Mouse Was MAD, written by Linda Urban and illustrated by Henry Cole. Harcourt, Thomas Allen & Son, 2009. $21.95 ages 3 and up

"Stomping, done right, should result in the shaking of trees and the rumbling of earth," said Bear. Bear stomped. The trees shook, the earth rumbled. Mouse tried to stomp like Bear. The trees did not shake. The earth did not rumble."

Mouse is mad and he doesn't mind telling everyone he meets! He tries a variety of ways to show that anger but his friends are quick to tell him that he is not very good at it. Hare says he can't be hopping mad because he isn't very good at hopping, Bear says he can't be stomping mad because he really doesn't have much stomp in him. You get the picture! There is much to learn as we take a closer look at the way the illustrator adds to the story with subtle changes in color, expressive faces and
the way that he uses endpapers to help to tell the story. Mouse is amazed at the result following his many attempts to show how truly mad he is, in the face of criticism and unsatisfactory forays into expressing his feelings.

I was working with some wonderful children today in an after school program and used this witty and predictable book as an introduction to talk about being mad and handling it. We wanted to encourage storying so that they might follow through with writing a journal story of their own when we had finished talking about it. We discovered, as Mouse did, that there are many ways to handle anger...some help us feel better and some only make us madder. When we throw something or break it, the end result might be that we have to wait for a period of time before it can be replaced, when we threaten and retreat we discourage what is bugging us, and when we find a quiet place to be, we often can relax and forget that anger.

Stanza, written by Jill Esbaum and illustrated by Jack E Davis. Harcourt , Thomas Allen & Son, 2009. $21.95 ages 6 and up

"Stanza prowled through the streets
with his two rotten brothers,
annoying and chasing an bullying others."

Stanza is not a popular dog about town but there is much the townsfolk do not know about him and his secret life. While his brothers sleep the night away, Stanza tucks himself into a far corner of their room and pens poetry. He writes of life, lunch and the lingering doubts he has about his hidden life. He doesn’t want his brothers to know! When he spots a notice announcing a poetry contest, he is intrigued and intrepid...he wants to win first prize. Nothing will get in his way!

This is a great book to use when you want to talk with children about being yourself when others are trying to make you be someone you are not. Stanza is part of the 'gang of brothers' that can wreak havoc in their neighborhood. It takes a great deal of confidence and bravery for him to break away from the pack and be the dog he wants to be...with interests and ideas that differ from his brothers and what others think of him. It will provide a chance for children to talk about such issues in their lives and give voice to their feelings.

The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Canada, 2008. $19.99 ages 12 and up

"When I was younger, I scared my mother to death, the things I would blurt out about District 12, about the people who rule our country, Panem, from the far-off city called the Capitol. Eventually I understood this would lead us to more trouble. So I learned to hold my tongue and to turn my features into an indifferent mask so that no one could ever read my thoughts. Do my work quietly in school. Make only polite small talk in the public market. Discuss little more than trades in the Hob, which is the black market where I make most of my money. Even at home, where I am less pleasant, I avoid discussing tricky topics. Like the reaping, or food shortages, or the Hunger Games."

War makes an imprint on everything it touches. It impacts the world, society and especially the children. Suzanne Collins reminds of that in this amazing book…the first in a planned trilogy. In a future world we first meet Katniiss, her friend Gale and her family. We come to know something of the dreadful life they lead in District 12, the final frontier in the nation of Panem. We learn quickly of The Hunger Games and its toll each year on the children of each of Panem’s twelve districts. In the annual Hunger Games competition these twenty-four children (two chosen from each district) are pitted against one another in a fight to the death. And, that is only the beginning. When her younger sister’s name is drawn as a tribute, Katniss quickly and stolidly volunteers to take her place. She cannot bear to think of Prim dying in the Games. As preparations are made for the tributes to be transported to the arena for the competition we also learn that the entire thing will be televised and everyone glued to their sets to watch the contest. Lest you think that this is not a book that you would like to read, don’t be too hasty. I was and despite many amazing reviews, I held off reading it until Erin assured me I would not be sorry. She was RIGHT! The characters are so strong, the writing so totally engrossing that I was quick to forget my aversion to violence. It is more a book about the engaging people whose lives we become part of as they seek victory for themselves, their family and their district. Don’t wait for the paperback…you will have to wait TOO long!

After Tupac & D Foster, written by Jacqueline Woodson. Penguin Group (Canada), 2008, $19.00 ages 12 and up

"D Foster showed up a few months before Tupac got shot that first time and left us the summer before he died. By the time her mama came and got her and she took one last walk on out of our lives, I felt like we'd grown up and grown old and lived a hundred lives in those few years that we knew her. But we hadn't really. We'd just gone from being eleven to being thirteen. Three girls. Three the Hard Way. In the end, it was just me and Neeka again."

Told in first person by one of the girls who call themselves Three the Hard Way, this thoughtful books tells the story of one year in their lives…how music can touch our hearts and enrich our lives, how relationships change our life paths and how time and place often determines our Big Purpose. The two girls are living quietly in their neighborhood, knowing everyone, sharing friendship and musical interests when D comes into their lives and shows them the way other people live. In the year that follows (between their twelfth and thirteenth birthdays) they become fast friends who share more than a love of music, clothes and a burgeoning independence. When D’s mother comes to get her, their lives are forever changed by their relationship…and they will never for a minute forget Tupac and his music, or D and her impact on them. D and Tupac had much in common and we live in hopes that their story is not ended.

Planet Pregnancy, written by Linda Oatman High. Front Street, 2008. $22.00 ages 14 and up

"I'm only sixteen.
I'm not a geek.
I was the Dixie Queen
at school last week.
I shimmered, glimmered
with sequins
and a tiara.

My name is Sahara,
like the desert.
Unlike the Badlands,
though,
I'm not barren."

I am intrigued by an author’s ability to tell a story in free verse and I often recommend such stories for young adult readers who only reluctantly choose reading as a pastime. Novels written in verse are not so overwhelming to the hesitant young reading adult. The text is shorter, the words carefully chosen, and the images clear. Sahara’s story begins in the first trimester and with a stick that will confirm her worst fears…ten seconds and she will know. The discovery that she is pregnant is life-altering and Sahara struggles with the decision to be made about the future…hers and that of the child that she is carrying. Her voice is so authentic, and confused, and terrified as she deals with the situation she finds herself in…alone and wondering what she should do. The story is told in trimesters and we listen as Sahara struggles to decide about abortion, adoption or parenthood. The fact that this amazing author tells Sahara’s story with warmth, compassion and even some humor is testament to her talent. I will read this book again and you need to read it, too!

This Full House, written by Virginia Euwer Wolff. HarperTeen, 2009. $19.50 ages 14 and up

"I could not have known.
Would never have predicted.
As if I had been a leaf floating in a gutter toward the se
or a puff of dust blowing through an open window.

That was how much I knew
about this would all happen
how we would all end up.
No more than that."

Oh, my gosh! Did this brilliant author give her all to her characters to finish the trilogy started 16 years ago. Imagine having those complicated and authentic voices in your head for that whole time! We are privy to more of LaVaughn and her complex life, made even more complicated by her wish to do the right thing. In doing so, she alienates those people who are important to her and she must find her way back to them through forgiveness, love and change. LaVaughn is an intricate character who will live in my heart and mind forever. Her voice is so authentic, clear and full. Her love for Jolly and her children, her friends and learning lead her down paths that make her uncomfortable and full of wonder. In the end we celebrate with her, as she finds her way to a new beginning and a chance to live her dreams. A senior year has never been so fraught with discovery, family, love and forgiveness. LaVaughn is a person worth knowing and worth investing your time in...to learn her story. You will not be sorry that you met her and shared her life…its hills and valleys.

True Believer, written by Virginia Euwer Wolff. Simon & Schuster Canada, 2001. $12.99 ages 14 and up

"And another thing.
My Mom sat me down last night and she said,
'Verna LaVaughn. You remember your college plans.'
This was not a question. She used both my names.

'Sure, I remember.' This is too offhand for her
and she snaps at me about my tone of voice.
She has radar,
can feel rudeness coming, also sarcasm
before they start.
Also fake tiredness when you don't want to answer.
With my mom you are alert at attention or nothing.
'Yes, I remember my college plans,' I say, polite."

It is amazing to me that this accomplished author kept LaVaughn and Jolly in her head
and heart over the eight year pause between the first and second book. The voice is so authentic and poignant. The young women remain courageous and determined. Jolly has found a man who wants to be a father to her children, and who encourages her in her quest to better her life. Jolly and LaVaughn remain friends while their goals differ. LaVaughn is faced with concerns…the changes in her friends, her love for Jody and her heartbreaking discovery about him, the knowledge that her mother might need someone besides LaVaughn in her own life, and her continuing involvement with Jeremy and Jilly. Her world is scary and exhilarating…guns in school, metal detectors, and the opportunity to be part of an innovative ‘women in science’ program. LaVaughn is such an amazing young woman and a wonderful character. She has much to teach each one of us. She is a ‘true believer’! Once I started I could not put the book down. Free verse allows the poet to tell so much so beautifully and in a format that appeals to readers who might be reluctant to read a longer story.

Make Lemonade, written by Virginia Euwer Wolff. Scholastic Canada,1993. $8.99 ages 14 and up

"I am telling you this just the way it went
with all the details I remember as they were,
and including the parts I'm not sure about.
You know, where something happened
but you aren't convinced
you understood it?
Other people would maybe tell it different
but I was there."

This is the first book in a planned trilogy about LaVaughn, a 14 year girl who lives with her mother in the projects and who learns at an early age that college is her way out. In order to earn money for her college fund, she needs a job and in looking for one finds an urgent request on the school bulletin board for a babysitter. LaVaughn is soon caught up in the lives of Jolly and her two children, Jeremy and Jilly. Life for the seventeen year old mother is not easy and LaVaughn feels guilty that she might be using the difficult situation to push herself toward a brighter future than the one that is sure to be Jolly’s. She does not intend to let Jolly and her children into her heart, but it happens.

I have read so many wonderful reviews of these fine works and yet, it has taken me too long to make them a priority. When the last one was published this year it made me more determined than ever to finally read them. I spent a weekend with LaVaughn and her mother, her thoughts, her inspirations and her fierce determination to make her life better through hard work and education.

Project Sweet Life, written by Brent Hartinger. HarperTeen, 2009. $18.50 ages 12 and up

"But even now I didn't choke on my food, because I was still certain he was kidding about my getting a job. Even if in the weirdest reaches of some wild, alternate universe where my father suddenly did think I should get a job the summer of my fifteenth year, even he wasn't so cruel as to bring it up on the night before the start of my vacation."

Everyone knows that the final year before a guy must have a job should be the best summer of his life. Starting at sixteen (one year from now) life begins in earnest and for the next fifty years work will be the norm. That is what Dave, Curtis and Victor are thinking as school ends and fun is the order of their summer. But, their fathers have a completely different idea and that’s where the deception begins. All they need is seven thousand dollars and they are good to go for a summer of celebration and entertainment! Here are three guys who are chock full of ideas that will earn them the needed cash. As with all such campaigns, things do not go as planned and they are constantly thwarted in their efforts to find that sweet life. In a chain of events that will have readers totally engaged, the boys meet some very evil men and a conniving old woman, achieve a number of impressive diversions and even learn something about the history of their city, Tacoma Washington. This is a fun read and will make new fans for this accomplished author.

My Dad’s A Birdman, written by David Almond and illustrated by Polly Dunbar. Candlewick. Random House Canada, 2007. $19.00 ages 5 and up

"The Great Human Bird Competition, of course! Have you not heard about it? It's coming to town! I heard about it yesterday. No, the day before yesterday. Or that day a week gone last Tuesday. Anyway, the first one to fly across the river Tyne wins a thousand pounds. And I'm going to enter. It's true, Lizzie. I'm going to win! I'm going to make me mark at last."

Reading this wonderfully silly book reminded me of the fun we had (at home and at school) sharing some of Roald Dahl’s novels for children. Filled with imagination and great family love, it is the story of a young girl named Lizzie and her father, Jackie. Lizzie takes care of her father as best she can since the death of her mother. But, it can be a tough job. Jackie has a wild imagination and loves life (might seem a bit barmy to others). He is busy preparing to try his hand at the GREAT HUMAN BIRD COMPETITION, convinced that he can design wings to fly and then win the top prize. Others are not so sure; but soon Lizzie is willing to try her hand and the resulting contest is great fun! Auntie Doreen takes a long time to convince but even she gives in to the joy of the day and prepares the food needed to assuage the defeated competitors. Well done!

the uninvited, written by Tim Wynne-Jones. Candlewick Press. Random House Canada, 2009. $19.00 ages 14 and up

"Then they go away and he's alone again, and he tries to put things back together, tries to think how it all happened. There are so many beginnings, so he chooses just one:the summer day he first saw Mimi. The day she arrived at the house on the snye."

My family and friends know that I rarely read mysteries. I do, however, read everything that Tim Wynne-Jones writes. He continues to amaze! In this story we are bombarded by intriguing characters, mysterious events, and continuing action. When Mimi flees New York because of an over amorous suitor she seeks refuge in Canada in a house owned by her father. The frightening discoveries she makes as she takes up residence surprise her and change her life immeasurably. The author is most adept at creating suspense without providing any answers to our questions. I often thought I knew what was happening, only to find that there was another twist in the road. There is no stopping until the final page is read. In this rich and intricate telling we meet wonderful characters who are impossible to forget (although I never remember their names easily). The pacing is perfect with a constant haunting undertone. It is wonderful to read stories from differing viewpoints and the tension that Tim Wynne-Jones creates between the three characters hold us in its thrall until the last word. Another wonderful book from the prolific pen of TWJ. Bravo!

This would be a wonderful read in a high school classroom. Listeners would find themselves thinking in different directions as they try to piece together the story and to consider the actions of each of the well-developed characters.

When the Sergeant Came Marching Home, written by Don Lemna. Holiday House, Thomas Allen, 2008. $10.95 ages 8 and up

"Early in the summer of 1946, an infantry sergeant returned from the war and ruined my life by forcing me to move from our comfortable basement apartment in Wistola, Montana, out to a farm in the middle of nowhere."

This fine first novel had me guffawing in the back porch this summer and wondering if anyone was watching me and thinking I had finally lost it. But, I could not stop myself. Too funny in so many places, this is the story of a family adjusting to the return of the patriarch who has been away fighting in the Second World War. Soon after the Sergeant arrives back home, he pulls up stakes and moves the family from urban to rural ‘bliss’. The farm has no electricity, no running water and definitely lacks worthy-of-knowing young neighbors. It does boast hard work, an always-increasing herd of animals that need feeding, milking and constant care, and a decided lack of human company for two brothers. Nonetheless, it does not lack excitement, adventure and a wealth of humor. What a great read aloud!

Vanishing Girl, written by Shane Pearson. Tundra Books, 2009. $21.99 ages 12 and up

"Sherlock sits still for a moment, smiling. Andrew Doyle will give him whatever he wants, he can put his bullet into Lestrade, and he's saved two lives as well. Irene will think him a genius and have no need of Malefactor."

Let me just say this...if you are planning on having a short read before falling asleep, do NOT choose this book! Your 'sleepability' factor is quickly negated by the drive to see what happens next. If you are like me, you will be wide awake until you have finished the third case in this amazing series. Not even a blink of the eye and it was 2 am!

Shane Peacock does not falter in his quest to provide his readers with the back story on Sherlock Holmes and his place as a great detective in crime fiction history. He continues to reveal the many qualities of the boy detective and to give hints of the adult he will become. He uses a quote from a Holmes mystery and then proceeds to show us a young man with the same need for praise and honor, despite the fact that he often seems more machine than man.

When a young rich girl is kidnapped and the kidnappers make no contact for ransom, Scotland Yard and Sherlock are stymied. They have no leads, no idea what might have happened to Victoria Rathbone. For three months, they hear nothing. Sherlock is intrigued and it sets him on a course to try to best Lestrade and his minions in solving this public and personal case. It leads him to a print shop in the country outside London, an old abandoned manor house, labrynths with growling night beasts and a mystery that doesn't unravel until the last few pages (ah, perfect fare for Sherlock Holmes fans). True to the times and to his characters, Shane Peacock writes another clever whodunit that will have readers begging for more. He leaves us with questions, concerns and a better understanding of the enigmatic and incomparable boy detective but we are not satisfied. Bring on His 4th Case, please!!!

Death in the Air, written by Shane Peacock. Tundra Books, 2008. $11.99 ages 12 and up

"On his way home, Sherlock rushes through Trafalgar Square, then speeds north on a wide, busy street past palatial steps that lead to the huge doors of a towering church. As he turns his head to glance at it, someone violently seizes him and pulls him into the mews across the street on the far side of St. Martin's ominous granite workhouse. Good and evil are often side by side in London."

Sherlock is distraught over his mother's death which occurred while he was solving his first case, and as a direct result of his involvement. Her death provides the impetus to his lifelong committment to fighting crime and injustice. His second case begins with a suspicious fall at his father's work place, the Crystal Palace. As Sherlock and others in attendance watch in horror, the star of an aerial troupe plunges to the ground from a trapeze high above them. As he lays twisted and unconscious at Sherlock's feet, Sherlock notices what no one else seems to see..there is something strange about the trapeze bar. It isn't long until Sherlock is mired in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a street gang known for their violent and wicked ways. Sherlock is determined to find justice for the injured aerialist and enlists the help of one of the troupe, The Sparrow, and his good friend and benefactor, Dr. Bell to help him solve the mystery.

I have always been appalled, yet intrigued, by Victorian England...the bleak conditions that were the norm for so many. In this dangerous and intimidating underworld, Sherlock must use all his wits to ensure justice for the brutal accident that befalls the performer. The pace is exhilirating, the characters are so believable, and the plot is well constructed and exciting. Once again, it is hard to put this book down until the last page is read. We feel our own sense of injustice for the way the case is handled by Scotland Yard concerning Sherlock Holmes' role in the capture of the notorious Brixton Gang. There is no doubt that we will be along for the ride in his next adventure, Vanishing Girl...which was my third read of the day!

Eye of the Crow, written by Shane Peacock. Tundra Books, 2007. $11.99 ages 12 and up

"Master Sherlock Holmes, I perceive," says a dark-haired, tough-looking boy at the head of a dirty gang who are smaller copies of their leader. He is dressed in a worn-out long black coat with tails, a dark stovepipe hat is perched at an angle on his head, and he carries a crude walking stick in his hand. "I think you're sitting in our spot."

I am embarrassed to tell you that it has taken me two years to sit down and read this widely acclaimed new series, and then I read all three in one day. I am not a mystery reader and have never read the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, but I am delighted to begin to know him in this first book in The Boy Sherlock Holmes stories. The preface tells of a murder which results in the awakening of a sense of justice for a young boy whose life will be spent seeking a reckoning for evil deeds. Victorian times were not kind to many and the Holmes were first-hand recipients of the disfavor felt for those who did not strictly obey its rules. When Sherlock’s mother married beneath her means and to a Jewish man, at that, she was disowned by her family and then punished. Her father made sure that Wilber Holmes was unable to find a teaching job in the university. Thus, the family lives in a ramshackle part of London, barely eking out a living for themselves and their son. Sherlock’s concern over his appearance, his disdain for injustice and his uncanny observation skills are a constant reminder of the man that he will become. His daring and his bravery grow as he seeks justice for a young Arab, who is blamed for the murder mentioned in the preface. Sherlock knows he didn’t do it, and that is all he needs to know. You will not be able to put this book down once you begin reading and you will quickly seek the book which chronicles ‘His 2nd Case’…Death in the Air (Tundra, 2008). That is just what I did and I will tell you about it next….

Farmer Joe and the Music Show, written by Tony Mitton and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. Scholastic Canada, 2009. $18.99 ages 3 and up

“Down on the farm of Poor Old Joe,
the hens won’t lay and the crops won’t grow.
The cows won’t graze and the pigs won’t feed
and Joe just can’t think what they need.”

Farmer Joe is befuddled. He wanders and wonders and then decides that music might make the magic to limit the lethargy and bring business back to its glory days. It works for the hens! Then Fiddler Fox joins in the music making and soon the pigs are dancing to the downhome sound. Well, you know where we are going with this tale. The bright colors and energetic farm inhabitants provide plenty of interest for young readers. The strong rhythms and rhyming text will have listeners shaking a leg as the story is shared. Fun to read, and a gentle reminder not to take life too seriously will not be lost on all who share this story.

11 Birthdays, written by Wendy Mass. Scholastic Canada, 2009. $18.99 ages 10 and up

"Basically I got grounded because I snuck into Kylie's room and read her diary. It actually told me some interesting things, but then she found out and set me up. My mom was furious. But hey, my parents don't remember I got grounded, Kylie doesn't remember about the diary, and I still remember everything I read in it. So it all worked out."

Amanda and Leo are best friends...born on the same day and always celebrating their birthdays together. But last year, on their 10th birthday, a big fight caused Amanda to rethink the relationship and she is still holding a grudge for what happened then (are you listening, ladies?). It's been a year and they have not spoken and now Leo is going to have a super party and she's not invited. Her own lame party garners few guests and everything that can go wrong that day does. Amanda is delighted when the day is finally done. But, is it?

Upon awakening the following morning, her parents sing Happy Birthday and Amanda must relive that dreadful day over and over and over again....when will it stop? Why is it happening? Is it only happening to her? She's caught in a loop, replaying her 11th birthday day after day.

When she discovers she is not the only one dealing with the dilemma, she and Leo reach out to each other and become friends once more. Now, they are afforded the luxury of making other choices about the events that led them to this place in time. They try some experiments when they first figure it all out; who would not? Will they be forever caught in the trap they have set for themselves?

The characters are so solid and likeable. The writing will have kids delighting in its humor, and disasters. At its core it is a heartwarming story of friendship winning out and how working together for the common good is a great skill to have.

It's a perfect to booktalk with middle graders and will afford opportunity for discussions about friendship, rivalry and family.

The Arctic, written and photographed by Wayne Lynch. NORTHWORD, Minnetonka, MN. 2007. $21.95 ages 8 and up

Dr. Wayne Lynch is adept at fashioning text that intrigues and informs his young readers. He is also a fine photographer who manages to capture images that give his audience a true sense of the world he is describing. His love of the Arctic is evident in this well-designed and informative book about the top of the world. He adds eco-facts, information boxes, vocabulary and concise captions to help us ‘read around’ this excellent book. There is much to learn and to be fascinated with as you read and then go back to reread your favorite parts. It is a welcome addition to any classroom library where the Arctic is a subject for study.

We are learning more and more about sharing nonfiction works with our children and students...how to make access to such reading materials a priority when we want critical thinking and knowing about the greater world to be part of their lives. Books such as this act as mentor texts for children...helping them to see what the structures and details of nonfiction are and how they help us learn to read in a different way. Wayne Lynch is a prolific and skilled researcher with many fine books in his repertoire. Be sure to check for more from this gifted writer.

Arctic Adventures, written by Raquel Rivera and illustrated by Jirina Marton. Groundwood Books, 2007. $18.95 ages 8 and up

They are the stories of the artists themselves and they give us a glimpse at the life they live in the far north. The adventures speak of those things that define their people and their lives…extremes in weather, hunger and hunting, magic and the brutality and beauty of the land. Following each story we can read about the artist, their work and we see an example (in reproduction) of the work that defined their artistic life. The author adds a note about the stories, a useful glossary and a list of works for further reading.

It is always interesting to share personal stories of the people of the North. Their lives hold mystery and magic. As we study other cultures and other places of the world, we become more liberal in our thinking and better members of the global community for the knowledge we now have and can share.

Keeping the Night Watch, written by Hope Anita Smith and illustrated by E B Lewis. Henry Holt, H B Fenn & Company Ltd, 2008. $21.95 ages 10 and up

"We are all tired of stumbling around
in the dark of uncertainty.
He wants to give us light."

This is the first book I have read by this shrewd and noteworthy poet. Her story of a family trying to recover from the father’s abandonment and eventual return is touching and tender…and very cautious for CJ. It is not easy to forget what his father has done and to accept that the man who left has changed enough for everyone to trust him once again. The voices are as convincing as they are different. CJ has been the ‘man’ of the house and it has been a hard row to hoe. He is apprehensive and still hurting. The others seem dedicated to welcome Dad back. While each has a struggle to adjust, CJ’s is the most prolonged.

Using poetry to tell a family story filled with hurt, hopelessness, raw honesty and finally, hope is a remarkable gift. Word choice is so precise and the space for the telling so spare that the poet must truly have a gift to make it work so stunningly well. What a treat to be able to share CJ's story with your own children or your adolescent students. And then let it go and let them read it on their own again...to feel CJ's pain, his confusion, his eventual consent to bring health and harmony back to the family through forgiveness.