Bookworm Buddies Blog

White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan

Jessica — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:00:15 +0000

I’ve been a soft touch for animals since birth and have fostered dozens of rescue dogs myself, so I tend to read most of the rescue animal books that come through on the new books cart. I also generally like Patrica MacLachlan books. Put the two together, and it’s no surprise I picked this one up!

Zoe’s mom rescues Great Pyrenese dogs, those giant white fluff balls. Their house is covered in white fur all the time, but especially during shedding season. It is exactly the kind of house that their new neighbors, the Crofts, do NOT understand. The new neighbors have navy blue furniture, navy blue drapes, and black clothes. And a boy who refuses to speak. No one is sure why Phillip won’t speak. He’s staying with the Crofts while his parents try to work out their problems. The Crofts are certainly not dog people, and they aren’t really kid people either. Not that they don’t like Phillip, but they just really don’t understand him or why he won’t talk. Sometimes, though, the best friends are those that don’t need words. Sometimes, sharing fur and slobber is enough to make things better.

reviewed by Jessica

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Betty Bunny Didn’t Do It by Michael Kaplan

Children's Department Staff — Tue, 14 May 2013 01:38:25 +0000

My son ate his whole dinner before getting that ice cream out and Betty Bunny didn’t do it. Yep, both are lies. When my son discovered lying, I decided to introduce him to Betty Bunny. Betty Bunny has also just discovered that she doesn’t have to tell the truth. It’s such an epiphany that she wonders why she’s never thought of it before. When she accidentally breaks a lamp, she blames it on the tooth fairy. When her mom asks her if that’s the honest truth, she happily replies, “No. It’s an honest lie!” Later on, though, no one believes her when a vase is broken – and she really *didn’t* break it this time! When her brother confesses to breaking the vase, he apologizes and cleans it up. Seeing that her mother is pleased with his confession, Betty starts confessing to everything she’s ever done wrong and then some. After some explanation, Betty realizes that it is telling the truth that is valued – so she tells Daddy Bunny how much he stinks! Betty may be a handful, but she’s a lot of fun to have around (like someone else I know!).

One little note – At one point, the oldest brother says, “Mom is going to kill you!” We don’t say that in our house, so a quick substitute was in order.
reviewed by Jessica

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Frog Song by Brenda Z. Guiberson, illustrated by Gennady Spirin

Children's Department Staff — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:51:31 +0000

The team of Brenda Guiberson and Gennady Spirin has created another stunning science picture book. Frogs from all over the world are featured in detailed double page illustrations. Guiberson writes clever descriptions of eleven exotic frog species. Spirin creates the artwork using tempera, watercolor, and pencil on watercolor paper. Knowing that there is no computer manipulation in Spirin’s paintings makes them even more astonishing. Frog Song includes a bibliography, a list of recommended websites, and a gallery of frogs and fun facts. Did you know that the male Darwin frog incubates his tadpoles in his vocal chords, then releases the “froglets” when they’re ready? Learn that and much more while you pore over the detailed illustrations. Guiberson and Spirin also teamed up for Life in the Boreal Forest.

Recommended by Victoria for middle elementary grades to adults.

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Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Jennifer — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:14:13 +0000

This is fun fantasy that retells and provides a new backstory for the age-old Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale. I appreciate the author’s leap of faith as she takes on an unloved trollish character as her main character. I found myself compelled to keep reading as Rump’s story unfolded, and, despite several mistakes and wrong turns, Rump had my sympathy as a reader. His mother died just as he was born, before she could even finish saying his full name, and so he became Rump, truly the butt of all jokes in his village. It’s especially rough when everyone in your kingdom believes that your name is your Destiny. Luckily, Rump does have one friend, Red, who tries to help him out. And yes, he can spin straw into gold. The problem with magic is that “all magic has consequences.” Rump has to learn this the hard way. Kids who love fantasy worlds that incorporate pieces of folklore will enjoy the wild rumpus that ensues as Rump runs into feisty, biting pixies, disgusting trolls, extremely greedy men and three witches (who turn out to be his aunts) on his journey to find his real name…and his true destiny.

I liked the author’s note at the end of the book where she relects on her own “strange” name that no one could pronounce or spell, and that never was found on “those personalized pencils and key chains in gift shops.” As a Jennifer, I see the name Liesl and think it is beautiful and magical. It’s all about perspective, and that is a strong theme in Rump. Readers who enjoy this story might also want to try Gregory Maguire’s children’s books Leaping Beauty and What the Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy.

-Reviewed by Jennifer

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Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Brian — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:59:25 +0000

In a world where the government regulates the number of children per family Luke, an illegal third child, constantly finds himself in danger because of his very existence. All he has ever known is how to hide, and how to run. And until this point hiding,on a secluded farm, has been easy. But when the government authorizes a deforestation of the land around Luke’s home things grow ever more complex. With his parents and brothers constantly telling him that he “must be careful” Luke really begins to feel like a nobody. That is, until he meets Jen, another illegal third child. She is everything that Luke isn’t: brave and outspoken. As time goes on, the two form an unbreakable friendship, but when Jen asks Luke to do the unthinkable and emerge from hiding will he do it? Will he fight for what he believes in? Among the Hidden, the first book in the Shadow Children series, has a plot that is suspenseful, thrilling and each page will have you moving closer and closer to the edge of your seat. Author Margaret Haddix combines a perfect amount of suspense and emotion to create this quick read. Readers will find themselves rushing back to the library to read Among the Imposters, the second book in the Shadow Children series!

Reviewed by: Brian

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Homesick by Kate Klise

gbenedick — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:03:34 +0000

Cover image of Homesick by Kate Klise

Benny’s dad calls himself a collector, but lately he’s becoming more of a hoarder. He collects all kinds of stuff, but his most prized possession is a small splinter which he believes came from the holy cross. Benny’s mom is sick and tired of his dad’s hoarding habit and the splinter becomes a symbol of the problem. One night she decides that she has had enough and tells Benny’s dad that she is leaving and unless he throws away the splinter she won’t be coming back.

Benny accepts this turn of events stoically, and attempts to continue with life as usual. The problem is that nothing about life is “usual” anymore. So, Benny begins searching desperately for a way to convince his dad to throw away the splinter and stop hoarding junk, but his dad is stubborn. In the midst of Benny’s struggle at home, he makes new friends, learns all about running a radio station, talking to girls and expressing love to the people who mean the most.

Reviewed by Grace

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Destiny Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

Jessica — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:32:05 +0000

Emily is named after Emily Dickinson, and it is her destiny to become a great poet. Well, that’s what her mom thinks. Emily, on the other hand, much prefers writing romance novels to writing poetry. So who exactly is in charge of your destiny? Is it something that is decided at birth or do you make your own destiny through your actions? Emily is determined to find out who controls her destiny – oh, and who her dad is. Emily’s mom has left that up to destiny, too. She thinks that when Emily is ready to know who her father is, then destiny will show her. Emily is not satisfied with that answer, but can she nudge destiny along a little faster or will she just have to wait?

reviewed by Jessica

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Invincible Microbe by Jim Murphy

Jessica — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:47:10 +0000

Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure by Jim Murphy

I saw this book laying out on a library table one evening, and for some reason, it intrigued me. I checked it out thinking I’d just skim it, but ended up reading it from cover to cover. I’d only ever gotten little glimpses of tuberculosis, often called consumption, as it was mentioned in children’s books from decades gone by. I realized just how little I knew about TB as I read many surprising facts in Invincible Microbe. It explains how the microbe was discovered and how that discovery was largely ignored. People just refused to believe that such a tiny thing could cause such mass suffering. The treatments for TB ranged from benign (having the king touch you) to ghastly (surgically collapsing the lung to let it ‘rest’). It seems unthinkable now, but cities and even whole states actively recruited tuberculosis sufferers to come to their sanatoriums. I had assumed that tuberculosis was largely under control and no longer a real threat. Unfortunately, that too was ignorance on my part. New antibiotic-resistant strains continue to sicken and kill throughout the world. And so the search for a cure continues…

reviewed by Jessica

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Really Really Big Questions About Me and My Body by Dr. Stephen Law

Children's Department Staff — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:00:53 +0000

The Really, Really Big Questions series tackles some of the philosophical questions that older kids often ask their parents. These books are meant to bring these questions up for thought and discussion. There are five books in the series; MPL also owns Really, Really Big Questions About Space and Time and Really, Really Big Questions About God, Faith and Religion. And these are really big questions, like “Who are you?” and “Where is my mind?” It’s a thought-provoking read for curious kids and adults. The answers to these questions are understandable, but not oversimplified. Some of the responses are factual, some are philosophical. You may not always agree with the answers, but they make good starting points for meaningful talks.

Recommended by Victoria for older elementary students.

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The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng

Jennifer — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:32:00 +0000

This is a quiet story without a lot of adventure or crazy plot lines or outlandish characters. But if you like to read about someone who feels real, Anna is the perfect character to get to know. She is introspective and thoughtful, but it is not easy for her to make friends. Instead, Anna reads…a lot. This novel is peppered with references to various books and their characters, from the classic A Wrinkle in Time to Jacqueline Woodson’s lesser known Hush, as Anna reads her way through what might have been a very lonely year. As circumstances arise, Anna discovers that sometimes she is embarrassed of things that used to never bother her, like her mother’s job as a housekeeper, but she also finds courage to embrace parts of herself that others might not understand, like practicing Chinese writing. When her former best friend Laura needs a place to stay while her parents work through a messy divorce, Anna begins to realize that probably there’s more to everyone than what we see on the outside, which means she is really not so different from everyone else. I love Anna’s interesting relationships with people from her community – the crossing guard, an elderly man, and her wonderful teacher. Abigail Halpin’s illustrations throughout add to the novel’s charm and teach the reader how to make some of the crafts and food that are part of Anna’s year. This is a short novel, but Cheng leaves readers with much to think about afterwards. I enjoyed reading the author’s thoughts on this book, ending with: Year of the Book is like a collage of my family, neighbors, and friends. I hope that readers will see part of themselves in Anna and her friends as they navigate the world of family, friends, and community.

reviewed by Jennifer

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