Max Hamm, Fairy Tale Detective, by Frank Cammuso

Max Hamm, Fairy Tale Detective, by Frank Cammuso. Syracuse, NY: Nite Owl Comics, 2005. ISBN-10: 0972006141; ISBN-13: 978-0972006149. 208 p.

Plot Summary
Max Hamm is a detective in a noir version of Storybook Land. Populated by characters from nursery rhymes and fairy tales, the town is run by Ma Goose and the Grimm Brothers. Hamm (a pig) runs the Hamm & Eggs Detective Agency with Humpty Dumpty. Max investigates the grisly death of his partner and a tale of intrigue involving Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.

Critical Evaluation
A mixture of comic book and graphic novel, this pick will delight reluctant readers who like mysteries. Written in the style of Dick Francis and the Maltese Falcon, Hamm's terrible puns and jokes will make anyone laugh. Example: "My not so hardboiled partner had an accident. When I got the joint, there he was, sunny-side up." The puns work well with the story and aren't overdone. An enjoyable read.


Author Information

Frank Cammuso graduated from Syracuse University in 1987 with a BFA in Illustration. He has been a political cartoonist for the Syracuse, NY Post-Standard for the past 20 years, and his cartoons have also appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Newsweek. His satire collaborations with Hart Seely have appeared in various publications, including The New Yorker, The Village Voice, Slate, and NPR. The comic book series Max Hamm, Fairy Tale Detective was nominated for the Eisner Award in the category of "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition." He lives with his wife and family in Syracuse, NY, and blogs irregularly at http://www.cammuso.com/blog/

Genre
Graphic novel, comic book, mystery.

Pirateology, by Captain William Lubber

Pirateology, by Dugald A. Steer (from the perspective of Captain William Lubber).  New York: Candlewick Press, 2006. 32 pages.


Ahoy, mateys! The journal of Captain William Lubber, a notorious pirate hunter tracking the legendary pirate Arabella Drummond, was discovered in a treasure chest. Read the ship's log, see the map of his journeys, and learn more about pirate lore, weaponry, tying knots, weaponry, ocean navigation, and the Jolly Roger. This pop-up book, which was designed to look like worn parchment, is chock-full of sidebars, maps to unfold, and drawings of infamous real-life pirates. As Captain Lubber logs his journey around the globe, learn more about pirates from Tortuga and Port Royal in the Caribbean to China, Madagascar, and Nova Scotia.

This interactive, oversized volume offers a wealth of information and facts about pirates that reluctant readers will enjoy. While this book offers some interesting information, it is perhaps best as a first source for information about pirates. Tweens who want more may be interested in books such as Hannah Pritchard, Pirate of the Revolution, Pirate's Log: A Handbook for Aspiring Swashbucklers, or Under the Eagle's Beak: The Search for the Treasure of the Pirate's Pit.

Editorial reviews can be found at Amazon. The book's official website can be found at http://www.biblioweb.co.uk/pirateology/.

Love, Football, and Other Contact Sports, by Alden R. Carter

Love, Football, and Other Contact Sports, by Alden R. Carter. New York: Holiday House, 2006. 192 pages.

This collection of interconnected stories and vignettes follows students at Argyle High as they learn the games of football, love, and life. Is there a brain hidden in that 300 pound linebacker after all? Who has a secret crush? This collection reminds readers that nothing is as simple as it seems.

Readers must leave their preconceptions and stereotypes at the door as they read this collection. For middle school readers who aren't quite ready for the heavy subject matter of Chris Crutcher's books, but who still love reading about sports, Love, Football, and Other Contact Sports is a funny, fast-paced read that most will enjoy.

The author's website can be seen at www.aldencarter.com. Editorial and reader reviews can be found at Amazon.

Fantastic Mr. Fox, by Roald Dahl

Fantastic Mr. Fox, by Roald Dahl. New York: Puffin Books, 1970. 81 pages.

"Nobody outfoxes Fantastic Mr. Fox!" Mr. Fox must steal from the three meanest farmers in the countryside so he can feed his family. But they've discovered his thievery and are out to kill him. They can destroy his burrow, but they can't destroy his brains! Can Mr. Fox come up with a plan to save his family and hoodwink the farmers?

Fantastic Mr. Fox is suitable for tweens at lower reading levels, but can be enjoyed by anyone. Wes Anderson's movie version was a hit last year, which may increase interest in this book.

Reader reviews can be found at Amazon.com. The movie's website can be seen at http://www.fantasticmrfoxmovie.com/.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney. New York: Amulet Books, 2007. 224 pages.

Greg Heffley is a pretty average kid. His older brother is a jerk, his younger brother is obnoxious, his best friend is a dork, and his parents don't understand him. And now that he's started his first year of middle school, everything is changing. His friendships aren't the same as they used to be, and he isn't sure what kind of person he wants to become. When his best friend Rowley gains success and popularity as the school cartoonist, and starts to grow away from Greg, he shares the pranks and funny tricks he plays as he tries to make his friendship the same as it used to be.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books have become a cultural phenomenon in the past few years. In my time volunteering at my public library, tweens ask for these books every day--our most common reference question seems to be "Do you have any of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books?" An understanding of these illustrated novels is essential to any public librarian who wants to know what's currently popular. These books capture the self-absorption of middle school kids, and appeal to many middle school boys who see themselves and their troubles in the journal of Greg Heffley. He is neither super popular or a huge loser, the two ends of the spectrum that most teen movies focus on. He's just a regular guy, and his voice comes out in the novel. Highly recommended.

Customer and editorial reviews can be found at Amazon.com. Wimpykid.com is a great site for all the Wimpy Kid books and movies.

The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate di Camillo

The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate di Camillo. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2003.

Despereaux is a very small castle mouse who loves to read and hear the king singing to the princess. But when the princess is kidnapped by a rat and a jealous serving maid, someone must go to the dungeons to save her. Despereaux is so little. Can he complete his quest and become a hero?

Borrowing the rhetorical device of the omniscient storyteller common to novels such as Jane Eyre, Kate Di Camillo is able to make all her characters, even a mouse, relatable to her readers. A starred review in School Library Journal calls the story of Despereaux "entertaining, heartening, and above all, great fun." This is a great story that most readers will enjoy. This book won the Newbery Medal.

Despereaux was made into a movie; visit the film's website to view clips from the movie and get DVD information at http://www.thetaleofdespereauxmovie.com/. Additional editorial reviews can be found at Amazon, and you can visit the author's website at http://www.katedicamillo.com/.

Schooled, by Gordon Korman

Schooled, by Gordon Korman. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2007.

Capricorn Anderson has never watched television, tasted a pizza, or been to school. He has lived on a farm commune since he was little, homeschooled by his hippie grandma, Rain. But when Rain falls out of a tree and breaks her hip, Cap must attend the local middle school. His long hair and tie-dyed clothes, along with his laid-back attitude, draw the ridicule of his classmates. He is elected as the 8th grade class president as a joke--will he be the best president in school history, or the biggest punchline?

Korman excels at portraying middle schoolers as they really are, but also interpreting their behaviors with warmth and compassion. As the reader follows the changes Cap brings to the school, it's interesting to see how just one person can make a difference.

More reviews can be found at Amazon.com. The author's official website is www.gordonkorman.com, where he also blogs.

Criss Cross, by Lynne Rae Perkins

Criss Cross, by Lynne Rae Perkins. New York: Greenwillow, 2005. 337 p.

Debbie wishes for something good to happen to her this summer. Hector feels like the world and its  many possibilities are opening up to him. Spanning late spring to summer, this slice of life novel tells of a group of friends living in a small town, yearning for new experiences.

This 2006 Newbery Medal winner perfectly captures the sense many teens may feel that something interesting is just around the bend. Even the minor characters are finely drawn and leap off the page fully formed. Illustrations and songs supplement the text without supplanting it. This book was a joy to read.

Editorial reviews can be found at Amazon.com. You can also visit the author's website for more information about this and other books.

Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits, by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson

Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits, by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2002. 272 p.

This collection of stories explores the magical creatures that live in the waters of the deep, from mermaids to the great kraken. Each story vividly describes these magical creatures in a powerful way.

This first collaboration between husband and wife is as lushly imagined as veteran readers of McKinley or Dickinson would expect. Both authors have a gift for creating rich worlds that envelop the reader, and this is no exception.

Additional editorial reviews can be found at Amazon. Her website, http://www.robinmckinley.com/, is a wonderful source of FAQs and other writings by the author.

Queen Bee, by Chynna Clugston

Queen Bee, by Chynna Clugston. New York: Graphix, 2005. 112 p.

Haley Madison was always a total geek, until, in 7th grade, she develops psychokinesis. When she moves to a new school, she feels like she can finally be cool. She is smart, funny and finally popular! She sits at the cool table until another girl with the same powers moves in. They constantly compete and sabatoge each other, until a final showdown at the school talent night. Does Haley really want to be one of the cool girls?

Clugston's graphic novel is fast-paced and captures the way middle school girls really do compete with each other. In the end, Haley learns the lesson that popularity isn't everything, and it's better to have friends who like you for what you really are. This was a fun read and will appeal to girls (not boys, sadly) who are reluctant readers.

Additional reviews can be found at Amazon and Powell's Books.

Ibby's Magic Weekend, by Heather Dyer

Ibby's Magic Weekend, by Heather Dyer. Frome, Somerset, England: Chicken House, 2008. 140 pages.

Ibby definitely doesn't believe in magic. But she changes her mind when her cousin shrinks to the size of her thumb! Ibby' cousins discovered an old magic box in their attic. As they play with the box, Ibby hears stories of her Uncle Godfrey, a magician who vanished years ago. Can Ibby and her friends discover a way to make him reappear?

This story is pretty basic. There's no subtext and no underlying themes--it's just a story about magic. I read it for a tween book club I run at my local library, and I worried that the girls in the club would be bored. But when I talked to them, they said they really liked it. I was a little bored, just because there wasn't anything there besides the basic story, but it was a very quick read.

For ages 9-12. May appeal to reluctant readers who have difficulty discerning themes and subtext. Additional reviews can be found here, here, and here.

Fairest, by Gail Carson Levine

Fairest, by Gail Carson Levine. HarperCollins, 2006.

15-year-old Aza is not beautiful. Her dark hair, pale mottled skin, and large stature lead others in the kingdom of Ayortha to stare and comment. But even though she isn't beautiful, she was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and a gift for voice manipulation and mimicry (or illusing, as she calls it). The kingdom's new queen, Ivi, finds out about her vocal gifts and pressures her to convince the court that Ivi is a talented singer. Ivi is manipulative and, after the king is hurt in an accident, uses her newfound power to become a domineering leader. Can Aza keep the kingdom from crumbling while also demonstrating outward loyalty to Ivi?

In this loose retelling of the story of Snow White, Gail Carson Levine uses her talents to create a realistic portrayal of issues of trust, identity, and love. A collection of editorial reviews can be found at Amazon.com.

Awards:
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults: Twists on the Tale (2010) (link)
Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (Middle Grades, 2008-2009)
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2006)

Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George

Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George. New York: Bloomsbury, 2009.

Here's another retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". This fairy tale tells the story of twelve princesses who are cursed to wear out their shoes dancing every night, and Galen, a former soldier and gardener, who follows them to try to discover their secret. Will Galen be able to break the curse?

Unlike the Zahler retelling, this story focuses on the perspective of Galen, the former soldier. Older tweens may be more interested in this one than The Thirteenth Princess.

This book was selected as one of YALSA's 2010 Best Books for Young Adults. Additional editorial reviews can be found at Amazon.com.

The Thirteenth Princess, by Diane Zahler

The Thirteenth Princess, by Diane Zahler. New York: Harper, 2010.

Zita is the thirteenth princess in a royal family. Cast away to the kitchens when she was born because she wasn't the son and heir her father wanted, she learns who she really is when she is 11 years old. As she gets to know her sisters, she notices that they are starting to get listless and ill. Zita is determined to find out what's wrong. Could it be a magic spell that is causing her sisters to get sick and to wear out their shoes every night?

This retelling of the fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" is an interesting take on the classic story. It's nice to read a retelling where a young girl does a lot of the work to break the spell that is usually credited to the handsome soldier who eventually breaks the curse. This was a short, fun read, with a little romance thrown in.

Additional editorial reviews can be found at amazon.com. A video trailer for the book can be found at YouTube.

BizKid$

BizKid$ is a public TV series that airs on PBS. It is designed to teach kids about money and business. Topics include being a smart consumer, saving and investing for the future, credit cards, economic cycles, and marketing. The show's motto is "where kids teach kids about business". The show isn't produced regularly, but as of February 15, 2010, the show is back in production for at least five new episodes.

Created by the producers of the popular educational show "Bill Nye the Science Guy", this show teaches basic financial principles that kids should learn, but the presentations are interesting and seem relevant. It's a great course of study for kids and parents who want to learn more about business in a fun way.

You can watch old episodes of the show at http://bizkids.com/.

Zel, by Donna Jo Napoli

In this retelling of Rapunzel, love and jealousy play a major role. The characters include a mother who loves her daughter and wants to be together with her always, a girl who is excited to grow up and see the world outside her cottage, and a young nobleman who is smitten with her. What lengths can a mother go to, to keep her daughter safe?

It isn't always the case, but in this particular retelling, the motivations of all three main characters are drawn clearly, and the reader can understand what would lead a mother to lock her beloved daughter in a tower. Just like in the source material, there is a lot of darkness in this story, but it will appeal to any tween who wants more detail than they normally get by reading the basic fairy tale.

A number of editorial reviews can be found at amazon.com.

Awards:
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Books
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Best Books
BULLETIN FOR THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS Blue Ribbon Book
BOOKLIST "Books of Special Note"
American Booksellers Association Pick of the List
American Library Association Young Adults (YALSA) popular paperbacks
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Master List, Vermont
Maine Student Book Award Master List
Voice of Youth Advocates Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror List
Missouri State Teachers Association Reading Circle Selection List
Notable Carolyn W. Field Award, Pennsylvania Library Association
Honor Book YOUNG CRITICS' TOP CHOICES FROM THE LAST SIX YEARS, 1997

Sonny with a Chance (Disney Channel)

Sonny Munroe is a friendly, sweet teenager from Wisconsin who got a role in the sketch comedy show "So Random!" Sonny and her mom move to Hollywood to take advantage of this big break. This sitcom captures the influence the show has on Sonny's life at home and at work, and also includes humorous sketches from the show within a show.

Like most Disney Channel original series, Sonny with a Chance is filled with moral stories and good influences from adults, along with the usual stereotypical class--the clueless school principal, bitter teacher, and teenage boys who can't stop checking out cute girls, but who don't quite know how to interact with the opposite sex. It is a cute show that will appeal to many tween girls and some boys.

I watched the episode "Cheater Girls" (Season 1, episode 5).

The show website, http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/sonnywithachance/, is full of fun games and activities as well as video clips from the show and some full episodes.

Spinners, by Donna Jo Napoli & Richard Tchen

The rumpled man was once able to spin straw into gold--but this gift took everything else he had. Saskia uses her gift for spinning to provide for herself and her father. When Saskia's father boasts to the king that she can spin straw into gold, the circumstances bring the rumpled man to her dungeon. Will the complicated secrets that tie them together save her or kill them both?

This unusual retelling of the Rumplestiltzkin story is written from the point of view of both Saskia and Rumplestiltzkin. Due to some sexual situations at the beginning of the book, as well as its dark tone, it is more appropriate for older tweens, ages 11-14.

Editorial reviews can be found at amazon.com.

Awards:
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist
Junior Library Guild
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
Carolyn W. Field Honor Book, Pennsylvania Library Association
South Carolina Book Award Master List

Just Ella, by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Like the rest of the girls in the kingdom, Cynthia Elianora dreams of going to a ball and being swept off her feet by Prince Charming. What girl wouldn't want to marry a handsome prince and leave all her troubles behind? But once it really happens, her perfect "happily ever after" isn't anything like she imagined. Her advisers try to mold her into their idea of what a princess should be, and Prince Charming is nothing but a pretty face. As Ella becomes more disillusioned with her life, the stories of a fairy godmother who sent her to the ball persist in the kingdom. Why can't anyone believe she did it all on her own? And who will help her escape her unwanted royal destiny?

This story, with its strong, independent heroine, is a believable retelling of how the Cinderella story may have played out without a magical intervention. It provides an interesting twist on the well-known, well-loved tale.

A detailed review can be found at Greenmanreview.com. Additional editorial reviews can be found at amazon.com.

Awards (list found here):
American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, 1999
A YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, 2000
A YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2000
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, 2000
International Reading Association Young Adult Choice, 2001
Readers' Choice Award for Teen Books Finalist, 2003
A YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults, 2005

Bodies from the Bog, by James M. Deem

This nonfiction book examines the existence of "bog bodies"--bodies that were preserved as mummies in the peat bogs of Northern Europe. Some of these bodies are over 2000 years old! Deem looks at the history of bog body discoveries, as well as the life of a bog and the things anthropologists and other scientists look for as they examine these bodies.

This book is great because it combines gruesome photographs of found bodies with basic scientific discussions. It has great cover appeal (the ick factor of mummies!), and will interest boys who are reluctant readers, as well as any tween with a budding interest in anthropology (especially if they have ever watched the TV series Bones!).

This book was selected a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the ALA, and was placed on the VOYA Nonfiction Honor List in 1999. Additional awards and reviews can be found on the author's website at http://www.jamesmdeem.com/books.bogbodies.htm.

Shakespeare's Secret, by Elise Broach

When Hero starts 6th grade at a new school, all she wants is for the other kids to stop teasing her about her Shakespearean name. But when her old neighbor, Mrs. Roth, tells her that an old diamond is hidden in her house, everything points back to Shakespeare. Will she and her new friend Danny find the diamond and discover how Shakespeare ties everything together?

This literary mystery offers a good introduction both to the history of the debate over Shakespeare's identity, as well as to good mystery writing. Tweens interested in history will be interested to see how Broach intertwines English history with the present-day story.

This book was selected as an ALA Notable Children's Book in 2006. Scholastic published an online discussion guide which includes lit circle questions and student handouts. Quick booktalk ideas can be found here. A compilation of editorial reviews can be found at Amazon.com.

Dealing with Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede

Princess Cimorene is not a proper princess. Her parents, the King and Queen of Linderwall, do their best to teach her all the things a princess ought to know--dancing, embroidery, etiquette--but Cimorene prefers fencing, or cooking, or magic, over the things she is expected to do. Cimorene can tolerate this, until her parents arrange her marriage to a prince. Handsome as can be, he is also humorless and dull. So Cimorene takes the advice of her fairy Godmother and runs away to be a dragon's princess. What happens when an unconventional princess challenges the boundaries others have placed around her? She challenges dragons and wizards as she uncovers a treacherous plot against the dragon king.

With a strong cast of characters and a feminist protagonist, this books is perfect for any spunky tween who doesn't want to be just like everyone else. Anyone who likes fantasy will enjoy reading Wrede's subversion of typical fairy tale tropes.

Other reviews can be found at amazon.com.