middle school fiction - Christian Library Journal

The Christian Library Journal ispublished by Christian LibraryServices. Indexed in ChristianPeriodical Index. Addresscorrespondence toinfo@christianlibraryj.org, or toChristian Library Services, 85785Glenada Rd, Florence, OR 97439.Phone 541-991-2407. Copyright2010 by Christian Library Services.ChristianLibraryJ O U R N A LVolume XIV, No. 6December 2010ISSN 1 0 9 7–1 2 6 2www.christianlibraryj.orgThe purpose of the ChristianLibrary Journal is to providereviews, from a Christian point ofview, of both Christian and seculartitles for the Christian reader.Materials reviewed may reflect abroad range of Christian doctrinalpositions and do not necessarilyreflect the views of ChristianLibrary Journal.T A B L E O F C O N T E N T SR E V I E W SKey ................................................................................. 4Primary Fiction ................................................................................. 5Primary Nonfiction .............................................................................. 11Nancy L. HeschEditor & PublisherEllie SoderstromReview EditorMark L. WardWebmasterIntermediate Fiction .............................................................................. 15Intermediate Nonfiction .............................................................................. 17Middle School Fiction .............................................................................. 19Middle School Nonfiction .............................................................................. 27High School Fiction .............................................................................. 32High School Nonfiction .............................................................................. 40Same Kind of Different as Me, by RonHall and Denver Moore ; with LynnVincent. Published by ThomasNelson. Used by permission.Adult Fiction .............................................................................. 41Adult Nonfiction .............................................................................. 46Index .............................................................................. 48Published in the U.S.A. © 2010CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 3 DECEMBER 2010

Review Rating System*5 Outstanding ―a beautifully written book which impactssomeone’s life or thinking5 Excellent―well written, among the very best4 Good―definitely worth reading3 Fair―to be read for relaxation or to meet a need for information2 Poor―poor writing or editing; read only if very interested1 ―What can we say? Not much going for this title.Recommended with caution (may be used with any of the above ratings)–Notereservations within the review.Not recommended (may be used with any of the above ratings)–Note problems within thereview.With fiction, the rating includes the quality of plot development/pacing, characterization,sense of time and place, mood and atmosphere, dialogue, depth of perception, sensitivityof writing, use of humor. Be aware that some books are character driven, so characterdevelopment is extremely important. Others are plot driven, so character developmentisn’t as critical; plot is.Commonly used abbreviations in CLJ reviewsLCCN Library of CongressCataloging NumberC Canadian Library CatalogingNumberISBN International StandardBook NumberHBB Hardbound bookLGP Large print bookLIB Library editionLLB Loose-leaf bindingPAP Paperbound bookPBB Paper board bookSPR Spiral bound bookDECEMBER 2010 4 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

B O O K R E V I E W SP R I M A R Y F I C T I O NThe Berenstain bears andthe gift of courage /written by Jan and MikeBerenstain. Grand Rapids,Mich.: Zonderkidz, 2010.LCCN 2009000823.PAP, 9780310712565, 3.99E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 20cm.The Berenstain bears anda job well done / createdby Stan and JanBerenstain ; written byMike Berenstain. GrandRapids, Mich.: Zonderkidz,2010. LCCN 2008033726.PAP, 9780310712541, 3.99E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 20cm.PRI PS Rating: 4Two of the latest books fromthe Living Lights series teachchildren how God wants themto live. In typical Berenstainfashion, these books aredesigned to entertain andevoke lively discussion ontopics pertinent to kids. Onthe inside back cover,additional activities can befound to ignite dialoguebetween children and adults.The Berenstain Bears and theGift of Courage relates thestory of David and Goliathusing a situation that mostchildren will experience. TooTall’s gang often teasesBrother and Sister Bearmercilessly. The cubs growfrustrated as the tauntingcontinues and renders themhelpless. One evening, PapaBear reads the story of Davidand Goliath. As Sister Bearlistens to how David trustedGod for protection, she wishesshe were brave too. Papareassures Sister that God iswatching over her and willgive her courage. The cubsencounter the gang the nextday as they are throwingrocks at a hornets’ nest. Sisterbravely grabs Too Tall’s armwhile Brother boldly stepsforward. His determined lookcauses the gang to run as aswarm of angry hornets chasethem away. As the cubs walkto school the next day, theyrecount God’s protection.In The Berenstain Bears and aJob Well Done, the cubs learnhow to follow through evenwhen they don’t want to. Itsspring cleaning time at thebear’s family tree house andeveryone has a job to do. Thebears attempt to clean theirplayhouse but become quicklydistracted when they find aball and bat inside. When Papadiscovers the cubs are not ontask, he uses the opportunityto teach them what the Biblesays about enjoying theirwork. While the book does notdirectly address obeying yourparents, it could easily beused to initiate suchdiscussion.Children who love theBerenstain bears will bedelighted with these books.Jan and Mike Berenstain do aspectacular job weavingbiblical principles into real lifeencounters. You’ll want to besure to purchase these booksin hardcover as the paperbackeditions are quite flimsy.Lisa Dirks*Forever friends / CarinBerger. New York:Greenwillow Books, 2010.LCCN 2009018758.HBB, 9780061915284, 16.99LIB, 9780061915291, 17.89E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 29cm.PRI Rating: *5Friendship comes in manyshapes, sizes, and forms.Forever Friends is the story oftwo unlikely friends who meetjust as spring blossoms. BlueBird sings seemingly to no one… while Brown Bunny sleepsin a log. The bunny joins thebird in song and friendship allthrough spring, the warmth ofsummer, and the falling leavesof autumn.The call of winter cold meansCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 5 DECEMBER 2010

PRIMARY FICTIONthe bird must fly south,leaving bunny alone until nextspring. Being alone is hard onboth the bird and the bunny,but the promise of springmeans the friends can onceagain play together.Berger creates a sweet storyof friendship between anunlikely pair. The differencesbetween a bird and a bunny asfriends may engage smallchildren to think moreglobally about the friends theychoose. Berger is just ascreative as illustrator with themethods of her art. Herspecialty appears to be that ofcollages from miscellaneousand random material. Thosewho read to the youngerchildren might take the timeto help the children identifysome of the items used in thecollages.Debby WillettHolly's red boots /Francesca Chessa. NewYork: Holiday House,2008. LCCN 2007035516.HBB, 9780823421589, 16.95E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 31cm.PS PRI Rating: 5Holly wants to show herslippers and her cat Jasper thenew fallen snow outside. Hermother teases her about beinga “silly billy” and a “funnybunny” for not understandingshe must wear her boots to goout and play. In Holly’s RedBoots, author and illustratorFrancesca Chessa has theintrepid Holly search high andlow throughout her house forthe missing red boots. Sheneeds to find them soonerthan later because, as we allknow, snow waits for no one,especially little girls who can’tfind their boots.Whimsical, bright, engaging,and playful are some of thewords that come to mindwhen reading this delightfulstory. The lighthearted teasingof the mother is a reminderthat young children aren’talways logical and that humoris a welcome alternative toparental exasperation. Thelarge, childishly crayoneddrawings add to thecapricious tone. And there isthat cat Jasper. How many catslook forward to playing insnow? An ideal book for eitherthe beginning of winter orbetween seasons when theweather is ficklish betweenwinter’s leaving and spring’sarrival. It can definitely beenjoyed many times.Pam WebbThe dangerous alphabet /Neil Gaiman ; illustratedby Gris Grimly. New York:HarperCollins, 2008. LCCN2007010893.HBB, 9780060783334, 17.99PAP, 9780060783358, 6.99E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 19x 29 cm.PRI (INT) Rating: 3When a boy and a girl sneakaway from their father tosearch for treasure far belowin the city underground, theydon’t expect the horrors thatawait them. When pirates andmonsters kidnap the girl, theboy pursues them through theunderground to save her.The Dangerous Alphabet byNeil Gaiman intrigues thereader but requires severalcareful readings and closeobservation to piece togetherthe story line. The story couldbe better told without thecouplets which detract fromthe main story and strive tofeel postmodern; theillustrations best supply theplot here. Gris Grimly’sillustrations in bleak sepiatones and jagged lines alsoinclude a kind of “Look andF i n d ” a c t i v i t y — i t e m sbeginning with that page’sletter can be found in eachillustration.The purpose of the alphabetDECEMBER 2010 6 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

PRIMARY FICTIONconcept is curious and offbeat,including devices such as “’C’is the way that we find and welook,” or Gaiman’s swappingof the order of “W” and “V.”A bit too dark (illustrationsinclude a dangling brain andspinal cord, as well as aninfant in a jar) and a bit toocomplex for its intendedaudience of five years and up,the book could serve well as acuriosity piece for adults. Ahighly original concept, butnot for everyone.Jaclyn S. MillerThat's where God is / Dan& Ali Morrow ; illustratedby Cory Godbey. ColoradoSprings: David C. Cook,2010. LCCN 2010924062.HBB, 9781434764348, 12.99E 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26cm.PRI Rating: 5That’s Where God Is by Danand Ali Morrow begins on aSunday with a boy’s visit tograndpa’s house. Grandpa andgrandson share a comfy chair.After talking about all sorts ofthings, the boy asks: “Where isGod?” Instead of giving a patanswer, grandfather invitesthe child to keep his eyesopen, confident that God canbe found “all over the place.”On Monday, the childexperiences God while at thezoo, since “God created allkinds of animals.” Throughoutthe rest of the week the littleboy finds God in everydayexperiences and encounterswith others. God’s presence isin the power of a storm and inacts of sharing, helping andforgiving.Soon, it is Sunday again. Thechild excitedly shares all theplaces he has found God. Afterlistening, grandfather explainsthat God is in all those places,but can also live in our heartsif we invite him in throughprayer.Illustrator Cori Godbey usesclear, tinted watercolors thatenhance the gentle andintimate mood of the story. Heshows a very lovinggrandfather swinging hisgrandson in the air onemoment and then sitting withhis grandson on his lap. Eachfollowing page presents oneinstance of God’s presence oneach day of the week.The Morrows have written astory that children will enjoy,and one that will encourageadults to share God and hisword with their little ones.Bible verses at the bottom ofe a c h p a g e p r o v i d eopportunities for biblicalteaching and discussions. Thisbook can also be used tointroduce young children toGod, who is not only aroundus, but also in us.Carmen ReddingHigher! Higher! / LesliePatricelli. Somerville,Mass.: Candlewick Press,2009. LCCN 2008935659.HBB, 9780763632410, 15.99Bd, 9780763644338, 6.99E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 25cm.PS Rating: 5The exhilaration of soaringbeyond the blue sky iscaptured with succincteloquence in Leslie Patricelli;spicture book Higher! Higher!The sparse repetitive text andb r i g h t c r a y o n - l i k eillustrations feature a littlegirl who gleefully asks to gohigher as she swings. Theillustrations showcase herimagined sense of achievinggreater and greater heightuntil she reaches space anddiscovers she is not the onlyone who enjoys the freedom aswing provides. A fun readthat appears deceptively easy,yet offers a deeperunderstanding of the power ofimagination.What makes this book work soCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 7 DECEMBER 2010

PRIMARY FICTIONwell is how unpretentious itis. It is in fact based on thereal-life experience ofPatricelli’s own child wantingto go “higher, higher” whileswinging. The vibrant acryliccolors reflect the childlikedelight of almost defyinggravity experienced whileswinging. The repeated textcould either be seen asannoying or genius. Thesimple text allows readers tofeel the rush of seeminglymoving beyond the sky untilthe delightful surprise ending.A satisfying quick read forboth beginning readers andadults.Pam WebbThe dragon and theturtle / by Donita K. Pauland Evangeline Denmark ;illustrations by VincentNguyen. Colorado Springs:Waterbrook Press, 2010.LCCN 2010004737.HBB, 9780307446442, 11.99E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 23cm.PS (PRI) Rating: 5Well-known fantasy writerDonita Paul teams up with herd a u g h t e r , E v a n g e l i n eDenmark, to tell an endearingtale of a dragon and a turtle inthis inspirational picturebook. Vincent Nguyen,illustrator of numerouschildren’s books, enhances thestory with colorful drawingsof a kitten-sized dragon whoencounters a lost turtle.The Dragon and the Turtletells the story of Roger, anadventurous turtle who likesto play pirate. One day, he isblown off course and ends uplost. Padraig is snacking onbugs when he meets Roger.Wanting to help Roger, heasks questions about Roger’shouse. Padraig tries to find itby scouting from the air, usingRoger’s description. Each timehe is wrong, he returns toRoger and asks for more detailbefore trying again (the cluesare: brown, music, cookiesbaking, sandy, salty, andstrawberries).He stays with Roger and keepstrying to help the turtle findhis way home. As he does, thetwo find out more about oneanother and become friends.When they finally reachRoger’s house, his motherinvites them in to eat freshlybakedchocolate chip snappers(the cookie recipe is includedin the book and is easy tobake!). This book alsoincludes a discussion sectionfor parents to use with theirchildren after reading thisbook.Based on Proverbs 17:17 (“afriend loves at all times,”) thebook illustrates this principleas Padraig goes out of his wayto help Roger, showingchildren (and adults) how thatto have friends, one must be afriend.Recommended for allchildren’s collections.Carol R. GehringerMiss Fox's class earns afield trip / by EileenSpinelli ; illustrated byAnne Kennedy. Chicago:Albert Whitman & Co.,2010. LCCN 2009023979.HBB, 9780807551691, 16.99E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 26cm.PRI Rating: 4In Miss Fox’s Class Earns aField Trip, Ellen Spinelli uses afun experience to teach alesson about money. WhenMiss Fox puts a poster forRoller Coaster Planet in herclassroom, all her students getexcited. There is a catch,though. If the class wants totake the field trip to RollerCoaster Planet, they will haveto earn the money themselves.After several jobs, performingan orginal play, and a fewmishaps, they earn enoughmoney to enjoy the day atDECEMBER 2010 8 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

PRIMARY FICTIONRoller Coaster Planet withtheir special guest, Mr. PercyPossum.Illustrator Anne Kennedy doesa very good job of depictingthe scenes from the story,especially when somethinggoes wrong with a job!Throughout the story,addition and subtraction skillsare reinforced as the classearns money and loses moneywhen paying for theirmistakes. For example, whenthe class gets Percy Possum’shat and coat wet whilewashing a car, they takemoney from their profit to payhis cleaning bill. Additionally,lessons about cooperation,teamwork, determination,perseverance and respect forothers are evident throughoutthe book. But the theme thathard work leads to rewards isthe most important lesson inthis book.Overall, it’s cute and lots offun. Ultimately, readers willlaugh at the predicaments theclass gets into and will beexcited when they finallyenjoy their day at RollerCoaster Planet.Rachel Langston*Dear Primo : a letter to mycousin / Duncan Tonatiuh.New York: Abrams Booksfor Young Readers, 2010.LCCN 2008046198.HBB, 9780810938724, 15.95E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 29cm.PRI Rating: *5In Dear Primo: A Letter to MyCousin, Duncan Tonatiuhrecounts the heartwarmingstory of two boys separatedby distance and culture.Carlitos lives in the Mexicancountryside and Charlie livesin a busy American city.Though Carlitos and Charliehave not met, they are cousinsand want to know more abouteach other and “what life islike far away.” They manage tobreach the gap between themby writing letters in whichthey describe their daily lives.Carlitos describes his farmsurrounded by mountains andtrees, the crops his familyharvests, and the animals: theburro, the pollos (chickens)and the crowing gallo(rooster). Charlie describesthe city with its skyscrapersand bright lights. Throughoutthe book, Tonatiuh placesbold, brilliant, and detailedimages of each child’senvironment side by side,allowing the reader tocompare and contrast eachchild’s surroundings andexperiences simultaneously.While Carlitos rides hisbicycle to school, Charlie ridesthe subway. Carlitos playssoccer at recess; Charlie playsbasketball. Carlitos likesquesadillas for a snack;Charlie likes pizza. In the end,the information shared in theletters, prompts the boys towant to meet each other. “Myprimo should come visit me!”they both say.Tonatiuh underscores theimportance of family ties, andthe full, rich, and happy life ofeach of the charactersregardless of their uniqueenvironment and culture. Theauthor draws on his ownexperiences and observations,having lived in both Mexicoand the United States. In theauthor note, he explains thatdespite the apparentdifferences between Mexicoand the United States, we aremore similar than different.“People”, Tonatiuh says, “arepeople.” Like the primos inthe story, young readers willbe curious and eager to learnabout people who share adifferent language andculture.Carmen ReddingCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 9 DECEMBER 2010

PRIMARY FICTIONPapa's pastries / byCharles Toscano ;illustrations by SonjaLamut. Grand Rapids,Mich.: Zonderkidz, 2010.LCCN 2008048897.HBB, 9780310716020, 15.99E 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 24x 29 cm.PRI (INT) Rating: 5Debut author Charles Toscanopresents a winsome storywith an underlying messagethat can be embraced by all:being charitable towardsothers brings its own rewards.In Papa’s Pastries, a young boyaccompanies his father toseveral Mexican villages tosell pastries. Miguel’s family isin need of firewood, a newroof, and clothing to make itthrough the winter. His fatherprays for God’s blessingbefore they leave.Miguel and his father travel tothree villages in the hopes ofselling the pastries. Whenthey arrive in a village, hisfather sings while the villagersclap and dance. The villagersdelight in listening to hissongs, for his father is knownboth for his delicious pastriesand his wonderful voice. Butthe villagers are alsoexperiencing hardships,telling him they are unable topurchase the pastries.So Miguel’s father gives hispastries to those who are inthe greatest need of them. Bythe time they return home, allof his father’s pastries havebeen given to others. Althoughthere is no money to pay forthe things their family needs,his father is not discouraged,trusting that “the more yougive away, the more you shallreceive.” The next day, thefamily is repaid for his father’skindness toward others, asvillagers arrive to fix the roof,mend their clothing, andprovide firewood. Miguelthanks God for blessing theirfamily.Sonja Lamut is a giftedillustrator. Her soft colors inthe illustrations capture themessage underlying the story(being selfless towardsothers). Setting the story inrural Mexican villagesenhances the story.Recommended for elementaryschool libraries, churchlibraries, as well as children’scollections in public libraries.Carol R. GehringerThe quiet book / byDeborah Underwood ;illustrated by RenataLiwska. New York:Houghton Mifflin Booksfor Children, 2010. LCCN2009045454.HBB, 9780547215679, 12.95E 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 23cm.PS Rating: 5“There are many kinds ofquiet,” begins this delightfulpicture book aptly titled TheQuiet Book by DeborahUnderwood. The mutedillustrations of bears, rabbits,moose, owls, and othercreatures presented by RenataLiwska deftly add to the senseof “hush” as one reads throughall sorts of possible quiets.The humor is subtle, clever,and appealing as the authorand illustrator lead youngreaders to the last type ofquiet―”sound asleep quiet.”The collaborative efforts ofUnderwood and Liwskaprovide an enchanting readfor both reader and listener.The types of quiet range fromexpected, “new sister quiet” tothoughtful “don’t scare therobin quiet” to thoughtprovoking“jelly side downquiet.” Readers will no doubtbe amused at the differentquiet possibilities enhancedby the cuddly soft animals inthe illustrations. A perfectbook leading up to bedtime.Pam WebbDECEMBER 2010 10 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

B O O K R E V I E W SP R I M A R Y N O N F I C T I O NVoices of Christmas /written by Nikki Grimes ;illustrated by EricVelasquez. Grand Rapids,Mich.: Zonderkidz, 2006.LCCN 2006012787.HBB, 9780310711926, 16.99232.92 1 v. (unpaged) :col. ill. ; 29 cm. + 1 sound disc(digital ; 4 3/4 in.)PRI (INT) Rating: 5Written by bestselling authorNikki Grimes, Voices ofChristmas is a wonderfuladdition to holiday literature.Voices of Christmas retells theevents of Christmas from theviewpoints of differentcharacters involved in theNativity story. Starting withthe angel Gabriel, eachcharacter tells their part ofstory through the poetrywritten in the first-personvoice: Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth,Zechariah, a neighbor whowatches them leave forBethlehem, the innkeeper, ashepherd, Gaspar, Herod,Melchior, Simeon, Anna, andBalthasar. The last voice isaddressed to “you,” and asks if“you” are like the magi, ashepherd, Simeon, or Mary,waiting for the Emmanuel.Each voice has a two-pagespread, with a quote from theBible (but without a specificscripture reference) at the topof the spread. The poetry isset in gold on darker pages,making the layout simple butelegant. Each poem is slightlydifferent and reflects the voiceof the character it portrays.The illustration shows anintense close-up of thecharacter, caught reflecting orpraying at a dramatic moment.The dramatic illustrations byE r i c V e l a s q u e z a r eimaginative and well-done,enhancing the poetry andprose. They effectivelycapture the person, and reflectthe voice of each character.The illustrations also reflectthe Middle East ethnicity ofthe characters.A 20-min. audio CD is alsoincluded on which NikkiGrimes and Craig Northcuttexpertly read the poetry.Original music, written bycomposer Keith Ward,accompanies the poetry andadds to the mood. The CDcould be played in its entiretywithout the book, but theillustrations are an importantcomponent.Recommended for elementaryschool libraries, churchlibraries, and public libraries.Carol R. GehringerThe American heritagepicture dictionary / by theeditors of the AmericanHeritage dictionaries.Boston, Mass.: HoughtonMifflin, 2010. LCCN2009464772.LIB, 9780547215969, 15.94423 138 p. : col. ill. ; 29 cm.PS (PRI) Rating: 3The American heritagefirst dictionary / by theeditors of the AmericanHeritage dictionaries.Boston, Mass.: HoughtonMifflin, 2010. LCCN2009502647.LIB, 9780547215976, 17.95423 8, 405 p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm.PRI (PS) Rating: 4Everyone begins somewherewhen it comes to readingskills and picture dictionaries,and books such as TheAmerican Heritage PictureDictionary provide therudiments of literacy. Thisnewly updated edition iscolorful and attractive inlayout. The basic structure isdisplaying the word and anaccompanying illustration.While most of the illustrationsexplain the word, there is theproblem of concept wordssuch as able, a, an, again,being difficult to presentaccurately. Pre-readers mightneed help understanding theirCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 11 DECEMBER 2010

PRIMARY NONFICTIONmeaning. The back sectionproves more beneficial prereadinghelps with several full-page illustrations of lists.This section would beespecially useful to English assecond language readers. Thisparticular edition might notbe a first choice for prereadersconsidering howmany other introductorydictionaries are available, yetit is attractive and offers manyword/illustration pre-readingprompts.The American Heritage FirstDictionary fares better with itslively, engaging illustrationsand photographs. Combinedwith short definitions, thisformat provides primaryreaders with independentreading opportunities tosearch out and becomefamiliar with commonconcepts and words. There areover 2000 words and 850color photographs anddrawings, with each entryfeaturing full-sentencedefinitions, along with sampleusage. Of note are sidebars,guidewords at the top, and thealphabet appearing on thebottom pages, reinforcing thesearch for words throughindexing skills. The bright,bold fonts and balance of textto white space make thelayout easy to read. There areadditional sections onphonics, spelling, parts ofs p e e c h , h o m o p h o n e s ,compound words, and lists ofcommon word groups, such asparts of the body and pairs ofopposites. Again, there is a lotof competition for firstdictionaries, yet AmericanHeritage provides aworthwhile option for thebeginning readers.Pam Webb(Editor's note: This is a different type ofpicture dictionary, one I prefer. I give ita 5.)Cats / Seymour Simon.New York: Smithsonian/Collins, 2009. LCCN2010287463.HBB, 9780064462549, 17.99636.8 32 p. : col. ill. ; 26cm.PRI Rating: 4Cats is a visually stunning,factual book written forelementary age children. It’screatively organized usingp h o t o g r a p h s a s t h esubheading cues—studentscan simply look at the picturesto predict the content. Thestriking photography capturesnot only different breeds ofcats, but their personalities,moods, and a variety ofinstinctual behaviors. Thelayout, design, and 2 nd -3 rdgrade reading level of the textmakes the informationa ccessible t o n e wlyi n d e p e n d e n t r e a d e r s .Consequently, Simon haswritten an ideal example ofexpository text that can beused to teach children how topull out main ideas and usepicture clues to aid incomprehension.Speaking directly to thereader in a style which is bothfriendly and interesting, Catsis an excellent choice forr e a d i n g a l o u d . Acomprehensive resource, thebook covers all the basicsubtopics related to domesticcats: instincts, origins, uniquephysical characteristics,s e n s e s , t r a i n i n g ,communication, life cycle,breeds, and factors toconsider when choosing a petcat. With a cover of threeextremely cute orange kittens,Cats is certain to be a popularchoice among students whileserving as an excellentintroduction to domestic cats.Kristine WildnerEven an ostrich needs anest : where birds begin /Irene Kelly. New York:Holiday House, 2009.LCCN 2007051059.DECEMBER 2010 12 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

PRIMARY NONFICTIONLIB, 9780823421022, 16.95598.156/4 30 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.PS (PRI) Rating: 5How does a bird build itsnest? What materials does ituse? A picture book in theformat of a birder’s notebook,Even an Ostrich Needs a Nestanswers these and otherquestions. Both Kelly’snarrative and graphics flow inrhythm, curling in bird likemovement over the pages.Forty birds’ nesting habits aredescribed. A bird habitat mapand instructions for helpingbirds with nesting provide afitting conclusion.Multiple award winningauthor of children’s fictionand non-fiction books, IreneKelly, loves and studiesdomestic and wild animals.This love is evident in hernature books. Even an OstrichNeeds a Nest is full ofinformation garnered frompersonal experience and goodresearch. Before publication,the American Museum ofNatural History checked thetext and art for accuracy. Itsintriguing format andfascinating information drawsthe eye, encouraging thereader to learn andunderstand the unique nestseach of these forty birdscreate.Even an Ostrich Needs a Nesthas multiple-uses. It will bewelcome in science, ecology,zoology, art classes, and clubs.Elementary age readers canread it for themselves.Younger children will enjoyhaving it read to them,perhaps tracing the waves ofwords, birds, and nests withtheir fingers.Donna EggettWhy boys & girls aredifferent : for boys ages 4-6 and parents / [from textoriginally written by CarolGreene ; illustrated byMichelle Dorankamp].(Learning about sexseries ; 1) St. Louis, Mo.:Concordia, 2008. LCCN96123968.HBB, 9780758614094, 12.99649/.65 1 v. (unpaged) :col. ill. ; 26 cm.PS PRI Rating: 4Why boys & girls aredifferent : for girls ages 4-6 and parents / [from textoriginally written by CarolGreene ; illustrated byMichelle Dorankamp].(Learning about sexseries ; 1) St. Louis, Mo.:Concordia, 2008. LCCN2008279189.HBB, 9780758614155, 12.99649/.65 1 v. (unpaged) :col. ill. ; 26 cm.PS PRI Rating: 4Where do babies comefrom? ; for boys ages 7-9 /[from text originallywritten by Ruth Hummel ;illustrations by JanetMcDonnell]. (Learningabout sex series ; 2) St.Louis, Mo.: Concordia,2008. LCCN 2009275184.HBB, 9780758614100, 12.99649/.65 1 v. (unpaged) :col. ill. ; 26 cm.PRI INT Rating: 4Where do babies comefrom? ; for girls ages 7-9 /[from text originallywritten by Ruth Hummel ;illustrations by JanetMcDonnell]. (Learningabout sex series ; 2) St.Louis, Mo.: Concordia,2008. LCCN 2008301429.HBB, 9780758614162, 12.99649/.65 1 v. (unpaged) :col. ill. ; 26 cm.PRI INT Rating: 4How you are changing : forboys ages 10-12 / [fromtext originally written byJane Graver ; illustrationsby Len Ebert]. (Learningabout sex series ; 3) St.Louis, Mo.: Concordia,2008. LCCN 2010483051.PAP, 9780758614117, 12.99649/.65 59 p. : col. ill. ; 23CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 13 DECEMBER 2010

PRIMARY NONFICTIONcm.INT MS Rating: 4How you are changing : forgirls ages 10-12 / [fromtext originally written byJane Graver ; illustrationsby Len Ebert]. (Learningabout sex series ; 3) St.Louis, Mo.: Concordia,2008. LCCN 2009286060.PAP, 9780758614179, 12.99649/.65 61 p. : col. ill. ; 23cm.INT MS Rating: 4The Learning about Sex seriesincludes six titles intended to“help parents communicatebiblical values to theirchildren in the area ofsexuality.” The series has beenupdated from its originalpublication and is meant toprovide parents and teacherswith specific information anda Christian perspectiveregarding the physical, sexual,and social development ofchildren.Each title is targeted to aspecific age. Thus, theillustrations, vocabulary, andreadability of each book arewell suited to the types ofquestions children of that agewould ask. Additionally, eachbook includes an Editor’s noteand a section directing grownupshow to use these books astools in their discussions withchildren about the changestheir bodies undergo. All thetitles consistently useappropriate names for bodyparts and the illustrations areanatomically correct. In thetitles for older children, thebody parts are labeled.Throughout each book,scripture is used to reinforcethe concept that God is ourcreator and that He createdour bodies to be unique and tobe used for his glory. In thefirst book, there is specificreference to Jesus as ourSavior and discussion aboutthe different roles that malesand females have in a familyand a community. The secondbook is written in story formand addresses adoption, a newsibling, and information aboutmale and female body parts.The third book is written in aQ&A format with some extraresources such as a glossaryand sample prayers at the endof each section. It introducesmany social and emotionalissues that everyone dealswith as they enteradolescence.Each book emphasizes thatGod created our bodiesexactly the way they are andthat His love doesn’t everleave or change, regardless ofwhat happens to our bodies.Likewise, each bookreinforces the truth that weare all equal in God’s eyes andthat being a male or a femaleis the way He designed us. Allthe books are specific withoutgiving more details than areneeded. While the illustrationsare informative, they are notsuggestive in any way.The major difference betweenthe versions of the books(girls and boys) is the “maincharacter” and the pronouns.For the most part, the text isvirtually identical and theillustrations are identical.Toward the end of the thirdbook, there is some noticeabledifference in the informationabout what girls and boyse x p e r i e n c e d u r i n gadolescence but someinformation about theopposite sex is included inboth books.Overall, this series is wellwrittenand informativeconcerning material that canbe difficult to present anddiscuss. It would be anexcellent resource for anyparent, especially Christianparents.Rachel LangstonDECEMBER 2010 14 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

B O O K R E V I E W SI N T E R M E D I AT E F I C T I O NMary Mae and the GospelTruth / by Sandra Dutton.Boston: Houghton MifflinBooks for Children, 2010.LCCN 2009049706.HBB, 9780547249667, 15Fic129 p. ; 21 cm.INT Rating: 4, w/cautionMary Mae is curious and full ofquestions nobody wants toanswer—and worse yet, shethinks she shouldn’t even ask.Questions like how did all theanimals fit on the ark, andhow did God create the earthand everything in it in sixdays, and why do some peoplethink the earth is 6,000 yearsold, while others think it’smillions of years old. In MaryMae and the Gospel Truth,Mary Mae asks her mom, hergrandma, her Sunday schoolteacher as well as her pastor,Sister Coates, her questions.None of them seems to havean answer, and her momquickly decides that onlyhomeschooling Mary Mae willprotect her from theevolutionary indoctrinationshe receives at school.Desperate to return to school,Mary Mae determines to showher mom that she canmaintain her faith whilestudying science.Sandra Dutton’s charactersrealistically present thechallenges faced by publicschool students and theirparents. Mary Mae’s schoolteacher presents science withan evolutionary bias and thefossils to back it up, and herparents and church leadersfeel uncomfortable with anyquestions that might makeMary Mae doubt the validity ofthe Bible. Dutton introducestwo educated, reasonableChristian adults at the end ofthe book. There is someoccasional profanity. Frequentdialogue makes this bookinteresting and the dialectused for Mary Mae makes hercharacter even more realistic.Mary Mae’s mother is thel e a d e r i n h e rh o m e ― o v e r r u l i n g h e rhusband’s view that Maryshouldn’t be pulled fromschool. This character-drivenbook moves quickly. Thesetting is integral to the book,since the geology of the land(Ohio) provides the fossilevidence at issue. MaryMae learns that her open mindallows her to learn, but thather mother’s fears nearlystifle her education.Kristi WolcottSpinechillers mysteries :three books in one / FredE. Katz. (Spinechillersm y s t e r i e s 3 - in- 1 )Nashville: Tommy Nelson,2010. LCCN 2010005058.HBB, 9781400316427, 14.99Fic378 p. ; 22 cm.INT MS Rating: 4S p i n e C h i l l e r s M y s t e r i e scombines three previouslypublished mysteries by FredKatz in a single volume. It hasan interesting noveltycover―a 3-D scary clownface―which adds to thestories.The individual books,published in 1996-1997, werethe first 3 books in hisSpineChiller series. Dr.Shivers’ Carnival sets thestage when a mysteriouscarnival appears overnight.When Kyle and his friendsinvestigate, they are offeredfree admission to all the rides— but it isn’t what theyexpect. Attack of the KillerHouse has Anne thinking herbrother is playing a joke onher, but it turns out to bemore than that. Their parentsare away when smallelectronics begin chasing andattacking them.In Birthday Cake and I Scream,MacKensie is celebrating histwelfth birthday at Creep theClown’s Pizza Palace. As heand his friends are enjoyingvideo games, Creepy shows upCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 15 DECEMBER 2010

INTERMEDIATE FICTIONwith games of his own.For anyone who loves a goodroller coaster ride story,where one is permitted (oreven encouraged) to scream,this compilation will be sureto delight. Readers will enjoya scare or two―but even asthe tension builds, these faithbasedbooks show that it isjust clean fun.While it isn’t something thatshould keep readers awakelate at night, I wouldn’trecommend it for under theages of eight years old. Thisbook is better suited to thosein third grade and higher. Itshould especially appeal toboys.Carol R. GehringerEmily's fortune / PhyllisReynolds Naylor ;illustrated by Ross Collins.New York: DelacortePress, 2010. LCCN2009013096.HBB, 9780385736169, 14.99LIB, 9780385905893, 17.99Fic147 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.INT Rating: 5Emily’s Fortune tells the storyof the recently orphanedEmily Wiggins attempting toget to her Aunt Hilda beforeCatchum Child-Servicesdelivers her to her awfulUncle Victor. On the way toAunt Hilda’s house in Redbud,Emily meets Jackson, anotherorphan heading west. WhenJackson discovers that Emilyis going to inherit 10 milliondollars, he wisely warns herthat others may want to findthis child travelling alone.Emily realizes that she willhave to watch out for hergreedy Uncle Victor who willtry to hunt her down now thatshe is an heiress. Jacksondisguises Emily, but thedisguise is not fool-proof.Emily must exercise greatcourage and wisdom if she isgoing to make it to AuntHilda’s safely.Phyllis Reynolds Naylordelivers quirky characters,wacky p hrases, a n donomatopoeia in thisdelightful work of children’sfiction. Emily and Jacksoncreate a wonderful team asJackson helps Emily escapethose who would harm her.Throughout the story Emilychanges into a girl who hasnot been allowed to doanything unsafe―includingattending school―into a braveyoung lady who can thinkclearly in dangeroussituations. The plot speedsalong as Emily and Jacksontackle the many obstacles intheir path. A stagecoach to theWest and towns along theway―in the days before carsbut after trains―rounds outthe setting. Emily says “lordy”once. Ross Collin’s pencilsketches illustrate the storyand add even morepersonality to the characters.As Emily determines whomshe can trust, she learns firstimpressions aren’t everything,and clear thinking andobservation can lead to somegood decisions.Kristi WolcottDECEMBER2010 16 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

B O O K R E V I E W SI N T E R M E D I AT E N O N F I C T I O NDewey the library cat : atrue story / Vicki Myronwith Bret Witter. NewYork: Little, Brown, 2010.LCCN 2009030867.HBB, 9780316068710, 15.99636.80092/9 214 p. : col. ill. ;21 cm.INT Rating: 5Dewey's Christmas at thelibrary / by Vicki Myronand Bret Witter ;illustrated by Steve James.New York: Little, Brown,2010. LCCN 2010001253.HBB, 9780316068727, 16.99E 1 v. (unpaged) ; col. ill. ; 26cm.PRI INT Rating: 3Combine a cat with a backstoryto melt your heart, acommunity library, and alibrarian who brought themtogether, and you have awinning juvenile book. Deweythe Library Cat is anadaptation of the New YorkTimes adult bestseller by thesame author, Vicki Myron.This version focuses more onDewey and less on the adultaspects of the first book. Forthose unfamiliar withDewey—his story is aheartfelt and inspiring tale.Found in the library’s bookdrop on the coldest day of theyear, Dewey flourishes undert h e i r t e n d e r c a r e ,transforming from abedraggled, abandoned kittento the matchless reigningpersonality of the SpencerPublic Library in Iowa. Deweyshows how one cat can touchso very many lives. There issomething here for everyone:a good read, a moving animalstory, and more than a fewlaughs. Dewey’s passing ishandled with sensitivity,catching all emotions fromempathy, to joy, to sadness.James Herriot aficionados willdefinitely want to add this oneto the bookshelf.Animal stories are not unique,yet now and then one comesalong that truly reaches everyaudience. Myron is able tocapture both adult andyounger readers in thisadapted version. The frontcover shows the magnificenceof this personality plus feline,and the inside photographsadd to the delight of getting toknow Dewey.A series of picture booksinspired by the Dewey booksare commendable additions tothe lovable cat tale. In Dewey’sChristmas at the Library thestory centers on Dewey’s firstexperience with Christmas,and how he helped todecorate the library’sChristmas tree.Although a smidge too cutearound the edges withD e w e y ’ s t h o u g h t sinterspersed in the text,Dewey’s Christmas at theLibrary nevertheless iswonderful addition to thelibrary shelves. After all, howoften does a book come outpromoting the library withsuch a lovable, furrycharacter?Pam WebbWhere do babies comefrom? ; for boys ages 7-9 /[from text originallywritten by Ruth Hummel ;illustrations by JanetMcDonnell]. (Learningabout sex series ; 2) St.Louis, Mo.: Concordia,2008. LCCN 2009275184.HBB, 9780758614100, 12.99649/.65 1 v. (unpaged) :col. ill. ; 26 cm.PRI INT Rating: 4Where do babies comefrom? ; for girls ages 7-9 /[from text originallywritten by Ruth Hummel ;illustrations by JanetMcDonnell]. (Learningabout sex series ; 2) St.Louis, Mo.: Concordia,2008. LCCN 2008301429.HBB, 9780758614162, 12.99649/.65 1 v. (unpaged) :col. ill. ; 26 cm.CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 17 DECEMBER 2010

INTERMEDIATE NONFICTIONPRI INT Rating: 4See the series review inthe Picture Book section,p.13.Johnny Appleseed : "selectgood seeds and plantthem in good ground" /R i c h a r d W o r t h .(Americans--the spirit of anation) Berkeley Heights,N.J.: Enslow Publishers,2010. LCCN 2008048701.LIB, 9780766033528, 23.95B or 634/.11092 128 p. :ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm.INT Rating: 3Johnny Appleseed is the storyof John Chapman, whoseeccentric life earned him aplace in America’s tall tales. Inaddition to stories of JohnChapman, the book alsopresents the historysurrounding Chapman’s life,1774 – 1845. From Indianraids, the War of 1812, andthe Panic of 1819, to Johnny’sdesire to supply apple trees toa growing nation and spreadhis Christian beliefs, Johnny“Appleseed” Chapman’s lifeprovides a glimpse intoAmerica’s past.Richard Worth fills the pageswith interesting history andwell-documented storiesabout John Chapman. He alsoincludes pictures from theperiod, illustrations of JohnChapman, and a map of sitesChapman either lived orvisited. A picture of the 1813Battle of the Thames River inwhich Tecumseh was killedshows graphic violence .Worth also presentsChapman’s religious views,which include the four rulesthat Emmanuel Swedenborgset forth for his religion (hisfollowers in England formedthe Church of the NewJerusalem). Worth alsocompares Chapman’s lifestylet o t h a t o f t h eTranscendentalists. (p. 111)While the stories ofChapman’s life and the historylaid out in Johnny Appleseedare interesting, it can be alittle hard to follow. In spiteof that, reading about Johnny“Appleseed” Chapman’sdedication to hard work, hisbeliefs, and the people settlingnew lands can plant seeds ofinspiration.Kristi WolcottDECEMBER 2010 18 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

B O O K R E V I E W SM I D D L E S C H O O L F I C T I O NThe sword in the stars /Wayne Thomas Batson.(Dark sea annals ; 1)Chattanooga, Tenn.: LivingInk Books, 2010.PAP, 9780899578774, 14.99Ficix, 426 p. ; 23 cm.MS (HS) Rating: 5Wayne Thomas Batson, wellknownauthor of the DoorWithin trilogy, and mostrecently, co-author of theBerinfell Prophecies, presentsanother fantasy series foryoung adults.In Sword in the Stars, AlastairColdhollow has spent yearswaiting for a sword to appearin the stars to foretell thecoming of Halfainin.Disappointed when he fails tofind Halfainin, Alastair thinkshe has misread the prophecy.On his way out of town, awoman being pursued byGorracks thrusts her bundledchild into Alastair's armsbefore leading her pursuersaway. Faced with caring forthe child, Alastair turns to hisfriend, Abbagael. She isunaware that Alastair spentyears as a hired assassin andis wanted for his violent past.Together they embark on anadventure of outrunning theGorracks, while war rages allaround them.One could read this bookwithout seeing the spiritualundertones but anyone who isacquainted with biblicalstories will recognize the feudbetween brothers, a starforetelling a new king, therepentant sinner being usedby God, and more.Batson is known for his epicfantasies where goodstruggles to overcome evil,heroes arise from humblebeginnings, and true courageis staying true to your word,whatever the cost. Sword inthe Stars is no exception. Bothc h a r a c t e r a n d p l o tdevelopment are strong. Someplot lines are resolved at theend of this book, while othersare left hanging, leaving thereader eager for more. Theonly negative is waiting forthe other books in the series:book 2 is scheduled forrelease in 2011.Highly recommended forpublic libraries and schoolcollections.Carol R. GehringerNight wings / JosephBruchac ; illustrations bySally Wern Comport. NewYork: HarperCollins,2009. LCCN 2008032096.HBB, 9780061123184, 15.99LIB, 9780061123191, 16.89Fic194 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.MS (HS) Rating: 4Author of numerous poemsand novels, Joseph Bruchacpresents Night Wings, a novelwhich once again draws on hisAbenaki heritage.Paul Fortune, a young teen,goes to live with hisgrandfather while his militaryparents are serving overseas.Paul and Grampa Peter have agood knowledge of militarytactics as well as a nonverbalway of communicating withone another, both of whichcome in handy when they arekidnapped and forced to go ona journey. Darby Field, aruthless treasure hunter,kidnaps Grampa Peter, who isknown for his scouting skillsand expertise with NativeAmerican legends.Field seeks the mythicalPmola’s treasure and onlyGrampa Peter knows how tofind it. So Field forces him tolead a hunt up MountWashington, a dangerous andunpopulated area of theNortheast. According toNative American legend,Pmola is a large bird-likecreature that guards itstreasure and punishestrespassers who threaten it.Paul has only heard of thislegend a little bit as he wasCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 19 DECEMBER 2010

MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTIONgrowing up―but recently hebegan having nightmaresabout Pmola. What if hisnightmares are prophecies ofthe future?Some parts of the books arescary, but this is a fast-pacedthriller with Native Americanlore and cliffhanger chapterendings. It is an exciting storythat can be read quickly.Readers will enjoy a glimpseat the Pmola legend andAbenaki traditions in themidst of a scary story. Fairlyshort (194 pages), it issuitable for younger readers(5 th grade and up). It is a bits h o r t o n c h a r a c t e rdevelopment but Night Wingsis a welcome addition tomulticultural literature,nonetheless.Recommended for school andpublic libraries.Carol R. GehringerThe unknowns : amystery / Benedict Carey.New York: Amulet Books,2009. LCCN 2008033914.HBB, 9780810979918, 16.95Fic259 p. ; 22 cm.MS (INT) Rating: 4An exciting mystery, revolvingaround problem-solving,mathematics, and logic, TheUnknowns takes place in atrailer park communityknown as Adjacent, whichshares its island setting with anuclear power plant andgarbage dump. Misfits, twelveyear-oldDi and Tom long forexcitement, while at the sametime dreading the start ofmiddle school. When theirmath tutor, Mrs. Clarke,disappears, the childreninvestigate, and find strawsand a salt shaker representingan equation involving thenumbers 3, 4, and 5. As oneclue leads to the next, theyexplore the PythagoreanTheorem, the properties of acircle, factorials, and othergeometric concepts. Joiningforces with a few otherchildren on the island, theclues lead them to discover aseries of underground tunnelsand realize that they must notonly find Mrs. Clarke, but alsodiscover a menacing plotinvolving the power plant andall the island citizens.The community of Adjacentrepresents much that is wrongwith an industrializedcommunity in which humanlife is marginalized relative tocorporate growth and theresultant waste. BenedictCarey, a mathematician andscience writer for the NewYork Times, brilliantlyintegrates a kidnapping andcorporate mystery with mathclues which require bothhigher level thinking andcreative analysis. The math iswell-explained with diagramsand tables related to Adjacent,and distances and directionsintegral to the plot. He invitesthe reader to not only thinkabout the plot, but also to stopand problem solve along withthe characters. The pace isfast, with unique, well-drawnmulti-cultural characters thatdraw the reader into themystery as they faceoverwhelming odds andcorporate espionage. Certainto have wide appeal, studentswho love math are theimmediate audience; otherswill gain an importantunderstanding of the use ofmath in “real” situations.Kristine WildnerThe reinvention of EdisonThomas / JacquelineHoutman. Honesdale, Pa.:Front Street, 2010. LCCN2010282265.HBB, 9781590787083, 17.95Fic189 p. ; 22 cm.MS Rating: 5Eddy Thomas is obsessed withscience in The Reinvention ofEdison Thomas. He has aprecise grip on advancedDECEMBER 2010 20 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTIONphysical science, but only atenuous grasp of the realworld. When his projectplaces third in the science fair,Eddy is humiliated. His dreamof going to regionalcompetition is crushed. Hedumps his materials into a boxand slinks away from thedisaster.The lay-off of the schoolcrossing guard precipitates anadditional anxiety crisis forEddy. He has visions of animpending tragedy with carsstriking unwitting children asthey venture into thei n t e r s e c t i o n . T h e s enightmares prompt Eddy towork on a new invention, onethat will force cars to stop atthe sign.As Eddy labors to solve theproblem of this safety issue,he receives unexpectedassistance and support from aclassmate. When theopportunity to go to theregional science fair as analternate arises, two otherclassmates help him resurrecthis damaged project. Eddy’sperceptions evolve until he isable to appreciate truefriendship.Dr. Jacqueline Houtman writeswith great humor and anabundance of scientificknowledge. She offers asympathetic portrait of a highfunctioningautistic young boywho has tremendousobstacles to overcome, despitehis genius.Eddy’s speech is robot-likeand his unawareness of socialinteraction is portrayed alongwith his literal interpretationof language. The authorsubtlety reveals Eddy’sdifficulties with timemanagement through dialogand the level of detail in hislists.Sprinkled throughout the textare numbered facts from the“Random Access Memory ofEdison Thomas” that keeppace with the rapid misfires ofEddy’s brain as haphazardthoughts intrude, derailing hisability to stay on track andoperate in a normal fashion.This entertaining andeducational story encouragesthose who have challengesand inspires empathy forthose who face them.Deborah H. RabernWicked Will : a mystery ofy o u n g W i l l i a mShakespeare / BaileyMacDonald. New York:Aladdin, 2009. LCCN2008050818.HBB, 9781416986607, 16.99PAP, 9781416986614, 5.99Fic201 p. : 22 cm.The secret of the sealedroom : a mystery of youngBenjamin Franklin /Bailey MacDonald. NewYork: Aladdin, 2010. LCCN2010283645.HBB, 9780385734660, 16.99Fic208 p. ; 22 cm.MS Rating: 5Wicked Will and The Secret ofthe Sealed Room are thebeginnings of a promising newseries. Combining history withmystery, readers will learnabout a historical figure whiletrying to unravel asuspenseful tale. Both bookscenter on well-knownhistorical figures, yetMacDonald focuses on a timeperiod that most biographicalstories tend to gloss over—y o u n g a d o l e s c e n c e .MacDonald seamlessly weavesinto the engaging plot anabundance of historicalinformation without boggingthe story in pedanticovertones. The series willbridge the gap for thosereaders who prefer nonfiction,by injectinghistorically accurate detailsthat enlivens the fiction read.They are an excellentcomplement to any history orbiographical study in class.CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 21 DECEMBER 2010

MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTIONWhile the books areentertaining and enlightening,both books center on murder,which might prove a bit heavyfor young readers. The authoradeptly weaves her interest intheater, mystery, and historyinto the stories.Wicked Will, the first in theseries, features young WilliamShakespeare on the cusp ofdiscovering his penchant fordrama and plot. An iterantacting troupe arrives inStratford and William makesacquaintance with Tom, theyoungest player. When Tom’suncle is accused of murderinga prominent citizen, Williamdecides to help Tom clear hisuncle’s name. Together thefind themselves deep intoplots and counterplots as theytry to solve the mystery inStratford.In The Secret of the SealedRoom, readers are introducedto Benjamin Franklin when hewas a lively young printer’sapprentice. Ben befriendsfourteen-year-old Patience, anindentured servant andorphan. When Patience’smistress unexpectedly diesshe takes the opportunity torun away; however, by doingso it she becomes a primesuspect when it is discoveredher former mistress wasmurdered. Benjamin showshis future cleverness byharboring Patience andhelping her prove herinnocence as they try to solvethe murder.Pam WebbAndrea Carter and theprice of truth : a novel /Susan K. Marlow. GrandRapids, Mich.: KregelPublications, 2010. LCCN2009053786.PAP, 9780825435898, 7.99Fic144 p. ; 22 cm.MS Rating: 4Thirteen-year-old Andigrapples with seriousquestions in Andrea Carterand the Price of Truth. Shelongs to buy her mother aspecial birthday gift, and hasher eye on a music box. Herinitial effort to earn money byposing as a migrant peachpicker ends in disaster.When the bank refuses toallow Andi to withdrawmoney without her mother’ssignature, she makes a dealwith Mr. Goodwin to work inexchange for the music box.The general store would bethe ideal job except for thestorekeeper’s son, Jack, whohas become a disciple of theschool bully.Andi’s impulsive actions landher in trouble. Her encounterwith the bully gains her avicious enemy. Andi doesn’tcomprehend that her actionsmay have consequences—onenight, alone in an unsavoryneighborhood, she witnesses akilling.Author Susan K. Marlow dealswith issues of the heart andconscience in her latest in theAndrea Carter series. Andrea’smotives are pure, but thestory reveals the dangers thatinexperience and secrecyengender. Andrea must reevaluatethe cost of truth asshe faces division in herfamily, threats to what sheholds dear, and publicopposition.This engrossing tale gives thereader insight into thefrontier view of justice andthe legal system of the 1880’s.The book looks at loyalties,friendship, commitment, andthe worth of one’s honesty. Italso answers the question ofwhether or not to trust Godwhen faced with animpossible situation. Readerswill sympathize with thisstubborn, i n dependentheroine while absorbinghistorical knowledge.It’s another page-turner forAndi’s fans and new readersDECEMBER 2010 22 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTIONalike. This timeless series is avaluable addition to any homeor school library.Deborah H. RabernCarolina Harmony /Marilyn Taylor McDowell.New York: DelacortePress, 2009. LCCN2009280145.HBB, 9780385735902, 16.99PAP, 9780440422853, 7.99Fic323 p. ; 22 cm.MS (INT) Rating: 4The year is 1964; Carolina haslived her entire life with hermother, father and babybrother in the Blue RidgeMountains of North Carolina.When her family is killed in acar accident, Carolina movesin with an old family friend,Auntie Shen. Together theybegin to heal and regain asense of normalcy. WhenAuntie Shen suffers a stroke,Carolina’s life spins out ofcontrol. She is shifted fromone foster family to another;running away seems to be heronly option to get closer tohome. After some time on herown, she is found by anAmerican Indian woman, MissLatah and her husband, Mr.Ray Harmony. Here she finallyfinds the love of a family, butshe feels guilty because shehas not told them the truthabout her past. When a boyfrom a foster home comesback into her life, Carolinamust make an importantdecision – whether to stay onHarmony farm, or run awayagain.Carolina Harmony is athoughtful story which willtouch the heart of middleschool girls, especially thosewho have suffered a similarloss and/or lived in fosterhomes. Carolina’s story is verypersonal. 1964 was a time ofchange in the United States; atime when people began torely more on governmentinstitutions than theirn e i g h b o r s . M c D o w e l lromanticizes many ofCarolina’s memories, yetemploys stark realism in sometense moments when she is inthe foster care system andruns away. With strongcharacters and themes relatedto family and caring, the storyis an accurate portrayal of ayoung girl’s perspective―herdoubts, fears, and self-esteem.There is some light, youngromance with a bit of tension,and testing of faith, butultimately, Carolina Harmonyis a story of the true meaningof family; of opening yourheart, mind and home toothers.Kristine WildnerFinding your faith /Stephanie Perry Moore.(Yasmin Peace series ; 1)C h i c a g o : M o o d yPublishers, 2009. LCCN2008033130.PAP, 9780802486028, 6.99Fic174 p. ; 19 cm.Believing in hope /Stephanie Perry Moore.(Yasmin Peace series ; 2)C h i c a g o : M o o d yPublishers, 2009. LCCN2008037267PAP, 9780802486035, 6.99Fic172 p. ; 19 cm.Experiencing the joy /Stephanie Perry Moore.(Yasmin Peace series ; 3)C h i c a g o : M o o d yPublishers, 2009. LCCN2008047009.PAP, 9780802486042, 6.99Fic156 p. ; 19 cm.Learning to love /Stephanie Perry Moore.(Yasmin Peace series ; 4)C h i c a g o : M o o d yPublishers, 2009. LCCN2009009126PAP, 9780802486059, 6.99Fic175 p. ; 19 cm.Enjoying true peace /Stephanie Perry Moore.(Yasmin Peace series ; 5)C h i c a g o : M o o d yCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 23 DECEMBER 2010

MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTIONPublishers, 2010. LCCN2009027750.PAP, 9780802486066, 6.99Fic170 p. ; 19 cm.MS (HS) Rating: 4The Yasmin Peace Seriesintroduces us to thirteen-year-old Yasmin. She lives with hermother and two brothers,York and Yancy, in theprojects of Jacksonville,Florida. Her brother, Jeff,recently committed suicide,and her father is serving timein jail for dealing drugs.In Finding Your Faith, Yasminis confused by the developingfeelings she has for herchildhood friend, Myrek. Sheis upset that her friends valueboys more than friendship.In Believing in Hope, Yasmin isscared York is going to end upin jail when she catches himselling drugs. She joins a clubfor eighth grade girls run by aChristian counselor.In Experiencing the Joy,Yasmin is caught in the woodswith Myrek and sent toOrlando for the summer.While staying in Orlando, hercousin tries to pressure herinto participating in criminalactivities.In Learning to Love, Yasmin’sfather is out of prison, and shehas just started high school.She is disappointed when shedoesn’t make the dance team,but excited to go on her firstdate with Myrek.In Enjoying True Peace,Yasmin is frustrated that herfamily is planning on movingto Orlando. She allows two ofher girlfriends who are drunkinto her apartment, whichleads to serious consequences.Stephanie Perry Mooreportrays a clear picture of theharsh realities faced byfamilies who live in lowincomeneighborhoods.Poverty, teen pregnancy,suicide, low self-esteem, peerpressure, and gang violenceare issues addressed in thebooks.Even though the books arewritten in the first personpoint of view, the reader is notlimited to the main character'sperspective. All of thesupporting chara cters’thoughts and motivations arerevealed through dialogue.The characters sound like realpeople because of the informalexpressions in the dialogue.The importance of havingfaith in God and the healingpower of prayer is a majorfocus in the series. The bookswill appeal to girls in gradeseight through nine who aretrying to deal with thechallenges they face today andunderstand how God fits intotheir lives.Dianne WoodmanThe day of the pelican /Katherine Paterson.Boston: Clarion Books,2009. LCCN 2009014998.HBB, 9780547181882, 16Fic145 p. ; 22 cm.MS (HS) Rating: 4The Day of the Pelican beginswith two incidents that upendthe Lleshi family’s normalvillage life in Kosovo. News ofa massacre of seventy people,including children, hasreached them. Relatives arriveurging the Lleshis to takerefuge with them in thecountry. However, the fatherbelieves his responsibility isto keep their small grocerystore open for their Albanianneighbors.Meli is kept after school oneday. Her thirteen-year-oldbrother, Mehmet, leaves ontime and disappears. Last seenrunning up the street near thepolice station, the authoritiesdeny having him in custody.Months pass as the familyfunctions in a conflicted limboof fear and hope.Finally, a cynical, embitteredDECEMBER 2010 24 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTIONMehmet arrives back home.Serbian authorities hadkidnapped, beaten, anddumped him in thecountryside to die. He’s onlyalive because the KosovoLiberation Army rescued andnursed him back to health.Together again, the familybegins a prolonged quest forrefuge.Katherine Paterson, winner ofnumerous prestigious literaryawards, fills her latest novelwith insight into whatdisplaced persons endure.These non-religious Muslimsonly want to continue life asusual. They are not political orinclined to activism. Althoughthe family has a subliminalawareness of growingestrangement between theSerb and Albanian population,they are unprepared for thepersonal repercussions ofethnic cleansing.Mrs. Paterson shows usgeographic settings andallows the reader a glimpseinto Albanian culture and onefamily’s struggle to staytogether. She reveals thevarious stages of uprooting,the progression of persecutionand its inhumanity. Thisengrossing story, told throughthe eyes of eleven-year-oldMeli, allows the reader to seethe cruelty of oppression, andthe vast difference thatintervention can offer to apeople in distress.Deborah H. RabernThe doom machine : anovel / by Mark Teague.New York: Blue Sky Press,2009. LCCN 2009014262.HBB, 9780545151429, 17.99Fic376 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.MS INT Rating: 4In The Doom Machine, Jack is ajuvenile delinquent living inthe small town of Vern Hollowin the 1950s. Jack’s Uncle Budhas invented a device forcreating holes in space. Dr.Shumway and her daughterIsadora get stranded in thetown when their car breaksdown. After Jack repairs thecar, he, Uncle Bud, Dr.Shumway, and Isadora tryleaving the town. They arestopped by Sergeant Webband his son Grady.But they aren't the only onesinterested in the device. Jack,Uncle Bud and his device, Dr.Shumway, Isadora, SergeantWebb, and Grady are taken onboard an alien spaceship by arace of giant spider-likecreatures called skreeps. Thealiens want control of thedevice and fly to their homegalaxy. Jack and Isadoraescape from the spaceship,and rebel aliens help Jack andIsadora fly to Skreepia with agoal of defeating the hostileskreeps.Mark Teague has written anentertaining science fictionstory focusing on space traveland wormholes. The thirdperson omniscient point ofview draws the reader intoexperiencing firsthand thehumorous and seriousmoments of the storyline.The black and whitei l l u st r a t i o n s s ca t t e re dthroughout the book help invisualizing the characters andtheir surroundings. The use ofsimiles and metaphors addsdepth and meaning to thestory.The Doom Machine is gearedtowards readers in grades fivethrough eight. The language issimple, and the dialogue isrealistic for the age group.Children will learn aboutpollution and the impact it hason the environment.Dianne WoodmanAfter the train / GloriaWhelan. New York:HarperCollins, 2009. LCCN2008010185.HBB, 9780060295967, 15.99CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 25 DECEMBER 2010

MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTIONLIB, 9780060295974, 16.89Fic152 p. ; 22 cm.MS (HS) Rating: 5After the Train by GloriaWhelan is an historical fictionnovelabout a young boy wholives in post-HolocaustGermany. As his teacherdrones on about the crueltiesof the Nazi’s upon the Jewsduring World War II, thirteenyear-oldPeter Liebig equatesattending Herr Schmidt’s classto “tearing off a scab.” The warhas been over for ten years.Peter and his friends wantnothing more than to finishthe last day of classes, forgetabout war, and begin theirsummer adventures. HerrSchmidt’s summer assignmentfor the students is to find,interview, and write a reportabout a German citizen whorisked his/her life to assist aJew during the war. Petershows little interest incompleting this assignmentuntil he discovers a packet ofhis parents’ old letters thatreveal a murky past thatcauses him to mistrust them.Embittered by their deception,Peter is determined tounearth the truth, at all costs.Through engaging andbelievable character sketches,Whelan deftly introducesPeter and his community.Historical points about theH o l o c a u s t , p o s t - W W I Iattitudes toward the Jews, anddescriptions of the Germanterrain authenticate bothmood and atmosphere. Peter’sfirst person account invitesthe reader to experience hisdiscovery, as well as thesubsequent emotional impact.Gloria Whelan is the NationalBook Award winning authoro f H o m e l e s s B i r d(HarperCollins, 2000). Otherthan one barely perceptiblecharacter confusion betweenPeter’s father and HerrSchmidt, this post-Holocaustfiction is similar in quality toNumber the Stars by LoisLowry (Houghton Mifflin,1989) and Yellow Star byJennifer Roy (MarshallCavendish, 2006)..Kimberley HarrisDECEMBER 2010 26 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

B O O K R E V I E W SM I D D L E S C H O O L N O N F I C T I O NHandy answer book for kids(and parents) / by GinaMisiroglu. Canton, Mich.:Visible Ink Press, 2010. LCCN2009020191.PAP, 9781578592197, 21.95031/.02 xi, 292 p. : col. ill. ;25 cm.MS (Adult) Rating: 5One of more than a dozenbooks in the Invisible InkPress “Handy” series, TheHandy Answer Book for Kids(and Parents) by GinaMisiroglu features 800questions with 100 colorphotographs and illustrationsin ten chapters: Outer Space;Planet Earth and Our Moon;Creatures Big and Small; PlantLife; People around the World;Politics and Government; HowThings Work; Math,Measurement, and Time; Allabout My Body; and Daily Life.T h i s b o o k p r o v i d e ssubstantive answers to typicalquestions curious children askevery day from “Why is theocean salty?” and “Where doesthe water from my toilet go?”to “How do airplanes fly?” and“What causes people to passgas?”Designed primarily as areference volume with anindex, the book isnevertheless engaging enoughto read simply for pleasure onany topic of potential interest.The real value of the book liesin the breadth of the questionsand the depth of the answers.Some questions seem unlikelyto be posed by children (“Howis the earth like an onion?” or“Which tree was used in thef l e d g l i n g s h i p b u i l d i n gindustry?”), but the vastmajority is consistent with achild’s imagination.Questions of faith (“Where dopeople go after they die?” and“Who is God?”) are answeredgenerally, reflecting thebeliefs of multiple worldreligions. One subject whereall parents might appreciatesome child-friendly answers ismissing completely: The word“sex” appears nowhere in thetext or index. In response tothe question “How did my lifebegin?” Misiroglu writes,“Each person begins life as asingle fertilized cell.”The book never claims to haveall the answers, just lots ofhandy ones. It’s an excellentresource for parents andmiddle-grade readers.Laurie A. GrayOff to war / Deborah Ellis.Toronto: GroundwoodBooks, 2008. LCCN 0.HBB, 9780888998941, 15.95PAP, 9780888998958, 9.953303.6/6083 175 p. : ports. ; 28cm.MS (INT) Rating: 4In Off To War : Voices OfSoldiers’ Children, Americanand Canadian children talkabout coping with the stressof having a parent deployed toAfghanistan and/or Iraq. Theforty children interviewed byDeborah Ellis range in agefrom 6 to 17, and the majorityof them are pre-teens.The book is split into sections,with black and white photosof nearly all the children. Eachsection begins with anexplanation that ties in withthe children’s views. Only theresponses of the children arein the book. The questionsasked by the author pertain tothe job of the parent(s) in thearmed forces, the length ofdeployment(s), the effects ofhaving a parent away fromhome, and advice for othermilitary kids.Deborah Ellis does anexcellent job of explainingterms unique to the military.Terms are either defined inthe text or can be looked up inthe glossary at the back of thebook. Because page numbersfor terms are not listed, someterms will need to be lookedup while reading the book. ACHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 27 DECEMBER 2010

MIDDLE SCHOOL NONFICTIONbibliography is included forfurther reading.Very few kids talk aboutrelying on God to help themcope with the effects of stressfrom having a parent deployedin a war zone. Some militaryfamilies belong to Wiccan orPagan groups.The book is appropriate for allyouth. Children who havelittle or no knowledge of thearmed forces will get aglimpse into how military kidsfeel about the United Statesand Canada’s involvement inthe Afghanistan and Iraq wars.Military kids will appreciatebeing able to read about otherkids who struggle with thesame issues as they do.Dianne WoodmanIf I had a hammer :building homes and hopew i t h Ha b it a t f o rHumanity / David Rubel ;with a foreword by JimmyCarter. Somerville, Mass.:Candlewick Press, 2009.LCCN 2009025691.HBB, 9780763647018, 19.99363.5/83 xi, 148 p. : ill.(chiefly col.) ; 24 cm.MS (HS) Rating: 5Written for the targetaudience of middle schoolreaders, David Rubel has donean awesome job of presentingHabitat for Humanity from itshumble beginnings to thea m a z i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a lorganization it is today.Former president JimmyCarter has written theintroduction to this book andhis presence is foundthroughout the pages as hehas had a huge impact on thesuccess of Habitat.If I Had a Hammer is filledwith color photos, small onesdotting the pages and full pageones at least in every chapter.The history is told, as well asthe structure of theorganization, and many, manypersonal stories of the homeowners and the volunteers.Although the writing is aimedat younger readers, the bookis totally interesting andengaging to teens and adultsas well. It is inspiring,touching, and hopefully willresonate with young peopleand move them to be thefuture volunteers of thisworld.Ceil CareyBulu, African wonderdog / by Dick Houston.New York: Random House,2010. LCCN 2009015804.HBB, 9780375847233, 15.99636.7092/9 xi, 323 p. : map,photos ; 22 cm.MS (INT) Rating: 4Bulu: African Wonder Dog is atrue story, written in anarrative format about anextraordinary Jack RussellTerrier mixed breed dog andhis owners, Steve and AnnaTolan. Bulu is the last of hislitter to be adopted―listless,odd-looking, long legged, andweak. Steve and Anna nursehim to health and the dogquickly becomes a part oftheir family. Early on, Bulu“adopts” two orphanedwarthogs that follow himaround throughout much ofhis young life. Later, whenSteve and Anna take in somefrightened marmosets, Buluserves to comfort them andinclude them in his adoptedfamily. Bulu shows little fear,which sometimes gets himinto big trouble. More thanonce, Steve and Anna travelgreat distances to secureadequate veterinary carewhen Bulu gets himself intosome serious scrapes.Bulu’s unique, nurturingpersonality captures thereader’s heart. Dick Houstondevelops his story from theperspective of the owners, theimportant work they aredoing in Africa, and theinspiration they take fromDECEMBER 2010 28 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

MIDDLE SCHOOL NONFICTIONBulu to preserve and respectAfrican wildlife. This specialdog is a good example as heo v e r c o m e s p h y s i c a ldifficulties and gives himselftotally in the care of others.Black and white photographsthroughout the book lendcredence to Bulu’s loveablepersonality and insight intohis many scrapes andadventures. Younger readerswho pick up this book becauseit is a dog story may haved i f f i c u l t y ― t h e i n i t i a lexposition of the story is alittle slow. But patient readerswill be rewarded in the end asthey come to know and loveBulu and his owners, andappreciate all that he endures.Kristine WildnerHow you are changing : forboys ages 10-12 / [fromtext originally written byJane Graver ; illustrationsby Len Ebert]. (Learningabout sex series ; 3) St.Louis, Mo.: Concordia,2008. LCCN 2010483051.PAP, 9780758614117, 12.99649/.65 59 p. : col. ill. ; 23cm.INT MS Rating: 4How you are changing : forgirls ages 10-12 / [fromtext originally written byJane Graver ; illustrationsby Len Ebert]. (Learningabout sex series ; 3) St.Louis, Mo.: Concordia,2008. LCCN 2009286060.PAP, 9780758614179, 12.99649/.65 61 p. : col. ill. ; 23cm.INT MS Rating: 4See the series review inthe Picture Book section,p.13.Joan of Arc : heavenlywarrior / Tabatha Yeatts.(Sterling biographies)New York: Sterling, 2009.LCCN 2008030699.PAP, 9781402765421, 5.95B or 944/.026092 124 p. :ill. (chiely col.), col. map ; 20cm.MS (HS) Rating: 4Joan of Arc: Heavenly Warrior,with its small size, slick paper,and extensive use of colorillustrations, is beautifullyappealing. Its fresh writingand careful attention to detailmake it a nice choice forreaders wanting to learnabout Joan of Arc.Tabatha Yeatts nicely coversall important aspects of Joan’slife: an overview of herpeasant childhood; a historyof the Hundred Years War;how Joan came to hearheavenly voices; her attemptsto convince authorities of hermission to save France; heramazing grasp of battlestrategy; her capture, trial,and execution; and thesubsequent clearing of hername and her canonization.Sidebars add greater detail onkey figures in Joan’s life aswell as related topics like theconnection between the realSir John Fastolf andSha kesp eare’s F alstaff,Inquisition torture practices,how Catholic saints arecanonized, and fictionalportrayals of Joan.Potentially unfamiliar wordsappear in bold and are definedin a glossary, there’s atimeline of events, a two-pagebibliography, four pages ofnotes, a page of image credits,and a two-page index.One of the men Joanencountered was John theBastard; no explanation isgiven of the meaning of theword, just that it wasn’tconsidered offensive in thattime. While the book containsextensive detail, the emphasison the many battles can seemrepetitive, and the text chosenfor pull quotes is usuallyunremarkable, and sometimeseven intrusive to the flow ofthe narrative. However, Joan’sdeep religious fervor is alwaysCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 29 DECEMBER 2010

MIDDLE SCHOOL NONFICTIONportrayed positively, and thebook as a whole is wellw r i t t e n , li v e l y, a n dinformative enough to serveas a stand-alone volume onthe life of Joan of Arc.Rosemarie DiCristoJoan of Arc : warriorsaint / Jay Williams.(Sterling point books)New York: Sterling, 2007.LCCN 2007009896.PAP, 9781402751202, 6.95B or 944/.026092 126 p. :ill., maps ; 21 cm.MS (HS) Rating: 4While Joan of Arc: WarriorSaint by Jay Williams coversmuch of the same ground asTabatha Yeatts’ Joan of Arc:Heavenly Warrior, it goes intomore detail, particularly thehardships she faced, whileadding a much more grislydescription of her trial anddeath by burning at the stake.There is more emphasis onlittle details – like the foodand dress in fifteenth centuryFrance, Joan’s childhood in thepeasant village she grew up in,a fuller description of the fearof witchcraft in Joan’s day,that time period’s belief in andreliance on prophecy, and onJoan’s many heavenly visions.More detail is also included onthe battles Joan took part in,her capture, and the possiblebetrayals she faced.In one way the greater detailmay have a negative aspect:while there’s use of dialogueand quotations (many fromprimary sources), someappear to be the author’sguesses as to what Joan andher companions may havesaid.Joan of Arc: Warrior Saint is apaperback book with only twoillustrations: a map of Joan’sFrance and an illustration ofthe parts of Joan’s armor.There’s a “cast of characters”and a six page index, but nobibliographical or sourceinformation.This book gives a niceoverview of the HundredYears War and Joan’s deeplove of religion; it features theexploits of John the Bastard;and has a wonderful, detailedlook at Joan’s life and death.Joan of Arc: Warrior Saintshould appeal to older readers– its lack of illustrationsmakes it seem “older” and itsattention to detail gives afuller presentation of Joan ofArc’s story.Rosemarie DiCristoAbraham Lincoln / byBilly Aronson. (Presidentsand their times) NewYork: Marshall CavendishBenchmark, 2009. LCCN2007019190.LIB, 9780761428398, 34.21B or 973.7/092 112 p. :ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm.MS (INT) Rating: 4Countless biographies ofp r e s i d e n t s , e s p e c i a l l yAbraham Lincoln, have beenwritten for children.Presidents and their Times:Abraham Lincoln is one ofmany which follow a classicchronological format. Thebook begins with his poor,rural childhood, early jobs,self-education, his career inlaw and politics, and hiseventual election as president.Aronson is careful to explainLincoln’s views on slavery inthe context of his politicalsituation and awareness of thestrong views of the Americanpeople on both sides of theissue. Lincoln’s passion topreserve the union, thecomplex politics andstrategies involved withwinning the Civil War, and hisimmediate concerns forSouthern reconstruction aremajor themes. Personalinformation including hismarriage, the death of hissons, and his assassination areincluded, but are not theDECEMBER 2010 30 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

MIDDLE SCHOOL NONFICTIONmajor focus.As one of a series ofpresidential biographies, thisb o o k f o l l o w s astraightforward format withchapters subdivided into keysubjects allowing for efficientscanning for key information.The author focuses not onlyon the man, but the period ofhistory in which he lived, howhe impacted the world aroundhim, and how he wasultimately affected by people,politics, and the world.Making judicious use ofquotes, Aronson effectivelyexplains the multifacetedpolitics surrounding Lincoln’spresidency. Using high qualityp h o t o g r a p h s , p o l i t i c a lcartoons and drawings, aswell as insets highlightinginteresting subsets ofi n f o r m a t i o n , M a r s h a l lCavendish has created a childfriendlybiography using clear,concise language which makesthe book useful not only as alife-history, but also as athorough overview of the CivilWar. The book ends with aglossary, timeline, index,bibliography, and resourcesfor further information.Kristine WildnerCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 31 DECEMBER 2010

H I G H S C H O O L F I C T I O NB O O K R E V I E W SRendezvous / MelodyCarlson. (On the runway ;3) Grand Rapids, Mich.:Zondervan, 2010. LCCN2010008988.PAP, 9780310717881, 9.99Fic215 p. ; 21 cm.Spotlight / MelodyCarlson. (On the runway ;4) Grand Rapids, Mich.:Zondervan, 2010. LCCN2010018737.PAP, 9780310717898, 9.99Fic216 p. ; 22 cm.HS (MS) Rating: 4Prolific young adult authorMelody Carlson continues herOn the Runway series abouttwo sisters in a reality TVshow.Paige and Erin Forrester havetheir own teen fashion TVshow, but they are as differentas night and day, both inpersonality and in theirspiritual lives. This causestension as they work togetherin the entertainment andfashion industry. Erin is aChristian who struggles to bea witness in the entertainmentfield. Her sister Paige is not abeliever, and tends to makepoor choices that threatenboth the sisters’ relationshipwith each other and theongoing success of their show.Erin is asked by the show’sdirector to play “JiminyCricket” (a conscience) toPaige and to try to keep herout of trouble. But Paige is notthe only one making poorchoices. One friend becomespregnant, one accidentallykills a former girlfriendthrough his drunk driving, andothers deal with variousrelationship challenges as aresult of choices they made.In Rendevous, the girls fly toParis where their goodintentions are lost, leadingthem to an unplanned week offilming at a runway model’sfamily estate. They encounterromance, jealousy, and othersurprises. Along the way theylearn lessons about the cost ofbeing in the spotlight.In Spotlight, Paige and Erintake their reality show toLondon. They are bombardedby crazy fans, paparazzi, andmore―and they both realizetheir lives have changeddramatically. Both are close toa breaking point withpaparazzi hounding them,trying to report even hint ofthe smallest scandal.These books focus more oncha ra cter t han p lotdevelopment, but Carlsonknows how to write for teens.Fans of Carlson’s Carter HouseGirls series and readers ofcontemporary fiction willenjoy this series. Spotlight hasdiscussion questions, whileRendezvous does not.Recommended for middle andhigh school libraries and teencollections in public libraries.Carol R. GehringerNothing but ghosts / byBeth Kephart. New York:HarperTeen, 2009. LCCN2008026024.HBB, 9780061667961, 17.99Fic278 p. ; 19 cm.HS Rating: 4In Nothing but Ghosts, sixteenyear-oldKatie struggles tocope with the recent death ofher mother from cancer. Shelives with her father, whospends all of his time eitherrestoring paintings orcooking. No holidays orbirthdays have beencelebrated since her motherdied. She has a summergardening job on an estate forMiss Martine, a social recluse.A romance develops betweenKatie and Danny, one of the co-workers on the estate.When Katie learns that MissMartine has not been seen bythe townspeople for 53 years,she decides to find out why.She hopes that unearthing thesecret to Miss Martine’sDECEMBER 2010 32 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

HIGH SCHOOL FICTIONdisappearance from social lifewill help her cope with hermother’s death.Beth Kephart does a good jobof intertwining the two mainplot lines in the story. Someparts of the novel are writtenin narrative poetry. Theflashbacks are well writtena n d i m p o r t a n t f o runderstanding the maincharacter’s actions andmotivations. Descriptions ofthe background andcharacters are enhanced withsimiles and metaphors.The story is told from the firstperson point of view. Firstperson allows the reader toexperience the sameemotional roller coaster ofgrief as the main character.The book will appeal to youngadults who want to read abittersweet story about therecovery process that is gonethrough after the loss of aloved one.Dianne WoodmanAshes / Kathryn Lasky.New York: Viking, 2010.LCCN 2009033127.HBB, 9780670011575, 16.99Fic318 p. ; 22 cm.HS (MS) Rating: 4Ashes is the story of GabySchramm, a young girl livingin Berlin in the early 1930s.Thirteen-year-old Gaby is anavid reader who likes to go tomovies and spend time withher best friend. But as Hitlerrises to power, Gaby finds herlife utterly changed. Nazisoldiers are seen throughoutBerlin, even at the entrance tothe zoo. Gaby’s beloved oldersister, Ulla, becomesincreasingly distant as shedates the mysterious Karl.When Gaby refuses to join theBDM, a division of the HitlerYouth, her favorite teacherturns against her. Many ofGaby’s favorite books aredeclared un-German andpublicly burned. And thoughGaby’s family is not Jewish,her father, a professor ofastronomy, is branded a“White Jew” for his friendshipwith Albert Einstein, and thefamily must decide whether tostay in Germany or flee toAmerica.There are many books aboutWorld War II for young adults;however, few contain so muchdetail about Hitler’s rise topower. Gaby’s perspective asthe daughter of an intellectualis unique and comes vividly tolife through the first-personnarration. The story is fastpaced,though occasionaleditorial errors are jarring.Detailed author’s notes at thebeginning and end of the bookdivide fact from fiction andgive background informationon German life and politicsduring the rise of the ThirdReich as well as biographicalinformation about the realpeople who appear in thestory, such as Albert Einsteinand author Vicki Baum.Implied fornication andpregnancy out of wedlockprovide background conflict. Ascene depicting a public bookburningis frightening, buthistorically accurate andadvances the plot. Readerswill cheer Gaby’s desire tothink independently. Ashes isan excellent choice for middleand high school libraries.Elizabeth NortonChasing Orion / KathrynLasky. Somerville, Mass.:Candlewick Press, 2010.LCCN 2009007327.HBB, 9780763639822, 17.99Fic362 p. ; 21 cm.HS (Adult) Rating: 3, w/cautionChasing Orion is set during thepolio epidemic of 1952 inIndianapolis, Indiana.Precocious, eleven-year-oldGeorgie tells the story. She isobsessed with polio facts andCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 33 DECEMBER 2010

HIGH SCHOOL FICTIONstatistics. Her teen-agedneighbor, Phyllis, who isconfined in an iron lung,provokes intense curiosity aswell. Georgie urges herbrother Emmett to befriendP h y l l i s w i t h o u tcomprehending the emotionalcomplications that result. Theeffect Phyllis has on Georgieand her brother is thecenterpiece of the story.Georgie is isolated from oldfriends due to a move acrosstown. Group activities arerestricted due to the dangersof polio infection. Theselimitations give her ampletime to focus on the horrors ofpolio, her own fears, and thelives of others.Georgie makes a new bestfriend, Evelyn, whoseprofessional, intellectuallydriven family offers acounterpoint to Georgie’smore conventional household.The girls are drawn togetherby their intellectual curiosityand feelings of displacementwithin their social sphere.Despite Kathryn Lasky’shistory as an award-winningauthor, the story lacks thecohesion and tight narrativeone would expect. Althoughthe polio information andastronomy facts appear to beaccurate, some culturalanachronisms jolt the readerout of the time period.G e o r g i e ’ s p e r cep t i on s ,vocabulary, and viewpointseem more contemporary tothe present, as well asinappropriate to her age andthe 50’s era.Several uses of profanity,including six uses of God orJesus as cursing, show up.Implicit sexual activity isnoted and mulled over by thesharp-eyed heroine ,includingspeculation about her brotherand the disabled Phyllis.The author considers themorality of euthanasia, alongwith questions about thefairness of God, and some notso-subtlestereotyping ofgrade school Christians.Ambivalence, ambiguity, anddeath without an eternaldestination seem to wrap upthe conclusion with new ageimplicationsDeborah H. RabernFlash burnout : a novel /by L.K. Madigan. Boston:Houghton Mifflin, 2009.LCCN 2010278252.HBB, 9780547194899, 16.00Fic332 p. ; 22 cm.HS (Adult) Rating: 3Although only fifteen-yearsold,Blake has a complicatedlife. Granted, he’s broughtmost of that complication onhimself by getting involved ina love triangle with hisgirlfriend Shannon, whom heloves, and Marissa, whom heconsiders a close friend.In Flash Burnout, L. K.Madigan’s debut novel,readers discover the voice andthoughts of Blake, whosehormone-induced outlook onlife is tempered by thequirkiness of his family andhis comedic comebacks.Through first person narrativeBlake chronicles hissophomore year that is filledwith first loves, complicatedfriendships, and difficultsituations. His outlook on lifeis “gritty,” as his photographerteacher says, and he needs tofind the “heart.”This YA novel has it all—drugs, sex, and rock and roll--and it works. Madigan writesabout the ups, downs, lusts,and life of Blake with ease. Forthe most part, the teendialogue and interactions ringtrue, although sometimes itcomes off a little too contrivedor sophisticated. Concernsinclude language, rangingfrom mild to strong, teen sex(and lots of talk about it), andrude slang. This is all inDECEMBER 2010 34 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

HIGH SCHOOL FICTIONcontext, and reflects teenculture. What does stand outis how adults figure into theplot. For one, Blake’s parentslecture him on not pressuringgirls into sex, but encouragetheir sons to be ready andeven provide condoms.Another parent is a methaddict, while yet another isoverly hostile in herprotectiveness of herdaughter. Teachers are eitherheld in disdain, ridiculed, orstereotypically cool. Madiganuses photography as a maintheme throughout the plot,which adds a unique aspect tothe premise of seeing life froma framed perspective. Thestoryline is riveting; however,the background noise of teendrama keeps this from beingan excellent read. Madigan’sentry in the YA market isimpressive, and createsanticipation for her next book.Pam WebbBoys, bears, and a seriouspair of hiking boots /A b b y M c D o n a l d .S o m e r v i l l e , M a s s . :Candlewick Press, 2010.LCCN 2009026015.HBB, 9780763643829, 16.99Fic293 p. ; 22 cm.HS Rating: 2Teenagers often think theirworld will never change, thatthings will continue on just asthey are right now, includingthe main character in Boys,Bears, and a Serious Pair ofHiking Boots, Jenna. Jenna iss e v e n t e e n - y e a r - o l de n v i r o n m e n t a l i s t w h oparticipates in and heads updifferent activities for herGreen Teen Team to support.Running from an inevitablechange in her family life inNew Jersey, Jenna decides tospend the summer in far awayCanada with her godmother.Over the summer Jenna learnsthat some changes are good,while others are not. She alsodiscovers the person shereally is outside of the GreenTeen Team.While everything does cometogether in the end, themajority of Boys, Bears, and aSerious Pair of Hiking Bootsseems to be just the senselessramblings of the maincharacter, with no plot ordirection. It almost seems asif the plot were anafterthought that the author,Abby McDonald, decided toadd just enough of towardsthe end to give the book somesemblance of meaning.The book contains casualremarks about premarital sexamong the teenagers andswearing, as well as acharacter who struggles withhis issues of “coming out” withhis gay lifestyle.Ruth O’NeilDragons of the valley /Donita K. Paul. ColoradoSprings: WaterbrookPress, 2010. LCCN2010021910.PAP, 9781400073405, 13.99Fic370 p. ; 22 cm.HS (MS, Adult) Rating: 4Dragons of the Valleycontinues Tipper’s Schope’squest that he began in TheVanishing Sculptor. In the firstbook, Tipper had to find andjoin three statues her sculptorfather had created. Thesestatues, built from the world’sfoundation stones, must staytogether, for if separated, theworld becomes unstable.Tipper and a cavalcade offriends, creatures, andcharacters feverishly workagainst evil forces that wantto use the statue’s powers totransport more chaos into theworld. The small but braveband of stalwart companionsmust contend with animpending invasion, theeffects of evil overtaking theland, and the murderous beastCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 35 DECEMBER 2010

HIGH SCHOOL FICTIONknown as The Grawl. Thisallegorical tale is woven withmagical elements thatresonate with Narnia and TheHobbit.Readers unfamiliar with TheVanishing Sculptor will be at adisadvantage if readingDragons of the Valley first.Author Donita Paul jumpsright into the story withoutmuch back-story. Once thestory begins though, the plotis strong enough to carry itsown. Nevertheless, theappendix is appreciated untilcharacters, places, and otherChiril elements are firmlyplaced in the reader’s mind.Paul is able to create awhimsical quest-tale, yetbrings in allegoricalcomponents of trusting Godwithout weighing down theplot. Though the ending seemsrushed, it is satisfying.Pam WebbStreams of Babel / CarolP l u m - U c c i . B o st o n :H o u g h t o n M i f f l i nHarcourt, 2008. LCCN2007026503.PAP, 9780547258737, 8.99Fic424 p. ; 18 cm.HS (Mature) Rating: 4, w/cautionStreams of Babel byCarolPlum-Ucci plunges into apossible terrorist attack onthe United States. At first,seventeen-year-old Cora’smother’s death appears to bea drug overdose. But whenScott’s mother dies and teensfrom the same neighborhoodbecome ill, suspicions filtertoward a possible release of adeadly biochemical in thewater supply. Desperate tofind an answer, US officials flyShahzad, a Pakistani teencomputer hacker, to NewJersey to spy on suspectedterrorists chatting online in anAmerican Internet cafe. Willhe discover the plan beforeothers die, or will theterrorists discover his workand set out to kill him as well?Each chapter drives fast-paceddevelopments through firstperson accounts from a largecast of internationalcharacters. Interestinglyenough, each character iswritten first person past tenseexcept Shahzad, the Pakistaniteen, who is written firstperson present tense. When Iinterviewed Plum-Ucci as toher reasoning, she stated,“The first person present fromShahzad is in honor of many ofmy college students (I teachEnglish Comp at the localcommunity college) who havec o m e h e r e f r o mPakistan. They often speak inpresent tense; I don't knowwhy. But I am very endearedto it and them! Because ofthem, it's just the way I heardShahzad speak.” This uniquepresentation adds realism toher characters and plausibilityto this story of biochemicalterrorist attack. Plum-Ucci’swriting is tight, wellconstructed, and focuses ontoday’s reader’s desire for fast-paced plotting and briefchapters.Readers may struggle with thelack of a clear main characteror protagonist. In myinterview with Plum-Ucci shestated, "The "ultimate hero"changes from reader toreader, and I'm no different."Streams of Babel is classifiedas horror, and thereforeintended for mature readers.This book is recommendedwith caution because ofprofane and vulgar language.Mary VeeRed glass / Laura Resau.(Readers circle) NewYork: Delacorte Press,2009. LCCN 2007002408.HBB, 9780385734660, 15.99PAP, 9780440240259, 8.99Fic 275, 18 p.HS Rating: 4DECEMBER 2010 36 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

HIGH SCHOOL FICTIONIn Red Glass, sixteen-year-oldSophie is socially awkwardand irrationally fearful ofgerms, car wrecks, andbecoming an orphan. Shebefriends Pablo, a six-year-oldboy, whose parents werekilled while trying to crossillegally into the United States.She embarks on a journeywith her Great Aunt Dika, Mr.Lorenzo, and his son Angel toreturn Pablo to his relatives inMexico.Sophie and Angel developromantic feelings for oneanother. Angel and his fathergo to Guatemala to find somefamily jewels; while thereAngel is viciously beaten forrefusing to join a gang. Sophietravels alone to Guatemala soshe can deliver documentsneeded by Angel and hisfather. The kindness ofstrangers enables her to safelyreach her destination. Sophierealizes that pushing herselfto cope with difficultcircumstances is the reasonshe is no longer hindered byirrational fears.Laura Resau emphasizes thecharacter's emotions. Thebook portrays different wayshatred and love affect peoples'lives. The author does anexcellent job of using the fivesenses to create vivid imagesof poverty stricken areas inMexico and Guatemala. Theuse of similes to paint visualpictures adds depth to thewriting, and flashbacks arewell integrated into the plot.Some of the dialogue iswritten in Spanish andGerman, and some wordscannot be figured out fromcontext clues. Sophie takespart in a spiritual cleansingritual, and watches corn huskthrowing divination.Discussion questions at theend of the book enrich thestory. The book is a usefulresource for understandingwhy families risk their lives toillegally cross the border intothe United States.Dianne WoodmanTournaments, cocoa & onewrong move / Nancy Rue.(Real life ; 3) GrandRapids, Mich.: Zondervan,2010. LCCN 2010023289.PAP, 9780310714866, 9.99Fic252 p. ; 22 cm.HS (MS) Rating: 5Nancy Rue continues toprovide a wholesomealternative to popularliterature with her teen seriesthat deals with real-life issues.In Tournaments, Cocoa, & OneWrong Move, everythingseems to be perfect inCassidy’s life. She makes goodgrades and is the school’s starbasketball player. Evencollege recruiters are showinginterest in her. Cassidy livesfor basketball and for apotential future in collegebasketball.When Cassidy is badly injured,forcing her to possibly be outfor the rest of the season, shestarts making choices thatincrease her problems insteadof solving them. One of thechoices she makes involvesdrugs. In her drive to reachthe goal, Cassidy doesn’tconsider the consequences ofher actions. It affects herfriendships, as well as herrelationships with her teamand her family members. Shefalsely accuses her best friendof turning her in, and she iskicked off the team. Cassidyhas to deal with thereali zation t hat sheunknowingly took drugsbecause she unwisely trustedher brother’s fiancée.As her world falls apart,Cassidy finds a strange bookthat just might hold someanswers. Every time she picksup this book, it seems to havethe right words for hercurrent situation, and it helpsCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 37 DECEMBER 2010

HIGH SCHOOL FICTIONher sort through the issues.Written from Cassidy’sperspective, the booke m p h a s i z e s c h a r a c t e rdevelopment over plot.Realistic dialogue andnarrative help the readerempathize with her struggles.The spiritual tone is gentle,and readers will not findthemselves being preached at.Recommended for middleschool and teen collections inboth public and schoollibraries.Carol R. GehringerHeartless / Anne ElisabethStengl. (Tales of GoldstoneWood ; 1) Minneapolis:Bethany House, 2010.LCCN 2010006229.PAP, 9780764207808, 14.99Fic363 p. ; 22 cm.HS (MS) Rating: 4In her debut novel, AnneElisabeth Stengl spins aninteresting twist on a fairytale with a spiritual allegoryto the delight of her readers.Princess Una of Parumvirdreams of marrying acharming prince, but thingsdon’t quite work out the wayshe imagines. Una thinksPrince Aethelbald is boringand unromantic. He travelsfrom the land of Farthestshoreand brings warnings of adragon rumored to beapproaching Parumvir. Whenshe rejects his offer, he tellsher that he will return a laterdate. She ignores his warningsof danger, and direconsequences occur. PrinceLeonard, a more charmingprince, arrives in the role of aFool. He befriends her, andUna is smitten. He departs tohis own country, saying hewill be back but he does notplan to return. Having givenher heart away, she is easyprey to the Dragon King.Aethelbald returns to save theday, risking everything to winher back.Heartless is a spiritualallegory with PrinceAethelbald playing a Christlike,redeemer image. Moreplot-driven than characterdriven,there are unexpectedtwists that are delightful, butthere are also some partsabout two-thirds of the waythat get bogged down a bit.The Twelve Year Market thatdoesn’t necessarily appearevery twelve years and sellsonly fairy goods is animaginative addition.Like true fairy tales, this bookis meant to show a moral orlesson: giving your heart awayu n w i s e l y r e s u l t s i nconsequences. There are nodirect spiritual references.Despite some major bumps inthe road, there is a happyending to this story.Recommended for middle andhigh school libraries, as wellas teen collections in publiclibraries.Carol R. GehringerMarcelo in the realworld / Francisco X. Stork.New York: Arthur A.Levine Books, 2009. LCCN2008014729.HBB, 9780545054744, 17.99FicHS312 p. ; 22 cm.Rating: 5, w/cautionMarcelo In The Real World is agripping mystery told throughthe eyes of a 17-year-old boywith high functioning autism.Marcelo is happy in hisstructured environment—taking care of horses, listeningto his inner music, andstudying religion. But whensummer comes his father sayshe must enter “the realworld.” Instead of working athis beloved stable, Marcelomust work in the mailroom athis father’s powerful law firm.Marcelo is forced out of hiscomfort zone where he mustlearn to multi-task, read facialDECEMBER 2010 38 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

HIGH SCHOOL FICTIONemotions, decide who to trust,and make ethical decision.One day Marcelo finds a photoof a disfigured girl and fearsthat the law firm may becovering up a scandal. Withthe help of his co-worker andfriend, Jasmine, he uncoversthe story behind the photoand must decide whether todo what is easy, or what isright.Marcelo gives us a pureheartedand beautifulcommentary on what he seesaround him. The narrativepersistently stays true to hisautistic character, the prose issparse, formal, and hefrequently forgets to use firstperson. Marcelo is a brightand sympathetic hero whoshows us the world throughnew eyes. Marcelo ismentored by a Jewish rabbi,and studies many differentreligions. There are manyprofanities throughout thebook, as well as several sceneswith coarse sexual references.Although Marcelo stays purethroughout the story, hecomes face-to-face with thesins of those around him. Onlyrecommended to maturereaders.Ellie Ann SoderstromDistant waves : a novel ofthe Titanic / SuzanneWeyn. New York:Scholastic, 2009. LCCN2008040708.HBB, 9780545085724, 17.99Fic330 p. ; 22 cm.HS Rating: 3In Distant Waves, Jane, Mimi,Amelie, Emma, and Blythe livein the small town of SpiritVale with their psychicmother. Jane is confused ands k e p t i ca l a b o ut t h espiritualism industry.When Jane is sixteen, sheinterviews the eccentricinventor Nikola Tesla for anarticle she wants to write for anewspaper contest. She isattracted to his assistant,Thad. She attends a psychicconvention in England withher family, and is excited tolearn that Thad and Nikola arethere as well.After Jane hears a predictionthat the Titanic will sink, sheis worried for Mimi and Blythewho are traveling with theiremployers on the ship. Jane,Amelie, and Emma try andstop them from sailing―andend up as stowaways. Janefinds out Thad is on boardwith Tesla, who is hoping toconvince a couple of wealthypassengers to invest in hisinventions. Can Tesla savethem from the voyage's tragicend?The book’s main plot focuseson psychic readings and howthey affect people’s lives. Thebook’s subplot focuses on thesailing and subsequentsinking of the Titanic.The author has included anumber of historical figures inthe storyline who portrayboth their belief and disbeliefin psychic abilities. The spiritmediums use ouija boards,tarot cards, automatic writing,and crystal balls.Distant Waves will appeal toreaders who are interested inlearning about some of theinventions of well-knownscientists and the impactpsychic readings can have ona person’s life. The authorpresents two sides to thequestion of whethercontacting spirits in theafterlife is a real or fakeoccurrence without trying tosway the reader’s decisioneither way.Dianne WoodmanCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 39 DECEMBER 2010

H I G H S C H O O L N O N F I C T I O NB O O K R E V I E W SThe duel : the parallellives of AlexanderHamilton & Aaron Burr /Judith St. George. NewYork: Viking, 2009. LCCN2009005660.HBB, 9780670011247, 16.99B or 973.4/6092; 24 cm.97 p. : ill.HS (MS) Rating: 4In The Duel, Judith St. Georgeexplores the similarities andd i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e nAlexander Hamilton andAaron Burr. Hamilton wasborn in poverty as anillegitimate child in the WestIndies, and Burr into a highsocietyfamily in the Americancolonies. Both were orphanedat a young age and went on tobecome respected soldiers,attorneys, patriots, andpoliticians. As attorneys andpolitical rivals, Burr andHamilton were often at oddswith one another, but theyeventually became friends.Their friendship was shortlived,however, and in 1804Burr challenged Hamilton to aduel. Early on the morning ofJuly 11, 1804, Burr andH a m i l t o n d u e l e d a tWeehawken, New Jersey.Hamilton was fatally injuredand later buried with fullmilitary honors. Though Burrwas indicted for murder inHamilton’s death, he escapedbefore he could stand trial andlived the rest of his life out ofthe public eye.While primarily a jointbiography of Hamilton andBurr, this book also provides agood picture of life in theAmerican colonies just beforeand after the RevolutionaryWar. Much attention is paid todetail including what a typicalday was like for Hamilton andBurr as college students andin the military. St. Georgepresents her information insuch a way that it is easy tosee the almost eeries i m i l a r i t i e s b e t w e e nHamilton’s and Burr’slives―and the reader leaveswith a clear understanding ofthe events leading up to theduel. The narrative is highlydetailed and flows easily,though transitions aresometimes awkward. Chaptersare arranged chronologicallywith each divided into asection on Burr’s life and oneon Hamilton’s; divisions areclearly marked with pictures.An extensive bibliographyprovides resources for furtherreading and research andmakes this a solid choice forreport writers.Elizabeth NortonDECEMBER 2010 40 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

B O O K R E V I E W SA D U LT F I C T I O NMasters & slayers / BryanDavis. Chattanooga, Tenn.:Living Ink Books, 2010.PAP, 9780899578842, 14.99Ficv, 419 p. ; 23 cm.Adult (HS) Rating: 5There is a twist in this science-fiction/fantasy series aboutdragons and humans: thedragons have enslavedhumans for generations. Thisis the first book aimed at olderreaders by Bryan Davis.In Masters & Slayers, Adrianattempts to rescue the humancaptives from his planet MajorFour who are enslaved onStarlight, another planet. He isaccompanied by Marcelle, apassionate sword maidenwhose impulsive naturesometimes gets her intotrouble. They have toovercome a conspiracy ontheir home planet, learn towork together, and decidewhether or not they can trulytrust others―including adragon―that they meet asthey try to free the Lost Ones.The slaves themselves thwarttheir rescue attempts, for theyhave no memory of theirorigins and are reluctant tobelieve their rescuers.The Tales of Starlight series ismeant to share somestorylines from the Dragons ofStarlight series. In Starlighter(Dragons of Starlight),teenaged Jason Mastersreceives a cryptic messagefrom his missing olderbrother, Adrian. Both areinvolved in trying to free thehuman slaves. However,Starlighter, is aimed for ayounger audience. There aresome portions of Masters &Slayers that are notappropriate for youngerreaders―for instance, thedragons use the human slavesfor breeding purposes, and theviolence is realistic.Packed with plenty of actionand plot twists, this book willengage and satisfy the olderreader. Davis does a good jobin both developing a plot andcharacters that will inspirethe reader. Older readers ofhis earlier series will enjoyreading about the parallelstories in both the Tales ofStarlight and Dragons ofStarlight series.Recommended for all adultand teen collections in publicand school libraries.Carol R. GehringerBoneMan's daughters /Ted Dekker. New York:Faith Words, 2009. LCCN2008035206.HBB, 9781599951959, 24.99PAP, 9780446547208, 7.99Fic401 p. ; 24 cm.Adult (HS) Rating: 4Ted Dekker writes anotherintriguing and suspensefulnovel with some spiritualapplication. In BoneMan’sDaughters, BoneMan is a serialkiller that has been lying lowfor the last couple of years—after another man wascharged in the horrificmurders of seven youngwomen. Now the freshlyreleased real BoneMan seeshis opportunity to rise up andcontinue his search for theperfect daughter. He thinkshe’s found his candidate inBethany Evans. He knows herparents do not love Bethanyas they should. He could bethe perfect dad if she couldonly be the perfect daughter.But her real father hassomething to say about that.Ryan Evans is determined toget his daughter back from theBoneMan by showing her justhow much he does love her.The plot of BoneMan’sDaughters moves steadily andpulls the reader right alongwith it. Dekker changes pointof view from Boneman toother characters in the book,which adds to the suspense.Dekker leaves one point ofview just when something bigCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 41 DECEMBER 2010

ADULT FICTIONis about to happen. This isdefinitely a book for adultsand maybe some matureyoung adults because of warviolence and extensivediscussion on bones breaking.There is some slang andtaking the Lord’s name invain; this takes place mostly inthe beginning of the book.Ruth O’NeilThe outsider : a novel /Ann H. Gabhart. GrandRapids, Mich.: Revell,2008. LCCN 2008006829.PAP, 9780800732394, 13.99Fic345 p. ; 22 cm.Adult (HS) Rating: 4The Outsider is a historicalromance about GabrielleHope. Gabrielle and hermother join the Harmony HillShaker community to escape alife of poverty. Upon arrival,they are segregated: Gabrielleis put in the girl’s dormitory,her mother with the women.Shakers dissolve family unitsbelieving they cause stress—which draws individuals awayfrom their daily work andworship. Outsiders arediscouraged for the samereason. Gabrielle is envelopedin the religious environmentand finds solace in gardening,praying, singing, and dancing.On the brink of womanhood,she looks forward todedicating her life to EternalFather and Mother Ann. Butwhen she meets Doctor BriceScott, an outsider, Gabrielle’slife is changed forever.When the Shaker’s barncatches fire Gabrielle's ‘gift ofknowing’ sees Nathan, afriend, inside the burningbuilding. Her warning shoutscause Doctor Scott to rushinto the barn, find Nathan, andcarry him to the sickroomwhere he works to save theboy’s life. Gabrielle is askedto help and while there, thedoctor’s kindness to her andempathy for Nathan makesher question the Shaker’sopinion of outsiders.The Outsider is a poignant yetpredictable back-and-forthlove story. Ann H. Gabhart'shistorical notes detail theShaker’s founder, Ann Lee,who claimed to be the secondcoming of Christ in femaleform. The author’s believablecharacters and conscientiousresearch enrich her story.Maxine CambraThe restorer : a novel /Sharon Hinck. (The swordof Lyric ; 1) ColoradoSprings: NavPress, 2007.LCCN 2006100494.PAP, 9781600061318, OP, buyusedFic477 p. ; 21 cm.The restorer's journey /Sharon Hinck. (The swordof Lyric ; 2) ColoradoSprings: NavPress, 2008.LCCN 2007033177.PAP, 9781600061332, OP, buyusedFic391 p. : map ; 21 cm.Adult (HS, MS) Rating: 5The restorer's son /Sharon Hinck. (The swordof Lyric ; 3) ColoradoSprings: NavPress, 2007.LCCN 2007015672.PAP, 9781600061325, OP, buyusedFic405 p. ; 22 cm.Adult (HS, MS) Rating: 5In The Restorer, when stressed-out soccer mom SusanMitchell retreats to her attichideaway with her journal andBible, she starts hearingstrange sounds. As she picksup an old plastic sword she’simmediately pulled into analternate world. GuardianTristan and his brother-in-lawKieran find her and discoverthat she has the gifts of aRestorer. In the midst of hersense of inadequacy anduncertainty, the Onechallenges Susan to surrenderto His direction and proceedDECEMBER 2010 42 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

ADULT FICTIONin faith.In The Restorer’s Son, Susanand Mark return through theportal and find that their 18-year-old son, Jake, has beencaptured by Cameron anddeceived b y M e dea.Meanwhile, the new Restoreris Kieran, a reluctant skepticwho finally yields to the One’scall for him to take the Versesto Hazor.In The Restorer’s Journey,Cameron and Medea collectweapons, grab Susan, and goback to their own world. SinceMark is no longer able to getthrough the portal, Jake, thenew Restorer, goes to rescuehis mother, who has beentaken to Rhus as a subject formental manipulation, but isredirected by the One.In her first fantasy series,Sharon Hinck has created arichly detailed alternate worldwith unique, well-developedcharacters. The first personpoint of view in the first bookis Susan’s, the other booksshift back and forth betweenSusan’s and the otherRestorers’ points of view. Inthe characters’ internaldialogs with the One, they seeHis love and learn to“surrender” in faith, “yield,” or“follow Me.” Both Verses fromtheir oral Records and severalBible texts are used tocounteract Rhusican lyingmind poison. One poem set tomusic is found at the end ofeach book—along with a map,glossary, and reader’s guide.With its action-packed plot,young fantasy fans should notbe deterred by the occasionalpractical hints for readersconfronting feelings ofinadequacy. The Restorer wasa finalist for the 2008 ChristyAward in the Visionaryc a t e g o r y . H i g h l yrecommended.Donna W. BowlingLady in waiting / SusanM eissner. ColoradoSprings: WaterbrookPress, 2010. LCCN2010009570.PAP, 9780307458834, 16.99Fic336 p. ; 22 cm.Adult Rating: 4Jane Lindsay’s husband, Brad,has left her. Her comfortablelife and marriage hang by athread. Then, in a box ofantiques found at a Britishjumble sale, Jane finds amysterious ring tucked insidea book―a ring bearing hername.Lucy Day serves as adressmaker for Lady JaneGrey in 16th century England.Through Lucy’s eyes, readersget to know Lady Jane, ayoung woman controlled byher parents and thetumultuous political climate ofher time. These forcesthreaten Lady Jane’s chancefor happiness, true love, andthe ability to choose her ownpath in life.The stories of Jane Lindsayand Lady Jane merge throughthe journey of the ring. Bothwomen share the ring and theability to choose their owndestinies. They must realizethe power of their ownchoices before their lives arechosen for them.Lady in Waiting, by SusanMeissner, delicately andseamlessly blends the pastwith the present in this tale ofdecisions and choosing wisely.Both women in the storyvividly spring to life. Themodern narrative feels true tolife while the passages set inthe 16th century transportreaders to a harsh butbeautiful period. Carefullychosen details illuminate thebook.Strong voices and strongcharacterizations fill thepages. Especially intriguing isLucy. With her love andcommitment to her mistress,she brings genuine emotion toCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 43 DECEMBER 2010

ADULT FICTIONLady Jane’s struggles.A hopeful tale with a strong,empowering message.Jaclyn S. MillerDark in the city of light /P a u l R o b e r t s o n .Minneapolis: BethanyHouse, 2010. LCCN2010011009.PAP, 9780764205699, 14.99Fic414 p. : maps ; 22 cm.Adult (HS) Rating: 4Dark in the City of Light is anovel set during the FrancoPrussian War. The three maincharacters in the book areBaron Ferdinand Harsanyi, hisson Rudolph, and daughterTherese. Each one of them hasa very different perspective onthe war. Due to themysterious death of theBaron's wife, he is now incontrol of her cinnabarmines—and both sides of thewar make him promises if hewill sell. Therese is lost and inlove, but is her love interestreally who he says he is?Rudolph is thrown intouncomfortable situationsmainly because that is wherehis father wants him. Helearns informationthat, onceproved, could paint his fatherin a horrific light. Themisconceptions held by thesethree cause distrust and fearin the family.Paul Robertson includessomething for everyone in thisbook. There is suspense,romance, and a story based onreal events in history,including famous charactersfrom the Franco PrussianWar—such as Richard andPauline von Metternich. Manyof the events woven into thestory are historically accurate,making this book a good readas well as somewhateducational.Ruth O'NeilIf tomorrow never comes :a novel / Marlo Schalesky.C o l o r a d o S p r i n g s :Multnomah Books, 2009.LCCN 2008044281.PAP, 9781601420244, 12.99Fic339 p. ; 21 cm.Adult (HS) Rating: 5Shades of morning : anovel / Marlo Schalesky.C o l o r a d o S p r i n g s :Multnomah Books, 2010.LCCN 2010001948.PAP, 9781601420251, 13.99Fic338 p. ; 21 cm.Adult (HS) Rating: 5Marlo Schalesky presentsadult fiction novels that canbe read independently, thoughthey also correlate withothers. The main characters inIf Tomorrow Never Comesshow up as minor charactersin Shades of Morning.If Tomorrow Never Comes tellsof childhood sweetheartsKinna and Jimmy, who dreamof children and a house by thesea. Despite this dream ofmarrying and living happilyever after, they experienceyears of infertility—crushingtheir hopes for a family. Kinnais so full of pain and desperatefor a child that she makes anunwise choice whichthreatens their marriage andlife together.Walking along the beach,Kinna rescues an elderlywoman who seems to pulltheir past, present, and futuretogether. The woman appearsout of nowhere, acting as avoice of wisdom at variouspoints of the story. Jimmy andKinna must decide whetherthey will embrace God’s planfor them or watch their lovewash away like the sandcastles they once built on thebeach.In Shades of Morning, twosisters are estranged. WhenRose dies, leaving Emmit, ason with Down’s syndrome, toMarnie’s care, she iscompletely caught off-guard.She never knew about herDECEMBER 2010 44 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

ADULT FICTIONnephew and feels ill-equippedto care for him. Marnie isoverwhelmed by regrets andguilt about her past. Taylor,her sister’s lawyer, is the manMarnie had once loved andleft behind. With the arrival ofEmmit and Taylor, Marniemust face the regrets andsorrows of her past or decideto run away from them again.These novels are morecharacter-driven than plotdriven,although the plot istightly written. There aresurprising plot twists in bothbooks involving the elderlywoman and Emmit. Both havespiritual implications and arehandled deftly. Kinna andMarnie are transformed by thechoices they make, and theconsequences. An author’snote and reader’s guide areincluded in each book.Recommended for high schoolcollections and publiclibraries.Carol R. GehringerSaturday morning / byL a u r a i n e S n e l l i n g .C o l o r a d o S p r i n g s :Waterbrook Press, 2010.PAP, 9780307459046, 6.99Ficviii, 390 p. ; 21 cm.Adult (HS) Rating: 4In Saturday Morning, LauraineSnelling creates the GirlSquad—four women whosepaths merge at a SanFrancisco homeless shelterthat needs retrofitted. Andy, asmall-town Oregon mom,owns Lavender Meadows, ahome-based company on herfamily farm. Her husbandi g n o r e s b o t h h e raccomplishments and desireswhen his new promotionrequires them to live in SanFrancisco. Clarice, a wealthywidow, is cheated on by hernew husband and finds herselfhomeless and virtuallypenniless in a strange city. Astreet person directs her toCasa de Jesus, the shelter runby Hope and her husbandRoger. Clarice becomes aninvaluable member of theshelter’s office staff just intime for Hope to become bedriddenwith a difficultpregnancy. Julia, a lawyerfrom the Midwest, arrives atthe shelter searching for herrunaway granddaughter andbegins to teach job skillsclasses while she tracks downboth her granddaughter andClarice’s husband. The fourwomen band together inprayer as they grow in faithand strive to save the shelter.This novel of contemporaryfiction successfully addressesmany modern dilemmasChristian women face. Thesetting of a homeless shelterministry to reforming addictsand prostitutes introduces anunsavory subculture. Whileavoiding lurid details, Ms.Snelling presents hope, albeitof a different stripe thanreaders may be accustomedto. The disparate cast ofcharacters highlights thetheme of Christian womensupporting each other as theylearn to put feet to faith whilewalking through life’s valleys.As the women battlecallousness, homelessness,and fear, conflicts resolve insatisfying yet surprising waysthat do not just give patanswers. The women’schallenges cover the gamut ofrelationship problems—marital, parental, andbusiness. Young adults willbenefit from seeing theconsequences of life choices.Rebecca VelezCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 45 DECEMBER 2010

A D U LT N O N F I C T I O NB O O K R E V I E W SMoms' ultimate guide tothe tween girl world / byNancy Rue. Grand Rapids,Mich.: Zondervan, 2010.LCCN 2010003117.PAP, 9780310284741, 16.99248.8/45 288 p. : chart,diagram ; 24 cm.Adult Rating: 4Moms’ Ultimate Guide to theTween Girl World, is written tohelp mothers equip theirdaughters for the oftendifficulttransition from childto teenager. The book focuseson four concerns many oftoday’s eight to twelve yearold girls have: Who am I? Am Ipretty enough? What’shappening to my body? Anddo they like me? Nancy Rue,with thirty-five yearse x p e r i e n c e p a r e n t i n g ,teaching, writing for, andworking with tween girls,offers a full exploration ofthese concerns, using real-lifescenarios, statistics, Scripture,readers’ self-assessment, andguidelines mothers can use toapply each chapter’s concepts.There are five pages ofendnotes. The Bibletranslation used is TheMessage.Rue is mainly concerned withfreeing a young girl to be herown true self. Her attempts toguide mothers in helping theirdaughters achieve thispermeates every page of thebook. Rue is often painfullyblunt, and expects the womenusing her guide to be equallyblunt in assessing theirparenting skills.This is a book that takescommitment. In keeping withher view that the Bible isn’t aninstruction manual, but aguide to forming arelationship with God, Ruedoesn’t offer a quick list ofpractical tips on helpingtweens become vibrantwomen. Rather, her book ismore of a conversationbetween friends. It’ssometimes wordy, with many“in jokes” and snarkycomments that may offendsome readers, and frequentuse of words like ‘boobs,’‘butt,’ and ‘pee.’ Moreproblematic, Rue too oftenwrites things like, “For moreinformation on how toaccomplish such-and-such, seethat chapter in one of myother books.”Rue is a fan of “open-handedparenting,” and while herbook can seem touchy-feely,it’s also a thought-provokinglook at ways modern motherscan help their daughtersbecome strong, faith-filled,and compassionate women.Rosemarie DiCristoAutism & alleluias /Kathleen Deyer Bolduc ;foreword by Bill Gaventa.Valley Forge, Pa.: JudsonPress, 2010. LCCN2009045624.PAP, 9780817015688, 14.00B or 618.92/85882/0092xiv, 140 p. ; 18 cm.Adult Rating: 5Author Kathleen Bolduc is themother of a young adult sonwith autism and moderateintellectual disabilities. Shehas shared their story indozens of publications andbooks. In Autism & Alleluiasshe gives the reader a seriesof vignettes through whichGod’s grace to her son, Joel,and to their family, isdemonstrated. Some of thesubjects that she touches onare childlike faith, humility,trust, and unconditional love.Any parent of a child with anautism spectrum disorder willf i n d c o m f o r t a n dencouragement in this book;each vignette reads as a dailydevotion. All parents will findnuggets of truth that ring trueand touch the heart. This is amoving and inspiring accountof a precious life that upliftsthe reader and draws her/himcloser to the source of Mrs.DECEMBER 2010 46 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

ADULT NONFICTIONBolduc’s strength, her Lordand Savior.Ceil Carey*Same kind of different asme / Ron Hall and DenverMoore ; with LynnVincent. Nashville: WPublishing, 2006. LCCN2006013644.HBB, 9780849900419, 21.99PAP, 0, 14.99B or 976.4/53150630922237 p. ; 24 cm.Adult (HS) Rating: *5Same kind of different as me: Am o dern-day slave, a ninternational art dealer, andthe unlikely woman who boundthem together by Ron Hall andDenver Moore is truly anunlikely story, until you factorin God. I picked up the book,thinking it might beinteresting. Little did I know Iwould find an amazing story ofGod’s love and concern mademanifest, because of theobedience of one woman.The story unfolds in the firstperson narrative alternatingbetween Ron and Denver. It isvery well done and givesincredible insight in howpeople see and interpretevents very differently.Because the authors arehonest with their feelings,emotions, prejudices andstruggle, the reader is thericher watching theirdevelopment and maturity.Deborah Hall, Ron’s wife has aheart to obey God’s call to be apart of an outreach to thehomeless. Ron on the otherhand says, “I wish I could saythat God had tapped me forthe assignment too, but Ididn’t. But I did feel called tobe a good husband, so I went”.Soon after they startedvolunteering Debbie pointsout a man that has just had aviolent outburst of anger andsays,” I really think God’s laidit on my heart that you needto reach out to him”. EverhonestRon replies “Sorry butI wasn’t at that meeting whereyou heard from God.” Thus,the journey that began with adesire to be a good husbandevolves into a life changingexperience for all.This is a story that is so muchmore than a story. It isdelightful, funny sad andchallenging It speaks ofunbelievable hardships,horrors, pain, prejudice, love,friendship and service.Nevertheless, best of all it itillustrates the heart of God inthe most unlikely places.Gail WhitneyCHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 47 DECEMBER 2010

INDEXAbraham Lincoln 30After the train 25The American heritage first dictionary11The American heritage picturedictionary 11Americans--the spirit of a nation 18Andrea Carter and the price of truth 22Aronson, Billy 30Ashes 33Autism & alleluias 46Batson, Thomas 19Believing in hope 23The Berenstain bears and a job welldone 5The Berenstain bears and the gift ofcourage 5Berenstain, Jan 5Berenstain, Mike 5Berger, Carin 5Bolduc, Kathleen Deyer 46BoneMan's daughters 41Boys, bears, and a serious pair ofhiking boots 35Bruchac, Joseph 19Bulu, African wonder dog 28Carey, Benedict 20Carlson, Melody 32Carolina Harmony 23Cats 12Chasing Orion 33Chessa, Francesca 6Collins, Ross 16Comport, Sally Wern 19The dangerous alphabet 6Dark in the city of light 44Dark sea annals 19Davis, Bryan 41The day of the pelican 24Dear Primo : a letter to my cousin 9Dekker, Ted 41Denmark, Evangeline 8Dewey the library cat : a true story 17Dewey's Christmas at the library 17Distant waves : a novel of the Titanic39The doom machine : a novel 25Dorankamp, MIchelle. 13The dragon and the turtle 8Dragons of the valley 35The duel : the parallel lives ofAlexander Hamilton & Aaron Burr 40Dutton, Sandra 15Ebert, Len. 13, 14The secret of the sealed room 21Ellis, Deborah 27Emily's fortune 16Enjoying true peace 23Even an ostrich needs a nest : wherebirds begin 12Experiencing the joy 23Finding your faith 23Flash burnout : a novel 34Forever friends 5Gabhart, Ann H. 42Gaiman, Neil 6Graver, Jane 13, 14Greene, Carol. 13Grimes, Nikki 11Grimly, Gris 6Hall, Ron 47Handy answer book for kids (andparents) 27Heartless 38Higher! Higher! 7Hinck, Sharon 42Holly's red boots 6Houston, Dick 28Houtman, Jacqueline 20How you are changing : for boys 13How you are changing : for girls 14Hummel, Ruth S. 13If I had a hammer : building homes…28If tomorrow never comes : a novel 44James, Steve 17Joan of Arc : heavenly warrior 29Joan of Arc : warrior saint 30Johnny Appleseed : "select goodseeds… 18Katz, Fred E. 15Kelly, Irene 12Kennedy, Anne 8Kephart, Beth 32Lady in waiting 43Lamut, Sonja 10Lasky, Kathryn 33Learning about sex series 13, 14Learning to love 23Liwska, Renata 10MacDonald, Bailey 21Madigan, L. K. 34Marcelo in the real world 38Marlow, Susan K. 22Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth 15Masters & slayers 41McDonald, Abby 35McDonnell, Janet 13McDowell, Marilyn Taylor 23Meissner, Susan 43Misiroglu, Gina 27Miss Fox's class earns a field trip 8Moms' ultimate guide to the tween girlworld 46Moore, Denver. 47Moore, Stephanie Perry 23Morrow, Dan 7Myron, Vicki 17Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds 16Nguyen, Vincent 8Night wings 19Nothing but ghosts 32Off to war 27On the runway 32The outsider : a novel 42Papa's pastries 10Paterson, Katherine 24Patricelli, Leslie 7DECEMBER 2010 48 CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL

INDEXPaul, Donita K. 8, 35Plum-Ucci, Carol 36Presidents and their times 30The quiet book 10Readers circle 36Real life 37Red glass 36The reinvention of Edison Thomas 20Rendezvous 32Resau, Laura 36The restorer : a novel 42The restorer's journey 42The restorer's son 42Robertson, Paul 44Rubel, David 28Rue, Nancy N. 37, 46Same kind of different as me 47Saturday morning 45Schalesky, Marlo 44Shades of morning : a novel 44Simon, Seymour 12Snelling, Lauraine 45Spinechillers mysteries 15Spinechillers mysteries 3-in-1 15Spinelli, Eileen 8Spotlight 32St. George, Judith, 40Stengl, Anne Elisabeth 38Sterling biographies 29Sterling point books 30Stork, Francisco X. 38Streams of Babel 36Strobel, Alison. 7The sword in the stars 19Tales of Goldstone Wood 38Teague, Mark 25That's where God is 7The sword of Lyric 42Tonatiuh, Duncan 9Toscano, Charles 10Tournaments, cocoa & one wrong move37Underwood, Deborah 10The unknowns : a mystery 20Velasquez, Eric 11Vincent, Lynn. 47Voices of Christmas 11Weyn, Suzanne 39Whelan, Gloria 25Where do babies come from? ; for boys13Where do babies come from? ; for girls13Why boys & girls are different : forboys 13Why boys & girls are different : for girls13Wicked Will : a mystery of youngWilliam Shakespeare 21Williams, Jay 30Witter, Bret 17Worth, Richard 18Yasmin Peace series 23Yeatts, Tabatha 29CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 49 DECEMBER 2010