fashion, the villains are revealed and punished, and the heroes rewarded. This story is a delight for smart kids, mystery solvers, and book lovers. I can't wait for the sequel The Unbreakable Code, which is due for release in April, 2017.

The Littlest Bigfoot

The Littlest Bigfoot
Jennifer Weiner
Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, 2016 283 pgs
Grades 4-7
Fantasy

Twelve-year-old Alice has never felt that she has fit in. She is too big, too awkward, and her hair is too untamable and wild. Constantly being forced to change schools within her New York City home, Alice's reluctant parents run out of options and send her to a hippy school in upstate New York. We see Alice's journey, still struggling to find her place. Her roommates seem nice enough, but caught up in their own lives. A new girl, also from New York City yet very cool, befriends Alice and she is at long last part of the "in-crowd", only to have her dreams come crashing around her ears. Alternating chapters tell the tale of Millie, a bigfoot or "Yare". Millie also does not fit in and struggles with being too small compared to her companions. Millie longs to be a famous singer, an impossible dream for a Yare, and is fascinated by humans. On a trip across the lake from her Yare village to spy on the human hippy school, Millie and Alice meet. The two become instant and secret friends. Halloween feels like a perfect time to go out in public together, since Millie's fur will appear to be a costume. Meanwhile interspersed chapters tell the story of a lonely boy named Jeremy, who is a bigfoot tracker. He thinks he has located a bigfoot in this upstate New York community and is anxious to prove to the world that they really do exist. All the characters converge at a final climatic scene, when it is revealed that everyone has something "weird" about them and we need to except each other's differences. Millie's community is left in tact, Alice finds friends she previously overlooked, and a startling revelation is uncovered at the end of the story, leading readers to the next installment in the series.

Adult bestselling author, Weiner, tries her hand at writing middle grade fiction with mostly successful results. Kids have always been fascinated with bigfoot (bigfeet?) and this is the first book I have encounter featuring the legendary American beast. Right there, this is a draw for young people. The book seems to skew a little on the "girlie" side, although why can't a book about bigfoot be aimed at girls? Boy readers interested in these furry creatures will more than likely be put off by what is decidedly a female-centric friendship story. The message of the book is that everyone has something unique and different about them and  the excepting each other's differences theme, as well as the anti-bullying missive, are a bit heavy handed and appear to be the true purpose of the book. The fact that a girl gets to be friends with a bigfoot and Weiner makes this encounter feel believable allows me to forgiven the message driven plot. Who wouldn't want to have a bigfoot friend? This premise alone will sell the book to readers. The large font, wide margin and artistic touches will make the book accessible to reluctant readers. Lonely girls with big imaginations will love this story and find companionship in Alice and Millie. The surprise at the end of the book was kind of cool and will lead readers to the next installment in the series. Jeremy and his cyber wheelchair-bound friend are  underdeveloped characters, but maybe we will see more of them in installments to come.

Ghosts

Ghosts
Raina Telgemeier
Graphix/Scholastic, 2016 240 pgs.
Grades 4-8
Graphic Novel

Catrina is not a happy camper. Her family is uprooting from their southern California town to move to a northern coastal town for the sake of her sister's health. Maya is plagued with Cystic Fibrosis, a degenerating breathing disease with no cure.Bahia de la Luna is mostly foggy and very creepy. The town is famous for hosting a big Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead party at midnight on Halloween. The sisters meet Carlos, host of the town's ghost tour and cure boy-next-door. Maya and Carlos become fast friends and he helps her set up an alter in the living room to remember the family's deceased Abuela. Cat starts at her new school and eventually makes some new friends. Maya has a set-back with her illness while on a ghost hunting adventure with Cat and Carlos, which leaves her housebound. Halloween rolls around and with it Dia de los Muerto. Cat must face her fears of all things dead. She reluctantly attends the town's celebration and finds peace and healing with the other celebrants, both human and celestial. A friendship is finally formed with Carlos and maybe even a future romance. The book leaves us with no easy answers. Maya is not going to get better, but somehow the family has found a way, through connecting to the spirit world and Abuela, to find peace and acceptance.

What a perfect book to read on Dia de los Muertos! I have been on the reserve list at my library for this new title by one of my favorite authors and it just was luck of the draw that I received it at such a perfect time. Raina does it again with her latest heartfelt story, loosely drawing again from her childhood. As with other Telgemeier books, the story is told effortlessly in a perfect marriage of images and text, working together to convey a seemingly simple story, yet one with many layers. A sad situation is faced by our protagonist, who lives life safely and fearfully. Her sister is the chance taker. Cat must learn to process her fears and stress and move ahead with the business of living a life that she has little control over. I love that this story is set in a predominately Latino community in a Californian town that is not warm and sunny, like we assume California to be, but foggy and gloomy. Readers unfamiliar with Dia de los Muertos will learn about the holiday and perhaps find healing with their own grief. Reading this story has definitely encouraged me to next year find a celebration close to home to attend, because the holiday looks to be so fun, interesting, and unusual. Telgemeier's colorful illustrations reflect the joy and beautiful patchwork of images associated with this holiday and the contrast between the foggy day-to-day life in this coastal town and the warm celebration of Dia de los Muerto is heartily felt and experienced by the reader. As we try to bring more diversity to literature for young people and celebrate the wonderful melting pot that is the United States, Ghosts is a welcome addition.

Story Thieves

Story Thieves
James Riley
Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, 2015  383 pgs
Grades 4-7
Fantasy/Adventure
The Story Thieves series

Owen is a bit of a loner with an unexciting life. His days consist of school, helping his mother at her job at the town library, and reading books. All this changes when he sees his classmate Bethany appear to jump out of a book. Further investigation reveals that Bethany is half-human and half-fictional and has the ability to travel in, through, and out of books. Best of all, she can take others with her. Bethany's father has disappeared years before and Owen pledges to try to help her find him, only he secretly has ulterior movies. Owen plans to trick Bethany into taking them into the climax of the penultimate volume of his favorite series, meeting the hero Kiel Gnomenfoot, and changing the outcome, thus saving the day himself. Things get quickly out of control as the two new friends find themselves in the world of Owen's favorite series, caught up in the struggle of magic verses science. Alternating chapters tell the tales of our now separated heroes. Owen finds himself transported into the role of Kiel and must work with a robotic girl, who uses science to be combined with his previously unknown magic to save the day. Meanwhile Bethany teams up with the real Kiel and the actual author of the series to try to put the series back to rights and to save the lives of their friends. Will the four young people manage to find a compromise in the imaginary book world between science and magic? Will they survive it? Do Bethany and Owen manage to get back to the real world? Does Bethany find her father? Some plot lines are satisfactorily resolved, while others are purposely left dangling in order to entice readers to pick up the next volume in the series: The Stolen Chapters, released earlier this year. Volume three is set to be released early next year.

Riley, author of the Half Upon a Time series, offers a new series perfect for book lovers. The story moves along at a breath-taking pace with twists, turns, and chapter cliff-hangers galore. The plot gets a bit involved and the two story lines move back and forth quickly, making this more of a choice for kids who are seasoned readers. That said, there is much to bite into for those willing to take the plunge. I sometimes felt confused with the back and forth of the plots and it took me a bit of time to get back into the story when starting a new chapter, making this book not for kids who need a linear storyline. Riley breaks the forth wall as our characters blur the lines between reality and fiction, eventually involving the author to help them sort the whole mess out. This is an unusual and fresh contribution to the fantasy/adventure genre and will be loved by those readers starved for something new, different, and intellectually challenging. Both boys and girls will enjoy this story and relate to the adventure. Perfect for book lovers, references are made to other works of children's fiction, which I would have liked to see gathered in a bibliography at the end of the volume. My favorite quote comes from Owen's librarian mother who says "The second rule they taught us in librarian school is that you can have as many favorite books as there are books". Owen's mom and I must have went to different library schools, because I didn't learn this at mine, but I whole heartily agree!

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locker Hero

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locker Hero
Rachel Renee Russell
Simon & Schuster, 2016 302 pgs.
Grades 3-6
Comic/Fiction Hybrid

Russell, along with her two daughters, turns her attention away from the mega-popular Dork Diaries series and introduces a male character. Because of severe asthma, Max was previously home-schooled by his former kindergarten-teacher grandma. He is anxious to leave sippy cups and graham crackers behind as he enters the hallowed halls of South Ridge Middle School. Because of his natural clumsiness and social awkwardness, he becomes a target for a bully named Thug. After many harrowing and humiliating encounters with Thug, including one witnessed by his crush Erin, Max gets thrown into a locker, where he is fated to remain for the entire Columbus Day weekend. A soft wall in the back of his locker is pushed through and Max finds himself in a long forgotten room in the school. The room has no doors or windows, so Max must try to escape through the air duct system. While crawling around the metal pathways, Max overhears three men of bumbling natures attempting to steal computers from the school. Naturally, they discover our hero before he has a chance to call for help. It is now up to Max to escape from the bad guys and see that justice is done, all while not letting his parents find out what is happening and force him back into grandma-school.

Russell and daughters employ the technique used to popularize The Dork Diaries to expand the umbrella of their audience to include boys. Characters from the previous series pop-up, which will draw in old fans, all while drawing in new ones. Much like The Dork Diaries, slapstick humor and awkward situations are utilized to amuse readers and enable them to feel better about their own "dorkiness", which can't be half as bad as poor Max. Max is a likable character who tries earnestly to fit in. No matter what he does, it always manages to backfire, usually with humiliating and hilarious results. Potty humor abounds and gross situations will amuse the intended audience. Much of the action reads like something out of a comic book. The story is over-the-top and quite unrealistic, but this, again, will delight reluctant readers. The bad guys are stock characters from an old movie. They remind me of the villains from Home Alone; bumbling, stupid and never a real threat. Comic-like illustrations are expertly drawn and abundant. They add to the plot and are an intricate part of the story. The book ends with a cliff hanger, encouraging the reader to head right to book two, which is scheduled for a June, 2017 release. Is this the stuff of great fiction? Perhaps not. Will kids want to pick it up and read it through to the end? Absolutely!

Snow White: a Graphic Novel

Snow White: a Graphic Novel
Matt Phelan
Candlewick, 2016 unpaged
Grades 4-Up
Graphic Novel/Fairy Tale

Set in New York City during the Great Depression, Phelan, serving as both writer and illustrator, revamps a classic fairy tale using his own unique vision. Snow White's father is a business man, the stepmother is a star with the Ziegfeld follies, the mirror is now a ticker-tape machine, the prince a police detective and the dwarfs are homeless children. After being chased by a dangerous hobo sent by her stepmother to kill her, Snow White meets a group of homeless boys in an alley. They take her to the abandoned warehouse they call home and she entertains them and makes them feel safe by telling them stories. The children become attached to her and are devastated when, the next day, Snow White returns to the warehouse and passes out; the effects of a poisoned apple. The boys chase the old hag/stepmother, who meets with her final demise in a scene of massive karmatic significance. Now it is left for the well-meaning police detective to try to wake Snow White, eventually leading to a happy ending for all. 

This stylized cover has been staring at me from my library's new book section, coaxing me to read it, until I finally gave in. The story is close enough to the original to be familiar and comforting, yet different enough to engage the reader and encourage active participation in comparison. The Depression setting in integral to the plot and the the book's design and mood reflect this distinctive setting. Phelan is very conservative with his text, using speech only when necessary. The bulk of the story is told in the illustrations. These finely crafted and loose pictures are drawn primarily in black and white. Sparse color is used intentionally and carefully to highlight where the artist wants the eye to go and use of color also helps to tell the story. Starting with just red touches, Phelan moves onto blue while Snow White is in her deep sleep, finally moving onto an introduction of yellow light into full color for the happy ending. We see the boy's attachment to Snow White as at first they will not reveal their names to her and finally, after she is poisoned, slowly come forward with their true identities, willing themselves to trust this kind adult. A beautifully crafted book that reflects the growing genre of quality graphic novels for young people.

Election Fiction

With the presidential election upon us in just a few weeks I thought I would offer up some of my favorite election books. All of these books are funny and explain the electoral process to young people in an accessible and entertaining way.

The Kid Who Ran for President
Dan Gutman

Scholastic, 1996 156 pgs.

Now twenty years old, Gutman's humorous take on the political process remains, for my money, the quintessential election book for young people.  Judson Moon gets talked into running for president by his political best friend/campaign manger and things quickly get out of hand. His running mate is his former babysitter, an elderly African-American woman. This unlikely team takes America by storm, offering a choice beyond the traditional political parties. The campaign gets much further than Judson ever imagined, reflecting America's desire for a different kind of candidate. The problem is: Judson doesn't really want the job. The publication year is evident in certain ways, specifically the small and specific role of social media, but over-all this book proves that there is little new under the sun.

Fake Mustache
Tom Angleberger
Abrams, 2012 196 pgs
Grades 3-6
Angleberger, of Origmai Yoda fame, pens a hilarious romp of trickery and deceit. Lenny's best friend Casper saves all of his money to purchase a high-quality fake mustache, which possesses magical hypnotic powers. While wearing the mustache, Casper manages to robs banks, take over companies, and rise to the highest office in the land. It is up to Lenny and a former horse-riding child-star to stop Casper and keep the country safe from this power-hungry youth.


The Tapper Twins Run for President
Geoff Rodkey
Little Brown, 2016 204 pgs
Grades 4-7
The Tapper Twins are at it again! Claudia and Reece go head-to-head in a bid for class president with hilarious and unpredictable results. Readers see how the political process operates as Claudia and Reece battle it out, all while listening to bad advisers with their own agendas. Rodkey's traditional format of texts, e-mails, and transcripts accompany the text making this book a perfect and visual choice for reluctant readers. Kids will learn about how elections work, all while having fun and giggling along the way.

Vote
Gary Paulsen
Random House, 2013 131 pgs.
Grades 5-8
A companion to Paulsen's series, featuring Kevin Spencer and starting with Liar, Liar, Paulsen satirizes the electoral process by illustrating a class election. When the class president moves away, Kevin and his main competition for popularity both throw their hats in the ring. His competitor is represented by Katie, a girl Kevin has tangled with before, as his campaign manager. As the grueling week of debates and soliciting votes continues, Kevin's life is further complicated by the presence of his new girlfriend who he doesn't know what to do with, the captain of the girl's varsity team who wants to use his political power for her own agenda, and a visiting four-year-old neighbor/menace. Kevin must decide what he stands for and if he really is presidential material in this funny, yet realistic tale.

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President
Josh Lieb
Razorbill, 2009 304 pgs.
Grades 7-9
Adding a little bit of a dark-snark to his humor, Lieb takes on the corruption of elections by showcasing a young evil genius's rise to power. Class dork, Oliver Watson, is not what he appears. Under his house he has a secret lair where he operates his empire, wielding power and managing high-finances. When he chooses to become class president he must use all of his massive brain-power and manipulation to win over the student population. The perfect anti-hero, the reader doesn't know whether to root for Oliver's success or to hope that his reign of terror ends. Darkly funny, highly entertaining, and cleverly written, a great choice for middle school readers to see how elections work, all while quickly turning pages to see what outrageous stunt this power-hungry youth will pull next.

The Castle in the Mist

The Castle in the Mist
Amy Ephron
Penguin, February, 2017  167 pgs.
Grades 4-6
Fantasy

Tess and her younger brother Max are sent to spend the summer with her aunt in a remote house in the British countryside. The children's mother is home fighting a life-threatening illness and Dad is on assignment as a journalist in the middle east. Everyday is much like the next (boring!) until Tess quite by accident stumbles upon a mysterious boy named William who lives in an equally mysterious castle with only kind servants for company. The house is only accessible through a magic key that fits a gate on an invisible wall. Tess returns with Max and the two children have wonderful adventures with their new friend, including riding on a magical carousal which grants wishes and a dinner party which ends in an unique game of miniature golf and an eclipse featuring both a blood and a blue moon all at the same time. With the amazing wonders of the castle comes dangers as well. William warns Tess upon first meeting to "Beware the Hawthorn Trees" and for good reason. Going beyond the Hawthorn Trees leads to a desolate nothingness with no apparent way out. When Max goes "beyond the Hawthorne Trees" it is up to Tess to save him using all the personal courage she can muster. What is the truth behind this magical castle? Who actually is William and how come Aunt Evie has never heard of him? These and other mysteries will be revealed in an ending that will satisfy the reader.

Adult author, Amy Ephron, pens her first book for children with The Castle in the Mist. In it she hopes to create a traditional fantasy along the lines of Half Magic or The Secret Garden. This story does feel like an old-fashioned fantasy set in England, yet staring modern American children to contemporize the tale. The setting of the British Moors and featuring the discovery of a lonely and rich boy who becomes a friend felt very Secret Garden to be sure. The magical carousal where the horses become alive felt very Mary Poppins, although the outcome of the adventure becomes decidedly more sinister. The book begins with a map. As a child when I opened up a book that started with a map I settled in, knowing that I was in for a rich read. A map generally signifies "smart kid fiction" and this will certainly be the audience. Readers who love magic and fairy tales, but aren't quite ready for Harry Potter, will find much to enjoy here. There is a mystery to solve withing the pages: the identity of William and what his backstory is. Readers will guess if he is a real boy or a ghost and Ephron reveals his true status and history. A happy ending all around is a bit unrealistic and comes about quite suddenly, but with today's children having so much of their security out of their own control, they will appreciate that all ends well. A magical and comforting adventure that will appeal to dreamers.