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.