The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern

At first, this book seems like a typical coming of age story. Maggie Mayfield deals with the usual classroom dramas and social awkwardness of fifth grade. But we soon find out that Maggie is dealing with a difficult situation at home. Her father, with whom she shares an especially close relationship, suffers from a debilitating illness, which as the book goes on, we discover is multiple sclerosis. As the story unfolds, we share Maggie's journey from at first believing that her father will recover from his disability to realizing that he will most likely become progressively more debilitated. Along the way, Maggie's focus shifts from "fixing" her father to learning to accept her family the way it is and that being "brave" is continuing to live life to the fullest even when conditions are difficult.

The beauty of this story is how Maggie, through the course of the novel, goes from seeing her family through a child's eyes to the more mature realization that no family is perfect and that each member must contribute however they can to support the whole.

It's no surprise that this novel is semi-autobiographical, with the author herself having been the child of a parent with a chronic illness, since Maggie's voice rings especially true throughout. There are a few slightly disturbing scenes of Maggie and her sisters being alone with her father while he has a health crisis, that may be disturbing to younger readers. Overall, a great coming of age story about dealing with a family crisis. 2014.

P.Sassoon

Buddy by M.H. Herlong

This is the story of Tyrone Elijah Roberts, who everyone calls "Li'l T", and his dog Buddy. On the surface it seems as if this will be another endearing tale of a boy and his dog, which on its own would be a great story. But halfway through the book it becomes so much more than that.

The story begins when Li'l T's family hits a stray dog with their car. Li'l T has always wanted a dog but his family, which lives in a poor section of New Orleans, cannot afford one. Due to the accident, the dog must have one of its legs amputated and Li'l T knows immediately that this is the dog he's always wanted. His family is not so easily convinced, especially since the state of the dog's physical health is unclear and there is no money to feed and care for him.

Li'l T convinces his father that he will raise all the money to pay for Buddy's upkeep by mowing neighbor's lawns and the family agrees to take him home. Soon after, the foreshadowing of Hurricane Katrina begins. Even as news coverage of the impending storm starts, residents of New Orleans are either disbelieving of the danger or unable to find a place to go. Li'l T's family is one of the lucky ones. They leave to stay with an aunt in Mississippi but are forced to leave Buddy behind, locked in an upstairs bathroom, thinking that they will be returning in just a couple of days.

When Lil T's family realizes the scope of the storm and that their house has been destroyed they believe that Buddy has most likely perished. Li'l T is devastated, even when his parents surprise him with the gift of a brand new puppy for Christmas. When the reverend from their neighborhood sees a television special on pets rescued from Hurricane Katrina, he spots a three legged dog who looks just like Buddy, living in California. The entire church bands together to find Li'l T a way to get to California and bring his dog home. Things don't turn out exactly as Li'l T expects and he meets someone who might just need Buddy even more than he does.

This is an incredible, multi-faceted story with themes of family and community running through it while highlighting the struggle that so many families faced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  Li'l T grows as a person as he struggles between his desire for a pet to love and doing what he knows is right for his family and community. These are not easy choices for him and he is often conflicted as to whether to do the right thing or satisfy his personal needs. In the end, with the help of his family, his good character triumphs. This is a great book for animal lovers and those interested in family stories and historical novels. 2012.

P. Sassoon

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech

When John and Marta find a young boy asleep on their porch, they're not sure what to do with him. The boy seems unable to speak but possess a crumpled note which indicates that his name is Jacob and that someone will be back for him.

Meanwhile the boy displays unusual artistic and musical talents, which lend a fairy-tale like quality to the story. When days and then weeks pass with no one claiming the boy, the couple start to believe that they are actually a family and that the boy belongs to them. When the boy's father does eventually show up, he's a ne'er do well who does not seem to even care about Jacob's well being. John and Marta are however, forced to relinquish the boy to his father's care but find that caring for children suits them and they begin a life of taking in foster children. Coming full circle, one day in the future, John and Marta find a grown-up young man asleep on their porch who turns out to be the boy that they cared for all those years ago. This is where the story ends.

This is a very sweet tale but the characters are not well developed and we never find out why Jacob was abandoned or why his father returned. It's also never explicitly stated why John and Marta don't have any children of their own and they never talk about specifically longing for a child or being unhappy that they do not have any. Because of this it's difficult to become absorbed in the story or understand the characters' motivations.It is also never explained why the boy can't speak and there is a hint of mystery or perhaps something magical in the beginning of the story, which never really comes to fruition. Recommended for readers looking for a short and sweet tale. 2013.

P. Sassoon

Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck

When Malcolm becomes the latest classroom pet in McKenna School, everyone is delighted to have such a cute mouse join the menagerie of animals. The only problem is, Malcolm is not a mouse. He is in fact, a rat! He decides to keep his true identity a secret when he learns that rats are mistrusted by humans, as well as the Midnight Academy, who are a secret society of classroom pets. The Midnight Academy entrusts themselves with the task of keeping the children, or "nutters", as they call them, out of harm's way. But when Aggy, their iguana leader goes missing, Malcolm's true identity is revealed and he is blamed for her disappearance.

Malcolm must prove his innocence and also prove that rats can be trustworthy creatures despite their unsavory reputation. Along the way he meets a fellow rat named Clyde, who certainly does give rats a bad name, and a spiteful cat named Snip, who has her own particular revenge to exact.

This is a charming animal fantasy which will remind readers of other precocious pets such as Humphrey of Betty Birney's Humphrey Adventure series and Freddy of the I, Freddy series by Dietlof Rieche. Lovers of books about talking rodents, such as A Mouse Called Wolf by Dick King-Smith and The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo will surely enjoy this book. 2013.

P.Sassoon

Below by Meg McKinlay

 Below

The day 12 year old Cassie was born is a memorable one in the history of her hometown. It is the day that Old Lower Grange was purposely flooded by the town's mayor, in order to provide access to water for surrounding areas. Every building in the town was replicated in great detail and renamed "New Lower Grange." For Cassie, the mystery of the original town which now lies beneath a large lake, is irresistible, even though the town's inhabitants are repeatedly warned to steer clear of the area of the lake beneath which Old Lower Grange resides.

Despite not being a strong swimmer, Cassie decides to swim out to the forbidden area, just barely being rescued by a boy named Liam who also seems drawn to the mysterious waters. Together they unlock a secret that lies beneath the lake that provides some much needed answers for Liam's family and the true nature behind the mayor's seemingly friendly behavior.

While the story starts off seeming a bit like a futuristic type of novel, it is actually more of a mystery/suspense  story. The "big reveal", however, doesn't quite live up to the level up suspense that builds throughout story and leaves the reader wishing for more details behind the decision to "flood" the original town.

P.Sassoon. 2013.

Cake

Wilma Sue has never had a home to call her own. Orphaned since birth, she has been passed from one foster home to another, briefly spending time at Miss Daylily's Home for Children, or as she puts it, Miss Daylily's Home for Unwanted and Misunderstood Children. When she learns that two missionary sisters are interested in having her come live with them, she does not know what to expect. At first she assumes they simply want her there to act as kitchen help and to take care of their collection of feisty chickens. Then she discovers that the sisters concoct mysterious cakes in their kitchen which appear to have magical powers. Each cake seems tailored to the recipients specific needs and is capable of helping each person overcome whatever is ailing them at the moment. There is the opera singer suffering from stage fright, the elderly woman grieving the loss of her daughter and an elderly man riddled with arthritis, all of whom seem to feel instantly better after the first bite of his/her magical cake.

As Wilma Sue assists the sisters in creating their concoctions, she begins to feel as if she has a permanent home, at last. But trouble ensues when Wilma Sue takes it upon herself to create a cake of her own, and ends up in a misunderstanding that causes her to be accused of burning down the sisters' beloved chicken coop.Will Wilma Sue be able to clear her name? Will she ever find out the secret of the sisters' magical cakes? And most importantly will she finally end up in a loving home? Some of the questions are answered as Wilma Sue learns that things are not always what they seem and sometimes you have to trust in people in even if you've been disappointed in the past.

This is a very endearing story with charming illustrations throughout the chapters. Some questions never get answered and that might prove frustrating to the reader. Also, since the sisters are missionaries, Bible quotes are interspersed throughout the story and there seems to be a underlying Christian message , which might put off readers not expecting there to be a religious tone to the story. Overall, it is an enjoyable and interesting read.

P. Sassoon, 2013

The Cavendish Home For Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand

The Cavendish Home For Boys and Girls

Friends can be messy. And Victoria does not like mess of any kind. She likes perfection in all areas of her life from her appearance to her grades to her home life. She prides herself on her perfect hair, her perfectly organized bedroom and mostly her flawless grades. The only complication she allows into her life is one extremely messy friend named Lawrence. When Lawrence goes missing, Victoria realizes that all the children in her seemingly perfect town, who are a little different in some way, have all disappeared. She traces the disappearances to the mysterious Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls where children seem to go into but never come out. The problem is Victoria is the only one who seems to notice that the children are gone. Even their parents seem strangely unaware.

Once Victoria gains entry into Cavendish, the mystery only heightens. It's run by an ominous headmistress who takes delight in torturing the children, who are held captive, using their specific weakness against them. The walls and floors seem to move of their own accord and the rooms are crawling with insects that are capable of carrying off any rule breaking children.

As Victoria and her friend Lawrence manage to bring down the evil Mrs. Cavendish and save their friends from her clutches, she learns that being different and having "mess" in your life are the things that make life rich and interesting.

While the message of this book is important and the plot definitely holds the reader's interest, the story is incredibly creepy and dark. Scenes of children being physically and emotionally tortured may be extremely difficult for some children to tolerate. Lovers of horror stories will enjoy the story but caution should be used when recommending this book.

P.Sassoon. 2013.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder

Starting middle school is a challenge for any child. But for 10 year old August Pullman, "Auggie", it seems like an almost insurmountable feat. Born with severe craniofacial abnormalities, Auggie has been homeschooled his entire life and undergone countless surgeries. When his parents decide to send him to private school, he is not sure how his new classmates will react to his strange appearance. While initially, he does make a few friends, most of the children stay far away from him and he also attracts the attention of an outright bully.
Through it all, Auggie's voice as a typical 10 year old, rings true, even as he faces obstacles that are anything but ordinary. Adding even more richness to the story is the fact that there are also chapters told in the voices of Auggie's sister Olivia, his supposed "best friend" Jack and Olivia's boyfriend and best friend. As each one of them details how their lives are changed through their interactions with Auggie, it becomes clear that while Auggie's difficulties are extreme, no one is exempt from the challenges that life often throws our way.
A turning point is reached when Auggie is the target of bullies on a school trip. When he receives help from an unlikely source, he realizes that sometimes the worst of circumstances turn out to be the moments when our true character and the characters of others shines through.
This is a completely satisfying read that honestly portrays the perils of middle school as well as the individual suffering that those that are different must often face in our society. 2011
Highly recommended.
P.Sassoon

Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Circle of Secrets

Eleven-year-old Shelby has never gotten used to her mother's leaving her to go live in the Louisiana bayou where she grew up. Shelby lives with her father and grandmother and has vowed never to speak to her mother again. But when her father must leave the country for work and her grandmother goes to the hospital, Shelby is forced to stay with her mother in the bayou, which is a place both wild and mysterious to her.

Things get even more mysterious when a strange girl named Gwen turns up in the bayou. She and Shelby vow to become best friends, but something seems not quite right with Gwen. Why has Gwen's family disappeared and left her? Why does she live in a crumbling house on a deserted island? And why is she leaving mysterious notes in bottles in Shelby's mother's blue bottle tree?

As Shelby slowly starts to piece together the clues to Gwen's strange existence, she also learns to stand up to the bullies at her new school and to once again open her heart to the mother that she never thought she could feel close to again.

This is a heartwarming story of finding strength in unusual places, as well as an engaging tale of mystery and suspense. The author does a good job of creating a sense of place as she details the spooky character of the bayou. Recommended for lovers of ghost stories. 2011

P. Sassoon

Pie by Sarah Weeks

Pie

Being in Aunt Polly's pie shop, helping her bake pies, is the place where Alice Portman feels most at home. Aunt Polly, the "Pie Queen of Ipswitch", is the only one in her family who shares Alice's quirky ways and imaginative personality. When Aunt Polly suddenly passes away, Alice finds herself in possession of her disagreeable cat, Lardo, who allegedly is the only one who knows the recipe for Aunt Polly's secret pie crust.

Dealing with her grief over Aunt Polly's death, is hard enough for Alice, but suddenly all kinds of disreputable characters are after Lardo and the townspeople are all hot to match the secret pie crust recipe and become the new prize winning pie maker of Ipswitch, Pennsylvania.

This is an intriguing mystery as well as a heart-warming small-town story set in the 1950's. Readers will be truly surprised to learn how a cat could be in possession of a secret, prize-winning recipe. As an added bonus, each chapter begins with a mouth-watering pie recipe! 2011.

P. Sassoon

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Glow

15-year-old Waverly was conceived in space and has lived on a spaceship, the Empyrean, for her entire life. Her ship is on a voyage to a new home planet, since Earth has been destroyed due to circumstances that are never fully explained. The excitement begins when the inhabitants of another ship board the Empyrean and kidnap all the young females. Waverly soon learns that they are to be used to provide children for the families living on the ship since their women have become infertile.

Waverly is determined to avoid this destiny at all costs, and quickly wages a revolt to save herself and all the other young women and girls being held with her. Back on the Empyrean, the males left behind are desperately trying to figure out the whereabouts of the kidnappers while trying to save their own ship from destruction.

This is a truly exciting story that combines elements of science fiction, mystery and even romance. Intended to be the first in the Sky Chasers series, this book is a great read for teens, especially those who enjoy science fiction that's not overly technical. 2012

P.Sassoon

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill

The Mostly True Story of Jack

Jack has always felt as though there were something different about him. No one seems to pay much attention to him, even his own family. It's almost as if he were invisible. Things really start to get strange when, following his parents divorce, he is sent to live with his eccentric aunt and uncle. He swears he has never met them before, but they have photographs of him in their home and the townspeople all seem to know who he is. Unaccustomed to all the attention, Jack struggles to make sense of his new life as he makes strange new friends, including Wendi and her twin brother Frankie, who has recently resurfaced after having mysteriously disappeared for several years. Frankie seemingly cannot speak and appears to hold the key as to why the whole town, including some nefarious characters, are so interested in Jack. As magic and mystery continue to unfold, Jack discovers his destiny and his true place in the world, which is nothing like his ordinary life back home.

This novel definitely draws the reader in with its magical elements and feeling of suspense. However, in the end, the premise doesn't completely make sense, even if you suspend disbelief and give yourself over to the "fantasy" of it all. Still, it is a unique story and one that children certainly wouldn't have encountered before. For that reason it is recommended, especially for fantasy lovers. 2011.

P.Sassoon

The Wikkeling by Steven Arntson

The Wikkeling

This futuristic fantasy novel takes place in a world where schools teach by computerized rote learning, children are watched by cameras and reading books is frowned upon. Henrietta and her friends Gary and Rose are attracted to things from the past and seem to pay for it with mysterious headaches and visits from a menacing creature, known as a Wikkeling.

When Henrietta discovers an injured cat hiding in her attic, a chain of events unfolds which leads the children toward discovering the origins of the Wikkeling and the secret to breaking it's power over them. It is a journey in which understanding the past takes a pivotal role and in which problems in the present cannot be solved without an appreciation for history.

This novel is engrossing in it's originality and storytelling, with beautiful block print illustrations scatterered throughout. Lovers of fantasy and mystery will find much to engage them here. It does, however, wrap up a little too quickly, leaving too many loose ends and unanswered questions. Possibly this is to leave room for a sequel. Still, this is a highly recommended read. 2011

P. Sassoon

Then by Morris Gleitzman

Then

"Then", tells the story of Felix, a 10 year old Jewish boy in Nazi occupied Poland. Felix escapes from a train headed to a Nazi death camp and befriends Zelda, a little girl whose Nazi parents have been killed by the Polish resistance. Together they struggle for survival, sleeping in the woods and witnessing all manner of horrors that they barely manage to escape themselves. They are taken in by a reluctant good samaritan named Genia, who hides them on her farm, until she too meets a gruesome fate at the hands of the Nazis.

Although there is much written about this horrific period of history, this book tells Felix's story in such a straightforward, unsentimental way, that it gives readers a unique perspective on this much told story. There are however, graphic descriptions of violence, which would make this book most appropriate for 6th grade and older.

This book is the sequel to Gleitzman's other book about Felix, titled, "Once" and another in the series titled, "Now", is due to be published. 2010.

P.Sassoon,

Cat Secrets, by Jef Czekaj

A very funny picture book for cat lovers, this starts off with a cat urgently telling readers to "Stop reading right now!" Apparently the "cat secrets" revealed in this book, can only be heard by actual cats. When the cats realize that someone other than a cat may be reading the book, they ask the reader to perform a variety of catlike actions to prove their "catness" The engaging way in which the characters speak directly to the reader, reminds one of Mo Willems, Don't Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus books. A must-read for cat lovers or lovers of just plain funny picture books. Also good for storytimes, since the children can act out the actions to prove that they are indeed "cats"!
2011
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The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly

This truly engaging story takes place right at the dawn of the 20th century, with 12-year-old Calpurnia (Callie Vee) and her 6 brothers living on an affluent estate on their family farm in Texas. Callie is a lover of all things outdoors; animals, plants, the lakefront; and writes down all that she observes in her special notebook. The only one in her family who fosters her love of nature is her remote grandfather, who fancies himself an amateur scientist. When her grandfather realizes that Callie alone, of all her siblings, shares his scientific curiosity, a bond forms between them that is beneficial to them both. For Callie, it allows her to escape the drudgery of the girlish duties of cooking, sewing and piano playing. For her grandfather, it allows him to show affection to his granddaughter, something that he has not allowed himself to do with his other grandchildren.

The tension rises, as Callie and grandfather discover a new species of plant on their property, while at the same time Callie's mother realizes that her daughter is not growing up to be the proper young lady that she believes she should be.

Callie's struggle to be true to herself, while at the same time fulfilling the expectations of her family and society are told with both poignancy and humor, making this a delightful period read.

P. Sassoon

Ortega, by Maureen Fergus

Ortega is no ordinary 11-year-old. Sure he enjoys hanging out with his friends, disagrees with his mom on a regular basis and is trying to find where he belongs in his new middle school. But the most interesting thing about Ortega is that he's actually a GORILLA! Scientists taught him to talk, read and write from an early age as part of "Project Ortega", an experiment whose goal was to see if a wild animal could be integrated into human society. Dr. Susan, the only mother he has ever known, is Ortega's fiercest champion as he awkwardly tries to blend into middle school life. For not all of Ortega's classmates nor their parents are thrilled to have a enormous gorilla in their midst. When one of the scientists on the team decides to sell Ortega and abandon the experiment, Dr. Susan must find a way to show everyone that Ortega is more than just a science project.

The author does a fantastic job of conveying the conflicting animal/human elements of Ortega's personality, while mirroring the adolescent angst that any typical 11-year-old experiences. Told with humor and heart this tale will appeal to a wide range of audiences while bringing to mind the issues of discrimination and animal as well as human rights. 2010.

P. Sassoon

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin

Young Minli lives in a poor Chinese village where the villagers can barely grow enough rice to sustain themselves since Fruitless Mountain stopped being green and fertile. Each night Minli's father spins fanciful tales of the Jade Dragon who keeps the mountain from bearing food due to the sorrow of being separated from her children. Minli decides that it is her mission to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him to improve her family's fortune. Along the way Minli is befriended by a flightless dragon, a talking goldfish and a host of other characters who help her see that sometimes the answer you are seeking you already hold within yourself. Supplemented by gorgeous color illustrations and drawing upon folk tales from Lin's own childhood, this Newbery Honor winning book is truly a magical story and destined to become a classic of children's literature. 2009.

P. Sassoon

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins, by R.A. Spratt

When Mr. Green advertises for a nanny for his three children, he certainly does not expect a pig to show up at the front door. But since Mr. Green is extremely cheap and Nanny Piggins is willing to work for 10 cents per week, a deal is struck. To the childrens' delight they soon discover that Nanny Piggins is a former circus pig who lets them eat sweets all day, takes them on excursions to the amusement park instead of school shopping and on boat rides with the intention of reaching China for a bite to eat. With Nanny Piggins the children never know where adventure will strike next, but they sure know that they want to be along for the ride! 2010

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The Magical Ms. Plum, by Bonny Becker

The students in Ms. Plum's third grade class always know they're in for a treat. They've heard that magical things happen in her class but what they don't know is that every time they enter her supply closet they will come out with an enchanted creature. What that creature will be, no one knows, but it will be theirs for the remainder of the day and instrumental in teaching them whatever "lesson" they need to learn at that particular time. A messy child ends up with a pair of scurrying squirrels. A boy who can't stop talking ends up with a parrot on his shoulder for the rest of the day. All the while, Ms. Plum uses humor and affection to help each child be their best with the help of their new animal friend. Reminiscent of Wayside School and Mary Poppins, this is a charming and quirky read. 2009.
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