Navigating Early

Navigating Early 
by Clare Vanderpool

 The return home of Jack's father, a Navy captain, at the end of World War II should have been a time of joy and celebration. However, it is the sudden death of Jack's mother that brings home his father after four long years at war. Jack, while mourning the unexpected death of his mother, must also adjust to life with a father he has not seen in many years. His life is further disrupted when his father announces that Jack will be attending a boarding school in Maine, far away from his lifelong Kansas home.

While struggling to adjust to his new life at the Morton Hill Academy, Jack meets the unusual Early Auden. Fascinated by this unique boy, Jack decides to join Early in a journey during their school break. During their long quest along the Appalachian Trail they meet a wide assortment of characters, face dangerous situations, and learn more about each other and themselves.

Navigating Early is a wonderful story of friendship, family relationships, and self-discovery.   I enjoyed reading this book and following the journey of these two unlikely friends as they navigated to find what they were looking for.   I think this book has the potential to appeal to many types of readers.  Fans of realistic fiction that addresses friendships and family relationships will enjoy this book and the World War II setting will appeal to those who prefer historical fiction.  

Author's website:  http://www.clarevanderpool.com/home.html

Flora & Ulysses

Flora & Ulysses
by Kate DiCamillo 
illustrated by K.G. Campbell

After rescuing a hungry squirrel from a disastrous encounter with a neighbor's new vacuum, ten-year-old Flora realizes that the injured animal has suddenly developed unusual talents. Flora, a fan of comic-books, is thrilled with the squirrel's new "superpowers" and is determined to keep Ulysses (named after the vacuum that injured him) despite strong resistance from her mother, an author whose is preoccupied with completing her latest romance novel. As Flora, her neighbor Tootie Tickham, and Tootie's young nephew William marvel over the talented Ulysses, they must also protect him from the attempts of Flora's mother and others to get rid of unusual squirrel.

This humorous tale, combined with its entertaining comic-like illustrations, is a well-written story and very deserving of the Newbery Medal it recently won! Fans of  Kate DiCamillo's other works will likely enjoy this fun story and readers who prefer graphic novels may appreciate the comic-style illustrations.   What a great book!

Author's website:  http://www.katedicamillo.com/

Book trailer:

A Tangle of Knots

A Tangle of Knots
by Lisa Graff

Cady, a young orphan, lives in a world where many people have unique "Talents".   Cady's is the ability to create the perfect cake for anyone.   When the head of her orphanage, Miss Mallory (who has the Talent of being able to make the perfect match for any orphan) places her with a kind man named Toby, Cady finds herself living above the Lost Luggage Emporium, an unusual store owned by an unusual man simply called The Owner.  Also living in the building is Marigold, a girl desperate to find her own Talent, and her family (each with their own unusual Talent).   While this cast of characters goes about their lives, The Owner continues with his own, sinister mission to reclaim what was lost to him many years ago.  

This is a fun, sweet tale that,  as the story progresses,  reveals numerous twists and connections  that bring the characters together in many unexpected ways.   Full of likeable characters, many humorous moments, and appealing cake recipes, this story is a great read and highly recommended to those who like a heartwarming story with a bit of magic.

Author's website: http://www.lisagraff.com/index.html

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer
illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Growing up in a poor Malawi village, fourteen-year-old William lived without electricity as well as other resources many of us take for granted.    When a drought hit his village, food and money became scarce.   Forced to leave school, William began to visit the local library.   Through books, he was able to learn more about how things worked, including how a windmill could help bring electricity and water to his village.  Without the money or materials for a windmill, William was able to salvage materials from the village junkyard to build his country's first windmill, bringing electricity to his village for the first time.  

This biography is a wonderful tool for teaching about wind energy as well as how life is in other cultures.   I recently used this book to teach several classes about how some countries do not have many of the conveniences that we do and also discussed the use of wind as an energy source.

Author's website:  http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/ 

Related video:  This video includes interviews with William's family and others from his village.

One for the Murphys

One for the Murphys
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

After a vicious attack by her stepfather, twelve-year-old Carley is placed into foster care.    Life with the Murphy family couldn't be more different than living with her fun-loving mother and short-tempered stepfather.  Feeling abandoned and betrayed her mother, Carley initially resists the patient attempts of Mrs. Murphy to help her recover from the emotional pains of being betrayed by her mother.    Although Carley slowly begins to accept the Murphys,  her mother's return into her life threatens to take her away from the stable, loving family she has come to think of as her own. 

One for the Murphys is a beautiful story that brought out a variety of emotions in me as I read it!    I read this book in one day, unable to put it down.  I highly recommend this book for fans of realistic fiction.

Author's website:  http://lyndamullalyhunt.com/

Book trailer: 

Like Bug Juice on a Burger

Like Bug Juice on a Burger
by Julie Sternerg
illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Eleanor does not like camp.   In fact, she really hates it.   It's full of bugs, strange noises, and food that she doesn't like.    To make matters worse, she is the worst swimmer in her cabin.   To her, camp is like bug juice on a burger and she just wants to go home.   How will she ever survive ten days at camp?

Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a light, humorous story about a nine-year-old girl dealing with being away from home for the first time.   Eleanor is a likeable character that many girls will be able to relate to.  

Author's website: http://www.juliesternberg.com/

Wake Up Missing

Wake Up Missing
by Kate Messner

All Cat wants is to be the way she was before her head injury.   The I-CAN treatment center, known for treating head injuries like hers, promises to do just that.   However, shortly after her arrival at the isolated Florida island home of the I-CAN center, Cat grows suspicious of the motives of the doctors.  She soon realizes that she, as well as the other five patients of the center, are part of a secret project.  Will she and the other patients be able escape the center before it's too late?

What a great book!  Wake Up Missing is one of those stories that I started and could not put down.  It's a thrilling combination of science fiction and mystery.   My only disappointment with this book was somewhat of a lack of closure in the end regarding several of the characters.  I was left wanting to know what happened next with everyone.  I'd love to see these characters again in future stories! 

Author's website: http://www.katemessner.com/

Fortunately, the Milk

Fortunately, the Milk 
by Neil Gaiman 
illustrated by Skottie Young 

Upon discovering that his family is out of milk, Dad takes what should be a quick trip to the corner store to get more. His hungry children, anxiously waiting for milk for their breakfast cereal, grow anxious as time passes. Finally, their father returns, disheveled and with a strange tale of a wild adventure that includes being abducted by aliens and encounters with pirates to explain his lengthy absence. 

Full of humor and unlikely adventures, this book was a quick and entertaining read.   Accompanying illustrations added to the humor of this fun, light-hearted book.  


Author's website: http://www.neilgaiman.com/
Book trailer: 

Mr. Wuffles!

Mr. Wuffles!
by David Wiesner

There's something strange about Mr. Wuffles' new toy!   In this almost wordless picture book, a new toy sparks the interest of a picky cat named Mr. Wuffles.  However,  the new object is not really a toy, but a small alien spaceship!   Will the tiny aliens be able to escape the determined Mr. Wuffles? 

David Wiesner uses amazing illustrations to tell the story of Mr. Wuffles and the aliens inside the tiny spaceship.    Readers who enjoy his other wordless picture books, including Flotsam and Tuesday, will love his newest story!

Book trailer:

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

Mr Tiger Goes Wild
by Peter Brown

Mr. Tiger is bored with always being so proper.    While all of the other animals in town are perfectly fine with being proper all the time, Mr. Tiger just wants to be wild.   Then one day Mr. Tiger goes wild, much to the displeasure of the very proper animals around him.    As his behavior becomes more and more wild, the other animals in town urge him to leave.    Running away to the wilderness, Mr. Tiger enjoys his new freedom, but soon learns that he also misses his old life.   Can Mr. Tiger find a way to live with his old friends but still be a little bit wild?

What a great book!   This funny story is full of wonderful, engaging illustrations that will entertain many.    Readers who like funny animal stories will love this book, especially the fun pictures of different animals dressed up in their "proper" clothing.   

Author's website:  http://www.peterbrownstudio.com/