The Hanging Woods by Scott Loring Sanders

The Hanging Woods by Scott Loring Sanders
Reviewed by Jena Lohrbach (Muse Book Reviews)



The word that’s run through my mind since I started The Hanging Woods: Sociopathic.

From page one, the narrator is clearly someone I wouldn’t want to run into. Ever. All the main characters are unhinged. Jimmy, with his abusive dad, has grown into a mean adolescent. Mothball’s the fat kid who gets picked on. He seems pretty mild-mannered, but then he decides to try to break the record for the world’s longest-lived headless chicken. (That means he has to cut the head off a chicken but leave the brainstem intact. As you might imagine, he’s not successful on the first couple of tries.) And Walter, our narrator—well, he can try to blame it on a lot of circumstances.

Once it’s been established just how horrible these three young men are (it takes the first half of the book), that’s when people start dying.

I wouldn’t recommend The Hanging Woods to anyone I know.* This book made me frightened at the prospect of having sons. It might be okay for a teen guy audience—the voice is frighteningly authentic, but I’m sure that as a teen, I wouldn’t have liked this book one bit. I kind of wish I’d quit reading it when the notion first struck me, but I kept hoping for something redemptive, something to make the discomfort of imagining these characters worthwhile. No such luck.

*Clearly, though, readers at Amazon disagree with me; it gets a few five-star reviews there.



What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

A Patchwork of Books: "Enjoyable, though heartbreakingly so, both young men and women will enjoy this possible classic-in-the-making." (read more...)

Notes from the Handbasket: "It's a vibrant, gritty portrait of boys struggling to become men. " (read more...)

Read Arizona: "I recommend this book to readers who are mature enough to handle the content. " (read more...)

Becky's Book Reviews: "I prefer my narrators a bit more sane. HOWEVER I know that some readers will appreciate this one. It is well written. If it had been poorly written, I wouldn't have found the strength to keep reading. " (read more...)


More Info:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (March 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618881255
• ISBN-13: 978-0618881253
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Nonfiction Monday: The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia

Happy Nonfiction Monday! Today, I'm presenting another book that has been nominated in the Nonfiction Middle Grade/Young Adult category for the Cybils Awards.


Raucous Royals: Test your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce Which Royal Rumors are True is a very fun and engaging book that investigates whether or not common rumors about the world's most famous royalty throughout history are true or false. For example, did Anne Boleyn really have six fingers? Was Napolean Bonaparte as short as he was rumored to be? Was King Henry VIII so large that his servants had to carry him because he couldn't walk?

Throughout the book, readers encounter speech bubbles, quizzes, funny caricatures, tabloid magazine-style articles, and other interactive text that make readers become a part of the investigation and learn how over time, facts can be twisted. The information in the book is chunked into short segments so that readers never feel overwhelmed with content. A section at the end of the book even tells readers how they can begin to investigate other rumors they may have heard.

Carlyn Beccia made smart choices about which information to present, creating a book that makes history fun and appealing and that I believe will have kids interested in learning more. I'm definitely keeping my eye out for more books by her in the future.


Resources:

The Book's Blog and website include a lot of resources for further investigation. They're well worth checking out.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

I.N.K. "A book with wickedly appealing art and layout, little quizzes, juicy historical tidbits." (read more...)



More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618891307
• ISBN-13: 978-0618891306
• Source: Review copy from publisher

Also by Carlyn Beccia:

Check out Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday selections.

M+O 4EVR by Tonya Hegamin

Today, I'm excited to present Barbara Shoup's first review at The Well-Read Child!



M+O 4EVR by Tonya Hegamin

Known as “M” and “O” to their families, Opal and Marianne have been best friends as long as they can remember. Their mothers are not the most reliable in the world; Opal’s dad is a long-haul trucker, and Marianne’s dad disappeared before she was born. Opal’s Gran has been the glue in their lives, taking Marianne in when she was a little girl and raising the two girls together. By the time they reach their senior year in high school, Opal is a serious student with college scholarships within her reach; Marianne is on the road to trouble, unhappy and reckless in her yearning to be popular.

This recklessness is depicted beautifully by Hegamin in the first chapter of the book, when Marianne appears drunk, her homecoming queen crown askew, and lures Opal away from her responsibilities to take a wild ride out into the country, where an encounter with a group of football players quickly turns ugly. It’s the last time Opal sees her friend.

Narrated by Opal, M+O 4EVR covers just a few days, but Hegamin so deftly weaves in memories of the girls’ complicated lives that at the end the reader fully understands what Opal has lost. My only quibble with the book is the undeveloped suggestion that Opal feels more than friendship for Marianne, which in my view confuses the story of their rich friendship.

The truth is, there aren’t enough good books about friendship, and M+O 4EVR’s insightful look at how childhood friendships evolve as young people enter their teen years was more than enough for me. Any girl who’s been left behind by a best friend will sympathize with Opal and learn something about how to move forward with her life.


More info:

• Age Range: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (April 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618495703
• ISBN-13: 978-0618495702
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you've probably picked up on the fact that I'm a fan of Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Why? Because I think they do an amazing job of making nonfiction interesting and engaging and presenting fun and interesting facts. I also think they make an effort to keep their content fresh. I always know that when I pick up one of their books that I'm going to learn lots of new information about animals.

Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed with their newest book, published today, How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?.

This book presents a number of challenges animals face along with their unique methods for solving the problem. For example, one challenge is digging holes. Readers are presented with the question, "How many ways can you dig a hole?" When you turn the page, there is a two-page spread showing how different animals dig holes. There is an aardvark making burrows with his front legs and claws, a Mexican burrowing toad digging into mud with its feet, a red rock urchin wearing away rock or coral with its teeth, and more.

Other challenges presented in the book include catching flies, snaring fish, hatching eggs, using leaves, and eating clams. At the end of the book, readers can learn even more about each animal featured.

Accompanying the fact-filled text are Jenkins' customary colorful paper collage illustrations. I never fail to be amazed at how he captures so many details and facial expressions with the collages.


This is a book that I highly recommend to children who are interested in animals, and it would make an excellent cross-curricular resource for science, geography, social studies, and language arts lessons. It may also inspire young readers to come up with creative ways of solving their own problems after seeing how the animals in book do it.

Visit Steve Jenkins' website to learn more about his work and to learn how he makes his books.


More Information:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (October 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061896634X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618966349
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Visit Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday selections.

T4 by Ann Clare LeZotte

For today's Poetry Friday selection, I'm reviewing Ann Clare LeZotte's debut novel, T4. Written in free verse, T4 tells the story of Paula Becker, a thirteen year old German girl who is deaf and a target of the Nazis who were ordered to kill disabled people under Action T4. With the assistance of the family's priest, Father Josef, young Paula goes into hiding until she can safely return to her family.

This is a fast-paced and touching read that brings attention to a story that many may not have heard much about. But what makes this book special is LeZotte's sparse free verse that not only tells Paula's story but also effectively conveys the voice and fears of a thirteen-year-old girl. The beginning of the book focuses on Paula's childhood before Action T4 and both her and her family's struggle to cope with her disability.

This passage was especially expressive:

"What I Saw
My visual
Sense
Was so
Strong.

If
A breeze
Shook
The leaves
On
A tree
I
Would
Shriek
With
Delight.

If
People
Ran fast
Past me
It looked
Like
A tidal
Wave.

Even
The motion
Of
A hand
Waving
Goodbye
Startled
Me. " (pp. 8-9)

Here's part of her description of Poor Kurt, a kind man she meets in the shelter where she's hiding:

"Poor Kurt
Wrapped his dreams
Around him
Like a patchwork quilt.

He slept
Almost every night
At the shelter.
He slept all day too.

His bushy beard
Appeared to be gray,
But he never washed,
So I couldn't tell...." (p. 52)

LeZotte makes the story and characters come alive in a book that literally took me 20 minutes to read. Through Paula, she is able to tell the horrific story of Action T4 and the Holocaust without going into graphic details. Because the book is short and written in free verse, there are not many details, so be prepared to answer many questions after children finish reading the book.

Not only will this make a great addition to a home or school library, but it would also make a great supplementary resource in history and language arts classes.





Read an interview with the author at Deaf Characters in Adolescent Literature.


What Other Bloggers are Saying:
Flamingnet Young Adult Book Review: "This book is really rich in detail and is a great story. I would say that anybody who is in to learning about WWII should read this book." (Read more...)

More info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (September 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547046847
• ISBN-13: 978-0547046846
• Source of book: Review copy from publisher
  

The Poetry Friday roundup is at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

I See a Kookaburra! by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

I See a Kookaburra!: Discovering Animal Habitats Around the World by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Houghton Mifflin, 2005)

Parents, teachers, and homeschool parents, here is a great resource for animal lovers and for lessons covering geography, ecosystems, species, habitats, colors, adjectives, and much much more. The superstar husband and wife team, Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, introduce children to interesting information about animals and their habitats around the world in a very fun hide-and-seek format.

The book covers animals in six different habitats:

• Desert (American Southwest)
  
• Tide Pool (southern coast of England)
• Jungle (Amazon River basin of South America)
• Savanna (central Africa)
• Forest (eastern Australia)
• Pond (American Midwest)

Jenkins and Page introduce each habitat with a spread of eight animals hiding in the flora of the habitat illustrated with Jenkins' familiar cut and torn paper collages.

For example, on the page that covers the desert, we see a kit fox's nose and ears hiding behind a cactus, the rattle of a diamondback rattlesnake poking up behind a rock, the legs and eyes of a trapdoor spider peeking out of its tunnel in the ground, and more. Here, the only text on the page is, "In the desert I see... This desert is in the American Southwest.

When you flip the page, all of the flora has disappeared, and you see where all eight animals were hiding on the previous page. Beside each animal is a short passage that completes the "In the desert I see..." sentence. For example, "...a sharp-eyed kit fox leaving its burrow," "...an angry diamondback rattlesnake buzzing a warning," "...a trapdoor spider waiting patiently in its tunnel."

As an added surprise, somewhere in each habitat is an ant because as the authors explain in the book's introduction, "they live almost everywhere on earth."

The back of the book includes a longer paragraph about each animal featured in the book and more information about the habitat in which they live.

I'm a huge fan of Page and Jenkins because they really do make nonfiction and learning fun, and I See a Kookaburra!: Discovering Animal Habitats Around the World is no exception. The interactive hide-and-seek element engages children and encourages them to turn the page and find out where the animals are hiding. Without even realizing it, they're learning and having fun at the same time.

While some of the critics have said that the disproportionate sizes of the animals may confuse kids, I think kids are smart enough to see that these are just depictions of animals. They know that a jaguar is bigger than an iguana and won't mind that the animals are not drawn to scale. I often think adults don't give kids enough credit when I see comments like these.

As I mentioned earlier, the teaching possibilities are endless and can be used across curricula. If you're looking for interesting and engaging nonfiction, you can't go wrong with Jenkins and Page.




What other bloggers are saying:

Fossil Hill Book Blog: "This dynamic, captivating book encourages critical thinking and influences readers to take a closer look at the world around them." (read more...)

awwilcox: "I believe this book would be an excellent choice for a study on ecosystems, animals, camouflaging, and habitats." (read more...)

Betzen Book Reviews: "The colorful double-page spread design of cut and torn paper collage creates attractive, but accurate renditions of the habitats and animals discussed." (read more...)


More Information:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (May 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618507647
• ISBN-13: 978-0618507641
• Source of book: Library
  

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (May 5, 2008)
Amazon Price: $11.56
ISBN-10: 0618862447
ISBN-13: 978-0618862443
Source of book: Review copy from publisher


If you're looking for a soothing and memorable bedtime story that will lull your little one to sleep, look no further. Inspired by the cumulative poem, "This is the key of the kingdom," The House in the Night is a cumulative poem that begins with a father handing his small child a key to the house. When the child opens the door, we see a bed, and "on that bed waits a book. In that book flies a bird." The child imagines hopping on this bird's back and flying through the dark, seeing the moon, the sun on the moon's face, and back into the house where the child is tucked into bed by her mother and falls sound asleep.

The text itself is simple enough for a beginning reader to understand, and young children learning new words will enjoy the repetition of the common objects presented in the book:

"Through the dark glows the moon.
On the moon's face shines the sun.
Sun in the moon,
moon in the dark,
dark in the song,
song in the bird,
bird in the book,
book on the bed..."

Beth Krommes' detailed black and white scratchboard illustrations with splashes of a vibrant watercolor yellow throughout are AMAZING and add to the book's warm tone. I predict that children will love having this book read to them, and it's destined to become a classic that many families will enjoy for generations.


Other Bedtime Book Recommendations:
Who Will Sing a Lullaby?
In a Blue Room
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
Book of the Day: The book as a whole is a quieter, gentler story than many others found in the children’s room. It would be perfect for a bedtime story, or for a quiet spell in the middle of a busy day. (Read more...)

Fuse #8: "Fifty years from now libraries and websites will be filled with queries from people asking, 'There's this book I've been trying to find from years. It took place at night and there was yellow . . . it was really gorgeous. Does anyone remember it?'" (Read more...)

A Patchwork of Books: "A very enjoyable bedtime story, you'll probably have to read again and again. " (Read more...)

If you have a review of this book, leave a comment with your link, and I'll post it here!

Way Up and Over Everything by Alice McGill, illustrated by Jude Daly

Way Up and Over Everything written by Alice McGill, illustrated by Jude Daly

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (March 21, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 061838796X
ISBN-13: 978-0618387960

Told in first person from Ms. McGill's point of view, her great-great grandmother, Jane, was a slave born on Ol' Man Deboreaux's Georgia plantation. In 1842, when Jane was sixteen, Ol' Man Deboreaux bought five new slaves whose hunger for freedom rendered them magical powers that set them free. This story of hardship, hope, and belief has been passed down from generation to generation in Ms. McGill's family through her great-grandmother, Mama Jane, the daughter of the Jane in the story.

While the story does have a happy ending for the slaves who gained their freedom, McGill paints a realistic picture of the cruelty and injustice of slavery that is also appropriate for young readers:

"The new Africans would have to learn hard work by the whip for the rest of their lives. If a hoe rested too long, the whip popped. If cottonseeds didn't hit the dirt fast enough, the whip popped. Nobody could tell from what direction the sound of the whip would pop."

Jude Daly's illustrations give us a bird's eye view of the events that take place in the story, and give it a sort of dreamlike feel. The muted browns of the earth the slaves cultivate are enhanced with splashes of color here and there--a red skirt, the yellow sun, a green tree.

The back of the book includes a note from Alice McGill who gives some background information about slavery and the origin of Way Up and Over Everything.

Carrying an important message, this book will be sure to spark many conversations and questions and would make an excellent addition to any classroom or home library.

The Sea Serpent and Me by Dashka Slater; illustrated by Catia Chien

The Sea Serpent and Me Dashka Slater; illustrated by Catia Chien

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (May 19, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618723943
ISBN-13: 978-0618723942

Houghton Mifflin's spring catalog has some wonderful books for children of all ages, and I haven't been disappointed yet with the books I've seen from Girlwood and The Willoughbys to Sisters and Brothers. The Sea Serpent and Me is no exception.

One evening, a little girl is having her bath when a tiny sea serpent slips into her bathtub from the faucet. After playing, the girl promises to take him back to the sea the next day. But the next day it's raining and the next day and the next day. As the sea serpent rapidly grows, the girl and the sea serpent become close friends as they play together, sing songs, and tell each other stories. But the day comes when the now giant sea serpent must go back to where he belongs. But is he ready to leave his new friend and return to the sea?

Children will love the idea of a cute little sea serpent suddenly appearing in the bathtub one day, and they'll be entertained as they see the serpent grow and grow. Catia Chan's soft, yet vivid illustrations give the book a dreamlike and watery feel and create an enchanting atmosphere.

This is a fantastic book that celebrates friendship, courage, imagination, and childhood. I highly recommend it for any child's library.

Note: Why the official publication date is not until May 18, it's available on Amazon.com now.

Girlwood by Claire Dean

Today, I'm pleased to present the first review from Marlies, our newest contributor. Enjoy!

Girlwood by Claire Dean
Age Range: Young Adult
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (May 19, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0618883908
ISBN-13: 978-0618883905

Last spring, I had a plastic thumb. When my neighbors were asleep, I’d sneak outside and poke plastic stems into my so-called garden. I couldn’t name more than ten flowers and far fewer trees, and I certainly didn’t know that Fireweed is the first plant to grow back in burned areas. But that was all before I read Girlwood, by Claire Dean.

So is Girlwood a boring book about plants? Absolutely not. It’s a story that speaks to the hearts and minds of girls 12 and up and shows them that life can be filled with wonder and magic if they have the courage to hold onto hope. Polly, the main character, must believe that she can help her runaway sister survive in the Idaho woods—in winter, with wolves, and bulldozers. She gets her strength from her beloved grandmother, Baba, who shares the “secrets” of the woods that have actually been known for thousands of years.

All of the characters in the book are complex and quirky, and the writer’s voice is strong and intuitive. For example, here’s how the book opens:

“The first and last kiss Polly received from her sister was as contrary as Bree herself. Lightweight but intense, a kiss that was supposed to impart some deep meaning but offer zero affection, a kiss that was retracted nearly before it began.”

Girlwood will be released May 19, and in anticipation, I recommend visiting the author’s website. On it, she talks about the book and its themes and shares one piece of wisdom: “Only joy works. Don’t stop until you’ve found yours.”

This book spoke to me. I know I won’t stab plastic convenience into the ground where wondrous nature belongs. And I bet, when faced with trouble, adolescents and young adults who read the book will remember Polly and find new ways to choose hope over self-doubt and fear.

Sisters & Brothers by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (April 14, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0618375961
ISBN-13: 978-0618375967


My friend Jay was just telling me how his daughter Amelia loves going to the zoo and seeing all of the animals. Amelia also loves books, and I think I've found a book that she'll love.

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World presents all kinds of information and fun facts about animal siblings. For example, did you know that nine-banded armadillos are ALWAYS born as identical quadruplets? Well, did ya? I bet you didn't know that there are no male New Mexico whiptail lizards or that cheetah brothers hunt together throughout their lives while the sisters separate from their families when they're two years old to start their own. Pretty cool, huh?

The book features 19 different species of animals from elephants and beavers to European shrews and giant anteaters. Splendid cut-and-torn paper collage illustrations compliment each paragraph of intriguing information, and a fun caption accompanies each illustration. I especially love the caption by the black widow spider's egg sac: "I'm having my family for dinner..." Eeeeek!

It's a challenge to write engaging nonfiction for young children, and Jenkins and Page have definitely risen to the challenge and created a book that children of all ages will enjoy. Even very young children who may not understand the text will be fascinated by the illustrations. I highly recommend this for any child who loves animals.

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World won't be available until April 14, but it's definitely one to keep on your radar.

This is not the first collaboration of the talented husband and wife team, Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Their other books include:

• What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? (Caldecott Honor Book)
• Move!
• I See a Kookaburra!: Discovering Animal Habitats Around the World
  
• Animals in Flight