Webster Bible Church and Webster Christian School Library Blog

Follett Titlewave

It’s 1958 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Twelve-year-old Marlee has found a  best friend at school–the new girl, Elizabeth. Then suddenly Liz changes schools, and the truth comes out– Liz was a light-skinned Negro pretending to be white.

The governor has ordered the high school closed rather than allow integration following the brave attempt by the Little Rock Nine the previous year. Marlee’s parents are at odds about school integration, and it’s dangerous for Marlee to continue her friendship with Liz. What can she do?

This book exposes the social upheaval that surrounded  school integration in Little Rock, Arkansas, and shows that it is important to speak up about what you believe.

We have selected this title to be part of the Battle of the Books competition for next year at Webster Christian School.

Recommended for grades 5-8.

Follett Titlewave

On post-WW4 Earth, sixteen-year-old Cinder lives in New Beijing and works as a mechanic.

When Prince Kai brings his robot to her for repair and ends up falling in love with Cinder, she must make up some excuse why she cannot go the ball with him. After all, her  stepmother would never let her go. Worse yet, what would Prince Kai say if he knew that Cinder was cyborg?

This creative spin on Cinderella has many sub-plots, twists and turns with elements of science fiction, romance, and mystery all rolled together. The ending does not  resolve neatly, leaving the reader looking for the sequel, Scarlet.

Note: includes 2 instances of swearing (p.214, 261).

Book 1 in the Lunar Chronicles series.

Recommended for grades 7-10.

Follett Titlewave

This collective biography touches on the main accomplishments of 19 famous individuals and the details of how they died.

Although serious and tragic information is presented, the author’s dry humor coupled with fascinating facts and frequent black-and-white illustrations makes this book an interesting read. Because the book covers political figures, musicians, writers, explorers, scientists, etc., the reader picks up a smorgasbord of new knowledge.

Reading this book made me VERY thankful for modern medicine as many famous people died horrible deaths at the hands of physicians who really had no idea what they were doing!

Recommended for Middle School readers.

Awards/Lists: Children’s Books of the Year 2012, Ages 12-14

Follett Titlewave

In the Kingdom of Araluen, fifteen-year-old Will is apprenticed to learn the skills of a Ranger. After several months of training in archery, self-defense, tracking, etc., Will’s bravery and skills are tested during a hunting expedition and when the evil Morgarath plots war against the kingdom.

Two middle school boys strongly recommended the Ranger’s Apprentice series to me, so I was eager to give it a try. And I have to say that I really like this first book in the series.

Thrilling accounts of hand-to-hand combat will satisfy those boys who enjoy stories of brave knights going to battle. But the story is more than that. It’s also filled with ideas about self-defense, tracking, hunting, archery, etc. The characters are well-developed, and there’s much more to the plot than just fighting. What I liked best of all were the positive male role models that mentored and encouraged Will and his friend, Horace. Note: “Damn” shows up 5 times.

This book began as a series of stories John Flanagan wrote for his twelve-year-old son, Michael, to encourage him to read. The main character, Will, is based on Michael, and the moral of the story is that “the small guy can be a hero.”

Book 1 of the Ranger’s Apprentice series. Explore John Flanagan’s fun web site to learn more about Ranger’s Apprentice and his new series, Brotherband Chronicles.

Follett Titlewave

While the king goes to war, his three children and a few trusted caregivers/protectors take refuge in a hidden fortress. Unfortunately, it soon becomes clear that there is a traitor in their midst. Escape is not possible from their ice-locked location, and so they must endure the Nordic winter and hope that the King rescues them before it is too late.

I chose to read this book because it won the Edgar Allan Poe Award this year, and the exciting front cover image added to my anticipation. Perhaps because I expected so much, I was a bit disappointed.

While the characters were well-developed, I found the action slow and the story overly moralized. The author, Matthew Kirby, is a school psychologist. It felt to me like the points he wanted to make for his audience drove the story.

Nonetheless, others may disagree with my sentiment. On the positive side, there is no  inappropriate content or swearing, although the Norse folklore can be quite dark at times with haunting from the undead.

Appropriate for middle school readers.

Awards/Lists: Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2012; Children’s Books of the Year, 2012; Edgar Allan Poe Award, 2012.

Follett Titlewave

When twelve-year-old Erik Carlson’s parents are called up to active duty in Iraq, Erik gets sent to live with grandparents he barely knows  in North Dakota.

Erik’s grandparents, Oma and Big Darrell, seldom talk. Oma seems kind but nervous, while Big Darrell is brooding. When Erik rescues a hunting dog and finds his uncle’s old hunting gear, he sees his chance to escape the oppressive atmosphere.

Setting out with the dog, a hunting rifle and a few provisions, Erik plans to live off the land like a pioneer. Does he know enough to survive?

Cynthia DeFelice does a great job writing from a twelve-year-old boy’s perspective. Readers who enjoy books by Gary Paulsen or Will Hobbs should enjoy this survival story.

Recommended for grades 4-8.

Follett Titlewave

Scrub gets sent to spend the summer with his Grandmother who runs an intergalactic bed and breakfast for aliens who want to vacation on Earth.

Funny, whimsical and tender, this story is a great blend of fun and good advice. Even includes a touch of romance.

With the conversational cadence of a middle school boy,  Scrub’s first-person narrative voices the feelings and thoughts of a tween. Scrub just wants to be with his friends and not stick out.

Scrub appreciates it when his grandmother trusts him and asks for his help. In fact, his Grandma actually listens to him and goes so far as to apologize to him (a first from an adult in Scrub’s memory).

Scrub grows to admire his grandmother who does what she wants and doesn’t care what other people think–sometimes a great message for teens who are paralyzed by peer pressure.

On the one hand, evolution is mentioned in passing (p.127). On the other hand, the grandmother says, “thank the Creator.”

An entertaining, out-of-the-ordinary story.

Follett Titlewave

Most of us have heard the name Benedict Arnold, often used to describe a traitor. What did the man do to deserve such a reputation?

With engrossing narrative and riveting descriptions, Steve Sheinkin gives a full biography of the brilliant and brave yet violent and self-absorbed Benedict Arnold. How could the same man who heroically saved the American cause in Saratoga stoop so low as to jeopardize West Point and General George Washington?

Boys in particular who are looking for good “war stories” should enjoy this book. Note: Some swearing (pp.26-36).

Awards/Lists: Boston Globe – Horn Book Award for Nonfiction, 2011.

Follett Titlewave

Dressed in a lovely green dress to complement her eyes, seventeen-year-old Cassia Maria Reyes is understandably nervous about attending her Match Banquet.

The society has chosen her future mate for her, based on their calculations of who will produce “physically and emotionally healthy offspring.” Tonight she will catch a momentary glimpse of him on a large screen.

Unfortunately, the society chooses  almost everything for the citizens (for their own good)–what they eat, what they wear, where they live, their vocation–even what music they will hear and what poetry they may read.

But what if Cassia is falling in love with someone besides her “match”?

Cassia knows that if she breaks the rules, the Society will take away everything that she values. And yet, as she follows the rules dictated by the Society, she feels the light within her dying. What can she do?

Fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix might enjoy this refreshingly clean futuristic novel that contains no swear words or objectionable content.

I feel that the story drags at times during this lengthy book (366 pages) and the climax is like a gently rolling ocean wave that never crests and crashes on shore. The ending is lackluster and vaguely hints at a sequel (which has been realized with her book Crossed).

However, the plot is intriguing and even somewhat plausible. The love triangle adds spice, and the family relationships are tender.