What I Read in 2013 (#4) 

Tweens

Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi ~ Historical fiction loosely based on the true story of a young boy who is arrested and jailed in Idaho in 1885.  The story is narrated by ten-year old Jake as we follow him into a prison system that was created for adult men.  Jake faces lots of tough choices that will make for some great discussions if this is used in a book club or read aloud.  Ages 10 and up.

Salt:  A Story of Friendship in a Time of War by Helen Frost ~ Historical fiction written in free verse.  Set in 1812, it is the story of two twelve-year old boys, James and Anikwa, who live in the Indiana Territory.  It relates how they - and their family and friends - must handle rising tensions between the Miami and the American settlers.  Again, good discussion material.  Ages 10 and up.

And Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman ~ Just read it - very short, absurdly silly, and delightful.  Several years ago, Neil Gaiman wrote "The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish".  The dad in that story was, basically, clueless.  But folks kept writing to Neil about how they were giving that book to their dads on Father's Day...  so he decided he needed to create a story in which the dad was a bit more of a hero.  So, we have a time traveling stegosaurus, aliens, dwarves, wumpires, ponies...  and a hero dad who saves the world.  Ages 9 and up.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein ~ Mr. Lemoncello is a modern day Willy Wonka except instead of creating yummy candies, he creates games.  All kinds of games - board games, electronic games, computer games.  And he loves books.  So he builds a brand new library for his home town and invites a dozen twelve year olds to join him on the even of the grand opening.  Delightfully fun.  

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata ~ Winner of the National Book Award, the story of twelve year old Summer and her younger brother, Jaz, who must accompany her grandparents as part of a harvesting team working their way up through the Midwest.  I liked parts of this book -- even though Summer's life is very different from many other twelve-year olds, it is also very similar.  Summer also has lots of difficult choices to make; it's a good story of persevering through hard times.  Ages 12 and up?  This is not going to appeal to everyone - mainly girls, is my guess.

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate diCamillo ~ An unassuming squirrel is accidentally sucked up into a Ulysses vacuum cleaner by Flora Belle Buckman's ditzy neighbor.  Amazingly, the squirrel comes out alive and now in the possession of several super powers.  Flora, of course, immediately adopts him and names him Ulysses.  I LOVED this book.  Please read it.  It may take you a few pages to get into it but trust me -- it is worth it.  It is one of my top ten favorites of the year.  

One Crazy Summer & PS Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia ~  Books 1 & 2 in the Gaither Girl series.  One Crazy Summer follows Delphine and her two younger sisters as they fly from Brooklyn to California.  They are headed for Oakland to spend the summer with the poet mother who abandoned them years before.  The books take place in the 60s and the Black Panthers play a role in Delphine's Crazy Summer.  The second book finds them all safely back home in Brooklyn and heading off to a new school year.  Their beloved Uncle Darnell has returned home from Vietnam but he is very different.  And their dad has gone and gotten himself a girlfriend!  These are excellent books.  Highly recommended for ages 10 and up.  

Goblin Secrets by William Alexander ~ Also a National Book Award winner, Alexander creates a complex fantasy world called Zombay.  There is a witch named Graba (very much like Baba Yaga) who has a horde of abandoned youngsters living with her and answering to her every need (or else).  Rownie is one of them but he desperately wants to find his missing brother so he risks running away from Graba to join a roving theatre troupe comprised of goblins.  Fascinating and well written!  I have the second Zombay book on my stack of to be reads. Ages 10 and up

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu ~ Another of my top ten favorites for the year.  This is the story of Hazel and her dear friend Jack.  Jack is injured by a snowball that Hazel threw at him in the midst of a jealous fit.  Unfortunately, the injury is in the form of a piece of glass from a magic mirror and it lodges in Jack's heart.  This causes Jack to enter the Magic Forest, lured by the Snow Queen.  Hazel, of course, must go after her friend and rescue him.  Loosely based on Andersen's "The Snow Queen", but set in modern day Minneapolis. The thing I love most about this story is what Hazel learns about herself as she ventures out to find Jack.  Please read this if you get the chance.  It also has lovely illustrations by Erin McGuire.  

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt ~ Oh, Kathi Appelt!  Why must you write such complicated stories?  Parts of this tale are perfect for the younger set - two adorable raccoon brothers, J'miah and Bingo, entrusted with guarding the swamp from danger plus the story of twelve year old Chap whose mama makes the best fried pies in Louisiana but needs a boat load of money to keep her house and cafe from -- and this is where the story shifts to an older audience -- the bad guys.  Sonny Boy Beaucoup, and his alligator wrestling partner, Jaeger Stitch are determined to pave over the swamp and create a theme park.  Plus a marauding horde of wild hogs and, of course, the Sugar Man. It's a great romp of a story; I just always have a hard time deciding what age is best for her books.  Realistic fiction with a touch of magic.