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Girls in the Stacks

Rhapsody in Books

Zoe’s Book Reviews

CM Review 

Wish is a light romance which may appeal to girls in grades 6-8.  It is well written and characters are appealing.   The book is set in the United States and has a strong American cultural flavour.  Although a realistic fiction novel, the plot line does not feel particularly plausible.  The storyline centers on a girl and her brother as he struggles with cystic fibrosis and is granted a wish from a foundation. The book contains piles of factual material on sharks and shark attacks.  An enjoyable read but not a must for a Canadian K-8 school library.

Grade 6-8 Recreational  Reading

Rating – 2 Recommended (if you have lots of money to spare)

Kirkus Review

So the Lord’s Prayer can be found here.

I was playing with it in church the other day as I am always trying to re-write Christian thought into a version which suits my rationalistic self.

Center of Life, kernel within all that breathes and has being, be valued.

Set things right that all may have enough.

Our forgiveness allows us to forgive.

Set a right path turned from evil.

For ours is the responsibility in this World for how Power is wielded in this Glorious Now and ever after.

So the Apostolic Creed can be found here.

I was playing with it in church the other day as I am always trying to re-write Christian thought into a version which suits my rationalistic self.

I am committed to creation care.

I am committed to being a Jesus-follower – Jesus, who was born to Mary the unwed mother, who suffered under tyrannical rule, who was crucified, died and was buried.  He was defeated.

On the third day, his message was enlivened by his friends who remembered him and shared his story of hope and promise with others.

I am committed to this hope, to the community called church, to the people within and without, to forgiveness of wrong-doing, to life-giving work and to sharing stories with the power to sustain.

I have recorded this interpretation here so that I can remember it and so that I can throw away the piece of paper it is written on.

This funny and engaging realistic fiction novel will entertain your teen readers.  Violet’s parents have recently divorced and her mother is struggling to make ends meet and raise her daughters alone.  Violet is angry and hugely protective of her mother and sister.  Her strong friendship with Phoebe, her best friend since forever and her budding romance with Jean-Paul help her through when things get rough.  Well worth the laughs, great for your realistic and humour fans.

No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis

Deborah Ellis hits another one out of the park in this novel for young people and adults alike.  This story follows the lives and struggles of three migrant teens as they cross the English Channel on their way to a new life in England.  Your adventure and realistic fiction fans will be delighted.

Tbe Worst Thing She Did by Alice Kuipers

It took me a bit to get past the diary style on this one.  It was the second book in the Willows from this year with a young distraught protagonist working out their issues in a diary they were required to keep by their therapist.  Perhaps if I’d read it first I wouldn’t have found the first bit to be contrived feeling, I’m not sure. The book and character grew on me over the course of the read.  The story’s climax and conclusion are satisfying and worth the extra effort of working through the first bit.  Good for those who like realistic fiction from a young woman’s point of view.

Home Truths by Jill MacLean

Home Truths is the story of a young bully and his life at home which stinks of course.  The main character, Brick, is someone you want to hate but can’t quite.  Almost diary-like in format, we follow the trials of Brick as he copes with his neglectful mother, abusive father and needy sister.  The subject matter is pretty nasty but the characters and amusing interludes lighted it up when need be.  Realistic fiction which might just appeal to the boys in your clientele.

Puppet by Eva Wiseman

Julie’s friend Esther dies and the village accuses the Jewish community of ‘blood libel’, that is, they believe Esther was used as a sacrifice.  A young Jewish boy, Morris, from the village says he witnessed the act but Julie can’t believe it.  Eva Wiseman tells the story through the eyes of Julie.  The event is factual a tragedy from Hungary 1882.  The story is told vibrantly and with compassion.  A great addition to the historical fiction section of any K-8 library.

A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk by Jan L. Coates

Jacob Deng lives in Sudan and Sudan has just erupted in violence.  His life is forever changed as he is forced to flee his home on foot to Ethiopia.  Jan Coates tells Jacob’s story with wit and candor.  A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk is the biographical account of the troubles in Sudan and their effect on one young boy. A well-told story and an important addition to the ongoing story of Canada and her immigrants.  A book for young people interested in real events and people.

Haunted by Barbara Haworth Attard

Haunted is a book I never would have read without it being on this list.  I don’t typically choose to read from the ’thriller’ genre.  Haunted is a spooky, suspense-filled mystery story.  Set in post World War One in a rural area of Ontario, a young girl is drawn into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of young girls in her region.  Definitely a read to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thunder over Kandahar by Sharon McKay.  I was troubled when reading this book.  Just prior to reading it, I heard a discussion on CBC radio about the ‘exotic’ stance in western literature when portraying mid-Eastern cultures, particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The speaker talked about how all portrayals of this area of the world seem to start with a woman in a veil.  Sure enough, on the first page, the issue is the veil and the woman on cover is wearing a burka.  I wondered about the bias of the author throughout the book.  Although there are strong attempts to portray the positive and life-giving aspects of the lives of people in Afghanistan, there is also a tendency to portray the Canadian and British forces as the ‘white knights’ of the region. Much as I hope the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan have brought peace and stability, I know the situation has been much more complex than simply the role of hero as it seemed to me here.  Still the book is well-written and could provide a starting point discussion on international interventions and cultural relativity.  If I were to use it in a classroom, I would want to have other books and resources to provide further depth and perspective to the discussions.

Shapeshifter by Holly Bennett.

Sive is a beautiful young woman with a magical and powerful voice.  She captures the attentions of an evil wizard and so begins her struggle for freedom, love and a home.  Holly Bennett writes the story behind the mythical story of Sive and Finn mac Cumhail.  A well-written and spell-binding novel with adventure, magic and love.  It would be worth offering to your Twilight fans when they are looking for something new.

Free as a bird by Gina McMurchy-Barber.

Ruby Jean Sharp has Down’s Syndrome.  She is sent to live at the age of eight in an institution in British Columbia.  The institution is brutal and de-humanizing yet Ruby survives and when finally given the opportunities to learn and care for herself, is allowed to leave.  An important story, well-told and accessible.  This book would make an interesting addition to discussions on Canadian policies during the 1930′s-1970′s.  A time period full of sweeping institutionalization of ‘undesirable’ parts of society from education institutions to health institutions to judicial institutions, this story serves as a reminder of what society can at its worst do to the people it does not understand.

Nadia is a recent immigrant from the Ukraine after the World War II.  She has haunting memories and terrible dreams.  Many of these things about her past lead her to believe she is not Ukrainian but somehow German and a Nazi.  The story leads us through her slow awakening to her past and her acclimatization to life in Canada.  A well-told story and a thought-provoking read.  Historical fiction suitable for boys and girls.  Themes:  coming to Canada, the horrors of war, family, friendship.  Suitable for grades 4-8.

The Odds get Even by Natale Ghent.  Boney, Itchy and Squeak work together to provide comfort from their homes and school life.  An old-fashioned school boy adventure filled with funny impossible situations.  Fun if you enjoy slapstick humour.  Suitable for grades 4-6.  Possible read aloud but I’d reach for a Gordon Korman first.

The Midnight Curse by F.M. Falcone.  Action, horror, adventure, the Midnight Curse is aimed at children wanting books packed with suspense and the unexpected.  Suitable for grades 4-6.

fatty legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton.  This autobiographical story tells of the residential school experience for a strong and determined girl in Canada’s far north.  Honestly told, an important piece of Canadian history, told without hate.  An inspiring read.  The illustrations by Liz Amini-Holmes and photographs from Margaret add immeasurably to the experience of this book.  Suitable for grades 3 and up.  It would be good to share with a digital camera projecting the images as the book is fairly small for holding up.  Themes:  survival, family, the North, residential school.