Tag Archives: girl

Truth or Dare

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This coming-of-age story is funny and realistic, and it deals with issues that tween girls face today.

Lia Rollins’ mother was killed in a car accident. The other driver was busy texting when he collided with her mother’s car. Lia is still grieving her mother and refuses to use a cell phone. Lia is part of a group of friends who have known each other since childhood. All of the girls are growing up and hitting puberty at different times. The changes – physical and emotional – take their toll on this once tightly knit group of friends.There is a lot of talk about getting your period, cramps, and wearing a bra. The girls are starting to notice boys, too. Most of Lia’s friends are starting summer vacation by attending the same camp. Lia chooses not to go, but to stay with her aunt Shelby, her mother’s sister, instead of attending summer camp with her friends. When summer is over and the girls return to school, there is tension in the air. The girls are growing up and going their separate ways based on interest and, in some cases, based on poor treatment of one another. Identities are being discovered and shaped, girls are pushing each other’s buttons, and their once strong friendship is fragmenting. Lia is at a crossroads with her friends and her feelings about herself, growing up and letting go. Lia’s family turns out to be a stronger support system than she realized,  Lia discovers the meaning of friendship, and Lia learns that bodies change on their own schedule. Lia finally decides to get a cell phone and discovers that moving on doesn’t necessarily mean letting go.  

Deadly Flowers

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Deadly Flowers is a historical fiction adventure. Sako has trained since she was three years old to be a ninja.  She receives her first mission and she will no longer be in training when finished. If successful, she will be a useful tool for hire.  If she fails, she will be nothing, have no home, and have no one to rely on for help. Her first mission is to make a kill in the sleeping hour. For this first mission, Sako is assigned a compatriot, a mysterious puzzle of a girl who recently arrived at the ninja school and clearly has never trained in her life. The mission goes sideways, and Sako must devise a plan to save her life and is fruitful for Madame else suffer the consequences of a failed mission. Sako takes the only course open to her, she kidnaps the intended young victim and compatriot. Together, this trio embark on an adventure that requires intellect and skill to outwit a warlord’s samurai as well as unexpected bakemono.

Thomson’s skill with descriptive language propels the plot and paints a vivid picture that changes with characters, events and mystical beings.  

This story that is part action, part adventure, part fantasy, and all intrigue will satisfy readers and leave them wanting more.  A must purchase to round a library collection and bring a female protagonist to ninja readers.

Shyanna’s Song

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shyannaSince her father’s death, song has left Shyanna’s life.  She no longer sings nor does her mother. But this is the year the Shyanna decides to change that. Even though she has terrible stage fright, Shyanna decides to enter the Melody pageant that is held every year in the mermaid kingdom (think American Idol) . Shyanna wants to enter the competition in order to inspire her mother to love music again.  Shyanna thinks she has a pretty good chance to win until she meets her greatest competition, Rachel, the pretty mermaid who is new to town.

An engaging story for children and adults alike. Lessons on friendship, courage, perseverance and safety. An unexpected twist at the end made this an even more enjoyable read. The sporadic, full color illustrations will beg the reader to linger a little longer. Back matter includes: legend of mermaids, questions for discussion, writing prompts and the author and illustrator bios.

shyanna inside

 

The Daring Escape of The Misfit Menagerie

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Misfit Menagerie

“Smalls the sun bear, Tilda the Angora rabbit, Rigby the Komondor dog, and Wombat the wombat are the four animals that make up “the misfit menagerie.”
Together they’ve always lived a happy life on Mr. Mumford’s farm. That is, until one fateful evening when Mumford, loopy from elderberry wine, accidentally loses them to the dastardly circus owner Grande Master Claude. Suddenly, these animals are forced to perform death-defying tricks and live in filthy, cramped cages as members of Claude’s traveling circus. But all hope is not lost! Claude’s nephew Bertie and his friend Susan, a circus acrobat, are equally fed up with Claude’s evil ways, and together they might just have what it takes to find their ticket out of the circus.” Amazon.com

Resnick is a writer who creates characters worth caring about and a plot line that keeps the reader engaged.  However, the abuse that occurs is harsh.  Once the reader has begun to care about the characters it is very hard to read the detailed description of their individual cruel treatments and sufferings. An angry elephant, a hot-to-trot Zebra and an elderly monkey who has given up on life are a few of the side characters.  These animals are starkly contrasted by the main animals: a wombat, a sun bear, a Komondor dog and an angora rabbit who live an idyllic existence until a cruel circus master swindles them away from their loving owner.  The circus master also “owns” two children.  One performs in the circus and the other does everything necessary to help keep a circus running.
The story line is very engaging and the writing style is fluid and descriptive. Perhaps a bit too strong in many instances where the cruelty and abuse is concerned. The harshness without redeeming or redemptive outcomes makes me rate this book as not recommended.
There is a sequel and perhaps that will add light and meaning to this work.

Sidney & Sydney: Book 1 Third Grade Mix-Up

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sidney and sydneyThe start of a new school year and the start of third grade.  What could induce more uncertainty and nervousness?  How about stepping into the classroom on the first day and seeing that your teacher spelled your name wrong.  Should you speak up? Perhaps it’s better to just sit down and not make a fuss about it.  After all the teacher, Mr. Luther,  is known to be grumpy.

Ah, the trials of third grade!  Sydney (spelled with a “y”) meets her gender counterpart (Sidney with an “i”) on that first day.  They soon find out they have a lot more in common than just a same first name.  This is a story of friendship that elementary students will like to read about.  The dialog is very realistic and the characters are well written and believable.  The story line is engaging without being trite or overly predictable.  Jakubowski seems to accurately understands her audience.

The story is heavily illustrated, in full color, by Luisa Montalto. Most of the illustrations are full page, centering on the characters with little to no background distractions. The opening pages give an illustrated bio of the characters and the end pages give further info and insight into the characters.  I can envision many of my students trying to copy Montalto’s clean style and creating a Sydney or Sidney of their own.

Visit Capstone to have students read bios on Sydney and Sidney and there respective friends.  Also there are two downloads: “How funny are you?” and “Are you a good friend?”  Both of these quizzes are the type with no definitive right or wrong answers.  They are the type that sum up your answers with “If you have mostly “A” answers you are….