Reviews Juvenile Books

The Cruisers / Walter Dean Myers.

August 8, 2011

It took me a while to be comfortable with the “street dialect” if that’s the proper way to refer to the speech used by these inner city kids – but – that grew on me . . . read more »

The magician’s elephant / Kate DiCamillo ; illustrated by Yoko Tanaka.

September 17, 2009

A beautiful haunting hopeful fantasy – It reminds me of The Invention of Hugo Cabret in mood, setting, illustrations, tone – very quick but deep – a seemingly bizarre story but perfect! I want to . . . read more »

Wings / by E.D. Baker.

September 10, 2009

I read it quickly because I liked the two main characters – a girl and boy,  both halflings and orphaned at birth and lots of fun elements from the world of the Fey but no . . . read more »

The house of djinn / Suzanne Fisher Staples.

August 20, 2009

I wish I’d had time to re-read Shabanu & Haveli – bit I didn’t – I was confused at first about who everyone was and found I had to transfer my memory of Shabanu to . . . read more »

The truth about horses, friends, & my life as a coward / by Sarah P. Gibson ; illustrated by Glin Dibley.

August 19, 2009

Funny very realistic look at the un-romantic side of keeping and riding horses – the main character is great – afraid of real danger but brave too – the horses are funny and dear and . . . read more »

The leanin’ dog / by K.A. Nuzum.

August 7, 2009

About grief – harsh that a young girl has to find a stray dog to find comfort on the loss of her mother – spends her days alone in a cabin with severe weather – . . . read more »

Princess Ben : being a wholly truthful account of her various discoveries and misadventures, recounted to the best of her recollection, in four parts / written by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.

August 5, 2009

I loved this fun book! A fairy tale type story but gritty – a real girl who refuses to be the stereotypical princess – has to solve everything herself – some secret magic but that . . . read more »

Keeping corner / Kashmira Sheth.

August 3, 2009

Coming of age in extremely difficult circumstances – this was a great story – engaging because of the wonderful main character, Leela, and the unbelievable hardship she faced – good historical references to Ghandi – . . . read more »