Book Reviews

Sandy’s review of THE HUNGER GAMES.      In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other … Continue reading →

Sandy’s review of “Ella Minnow Pea”. Ella lives on the fictional island of Nollop, home of Nevin Nollop the man who coined the pangram “the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.” The statue of Nollop, which sports his well known phrase is slowly dropping the letters. Continue reading →

BIBLIOGRAPHY Picoult, Jodi. 2011. SING YOU HOME.  New York, NY: Atria Books. ISBN 978-1439102725. PLOT SUMMARY When music therapist Zoe Baxter’s latest pregnancy ends in a stillbirth, her husband Max decides he can’t handle any more heartbreak and leaves her. … Continue reading →

BIBLIOGRAPHY Thomson, Bill.  2010. CHALK. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Children. ISBN 9780761455264.  PLOT SUMMARY Kids at the park, a bucket of chalk….pictures come alive!  Then….the rain comes. CRITICAL ANALYSIS The illustrations in this wordless picture book are crisp, clear, colorful, … Continue reading →

BIBLIOGRAPHY  Thomas, Jan. 2009. CAN YOU MAKE A SCARY FACE?.  New York, NY: Beach Lane Books. ISBN 9781416985815. PLOT SUMMARYAn interactive book for the preschool set.  The narrator is an indecisive lady bug that leads children in wiggling and being … Continue reading →

BIBLIOGRAPHY Tan, Shaun. 2007. The Arrival.  New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN 9780439895293. PLOT SUMMARY A wordless graphic novel that tells the story of an immigrant.  The story follows a man leaving his family and traveling to a … Continue reading →

BIBLIOGRAPHY Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book.  Ill. by Dave Mckean. New York, NY: Harper Collins Children’s Books. ISBN 9780060530921. PLOT SUMMARY His family having been murdered when he was a toddler, Nobody “Bod” Owens lives in a graveyard.  He’s … Continue reading →

BIBLIOGRAPHY Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky.  New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385733137 PLOT SUMMARY It’s 1918, there is a war in Europe, 16 year-old orphan Hattie has inherited a homestead from an uncle she had never met.  Eager … Continue reading →

BIBLIOGRAPHY Napoli, Donna Jo, Simms. 2004. BOUND.  New York, NY: Atheneum Books. ISBN 9780689861758. PLOT SUMMARY Xing Xing’s father dies, leaving her to her stepmother and stepsister.  Keeping to the traditional Cinderella story, Xing Xing is not her stepmother’s favorite … Continue reading →

BIBLIOGRAPHY Phelan, Matt.   2009.   THE STORM IN THE BARN. Sommersville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 978-0763636180. PLOT SUMMARY Set in Kansas in 1937, this graphic novel tells the story of one family during the Dust Bowl.  Jack is a young … Continue reading →