The Coffin Quilt: The Feud Between the Hatfields and the McCoys

Rinaldi, A. (1999). The Coffin Quilt: The Feud Between the Hatfields and the McCoys. San Diego: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 9780152164508

· Plot Summary
Fannie McCoy's family has had an ongoing rivalry with the Hatfields since the 1860s, based mainly on the murder of Asa Harman McCoy. The two families were on opposite sides in the Civil War, and have not been able to resolve their differences. By 1878, it only took a dispute over a hog to make the volatile situation explode, and two years later Ro McCoy, has decided to live out of wedlock with Johnse Hatfield. There are five girls in the McCoy clan, but Ro is the prettiest girl in the area, and Fannie is her favorite sister. In contrast, Fannie faces hostility from not just her family's enemy, but her other seven siblings as well. When Ro becomes pregnant, and the violence between the two families escalates out of control, Fannie knows she must find a way to get out.

· Critical Evaluation
Ro is initially given the quilt with the images of coffins, and the names of her family on each, from the Hatfields. It's a perverse testimony to how much hatred runs between the two clans. The families devise codes of conduct that have nothing to do with the law, and the quilt becomes a strange focus for Ro's wish to fuel the animosity.

· Reader’s Annotation
A novel, but with few elements of light to alleviate the overall impression of a grim reality. Based on an actual feud between the two families, as seen through the eyes of an unwilling participant.

· Information about the author
Ann Rinaldi was born in New York City in 1934, but after the death of her mother, went to live with her aunt and uncle in Brooklyn. Her father remarried, and they moved to New Jersey, where he did not allow Ann to attend college. In 1960, she married her husband and they had two children. Her writing career began in 1969 with a short weekly column in the Somerset Messenger Gazette. Since then, she has authored over a dozen novels for children and young adults, primarily works of historical non-fiction.

· Genre
Historical Non-Fiction

· Curriculum Ties
History

· Booktalking Ideas
History of West Virginia/Kentucky during the Civil War
New Year's Night Massacre as reflection of clan hatred.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-9/Ages 11-14

· Challenge Issues
Heavy in mentions of murders, burnings, etc, but not saturated in gore. This is an excellent example of how hatred can fuel unrest, in a way that is less pervasive than in war. Could be used as a real life counterpart to a reading of Romeo and Juliet.

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
In doing my portion of the report on non-fiction, I ran across mention of Mrs.Rinaldi's work. I enjoy historical fiction, as well as information surrounding the American Civil War.

Frenchtown Summer

Cormier, R. (1999). Frenchtown Summer. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 9780440228547

· Plot Summary
Eugene is experiencing Summer in Frenchtown, narrating the events as they happen for the curious reader. He is twelve, and begun his first paper route, but it's circumstances surrounding his family and neighbors that are the most interesting. From the boy who dies after tormenting Eugene (causing the narrator to believe he can cause everyone to die at will), to his grieving aunt mourning her dead son, and the suicide of Eugene's uncle, a poignant picture is given.

· Critical Evaluation
Everything is revealed using poetry, including the mentions of deaths that cause the deceased to be buried in unhallowed ground and the details of Eugene's nocturnal emissions. Innovative presentation of vignettes that might otherwise be dry.

· Reader’s Annotation
Serious topics as viewed through the eyes of a twelve year-old boy. No subject is too grim, yet the reader isn't brought down by it, because the lines flow so naturally.

· Information about the author
Robert Cormier was a journalist that turned to writing novels, and has received multiple awards for his efforts, including several Best Books for Young Adults from ALA. He lives in Leominster, MA with his wife, and the pair have four grown children.

· Genre
Poetry, Fiction

· Booktalking Ideas
Suicide repercussions and burial customs.
Mourning and grief in the lives of young people.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-9/Ages 10-14

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
The use of poetry to tell about daily events was intriguing. Eugene's story might be one told by a million boys his age, but the poetry makes it all stand out.

Enchanted

Walt Disney Productions (Producer) & Lima, K. (Director). (Released November 21, 2007). Enchanted. [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Studios.

· Plot Summary
Princess Gisselle dreams about finding the prince that will give her true love's kiss, one with whom she can spend her happy ever after. Unfortunately, when she crosses paths with Prince Edward and assumes he is this oerfect mate, his step-mother has other plans. Gisselle is jettisoned from her ideal existence in Andalasia to the scary streets of New York City, where she is rescued by six-year-old Morgan and her father, Robert. As Gisselle attempts to find a way back home, and the cast of Andalasia ends up in New York along with her, she shows cynical Robert that there can be such a thing as a happy ending. Even if it occurs with the most unlikely of men, and under the most bizarre of circumstances.

· Critical Evaluation
Suitable for this age group because of the comedic content, and the satirical slant on Disney's line of previous "Princess" films. A wonderful cast really brings the characters to life, the songs are engaging, and some of the lines are the sort you'll be quoting for days after watching. Case in point: "It's good!" as only a chipmunk can say it.

· Reader’s Annotation
Not recommended for children under the age of 10, because they won't understand a lot of the humor, and not advisable for tweens that have been involved in recent divorce proceedings, because sometimes things don't always work out as they do for the couple Gisselle meets in Richard's firm.

· Genre
Fantasy

· Booktalking Ideas
Satire and parody as a literary art form.
Musicals in modern film.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 5 and Up

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I'm a huge fan of satire, and while I refrain from seeing every movie Disney produces because I have issues with their cooperate slant, this comedy seemed like it might have a higher calibre of humor than most movies for this age group.

In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America's Bill of Rights

Freedman, R. (2003). In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America's Bill of Rights. New York: Holiday House: ISBN: 0823415856

· Plot Summary
This text begins with a hypothetical situation in which the reader is dragged out of their home, handcuffed, and with a hood over their head. They are asked to imagine what it would be like, and how much more horrifying it would be to not know why, not be allowed to call a lawyer, and to be aware of the torture of others in close proximity. It may seem an extreme measure, but it sets the stage well for this book. The second chapter aprises tweens of the political issues that led to the creation of the Bill of Rights, problems as well as solutions. Each subsequent chapter explains the Amendments, then provides evidence of their needing to exist using examples from the past up until the modern day.

· Critical Evaluation
A solid, no frills explanation of why the Bill of Rights is such an important document. Includes illustrations and photographs, but not to the extent that they detract from the textual content.

· Reader’s Annotation
Ideal introduction to the events leading up to the Bill of Rights creation, the amendments' purpose, and how they continue to protect U.S. citizens today.

· Information about the author
Russell Freedman has received several notable awards, including an ALA Best Book for Young Readers award, a NCSS Notable Children's Trade Book award, and several Newberry Awards. He lives in New York City, and the majority of his books are based on historic topics.

· Genre
Non-Fiction
Reference

· Curriculum Ties
History
Government
Law

· Booktalking Ideas
How the United States of America began.
Lawmaking in the 18th century.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 7-9/Ages 12-14

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I wanted to find a basic reference book on some aspect of American government. My daughter has not been well educated in this area, and I often supplement her school curriculum with books of this kind.

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, N. (2008). The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN: 9780060530921

· Plot Summary
When a mysterious individual known only as Jack attempts to kill members of a single family, the youngest member makes good his escape. A nameless infant when he enters a nearby cemetery, and is adopted by its inhabitants, they give him the name Nobody Owens. Mentored by a figure that passes between the realms of the living and the dead, as well as a host of ghosts, Bod remains sequestered in order to save his own life. Eventually, the desire to intermingle with his own kind leads Bod on a series of adventures that threaten the life that the dead have made for him. Only after defeating Jack can Bod truly be free, but at the price of the only place he really ever knew as home.

· Critical Evaluation
An engaging and mysterious piece of fiction, well-written, though perhaps not recommended for tweens that have trouble with horror. Great use of language for setting a mood and presenting theme.

· Reader’s Annotation
Fantastic fiction, and would make a great piece of film noire. The novel intentionally parallels Kipling's The Jungle Book (which was actually several short stories, and in two volumes), but with the use of characters and situations that modern readers may it easier to relate to.

· Information about the author
A prolific author of not just tween novels, but also those for adults, screenplays, and graphic novels. Gaiman has received the Newberry Medal, World Fantasy Award, and Bram Stoker Awards, just to name a few. He was born in England, where many of his novels take place, but lives in the United States. His novels Coraline and Star Dust have both been made into major motion pictures.

· Genre
Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal

· Curriculum Ties
History (England's Roman past)

· Booktalking Ideas
Orphan characters' places in literature.
Significance of the dead in modern fiction.
Recommended books for Halloweens or lovers of fantasy or the paranormal.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-8; Ages 10-12

· Challenge Issues
Some parents might have trouble with the concept of the afterlife presented in the novel by the inclusion of ghosts, ghouls, and witches. I would point out that this is obviously a fictional piece, and is in no way meant to convey possible, actual scenarios about what happens to us after we die. The ghosts and the involvement of the graveyard itself are both integral to the story, as attested by the very name.

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
Required reading for the course, but in a search for fiction suitable for this age group, I probably would have found it anyway. The youth literature associate at my local Border's is a huge Gaiman fan, and was able to give me a run down on just about everything he has written, so I picked up some of his adult novels for reading on m own time. I read Coraline when it was published, and thoroughly enjoyed Gaiman's style, so I gathered I would enjoy this novel as well.

Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture

Lasky, K. (2003). Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9780545010344

· Plot Summary
When the Barn Own Soren of Tyto is pushed out of the nest by his own brother, he is captured by members of St. Aegolius, an organization and facility for brainwashing and control of all owl species. It is here that he meets Gylfie, the small Elf Owl that joins him in actively resisting the work of the leaders with the most influence of the young owls captured as they are-Auntie, Uncle, Jatt, Jutt, Spoorn, and Skench. Each owl is given a number, they are trained to sleep during the night, and work during the day. Humility and blind obedience are expected, the asking of questions grounds for punishment. Harsh are the punishments dealt those that are caught fighting the methods of St. Aggie's as well, the plucking of feathers and moon blinking. When Soren and Gylfie discover that one of the most brainwashed owls of their acquaintance (Hortense) is actually acting in order to save the stolen eggs of eagles in the area, she enlists their aid. Killed while in the process, she yet encourages the young owls to find a means of escape. They find this in the library, and are trained to fly by the owl known as Grimble, who is also murdered for helping the pair. Once outside again, a Great Grey named Twilight takes on the task of helping Soren and Gylfie. The three become four with the addition of the snake that cared for Soren's nest when he was first hatched, four becoming five with an owl named Digger joining the race to the Tree of Ga'Hoole, where the group believes they may be able to find the young owls' parents. Ultimately, the eagles aided by Hortense come to the rescue, enabling the group to evade owls sent from St. Aggie's.

· Critical Evaluation
A well-written, surprisingly enthralling tale of resisting suppression. The use of owls, symbols of wisdom in a context where many have become mindless, is inventive on Lasky's part. The descriptions of each species, and the places they frequent, thoroughly detailed.

· Reader’s Annotation
First in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. Owls with the ability to think, fight, and reason as humans might do, each with distinct personalities within their own species.

· Information about the author
Katherine Lasky lives in Massachusetts with her husband, and after years of conducting research for the purpose of writing a non-fiction work on owls, she instead authored the fifteen books of the Ga'Hoole series, aware that the owls would be able to function to the point of being able to even dream. She has received countless prestigious awards, including the National Jewish Book Award, an ALA Best Book for Young Readers award, and a Washington Post Children's Book Guild Award.

· Genre
Novel

· Curriculum Ties
Ornithology

· Booktalking Ideas
Owl species
Methods of mind control

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 5-7/Ages 10-12

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
This is the first series of books my reluctant reader/daughter ever finished. I was interested in seeing why she was so captivated by the novels, realizing after reading, it was because the characters were well crafted, the settings realistic, and yet it all held a magickal quality without ever using that as an obvious device.

Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror

Ito, J. (2001). Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror. San Francisco: Viz Media, Inc. ISBN: 9781421513898

· Plot Summary
Kirie Goshima lives in the Japenese town of Kurozu-Cho with her mother, younger brother, and father. Her father is a potter by profession, a local favorite with a reputation for his wonderful creations. Kirie has been dating a boy named Shuichi, whose father commissions Kirie's to create a bowl in a spiral pattern. He explains that he has lately been very taken with objects that contain spirals, and begins amassing an enormous collection, eventually becoming so obsessed with spirals that he bends his own body into the form of one just before dying. Soon, it becomes clear that spirals are showing up everywhere, and running the townspeople mad, including Shuichi's mother. When it is revealed that the ashes of those deceased from spiral-related incidents are being used in Mr.Goshima's wares, it is up to Kirie and Shuichi to save themselves amid a citizenship gone insane.

· Critical Evaluation
A definite walk on the dark side, and not recommended for younger tweens. The illustrations are beautiful, if often disturbing, and the storyline makes it hard to put this story down. This is the first in a series.

· Reader’s Annotation
Suitable for older tweens, but should be reviewed in advance by an adult.

· Information about the author
Junji Ito was born in Gifu-Ken, Japan and was influenced by the horror manga of Umezu. Ito's literary career began while he was working as a dental technician, with a short story submitted to a manga periodical. He has also written the Tomie series, and been published in several mainstream horror magazines.

· Genre
Manga

· Booktalking Ideas
The use of pattern in art.
Devices of Japanese manga literature.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 7-9/Ages 12-14

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I found this title while looking with my daughter for a recently published series. She enjoys manga, and while I have read a couple of series too, I wanted something for this assignment that was outside the usual popular manga books for this age group.

Visibility

Neufeld, S. (2008). Visibility. Portland: Bowler Hat Comics. ISBN: 0980141907

· Plot Summary
Natalie Irving is the normal daughter of Jadyn Irving, a woman who has the ability to become invisible at will, and whose reputation has led her to being hated on a worldwide scale. Natalie's father sues for custody, but does not try to see her after he realizes she is normal, and her bodyguard (Peter) is Natalie's only mainstay. When Jadyn and the son of family friends both go missing, it is up to Natalie to track them down. Aided by Peter, and straightforward police officer Carmichael, Natalie will discover the truth about her mother's underworld associations.

· Critical Evaluation
A fantastic novel that contains not only the intricacies of a character caught in a web of her mother's making, but also the complex reality of her own existence. Recommended for tweens thirteen and older, because of content, and the sheer length of the text. Natalie's mission to aid her mother makes this an absorbing reader, and becomes even more interesting when Natalie finally begins to attain invisibility as well.

· Reader’s Annotation
Great choice for readers interested in intrigue, and those that often choose comic books or graphic novels. Illustrations are of the graphic novel variety, and edgy. Natalie is a great role model, especially for girls that have come from troubled families.

· Information about the author
Coming from a home-schooled background, Sarah Neufeld is fluent in Japanese, and lived there for several years. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon and enjoys tea, manga, hiking, and traveling.

· Genre
Novel, Science Fiction, Graphic Novel

· Booktalking Ideas
Heroes and villains in tween literature.
Cult fiction as reflection of modern society.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 8-9/Ages 13-14

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
When I first picked this book up, I thought it was going to be a graphic novel of considerable proportions. Instead, it turned out to be 300 pages of well-developed character growth, with a positive role model for tween girls. Jadyn is the sort of character you love to hate, the reasons simply change.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (DVD)

Yates, D. (Director) (Released December 11, 2007). Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. [Motion picture]. Great Britain: Warner Brothers Studios.

· Plot Summary
Whereas Hogwart's used to be Harry's refuge, in this installment of the world-famous series, the Quidditch-playing protagonist is forced to come face-to-face with his greatest adversary, Lord Voldemort. Still suffering from the death of his friend Cedric, Harry finds Hogwart's a much different place. Dumbledore is forced out of his position as Head Master, replaced by the wicked Dolores Umbridge, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic. Due to the reemergence of Voldemort, the secret organization to whom Harry's parents once belonged is revived, and gives the film its name. Characters met in the fourth installment are brought back, new ones introduced, and Harry's godfather, Sirius, finally murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange. In the end, it is up to Harry and his fellow students to save their beloved school.

· Critical Evaluation
In this adaptation of the novel, we see many of the special effects that have carried the films thus far, somewhat at the risk of the original story. Several of the implements used by the Ministry of Magic, devices that made the novel a lively read, are absent from this adaptation. The movie was the shortest of its kind, although the book was the longest in the series. The battle of wands between Voldemort and Dumbledore is meant to be the exciting climax of the film, but comes across as something better left to B-movies than this series.

· Reader’s Annotation
More or less truthful adaptation of the book, though lacking in some of the finer elements. Suitable for someone that has already read the books and just wants to enjoy an amusing film or fantasy enthusiasts.

· Genre
Fantasy

· Booktalking Ideas
Importance of friendship.
Wizards and magic in legend.
Mythical creatures and cryptozoology.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 4-9/Ages 8-14

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
This was my favorite book of the series, and I had hoped the movie would be truer to the novel. I had not seen this film in theaters, because my daughter was not in town when it came out.

Tennyson

Blume, L.M.M. (2008). Tennyson. New York: Random House.
ISBN-13: 9780440240617

· Plot Summary
Tennyson Fontaine's mother has left home, and her father decides to search the Depression Era Louisiana bayou country to find her. Tennyson and Hattie are taken to the broken down ancestral mansion known as Aigredoux, a colorless house where all the residents are trying to live like the Civil War never happened. Aunt Henrietta believes the sisters will be the key to saving the family home and reputation, entering into a series of lessons to teach the girls how to interact with would-be future suitors; at ages eleven and eight, the girls are not at all interested. Tennyson has set out on a mission to bring her mother home, using dreams about the house's past to begin a series of articles in the magazine her mother has been trying to become published in for years. Ultimately, Tennyson is successful with her venture, just not in the way she wished.

· Critical Evaluation
Effective and entertaining transitions between 1932 and 1862, with realistic characterizations in keeping with Southern families of the times. Tennyson believes people are destined to repeat history, but she did not know how right she was until she was taken to Aigredoux.

· Reader’s Annotation
Southern lives of the Depression Era were not always so obviously effected by the hardness of the times, lost in the past as they were.

· Information about the author
Lesley M.M. Blume resides in New York City, but has always been intrigued about life in the South. She has authored two other novels, and Publisher's Weekly as deemed her "a writer to watch".

· Genre
Historical Fiction

· Curriculum Ties
History

· Booktalking Ideas
The Great Depression's effect on families and individual morale.
Events of the American Civil War and the destruction of property.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-7/Ages 10-11

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
Attended daughter's school book fair, and found this title in the tween area. I was born and raised in the South, and whereas Tennyson lives in 1932, some of the attitudes have not changed regarding family, ethnicity, and what occurred during the Civil War.

Hotel for Dogs

Freudenthal, T. (Director). (Released January 16, 2009). Hotel for Dogs. [DVD]. United States: Dream Works Pictures.

· Plot Summary
Siblings Andi and Bruce are stuck in a foster parent nightmare, living with rocker couple wannabes Carl and Lois Scudder. This is their fifth attempt at living with a foster family, and their social worker, Bernie, is starting to lose hope. The two are not the only ones without family though, and have been hiding a rat terrier named Friday away for three years. While looking for their runaway pet, Andi and Bruce meet local pet shop employees Dave and Heather, but it comes to light that Friday has been taken in by the pound.
Just as Andi tries to convince her brother that they need to find Friday a new home, the two flee police and wander into the abandoned Francis Drake Hotel. The place is a treasure trove, and also the hideout for the local homeless dog population. Eventually enlisting Dave and Heather in their plan, along with another local kid (Mark), the two are able to turn the hotel in a canine playground.
In the end, the dogs teach the entire neighborhood about the nature of family. The siblings are taken in by Bernie and his wife, and many of the dogs find homes with residents that learn of the dog's plight as they are hunted by over jealous pound employess.

· Critical Evaluation
What starts out as two kids trying to help those less fortunate than them, turns into a lesson in honesty and love. Andi resorts to a series of elaborate lies to cover for her dog family, and the fact she lacks a human one. Overall, a much better film that I first expected, with valuable lessons.

· Reader’s Annotation
Great movie for all animal lovers, as well as adults seeking positive, motivated, representations of tweens.

· Genre
Fiction

· Booktalking Ideas
Animals and dealing with the homeless population.
Effect of the family welfare system on siblings.
Problem with placement of older orphans.

· Interest Age
9-14

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
DVD was released during a period when I had the flu, and needed to be entertained. My daughter enjoyed the movie in the theatre, and thought it would be a pick-me-up. I was skeptical, but this film turned out to be more than just another cheesy tween comedy. I was especially glad to see that while there were moments of romantic humor, it never became a movie about two characters falling for one another. It remained a movie about determined tweens on a mission to help animals.

Body of Evidence

Brown, J. (2006). Body of Evidence. Crime Files: Four-Minute Forensic Mysteries. New York: Apple Paperbacks. ISBN: 9780439769341

· Plot Summary
A series of four-minute mysteries bring tweens into the realm of forensics and crime scene investigation, without much of the adult content found on shows like CSI or Eleventh Hour. There is a group of base characters, each with their own distinct personalities, and specialties. In terms of what actually happens in this field, these mysteries are actually more factual than the popular television programs.

· Critical Evaluation
A good starting-off point for tweens interested in forensics and crime scenes. Reads as fiction, with interesting plot twists in some stories to keep the book entertaining.

· Reader’s Annotation
Ideal for tweens that enjoy shows on the Discovery Channel or The Learning Channel, and lovers of true crime.

· Information about the author
Jeremy Brown lives in Michigan, and runs a haunted house when he isn't writing.

· Genre
Fiction

· Curriculum Ties
Biology
Chemistry

· Booktalking Ideas
CSI and forensics as careers.
True crime in the media.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-8/Ages 11-13

· Challenge Issues
Crime themes may be sources of contention with some parents. Pointing out that the language is clean, there are no adult situations, and the science is accurate may help to lessen the objections.

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I am a fan of forensics, and have been following programs on true crime since I was a tween. I've taken a couple of forensics courses, and my daughter seems to be interested in the field as well. She has always been interested in math and science, so I thought this was ideal for drawing her into a possible future career.

Boy on the Lion Throne: The Childhood of the 14th Dalai Lama

Kimmel, E.C. (2009). Boy on the Lion Throne: The Childhood of the 14th Dalai Lama. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN: 9781596433946

· Plot Summary
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was not yet three when monks in search of their next spiritual leader came to his village, and visited his parents. Lhamo Thondup was the child of peasants, but the party had been searching for almost four years by the time they located him, and within a few minutes he had gained enough of their interest (based on a series of tests) for them to be confident he was the boy they sought. Takes to the Kumbum monastery, where he would remain for almost a year, it then became necessary for him to be transported to the Holy City of Lhasa. Khundun, as he would come to be known, was enthroned on February 22, 1940. Everyone who encountered him considered Khundun to be composed and self-confident, and he remained tireless through ceremony after ceremony. Served first in all things, living in grand (if dusty and dark) apartments, and dressed in the most opulent robes available, Khundun's existence had evolved to that of a god-king. The throne upon which he sat, and from which the text derives its name, is built from directions given in sacred Buddhist scripture. Eight lions flank the chair, which is carved of wood, but covered in an overlay of gold and adorned with gemstones. The Great Father and Mother, as Khundun's parents were now known, were likewise given stables of horses, opulent clothing, and gifts of the most expensive variety. Diki, Khundun's mother, received these gifts, but continued to wear her simple clothing. Khundun was given two tutors, and by July of 1941 he began his schedule of monastic education. In 1947, Khundun's father died after an extensive period of illness, and it is believed that he was probably poisoned. Thus began in earnest the series of intrigues and plots that plague the Dalai Lama to this day. China had originally invaded Tibet in 1910, but due to being invaded by Japan in 1937, had put on hold their plans to make Tibet a Chinese province. Despite the inauguration of the Communist People's Republic of China, the earthquake that shook Tibet in 1950, and the invasion of 20,000 troops in Tibet, His Holiness did not flee the country until the Oracle of Nechung instructed him to do so.

· Critical Evaluation
Kimmel's work is a creative blend of simple facts, and insights into the personality of her subject, the Dalai Lama. The text, while serious in many areas, never drags the reader down into a quagmire so that it is hard to follow or depressing enough to put down.

· Reader’s Annotation
An account of the early years of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. An interesting reference text for tweens.

· Information about the Author
Although she lives in the Hudson River Valley, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel has long followed the life of the Dalai Lama, and the events effecting Tibetan Buddhism. She has also attended lectures given by His Holiness and participated in meditation retreats. A portion of the sales of this text are donated to Tibet Aid.

· Genre
Non-Fiction
Biography

· Curriculum Ties
History
Political Science
Religion

· Booktalking Ideas
The history of Tibet, and the Communist Party.
His Holiness as a world spiritual leader.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-8/Ages 11-13

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
Although I knew some of his story, I wanted more information on the events leading up to the Dalai Lama's exile in India.

American Immigration: A Student Companion

Daniels, R. (2001). American Immigration: A Student Companion. Oxford: University Press. ISBN: 0195113160

· Plot Summary
An alphabetical reference of information relevant to immigration: its history, laws, populations, religious and other causes for mass movements. 276 pages of detail, complete with photos, charts, and copies of supporting documents. Appendix I of important dates. Appendix II of immigrant, ethnic, and refugee organizations. Bibliography of helpful reference material, museums based on the subject of immigration and/or ethnicity, websites for further research.

· Critical Evaluation
Thorough exploration of the topic of immigration, suitable for use even by those older than the tween years. Each entry has a list of topics for cross referencing, and titles for further reading.

· Reader’s Annotation
May be too advanced for early tweens, but suitable for purchase for those in this age group, and for keeping into the teen years. Hardback edition like a textbook.

· Information about the author
Professor Emeritus in history at the University of Cincinnati, he received his PhD in 1961 from UCLA, and specializes in non-fiction titles about immigration.

· Genre
Non-Fiction
Reference

· Curriculum Ties
Political Science

· Booktalking Ideas
Immigration and causes of mass exodus
Immigration experience

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 7-9/Ages 12-14

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
This book became of interest after I read several novels this semester on immigrant experience, and the reason large segments of a single society may be forced to relocate.

Secrets in the Fire

Mankell, H. (2003). Secrets in the Fire. Toronto: Annick Press. ISBN: 1550378007

· Plot Summary
Mozambique is a place littered with landmines, and under constant control by bandits with machine guns. When Sofia's family is attacked by one of the marauding bandit groups, they are forced to flee to a safer area. After days of hunger and thirst, Sofia, her mother (Lydia), her brother (Alfredo), and her sister (Maria) arrive at another village. Things are better, until the day Sofia and Maria leave the path near their home. It is an act that will carry result in the death of Maria, the loss of Sofia's legs, and the need for Sofia to remain separated from the remaining members of her family. Dr. Raoul, a therapist named Raoul, Nurse Veronica, and an old Indian named Totio become her new friends as she struggles to learn how to walk on orthopedic legs. Sofia misses the wise council of Old Muazena, who told her that every fire contains a secret. She seeks fire in the days in the hospital, hoping to learn, but there is nothing but days of little food and grueling lessons. As the visits from her mother begin to grow fewer and fewer, and she gains the ability to walk, Sofia returns to her mother's hut. Lydia is pregnant with the child of a man Sofia has never met, Isaias. He is cruel, beating her brother, and abusing Sofia in various ways before she finally leaves again to return to the city, and the aid of Doctor Raoul. In the end, the sister of his night guard takes Sofia in, and with the help of her new friends she is able to begin anew.

· Critical Evaluation
A graphic, but informative look at the effects of land mines on individuals from underdeveloped countries. The text is followed with pages of facts on the extent of the devastation wrought by these devices annually, and ways that tween readers can make a difference.

· Reader’s Annotation
An insightful book, not for the faint of heart. Sofia's plight is poignant, and her situation is not uncommon in Mozambique, as well as at least 70 other countries worldwide.

· Information about the Author
Henning Mankell is a Swedish author, but has lived in Africa, the setting for many of his books. Sofia is an actual friend of the author, and her story has been adapted into a film version. Mankell has received numerous awards for literature, including the Astrid Lindgren Prize.

· Genre
Non-Fiction
Biography

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-9/Ages 11-14

· Challenge Issues
Some tween readers may have difficulty with the descriptions of the girls following their accident, but it is important to impress upon these readers that this form of torture is experienced by people their own age, on a global scale. It is imperative to be informed, if we are to make a difference.

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I was searching for a title on a culture I had not read about already, and ran across this in my public library. It was included in the fiction section, because the books read as a novel, although it is a true story about Sofia Alface.

Children of the Swastika: The Hitler Youth

Heyes, E. (1993). Children of the Swastika: The Hitler Youth. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press. ISBN: 1562942379

· Plot Summary
Outlining the circumstances that created a foundation for Hitler to take power, and yet explaining how many were horrified by his violence because of the recent events of WWI, this text then builds on that to give an account of he understood that to turn the tide of public sentiment and gain a foothold on Germany, he needed children. Vivid first-hand accounts of the means by which the Hitler developed the Nazi Regime using the children of not only Germany, but its conquered countries, are interspersed with detailed information on the political and social ramifications of the youth activity. No section of life was left untouched by the Hitler Youth, and during the period of WWII, its children were active members of the police force, aids in the resettlement camps, participants in the military, and assistants to the SS. As the book explains, after Germany's surrender, the Hitler Youth were shown evidence of the atrocities committed, but were not held accountable due to their ages. In closing, it points out the similarities between the Nazi Party politics/propaganda, and those used by the Ku Klux Klan today.

· Critical Evaluation
Concise, but comprehensive exposition of the history and programs that enabled the rise of the Hitler Youth machine. A good recounting of the populations involved, the methods used for training, and the extent of power held by the Nazis due to the inclusion of children and young adults in their numbers.

· Reader’s Annotation
Interviews, photos, and other forms of documentation on actual events. Careful consideration of the ramifications of including children in political takeovers and programs.

· Information about the author
Eileen Heyes attended several colleges before graduating from CSU Long Beach with a degree in journalism. A former editor for the Los Angeles Times, Heyes is now a free-lance writer, but still lives in L.A. with her husband and sons. She was an Edgar Award finalist in 2003, and several of her books have been chosen as New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age.

· Genre
Non-Fiction

· Curriculum Ties
History
Psychology

· Booktalking Ideas
Nazi Party politics and propaganda
Effects of brainwashing on the masses
Germany's Aryan ideal and ethnic cleansing
Nuremberg War Crimes Trial

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 7-9/Ages 12-14

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
After reading Someone Named Eva, I was interested in knowing more about the programs created to force children into the service of the Nazi Party, although I was aware that many German children were eager participants because of benefits that came with joining the organization.