The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I really liked this Newbery winning book, one of the first Newberys in a while that had delighted me. Sadly, many of the students who have read it tell me they don’t like it – so I’m going to say why I did like it, and then let folks who didn’t like it say their piece. I think it is well-written. There is a flow to it and a clever story that engaged me right up front. I LOVED the author stepping out of her silent role to make sly comments on the action. I think it really works on a lot of levels – a cute kid’s story, a satiric adult piece. So that’s my two bits. Detractors, your turn.

Sign of the Qin by L.G. Bass

Honestly, hated it. I anticipated something better in this first novel. The opening is lyric in the way it painted a picture with words, and the concept – bringing Chinese mythical characters to life – engaging. Unfortunately, the follow-through wasn’t there. After the delightful beginning and a neat story concept (a Prince is born with the mark of the rebels, his mother is thrown into the streets), the tale falls into a jumble of different viewpoints, none of which advance the story much. There is battle after battle, but in poor literary form, none of them seem to advance the plot at all. I began to feel like I was reading the book version of some inane computer game. A great majority of the characters are emotionally flat. I just didn’t care about them, with the exception of “Monkey” who was somewhat endearing. After plowing through this muddled mess, the “Great Battle” that would actually resolve something was about to begin…NOT. It was a cliff-hanger for the next book in the series. I won’t be reading it, I’m afraid.

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Honestly, this is one of my favorite books of all time (the TV miniseries wasn’t bad, either). The Arthurian legend told from the female viewpoints (it transitions between several of the major women, including Guinevere and Morgan Le Fay) this is a detailed book that weaves a complex tale of love, loss and the changes brought about in our society through the arrival of the Christian faith. There is magic, too, but the story is written so solidly that the magic seems natural in this setting, magic that is completely believable in this not-too-distant world. A lengthy read, it took me months to get through it the first time, but the impressions from the book have lasted a lifetime.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I know, controversy, controversy. I still liked it. I liked it a whole lot. See, the secret is, I’m a slow reader! I plowed through this book with amazing speed. The short chapters, changing storylines and mysteries within the plot made this one of my first “can’t put it down” books in years. Yes, Dan Brown writes fiction like reality, so okay, people who forget it’s FICTION might make assumptions that are not altogether correct (he fooled me on a few points), but at it’s core, this is just a good old fashioned mystery. It begins with a body. And then there are good guys, then bad guys, then guys you aren’t fully sure about. With its fast-paced chase from Paris to the English countryside in a matter of an evening, this book is likely to make you enjoy the journey.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

This powerful first novel won the Printz Award for Young Adult Fiction in 2005. It was deserving. Miles Halter, a 16 year-old “non-persona” attends a prep school in the south. In this muggy atmosphere reminiscent of Tennessee Williams, Miles goes on a journey – both spiritual and emotional, as he seeks to understand a world that literally crashes around him. Deeply sad at times, the book is structured in a way that clearly leads up to that critical “event” and then grows even more compelling as Miles searches for answers he may never find. This is a mature tale that includes frank sexual discussions, but every student I’ve talked to who read it found it to be a thought-provoking and “conscious” story. Strongly recommended for anyone wanting to stretch themselves towards some incredibly good literature.

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

I LOVED this book. It's a first novel, I believe, by a "quite young" Australian lad. The story is fresh and complex. There are realistic elements, fantastical parts, a mystery, a little action and a little romance. I liked it because I rarely could tell what was coming next, but also because the main character's voice was so incredibly rich -- I mean, I really want to know this guy. The story centers on Ed Kennedy, an aimless 19 year-old with a nice pack of solid friends and no actual goals in life. He foils a bank robbery (by accident) and then begins to get a series of messages directing him to a wide variety of people and places. You find yourself laughing, then sighing with sadness over the events that occur, with the whole story coming together like a marvelous puzzle -- revealing a breathtaking picture. Haven't seen something like this since "The Westing Game" by Raskin. This tale, however, is deeper, and, due to language and some situations, recommended for older teens. Pick it up if you want to read something NEW.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

"Persepolis" is a graphic novel that was chosen as the teen book for the Public Library's Arlington Reads Campaign. Although it is fiction, the story is based on Ms. Satrapi's childhood in Iran and her escape during the cultural revolution that took place in the late 1970s. Many people shy away from graphic novels, finding it difficult to track both images and words to decode the story. I have had that experience myself, but certain graphic novels ("Maus", "Pedro and Me") tell such a strong story that the images and words appear seamless. This is one of those books. The text is the singular and compelling voice of our protagonist, mixed with black and white drawings which are realistic, but simple, and which have symbolic undertones that create real subtext to the story. I was surprised that this had originally been published in French as there was a natural flow to it. It did have a "foreign" feel but it is the story of another culture! I became very wrapped up in the book, to the point that the ending seemed abrupt (the sequel, "Persepolis 2", picks up directly after the first book). The books should be read back to back, but I caution, this is not appropriate middle school fare. The first book focuses on politics, with some graphic remarks and images about those who are tortured or "disappeared" and the second book focuses on Marjane's search for self ... which includes drugs and a growing curiousity about sex. Powerful and important in our world today, I consider this one a "must-read" for older teens.

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

"A Single Shard" won the Newbery Award in 2002 and is the current pick for younger readers for the Public Library's Arlington Reads Campaign. Honestly, I didn't love it. I mean, I didn't dislike it, but it didn't ~shine~ for me the way I think a Newbery should. The story is one of a homeless boy in 12th century Korea who becomes an apprentice to a Master Potter. The writing is solid but predictable, with the boy learning all those "Karate Kid/Little Grasshopper" messages. There is enough action to interest readers and it has a male protagonist, so it is probable that this book is a good fit for upper elementary or lower middle school. I give it a "B". For a somewhat better tale, check out An Na's award-winning book, "A Step From Heaven".

A Thief in the House of Memory by Tim Wynne-Jones

I like Tim Wynne-Jones' books. I just do. This would be a "middle school book" by its length and vocabulary, but Mr. Wynne-Jones has a real beauty to his writing, a lyric quality that draws you in and helps paint an emotional quality to his stories that goes far beyond physical description. I shared this one with my mother (an avid reader, age 60+) and she liked it fine. Like many of his books, "A Thief in the House of Memory" focuses on a teenage boy with a hidden past. In this case, it is the story of 16 year-old Declan, trying to come to grips with a mother who left and a father who is present in name only. It reminds me a teensy bit of Paul Fleischman's book, "Seek." The characters are exceedingly real ... Declan and his friends remind me of students I see everyday. The drama is there, but not overblown, and Declan's relationship with his younger sister is delightful -- the kind of love/hate relationship that so many siblings have. An enthusiastic thumbs up for this one.