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Clip and File Reviews of New Fiction Hardbacks
Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner, editors
Lowry, Lois
The Giver
Reviewed by Laura M. Zaidman
Professor of English
University of South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
McGowen, Tom
A Trial of Magic
Reviewed by Joanne Peters
Teacher-Librarian
Sisler High School
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Williams, Tad and
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Child of an Ancient City
Reviewed by M. Jean Greenlaw
Regents Professor
University of North Texas
Denton, TexasTarr, Judith
His Majesty's Elephant
Reviewed by Anne Sherrill
Professor of English
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TennesseeThe Giver by Lois Lowry Fantasy/Dystopia
Houghton Mifflin, 1993. 180 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-395-64566-2
Winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, Lowry's thought-provoking fantasy challengesadolescents to explore important social and political issues. The Giver trainstwelve-year-old Jonas as the next Receiver of Memory, the community'sreceptacle of past memories. This seemingly utopian society (without pain,poverty, unemployment, or disorder) is actually a body- and mind-controllingdystopia (without love, colors, sexual feelings, or memories of the past). Inan exciting plot twist, Jonas courageously resolves his moral dilemma andaffirms the human spirit's power to prevail, to celebrate love, and to transmitmemories. From the book jacket's evocative photographic images -- The Giver inblack and white; trees in blazing color -- to the suspenseful conclusion, thisbook is first-rate. Just as Lowry's Number the Stars (which receivedthe 1990 Newbery Medal) portrays the Danish people's triumph over Nazipersecution, The Giver engages the reader in an equally inspiringvictory over totalitarian inhumanity.
The ALAN Review Laura M. Zaidman
Spring 1994 University of South Carolina
Child of an Ancient City by Tad Williams and Nina Kiriki HoffmanFantasy
Atheneum/Byron Preiss, 1992. 137 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 0-689-31577-5
In a take-off on the Ali Babba stories, a man of ancient Baghdad spins a taleof his youth. He tells of a dangerous caravan journey in which he and hiscompanions are forced to flee into the mountains to escape bandits. As theycontinue on their journey, they are stalked by a vampyr, who, after killing offmost of them, offers the survivors a contest. If one of their number can tella tale sadder than the vampyr's, they all go free. Obviously, they succeed, asthe tale is being told.
There is a sense of comradeship in the introduction of the story, and the taleproceeds apace until the survivors begin to reveal their sad tales to thevampyr. Unfortunately, these tales are flat, and provide little interest. Thestory picks up again when we learn why the vampyr lets them go free, and theending is witty. This would be an appropriate book to use to compare to theancient tales of Ali Babba.
The ALAN Review M. Jean Greenlaw
Spring 1994 University of North Texas
A Trial of Magic by Tom McGowen Fantasy
Dutton, 1992. 148 pp. $15.00 ISBN: 0-525-67376-8
It is 30,000 BC, a time when Dragons, Little People, mages, and ordinary menlive together on Earth, the Atlan Domain. Then, as now, peaceful co-existenceis a dream, and the future is threatened by a vision of impending destruction.Creatures from outside the Earth will bring about this "Earthdoom," unless themagicians of the Atlan Domain can unite their power and avert this apocalypse.Lithim, twelve-year-old son of the mage Mulng, together with his companionsGra-kwo and Alglinnadorn, find their will and magical powers tested, as theyaid Mulng and the other mages in finding the mage-traitor who is conspiringagainst the plan to save the Earth. The second book in the Age of Magictrilogy, A Trial of Magic offers a suspenseful read for younger readers(grades 6-9) of fantastic fiction.
The ALAN Review Joanne Peters
Spring 1994 Sisler High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba
His Majesty's Elephant by Judith Tarr Fantasy
Harcourt Brace & Company, 1993. 192 pp. $16.95 ISBN: 0-15-200737-7
Rowan is a princess who, like her sisters, is seldom allowed out of the sightof her father, the Emperor Charlemagne. Like many adolescents, she worriesthat she is not pretty. In her world, men fight and women tend the wounded.But all of that changes when she meets Kerrec, a Frankish witch and descendentof Roland. The wily Michael Phokias is out to destroy Rowan's father, whosekingdom is a threat to Byzantium. Rowan determines to use her own sorceryagainst the sorcerer.
Magic, demons, witches, a talisman -- these classic ingredients of fantasy --will enchant dedicated fans in early or middle adolescence. Though notessential, familiarity with historic characters and civilization is helpful.One wishes the elephant played a greater part and that the plot was moretightly knit. However, the author, a medieval scholar, presents a likable andstrong female protagonist.
The ALAN Review Anne Sherrill
Spring 1994 East Tennessee State University
Clip and File Reviews of New Fiction Hardbacks
Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner, editors
Zindel, Paul
David and Della
Reviewed by Kay Parks Bushman
English Teacher
Ottawa High School
Ottawa, Kansas
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds
The Girls Get Even
Reviewed by Jennifer Moreland
English Teacher
Redlands Middle School
Grand Junction, Colorado
Bauer, Marion Dane
A Question of Trust
Reviewed by Gary D. Schmidt
Professor of English
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Delffs, Dudley
Forgiving August
Reviewed by Ruth K. J. Cline
Professor Emerita
University of Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
David & Della by Paul Zindel Relationships
HarperCollins, 1993. 169 pp. $14.00 ISBN: 0-06-023353-2
With his parents off to Budapest, David Mahooley is left behind suffering fromtwo things: the knowledge that he drove his girl friend crazy and writer'sblock while working on his story about cannibal children who invite their mathteacher for dinner. Then, through a school bulletin board ad, he meets DellaJones, a troubled actress who inspires David to write a play full of passion,starring Della herself. In the meantime, however, the two must deal with theirown up-and-down relationship as they learn each others' secrets in their ownworld of struggles.
This is another hilarious Zindel plot with two zany characters with whomstudents will be able to connect in a fun yet thought-provoking way.
The ALAN Review Kay Parks Bushman
Spring 1994 Ottawa High School, Ottawa, Kansas
The Girls Get Even by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Brothers and Sisters
Delacorte, 1993. 129 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-385-31029-3
In this sequel to The Boys Start the War, the feuding Hatford brothersand Malloy sisters continue to plot to get the best of each other. The annualHalloween costume parade provides the opportunity for a bet, in which thelosing team will become the winners' slaves for a month. This leads to a flurryof spying, creative costume designing, and sabotage.
The tone of this book is lighthearted and humorous. One gets the impressionthat both parties in the feud are thoroughly enjoying themselves, thoughneither would admit it. With a reading level of 4.7 and characters aged 11 andunder, this book is best suited for younger readers, but sixth or seventhgraders may give it a try if they are looking for a short, funny book.
The ALAN Review Jennifer Moreland
Spring 1994 Redlands Middle School, Grand Junction, Colorado
A Question of Trust by Marion Dane Bauer Family Separation
Scholastic, 1994. 130 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-590-47915-6
Marion Bauer, author of the Newbery Honor-winning On My Honor, tells astory with a simple and familiar premise: two young children find and adopt acat and her kittens, knowing full well that their father will disapprove oncehe finds out. But what saves the story from cliché are the complexconnections between this situation and the divorce of the boys' parents. Bradand Charlie, living with their father, feel enormous anger at their mother'swillingness to leave them. The mother cat, in a way, becomes an image of thegood mother for them until she apparently kills one of the kittens. The boysrelease all of their anger on this mother, chasing her off and raising theremaining kitten themselves. The mother cat comes back secretly, until Charliehurts it and suddenly the boys realize that they have tried to stop her frombeing the mother she wants to be. The result is a powerful reconciliation withtheir own mother. A quickly-paced narrative with a sensitive exploration of thepain of divorce, this is a fine read for middle grades.
The ALAN Review Gary D. Schmidt
Spring 1994 Calvin College
Forgiving August by Dudley J. Delffs Coming of Age/Relationships
Pinion Press, 1993. 254 pp. $10.00 ISBN: 0-89109-747-3
The opening sentence, "I was eighteen years old before I ever defied myfather," is surely going to grab the adolescent reader. Bounty McGraw iseighteen, and this story of the summer between high school graduation andcollege in the fall is realistic and poignant. As the only child in adysfunctional family, Bounty watches his father fall back into his alcoholicpattern, including leaving home for a period of time. Bounty is the pawn in hisparents' relationship, and he longs to go to the University of Tennessee ratherthan stay at home and go to the community college. He needs a study loan to dothis, and the banker whom he admired so much at first makes demands of Bountythat he is unwilling to meet. The novel includes the complexities of Bounty'sfamily relationships: the father's authoritarian attitudes and the dependencyof his mother, all mixed in with the politics of a small Tennessee town. Bountyis likable and the reader is caught up in his coming-of-age story. There ismuch to discuss in the novel, but most importantly, it is enjoyable and easy toread.
The ALAN Review Ruth K. J. Cline
Spring 1994 Boulder, Colorado
Clip and File Reviews of New Fiction Hardbacks
Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner, editors
Taylor, Theodore
Timothy of the Cay
Reviewed by Margaret J. Ford
Library/Media Specialist
Campbell-Memorial High School
Campbell, Ohio
Wolff, Virginia Euwer
Make Lemonade
Reviewed by Joyce C. Lackie
Professor of English
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, Colorado
Kaye, Marilyn
Real Heroes
Reviewed by Jim Brewbaker
Professor of Education
Columbus College
Columbus, Georgia
Asch, Frank
Hands Around Lincoln School
Reviewed by Christy Hammer
Teacher
Mickle Junior High School
Lincoln, Nebraska
Timothy of the Cay by Theodore Taylor Survival/Shipwrecks/Handicaps
Harcourt Brace, 1993. 161 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-15-288358-4
The Caribbean cadences of Timothy's "pidgin Engleesh" blend with PhillipEnright's sightless reminiscences in the prequel-sequel to Taylor's acclaimedThe Cay. Taylor recreates Timothy's childhood on St. Thomas with hisadopted aunt, Tante Hannah Gumb, and his life on the sea and juxtaposes thestory with the life of Phillip Enright after he is rescued from the cay -- thusa prequel-sequel. The two points of view are distinct yet appear to merge asTimothy's resolve and determination to one day own his own ship runs incounterpoint to Phillip's determination to regain his sight and see his cayonce again, even though the surgery might leave him paralyzed or dead.
Taylor weaves a compelling tale of prejudice, Caribbean slavery and seaportlife, and the stresses of World War II. His characterization and mastery ofCaribbean dialect create an unforgettable portrait of the determination ofyouth and the wisdom of age.
The ALAN Review Margaret J. Ford
Spring 1994 Campbell-Memorial High School, Campbell, Ohio
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff Self-Esteem/Responsibility
Henry Holt, 1993. 200 pp. $15.00 ISBN: 0-8050-2228-7
Trying to raise money for college and a better life, fourteen-year-old LaVaughnbabysits for Jolly, a single mother, in her squalid apartment. Seventeen andalmost illiterate, Jolly has two children and works nights in a factory.LaVaughn, drawn into Jolly's problems, begins babysitting for free and seeingher grades suffer. She ultimately coaxes an unwilling Jolly into a Moms UpProgram, where Jolly begins to turn her life around.
Wolff's lyrical style appears like poetry on the page, the lines of text brokeninto natural phrases. Told from LaVaughn's point of view, the narrativecaptures the poignant relationship between LaVaughn and Jolly's dirty butcharming children, creating a sensitive and caring heroine. The book'sstrongest appeal will be to junior high girls. In an age of music videosdemeaning to young women, Make Lemonade presents a strong message onsurvival skills and how to develop them.
The ALAN Review Joyce C. Lackie
Spring 1994 University of Northern Colorado
Real Heroes by Marilyn Kaye Social issues
HBJ Brace Gulliver, 1993. 144 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-15-200563-3
In Real Heroes, Marilyn Kaye takes a hard look at what can happen when apopular teacher tests HIV-positive. Kevin Delaney and his father, a small-townlaw enforcement officer, have survived -- just barely -- the departure ofKevin's mother. Life is complicated already, but when Jeffrey Logan, Kevin's PEteacher, admits that he carries the AIDS virus, the Delaneys' delicate balanceis jeopardized. Kevin's father leads a move to have Logan fired; Kevin quietlysympathizes with those who defend him.
Real Heroes, aimed at middle schoolers, provides straightforwardinformation about AIDS, about how it is transmitted, and about the fears thattoo many -- adults and adolescents alike -- give into. Kaye's plotting isbelievable; her characters, though, are sketchy. Though not a memorable book,Real Heroes will find a deserved readership among curious and concernedupper-elementary and younger teenagers.
The ALAN Review Jim Brewbaker
Spring 1994 Columbus College
Hands Around Lincoln School by Frank Asch Problem Novel
Scholastic, 1994. 217 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-590-44149-3
Although the plot centers on a plan by some sixth-grade students to shockclassmates into being environmentally aware, Hands Around Lincoln Schooladdresses many other issues, including friendship, shyness, cliques, stagefright, problem solving, and responsibility. As the novel progresses, Amy, themain character, becomes more aware of her own beliefs and gains the courage tostand up for them, even temporarily alienating her best friend Lindsay.
At first, Save the Earth Club seems to be the "right" kind of thing to do, butAmy internalizes the ideals of the club. She identifies with the young girl inSadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and devises a plan to involvestudents in the entire school to join hands, symbolizing holding hands aroundthe earth, committing themselves to helping create a better a world.
Believable characters, realistic dialogue, and a fast-moving plot will maintainthe interest of many fifth- and sixth-grade students.
The ALAN Review Christy Hammer
Spring 1994 Mickle Junior High School, Lincoln, Nebraska
Clip and File Reviews of New Fiction Hardbacks
Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner, editors
Rylant, Cynthia
I Had Seen Castles
Reviewed by Mike Angelotti
Professor of Education
University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Clark, Clara Gillow
Annie's Choice
Reviewed by Joan Nist
Professor Emerita of Educational Media
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
Mazer, Harry
Who Is Eddie Leonard?
Reviewed by Wendy H. Bell
English Teacher
Enka High School
Asheville, North Carolina
Derby, Pat
Grams, Her Boyfriend, My Family, and Me
Reviewed by Edna Earl Edwards
Professor of Education and English
West Georgia College
Carrollton, Georgia
I Had Seen Castles by Cynthia Rylant World War II Fiction/Youth andWar
Harcourt Brace, 1993. 97 pp. $10.95 ISBN: 0-15-238003-5
This is a powerful, powerful book -- one that no one should put off reading.Yes, it is a love story, and it is a loss-of-innocence story. But mostdramatically, it is the story of one seventeen-year old's loss of theromanticized outlook on war typical of youth. This story of World War II, whichis to me more powerful of its time period than The Red Badge of Courage is of the Civil War. What makes it so compelling is its art, the weavingof a richly colored poetic fiber into its beautifully crafted fiction -- a bookas close to poetic fiction as I have read: "I could not stay in America becauseAmerica had not suffered. I needed to be with those whose eyes looked like myown, who had covered their faces and lain in the darkness as bombs fell" (p.95). The book works. Read it. Bring it to your eleventh and twelfth graders.
The ALAN Review Mike Angelotti
Spring 1994 University of Oklahoma
Who Is Eddie Leonard? by Harry Mazer Identity
Delacorte Press, 1993. 188 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 0-385-31136-2
After his verbally abusive (yet somehow endearing) grandmother dies,twelve-year-old Eddie Leonard searches for his "real" family. Although he hasbeen told of a mother and father he has never seen as well as a footloose UncleStew, he feels as if he isn't connected to these people. Seeing his own face onan old "missing children" poster, he sets out to reunite himself with thatfamily, confident that he will be "home" at last.
Wrong. Many problems exist, and how Harry Mazer leads Eddie to the realizationthat what you should look for and cherish when you find it is friendship. "Ifyou don't have a family, you can always have friends" gives this novel value.The characters and conflicts are reasonably credible, and Eddie's personaltoughness is very appealing.
Easy to read and fast-paced, this novel has merit for middle school/junior high"identity" units.
The ALAN Review Wendy H. Bell
Spring 1994 Enka High School, Asheville, North Carolina
Annie's Choice by Clara Gillow Clark Family
Boyds Mills Press, 1993. 196 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 0-56397-053-8
Fourteen-year-old Annie Lucas, living in rural upstate New York in the 1920s,dreams of going on to high school. But she makes the painful choice to stayhome to care for her younger siblings and for her mother, weakened after adifficult childbirth. For today's young adults, who take secondary schoolingfor granted, Clara Gillow Clark presents a realistic look at the obstacles manyyoung people faced in gaining education just a few generations ago. Stylistictouches paint scenes of the time: clothes that were homemade or ordered througha Sears catalog, and a Prohibition-era atmosphere in which the preacher soughtto ban Treasure Island as sinful. The story includes many vividcharacters, such as Annie's older carefree sister, Mae; her gentle youngersister, Grace; and Miss Osborne, the young city-bred teacher who encouragesAnnie. Annie herself, reliable, responsible, and eager to learn, is a strongfigure.
The ALAN Review Joan Nist
Spring 1994 Auburn University
Grams, Her Boyfriend, My Family, and Me by Pat Derby FamilyRelationships
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1994. 195 pp. $16.00 ISBN: 0-374-38131-3
Fifteen-year-old Andy keeps a low profile to deal with the hassles of livingwith his parents, four sisters -- including five-year-old twins -- and a dog.His mother's decision to go to work adds complications, for the older childrenbecome responsible for chores and partial care of the twins. After a fire inher house, Grams comes to live with them, making the home more crowded and lifemore complex. To everyone's surprise and her son's consternation, Grams becomesserious about a boyfriend.
In addition to coping with all these problems, Andy resists interest in girlsbut reluctantly becomes involved in dating. In the generation gaps, the fatherstrongly opposes, but the children support, Grams's romantic involvement.
By weaving these modern-day realities with touches of humor into a first-personaccount, Pat Derby creates a worthwhile novel. A number of teenagers will beable to identify with one or more of the situations.
The ALAN Review Edna Earl Edwards
Spring 1994 West Georgia College
Clip and File Reviews of New Fiction Hardbacks
Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner, editors
Weaver-Gelzer, Charlotte
In the Time of Trouble
Reviewed by Joan F. Kaywell
Associate Professor of English Education
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
Meyer, Carolyn
White Lilacs
Reviewed by Michaeline Chance-Reay
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, Ohio
Voigt, Cynthia
The Wings of a Falcon
Reviewed by Suzanne Reid
Radford University
Radford, Virginia
Rinaldi, Ann
In My Father's House
Reviewed by Barbara G. Samuels
Associate Professor of Language Arts and Reading
University of Houston Clear Lake
Houston, Texas
In the Time of Trouble by Charlotte Weaver-Gelzer HistoricalFiction/Liberty
Dutton Children's Books, 1993. 275 pp. $15.99 ISBN: 0-525-44973-6
Reuben Um Nyobe, an African leader from the Bassa tribe of Cameroun, wasinstrumental in ending French colonial control in Africa. On November 13, 1958,the French assassinated Um Nyobe and exhibited his body in an attempt to thwartCameroun's quest for independence. Using actual eyewitness accounts in writingthis historical fiction, the author tells a coming-of-age story of a young girlgrowing up "in a time of trouble."
Jessie Howells, an eighth grader at Hope School in Cameroun, is the daughter ofAmerican missionaries. She has a twin brother, Joshua, and a pesky littlesister, Cassie. Jessie is primarily concerned about her upcoming travel plansto Egypt, which will offer Jessie her independence from her parents and sister-- at last. Her travel plans are suddenly thwarted when both of her parents areaccidentally abducted by the Maquis, the African resistance. Through herAfrican friend, Mendômô, and her parents' abduction, Jessie learnsabout the price of independence and the value of family.
Readers interested in African history or stories involving family dynamics willfind this a good read.
The ALAN Review Joan F. Kaywell
Spring 1994 University of South Florida
The Wings of a Falcon by Cynthia Voigt Historical Fiction
Scholastic, 1993. 467 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 0-590-46712-3
Hardened by a life of slavery on Damall's Island, fourteen-year-old Oriel andhis loyal companion Griff flee to the mainland where they experience thevarious hardships of war and struggle for power in medieval Europe. These rangefrom the pathetic madness of the old woman Mary, to the ridiculous argumentover colored neckerchiefs, to the brutal captivity under the Wolfer marauders.In the end, Oriel becomes a contender for the title of Earl of Sutherland inthe kingdom previously described in Voigt's Jackaroo and On Fortune'sWheel.
Recommended for older adolescents who wish to explore the psychological effectsof violence and war where only the strong survive and loyalty is tested byomnipresent danger, this difficult and profound novel could be used to addressthe complex nature of modern societies where such atrocities are committed.
The ALAN Review Suzanne Reid
Spring 1994 Radford University
White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer Historical Fiction/African-American
Harcourt Brace -- Gulliver, 1993. 242 pp. $10.95 ISBN: 0-15-200641-9
Carolyn Meyer has taken a kernel of history and imagined a most movingelaboration and yet another memorable female protagonist. Rose Lee Jeffersondraws each house in Freedomtown, including her grandfather's, which containsthe extraordinary garden where the rare white lilacs grow, to create anillustrated historical record before the town is literally moved away. Duringthe 1920s, the residents of Denton, Texas -- the white, voting residents, thatis -- actually did move an African-American community to make room for a citypark. The novel contrasts the lives of Rose Lee and her relatives with those ofthe white family for whom they work. This is a realistic portrayal of theprecarious existence of African-Americans in the South and how their sense ofcommunity and faith helps them survive. Varying attitudes towards segregationare reflected in the actions of both segments of the town, and unlikely heroesemerge. Meyer gives us believable characters and a good story which will givemiddle school and high school readers a greater understanding of the humandrama in American history.
The ALAN Review Michaeline Chance-Reay
Spring 1994 Columbus State Community College
In My Father's House by Ann Rinaldi Historical Fiction
Scholastic, 1993. 303 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-590-44730-0
Oscie resents her mother's marriage to Will McLean and hates the changes hemakes in her family. He hires a Yankee tutor for his stepdaughters, takes overmanagement of the plantation, and pushes Oscie to become a strongdecision-maker and thinker. Oscie's spirit and intelligence help her throughchanges in the Old South, a misguided romance, the dangers of war, and thefamily's move from Manassas to Appomattox. Based on events in the lives ofWilmer McLean on whose property the Civil War started and ended, the novel isrich in detail. Rinaldi has researched the period thoroughly and includesdetails such as lessons a tutor would have taught, arguments about the JohnBrown massacre, and debates on Lincoln's election. But the essence of the bookis the compelling character and story of Oscie McLean, the girl who grows fromchild to woman during the years from 1852 to 1865.
The ALAN Review Barbara G. Samuels
Spring 1994 University of Houston, Clear Lake
Clip and File Reviews of New Fiction Hardbacks
Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner, editors
Bauer, Joan
Squashed
Reviewed by Connie S. Zitlow
Assistant Professor of Education
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, Ohio
Peck, Richard
Bel-Air Bambi and the Mall Rats
Reviewed by John H. Bushman
Professor of English Education
University of Kansas
Ottawa, Kansas
Weaver, Will
Striking Out
Reviewed by Chris Crowe
Associate Professor of English
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah
Garland, Sherry
Shadow of the Dragon
Reviewed by Donald R. Gallo
Professor of English
Central Connecticut State University
West Hartford, Connecticut
Squashed by Joan Bauer Humor/Identity
Delacorte Press, 1992. 194 pp. $15.00 ISBN: 0-385-30793-4
It requires constant vigilance to grow the biggest pumpkin in Iowa, butsixteen-year-old Ellie is determined to be the first teen to win in the adultgrowing division. Her secret booster solution of buttermilk and Orange Crush isone way to help Max reach 611 pounds in time for the Rock River PumpkinWeigh-in. She must also compete with frost, bugs, fungus, pumpkin thieves, andthe disgusting, old Cyril Pool. Ellie misses her deceased mother, tolerates herfather's motivational speeches, shares her gourmet creations with cousinRichard, tries to lose weight, and hopes her new boyfriend, a formeragricultural club president, is not stolen by sweet corn coquette contestants.But she can always depend on Nana, who loves the soil, too.
Funny and fast-paced, Squashed, winner of the Delacorte Press Prize fora first young adult novel, would be a delight to read aloud.
The ALAN Review Connie S. Zitlow
Spring 1994 Ohio Wesleyan University
Striking Out by Will Weaver Father-Son Relationships/Baseball
HarperCollins, 1993. 272 pp. $15.00 ISBN: 0-06-023346-X
Will Weaver's first YA novel, Striking Out, is a home run, a grand slamin his first at-bat. Though it will likely be pegged a sports book, it's muchmore than that: it presents a variety of interesting characters and dealssensitively with human relationships. Under the thumb of his hard-drivingfather, thirteen-year-old Billy Baggs, a sinewy Minnesotan, has known only farmlife and hard work. Billy and his mother both long for something beyond farmdrudgery: for Billy, the town baseball team; for his mother, a receptionist'sjob. Weaver also weaves into the book pertinent subplots that broaden Billy'scharacter and add suspense: oily Dale Schwarz's sexual involvement with a girlBilly likes; tension among Billy's town teammates who resent his countrinessand superior ability; and conflict between Billy's parents as they struggle tomaintain a relationship that is changing. Weaver has combined artful languageand powerful storytelling in a book that will surely appeal to male and femalereaders in high school and beyond.
The ALAN Review Chris Crowe
Spring 1994 Brigham Young University
Bell-Air Bambi and the Mall Rats by Richard PeckSchools/Gangs/Humor/Satire
Delacorte Press, 1993. 181 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 0-385-30823-X
To the Babcock siblings -- Buffie, Bambi, and Brick -- moving from Bel-Air toHickory Fork is like going from night to day. The three, along with theirparents, leave California "in a hurry" and end up in the middle of nowhere.They soon realize all is not right in Hickory Fork. The mall has been closed;the school is run by the Mall Rats, a gang, headed by Tanya and beefy Jeeter;and the town lives in fear of these down-home teenage gangs. Bambi decides thatif they are going to have to stay here, things will have to change. She, alongwith her show-biz family, sets out to take the school back and make the townlivable again. Peck's delightful language -- it's a very funny book -- and hisvivid description make for a very enjoyable read. More sophisticated readersmay enjoy the more subtle commentaries on gangs, schools, and various types offamily values.
The ALAN Review John H. Bushman
Spring 1994 University of Kansas
Shadow of the Dragon by Sherry Garland Vietnamese Immigrants/Gangs/
Harcourt Brace & Company, 1993. 314 pp. $10.95 Skinheads/InterracialDating
ISBN: 0-15-273530-5
Readers will find interesting descriptions of customs and attitudes ofVietnamese Americans throughout this contemporary multicultural story.Unfortunately, this novel tries to deal with too many issues. Thesixteen-year-old main character, Danny Vo, has a difficult life in Houston,trying to balance school work, a job, and family obligations. Then his cousinSang Le, recently arrived from Vietnam after years in a communist re-educationcenter, gets involved with a Vietnamese gang that has been terrorizing localbusinesses. Meanwhile, Danny starts dating Tiffany Schultz, whose youngerbrother is confined to a wheelchair and whose older brother Frank is a Naziskinhead who hates "gooks." Danny also has a black best friend and a youngersister who misbehaves a lot and then runs away, neither of which make anydifference in the outcome of the novel. Good conflicts, but fewer would havebeen better.
The ALAN Review Donald R. Gallo
Spring 1994 Central Connecticut State University
Clip and File Reviews of New Fiction Hardbacks
Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner, editors
Williams, Michael
Into the Valley
Reviewed by Jeffrey S. Kaplan
Visiting Assistant Professor
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
Sleator, William
Others See Us
Reviewed by Hazel K. Davis
Athens, Ohio
Slepian, Jan
Back to Before
Reviewed by Lisa A. Wroble
Plymouth, Michigan
Greene, Constance
Nora, Maybe a Ghost Story
Reviewed by Connie Russell
K-12 Reading/Language Arts Coordinator
Eau Claire Area School District
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Into the Valley by Michael Williams Social Issues
Philomel Books, 1993. 194 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 0-399-22516-1
Into the Valley is based on a true incident that occurred in ShongweniValley in South Africa in 1989. Michael Williams has changed the names andplaces, but the story's thrust, a sixteen-year-old boy's search forself-discovery, is powerful.
Written simply, Williams creates a tale of how one young man copes with theaccidental death of his brother, a soldier in the South African Defense Force.Distraught, he sets out on a journey to answer important questions: "Why is theworld so cruel? To him? His brother? South African blacks?" His travels takehim to a seventeen-year-old black rebel leader, the self-named General Biko,and with him, he learns more than he ever imagined.
This is a good read, with enough action and commentary for adolescents who wantto know more about contemporary Africa.
The ALAN Review Jeffrey S. Kaplan
Spring 1994 University of Central Florida, Orlando
Back to Before by Jan Slepian Time Travel/Relationships
Philomel Books, 1993. 170 pp. $14.95 ISBN: 0-399-22011-9
Everyone wishes, at one point or another, for a chance to relive an event tocorrect mistakes. In Back to Before, this wish becomes reality for Linnyand his cousin Hillary. Linny struggles with guilt that he should have beenhome when his mother passed away, and Hillary feels anger toward her motherover her parents' separation. They relive last summer, learning that love isunconditional and that sometimes it is so strong it can blind one'sperception.
Slepian plots an intriguing adventure by engaging the mysteries of time andspace. Linny and Hillary must deal with how they got into the past, and howthey will get home. Slepian masterfully places anchors between the currentsummer and the summer before, creating credibility. Did they really go back intime, or could there be another explanation? Only Linny holds the clues toreality.
The ALAN Review Lisa A. Wroble
Spring 1994 Plymouth, Michigan
Others See Us by William Sleator Science Fiction
Dutton Children's Books, 1993. 163 pp. $14.99 ISBN: 0-525-45104-8
Others See Us is told by sixteen-year-old journal-keeping Jared onsummer vacation with his extended family. The story involves an industrialtoxic waste dump, a blackmailing grandmother who has stolen a great deal ofmoney, a sexually attractive egomaniacal female cousin, and super powers gainedthrough immersion in or swallowing toxic waste.
Sleator uses toxic waste as a device to change his characters from ordinary tosimple mind-readers or to ruthless, amoral, power-wielders. Spiders and spiderwebs appear throughout as symbols of the grandmother as she weaves her web ofinfluence over her family and beyond. Sleator leads the reader and hischaracters to think about whether or not the end justifies the means, whichcould lead to interesting classroom discussions. Typical of Sleator, the storyis not over on the last page. Young people should enjoy this one.
The ALAN Review Hazel K. Davis
Spring 1994 Athens, Ohio
Nora, Maybe a Ghost Story by Constance Greene Fantasy/Family
Browndeer Press, 1993. 202 pp. $10.95 ISBN: 0-15-277696-6
Readers expecting a scary ghost story will be somewhat disappointed withNora. This book is about Nora, 13, and her younger sister Patsy who arecoping with their mother's death, their father's impending marriage to a womanthey have nicknamed "The Tooth," and first love. While Nora does believe hermother is returning to give her messages, she feels no fear -- home will soonbe shared by someone else. As the oldest, Nora is a surrogate mother and, atthe same time, competes with her sister for the attention of the new boy intown. Young readers will relate to Nora's insecurity as she copes withadolescence and family situations. Greene has written an honest novel in whichchanges take place within the main character as she adapts to unwelcome changesin her world.
The ALAN Review Connie Russell
Spring 1994 Eau Claire Area School District, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Clip and File Reviews of New Fiction and Nonfiction Hardbacks and ShortStory Collections
Virginia R. Monseau and Gary M. Salvner, editors
Cox, Clinton
The Forgotten Heroes: The Story of the Buffalo Soldiers
Reviewed by Jeanne Marcum Gerlach
Associate Professor of English Education
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
Myers, Walter Dean
Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary
Reviewed by Richard F. Abrahamson
Professor
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Gallo, Donald R., ed.
Join In: Multiethnic Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for YoungAdults
Reviewed by Elizabeth Poe
Associate Professor of English
Radford University
Radford, Virginia
Paulsen, Gary
Harris and Me
Reviewed by Charles R. Duke
Dean, College of Education and Human Services
Clarion University
Clarion, Pennsylvania
The Forgotten Heroes: The Story of the African-American History
Buffalo Soldiers by Clinton Cox ISBN: 0-590-45121-9
Scholastic, 1993. 174 pp. $14.95
This book contains historical truths about the black cavalrymen who wererecruited in the late 1800s by the United States Government to help open up theWest. Cox uses factual information and archival photographs to tell the storyof how these men who protected settlers, carried the mail, and fought battlesagainst Native Americans came to be known as Buffalo Soldiers.
Through a mature narrative technique, Cox explains to the reader how manyAfrican-Americans enlisted in the cavalry after the Civil War because therewere still few civilian opportunities for them. The irony is that while theyjoined hoping to find new freedoms, they took freedom away from others --Native Americans.
Young readers, who are often unfamiliar with the story of the Buffalo Soldiers,should find the book both informative and moving.
The ALAN Review Jeanne Marcum Gerlach
Spring 1994 West Virginia University
Join In: Multiethnic Short Stories by Outstanding ShortStories/Ethnic Diversity
Writers for Young Adults, edited by Donald R. Gallo ISBN:0-385-31083-3
Delacorte, 1993. 258 pp. $15.95
The characters in these 17 stories are Vietnamese, Puerto Rican, Cambodian,Japanese, Cuban, Lebanese, Chinese, Black, Laotian, Chicano, and Pueblo Indian.Although essentially influenced by their various ethnic backgrounds, theirstories cluster around the expectations, friendships, dilemmas, connections,and confrontations they experience as teenagers in America. Some of the authors-- Rita Williams-Garcia, Lensey Namioka, Rudolfo Anaya, Brenda Wilkinson,Julius Lester, Sharon Bell Mathis, T. Ernesto Bethancourt, Danny Romero, KleyaForte-Escamilla -- write of their own ethnic groups. Others -- Jean DaviesOkimoto, Barbara Beasley Murphy, Gloria Gonzalez, Linda Crew, Alden R. Carter,Maureen Crane Wartski, Elsa Marston, Minfong Ho -- write from close associationwith ethnic groups other than their own. The stories combine in this superbcollection to highlight the brilliant array of ethnicity that distinguishesAmerica.
The ALAN Review Elizabeth Poe
Spring 1994 Radford University
Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers Biography
Scholastic, 1993. 212 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-590-46484-1
Myers traces Malcolm Little's life from his childhood experience. Pivotal inthose early years was an incident when Malcolm confided in a favorite juniorhigh teacher that he hoped to be a lawyer someday. When the teacher suggestedsuch a goal was not realistic for a black man and that, perhaps, a carpenterwould be a better choice, Malcolm "simply gave up on the American dream."
What follows is a gripping story of a young, angry man searching for himselfand something to believe in. He finds both in the Nation of Islam and theteachings of Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm Little becomes Malcolm X -- giftedorator, organizer, and a leader of the Black Muslims.
Myers does a terrific job of contrasting Malcolm X's "by any means necessary"message and style with Martin Luther King's advocacy of nonviolent protest. Inthe process, the reader gets an inside look at the Civil Rights movement inAmerica during the 1960s.
The ALAN Review Richard F. Abrahamson
Spring 1994 University of Houston
Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen Nonfiction/Humor
Harcourt Brace and Company, 1993. 157 pp. $13.95 ISBN: 0-15-292877-4
Harris is one of a kind. His city cousin spends the summer with Harris, andfinds farm life holds many surprises when your mentor is eleven years old andprimed to try anything from fighting chickens and tackling pigs, to imitatingTarzan. Paulsen has an excellent eye for the slightly off-beat details, fromthe hired hand who never seems to take a bath and the rooster who lies inambush for human prey, to Buzzer the killer cat. The life of Harris and hisfamily on the hardscrabble farm could be unmercifully grim if it were not forHarris' exuberance for living life fully. The book contains some swearing, butPaulsen makes this one of Harris' traits that constantly gets him in trouble.This book is guaranteed not to stay on the shelf for long, once junior highboys discover it.
The ALAN Review Charles R. Duke
Spring 1994 Clarion University
