Katherine Of Aragon The True Queen

Katherine Of Aragon The True Queen by Alison Weir, 602 pages

“A princess of Spain, Catalina is only sixteen years old when she sets foot on the shores of England. The youngest daughter of the powerful monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Catalina is a coveted prize for a royal marriage--and Arthur, Prince of Wales, and heir to the English throne, has won her hand. But tragedy strikes and Catalina, now Princess Katherine, is betrothed to the future Henry VIII. She must wait for his coming-of-age, an ordeal that tests her resolve, casts doubt on her trusted confidantes, and turns her into a virtual prisoner. Katherine's patience is rewarded when she becomes Queen of England. The affection between Katherine and Henry is genuine, but forces beyond her control threaten to rend her marriage, and indeed the nation, apart. Henry has fallen under the spell of Katherine's maid of honor, Anne Boleyn. Now Katherine must be prepared to fight, to the end if God wills it, for her faith, her legitimacy, and her heart.” I like Weir’s writing, both in fiction and nonfiction.  This is an excellent story about Katherine.  People who like historical fiction, especially about the Tudor era, will want to read this.

Life According To Og The Frog

Life According To Og The Frog by Betty G. Birney, 150 pages

“The adventures in Humphrey's Room 26 are hopping back into the spotlight, from the perspective of Og the Frog!  When Og the Frog first comes to Room 26, he doesn't know what to think. He misses his friends from the pond, there are all kinds of strange noises, and the water is his tank just might be too clean (you know, a little muck never hurt anyone). But the furry, squeaky fellow living next to him is endlessly entertaining, the kids sure are friendly, and--BING, BANG, BOING!--they put big fat crickets right into his tank. All of this gives Og lots of ideas for one of his favorite pastimes--making up poems and songs. But he gets stumped when talk turns to sending him back to the pond. Will he have to say good-bye to Tabitha whose whole life just changed like his? Or Mandy who just started seeing the bright side of things with his help? And Humphrey, who he's finally beginning to figure out? Og's frog's-eye view of the world is curious, sympathetic, and poetic, and the perfect companion to The World According to Humphrey.” This is a cute series for younger chapter book readers.  I liked this addition to the series and kids who like animal stories will probably like the series in general and this book in particular.

Dear Martin

Dear Martin by Nic Stone, 210 pages

“Justyce McAllister is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend--but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up-- way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack.” All I really want to say is, read this book.  I can’t believe how well it’s put together and how well the Justyce is developed so that you are really inside his head the whole time.  Even the pieces that are not his thoughts feel like you’re experiencing them from his perspective.  This may be the most powerful book I’ve read all year.  I will be giving it to any teens who want realistic fiction.

Binti

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, 90 pages

“Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs. Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach. If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself -- but first she has to make it there, alive.” I liked this so much better than her young adult books.  I wish I’d had time to read this before she came to St. Louis because I probably would have wanted to see her.  As it is, I plan to read the sequels and any other adult books she writes.  I would definitely give this to anyone who likes science fiction.

Juba!

Juba! by Walter Dean Myers     208 pages

This engaging historical novel is based on the true story of the meteoric rise of an immensely talented young black dancer, William Henry Lane, who influenced today's tap, jazz, and step dancing. With meticulous and intensive research, Walter Dean Myers has brought to life Juba's story.

A nice, short, historical-fiction read about the life of William Henry Lane, or Juba, a young African-American man who loved dance and wanted to practice it as an art form. Though his life is short, it is fascinating and I was surprised I hadn't heard of him before picking up this book, especially since he caught the attention of Charles Dickens and was even mentioned by Dickens in one of his books, "American Notes." 

Myers really captured the spirit and passion of Juba for dance and for making more out of his life through art. It was interesting to trace Juba's path through various productions and see him grow and yet still not make it as big as he should have. There is some really important discussion of race in early America. One of Juba's friends, who is a free African-American, gets captured and sold back into slavery. Juba is continuously confronted by his skin color and often asked to "coon it up" when he dances because that is the expected idea of what an African-American is like, that is what the audience wants to see. This would be a good school read, I think, to show a particular slice of American history and to teach about race relations in America.

All in all, it was very illuminating and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in African-American history and to anyone who is not familiar enough with African-American history. This is a very important read, in my opinion. Please give it a look.

Nimona

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson     266 pages

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

A fun sci-fi/fantasy comic about a "villain" and his quest to take down the Institution, an organization that has nefarious dealings and for which his used-to-be-best-friend works. When he's joined by Nimona, a shape-shifter who wants to become his side-kick, things might be turning around for Ballister. But Nimona turns out to be more than she seems and chaos ensues. I enjoyed the humorous dialogue between Ballister and Nimona and the "rivalry" between Ballister and Ambrosius (All the character names are hilarious and trope-y). The humor was helpful in balancing out the otherwise dark themes that come up within the story (and the slippery slope of "murder" is addressed, which I appreciated). The coloring was vivid and one of the reasons that attracted me to the book, though I'm not as big a fan of the drawing style as I hoped (though I'm a bit picky on that score, so what doesn't work for me might be satisfactory or very enjoyable to other readers). Suffice to say, it worked well with the style of the book and the characters were distinct from each other. Overall, I'd give this a medium rating, only because I didn't love it, but I had a good time reading it. It would be something I would recommend to those fond of fantasy, especially where it blends with science fiction. The humor was on point and the story is short enough to be enjoyed in one sitting. Definitely for middle-school through teen and young adult readers due to the violence depicted in the story.

The Outsider

The Outsider by Stephen King    477 pages

When an 11 year-old boy is found in a park, hideously assaulted and murdered, all of the evidence seems to point to one of the town's most popular men, Terry Maitland.  Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland has coached, orders an immediate and public arrest. Maitland claims he is innocent and even has a foolproof alibi with film footage to prove he was in another city when the crime was committed. However, that isn't enough to save him.

What is clear is that Detective Anderson knows what the evidence tells him but he also is trusting the inner voice that tells him something's not right with this case. The question is, if Terry Maitland didn't commit this crime (since he clearly was somewhere else at the time), who left that evidence?  King constructs a plot that slowly unfolds, drawing in different characters who discover there is a horrifying killer still out there. Just who (or what) is this person?  You know I can't tell you --- but suffice to say, if you know Stephen King's work at all, you know it's going to be someone unpleasant.

I enjoyed this story, as I have most of Stephen King's books (at least the ones written after "Christine.").  I did feel like the book was screamingly slow at the beginning, but I understood why King was building things slowly. There's a lot that goes into constructing the story, so it needs to be carefully built piece by piece --- and, as you discover things at the same time that the characters do.

Life and Times of Michael K

The Life and Times of Michael K by John Coetzee, 184 pages

Michael is a gardener.  To sow seed and care for growing things is what he knows, and what he wants.  Unfortunately, meek Michael is constantly in danger of being trampled into the dust.  Born with a harelip which caused him to be rejected by his mother - at least, until age and poverty made her dependent on him - and raised in an orphanage, what Michael wants most of all is to be left to fend for himself, free from those who would help him as well as those who would exploit him.  The State is, needless to say, his unnatural enemy, preoccupied as it is with official papers, civil wars, and labor camps.  Yet he does not reject all human society, to the contrary, he longs to live with others who are willing to receive what is offered them rather than forcing the world to give them what they want.

Much of The Life and Times of Michael K makes for dreary reading, immersed as it is in Michael's own perspective, knowing little of the ways of the world and yet understanding enough for tragedy.  In the end, this makes the book, and its protagonist, that much harder to ignore or forget.

X

X by Ilyasah Shabazz     348 pages

Cowritten by Malcolm X's daughter, this riveting and revealing novel follows the formative years of the man whose words and actions shook the world.

X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.

This book paints a stark picture of Malcolm X's young adult life. It delves deeply into his troubled youth, touching on drug-abuse, hustling, and a variety of money-scheming crimes that eventually land him in jail. Not knowing much about Malcolm X's early life, I'd say this book certainly doesn't paint him in a good light until the final chapter. Most of the book feels like a deep descent into darkness and you wait for the shoe to drop, except it doesn't - until the very end. This book is targeted at a teen audience, but it would be difficult for me to suggest this book to just any teen - it is certainly geared for a teen who likes historical fiction and who really wants to see Malcolm X through his life as a young adult - there are very adult themes in this book, including, as mentioned before, drug-abuse, hustling, crime, sex, alcohol, and foul language (including the n-word). It's deep stuff, and it certainly is a cautionary tale, not a story for light reading or for a general curiosity in Malcolm X's biography. The writing is very well done, but the story doesn't feel like a story (it feels plot-less for most of the book and the ending is rushed and wrapped up clumsily). It's not a book I will re-read, but I can say that it wasn't a waste of my time to read this book. Perhaps reading Malcolm X's autobiography would be, in some ways, a better option, though.

Catherine, Called Birdy

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman     169 pages

The thirteen-year-old daughter of an English country knight keeps a journal in which she records the events of her life, particularly her longing for adventures beyond the usual role of women and her efforts to avoid being married off.


I highly enjoyed this book. I love historical fiction and Cushman does an excellent job of capturing Medieval life. Catherine, Birdy, is now one of my favorite literary characters, and certainly in my top five of favorite female literary characters. Her insights into her life and the lives of others, her social commentary, and her overall desire to do good by others makes her such a fascinating and inspiring character. For example, when she learns that a merchant who owns a bear, who performs poorly at a fair that Birdy attends, decides to subject it to bear baiting, she observes:

"The performance I saw was so clumsy and sad and brought the bear's owner so little profit that he announced a bearbaiting, planning to set a pack of dogs against a poor bear and see who cries and bleeds and dies first, all for the amusement of those wagering money on the outcome. How can we think ourselves made in the likeness of God when we act worse than beasts?" (p. 148)

This is such a profound statement and it made me love Birdy all the more. Though she often acts rashly and selfishly, she generally reflects upon her actions and either feels ashamed or desires to make amends and, at the very least, does what she can to correct her ways.

This book is an excellent choice for anyone who loves historical fiction, especially about Medieval England. It also serves well as a book for those who love a feisty female narrator. Birdy's narrative voice injects a lot of humor and lightheartedness to the story. It's also a quick read, so for those who are looking for something short and sweet, this is the perfect bite. This is truly an enjoyable read.

Theonas

Theonas: Conversations of a Sage by Jacques Maritain, translated by FJ Sheed, 185 pages

Theonas is a set of eleven dialogues centered on Theonas, a "hermit who reads newspapers", and his interlocutor, the modernist Philonous.  The text encapsulates much of Maritain's philosophical career in miniature - the possibility, reality, and necessity of a Christian humanism, the preservation of the human intellect from both angelism and bestiality, and, above all, Thomism as the only philosophical tradition capable of harmonizing these tensions and discriminating between healthy development and decadent corruption.

Given the dialogic form, it should not be a surprise that the book is more polemical than systematic.  Not that it is shallow or simplistic (the central dialogue compares the theory of time advanced by Einstein to that proposed by St Thomas), but here Maritain is more interested in showing the shortcomings of other philosophies than in more fully explicating his own.  Unfortunately, since his opponents are the fashionable thinkers of '30s France, this also makes Theonas itself more dated than most of Maritain's other work.

Cody And The Rules Of Life

Cody And The Rules Of Life by Tricia Springstubb, 167 pages

“Baffled by her best friend's urging to swap favorite toys, Cody sadly gives away her Gremlin toy and finds herself struggling to trust when her older brother's beloved bicycle goes missing.”  The Cody books are sweet and endearing.  There is always conflict that is resolved, sometimes a little too easily.  But, for early readers who like realistic fiction that isn’t too filled with conflict, these books are perfect.

Baby Monkey, Private Eye

Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick & David Serlin, 191 pages

Baby Monkey solves several crimes as a private eye, including the missing pizza and the stolen spaceship, at least he can as soon as he gets his pants on.  Can Baby Monkey solve the case of the lost baby?  This is a cute book that is probably most appropriate for early elementary and early readers.

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, 184 pages

“After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats which awe his contemporaries.” I can’t believe it took me this long to read this book.  I’ve read so many of Spinelli’s books but I had never picked this one up before.  This may be his best book.  I would highly recommend it to elementary age readers that like realistic fiction.

Becoming Kareem

BecomingKareem: Growing Up On And Off The Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Raymond Obstfeld, 289 pages

“At one time, Lew Alcindor was just another kid from New York City with all the usual problems: He struggled with fitting in, with pleasing a strict father, and with overcoming shyness that made him feel socially awkward. But with a talent for basketball, and an unmatched team of supporters, Lew Alcindor was able to transform and to become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. From a childhood made difficult by racism and prejudice to a record-smashing career on the basketball court as an adult, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's life was packed with "coaches" who taught him right from wrong and led him on the path to greatness. His parents, coaches Jack Donahue and John Wooden, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, and many others played important roles in Abdul-Jabbar's life and sparked him to become an activist for social change and advancement. The inspiration from those around him, and his drive to find his own path in life, are highlighted in this personal and awe-inspiring journey. Written especially for young readers, Becoming Kareem chronicles how Kareem Abdul-Jabbar become the icon and legend he is today, both on and off the court.” This was an excellent memoir.  I would recommend it for older kids and teens, and even adults, who are interested in learning more about Abdul-Jabbar.

X: A Novel

X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon, 348 pages

“Cowritten by Malcolm X's daughter, this riveting and revealing novel follows the formative years of the man whose words and actions shook the world.  Malcolm Little's parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that's a pack of lies--after all, his father's been murdered, his mother's been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There's no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer. But Malcolm's efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he's found is only an illusion--and that he can't run forever. X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.” This was a fascinating story.  Although it was fictionalized, it was true to Malcolm X’s life when he was young.  The events happened, although some of the names were changed and some of the characters were composites of people that he knew.  Even though parts of it were hard to read, knowing that the outcomes of his decisions wouldn’t be good, it was very well done and hard to put down.

Tool Of War

Tool Of Warby Paolo Bacigalupi, 377 pages

“Set in a dark future devastated by climate change, Tool of War is the third book in a major adventure series by a bestselling and award-winning science fiction author and starring the most provocative character from the acclaimed novels Ship Breaker and The Drowned Cities. In this gripping, eerily prescient sci-fi thriller that Kirkus described as "masterful," Tool--a half-man/half-beast designed for combat--proves himself capable of so much more than his creators had ever dreamed. He has gone rogue from his pack of bioengineered "augments" and emerged a victorious leader of a pack of human soldier boys. But he is hunted relentlessly by someone determined to destroy him, who knows an alarming secret: Tool has found the way to resist his genetically ingrained impulses of submission and loyalty toward his masters... The time is coming when Tool will embark on an all-out war against those who have enslaved him. From one of science fiction's undisputed masters comes a riveting and all-too-timely page-turner that explores the intricate relationships connecting hunter and prey, master and enslaved, human and monster.” This was amazing.  It may be my favorite book in this series so far.  Tool was a masterful character and even if the other characters were weak or the action sparse, it probably would have been worth reading just for the development of Tool’s character.  Teens who like fantasy and dystopian novels will definitely want to read this.

Makoons

Makoons by Louise Erdrich, 156 pages

“Named for the Ojibwe word for little bear, Makoons and his twin, Chickadee, have traveled with their family to the Great Plains of 1860s Dakota Territory. There they must learn to become buffalo hunters and once again help their people make a home in a new land. But Makoons has had a vision that foretells great challenges -- challenges that his family may not be able to overcome.” This series contains plenty of adventure and a lot of fun but heartache as well.  These are good for kids who like historical fiction and have an interest in Native American history especially.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl     81 pages

Three farmers, each one meaner than the other, try all-out warfare to get rid of the fox and his family.

This was a charming story from Dahl, with a slightly sinister edge, as usual. Dahl's stories do not stray from the violence or terror of nature, despite being written for children. In this book, a fox gets its tail shot off and three mean farmers discuss, quite candidly, how they'd like to murder the fox, other characters discuss wanting to string the fox up or use it's dead body as decor. 

Nevertheless, I love Dahl's simplistic story writing. This story is a bit like a fable, and I love how descriptive Dahl gets when discussing the life and make-up of his characters. A short, but sweet tale, great for a read-aloud.

Patina

Patina by Jason Reynolds     233 pages

Patina, or Patty, runs like a flash. She runs for many reasons--to escape the taunts from the kids at the fancy-schmancy new school she's been sent to since she and her little sister had to stop living with their mom. She runs from the reason WHY she's not able to live with her "real" mom any more: her mom has The Sugar, and Patty is terrified that the disease that took her mom's legs will one day take her away forever. So Patty's also running for her mom, who can't. But can you ever really run away from any of this? As the stress builds up, it's building up a pretty bad attitude as well. Coach won't tolerate bad attitude. No day, no way. And now he wants Patty to run relay...where you have to depend on other people? How's she going to do THAT?
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A solid second in the "Track" series. I like Patina, I think her character is well developed in this book. Reynolds is particularly skilled at voice, and each character has their own individual voice which helps separate out their character and keeps this book well grounded in realism.

I also appreciate the tendency for the prose to be steeped in poetic flare. As a poet, Reynolds clearly writes his prose with poetry in his head, and it shows in the writing. I really enjoy the syntactic structure of his sentences and the rhythm he injects into Patina's narrative voice. I'm sure this book would make a great read-aloud for this very reason.

I'd recommend this to middle-grade readers who enjoy realistic fiction as well as books that include sports, though the sports aspect of this book is not the majority of the story (much of which centers more on family and friendship, as well as Patina's school life). The writing is good, the story is short and sweet, and it makes for a good addition in this series.