WorldWeavers: Gift of the Unmage, by Alma Alexander

Rating: Very Good

Eos (HarperCollins), 2007, $16.99

ISBN: 9780060839550
Age/Grade Level: Grades 6 and up

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In a world where being magical is the norm, Thea is born the seventh child of the union of two seventh children and the only daughter. There is surprise at her birth that she is not the anticipated 'seventh son', but it is assumed all the same that she has great magical potential. The years go by and she continues to fail at the simpliest of spells; in a final act of deperation, her parents decide to give her 'awakening' a last chance by invoking the great spirits of earlier ages. This works, though not in the way that had been expected, as Thea realises that, for reasons she is only now beginning to understand, she had previously chosen not to reveal her mystical abilities. She decides that she needs to continue to conceal her powers - as a result, she is required to attend a school for the 'un-magical'. At her new school, away from family pressures, she is able to be herself - until the strange "Nothing" threatens the world …... !

Part school story, part fantasy, part myth, this is also a coming of age story. Thea changes from a frustrated - and somewhat depressed - teenager into a young lady with increasing confidence and self-knowledge. There are vivid, lyrical passages as Thea interacts with the mage, Cheveyo and Grandmother Spider - the World Weaver - and more obscure sections where Thea realises that computers are necessary for her magic to work in her world. Despite the stylistic variance, Thea is an engaging heroine and readers will look forward to the following titles in this trilogy.

Reviewer: Ros Wilkes, Orange County Public Library/Mesa Verde Branch

Johnny and the Bomb, by Terry Pratchett

Rating: Very Good
HarperCollins, 2006, $16.99
ISBN: 9780060541910

Age/Grade Level: Grades 6 and up

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If time is a pair of trousers, which leg are we in?

This time-traveling fantasy begins as Johnny works on a school report about WWII - his topic is the only bombing raid suffered by Blackbury, his small hometown, during which a whole street was destroyed. As he and his friends are out comparing the modern town to what used to be, they come across the semi-conscious figure of a local bag-lady. They act responsibly, call an ambulance and see her taken off to hospital; Johnny takes charge of her supermarket trolley with its black plastic sacks, piles of junk and vicious cat, and leaves it in his garage for the night………

Nothing is ever the same again. There is obviously more to the bag-lady than ugly black sacks ..(bags of time…?) as the trolley seems to be some form of time machine, giving Johnny and his friends the opportunity to travel back to the Blackbury of WWII and see life as it really was.
Unfortunately, in returning to the present they discover they have landed in an alternate future and one of them is missing …. left behind in 1941. The group then face a moral dilemma - to return to rescue their friend and try to get back to their own present, or to live without him in an alternate present - the other leg of the trousers of time.

There is a certain amount of social commentary behind the fun as Johnny and his friends learn how childhood and attitudes towards race and gender have changed over time. They are likeable teenagers, but seem slightly old-fashioned, reminiscent of characters in children's stories of the 1950s.

In true Pratchett fashion, the fantasy is well-laced with humor and wit. It is, however, very English wit which may not translate well to an American audience.

I first read this book when it was originally published in 1996 - it is still a good read and Pratchett fans will not be disappointed. It is the third of three titles about Johnny and his friends and possibly the most satisfying.

Reviewer: Ros Wilkes, Orange County Public Library/Mesa Verde Branch

Stoneheart, by Charlie Fletcher

Rating: Additional

Hyperion, 2007, $16.99

ISBN: 9781423101758

Age/Grade Level: Grades 6 and up

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George is an unhappy 12-year-old, who, on a school trip to a London museum, is blamed for something he did not do. In a fit of temper, George hits out at a stone gargoyle, breaking off its head. This action sends him into an alternative reality where London's statuary comes to life and is divided into 2 camps - the evil 'taints' and the good 'spits'. His action has him pursued by 'taints' but with the aid of a WWI gunner he manages to evade them. The complications arrive thick and fast - Edie, (a time-shifting girl), a minotaur and a mysterious 'Walker'. A Sphinx on the Embankment gives George a riddle to solve, which sends him looking for the 'Stoneheart' of London.

At the beginning of his adventures, George is a stereotypical kid, uncertain of himself and of how he should react in certain circumstances. Through the challenges he faces, both mental and physical, he grows as a character and we become more interested in him & the way he accepts responsibility for his companions. The plot premise - that there are several different parallel universes, is not original, but the idea of living statues adds to the interest of the story.The narrative is rather 'dry' in places which may deter casual readers . This is the first volume of a trilogy - it will take committed readers to stick with it.

Reviewer: Ros Wilkes, Orange County Public Library/Mesa Verde Branch

The Redheaded Princess, by Anne Rinaldi

Rating: Recommended
HarperCollins, 2008, $16.89
ISBN: 9780060733759
Age/Grade Level: Young Adult

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The Redheaded Princess is a compelling narrative, turning the fairytale of being born a princess into a true tale of the life-threatening dangers, political intrigue and personal responsibilities of becoming a queen. Anne Rinaldi once again provides a true glimpse into the hearts and souls of her characters (in this instance a young Queen Elizabeth I), making history come alive .

Reviewer: Linda Cundiff, Orange Public Library

The Umbrella Queen, by Shirin Yim Bridgers

Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

Rating: Additonal

Greenwillow Books, 2008, $16.99

ISBN: 9780060750411

Age/Grade Level: grades PreK-2

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High in the hills of Thailand, in a small village famous since hundreds of years for its umbrellas, a young girl watches her mother paint the traditional flowers and butterflies on big silk or paper umbrellas of many colors and soon excels at it too. However, left on her own, she begins drawing elephants, and more elephants, just because she likes them,and is very disappointed when told she must adhere to the old designs because these umbrellas are for sale at the village council shop. Undaunted, she makes her own small umbrellas from scraps, decorates them with her beloved elephants and proudly displays them on her windowsill.

This year the king himself is coming to her village to choose the Umbrella Queen, and when he inadvertently gets a glimpse of these small creations he asks Noot why she felt compelled to make them; enchanted by her candid reply he proclaims her this year's Umbrella Queen "because she paints from the heart".

This lovely tale, beautifully illustrated with pencil and linoleum prints, will delight many a budding artist and kids bent on trying their own wings.

Reviewer: B. Carswell, Orange County Public Library/West Garden Grove Branch

The Story of the Samson, by Kathleen Benner Duble

Illustrated by Alexander Farquharson
Rating: Additonal
Charlesbridge, 2008, $16.95
ISBN: 97881580891837
Age/Grade Level: ages 8-11

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Sam and his grandfather relive the Samson's adventures on the high seas, and what a story it is, the ship having been a sealing schooner, then a whaler, an exploration vessel, a museum and a trade ship before finally burning up and sinking in the waters of Nova Scotia where its planks were used for building houses.

The author uses actual events to weave a tale about the ship and its many incarnations, an almost unbelievable history put in perspective in a note at the end of the book where other resources and websites are also listed.

Alexander Farquharson's sepia tones and full-color oils place the reader in the midst of it all, but the mixed format--half picture book, half non-fiction for older children--will make it difficult to recommend to either group.

Reviewer: B. Carswell, Orange County Public Library/West Garden Grove Branch

Bugtown Boogie, by Warren Hanson

Illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher

Rating: Recommended

Laura Geringer, 2008, $16.99

ISBN: 0060599383

Age/Grade Level: ages 3-8

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This book would have been a really neat book for this year's Summer Reading theme, "Catch the Reading Bug". It is a cute rhyme about a boy who finds a treasure trove of bugs who are partying like there's no tomorrow. The illustrations are very nice, the rhyme actually makes sense. I think the book would make a great storytime book for preschoolers or older.

Reviewer: Kim Bell, Orange County Public Library/Cypress Branch

Tap Dancing on the Roof, by Linda Sue Park

Illustrated by Istvan Banyai
Rating: Additional
Clarion, 2007, $16.00
ISBN: 0618234837
Age/Grade Level: ages 5-10

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Sijo, a poetic form originating in Korea, is showcased in "Tap Dancing on the Roof." This attractive book with commendable spirit, falls flat intermittently, hampered by format and function to the syllabic servitude of sijo which in "English, has three lines, each with fourteen to sixteen syllables. As poet E. E. Cummings wrote, "since feeling is first, who pays any attention to the syntax of things," this poetry does not pack an emotional punch. And children, not concerned with meter, might not relish the poetic machination. Redemption comes as Park's renowned talent twinkles in poems "School Lunch" and "Frog." Pictures by Istvan Banyai are simplistically pleasant and accompany text well.

Reviewer: Rebecca Porter, Orange County Public Library/Laguna Beach Branch

Phillis's Big Test, by Catherine Clinton

Illustrated by Sean Qualls

Rating: Additional

Houghton Mifflin, 2008, $16.00

ISBN: 978-0618737390
Age/Grade Level: 9-12

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Phillis's tale of slave girl (named after the ship that brought her from Africa) turned educated poet is a fascination.This book chronicles her "test:" having to prove before the important men of the Massachusetts Bay Colony that she is indeed the author of the poetry she dreams of publishing. While I am delighted to have "witnessed" her slavery to success story in a picture book form, the ending did not fully satisfy me. The entire book builds up to the moment where she gets in front of this room full of judges, only to end there. While there is an afterward which states that the events in that room were never fully known, if Clinton could make up what Phillis was feeling leading up to this meeting, surely she could also have authored an educated guess about the main event itself.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Papa and Me, by Arthur Dorros

Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez

Rating: Very Good

Rayo, 2008, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0060581565
Age/Grade Level: grades 4-8

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This is a nice bilingual story about a boy's day with his father. In addition to having key and simple words spoken in both English and Spanish, the story highlights the complimentary opposites that the child and his father create. The illustrations are lovely, vivid oil pastels with lots of colors and designs on each page. It is a short and simple read that would be perfect for a bilingual storytime.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Trainstop, by Barbara Lehman

Rating: Additional
Houghton Mifflin, 2007, $16.00
ISBN: 978-0618756407

Age/Grade Level: grades 4-8

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A story told only through pictures, a little girl's experience with an ordinary train ride turns unique when she encounters a group of tiny people who need her help. Whether it really happened or was just imagined is left up to the reader, though the tiny people are seen again after the girl returns home. A nice story for exercising a child's imagination, it would best be enjoyed alone or in a bedtime setting.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

I'm Bad! by Kate McMullan

Illustrated by Jim McMullan

Rating: Additional
Joanna Cotler, 2008, $16.99
ISBN: 978-0061229718
Age/Grade Level: 4-8

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A cute story about a T-Rex who wants to demonstrate how "bad" he is by hunting various types of prey. His plan backfires, however, when he is thwarted by every available food source. The poor hungry dinosaur is losing all hope until his much bigger mother arrives with food. This is a twist since the dino acted as though he was the biggest, baddest creature around. The abstract illustrations represent the young dinosaur's energy well, with bright colors and little detail. There are only 2 lines of text per page, making this a breezy read. Could work well in a dinorsaur themed storytime for preschool aged children.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas

Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Rating: Very Good

Amistad, 2008, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0060253752

Age/Grade Level: 9-12

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This is a beautiful book, both in words and illustrations. It is a collection of poems that uses a theme of different berry types to describe skin colors. It is a relatively fair representation of most skin colors, and celebrates all that are described. The illustractions appear to be actual paintings, each beautifully depicting the slight variations of skin tones to a "T." Will not work very well for storytime or public activity, but is great for an older child to enjoy at home or even for adults to appreciate.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Dirty Joe the Pirate: A True Story, by Bill Harley

Illustrated by Jack E. Davis

Rating: Very Good
HarperCollins, 2008, $16.99
ISBN: 978-0066237800

Age/Grade Level: 4-8

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Dirty Joe the Pirate pillages other ships of their dirty socks and flies them from his rigging. Eventually he is defeated by Stinky Annie, the underwear pillager, who turns out to be his sister. The story has a very funny moral that those with older sisters will certainly relate to. This book has all the elements children (especially boys) will enjoy: pirates, smelly socks and underwear, and humor. A bit lengthy for storytime, this is worth adding to a collection even if the adult reader may need a tough stomach to enjoy it.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Margaret Chase Smith: A Woman For President by Lynn Plourde

Illustrated by David McPhail

Rating: Additional

Charlesbridge, 2008, $16.95

ISBN: 978-1-58089-234-6
Age/Grade Level: grades K-3

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Margaret Chase Smith : A Woman for President is a tomato-red-colored children's biography with a cover that grabs attention. Both a hit and a miss, this biography chronicles Margaret Chase Smith's life from her birth in 1897, at which time "women in most of the United States could not vote- not for a dogcatcher, not for governor, and most certainly not for president." Accompanying timelines prove interesting in charting U.S. developments. Information in the afterword would be better integrated into the story, which often leaves pages with white blocks. Summations on each page, such as "What a granddaughter she was -- one who learned the value of money," are redundant. Iconic illustrator David McPhail's, art is at times awkward, and at others, warm. Margaret Chase Smith, a biography with a few flaws, still appeals.

Reviewer: Rebecca Porter, Orange County Public Library/Laguna Beach Branch