Book Review - Freedom (Miss Annie)

Freedom (Miss Annie) 

By: Frank Le Gall
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Publication Date: March 2012
ISBN: 978-0761385462
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: March 2012

Miss Annie was curled up on the cushion of a chair when her master, "The Dad," instructed her to guard the house because he was going out. Of course that was a silly thing to say because Annie already was. There were other masters in the house as well and they were called "The Mom" and Sarah. Everyone had other names Annie was supposed to know. In fact, Sarah had several: "Mydear, Lambchop, Ladybug, Brat, and Go-to-your-room." Annie's eyes grew wide when the door shut and after a good yawn and a stretch, she jumped down to get to work. Annie was almost five months old and there were lots of things to tend to.

"MRRii." Annie got a scolding for her efforts, but it was no matter. She worked just as hard as everyone else. The Mom claimed that "She worked hard today too! You should see the state of my desk and the kitchen." One of the things that Annie wanted to really do was go outside. "Miaw! Miaw! Miaw!" Kitty cats really needed to go outside and she had to look for her opening, but in the meantime she'd just have to take care of the house for her masters. One day she felt a little "something in the air." She peeked up at the window over Sarah's desk and saw that it was open. Was Annie finally going to find some adventure?

Annie, like most cats and kids, is a seasoned pro at taking care of the household when everyone goes out. She does have a knack for getting into mischief and one of my favorite scenes is when she asks Keishia the mouse if she wants to play with her and "unroll this yarn." Another is when she engages in a fierce battle with the enemy flowers on the table. This tale is set in a graphic novel format, perfect for young confident readers or reluctant ones. The panels are detailed, bright, and animated as they capture Annie's wonderful, dynamic spirit. If you are a cat lover, or have a mischievous kitten, you're sure to love little Annie!

Quill says: This is the delightful story of Annie, a young kitten who is gung-ho for a bit of adventure in her life.

Book Review - Night of the Living Dogs

Night of the Living Dogs (Chicagoland Detective Agency)

By: Trina Robbins
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Publication Date: March 2012
ISBN: 978-0761356370
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: March 12, 2012

Raf was playing one of his three-dimensional games on his Raf-Box as Megan and Bradley looked on. Megan thought his inventions, especially the portable "Raf-Touch," were awesome, but every time he tried to sell them it was a no go. The game companies just dismissed him and the last one simply patted him on the head and sent him home with Squeaky the Squirrel, "a programmable squirrel." Bradley, who had been turned into a "talking dog genius" by a mad scientist, was a partner in the Chicagoland Detective Agency along with Megan and Raf. No one would buy Raf's inventions and until now, buy their super sleuth services. But that had just changed and they were now actually going to work on a case!

Bradley was happy to have "a caper at last," but when Megan told them it was for finding a lost puppy Raf was some disgusted. Rhonda Kanaris and her mother were anxious to find out just where and why a puppy that showed up on their doorstep would suddenly show up and then disappear the next morning. The puppy showed up while they were talking, but Bradley had big time problems with the little yapper...it didn't have any doggie smell! He claimed, "That little mutt in there ain't no dog. Sure he looks like a dog and barks like a dog, but the nose knows." If he wasn't a dog, just what was he?

The gumshoe trio began their investigation in earnest and started their stakeout in a closet to see just where the mutt was going at night. Once the puppy was on the move they zig zagged around the town in search of him as Bradley tracked his scent. They ended up in a most unusual location, the Navy Pier. Megan, Raf, and Bradley also ended up facing a ferocious pack of the mysterious mutt's pals. They began to growl as Bradley once again declared, "You're gonna think I'm nuts, but none of these critters are dogs!" The mystery would only get deeper and more frightening when they learn about a curse, the curse of Lycaon!

Megan, Raf, and "doggy Einstein," Bradley, team up to solve a totally odd 'n awesome missing dog case. Megan, who is into haiku speak, had her work cut out for her when the Chicagoland Detective Agency attempted to solve this most unusual mystery. The case of a simple lost puppy will entrance the young reader as it morphs into one that gets more exciting and weird with every turn of the page. The artwork is done in black and white, a typical manga style that I like and find very appealing. The cast of characters hasn't changed, but the cases are still unusual to say the least. As they claim, there is "no case too weird" for them to tackle, and this is one of the weirdest ones yet.

Quill says: Every young reader from the reluctant one to who just like their mysteries a tad on the odd side, will love this one!

Book Review - Catch & Release

Catch & Release 

By: Blythe Woolston
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Publication Date: February 2012
ISBN: 978-0761377559
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler

Polly Furnas and Bridger Morgan sittin' in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g. They had a plan. The Plan. There was the 2.6 kids and the white picket fence and, heck, Bridger even loved her, or so she thought. First comes love and them comes MRSA (a contagious staph bacteria infection). Polly was Case One, but some of the athletes "just rotted and died." Bridger couldn't visit her in the hospital, but Case Three could. It was odd that it was Odd Estes, a rising athlete. The Plan didn't called for a one-eyed freak and a guy with a robotic leg to find solace in one another. The Morgan family sent her a card. No lovely inscription, no nothing, nada. MRSA "left behind a sprinkle of new graves in the community cemetery," shattered dreams, and the Polly-That-Was ... all because she scratched that freaking zit.

There were more things missing than an eyeball and a leg, but Polly and Odd didn't have to be told that. Polly's mother had "morphed into a mom-bot" and was driving her nuts with the babykid crap. Her depth perception might have been shot out the window, but she could see well enough to know what a provisional diploma meant. Everything was gone, including The Plan. Polly would have had to be a fool to think that a one-eyed freak would be welcomed back at the Kid-O-Korral working with the kiddos. Odd knew what Pales Duns and Yellow Sallies were and how to use them. He had Grandpa Odd's ten-mile-per-gallon boat, D'Elegance, a gun, and knew how to use them too. Polly-That-Was had a debit card, knew how to use that, and knew that Bridger was in Portland. It was the new Plan. Polly and Odd were going fishing. Were they really going to cast a line and "tear Bridger a new one" or would they find something else they weren't expecting?

Polly's future was abruptly stolen from her as was Odd's. Their unimaginable encounter with flesh-eating MRSA leaves them adrift in a world they know nothing about, a world they don't want to accept nor one that wants to accept them. We follow the unlikely duo as they try to rediscover who they really are as opposed to what they thought they were, what society thought they were, and what The Plan dictated what the future would hold for them. I was impressed at how Woolston caught the very essence of Polly's inner demons, her very soul. Lines such as "One of us is a social misfit and a weirdo. It ain't her," cut to the brutal reality of what is now life for many people. This is a powerful novel that depicts a new legacy left to the young ... a superbug created from foolhardy choices, choices they didn't make.

Quill says: This is a poignant, gut wrenching tale of Polly-That-Was and her search for a new meaning of life.

Book Review - Alex Rodriquez: Hot Corner, Hot Shot

Alex Rodriguez: Hot Corner, Hot Shot (USA Today Lifeline Biographies)

By: Serena Kappes
Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books
Publication Date: January 2012
ISBN: 978-0761381556
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: March 11, 2012

Even as a very young child Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez was fascinated by anything baseball. The two-year-old "carried around a red plastic bat and swung at everything he could." That didn't bode well for the household furnishings, but his family was proud and amused by his passion. His father was especially interested because at one time he was a player on a Dominican Republic baseball team. Alex's intense interest in baseball pushed him ahead of his peers and by the age of six he was "playing with boys three and four years older than he was." His parents, Lourdes Navarro and Victor Rodriguez, undoubtedly expected great things from Alex, even though he was a sandlot player.

Although Alex had been born in Manhattan, the family's good fortune had allowed them to move back to the Dominican Republic to enjoy the good life they wanted. Soon financial misfortune came upon them and they lost everything. Forced to sell their home and move to Kendall, Florida, the family was unsettled. The once happy family was devastated when Victor abruptly abandoned them, never to return. Lourdes was left alone to tend to Alex and his siblings, Susy and Joe. Adrift in a place they knew little about, it was going to be a struggle.

Baseball, no doubt, was a solace to Alex. Juan Diego Artega, a youth baseball league coach, eventually drew Alex under his wing, creating a mentorship that would boost his spirits. Another coach at the Hank Cline Club of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, Eddy Rodriguez also gave him hope. Eddy told Alex, "Believe in yourself, but ask more of yourself. This will sustain you in times both good and bad." There would be a mix of both. In this book you'll learn about his dedication to the game as a young man, how he honed his skills, his mother's critical support, his high school career, how he was "bombarded" with offers, his agent, when he was drafted, his multi-million dollar contracts, his amazing career, and you'll learn many other interesting facts about one of baseball's greats.

In this very well written, concise biography young readers will get to know a lot about Alex and his passion for baseball. I especially enjoyed reading about the people who inspired him, on and off the field. His mother's unending encouragement, as well as that of his coaches, undoubtedly did much to make him into the player he is today. A prophetic statement by Coach Rich Hofman clearly indicated not only his sheer talent, but also what can happen when adults believe in young people: "Well, tenth grade you had an OK year. Next year everyone will get to know you, and in twelfth grade you'll be the number one pick in the country." The book is generously illustrated with photographs, period USA TODAY articles, and numerous informative sidebars. In the back of the book is an index, a glossary, Alex's career statistics (1994 to 2011), extensive source notes, a selected bibliography, and additional recommended book and website resources to explore.

Quill says: This is a fascinating look at Alex Rodriguez, one of baseball's "greatest all-around" players.

Book Review - Power Hitter

Power Hitter (Team Travel)

By: M. G. Higgins
Publisher: Darby Creek Publishing
Publication Date: March 2012
ISBN: 978-0761385394
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: March 2012

After TJ was seriously injured, the Las Vega's Roadrunner's coach Scott Harris decided that it might be best if the team entered a wooden tournament. In practice, when Carson Jamison pitched him a high and tight heater, Sammy Perez knew he was in trouble when his hit drew an easy out. He was a power hitter who was weaned on composite bats. The up and coming tournament in Austin was all-wood and Sammy knew he was going to be in trouble. When he chucked the bat down the third base line, Coach Harris was none too happy with him. It was only his first day using a wood bat and he had a long way to go. A very long way.

Gus Toomey and Alexander Jamison had it easy. Their families had money, but Sammy's struggled. It really was a sacrifice for his family to keep him in the Roadrunner's elite traveling team, but his dad thought it was worth it. Sammy's dad, Tony, was once a player and wanted his son to hit the big leagues and wasn’t happy with the all-wood tournament. "You need that sweet spot, Sammy. You're a power hitter. It's what you do." Not really, it wasn't what he had to do. He had to do wood because that's what the Austin tournament was all about.

Sammy dreamed of the day he could make his family proud and give them everything they wanted. It was hard to believe that a piece of maple or ash stood in his way. His dad had hinted at PEDs, performance-enhancing drugs, but just the thought "made his stomach clench." Sammy grew tenser the harder he tried and the more he failed. When his temper flared, Coach Harris's patience lessened. "Cool it, Sammy! I don't like hotheads and neither do big-league teams!" The scouts were coming to that tournament…the "MLB, Big 12, PAC 10, SEC." Sammy's confidence was failing him and everyone thought he was deliberately blowing the games. Would PEDs give him the edge or would they boot him out of the game he so loved?

In this tale Sammy Perez, a boy who has long had aspirations of hitting the majors, is in a terrible batting slump. The story tactfully deals with the sensitive subject of PEDs. The lure of an easy way to solve his problems frightens Sammy, but at the same time he wants to get ahead and save his family. The tale will have high appeal to young baseball fans from the ages of 9 to 12, including those who are also reluctant readers. The negative consequences of PEDs are made clear, but the book refrains from being preachy. This is a thought-provoking baseball tale, but a good one that young fans and players will enjoy.

Quill says: This is a high-flying story of Sammy, a hotheaded power hitter who is considering performance-enhancing drugs.

Lots More Reviews Coming Soon!

We've got a big batch of curriculum based books being reviewed right now.  The reviews will be posted shortly.  Stop by in a few days to read the first of those reviews...

Here's What Showed Up on Our Doorstep This Week

Okay, maybe they really arrived via our mailbox, but you get the idea.  In for review:

Wild Beau and Her Kittens: The Kitty Tales Trilogy by Peggy Krause “Wild Beau and Her Kittens” is the third book in Author Peggy Krause’ “The Kitty Tales Trilogy.” Poor Beau is a scruffy, hungry cat living in the forest preserve trying to take care of her two tiny kittens all on her own. It’s very challenging being a cat without an owner or a warm, dry house to live in. The cat friends, Soupy, Lila, Lola, Puff Puff, and Spider Man stumble across Beau one day while on a trip to the forest preserve to find Soupy’s foster raccoon-son, Ferdinand. Seeing how thin and battered Beau is from living outside, the cats make it their project to help Beau and her kittens in every way they can.

    

Under Oath by Margaret McLean The “code of silence” remains sacred in Charlestown, one of the most historic yet insular neighborhoods of Boston. Gangster Billy Malone stand accused of killing Trevor Shea, a suspected FBI informant, with a potent dose of heroin. Prosecutor Annie Fitzgerald must crack the infamous code of silence and battle seasoned criminal defense attorney Buddy Clancy, who unleashes reasonable doubt with his penetrating cross-examinations. The trial explodes into a high-energy race to justice when Annie’s chief witness is killed, jurors defy their instructions, and FBI cover-ups obscure the truth. While the jurors are deliberating, Annie discovers incriminating evidence against the Malones.

The False Prince (Ascendance Trilogy)by Jennifer Nielsen The False Prince is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end. In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well. 

Game Changers by Mike Lupica Mike Lupica is one of the most prominent sports writers in America. His longevity at the top of his field is based on his experience and insider's knowledge, coupled with a provocative presentation that takes an uncompromising look at the tumultuous world of professional sports. Today he is a syndicated columnist for the New York Daily News, which includes his popular "Shooting from the Lip" column, which appears every Sunday. He began his newspaper career covering the New York Knicks for the New York Post at age 23. He became the youngest columnist ever at a New York paper with the New York Daily News, which he joined in 1977. For more than 30 years, Lupica has added magazines, novels, sports biographies, other non-fiction books on sports, as well as television to his professional resume.

The Elf Mage (Clan Elves of the Bitterroot) by Lyndi Alexander Daven Talvi made a choice a quarter-century ago to serve the Bitterroot Elf Clan, allowing the Circle of Elders to send him into suspended animation until the queen could be rescued. In doing so, he gave up his mate and his newborn son, sacrificing his own life for that of the clan. It had been a mistake. With the clan now in chaos and the new young queen in hiding, Daven must acknowledge his own errors and take responsibility to set things right. He teams up with Lane Donatelli, a human who has too long used food and computer gaming to feed his own insecurities. Together, they use Lane’s beloved technology with Daven’s innate magical abilities to wage battle against the evil elf mages threatening the clan.

Who Were the Accused Witches of Salem?: And Other Questions About the Witchcraft Trials By Laura Hamilton Waxman In June 1692, a jury in Salem, Massachusetts, found Bridget Bishop guilty of performing witchcraft. The only evidence against her was villagers' testimony. As punishment she was publicly hanged. Meanwhile, local girls had been behaving oddly for months. They cried out of being pinched or choked by a witch's spirit. The girls accused neighbors, outcasts, and respected community members of tormenting them. As fear spread through Salem, jails filled with the accused. In the end, nineteen people were hanged for witchcraft in one of the darkest moments in U.S. history.

In Search of the Fog Zombie: A Mystery About Matter (Summer Camp Science Mysteries) by Lynda Beauregard When campers arrive at Camp Dakota, rumors start flying. The Fog Zombie is on the prowl, moaning and creeping through the thick fog that often settles on the lake. At first, the kids don't believe the rumors--until they find mysterious clues leading to the zombie! Can the campers track down the Fog Zombie with their science smarts? Or will it find them first? Look in the back of the book for experiments and more to help you become a science detective too!

Night of the Living Dogs (Chicagoland Detective Agency)by Trina Robbins Yes, Chicagoland is an odd place. But the word is out that Megan, Raf, and Raf's talking dog Bradley are the team to go to when weirder things than usual start happening. Their Chicagoland Detective Agency takes danger in hand (and paw) to find a mysteriously missing puppy and an even more mysterious pack of dogs that only shows up once a month. Bradley's nose knows from the start that this is more than a simple case of stray pets...and a whole lot more than a stray case of full-moon transmogrification! Will high tech and haikus be enough to save them from the world's worst case of doggy breath?