The Robe of Skulls: The First Tale from the Five Kingdoms

French, V. (2009). The Robe of Skulls: The First Tale from the Five Kingdoms. Somerset, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763643645

· Plot Summary
Poor Gracie Gillypot has been living with her tyrannical step-father, and deceptively beautiful step-sister (Foyce), since the death of her own mother. There is never enough money for food, and water soup has become the order of the day, everyday. When Lady Lamorna, the most horrible woman in the region decides she wants a dress designed of skulls and cobwebs, Gracie unwittingly becomes a pawn in her game of blackmail. "Assisted" by Lamorna's bat, Marlon, Gracie ends up working on the dress along with the Ancient Crones (Edna, Elsa, and Val) that Lamorna must find a way to pay. In an amusing twist, Marlon and Lamorna's minion, Gubble, both end up on Gracie's side, even as Foyce joins Lamorna's ranks. In the end, and unnoticed by Lady Lamorna, the dress is made...with many mistakes.

· Critical Evaluation
A wonderful comic romp, full of lively characters. Reminiscent of something Tim Burton might have created, and with enough plot twists to keep the most reluctant reader keen to see the next development.

· Reader’s Annotation
First in a series of five books, the Kingdom of Dreghorn being the setting for this novel. A good choice for a Halloween seasonal read, reluctant readers or those tweens that like things on the darker side.

· Information about the author
Vivian French began as an actress and storyteller, before turning to writing. She lives in Scotland, and has already written over forty books for children and tweens since her literary career began in 1990.

· Genre
Fiction, Fantasy

· Booktalking Ideas
Recommended books for Neil Gaiman and Tim Burton fans.
Witches, and other things that go bump in the night.
Comedy and its use for teaching moral lessons.

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

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
After reading so many books this semester that were based on serious themes, I need something more lighthearted. With its black and red cover, and eye-catching eye title, this book jumped out at me. The second book is out, and I am looking forward to reading it as well.

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.

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.

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.

Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Harper Collins.

· Plot Summary
Jess Aaron is the only son of a poor family in post-Vietnam New England, an average student at best, and a lover of cartoon drawing. When Leslie Burke moves into the Perkins House next door, the two become fast friends, and create their own sanctuary in the woods: Terabithia. With Leslie, Jess is able to finally see something of beauty in his own world, no longer resorting just to pictures for his mental escapes from the depressed life his family leads. When tragedy strikes though, Jess must once again face the world on his own, stronger than he was before because of the friendship of his beloved lost friend.

· Critical Evaluation
A warm account of how two people, with almost nothing in common, can cross gender and socioeconomic boundaries to find friendship with one another. The characters are rich, and the reader can easily become lost in the escapades of Jess and Leslie.

· Reader’s Annotation
Leslie is a positive role model for the tween audience, even so long after the original publication of this novel. The treatment of death and grief is well done, and plausible for this age group.

· Information about the author
Katherine Paterson was born in China, but lived there as well as America and Japan. Her first three novels took place in the latter. Besides the Newberry Medal for this novel and Jacob Have I Loved, she has also received a National Book Award. She lives in Vermont with her husband, and has four children.

· Genre
Fiction

· Curriculum Ties
History
Social Science

· Booktalking Ideas
Post-Vietnam War attitudes in America.
Handling grief after the death of a friend.

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

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
This book is one that has always been at the back of mind, because it was written the year after I was born. It was lauded a great deal when I was younger, but I never picked it up, possibly because I did feel that eventually I would read it when the times was right. I saw the movie when it came out two years ago, mainly because of my daughter, and because I like the actress they had portraying Leslie. I enjoyed the film, so it made sense to read the book for this assignment, and I was not disappointed (although there are differences in the two).

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman, A. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little Brown and Company.

· Plot Summary
Junior is a member of the Spokane Indians, and has spent his life on their reservation in Washington. Due to poverty and isolation, the reservation is plagued by alcoholism and neglect. Junior, who was born with spinal fluid on the brain, is the downtrodden among the downtrodden. After throwing his geometry book at his teacher because of his anger over its aged state, Junior is encouraged by that same teacher to attend a school for white people, off the reservation. The events that follow include Junior surprisingly becoming popular through dating white-girl Penelope, and his unexpected skill on the basketball court. Unfortunately for Junior, his actions have repercussions, and he not only loses his best friend to the hatred between the two groups, but also his sister who flees to Montana to be married.

· Critical Evaluation
An amusing, but truthful, account of life as a Native American trying to live in modern society. Where the author might have easily made this book a heartbreaking piece, he chose to instead instruct through humor. Seen through the eyes of Junior, the events are colored with his acceptance of how things have been, and will be, for him. Semi-autobiographical in nature, the health issues and events like Junior experiences, were also known by Alexie.

· Reader’s Annotation
Modern reservation life, and the hardships experienced by those that live on them.

· Information about the author
Prolific author and poet, Alexie writes the majority of his material about the life on a reservation, and how their dynamics effect those that stay, as well as those that move on. Winner of The New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year, the Bram Stoker Award, the PEN/Hemingway Award, and the National Book Award. He lives near Seattle with his wife and two children.

· Genre
Fiction

· Curriculum Ties
Social Sciences

· Booktalking Ideas
Native Americans and reservation life.
Comedy as a literary device for diffusing tension.

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

· Challenge Issues
Alcoholism-importance of education and support to lower income groups
Language-rare use, used in instances of extreme mental anxiety

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
Required reading for class. Enjoyed Alexie's movie Smoke Signals.

The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story

Hahn, M.D. (2007). The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story. Moolabula, Queensland, AU: Sandpiper Publishing.

· Plot Summary
On the face of things, Dianna and Georgie are just two regular children, with some rather strange habits. They don't bathe, run around in the woods a great deal, and can avoid craving even the most delectable foods when they set their minds to it. In reality, they are the ghosts of two children once locked in the basement of the Old Willis Place by Miss Jillian, an horrific woman that had a stroke and had to be taken to the hospital before she released the children from confinement. Dianna is immediately fascinated by the new caretaker's daughter, Lissa, and despite the rules she and Georgie have established to avoid detection by the living, sets out to be Lissa's friend. Things start out rocky as the two children borrow, and subsequently destroy, Lissa's new bike. Matters become worse when Dianna sneaks into the trailer where Lissa lives with her author father, to take her diary, favorite stuffed animal, and her copy of Lassie. Eventually, the true nature of the children comes to light, and Lissa tells the police that the bodies of Dianna and Georgie are still in the basement.

· Critical Evaluation
The main characters in this book are tweens, but until the point where the truth of the children's existence comes to light, the plot and writing is somewhat simplistic. To some extent, this might be explained by the time period from which Dianna and Georgie originate, but not entirely.

· Reader’s Annotation
Suitable ghost story for tweens that have trouble with real horror, because the characters are sweet and approachable. The title and foreshadowing takes away most of the surprise factor, but the plot is interesting.

· Information about the author
Mary Downing Hahn grew up in Maryland, where most of her books take place. She was a children's librarian, and did not publish her first novel until she was forty-one. Making up for lost, she has published twenty novels to date, and won Scott O'Dell award.

· Genre
Fiction, Paranormal

· Booktalking Ideas
Paranormal events and haunted houses.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6 and 7/Ages 11 and 12

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I'm a huge fan of books, films, and shows about the paranormal. My mother is too, and sent this book to my daughter to read. She never completed it, but I wanted to give it a try.

Midnight Magic

Avi. (1999). Midnight Magic. New York: Scholastic Signature.

· Plot Summary
The Kingdom of Pergamontio is in peril from unseen forces, and its Princess Teresina is at the heart of the mystery. Magus the Magician has already been told not to practice his sorcery, but is brought into the court in order to determine the reason behind a series of hauntings that have the Princess terrified. Bringing with him his trusted servent, Fabrizio, Mangus must use all his skills of reason to find out the truth. Without the help of Fabrizio, however, all may be lost.

· Critical Evaluation
Suspense at its best, a hard book to put down. The banter between Mangus and Fabrizio is first calibre, the and the Princess convincingly naive even as she tries to secure the kingdom from the evil Count Scarazoni who wishes to force her into marriage, and claim the throne for himself. Some tweens may figure out the identity of the scullery boy early on, particularly since the Prince of Pergamontio is said to be missing or dead, but this does not detract from the gem that is this novel.

· Reader’s Annotation
A rich book, full of detail, and with absolutely superb dialogue. It is hard to imagine a tween that would not find some point of interest in these pages.

· Information about the Author
Avi is an author of several genres, including historical fiction, animal stories, sports fiction, and documentaries. He has authored almost forty novels, and received the Christopher Medal, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, and a Newberry Medal. He was a librarian before becoming an author and lives in Denver, CO.

· Genre
Mystery

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

· Booktalk Ideas
Magic tricks and illusion.
Renaissaince Italy and politics of the era.

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
When I was in my undergraduate program at UCSB, I took a course on Renaissance Italy. It was one of my favorite classes, and I enjoy this setting in novels. It's rare to find it used for literature outside of the adult genres, so I was excited when I found this book in a used shop.

Jacob Have I Loved

Paterson, K. (1980). Jacob Have I Loved. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

· Plot Summary
Sara Louise is the elder twin, but has always lived in the shadow of her sister, the beautiful Caroline. It is Caroline that possesses the perfect voice, the poise, and radiates in such a way that everyone adores her. She is the favorite of their parents and their grandmother, all of whom with Louise struggles to find a connection. When Caroline even seems to befriend Louise's crush, a much older man of seventy years, the line is drawn in the sand. It is Louise's grandmother that uses the Biblical quote from which the title of the novel comes, referring to the relationship between the twins Jacob and Esau. She alone takes note of the animosity Louise feels for her sister, even as her mind begins to deteriorate in ways that prompt her to lash out at Louise's mother. It is not until most of her family has gone, and Louise turns to medicine in the hills of Kentucky, that she finally truly comes into her own.

· Critical Evaluation
Excellent example of the way family members can sometimes turn against one another, even inadvertently, leaving certain others with a sense of deprivation and despair. The feelings Louise experiences for the Captain, while destined to not be returned, make for poignant reading.

· Reader’s Annotation
Wonderful historical fiction, without the need to become completely immersed in the past. Paterson brings the Chesapeake Bay area to life, and we can feel the sting of hurricane storms as she describes them. The relationships, while not always pretty, are genuine.

· Information about the author
Katherine Paterson has been award the Newberry Medal, and two National Book Awards. She was born in China, the daughter of missionaries, but received her master's degree in Richmond, VA.

· Genre
Fiction

· Curriculum Ties
WWII History

· Booktalking Ideas
First love and its effect on tween development.
Interactions between twins in literature.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 4-8/Ages 9-13

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I chose this title because it is considered a classic in the young adult category, but I never read it when I was in the age group. The content turned out to be much different than I expected, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

The Devil's Arithmetic

Yolen, Jane. (2000). The Devil's Arithmetic. Woodland Hills, CA: Scholastic Books. ISBN: 0142401099


· Plot Summary
Every Passover, Hannah Stern attends the Seder with her parents, little brother, and older relatives. She has grown tired of "remembering" the plight of the Jewish people, and in particular, listening to the stories imparted by her Grandpa Will, Aunt Rose, and Aunt Eva of their experiences in WWII. This Seder will be different though, and as Hannah goes to open the door for the prophet Elijah, she will be transported to that same place and time that her relatives spoke of to her. Not only that, but everyone calls her Chaya, a name that means "life" just as Hannah's does. Taken by the Nazi soldiers, she and her new family must face the horrors of a concentration camp, where Hannah meets Rivka. This girl, wise beyond her years, teaches Hannah the mathematics of the camp: how to recall the numbers branded on her arm, and how to "organize" in order to gain needed clothing and food.

· Critical Evaluation
Told from Hannah's point of view, the reader sees, hears, and understands only with her perspective. The plot is full of twists and turns, but each new trial Hannah must face is as much a mystery to use as it is to her. Few novels meant for this age group so easily transport as this one, and so few do not attempt to sugar coat the brutal nature of the experiences of WWII Jews. From the children hiding in the garbage pits to avoid detection by the camp director, to the deaths of those in Hannah's new family, each point is vividly made.

· Reader’s Annotation
One cannot really appreciate the experiences of others until they have lived in their shoes. This is especially true for those that must also learn an entirely new identity, and begin to forget their own.

· Information about the author
Author/editor of almost 300 books, within the science fiction, folklore, and childrens genres. Likened to Hans Christian Anderson and Aesop by prominent magazines Newsweek and Time. Winner of dozens of awards, including the Caldecott Medal, Nebula Award, Association of Jewish Libraries Award, and World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement.

· Genre
Historical Fiction

· Curriculum Ties
History
Oral History

· Booktalking Ideas
Jewish holidays and their customs.
The Jewish experience in WWII.

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

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
Fan of historical fiction, and WWII literature. Seeking material to show my daughter, since her school has not covered the topic of WWII and the experiences of the individuals to any real extent.

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch

Delaney, Joseph. (2005). The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch. London: Red Fox. ISBN: 0060766182

· Plot Summary
Young Thomas Ward is the son of a farmer, but more importantly, he is the seventh son of a seventh son, and his mother has knowledge most others don't possess about things that go bump in the night. When she explains to Old Gregory, the local Spook (ghost, boggart, ogre, and witchhunter), that her son can be his new apprentice, Thomas's course is set. Forced to undergo a night alone in a haunted house, and unwittingly befriending the granddaughter of one of the worst witches in the county, Thomas learns the skills he must possess to someday replace Old Gregory.

· Critical Evaluation
The first in a series of novels about Thomas Ward (Wardstone Chronicles), and written from his point of view, the reader is drawn into a world most strange. No exact time or location is provided, though certain mentions suggest Great Britain or rural New England of the late 1600s, the age of witch trials and superstition. This is not a world of black and white, all good v all evil though, and Delaney makes it possible for the reader to see many shades of gray and in between.

· Reader’s Annotation
Rural life during an age of superstition, and the harsh truths of being different, are both vividly portrayed.

· Information about the author
Joseph Delaney began his career as an engineer, but changed to become an English teacher after his college graduation. His first novel was an erotic, science fiction thriller, and penned under the name J.K. Haderack.

· Genre
Fiction, Fantasy

· Booktalking Ideas
Halloween events.
Witches, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night.
Witch trials in 17th century Britain.

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

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
Chose this book for daughter originally, but she never read it, and I thought it sounded interesting. We both enjoy accounts of things that go bump in the night, real and fiction.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Rowling, J.K. (1998). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 059035342X

· Plot Summary
Due to the deaths of his own parents, Harry has spent the first eleven years of his life in the house of his despised aunt, uncle, and cousin. His room is a closet area under the staircase, and his clothing consists of those items inherited from his cousin (Dudley), who is substantially larger than Harry. When the family visits a zoo for Dudley's birthday, Harry manages to magically free a python that lives behind a glass wall, although he has no idea at the time how he's achieved it. When it is revealed that Harry's parents were wizards, and he is transported to the magical world of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he finally begins to unravel the truth of his past. Lord Voldemort is the most evil wizard the world has ever known, yet he was unable to kill Harry, giving him only a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt. Harry is famous in the wizard world as the only person to ever survive Voldemort's murderous intentions, and when one of the professors is taken over by the Dark Lord, Harry's new friends (Ron and Hermione) must help him to thwart the wizard's plans. Voldemort wishes to gain control of a magickal stone that gives its owner the ability to live forever, a stone that is guarded by a three-headed dog, and the cunning of perhaps the only wizard more powerful than Voldemort, Hogwart's own Head Master, Dumbledore.

· Critical Evaluation
While Harry is a nice character, he lacks the skills to hold his own, and must be helped by his professors and friends. He seems more interested in playing Quidditch so that he can be like his father, than in his studies, and it is difficult to see him in a positive light. It is only through the ingenuity and skill of Hermoine and Ron that he manages to escape the clutches of Professor Quirrel/Lord Voldemort, and unravel the secret of the stone.

· Reader’s Annotation
Suitable for younger tweens, though the length of the novel might be off putting to some. Possible better boy role models in other novels, if that is the desired result.

· Information about the author
J.K.Rowling was born in Chepstew, Gwent in England. She earned her French and Classics degree from Exeter University, and was working for Amnesty International when she began outlining the ideas for the Harry Potter series. She has one child, and was living on welfare when she began writing the series that has launched her into millionaire status.

· Genre
Fantasy

· Booktalking Ideas
Wizards and witches in modern fiction.
Heroes of legend, and modern representations.

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

· Challenge Issues
In the past, this series has come under fire because it involves witches and wizards. The information contained in the novels, is entirely fictional, and nothing is done to encourage readers to attempt spells or manipulate the will of other individuals. Most of the students in the novel are reasonably intelligent, and can be viewed as positive role models.

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
I tried reading this novel to my daughter when it became available in a paperback version here in the United States, but she was never interested in having it read to her, nor reading it herself. It sat on the shelves for several years, but I hate to see a potentially good book go to waste.

Little Women

Alcott, L.M. (1989). Little Women. New York: Grosset and Dunlap. ISBN: 0448060191

· Plot Summary
The March family of Concord has, with the onset of the American Civil War, fallen on hard times. Mr.March is in battle, while his wife and four daughters are left to fend for themselves during possibly the most turbulent time in American history. Meg is the eldest daughter, and still remembering when the family knew better times, craves nice clothing and parties to attend. Jo (Josephine) is the budding author, a regular tomboy who keeps her sisters amused each night with her gothic writings. Beth is the quiet sister, kind-hearted, and quite content to remain at home. Amy is the youngest sister, fiery and artistic, but also petulant and possibly more pragmatic than her older siblings. The mother, Marmee, is the backbone of the family and yet constantly faced with the reality that she became a war widow with four children to raise alone.

· Critical Evaluation
A heartwarming novel that has endured the test of time, the situations faced by the March family are authentic, without being maudlin. The reader is able to share in their heartaches and joys on a personal level, losing the feeling of being separate from the novel's characters.

· Reader’s Annotation
The period of the American Civil War effected not just those on the battlefield, but also those at home, and no one on American soil was beyond its reach.

· Information about the author
The daughter of abolitionist parents, she included this aspect (as well as their town, home name, and sisters) in her novels. Hers was not a rich family, and Alcott worked at various professions appropriate to a woman of her standing at the time. Her youngest sister died, and Louisa took in May's daughter, who had been named after her aunt. Alcott would be a proponent of woman's suffrage, her death attributed to mercury poisoning brought on by a dose of medication she was given when she contracted typhoid fever. Today, it is believed she more likely died of complications as a result of lupus.

· Genre
Historical Fiction, Novels

· Curriculum Ties
History
English

· Booktalking Ideas
American Civil War and effects on daily life.
Early female authors and their literary subjects.

· Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 6-10/Ages 10-15

· Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?
Longtime favorite I wanted to reread, and believe all tween girls at least should read.