The Fourth Musketeer

Black History Month 2012

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

In honor of Black History month, here at the Fourth Musketeer I will be reviewing a number of new titles focusing on this important topic. Watch out this month for reviews of the following:

Nonfiction
Jazz Age Josephine, by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, a new picture book biography of the famous dancer and entertainer Josephine Baker;

Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass, by Lesa Cline-Ransome, a new picture book biography;

Zora: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston, by Dennis Brindell Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin, a new biography for young readers;

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship, by Russell Freedman;

Black and White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor, by Larry Dane Brimmer;

Historical Fiction
Crow, by Barbara Wright;

The Mighty Miss Malone, by Christopher Paul Curtis;

Chasing the Nightbird, by Krista Russell

The U.S. Census Bureau, to commemorate Black History Month, has published a slew of interesting statistics about African-Americans in the U.S. This is part of the Census Bureau's Facts for Feature series.

For the best in African-American literature for children, at least according to the American Library Association, you can't go wrong with perusing the Coretta Scott King awards. This year's winner, Kadir Nelson's Heart and Soul, is particularly appropriate for those looking for books for Black History Month, since it covers the entire history of America as seen through the experience of African-Americans. The paintings by Kadir Nelson are incredibly powerful, and the text offers a good overview of the African-American journey.

Also, Reading Rockets website has a terrific compilation of resources for Black History Month, including book lists, classroom activities, interviews with notable authors and illustrators, guides to Black history, television programs, and more. Check it out for lots of great ideas on how to celebrate!

Book Review: Breaking Stalin's Nose, by Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt, 2011)

2012-01-31T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

Illustrator Eugene Yelchin's first novel, Breaking Stalin's Nose, is a brilliantly conceived expose of the horrors of life in Stalin's Russia, seen through the eyes of a very naive young boy. And since the book was recently recognized with a Newbery Honor, it is likely to make it onto the shelves of school and public libraries around the country.

Ten-year old Sasha has been dreaming of being a Soviet Young Pioneer ever since he can remember, and he can recite all the Young Pioneer laws by heart. He loves Comrade Stalin like a revered grandfather, but when the long-anticipated ceremony to be inducted into the Young Pioneers is finally to take place, everything seems to go wrong. When his father is taken away by the police, arrested as an enemy of the people, Sasha slowly begins to wonder if everything he has learned about Stalin and the Soviet state is a lie.

With its naive, optimistic narrator, this book reminded me very much of Morris Gleitzman's Once, John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and Jerry Spinelli's Milkweed. Like the heroes in those novels, Sasha's naivete manages to be somehow funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Through his eyes, we see the incongruity of the Soviet propaganda and the realities of life in a society where even children were encouraged to inform on their parents.

Although there are many novels for children about World War II, there are few about Stalin's Russia, and this book definitely fills a gap in the literature. Despite the sophisticated subject matter, the simplicity of the language in the book is suitable for children in elementary school, and would work well as discussion for a book club as well. Yelchin provided the dramatic graphite black and white illustrations for the book as well as the text.

An author's note provides some background on Stalin's reign of terror, and, paradoxically, how few people of Yelchin's generation (he grew up in the Soviet Union in the 1960's) were aware of the scale of Stalin's crimes, which were carried out in secrecy. There is also an excellent website for the book, which allows users to click on various images to learn more about Stalin, Sasha's dad, the Young Pioneers, Sasha's school, Lubyanka Prison, and other topics dealt with in this slim but powerful book.

Book Review: In Trouble, by Ellen Levine (Carolrhoda Lab, 2011)

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 14 and up.

Abortion is a topic few YA authors dare to broach in their books, and this reality alone would be enough reason for me to applaud award-winning author Ellen Levine's 2011 young adult novel In Trouble. But the book has plenty of merit as an unsentimental look at the hard choices (or lack thereof) teens confronted when they became pregnant in the 1950's.

The film noir style cover, portraying a lonely teenaged girl waiting late at night on a deserted street, sets the stage for this dark novel set in 1956 New York, when choices for young girls who got themselves "in trouble" were limited indeed. The author tells the story of best friends Jamie and Elaine, who both find themselves with unwanted pregnancies while in high school. However, the pregnancies are ultimately dealt with in very different ways, with a sensitive portrayal of how two different families dealt with this difficult situation.

Note: some spoilers....

Elaine has a steady boyfriend already in college, and is sure that he will marry her when she tells him about the pregnancy. Jamie's circumstances, on the other hand, are slowly unveiled by the author through a series of nightmares as the reader realizes that she was date-raped by a friend of her sophisticated Manhattan cousin. Jamie's family is already under plenty of stress, since her dad has just been released from prison, having been convicted for refusing to answer questions during the McCarthy hearings. But when they discover her circumstances, her family steps up, even helping her find a doctor who will do an abortion, despite abortions being illegal at the time. Elaine, on the other hand, is sent to a home for unwed Catholic girls, where she is pressured to give up her baby for adoption despite her wishes.

In Trouble is based on dozens of interviews Levine conducted, and although the characters are fictional, each event in the book actually happened to someone. In an author's note, Levine explains why she felt compelled to tell Elaine and Jamie's stories. "If we don't know what has happened, we can't appreciate our choices today and what we might lose if laws are changed," she writes. She explains that although we might think things are totally different today, with the availability of legal abortion, in 87% of U.S. counties you can't get a legal abortion, because there's no doctor who will do it.

I believe this is an important novel for young people, particularly girls to read; unfortunately, I'm not sure it will be widely purchased by school and public libraries. Despite the fact that Levine has won many awards for her work, including a Caldecott Honor for Henry's Freedom Box, few of the library systems in my area (Southern California) have purchased it, although the novel came out in September. Whether this is because of the controversial subject matter or limited budgets, I can't say, but I hope librarians will not be reluctant to add this to their collections because the book deals with abortion. It is a gripping story that deserves to be on the shelves.

Book Review: An Elephant in the Garden, by Michael Morpurgo (Feiwel and Friends, 2011)

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

British author Michael Morpurgo, who's written more than 100 books for young people, is currently in the limelight as the author of War Horse, the World War I novel on which the current Steven Spielberg film and hit play are based. His most recent book to be published in the U.S. (October 2011) is another moving story of a family and an animal in wartime, this time set during the Second World War and involving a somewhat more unusual animal--an elephant.

Inspired by historical truth and the author's self-professed love of elephants, this novel tells a story within a story; a young boy named Karl visits his mother at the nursing home where she works in present day England. He's the only one who takes seriously an elderly woman named Lizzie (Elizabeth) when she tells him about Marlene, the elephant that lived in her garden. When Karl and his mother sit down to listen, Lizzie spins the extraordinary saga of her life as a young girl in Dresden, at the time of World War II. Her mother worked at the zoo there, and sought permission from authorities to bring a lonely orphaned elephant to stay with them each night, walking her to and from the zoo each day from the garden outside their home.

When Dresden is fire bombed by a savage Allied air raid attack, Elizabeth takes to the roads along with Mutti (her mother), her little brother, Karli, and their beloved, gentle, and wise four-year old elephant, Marlene, named after movie star idol Marlene Dietrich. They are joined on the roads by thousands of other bewildered civilian refugees, who have seen their city turned into ashes. Knowing that the Russians are closing in on Germany from the East and the Allies from the West, the family decides to take its chances with the Americans and the British forces by heading west.

On their journey to safety, they meet Peter, a young Canadian navigator who's been shot down and is being pursued by German police. Lizzie is consumed with guilt by her immediate attraction to this handsome enemy, and despite the fact that her mother is filled with hatred toward the soldiers who bombed her beautiful city to smithereens, Peter soon becomes a member of their ragtag family. However, their lives are filled with danger since Peter could be arrested at any moment by German police and sent to a POW camp. And it's pretty hard to travel without being noticed when you're travelling with an elephant in tow...will Lizzie and her family make it to safety? And what will happen to Marlene?

The author uses different fonts so that young readers are not confused by the time shifts between Lizzie's story during the war and Lizzie's conversations with Karl and his mother. At less than 200 pages, this is a quick read for strong readers and a relatively easy book for reluctant readers as well. The well-paced story is sure to appeal to both those who love animal stories and readers looking for an adventure story or historical fiction. I particularly admired the way that Morpurgo shows the way the war impacted ordinary German civilians; for example, the rise of Hitler causes a rift between different members of Lizzie's family, some of whom support Hitler and others who think he's an abomination. We also see the manner in which the Allied bombings affected everyone, from the children to Peter, the Canadian bomber, who although the enemy, is kind to Lizzie and her family.

Morpurgo is one of the U.K.'s most beloved children's authors, but is not immune to criticism; McDonalds in England is handing out free copies of his books with their Happy Meals, as part of a special promotion for the release of War Horse in England. Despite the fact that all of Morpurgo's royalties are going to charity, this promotion has been criticized as encouraging childhood obesity (see the article below for further details).

McDonald's UK Switches Out Happy Meal Toys For... (huffingtonpost.com)

Book Review: Bambino and Mr. Twain, by P.I. Maltbie (Charlesbridge, 2012)

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 5-12

Release date: February 1, 2012

Author P.I. Maltbie returns to the theme of famous individuals and their pets--a subject she visited in her 2008 book Picasso and Minou--in her newest picture book. In this story, we meet Samuel Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain, a sad old man who has lost his beloved wife, Livy, and is living like a recluse in his house on 5th Avenue in New York City. His daughter's cat, Bambino, keeps him company as he spends more and more time in bed, refusing to accept invitations from people he's convinced will be expecting to meet the witty author Mark Twain, rather than a grumpy old man.

But when Bambino jumps out the window into the busy city, in pursuit of a squirrel, the celebrated author offers a reward for his return. Soon people from all over the city appear with cats and kittens of every description for Mr. Twain, even offering to lend him their own pets. Reporters came too, to write about Twain's missing pet. Will the "prodigal cat" return?

This is a delightful picture book for elementary school students. Since children generally love animals, they will easily identify with how the cat Bambino enriches Twain's life, and how when he goes missing it mobilizes the author's fans. An author's note at the end of the book provides further details on Twain and his household, including Bambino. The author also provides a brief bibliography of books about Mark Twain. Suggestions of further reading for young people would have been valuable as well (the titles offered seem to all be for adults).

Illustrator Daniel Miyares, in his second illustrated book for young people, uses mixed media and digital techniques to create striking illustrations for this tale. The images are stylized in a manner which makes them appear like collage or papercutting, and the muted colors with the glowing lighting provide a nostalgic quality to the pictures.

This book would be nicely paired with another picture book on Mark Twain published last year, The Extraordinary Mark Twain, According to Suzy, by Barbara Kerley (Scholastic, 2010).

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Author Interview: Kristin Levine, author of The Lions of Little Rock

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

Kristin Levine

I am delighted to welcome author Kristin Levine to The Fourth Musketeer. Kristin was kind enough to answer some questions for me and the Fourth Musketeer readers about her newest historical fiction novel, set in Little Rock in 1958.

Q: The Lions of Little Rock is your second historical fiction novel. What draws you particularly to writing historical fiction for young people?

As a child, I often found history class really boring, I think because I could never relate to long lists of dates and events. But once I found a person to latch onto, I suddenly found history fascinating (and much easier to remember). So I guess I like writing historical fiction because it's the kind of books I enjoyed reading when I was in school.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about what inspired you to write a novel set in 1958 in Little Rock--the year after the historic integration of the "Little Rock Nine."

My mother lived in Little Rock until she was nine. If her family hadn't moved away, her older sister would have been in the sophomore class at Central High School in 1957 when the Little Rock Nine integrated the school. My aunt said she's always wondered what it would have been like to have been at Central during that time. So I was actually planning to write about 1957, but when I went to Little Rock to conduct interviews, the people I spoke to talked more about 1958-1959 when all the high schools were closed and no one could go to school. I had never heard about the school closings, even though they'd happened in my home state of Virginia as well. I decided that since there were already so many great books about 1957, it would be more interesting to write about the so-called "lost year" instead.

Q: Your main character, Marlee, is painfully shy--so much so that saying five words aloud at school feels like a major accomplishment. You write with such sensitivity in her voice; was she modeled on someone you know?

Yes, when I was in junior high there was a girl who almost never spoke. I believe she had some sort of a speech impediment. Once I tried briefly to be friendly to her, but when she didn't respond right away, I went back to simply ignoring her like everyone else. I've always wondered what would have happened if I'd tried a little harder.

I'm not shy at all in person (in fact, I love to talk), but sometimes I do feel really shy when posting things online. I see other people posting all these cute, clever things on Facebook and I don't know how they do it. I'll obsess for 20 minutes over a status update, then decide that maybe someone could misunderstand me and be offended and end up not posting anything all. Maybe it has to do with being a writer and feeling like everything I write has to be just right. (And yes, I've spent way too much time figuring out how to answer these questions!)

In any case, like Marlee I'm trying to get better at participating in discussions, especially online, and not just lurking in the background.

Q: In researching Little Rock in the late 1950's, what was one aspect of life at that time that particularly surprised you?

At the time I was researching this book (late 2008) my mother was actively campaigning for Barack Obama. It was funny to me that she was using the exact same canvassing techniques that were used during the 1959 school board election in my book.

I was also surprised by the "television classes" that were offered after the schools closed. "Distance learning" seems like such a hot new topic right now, but I guess it really isn't such a new idea.

Q: Issues of racism and social justice are featured prominently in both in Lions of Little Rock and your earlier novel, The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had. Can you comment on what draws you to telling these kinds of stories?

As a child, my parents were active in the pairing of my mainly white school with a mainly black school across town. When I asked them why I had to be bussed, they told me what a great opportunity it was to be with other people who didn't look or act exactly like me. That made a huge impression on me. To this day I believe that integration and diversity and social justice aren't important issues just for minorities, but for everyone.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about any upcoming writing projects you are working on?

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I'm going to do next. I've always wanted to write sci-fi or fantasy, which at first seems like a big leap, but I guess it's really not. In historical fiction, you're trying to create a time and place, just like you're creating a different world in sci-fi or fantasy.

But of course I also really enjoy historical fiction. And now that I've based one book on my grandfather (The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had) and one book very loosely on my mother (The Lions of Little Rock) my father is clamoring that it's HIS turn for a book. So there may be a book about a paperboy in Chicago in my future!

Q: What books do you currently have on your nightstand (or are reading in your e-reader?) Do you read largely children's books or adult fiction?

I read everything. I tend to find an author I like (Robin McKinley, Christopher Paul Curtis, Charlaine Harris), and then read everything by that person. Two YA books I enjoyed recently were Graceling by Kristin Cashore and Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer. My book club reads mainly adult fiction; In the Woods by Tana French was their last selection.

Q: What are some of your favorite historical fiction titles for children and/or adults?

The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis is one of my all-time favorite books. As a child I enjoyed books like Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor and The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. In 9th grade I loved long, historical novels like Shogun by James Clavell.

Q: With your background in screenwriting, are you also drawn to historical stories in the movies? If so, do you have any recent favorites?

Yes, most definitely, though I'm afraid my suggestions aren't very recent. With two small kids I'm afraid I don't get to the movies as much as I used to!

Lawrence of Arabia is one of my all-time favorite movies. (If you can, please see it in a movie theater - it's even more impressive on a big screen.) I became fascinated with T.E. Lawrence after seeing the film, read all about him, and when we were in England, even made my parents visit the small town where he is buried.

The Civil War series by Ken Burns also made a huge impression on me. It aired for the first time when I was in high school. The photos, stories and music made the war seem so personal, and for the first time I was really excited about learning US history.

In general I love historical films - even when they aren't super accurate. I don't think that's their job. I just like being inspired to learn more.

Thanks so much, Kristin, for being interviewed at The Fourth Musketeer! I appreciate your taking the time to visit.

Book Review: The Lions of Little Rock, by Kristin Levine (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2012)

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 10-14.

Check back tomorrow (Friday) for an interview with The Lions of Little Rock author, Kristin Levine!

Some books introduce you to a really special character. Kristin Levine has done that with the protagonist of her new novel, The Lions of Little Rock, twelve-year old Marlee. Marlee is a brilliant math student, who dreams of becoming a rocket scientist (although she wonders if it's only boys who can have careers in math). But at school, Marlee is painfully shy, and is so nervous she's scared of saying anything in class. Not surprisingly, it's difficult for her to make friends. It's 1958 in Little Rock, and Marlee's starting middle school. Her older sister, Judy, should be attending high school, but the governor has closed the schools rather than have them be integrated, even though nine African-American students had enrolled the year before (the famous Little Rock Nine).

Things seem to be improving for Marlee when, much to her surprise, a new girl at school, Liz, comes to eat lunch with her and soon becomes her friend. Liz and Marlee are even working together on an oral presentation for school, and Liz is helping Marlee gather the courage to speak in front of the entire class. But when the big day comes, Marlee is devestated to find out that Liz is not returning to West Side Junior High--and it's for a shocking reason. It turns out that Liz is African-American, but has been "passing" for white. When her identity is discovered, she must withdraw from school.

Although Marlee's mother is shocked by what she sees as Liz' betrayal, Marlee can't help missing her friend. Can Liz and Marlee still be friends even though it's become dangerous for them to even be seen together?

This novel is an excellent pick for tweens and middle school students, exploring serious issues of prejudice within the context of a story of two girls' friendship that students that age will easily identify with. The lions of the title live in the zoo not far from Marlee's house, and she hears them roaring sometimes at night. But the title also refers to the courage that Marlee and Liz demonstrate by fighting the prejudice that was so much a part of their milieu in 1958 Little Rock. Marlee even lies to her family to meet Liz secretly, not thinking that it might be dangerous for Liz and her family for the girls to see each other. The secondary characters in this novel, including Marlee's sister, parents, and their African-American maid Betty Jean are just as skillfully drawn as the two protagonists, and enrich the story as well. I would particularly recommend the book for mother-daughter or library book clubs, since the subject matter and the characters' response to their situations would make excellent material for discussion.

The Lions of Little Rock is also being released in audiobook. Check out an excerpt here.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Book Review: The Cats in the Doll Shop, by Yona Zeldis McDonough (Viking, 2011)

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 7-10 (could be read aloud to even younger children)

I have a soft spot for both animal stories and doll stories, so I was eager to read Yona Zeldis McDonough's newest book, The Cats in the Doll Shop. While this book is a sequel to her earlier novel, The Doll Shop Downstairs, it can easily be read without having read the first book.

Set in 1915, a few years after the first story, this book returns to the cozy world of the Breittlemann family, who live upstairs from their small doll factory which supplies to New York's legendary toy store FAO Schwarz. The three sisters, eleven-year old Anna, her more sophisticated now teenaged sister Sophie, and nine-year old Trudie, are about to experience big changes in their lives when their cousin Tania comes to live with them from Russia. Anna is particularly excited because Tania is just her age; she even makes Tania a special doll just for her as a welcoming gift. But when Tania arrives, she is withdrawn and shy, even hoarding food in her bed. As Anna and her sisters struggle to understand their new cousin's behavior, Anna also tries to help a stray cat and her kitten who live around her building, but her father has a firm "no pets" policy. Soon Anna discovers that Tania has a special relationship with the cats--and the cats might just help her adjust successfully to her new home.

Set in a world of Jewish immigrant families highly reminiscent of the classic Sydney Taylor All of a Kind Family series, this is a charming and heartwarming story that is perfect for ages 7-10 and could be enjoyed by younger children as a read-aloud. The story is complemented by black and white drawings by Heather Maione which capture the nostalgia of the period. The book includes a glossary of Yiddish terms and a timeline.

An interview with the author, editor, and illustrator recently appeared in the blog The Whole Megillah. You can read an excerpt from the novel on the author's website. The first book in this series, The Doll Shop Downstairs, was honored with a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2009 and was also nominated as one of the New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2009.

Book Review: Behind the Masks: The Diary of Angeline Reddy, Bodie, California, 1880 (Dear America), by Susan Patron (Scholastic, 2012)

2012-01-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

Newbery-award winner Susan Patron turns to the Wild West in the newest entry in the re-launch of Scholastic's popular Dear America series. Set in the frontier town of Bodie, California, at the height of its Gold Rush boom, this novel introduces us to plucky fourteen-year-old Angeline, who doesn't believe that her father, the town's criminal lawyer, has been murdered. In fact, she's willing to sneak into the town's funeral home to take a peek in the casket just to prove it's not him. When her hunch proves right, she's the one who has to investigate the mystery this book revolves around: just where is her Papa?

But it's not easy to get to the truth in this practically lawless gold rush town; Angeline is just plain "weary of the recklessness and danger of Bodie," a settlement filled with Chinese immigrants, saloons, brothels, miners, vigilantes, and a troupe of actors known as the "Horribles." In order to find her father, she get some help from several friends, Ellie and Ling Loi, an American-born Chinese girl, Ling Loi, who's been raised in a brothel by the proverbial prostitutes with a heart of gold. There's a hint of romance, too, between Angeline and an attractive bank-clerk-detective-actor, and even a ghost story revolving around a long-dead child. The story is written in the first-person diary format of the other books in this series, but differs from other Dear America novels that I have read in that I would call it more of a mystery than traditional historical fiction. The author provides plenty of colorful historical details of life in a frontier town, from the awful realities of a trip to the dentist to the petty small-town prejudices and gossip. It's an action-packed, rip-roaring tale that should appeal to girls as well as boys and makes a good addition to school and/or public libraries.

Like all the Dear America books, this novel includes an epilogue of what happened to the characters and a section with historical notes about the town of Bodie in 1880, historical photos and maps. Back matter also includes a section on how to make a 19th century style mask from strips of muslin. An author's note from Patron explains how she became interested in the history of Bodie after visiting the town, located near Yosemite. The "ghost town," which at the height of its boom in the 1880's had 10,000 residents, is now a National Historic Site and a California State Historic Park.

Disclosure: review copy provided by publisher.

Blog Tour/Book Review: In Darkness, by Nick Lake (Bloomsbury, 2012)

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 14 and up.

Release date: January 17, 2012

Fourteen-year-old Shorty is in trouble--bad trouble. One minute he's in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound, and the next thing he knows, he's in the dark, buried alive in the rubble of the Haiti earthquake. Shorty's grown up the slums of Haiti, in appalling conditions of incredible violence, gangs, drugs, poverty, and oppression. But now he faces something even worse.

"In darkness, I count my blessings like Manman taught me. One, I am alive. Two: There is no two."

To keep himself sane as he lies dying, Shorty relives his brief and troubled life, as he lies in a coffin of rubble, dreaming of water, surrounded by dead and stinking bodies, hearing people shouting for survivors, but unable to make himself heard. He tells us about how he and his beautiful twin sister were delivered by Aristide himself, how his adored sister was taken from him by gangsters, how his father was brutally murdered in front of him. His story is mixed up with that of politicians and well-meaning white relief workers who come to Haiti hoping to do good. We see how a "good" kid who was bright and eager goes "bad," getting sucked into a cycle of violence by joining the gangsters who kill without mercy but also pass out food aid and pay school fees.

Lake merges into Shorty's story another tale of Haiti--one from long ago--the story of a slave named Toussaint l'Ouverture, who led the only successful slave rebellion in the 1790's--another tale of violence, brutality, carnage, revolutionary idealism, voodoo, and power. As Shorty lies dying in the rubble, somehow his spirit mixes with Toussaint's and the two of them are connected on some mysterious spiritual level. Are they connected by the ancient stone that contains the spirits of the ancestors? Will Toussaint's indomitable spirit help keep Shorty alive long enough to be rescued from the rubble?

This powerful and unforgettable story of both present-day and long-ago Haiti is a gripping story you will find hard to put down. Not easy to read and digest because of the many violent and disturbing scenes, Lake nonetheless manages to jump back and forth with great ease between Shorty's first person account and the third-person story of the historical Toussaint L'Ouverture, peppering his narrative with creole words and phrases. This is a stirring book that seems to capture the tragedy of Haiti. I would recommend it equally to adults and to teens, and apparently in the UK the book is being published for both audiences.

The challenging nature of the subject represents quite a change of pace for British author Nick Lake, a children's book editor at Harper UK whose prior books were the Blood Ninja vampire trilogy aimed squarely at tweens. Nick admits to a long-time fascination with Haiti that goes back to studying Creole at Oxford. To learn more about Nick, check out this interview on Simon & Schuster's website and also the outstanding website for In Darkness, in which you can learn more about Haiti, Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Haitian earthquake, get suggestions for further reading, see a book trailer with an interview with Nick, find out how you can help in the ongoing recovery, and even more! A reading group guide is also available here.

I was surprised to discover how few books for young people have been published on Toussaint L'Ouverture, one of the most inspiring characters in the history of the New World. Young readers might look for

Open the Door to Liberty: a biography of Toussaint L'Ouverture, by Anne Rockwell (Houghton Mifflin, 2009); or
Toussaint L'Ouverture: The Fight for Haiti's Freedom, by Walter Dean Myers, with paintings by Harlem artist Jacob Lawrence (Simon & Schuster, 1996).

There is also a well-reviewed documentary DVD available from PBS: Egalite for All: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the Haitian Revolution. In fact, Toussaint's epic story seems made for a Hollywood movie; entertainment industry buzz indicates that famed African-American actor Danny Glover has been working for years on a biopic/historical epic about L'Ouverture, but no word on when that film will be coming to theatres. However, a French two-part television film on the topic is due to air in 2012, but no word whether the film will come to American audiences.

On the subject of the 2010 earthquake, several picture books for younger children have been published, including Eight Days: A Story of Haiti, by Edwidge Danticat (Orchard Books, 2010), in which another young boy is trapped in his house for eight days after the earthquake; and Hope for Haiti, by Jesse J. Watson, in which a young boy finds hope in a soccer ball after the devastation of the quake. Several nonfiction books suitable for school and public libraries have been released on the topic as well, including: The Earthquake in Haiti (Essential Events series) by Anne Lies (Abdo Publishing, 2010) and Earthquake in Haiti-Code Red, by Miriam Aronin (Bearport Publishing, 2010).

Nick Lake

Lake is currently on a book tour in the States to promote In Darkness; if you're going to ALA Midwinter in Dallas, he'll be speaking at the USBBY talk on January 20.

Book Review: Promise the Night, by Michaela Maccoll (Chronicle Books, 2011)

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

Release date: January 4, 2012

This new historical fiction title is inspired by the life of aviatrix Beryl Markham, the first woman pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic from East to West (considered more challenging than flying East because of prevailing winds). Novelist Michaela Maccoll intersperses the story of Beryl's historic 1936 voyage with Beryl's life as a ten-year old growing up in what is now Kenya, where she lived with her English father on a horse ranch, her mother having abandoned them years before. Her life as a child is filled with endless adventures--attacks by leopards, forbidden treks into the forest with a boy from the local tribe, Kibbi, who becomes her friend and teaches her to wrestle and track and hunt animals. Indeed, she is virtually adopted by the native tribe who take her in as one of their own, allowing her to train to be a "warrior" despite her sex and accepting her as an honorary member of the Nandi tribe.

The novel jumps back and forth between the youthful Beryl's adventures both at home and later in boarding school and a variety of diary entries, fictitious press articles and interviews about her cross-Atlantic flight. I found the parts in Africa much more engaging and vivid than the snippets about her flight; the two themes don't really seem to be tied together, since we don't learn about the beginnings of her interests in flight in the sections in which Beryl is a child. However, Maccoll paints an appealing picture of an adventurous spirit who can't resist a dare, a girl who is more comfortable in boys' clothing and who longs to be a hunter of lions rather than a proper young English lady. It's a good choice for those looking for a colorful adventure story that could appeal to girls as well as boys.

Those interested in learning more about the real Beryl can check out her memoir, West With the Night (North Point Press, 1982), which was praised by none other than Ernest Hemingway, who remarked about Markham's writing, "she can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers,"
or the young adult biography Beryl Markham: Never Turn Back, by Catherine Gourley (Red Wheel, 1997).

In addition, Maccoll includes an author's note providing further details on the real Beryl's life as well as additional suggestions for further reading.

Beryl Markham

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens: My Top 10 Favorite Books from 2011

2011-12-21T10:28:00.000-08:00

With apologies once again to Rogers and Hammerstein, here are my top 10 favorite things (book-wise) from 2011. I have restricted myself to books reviewed here at The Fourth Musketeer. The books are presented in no particular order. Please note: these are not necessarily the books I think are "best" (whatever that means!) but rather books that I found personally compelling for one reason or another.

Young Adult

Jefferson's Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Dial Books for Young Readers). A fictionalized look at life at Monticello through the eyes of three of his slaves, two of whom were his sons by his slave mistress, Sally Hemings.

Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys (Philomel). In 1941, 15-year old Lina, her mother, and brother are taken from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while Lina fights to survive. Based on the author's own family history.

The Berlin Boxing Club, by Robert Sharenow (Harper Collins). In 1936 Berlin, 14-year old Karl Stern, considered Jewish by the government despite a non-religious upbringing, learns to box from the legendary Max Schmeling while struggling with the realities of life as a Jew in Nazi Germany.

Tween/Middle Grade

Saving Zasha, by Randi Barrow (Scholastic). In 1945 Russia, those who own German shepherds are considered traitors, but Mikhail and his family are determined to keep the beautiful dog a dying man brought them, while trying to keep the secret from Mikhail's nosy classmate Katia.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai (Harper). In free verse poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave war-torn Vietnam to resettle in Alabama.

Picture Books

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart, by Elizabeth Rusch (Triangle Press). A lovely picture book biography of the sister of the famous composer.

These Hands, by Margaret H. Mason (Houghton Mifflin). Combines a little known piece of labor history and the civil rights movement with a tender portrait of a grandfather’s relationship with his grandson.

Narrative Non-Fiction

Flesh and Blood So Cheap, by Albert Marrin (Knopf Books). 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Fire, the worse disaster in American labor history, and Marrin brings the tragic events of that spring afternoon to life, setting the fire in a sweeping historical narrative encompassing not only the events leading up to the fire, but what happened afterwards.

Tom Thumb: The Remarkable True Story of a Man in Miniature, by George Sullivan (Clarion Books). The fascinating story of the little person Charles Stratton, “discovered” by P. T. Barnum at the tender age of four; Tom Thumb was one of our nation’s first true celebrities.

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Irena's Jars of Secrets, by Marcia Vaughan (Lee & Low Books, 2011)

2011-12-19T05:00:00.001-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-Adult.

Irena's Jars of Secrets is the second picture book to come out this year on Polish heroine Irena Sendler, a young social worker who rescued over 2,500 Jewish children from under the noses of the Nazi guards in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II (earlier this year I reviewed Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto, by Susan Goldman Rubin). Both are well-written, worthwhile books, although they cover much of the same territory.

Irena's father, a Polish doctor, taught his daughter that if she ever saw someone drowning, she must jump in, even if she didn't know how to swim. Irena took his teachings to heart, and when the Polish Jews were forced into the Warsaw ghetto, dying of starvation and disease, she knew she must do something to help. Dressed as a nurse, she smuggled in food, medicine, and clothes, but that wasn't enough. Soon she joined the Zegota, a Polish organization established to help the Jews, and started smuggling children out of the ghetto however she could--finding families that would take them in. She kept careful records of the names of the children and where they went, so that they could be reunited with their parents after the war. These important notes were hidden in small jars and buried under the apple tree in a friend's garden.

Irena's work was terribly dangerous, and she was eventually arrested by the Gestapo and sentenced to death. Zegota members managed to rescue her through a bribe, and she continued to work for the resistance until the war ended. Although Irena was able to retrieve her precious records, very few of the children were able to be reunited with their parents, most of whom had perished in death camps or the ghetto. Still, relatives were able to be found for some of the children.

Irena's remarkable story was ignored in Poland until very recently, although she was honored in 1965 by Israel's Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among Nations, those Gentiles who helped Jews escape the Nazis. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 98, but as author Marcia Vaughan concludes in her afterword, "her story of caring and courage lives on."

Ron Mazellan's rich oil painting illustrations capture the somber mood of this time period, with dark colors, broad, energetic, brush strokes, and dramatic lighting.

To learn more about Sendler, you may want to watch a documentary about Sendler's life entitled Irena Sendler: In the Name of their Mothers, which was broadcast on PBS affiliates in May of 2011. The documentary features some of Sendler's last interviews.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by NetGalley.

Book Review: Love Twelve Miles Long, by Glenda Armand (Lee & Low Books, 2011)

2011-12-14T05:00:00.001-08:00

Recommended for ages 6-12.

Based on the childhood of former slave, author and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, this new picture book by debut author Glenda Armand introduces Douglass as a young boy in Maryland, where his mother visits him one night every week, despite the arduous twelve mile walk from the plantation where she works in the fields. She explains to him that every mile represents something different, and she makes the journey go by concentrating on these aspects of her life during each mile of the journey. For example, one mile is for forgetting, another for remembering, another for giving thanks, another for love. Armand is a teacher and school librarian who was inspired to write this story by a comment in Douglass' autobiography in which he remarks that his mother told him he was not “only a child but somebody’s child.” More than a story about the brutality of slavery, this is instead of a story of a mother's deep love for her child, a universal theme that transcends Frederick Douglass' own story. In fact, Douglass was separated from his mother as an infant, and she died when he was a small child.

The book is illustrated with beautiful watercolor paintings by Colin Bootman which capture the candlelit slave quarters with glowing light, as well as the quiet peace of the woods through which Douglass' mother walks on her trips.

This is not a picture book biography designed to be suitable for reports, although it could be used in conjunction with other books on Frederick Douglass for classrooms or homeschoolers. It is also well suited to be read on its own and could spark a child's interest in other aspects of African-American history. The book includes a brief afterword which gives additional details of Douglass' life after he escaped from slavery and his many accomplishments, including the fact that he gave his mother credit for much of his success.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by NetGalley.

Nonfiction Monday: Saga of the Sioux: An Adaptation from Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Henry Holt, 2011)

2011-12-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Unfortunately I've never read Dee Brown's iconic Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, the best-selling history of the American West from the point of view of the Native Americans that was first published in 1971. In this new book written for younger readers, Dwight Jon Zimmerman has adapted Brown's 500+ page book for a younger audience, adroitly simplifying but not "dumbing down" the complex and interwoven stories of the different Indian tribes in the original by concentrating on the Great Sioux Nation. As Zimmerman explains in his preface, the Sioux's epic fight against the white man represents the struggle of all the Indian nations in many ways, and includes the stories of some of the most famous warrior chiefs in Indian history, among them Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, as well as some of the most famous battles and events.

Zimmerman condenses and abridges Brown's work to concentrate on the Sioux' story, but also adds a first chapter providing background on the Sioux people as well as an epilogue discussing what has happened to the Sioux since the infamous massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, and their attempts through the U.S. courts in modern times to get their sacred lands, the Black Hills, returned to them.

I must comment that I found this an incredibly difficult book to read; not because of complicated vocabulary or poorly written narrative, but because of the tragic nature of the material. In fact, the book made me think about how many narratives of the Holocaust I have read, and yet how this tale of the white man's betrayal again and again of the Native Americans was so hard for me to digest. That's perhaps a topic for another blog post, but even in stories (whether fiction or non-fiction) of the Holocaust there's a few good people who tried to rescue Jews or otherwise help them, whereas it doesn't seem like any of the white people appreciated the Indians' culture and lifestyle at the end of the 19th century. Undoubtedly there must have been some more forward looking whites, but where were they? Putting the Indian children into boarding schools to train them to be "white", it seems.

This narrative starts in the years leading up to the Civil War, in which the Sioux of Minnesota agreed in treaties to surrender nearly all their land, thus having to learn to farm like white men and depending on annuities from the government, and covers the story of the Indian Wars that ensued over the next thirty years. Over and over again the Sioux were betrayed by the U.S. government, who would appear to negotiate treaties in good faith that they seemed to have no intention of keeping. The narrative is magnificently illustrated with many full page photographs of various Sioux chiefs as well as American leaders, maps, as well as historic paintings and lithographs. Zimmerman allows the Sioux leaders to tell their own stories, continuing Dee Brown's practice of including ample primary source materials (primarily oral histories).

Zimmerman concludes his narrative with the incredibly powerful quote that seems to sum up everything that happened to the Native population of this country from the time the white man first landed:

"They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they never kept but one; they promised to take our land, and they took it." --Red Cloud

This book includes abundant backmatter, including a timeline of Sioux history from 1851 to 1909, a glossary, information on the Sioux calendar, recommended reading, suggested websites, and an index.

I expect this excellent book to be nominated for many non-fiction awards; I would highly recommend it for upper elementary school through middle school, as well as for adults who would like an easy-to-follow overview of this shameful part of our nation's history.

Longing, Belonging, and Speaking out for Justice: Writing from Real Life (Guest post by author Katherine Schlick Noe)

2011-12-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

author Katherine Schlick Noe

I am delighted to welcome debut author Katherine Schlick Noe to The Fourth Musketeer. Katherine has kindly prepared a guest post about her first novel, Something to Hold, reviewed yesterday on this blog.

What was it like living on an Indian reservation?

For as long as I can remember, other non-Indians have asked this question. It’s always been hard to explain. Like all of the foundational, complex questions of our lives, there are many answers. They finally began to solidify when I started to write Something to Hold.

This work of fiction is inspired by my memories of living on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in central Oregon in the 1960’s. Like Kitty’s dad, mine was a forester with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He and my mother left Iowa in 1950 to take a job on the Colville Indian Reservation in north-central Washington state. They didn’t know then that they would spend the rest of their lives working with and living among Indian people. My brothers and I were born on the Colville Reservation, and we moved every four years, living near Washington, DC and on the Warm Springs and Yakama Reservations.

The years at Warm Springs were pivotal for me, as they are for all children between the ages of seven and eleven. Something to Hold is grounded in universals. We all long to find a place to belong, to make friends, to feel connected and rooted. The book also explores a unique perspective of a non-Indian outsider’s growing awareness of prejudice, including her own.

My writing began with one memory: In the fifth grade at Warm Springs, a classmate I both feared and admired refused to read out loud, and our white teacher took her out into the hall, shook her, and left her there. Reading out loud, one paragraph at a time, was a normal practice in every school I had attended. I hated it – so boring to listen to other bored kids read something boring – but I would never have refused. I couldn’t understand why my classmate would defy this teacher, who allowed no disobedience of any kind, in this way. That event had a profound impact on me and is one reason that I eventually became a teacher. No child should be humiliated that way.

That event is also what moved me to write about living at Warm Springs. Having wrestled with the memory for over 30 years, I did what we encourage young writers to do -- started listing all that I could remember about it. Then I began to tell the story. I was writing in order to make sense for myself, to understand why she would dare to do something I would never have had the nerve to consider. But, of course, I couldn’t remember everything, and that’s when the fiction took over.

As Something to Hold took shape, I had a chance to meet my classmate again. Both of us now grown, we visited over our class photo, talking about how life had turned out. It was clear that hers had been filled with hardship, so different from my own. When I asked her about the event that had affected me so deeply, she looked me in the eye and said, “It never happened.” I knew in that moment that this was not my story to tell. So I took that episode apart, changed the details but kept intact the power and fear and strength of will – all of the emotions that were so influential for me -- and gave them to my two antagonists, Raymond and Jewel. In the chapter “The Capital of Vermont,” Raymond and Jewel stand up to their teacher and triumph over humiliation. And Kitty learns something powerful about speaking out for justice.

Many of the events in Something to Hold are based in truth. The only way I could begin was to build Kitty’s story around my memories: a Bible-quoting teacher, the death of a child, a boy who fell through the ceiling of my classroom while working in the school attic, how razor blades horribly derailed an art project. I created a series of episodes tethered loosely to reality – and then slowly wove in the characters.

This image guided me: A basket maker begins with a tangle of warps and wefts, a mess of strings held in her hand. Carefully, intentionally, and sometimes magically, she weaves them together into something beautiful, powerful, and enduring – just as a writer weaves with words.

by Wasco basketmaker Pat Courtney Gold

My goal was to create a tapestry of characters that manage to find their own way and also to help each other live with courage and hope – especially when it’s a struggle to do so. I hope young readers will identify with Kitty, Raymond, Jewel, and Pinky and the ways in which they reach across a chasm of difference to connect with one another. I have my classmate to thank for getting me started.

Visit Katherine at her website: http://katherineschlicknoe.com

Book Review: Something to Hold, by Katherine Schlick Noe (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011)

2011-12-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

In this new novel, debut author Katherine Schlick Noe tells a fresh and compelling story, based on her own childhood experiences of growing up on an Indian reservation as one of the only white families in the community.

When our eleven-year old heroine, Kitty, arrives at the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon in 1962, she's used to being the new kid--her dad works for the government as a forest manager and they're always moving around. But it's hard to fit in at the reservation school where she's one of the only non-Indians. She doesn't feel comfortable with the white girls dressed in their fancy dresses and stiff petticoats whom she meets at church on Sundays either. They dismiss all Indians as drunks, and their prejudice bothers Kitty deeply. Even her teacher tells her that none of the Indian students are going anywhere, and that "they will drag you down if you let them."

The story, narrated by Kitty herself, takes Kitty through her first year living on the reservation, a year of growth and change for this sympathetic character. As Kitty gets to know her classmates, she begins to appreciate them and their culture, as well as striving to understand the "dark shadows" in their lives, which are so much more complicated than her own happy two-parent family. She even becomes friends with Jewel, the powerful and angry girl who once intimidated her, and is faced with the difficulties of keeping Jewel's secrets. Should she speak out to help Jewel and her brother?

Something to Hold was recognized by Amazon as one of its best books for December for children. Although the book discusses sensitive subjects, particularly prejudice and an abusive father, these difficult topics are always handled in an age-appropriate way, and in the end the novel is an uplifting coming-of-age story with appealing characters and an unusual setting.

Tomorrow, I am pleased to feature a guest post from author Katherine Schlick Noe about her new book!

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Book Review: Jeffersons Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011)

2011-12-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

I've had this book on my radar for a while, and had been waiting patiently for one of my many local libraries to purchase it so I could check it out. My patience finally ran out, and I decided to buy it myself. Frankly, this is such an important story that I think it's a must buy for school and public libraries and am disappointed that it seems to have escaped the notice of so many of the public libraries near me. The book has been getting some Newbery buzz from the blogosphere (which probably doesn't mean much, given recent Newbery history!), but it would also be a great candidate for the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction or the Coretta Scott King Award as well.

I get tired of our founding fathers being treated like saints, particularly in literature for young people--they were far from it, being not only men of flesh and blood but creatures of their time. In this compelling novel, Bradley tells the story of slave Sally Hemings' children, widely considered to be fathered by Thomas Jefferson (although some controversy persists despite DNA evidence showing that the Hemmings descendants share common traits with Jeffersons' descendants). The story is told from the point of view of three of Jefferson's slaves--two of whom, Beverly and Madison, were his sons from Sally Hemings, and the third, Peter, the young son of another slave on the plantation who was close to Hemings' children.

Although a slave, Sally Hemings herself was three-quarters white, and a half-sister to Jefferson's wife, Martha (who is already deceased at the time this book takes place). Her four children who survive infancy--Beverly, Harriet, Madison, and Eston--know who their father is but are forbidden to talk about it. Their special status means they get special treatment--better clothes, better food, easier work, and even learning to read and write and getting violin lessons, and their mother tells them they'll be freed when they're 21 years old, when they will be able to live as white people. Although they're 7/8 white, and all but one of them can easily "pass," make no mistake, they are still slaves. When a captured slave is returned to Monticello and whipped publicly for his crime, Sally and her children are forced to watch along with all the other slaves.

As Jefferson gets older, even those in the slave quarters suspect that his extravagant entertaining at Monticello, his constant building projects, and his love for fine French wines and luxurious goods are leading to greater and greater indebtedness. What will happen when Master Jefferson dies, and these debts have to be settled? The precious words of the Declaration of Independence--and its enshrinement of freedom for all--a copy of which is displayed at Monticello, are surely not meant for everyone, when slaves are another form of property and can be sold away at any time. This story ends with Jefferson's death, and a heart-wrenching slave auction in which families we have come to know in this novel are torn apart. The novel ends with a four-letter word. Sold.

An afterword by the author explains what in the book is based on historical fact, and what is made up. She also explains what is known of Sally Hemings' children. Her two daughters apparently married white men, never telling about their past, and their families are lost in history. Madison and Eston Hemings stayed in Virginia until their mother's death, later moving to Ohio and Wisconsin.

While many of the details of Bradley's story are invented, she is careful to make the story historically possible. She writes in her afterword, "I have done what I can with what we know now. I've told all the truth I can find; so far as I know, nowhere have I written anything that couldn't be true--that contradicts something we know for sure." As far as I'm concerned, she's done an outstanding job writing historical fiction populated with real characters, some of whom have left little behind in the historical record.

We owe Bradley our respect for daring to dig behind the "great man" mythology of Jefferson to share with younger readers a broader perspective on not only his life, but how the institution of slavery impacted one of our most important founding fathers and his legacy.

Highly recommended!

Young people who would like to learn more about what happened to Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings' offspring might want to read: Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family, by Shannon Lanier (Random House, 2002), a descendant on the Hemings' side of the family.

Book Review: Soldier Bear, by Bib Dumon Tak (Eerdmans Books, 2011)

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

In this charming novel for children, Dutch author Bibi Dumon Tak fictionalizes the true story of an orphaned Syrian brown bear cub who's adopted by a group of Polish soldiers during World War II, eventually becoming the unit's beloved mascot. The mischievous bear cub was named Voytek (smiling warrior) by the soldiers. As the soldiers journeyed through Iran and Iraq on their way to their assignment in Palestine to join their Brtish allies, even the officers softened at the adorable teddy bear of a cub. But of course, cute little cubs soon grow big, and Voytek soon is getting into plenty of trouble, especially with the resident monkey, Kaska, who loved to throw stones, sand, or whatever she could find at poor Voytek's head. But that wasn't the whole menagerie that followed the soldiers around; there was also a dog named Stalin, who Kaska liked to hitch rides on, and a dalmatian who loved to romp around with the bear.

Tak writes about the soldiers and their animal friends with such good humor that I found myself laughing out loud at their antics, especially touching in the middle of a war. When the soldiers are sent to supply Allied troops in Italy, Voytek takes his place helping to move live artillery shells, when he's not stealing food from the cook or sliding up and down cranes like an acrobat, stopping traffic as soldiers stopped to cheer him on.

While a story of a tamed bear who's goodnaturedly given chocolate, beer, and cigarettes isn't quite "politically correct" for today's American audience, I was charmed by the story of Voytek, his animal friends, and the soldiers who loved them in the middle of wartime. The book is greatly enriched by the pencil drawings of Dutch illustrator Philip Hopman, which perfectly capture the humor and pathos of the story. Any animal lover will be delighted by the story of lonely soldiers, little more than boys themselves, cuddling up at night with a furry bear, who liked to suck on their fingers at night as a sort of human pacifier.

The conclusion of the book includes some photographs of Voytek with his soldier buddies, as well as an afterword about Voytek's true story.

For more on Voytek and his soldier friends, see this website set up by the son of one of the soldiers from Voytek's unit. The website offers plenty of photos of the real bear as well, including this one:

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Alicia Alonso Prima Ballerina, by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Marshall Cavendish, 2011)

2011-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

Alicia Alonso is one of the most famous ballerinas of the 20th century. This new picture book biography by award-winning author/poet Carmen T. Bernier-Grand tells the story of her life in free verse, complemented by the graceful tropical colored illustrations by award-winning illustrator Raul Colon. Gifted as a child, Alicia dances her first solo at age eleven, and even though her feet, legs, and arms hurt, "ballet dancing/tastes better/than chocolate ice cream." At the tender age of fifteen, she left Cuba with dancer Fernando Alonso to study in New York, where she marries Fernando and has a baby, leaving childhood and Cuba behind. But when she and her husband get jobs with Ballet Caravan, her daughter can't go with, and is sent to live with her grandparents in Cuba. Her career is almost finished when her retinas become detached, and she loses her side vision. Doctors tell her that her dance career is over. But Alicia is determined to dance again, and soon she is "America's finest Giselle," flying through the air in Colon's exquisite two-page spread.

Returning to Cuba, she forms Ballet Alicia Alonso, soon renamed Ballet de Cuba. But politics interfere with her plans, and she refuses to dance in Cuba under the Battista regime. When Fidel Castro leads a successful revolution in Cuba, Alonso returns there, and dances all over the world, but is exiled from the United States. Despite the controversy, she was finally invited to dance in the U.S. again in 1975. The story concludes b showing us Alonso still alive at 90, although no longer performing.

The book includes extensive back matter: the author includes a detailed biography in an afterword, which provides further details about some of the incidents outlined in the free verse of the main part of the book. She also lists some of the ballets danced by Alonso, some of her awards and recognition, as well as a list of some of the ballets which she has choreographed. There is also a glossary, a list of sources, websites about Alonso, and notes and references.

Alicia Alonso in 1955

This book is likely to be of most interest to aspiring ballerinas and other children interested in dance and ballet. With the material in the back of the book, this 64 page volume provides enough material for a biographical report for school use.

Book Review: The Last Musketeer, by Stuart Gibbs (Harper Collins, 2011)

2011-11-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

As a Three Musketeers fan since I was twelve years old, I was of course excited to read this new time travel story, in which a 21st century boy travels back to France of the early 17th century, befriending the future musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Author Stuart Gibbs' fast paced, action-packed tale may well appeal to today's tweens, but I couldn't help but be disappointed in the way he interprets Dumas' classic story for the 21st century.

The story starts off strong, with a terrific first sentence that will grab any young reader: "Clinging to the prison wall, Greg Rich realized how much he hated time travel." On a trip to Paris with his family to sell the family's treasured heirlooms to the Louvre, Greg and his parents are pulled through a time warp, winding up in 1615. When his parents are falsely imprisoned for trying to kill the young Louis XIII, Greg must rescue them--by meeting up with three teenagers like himself, Aramis, a young cleric, Athos, a soldier from the lower social classes, and Porthos, a foppish rich young nobleman who's the life of the party. Greg himself becomes known as D'Artagnan (in the original a fish-out-of-water himself, as a bumbling, hot-headed young man from the distant province of Gascony. Mix in a nefarious brother of Cardinal Richelieu (the Cardinal being a central character in Dumas' novel), and a young Milady de Winter (the original villainess in the Three Musketeers), some tropes of fantasy fiction (a stone that grants eternal life), and voila! a 21st century musketeer rehash.

Gibbs does a good job with the whole fish-out-of-water time travel tropes, with Greg disgusted by the smells of Paris, the privies, and the fleas, among others. The book of matches in his pocket make the 17th century characters he meet think he's a magician, as does his ability to swim. There's plenty of action, as Greg and his new-found friends swashbuckle their way to saving Greg's parents. At the end, they don't go back to the 21st century, which makes me think that Gibbs has a sequel up his sleeve.

While I can't help but appreciate any author that brings Dumas' characters to the attention of 21st century kids, I couldn't get over several changes to the original story that drove me crazy. First of all, the author keeps referring to Greg being in medieval Paris. While the streets of Paris might have been similar to the way they were in the Middle Ages, 1615 is definitely not considered the Middle Ages, and I wonder how such a glaring error could have escaped the Harper editors, not to mention the professor of French history who Gibbs thanks in his acknowledgment for vetting the manuscript. Second, and what bothered me more as a fan of the original novel, which I couldn't help wondering if Gibbs had actually read, he changed many key elements of the musketeers' personalities. For example, Athos, or the Conte de la Fere in the original, was a member of the nobility, not a common soldier, as Gibbs makes him out to be. Appearing as a young girl, the character of Milady de Winter doesn't make sense with that name, since she is supposed to have married an English lord after having been married to Athos as a young girl. Also, it's not very believable that 14-year old boys would be made guards of the king! Any young person who reads this and goes on to read the original Dumas is going to discoverer the many inconsistencies, which I just don't think were necessary. And by turning the somewhat ordinary Greg into D'Artagnan, Gibbs eliminated one of the funniest and most memorable characters in the book, the young Gascon around whom the plot unfolds.

In short, while I enjoyed the concept of this story, I believe the execution could have been much better, simply by keeping more to the original outlines of Dumas' immortal characters. Unfortunately, I don't think that Gibbs' changes to the basic characters really added to the story, but rather detracted from it. It will be interesting to see if a sequel is in the making.

Has anyone seen the new 3-d Musketeer movie? I haven't yet, discouraged by the terrible reviews! My favorite film version is still the Richard Lester version with Michael York, Richard Chamberlain, Faye Dunaway, and others from 1973. Although this version made changes from the original, it was very much in the sprit of the original novel.

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War, by Tony Horwitz (Henry Holt, 2011)

2011-11-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for 14 and up.

In a vague way, most of us have heard of John Brown and his famous raid on Harper's Ferry that preceded the Civil War. Best-selling nonfiction author Tony Horwitz points out that the event merits a mere six paragraphs in his son's 9th grade history textbook. In this compelling new work, Horwitz examines not only John Brown's own history and background but the forces in society that led to his carefully plotted conspiracy.

A descendant of the Puritans, Brown was a committed abolitionist who was not afraid to use violence to help overthrow slavery in the United States. He and his many sons participated in the pre-Civil War fighting between abolitionists and pro-slavery forces in Kansas, before spearheading the formation of a private army. His ultimate aim--no less than seizing the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, and freeing all the slaves. How this conspiracy developed and its high profile aftermath is the subject of Horwitz' riveting new work.

Through contemporary eyes, Horwitz notes, we are tempted to see John Brown as an al-Queda type of terrorist, a "long-bearded fundamentalist, consumed by hatred of the U.S. government...in a suicidal strike on a symbol of American power." In this book, Horwitz paints a much more complex picture of a charismatic leader of a large family, a man who mixed with prominent industrialists who supported him financially as well as intellectuals such as Frederick Douglass and Henry David Thoreau. He examines John Brown's early life and the events which led to his taking up arms against his own country.

Although the insurrection was quickly put down by future Civil War leader Robert E. Lee, the case mesmerized the nation, polarizing North and South, abolitionists and those who supported slavery. He became a hero to many in the North and a traitor to those in the South. Horwitz remarks "Harpers Ferry wasn't simply a prelude to secession and civil war. In many respects, it was a dress rehearsal. "

John Brown

I have been a fan of Horwitz since reading his earlier book Confederates in the Attic, in which he tries to understand Americans' ongoing obsession with all things Civil War. Unlike many of his earlier works, which merge personal narrative with historical passages, this book about John Brown is more of a traditional narrative non-fiction history work. Horwitz' elegant prose reads like a novel, and this book offers an in-depth and fascinating portrait of one of history's pivotal characters, and an important epoch in American history. While this is an adult title, I would highly recommend it to high school students with a strong interest in history as well.

Book Review: Caleb's Wars, by David L. Dudley (Clarion Books, 2011)

2011-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Caleb's Wars, released last month by Clarion Books, is an intriguing teen historical novel set in the Jim Crow South during World War II. As the novel begins, two new businesses are opening in 15-year-old Caleb's rural Georgia town: a new restaurant for whites only, the Dixie Belle, and a POW camp for captured Germans, brought to Georgia to do farm work and replace Americans in the service overseas. Author David Dudley paints a harsh but undoubtedly true-to-life picture of life for African-Americans at the time. Caleb has to act carefully around the white people in the town, making sure not to offend anyone or even look a white man directly in the eye. His family life's no piece of cake either. His father whips him for disobeying and getting into a fight with some white boys from the town. "Don't you know by now that white folks'd just as soon kill you as look at you?" he tells Caleb. His brother's in the military, in the segregated army, and about to be sent overseas, and his mother takes solace in her faith. Against his father's wishes, Caleb takes a job working at the new whites-only restaurant, where he works washing dishes along with the African-American kitchen workers and a German POW, Andreas, who's been assigned to the restaurant. Caleb can't help but be drawn to the friendly young German, who's supposed to be the enemy. But when German POW's are allowed to eat at the Dixie Belle, where he and his friends can't be served, it's more than Caleb can take. How will he come to terms with the many contradictions in his life?

This novel mixes historical fiction with Christian themes as well, sometimes in a way that seems a bit uneasy. Toward the beginning of the story, Caleb, largely to please his very religious mother, agrees to be baptized. During the ceremony, and again after, he hears a voice saying "Behold my servant." Is it the voice of God? Caleb is as shocked as anyone, and thinks the whole thing is a practical joke by one of his friends. But when Caleb is able to mysteriously heal the crippled hands of an elderly man, what exactly does it mean? Is Caleb now a prophet of sorts? This religious aspect of the story is never fully developed, and seems to fit awkwardly with the historical fiction themes.

Despite its flaws, I found the book stimulating reading that could provoke interesting discussions for a book group or book talk. One caveat: Dudley does not shirk from using the "n" word in his dialogue, which of course was widely used at the time this book is set and is historically appropriate.

Disclosure: review copy provided by publisher.

Book Review: Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be, by John Harris (Peachtree Publishers, 2011)

2011-11-16T05:00:00.001-08:00

Recommended for ages 5-12.

No matter what our religious affiliation, we all know the much-loved holiday song, Jingle Bells, a favorite not only for Christmas albums but also sung at every elementary school sing-along. But how did this famous song get written?

Author John Harris was inspired by a historic marker he saw on a visit to Savannah, Georgia, to do a little investigating as to the history of the classic tune. He saw a marker about the history of the song, written by James Pierpont, music director at the Unitarian Church in Savannah in the 1850's. This story is fictional, but inspired by actual facts. Harris imagines that Pierpont composed the song in the middle of a Savannah heat wave. Pierpont, in Harris' story, is an abolitionist, worried about violence surrounding his church because of their anti-slavery policies. He's homesick, too, for New England, and tries to explain to his young daughter what snow is like, and the sound of sleigh bells. Suddenly, he's inspired to write a new song for the Thanksgiving day concert at church!

llustrator Adam Gustavson's lively images enhance this charming book, a great read-aloud for the holiday season, especially for elementary school classes learning to sing this classic tune!

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Book Review: Vietnam Book One: I Pledge Allegiance, by Chris Lynch (Scholastic, 2011)

2011-11-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 10 to 14

The first in a new series on the Vietnam War for young readers, I Pledge Allegiance introduces us to four ordinary guys who are best friends: Rudi, Ivan, Beck, and Morris, our narrator. Morris is haunted by nightmares about Vietnam, visions of "torn flesh and burned flesh and the end of everything we know, all dying there in the scorching jungle of Vietnam." The friends have a sacred pledge--if one of them gets drafted, they would all be drafted, even if they weren't serving together. And when Rudi is drafted, each of them enlists in a different branch of the service. Morris picks the Navy, where he thinks he can somehow watch over his friends and keep them safe. But can he stop his nightmares of death and destruction from coming true?

This short, action-packed novel (under 200 pages) is perfect for reluctant readers, even those in high school. Told in the first person, we can easily identify with Morris and his fears and insecurities. Lynch does a great job evoking the close bonds between the four friends, as well as the atmosphere of serving on a Navy missile cruiser: the day to day routines, and the terror of actually seeing action in Vietnam. Boys will be particularly attracted to this new series. I was not able to find any information on the rest of the series, but I'm betting that there will be three more volumes, each concentrating on a different one of the four friends, thus profiling a different branch of the service. This new series is an excellent addition for school or public libraries.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Veteran's Day Guest Post and Giveaway: Author Monika Schroeder: After the War Was Lost

2011-11-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Author Monika Schroeder (and Frank)

Thanks so much to author Monika Schroeder for supplying a thoughtful guest post for Armistice Day, better known in the United States as Veteran's Day. Monika's new book, My Brother's Shadow, deals with the critical period in German history at the end of World War I. I am also delighted to be able to offer a giveaway of this new young adult novel. If you'd like a chance to win, please leave your name and e-mail address in the comments below!

After the War was Lost –

Germany, my home country, has started two World Wars in the last century. Both wars not only brought death and terror to large parts of Europe, but also ended in defeat followed by fundamental changes of the political system. I have tried to imagine how regular people dealt with these changes. I find it fascinating that a German person born at the beginning of the 20^th century could have experienced a monarchy, a failed democracy, a fascist dictatorship,

a socialist totalitarian regime and then again a democracy, just within one life span.

In my first novel, THE DOG IN THE WOOD, I wrote about the end of World War II and how people in a small village in eastern Germany experienced the arrival of the red Army. This story was based on what my father had told me about the end of WWII and how his family was affected by it. My new novel, MY BROTHER’S SHADOW, is set in 1918, another important transition time in German history. I tried to imagine what it might have been like for a young man who had grown up under the Kaiser to see the monarchy disappear and to be confronted with socialist ideas and women’s emancipation.

Nothing is the way it used to be for Moritz, the 16-year old protagonist of MY BROTHER’S SHADOW. His mother and sister attend illegal socialist meetings and talk about how the Kaiser needs to abdicate and the war needs to end. His older brother, Hans, returns from the war, maimed and bitter, blaming Germany’s defeat on Jews and socialists. Then Moritz meets Rebecca, a Jewish girl, who is also a socialist, and he can’t stop thinking about her. When a revolution sweeps away the monarchy he has to make a choice between his dangerously radicalized brother and his love for the women around him who are working to usher in the new democracy.

The stipulations of the Versailles Treaty left Germany humiliated in the eyes of many of the returning veterans. These young soldiers, like Hans in my book, had no work and couldn’t find their place in the new Germany. Looking for scapegoats, they blamed socialists and Jews for Germany’s defeat. Politically the country was divided between the extreme right, represented by militarists who didn’t shy away from violence, and the left. Soon after my novel ends, in 1919, communist politicians Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were assassinated. A civil war ensued and the weak economy helped the rise of the National Socialists who promised a new “strong Germany.” In addition, the structure of the Weimar Parliament gave room for too many small political parties, making it hard to form coalitions and maintain a stable government.

Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, marked the end of a long war and today many countries commemorate the victims of World War I. For Germany it was also the beginning of a new democratic era. But when Friedrich Ebert, the first democratically elected president, signed the peace agreement in February 1919 in Compiegne, France, the seeds for the destruction of the young German democracy had already sprouted.

Don't forget to leave a comment with your e-mail for a chance to win Monika's newest book!

Book Review: My Brother's Shadow, by Monika Schroder (Frances Foster Books, 2011)

2011-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Set in Berlin in 1918, in the final days of World War I, this new novel tells the story of sixteen-year old Moritz, whose family's existence, like that of everyone else in Germany, has been ravaged by the effects of the seemingly endless war. His father was killed on the battlefield, his older brother, Hans, is serving in the trenches on the Western front, his little sister has died of illness, and his mother spends all her time either working at an ammunition factory or attending socialist party meetings. There's little to eat, with food rationed, and everything tasting of turnips, and people butchering horses who fall dead in the streets. Moritz, who works as an apprentice printer, tries his best to make sense of it all, wondering who is right--his brother, who says it's an honor to serve the Kaiser, or his mother, who bemoans the fact that her husband "died for our foolish Kaiser, who loves his uniforms and his yachts." Soon Moritz is given a chance to work as a journalist for one of Berlin's daily papers, covering the very socialist rallies where his mother and others are speaking out against the Kaiser and capitalist injustice.

When Moritz's brother Hans returns from the front with horrible injuries, missing half his arm and blind in one eye, Hans is plagued by nightmares about the war, and sees the Jews as scapegoats for all of Germany's problems. Morris, on the other hand, is having his first romance--with a Jewish girl. The book's ominous conclusion foreshadows the increasing persecution of the Jews that will happen in Germany during the 1930's.

Author Monika Schroeder, who grew up in Berlin, provides an author's note discussing how the fall of 1918 was a pivotal time in German history, with the end of the "Great War," the Kaiser's abdication, and the establishment of a democratic government in the beginning of 1919. With the Germans' humiliating defeat, conservatives and military leaders began blaming the Jews, the socialists, and the communists for all of Germany's woes, laying the groundwork for Hitler's rise to power.

My Brother's Shadow is a very thought-provoking and well-written book about a period ignored in most young adult fiction, which more typically focuses either on World War I or World War II and the few years immediately preceding that conflict. We can easily identify with Moritz, whose story is told in the first person, and his divided family loyalties. While the book covers some weighty issues, Moritz is also a typical teenage boy, interested in his first kiss with a girl. We can sympathize with Moritz's mother as well, a strong character who is very involved in politics, and even his brother Hans, whose bitter experiences and injuries at the front have transformed his personality. This novel would be a good choice to read along with Russell Freedman's outstanding nonfiction book on World War I published last year, The War to End All Wars: World War I.

Below is the book trailer for My Brother's Shadow:

On Friday, November 11, The Fourth Musketeer is pleased to have a guest post from author Monika Schroeder and a special giveaway of this excellent novel (U.S. and Canadian addresses only). Please see Friday's post to enter.

Happy Haulidays Contest from Chronicle Books!

2011-11-08T15:51:00.000-08:00

Chronicle Books is hosting its 2nd Annual Happy Haul-idays Giveaway for the blogging community. This year, they're not only giving away up to $500 worth of Chronicle books to one lucky blogger and one commenter on the winning blog post—they're also asking the winning blogger to choose one charity to receive up to $500 of books. It's so much fun to imagine spending $500 on their terrific titles, stationery, calendars, and other items!

If I were lucky enough to win, my charity of choice would be Reading by 9, a literacy initiative aimed at kids in grades K-3 that is spearheaded by the Los Angeles Times.

Here's the list of what I would get for myself (an eclectic mix if I do say so!):

The Onion 2012 Daily Calendar $12.99

Boo: The Life of the World’s Cutest Dog $12.95

F in Exams: The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers $9.95

Hello, Please!: Very Helpful Super Kawaii Characters from Japan $14.95

Better Each Day: 365 Expert Tips for a Healthier, Happier You $16.95

1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment $9.95

City Walks: Los Angeles: $14.95

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site $16.99

Mini Goals Notepad

By Mary Kate McDevi $9.95

Hope Valley Sticky Notes & To-Do's

By Denyse Schmidt $12.95

Out of Sight

By Pittau & Gervais $19.99

Ivy and Bean Boxed Set 2

By Annie Barrows

Illustrated by Sophie Blackall $19.99

The Ivy and Bean Secret Treasure Box

By Annie Barrows

Illustrated by Sophie Blackall $19.99

Alphabeasties and Other Amazing Types

By Sharon Werner

and Sarah Forss $19.99

I Know a Lot of Things

By Paul and Ann Rand $16.99

Tools

By Taro Miura $15.95

Mini Masters Boxed Set

By Julie Merberg

and Suzanne Bober $19.99

Passover: Celebrating Now, Remembering Then

By Harriet Ziefert

Illustrated by Karla Gudeon $17.99

Let Freedom Sing

By Vanessa Newton $16.99

Giant Pop-Out Farm $10.99

Photobooth Dogs

By Cameron Woo $14.95

36 1/2 Reasons to Laugh

By Rick Adams $12.95

Disneystrology

By Lisa Finander $16.95

Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids

By Jill O'Connor

Photographs by Leigh Beisch $19.95

L.A. Bizarro

By Anthony Lovett

and Matt Maranian $19.95

Hooked on Hiking: Southern California

By Ann Marie Brown

Maps by Lohnes and Wright $16.95

Milk & Cookies: 89 Heirloom Recipes from New York's Milk & Cookies Bakery $24.95

Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe $35.00

Moleskine 2012 18 month weekly planner pocket black soft cover $14.95

Typewriter Ecojournal: $10.95

Total: $498.99

Leave a comment below for your own chance to win if I'm the lucky blogger winner!

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures, by Katherine Paterson (Chronicle Books, 2011)

2011-11-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Recommended for all ages.

I'm not Catholic, but I've always had an affinity for the gentle St. Francis, who gave up his life of wealth and privilege in medieval Italy to preach to the poor, taking care of the sick and the needy. He's particularly known for his love of all animals, and his affinity for nature in all its splendor. Renowned children's author Katherine Paterson reimagines his text, The Canticle of the Sun, in this exquisite new picture book illustrated by Pamela Dalton. The text, written in free verse, sings the praise of the Creator, "who by your power and out of your love have/created all things and called them good." The text thanks God for the sun, the moon and stars, the wind, water, fire, and earth, but also praises "courageous brothers and sisters/who offer their lives to the making of peace." Even "Sister Death" is praised, for ushering us into God's loving presence. At the conclusion, Paterson reproduces St. Francis' original text, translated from the Umbrian text of the Assisi codex.

Pamela Dalton's exquisite scherenschnitte, or paper cut illustrations, are created, according to her website, in the tradition of early American paper cutting popular in the Pennsylvania Dutch country in the early 19th century. Each piece is first sketched freehand, and then cut by hand from a single piece of paper before being hand colored. The delicacy and intricacy of her work is incredible, and merits many hours poring over her illustrations, which are set on a black background. They capture the every day world of a by-gone era, with adorable children gathering the harvest surrounded by kindly animals, birds, leaves, and flowers. Even the illustration of death is resplendent with life, with dozens of colorful butterflies erupting over the page. Take a look at the You Tube video below to learn more about Pamela's paper-cutting techniques:

I'm sure this gorgeous picture book will be getting a close look from the Caldecott committee. I highly recommend it to all lovers of picture books, and it would be a particularly lovely book to share with your family at Thanksgiving.

Book Review: Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants, by Tony Johnston (Harcourt, 2011)

2011-11-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Author Tony Johnston, who has published more than 100 books for children, spins an old-fashioned tall tale based on the story of Levi Strauss and his "invention" of blue jeans in this new picture book. Filled with colorful Western-style language and illustrated with great humor by Stacy Innerst, this book would make a terrific addition to a gold rush unit at school or a discussion of tall tales.

The story begins with a hilarious close-up of a bearded miner with quite a few missing teeth yelling "gold!" as the gold rush began. But the miners' pants couldn't take the rough conditions of the gold field, and soon, according to this fanciful version, miners were working in their long johns, or "naked as a jaybird." Fortunately for the miners, Levi Strauss arrived in California too late for the gold, but was "slick with a needle and scissors." Soon Levi came up with some pants in which the miners "rushed, rushed, rushed" and no harm came to the pants! And in an alternative history, Levi Strauss even helps found the city of San Francisco--with barrels!

In an afterword, Johnston relates that the story of Levi Strauss and his invention of blue jeans is "mostly legend with threads of truth, which my version stretches to near popping." She provides some basic biographical facts on Levi Strauss, who while he may not have sewn any blue jeans, made them famous and became rich from manufacturing and selling them.

If you think you see the texture of blue jeans in the witty illustrations, you're right--illustrator Stacy Innerst painted directly on blue jeans to get just the right effect for this story. You can even see the seams of the jeans in many of the images. The stylized artwork, with its exaggerated facial expressions and earth tones, is a delightful fit for the tall tale aspect of this story. Teachers could easily cut up some old denim for kids to paint on, making this story a fun inspiration for a craft activity as well.

Book Review: Never Forgotten, by Patricia McKissack, artwork by Leo & Diane Dillon (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011)

2011-11-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 7 through adult

I was immediately drawn to the stunning cover of this new work by Patricia C. McKissack, who has written or co-authored over 100 books about the African-American experience and has received countless awards for her work. In her newest work, she marries African folktales with historical fiction, telling in free verse the story of an 18th century West African boy raised by his blacksmith father and the Mother Elements--Wind, Fire, Water, and Earth. The boy, named Mufasa, disappears one day, like so many others--captured by the slave traders and taken by ship to a far-away land. Wind, Fire, Water and Earth try to save Mufasa, but none is powerful enough. Nonetheless, the wind finally brings Mufasa news that his son is still alive, and working as a blacksmith, although still a slave.

McKissack celebrates in this story "the son who was taken,/But never forgotten. She was inspired to write this tale by her curiosity about how African literature and music portrayed those ripped from their families by the slave trade. Clearly these individuals were mourned by their families, but she could not find any stories, dances, feasts or other stories about the "Taken," so she decided to write her own using elements of African folklore for her story. The free verse allows McKissack to create a rhythm to her language that in certain passages is reminiscent of drums beating.

This moving tale of family members loved and lost is magnificently illustrated by the two-time Caldecott Medal-winning team of Leo and Diane Dillon. The illustrations were created in acrylic and watercolor on bristol board, and the artistic style clearly shows the influence of African art. I will not be at all surprised to see this book honored with many awards, particularly for its powerful illustrations.

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Joan of Arc, by Demi (Marshall Cavendish Children, 2011)

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

In this exquisitely illustrated new picture book biography of Joan of Arc, award-winning author/illustrator Demi retells Joan's timeless story for today's young people, with simple text suitable for elementary school children and gorgeous mixed media illustrations, inspired by 15th century medieval manuscripts, stained glass, paintings, and sculpture.

Joan's story is told chronologically, beginning with her ordinary girlhood in rural France, in a time when the lives of peasants like Joan's family were made dangerous by the ravages of a long war with Burgundy and England. At the tender age of thirteen, Joan begins to have visions telling her that she would save the kingdom of France by leading the heir to the throne, or Dauphin, to Reims Cathedral to be crowned king. The story of how Joan convinced powerful men to back her, a poor and friendless maiden, convinces the Dauphin she is sent by God, leads the French army to victory, and then falls from the height of power to her ultimate tragic end as she is burned at the stake, remains compelling for all ages, and is rendered in glowing detail by Demi. The oversized book's pages mimic the ivory colored parchment of the Middle Ages, while the illustrations seem to glow with gold, vibrant purple, and the red of the flames that ended Joan's life. While the faux illuminated manuscripts are the star of this book, with exquisitely detailed borders enriching each image, Demi's simple retelling of Joan's story should fascinate young people not familiar with her history. Enough details are provided to make the book useful for school reports as well as pleasure reading.

This book is a must-buy for school and public libraries alike. Highly recommended!

Book Review: City of Orphans, by Avi (Simon & Schuster, 2011)

2011-10-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 10-14.

Avi, Newbery award-winning author of more than 60 novels for children and teens, turns once again to historical fiction in his newest novel, set in 1893 New York City. His hero, thirteen-year old Maks, makes a bit of money as a newsboy to help his impoverished immigrant family on the lower East Side. When his older sister, Emma, who works as a maid at the swank Waldorf-Astoria hotel, is falsely accused of theft and imprisoned in the city prison ominously called the Tombs, Maks teams up with a homeless girl, Willa, to try to clear his sister's name and free her from jail. At the same time, he has to avoid landing in the clutches of the Plug Ugly gang, whose boss is trying to take control of all the newsies. Confronted with a mystery whodunit, Maks enlists the help of a dying lawyer to find the true culprit of the theft at the hotel.

Avi knows how to spin a convincing tale, and this book is no exception. In his afterword, he notes that the book is his attempt to "catch a small bit of how New York City kids lived at the end of the nineteenth century." He's particularly adept at evoking the sounds, smells, and look of tenement life in New York, with its mix of poor immigrants from many nations. This poverty contrasts with the swank brand-new Waldorf Astoria, where Maks winds up working under cover to try to clear his sister's name. Avi uses a very colloquial voice to tell the story, with the narrator speaking directly to the reader. While I understand the use of a strong point of view, I was irritated by the way he tries to evoke the dialect of the time, with plenty of dropped letters, i.e. "'cause' instead of "because", 'bout' instead of "about," 'em' instead of "them," etc.

Avi includes an Author's Note with historical details about the period, as well as suggestions for further reading and viewing.

City of Orphans is definitely worth reading, and will be enjoyed by young people who like a historical mystery, but it would not be one of my favorites among Avi's works.

From the Backlist: For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Delacorte Press, 2003)

2011-10-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 10-14

The Fourth Musketeer has been very busy finishing up her library school e-portfolio (now waiting for review by her advisor) and has not had as much time for blogging lately. Now that her school work is finished, she will be back to blogging about historical fiction again: all for one, and one for all!

Today, I am pleased to feature an excellent backlist title about World War II by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. I am looking forward to reading her newest book, Jefferson's Sons (on my list to find from the library!), which has had excellent reviews so far.

Based on a true story, For Freedom tells the tale of 13-year old Suzanne, an aspiring opera singer and student in Cherbourg, France. When the Germans bomb her town, she and her best friend are injured and witness the horrible death of a neighbor. Rather than give in to fear, Suzanne becomes a spy for the French resistance, carrying messages that help the Allies plan the invasion of Europe. Her work is extremely dangerous and often terrifying, and she is one of the few operatives from her unit to survive the war. Not even her family can know about her dangerous work.

This novel is an excellent first-person narrative of an ordinary teenager who discovers an inner courage that helps her to play a part in defeating the Nazis, even though she must keep her role a secret from all her family and friends and pretend to carry on as normally as possible. This novelization of a true story is very suspenseful and a great book to recommend to students since it has a very positive message of how a young girl could demonstrate great courage in extraordinary circumstances.

This book could easily be featured in a display or perhaps a book talk about spies, a subject very popular with young people. Couldn't you just imagine: Beyond James Bond: Spies Real and Imaginary. A great book talk for teens or tweens!

What are some of your favorite spy stories for young people? Please leave your favorites in a comment below.

Historical Fiction Awards from Great Britain

2011-10-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Historical Association in Great Britain has just announced its Young Quills awards, given to historical fiction from the previous 12 months aimed directly at children and teens. There are two categories of awards: one for primary (under 12 years) and the second for teens (12 and up). This year's winners are:

Primary category: The Sacred Scarab, by Gill Harvey (Bloomsbury), part of The Egyptian Chronicles, a series of "gripping thrillers" set in ancient Egypt. I don't believe this series is available in the U.S.--doesn't it look great? Love that cover!

Teen category: Prisoner of the Inquisition, by Theresa Breslin (Doubleday). This story of the Spanish Inquisition was reviewed recently here at the Fourth Musketeer.

Like our state young readers awards here in the U.S., the short-list for these awards were chosen by schoolchildren in Great Britain. I really appreciate the criteria that are used to establish the short list:

"That the children reviewers enjoyed the book and would recommend it."
"That the review contained evidence that ‘the history was good' and that the reviewer had both learnt something and was keen to find out more."

The complete shortlists for both categories can be found at the Historical Association's website. I was pleased to note that I had reviewed four of the six teen finalists on this blog.

Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Allan Wolf, author of The Watch that Ends the Night

2011-10-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Author Allan Wolf

Thanks so much to author Allan Wolf for agreeing to be interviewed here at the Fourth Musketeer. His new book, The Watch that Ends the Night, tells the story of the Titanic through free verse poetry. With its official release date on October 11, the novel has already received starred reviews from Horn Book, Kirkus, and Booklist. Congratulations, Allan!

Q: 2012 is the centennial of the Titanic's first--and last--voyage. Why do you think that after 100 years, this story continues to fascinate the public?

A: It is nearly impossible NOT to see the Titanic disaster as a metaphor for humankind’s over confidence in technology. Once a week or so, I have what I call a “little Titanic moment.” My cell phone falls into the toilet, for example, taking with it months’ worth of contact numbers. And I realize I’m unable to recall any actual numbers in order to dial them the “old fashioned way,” from memory. I’m helpless.

On a personal level, the Titanic disaster story appeals to our individual insecurities about death. Here are a couple thousand travelers, of which most were neither heroic nor famous nor historically significant, and the majority were dead within three hours. We cannot fail to find some person aboard with whom we can relate.

Then of course you have various historians and artists keeping the story alive. Books about the Titanic started coming out a couple months after it sank. Then Walter Lord’s book, A Night To Remember, came out in the 50’s, followed by the book’s movie version. A combined French and American effort successfully discovered the wreck site. Then came the Cameron movie.

Q: I'm sure my readers would be interested in learning more about your research process for this book. For example, can you tell us how you selected the individual passengers and crew whose stories you weave together in the narrative?

A: I wanted to set up The Watch That Ends the Night as an allegory. Each character plays a specific role. And each character is clearly labeled. They are The Captain, or The Baker, or The Millionaire, or The Immigrant. No need to remember their names. On a mundane level, these labels make it much easier to keep track of so many characters. On an allegorical level, each specific character acts simultaneously as a generalized idea.

It took me over a year to sift through all the 2,207 people on the Titanic in order to find the proper characters for my book. It was something like a massive casting call to find actors for a movie (except that all of the people I auditioned were dead). I knew the book would be in an ensemble of different first-person voices, so I needed a good cross-section. Some from each class. Some from various parts of the ship. Some who survived. Some who died. And of course the whole time I was looking through the facts for anything that would add realism or depth to my fiction.

Q: What was the most surprising thing you learned about the Titanic or its passengers and crew during your research?

I’m happy to have your wonderful Historical Fiction forum to say what I’m about to say, Margo. And what I’m about to say may offend many Titanic enthusiasts, at least initially. So hear me out. What surprised me most about the passengers and crew was how historically insignificant the majority of them were. That may sound harsh at first, but think about it: the only reason we are talking about the passengers now is that they happened to be on a ship that sank. And contrary to what some would have us believe, the sinking of the Titanic did not bring about World War I, or the rise of the middle class, or the introduction of income tax, or any other historically significant shift that would not have happened on its own. At first this annoyed me and made it difficult for me to engage with any of my characters. But gradually each character began to show me more subtle types of heroism: The heroic parents who set out for America and a new life, while simultaneously mourning the death of their son; The society man who dared to marry for love; The sailor, raised in orphanages, who now sees the world from atop an ocean liner’s crow’s nest; Even the four-year-old boy, kidnapped by his own father, who must make take a long journey without the comfort of a mother. We are all making history, in our own individual ways, simply by facing the mundane challenges of life.

Q: Do you plan to participate in any of the centennial commemorations?

As of now, no one has asked me. I operate on the fringes of the Titanic community, if there really IS a Titanic community. So I’m not really “in the club.” Also, the breadth of my knowledge can be contained within a thimble compared to the large buckets toted by most died-in-the-wool Titanic experts. The presentations I’ll be doing around the centennial will be of a more literary bent, for example, “How I transformed the facts into historical fiction.”

Q: What do you think about the cruises this coming spring that will recreate the Titanic's voyage (minus the iceberg, I assume!)

A: I think they are really expensive. Ha. Seriously, if someone offered me (and my wife and three kids) a free ticket, I’d go and get all goose-bumpy with the other Titaniacs. But otherwise I will likely be at the local library doing a Titanic power-point presentation or something.

Q: Can you share with us any details about your upcoming projects?

A: I am presently working on two books, both for Candlewick Press. The one up next is what I can best describe as a verse-novella about Sacagawea and her son, Jean Baptiste. The book is a “spin-off” from my earlier novel, New Found Land, about the Lewis and Clark expedition. The new book will braid together two inverse narratives: The Sacagawea narrative will begin with her death and end with the birth of her son. Jean Baptiste’s narrative will begin with his birth and end with his own death. While Sacagawea died at the early age of 25, her son lived a long and adventurous life that involved fur trapping, guiding the Mormon Battalion, living in a German royal court, surviving a sinking steamboat, working as a lawman, and mining for California gold. Once that book is done I’ll be turning to a more autobiographical historical fiction book centering around the murder of a high school friend of mine back in 1979 in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Q: What draws you to writing historical fiction for youth? Were you a fan of the genre as a kid?

A: I didn’t read that much as a kid. And mostly when I wrote, I wrote on my bedroom walls. That’s a whole story I was able to bring to life in my novel, Zane’s Trace. Back in the 80s I was a college instructor at Virginia Tech writing poetry for “grown ups” when I took a job with Poetry Alive! as an actor performing poetry for kids. It didn’t take me long to discover that I could make more money writing poetry for kids than for adults. I discovered next that it is easier to sell a kids’ poetry book if the poems have a unifying subject or theme or narrative. It was a natural step to then toy with poem cycles that tell a story. And where better to find a good story than history itself. And although I don’t consider myself a “Historian” per se, I do LOVE history. I like history because it gives me a comforting context for my own life and times. It helps me to feel as if I am connected to some greater whole. I am just one of many parts of a cosmic Rube Goldberg machine.

Q: What are your three favorite historical novels (for kids or adults)?

A: Favorites might be The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson. Bull Run by Paul Fleiscman. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. I recently read Samurai Shortstop, set in 1890s Japan, by Alan Gratz and The Vanishing Point, a novel, by Louise Hawes, about the16th century painter, Lavinia Fontana.

Allan with all his published books!

Because of my huge load of research reading, I tend to read less historical fiction and more history and non-fiction. I will read any book by Erik Larson. I’m already WAY over my 3-book limit, and I’m just getting a head of steam. I’d better stop there. If you asked me tomorrow, I’d give you eight different answers. But that’s history for you; history changes from moment to moment. It is that dynamic nature that makes history such great fiction.

Thanks so much, Allan!

Please leave a comment below if you'd like to enter to win a copy of Allan's new book, donated by Candlewick! Include an e-mail where you can be reached. U.S. residents only. A winner will be selected on October 15, 2011 by random number generator.

Book Review: The watch that ends the night: voices from the Titanic, by Allan Wolf (Candlewick, 2011)

2011-10-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Release date: October 11, 2011

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

What else could be left to say about the Titanic, we could wonder. A quick WorldCat search for juvenile historical fiction about the Titanic turned up dozens of titles, including quite a few coming out in 2011. I must be one of the few people around, at least over the age of 30, who never saw the wildly popular 1997 movie, but I was curious to read this new teen novel by poet Allan Wolf about the 1912 disaster at sea. I am a huge fan of his 2004 novel, New Found Land: Lewis and Clark’s Voyage of Discovery, which tells the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition in free verse from the point of view of fourteen participants, including Lewis’ dog, Seaman.

Wolf’s new novel is in much the same format, alternating between the points of view of various crew and passengers of different social classes, including the ship’s captain, baker, wireless man, and the ship lookout; millionaire John Jacob Astor, who’s sailing with his teenage bride; the famous “unsinkable” Molly Brown; a beautiful young Lebanese immigrant sailing with her brother; a cardshark; a violinist from the ship’s orchestra; and even a rat and the iceberg itself. In his research, Wolf sifted through the 2,000 passengers and crew to identify 24 different compelling and diverse stories for his narrative. Each character writes in his or her own style, including the poems of the rat, which are written in concrete verse, and the poems are clearly labeled with the name of the character as a heading so threre’s no confusion for the readers. The groups of poems are separated into different chapters, with the story told largely chronologically.

The novel begins ominously enough with the first poem coming from John Snow, an undertaker from Halifax who journeyed to recover bodies strewn in the Titanic wreckage. We then skip to the prelude, where we meet the various colorful characters who will participate in the drama, beginning with the ship’s rat. Even the iceberg in this book takes on a vivid personality through Wolf’s skillful writing. Although we know the outcome from the outset, Wolf manages to create an atmosphere of suspense throughout, particularly as we see the many messages sent through the wireless from other ships warning of the massive icebergs in the vicinity. Wolf takes the time to establish the atmosphere of “frivolous amuseument” on the giant ship, as the passengers promenade on the decks, partake of gourmet cuisine, and descend the grand staircases. Even those in third class enjoy food better than they have ever eaten before.

When the ship collides with the iceberg, the shipbuilder and captain quickly realize that the situation is hopeless and the ship will go down within two hours at the most. The captain muses poignantly:

My God.

I was giving out orders left and right. But I really had no plan...
Our only hope was an orderly evacuation and a passing ship,
a ship very close to give us time to shuttle the passengers...
Of course I knew the precise number of people on board.
I had signed the paperwork myself. My responsibility.
Two thousand two hundred and eight souls.
Twenty boats.
The mathematical disparity stung my brain.
Regardless of how the rest of the story turned out,
I knew it must begin with filling the lifeboats with as many souls as possible.

We witness the evacuation of women and children, first class, then second class, and when the captain called for third class, there were no more boats. As the ship collapses, passengers fall into the frigid Arctic water, and the poems evoke the horror of the sounds of those who die quickly of hypothermia as well as those who tried to climb onto the lifeboats. Extensive back matter provides biographical details about each of the passengers included in the book, as well as an excellent bibliography.

Our fascination with this tragedy shows no signs of abating; in some ways it’s the ultimate man against nature story, as well as a tragedy of Greek epic proportions. 2012 is the centennial of the disaster, and not only should we expect numerous books, TV documentaries, and more, you can even take a cruise recreating the voyage. (one of the two cruises being offered is already sold out!) The cruise includes a special memorial service at the exact spot of the sinking, the opportunity to wear period costumes and experience a selection of food and drinks served on the Titanic, themed entertainment, and a stop in Halifax to visit the cemeteries where victims are buried. Apparently recreation of the collision with the iceberg is not included.

What is your favorite book about the Titanic? Please leave a comment with your response.

Nominate your favorite books for the Cybils Awards today!

2011-10-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

Nominations for the 2011 Cybils awards are open! The Cybils awards are given each year by children's and young adult book bloggers for the year's best children's and young adult titles. This is the sixth year of the awards. If you'd like to nominate your favorite titles, surf on over to the this link. Nominations are open from October 1 to October 15. In order to be eligible, books must have been published between Oct. 16, 2010 and Oct. 15, 2011. This year, nominations for book apps for iPad, Web or computers are also being accepted.

This year I am very excited to be serving as a second round judge for the Middle Grade/YA Nonfiction category! I have read many terrific books in this category during the past year, and am looking forward to seeing what the first round judges pick as finalists.

Thoughts on Banned Book Week

2011-09-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

Monday was the start of Banned Books Week, a celebration of the freedom to read. This annual event, launched in 1982 in response to a surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. is sponsored by the American Library Association, the American Booksellers Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, and a slew of other worthy organizations.

Why should anyone care about Banned Books Week? I'd like to turn to YA author Ellen Hopkins, an author whose edgy teen books deal with drug addiction, prostitution, and other difficult issues. I studied her works and life for a library school project, and was deeply moved by her fierce commitment to intellectual freedom and the freedom to read. All her books have been challenged at one time or another, and, perhaps more shocking, she has been challenged as a speaker; in 2009 an invitation to speak at a school in Oklahoma was rescinded, as was an invitation to participate in a Texas Teen Lit book festival, after complaints by a few parents.

What does Hopkins have to say about challenging books? She writes:

"I don't believe any one person should have the power to decide what everyone else does or does not get to read. Every reader has a different life experience and what might be "too much" for one may speak loudly to another. If you don't like a book, don't read it. But don't dare try to speak for everyone else!"

If you'd like to participate in a fun way in Banned Books Week, check out the Banned Books auction of original children's books art, donated by an array of wonderful illustrators including Bruce Degen, Jon Agee, David Shannon, Anna Dewdney, and many more. Also, you can join the virtual Read-out lasting all week, in which you can upload videos of yourself reading a banned book.

Hopkins wrote in her blog last year on the anniversary of September 11:

Words do have power. In America, the First Amendment grants us the right to believe, to worship, to speak our minds as we please. There is a responsibility that comes with that, however...too many of us word people find the easier path not to write with courage. Not to stand up for our beliefs. Not to push back against would-be censors or the people who use words to divide. I’m pushing back today, as a responsible American. This is my country, and I love it, and I love the freedoms it was founded upon. If you want to burn a book, it’s your right. Burn it. And I’ll keep writing new ones to replace it.

Thank you Ellen, and all those who fight against abridging one of our most fundamental freedoms--the freedom to read.

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Kennedy Through the Lens: How Photography and Television Revealed and Shaped an Extraordinary Leader, by Martin W. Sandler (Walker & Co., 2011)

2011-09-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

This handsome book equally suitable for young people or adults looks at one of our most popular presidents, John F. Kennedy, and the role photography and television played in shaping his presidency and his legacy. An oversize book laid out with a series of two page spreads, the book provides not only fascinating text but a captivating graphic design. Each two page spread has a different striking color scheme, with a quotation from JFK appearing in a colored box near the to of each spread. And what president could be better suited to this photo essay format than the handsome, youthful Kennedy complete with his adorable children and beautiful wife?

Sandler explains how Kennedy was the first president to have an official White House photographer, and to permit informal photos throughout the White House, particularly private moments with his family. He was also the first president to widely use color photography and to understand the power of television. Reproduced are famous photos like John John hiding under the Oval Office desk, but also photos that were new to me such as a wonderful color photo of Caroline and John John dressed up in Halloween costumes and plastic masks, visiting their father in the Oval Office, and another with the two children leaping and dancing for their dad, who applauds them from a nearby chair. And who can resist of a photo of JFK being nibbled on by one of Caroline's ponies?

But this book is not just a succession of charming photos of the Kennedys on land and sea. There's also an overview of all key aspects of his life and presidency, from discussion of his privileged beginnings, his war service, the space race, Cuban Missile Crisis, civil rights, Vietnam, to his "secrets" (his extra-marital affairs and serious medical issues) to his assassination and legacy. There's plenty of information for a school biographical report, but the book is also great for tweens and teens interested in history who would like to explore the life and legacy of this remarkable man.

Author Martin Sandler is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Lincoln Through the Lens and The Dust Bowl Through the Lens.

Book Review: Prisoner of the Inquisition, by Theresa Breslin (Corgi Books, 2011)

2011-09-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

I don't usually order books from England before they are even available in the U.S., but when I read about Prisoner of the Inquisition in an article about England's prestigious Carnegie Award I couldn't help myself. Prisoner was short-listed for this year's Carnegie and won the Carnegie Shadowing Award (books chosen by young people who shadow the official judges and is written by a well-known author of historical fiction in her native Great Britain, Theresa Breslin.

One of my favorite historical fiction titles from back in my own teen days was Samuel Shellabarger's swashbuckling Captain from Castile, (adapted into a famous film with Tyrone Power), also set in the dark days of the Spanish Inquisition. Scottish author Theresa Breslin's young adult novel focuses on some of the same themes of adventure, romance, revenge, and abuse of power by the church that I relished so many years ago in Shellabarger's novel. In alternating chapters we meet two teenaged characters: Zarita, the thoughtless, spoiled, only daughter of the wealthy town magistrate, and Saulo, son of a beggar. Their lives intersect when Saulo's father, needing money to save his sick wife and hungry son, begs at the church where Zarita is praying, grasping her hand in desperation. Saulo's father is soon cruelly executed for daring to assault Zarita, despite her pleas that the man does not deserve to die. Saulo himself barely escapes the executioner's rope, and swears revenge on Zarita and her family.

Their stories are then told in parallel; Saulo is thrown into the harsh life of a galley slave, where through his wits, he is able to learn some navigation, is pursued by pirates, and eventually becomes acquainted with Christopher Colombus, a confident sailor from Genoa who hopes to gain patronage from the Spanish monarchs to explore an alternate route to the Indies. Zarita, on the other hand, has troubles of her own. The Inquisition has come to her town, and with it fear, suspicion, and cruelty. No one is immune from the Inquisitor's tactics, even Zarita's aunt, a nun, a simple-minded relative, and Zarita herself. Soon Zarita and Saulo's lives will intertwine again, in a way neither of them could ever have suspected. Can they escape the dangers of the Inquisition?

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel about one of the darkest periods in Spanish history, although I found the transformation of Zarita's character from a self-absorbed young girl who thinks nothing of a poor beggar in the church to a kind, sensitive young woman a bit difficult to believe. Some of the other characters in the book, including Zarita's young step-mother, are also somewhat one-dimensional, but the novel effectively captures the spirit of the period and is well worth reading. I hope it will soon be released to an American audience.

Teens looking for other novels about this dark period in history may want to check out Alice Hoffman's Incantation (Harper Collins, 2004).

Book Review: Lights on the Nile, by Donna Jo Napoli (Harper Collins, 2011)

2011-09-05T05:00:00.001-07:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

Release date: September 20, 2011

Ancient Egypt continues to hold great appeal for young and old, and even makes the best-seller lists (see Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra: A Life, for example). Award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli's newest book, suitable for elementary school readers, is set during that fascinating period, and tells the story of Kepi, a young girl living around 2530 BCE. Kepi's father, a laborer, has been wounded during the construction of a pyramid for Pharaoh Khufu. Kepi's life changes dramatically when she, along with her pet baby baboon, Babu, is kidnapped and hidden in a large basket on a boat. Where is she being taken and what will become of them? Babu, we soon discover, is destined to be sold to priests at one of the great city temples. When she is separated from her beloved pet, Kepi decides she must go see the powerful Pharaoh to tell him about men who are getting injured building his pyramid. Surely he will help these men and their families! Kepi will need to draw on all her courage to try to reach the all-powerful Pharaoh.

Napoli makes the reader feel that she, too, is travelling down the Nile, with her vivid descriptions of the wildlife--oryx, pelicans, and the dangerous hippos, crocodiles, and other animals--temples, gods, and people of the region. This is a quick-moving adventure story well-suited for middle-grade readers. Here in California, ancient Egypt part of the sixth grade curriculum, and this would be an excellent book to recommend for children developing an interest in that period. Many of the novels about this period for young people seem to involve Cleopatra; this new book makes a welcome addition to novels about the period, offering a story about an ordinary girl who takes an extraordinary journey.

One note: the publisher's copy for this novel indicates that the story "revisits the fabled origin of fairies." The end of the book does contain a fairy element (I won't go into the details here) but I would say that the fairy story is secondary in this novel to the historical fiction side. I would not want to pitch this to children as a story about fairies, since fairies do not even come into the narrative into the very end. A child expecting "Disney Fairies goes to ancient Egypt" will be very disappointed!

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Giveaway and Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Thomas Jefferson for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities, by Brandon Marie Miller (Chicago Review Press, 2011)

2011-09-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 9-14.

This new release from Chicago Review Press about Thomas Jefferson, one of the most venerated of our founding fathers, is a great addition to any school or public library, as well as ideally suited for use by home schoolers. Although many biographies of Jefferson are available for young people, this one is unique in including a variety of hands-on activities to enhance learning, from how to organize your library like Jefferson, how to observe the weather, grow a plant from a cutting, or paint a buffalo robe. Although I did not try any of the activities, they include copious instructions, and are well suited for upper elementary and/or middle school students.

Organized chronologically, this book begins with some background on Jefferson's father, Peter, and his wife Jane. Thomas was the first of their eight children, and showed himself to have a quick mind from his earliest childhood. Jefferson went on to be a brilliant college student, often studying 15 hours a day (and without a tiger mother!), and then studied law. We learn about Jefferson's immersion in radical politics, his family life, and his drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Later chapters explore his presidency and his founding of the University of Virginia, as well as recounting the incredible story of his death on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence--the same day as his friend and rival, John Adams, also breathed his last.

Miller's volume is clearly written, and provides a fascinating look at this complex individual and his wide range of accomplishments and interests. I particularly appreciated that she does not shirk from analyzing Jefferson's many contradictions, which she summarizes as follows: "A man who believed in frugal government yet lived his own life burdened by debt. A man who hated kings and privileged nobles yet lived as an aristocrat himself. A man who believed passionately in freedom and liberty yet owned slaves who toiled for his comfort."

It is the last of these contradictions which is most difficult for us in the 21st century to come to terms with. Although Jefferson recognized the evils of slavery and even condemned slavery in the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, these remarks were removed in one of 86 changes made by Congress. Slavery, though, was deeply engrained in Jefferson's consciousness; he grew up in a slave-owning household, and inherited his first slaves when he turned 21. Miller includes in her book an advertisement Jefferson placed to recover a runaway slave, describes what is known of his relationship with Sally Hemmings, including discussing the many children she bore him (a new historical fiction novel for young people, Jefferson's Sons, by Kimberly Bradley, comes out in mid-September, and will be reviewed here at The Fourth Musketeer later this fall).

This volume is greatly enhanced by an abundant use of illustrations, including many full page reproductions of paintings, photographs, maps, and drawings. The large format of the book and generous use of white space make the text easy to follow, and the author makes good use of many sidebars for further explanations of different topics in Jefferson's life, from his slave Jupiter to the Hemming family to political explanations of events such as the Sedition Act.

Back matter includes places to visit and websites to explore, further reading for young people, a selected bibliography, and a detailed index. A timeline of Jefferson's life is also included, as is a note to readers explaining how primary sources from Jefferson's life can include different spelling, grammar, and punctuation from what we are used to today.

Award-winning author Brandon Marie Miller has previously written numerous history books for young people, including similar volumes on George Washington and Benjamin Franklin (complete with activities). She also blogs about books at the group blog Hands-on Books : Nonfiction for Kids with Fun Activities.

I am delighted to offer a copy of this book as a giveaway to my readers. To enter to win a copy of this volume, please leave a comment below with your e-mail address so I can reach you if you are the winner. U.S. only please. A winner will be selected on September 15, 2011.

Those who plan trips to Washington D.C. may be interested in the just-announced news that the Smithsonian will be collaborating with Monticello on a new exhibit examining Jefferson's interaction with slavery. "Jefferson and Slavery at Monticello: Paradox of Liberty" opens January 27 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture gallery in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Anne of Green Gables: A Classic Revisited

2011-08-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Anne of Green Gables, 1st edition

Although L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables is one of the most beloved children's classics world-wide, having sold more than 50 million copies, I admit I never read Anne of Green Gables as a child. I first remember encountering her in the enchanting award-winning 1985 TV adaptation starring Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst. I read the entire series while in my 20's, and have recently been enjoying revisiting Avonlea and the adventures of Anne Shirley in audiobook, narrated by Barbara Caruso in the Recorded Books version.

Anne from the 1985 TV version

If by chance you've never discovered Anne Shirley as a "kindred spirit", it's never too late to dive into these charming stories. No less than Mark Twain wrote, "In Anne of Green Gables you will find the dearest and most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice."

Published in 1908 to immediate critical and commercial success, the first novel is set in 1878, looking back nostalgically to an earlier generation (the later novels, which include not only Anne's adventures but those of her family, take the reader all the way to World War I). The well-known original story centers around a lonely middle-aged brother and sister who decide to adopt a boy to help them with farm work, but who are mistakenly sent a girl instead. And not just any girl, but the outlandishly romantic, hot-headed Anne Shirley, whose temper is as fiery as her much-hated red hair, but who has a bright intellect and a heart of gold just longing for friendship and love. Her adventures will make you laugh out loud as well as cry; who can forget when she accidentally makes her dear friend Diana drunk on current wine (thinking she was giving her raspberry cordial instead), or when she cracks a slate over Gilbert Blythe's head in a fit of fury, or when in desperation over her horrible red hair, she dies it, turning her red locks green instead.

It's fascinating to read some of the current scholarship on this beloved story (called the most famous in Canadian literature), particularly the many feminist reinterpretations of recent years. An excellent bibliography can be found online through the L. M. Montgomery Institute's website. You can also find an overview of recent scholarship in an on-line article by Kathleen A. Miller, "Revisiting Anne of Green Gables and her Creator." The L. M. Montgomery Institute also sponsors a biennial conference held on Prince Edward Island itself, which in 2012 will focus on L. M. Montgomery and cultural memory. I'd love to attend that some time!

Although I believe the first book retains all its appeal and charms for contemporary readers, it is hard not to be disappointed in some sense with the later volumes, in which the fiery, independent Anne seems to settle down into a sedate matron, married to Dr. Gilbert Blythe, and gives up her ambitions of a career as a writer and educator for the supposed joys of married life. The books become increasingly sentimental as well.

In Anne's House of Dreams, which starts with Anne's wedding at Green Gables and continues through the beginning of her married life, I couldn't help but be moved to tears by Montgomery's account of the difficult birth and subsequent quick death of Anne's first baby, Joyce, although part of me was glad, too, for Anne's married life with Gilbert was portrayed as so idyllic and filled with happiness that as a reader (or listener), I almost wanted to scream in frustration! I'm afraid that kind of perfect happiness doesn't make for interesting literature, as I'm sure Ms. Montgomery well knew. The later books deal largely with Anne's many children and their adventures, and Anne takes a secondary role in these volumes. I have little desire to revisit those volumes, although I may yet change my mind.

A bit of Anne trivia: Kate Middleton, the new Duchess of Cambridge, is an Anne of Green Gables fan, and visited Prince Edward Island during the couple's first visit to Canada, where she met with L. M. Montgomery's granddaughter and was presented with a special 100th anniversary copy of the classic novel. See the following link for many photos of their visit there.

If you are an Anne fan, please leave a comment with your favorite Anne moment in the series! Thanks so much.

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition, by Karen Blumenthal (Roaring Brook Press, 2011)

2011-08-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

This fascinating new narrative nonfiction book delves into the story of Prohibition, a unique and colorful decade in our country's history. Author Karen Blumenthal , a long-time journalist with the Wall Street Journal, puts her considerable writing skills to good use in explaining how the great social revolution known as Prohibition, which was supposed to forever end drunkenness, reduce crime, and improve the lives of America's families, led instead to a culture of lawlessness, bribery, gangsters, and even murder.

Blumenthal goes back to the earliest days of the Pilgrims to trace the history of liquor in America, noting that rum was almost a form of currency in the earliest days of the country. In the 19th century, taverns multiplied, as did concerns about excessive drinking, leading to the formation of the temperance movement, who at first worked toward drinking in moderation. Soon, however, the movement changed its platform to total abstinence. The author profiles some of the most important personalities from the temperance movement, such as Morris Sheppard, the "boy orator of Texas" who was the first to introduce a constitutional amendment against "an evil that will prove to be the source of the nation's death," and Carrie Nation, the infamous "bar smasher" who believed she was on a mission from God to destroy saloons. The temperance movement was the first to put women in leadership positions, and forever changed women's influence in politics.

The political machinations of the "dries" to get the 18th amendment passed could spur many interesting discussions about parallel political movements today, and the whole saga of the rise and fall of the temperance movement is made all-too-contemporary in Blumenthal's lively narrative, which is full of personal anecdotes as well as sweeping analysis of the failures and limited successes of the prohibition movement.

The book includes a glossary of some of the colorful prohibition and temperance vocabulary (i.e. "real McCoy, hooch, moonshine, flapper, etc.) as well as a detailed bibliography (both books and websites) source notes, and an index. The book is handsomely illustrated with many period photographs as well as cartoons and newspaper clippings.

To read an excerpt of the first few chapters from this book, click here.

Several new YA series have come out about this era recently: Bright Young Things, by Anna Godbersen, and the Flappers series by Jillian Larkin. Bootleg would be a perfect read-along for both these series.

Book Review: Dear America: With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson, Hadley Virginia, 1954 (Scholastic, 2011)

2011-08-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

Release date: September 1, 2011

The newest in Scholastic's relaunch of its beloved Dear America series, this book by award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney tells the story of Dawnie Rae Johnson, a fictional twelve-year old Virginia girl who's the first to desegregate an all white school in the wake of Brown vs. Board of Education.

Dawnie tells us she's always been blessed with the gift of gab, so a diary is a perfect birthday gift, especially prized since it was made by her little brother, Goober. It seems her dream is coming true when she finds out she's going to attend Prettyman Colburn, Hadley's white school, instead of the "colored" school, Bethune, where everything is broken, from the books to the toilets to the clocks. Dawnie's especially bright, and dreams of becoming a doctor one day, although she's never seen a colored doctor or nurse either. After passing an especially difficult test with flying colors, she's one of the students tapped by the NAACP to start the school integration process in their town.

Dawnie will need every bit of her courage and resolve, as she is confronted by demonstrations, small children spitting at her, adults calling her names, and police escorts needed just to get her into the school building. No one will talk to her, and she spends the first day in the principal's office. Dawnie writes in her diary, "By most counts, I'm a normal girl. But with the way those kids were staring at me today, you'da thought I was a bearded lady at the Lee County Carnival." But that's not her only problem, as her daddy loses her job when locals don't want to support a business that employs someone whose daughter is desegregating their schools. About the only people nice to her at school are the colored custodian and the lunch ladies, and Gertie Feldman, a Jewish student at the school. Will Dawnie be able to triumph in this hostile environment?

While both Andrea Davis Pinkney's heroine and the setting of Hadley, Virginia, are fictional, the narrative was inspired by several different integration stories, including one involving the author's own cousin. Pinkney herself was the only black student at her very first grade school, although her experience was not as harsh as Dawnie's. Pinkney incorporates many real historical events into her story, including the Montgomery bus protest of Claudette Colvin, the debut of Sports Illustrated magazine, and Jackie Robinson's integration of baseball. Dawnie Rae's distinctive and colorful voice and personality help bring this important period in our history to life for young people today. It's a must for school and public libraries, as well as all fans of the Dear America series.

Like the other Dear America volumes, back matter includes a historical note on American in 1954, as well as brief biographies of real people mentioned in Dawnie Rae's diary, a Civil Rights timeline, and an "about the author" note describing her background and her research on this topic.

Pinkney remarks in the author's note: "I wrote this book to remind young readers of the great privilege they enjoy--that of attending any school they wish, with classmates of all races--and to show them that even in the harshest situations, hope can shine through the darkest days."

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Book Review: Becoming Marie Antoinette, by Juliet Grey (Ballantine Books, 2011)

2011-08-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 14 to adult.

I am a bit obsessed with the tragic tale of Marie Antoinette, the epitome of the doomed Queen, and I'm clearly not the only one; her fascinating life continues to inspire novels, movies, and more. The newest novel about her is the first in a planned trilogy by debut novelist Juliet Grey. The first novel begins in 1766 at the court of Maria Theresa of Austria, the Hapsburg empress who was Marie Antoinette's mother, and ends in 1774 with the ascension to the throne of France of two teenagers, Marie Antoinette and her husband, Louis Auguste. The next book, "Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow," is due out in 2012, with the third part appearing in 2013.

The book is narrated in the first person by Marie Antoinette herself, much like Carolyn Meyer's recent Young Royals treatment of Marie Antoinette, The Bad Queen, reviewed here at the Fourth Musketeer last year. Grey establishes then Maria Antonia's happy childhood, frolicking with her many siblings at the Austrian court, which was much less formal than the etiquette-dominated splendors of Versailles. When Marie Antoinette is matched up with Louis XV's grandson, her life changes even before her marriage; she is expected to be completely transformed in order to be suitable as the Dauphine and future queen of France, from her education to her hairline to her teeth (she was even given braces, which in the 18th century sounds like some kind of torture!).

Grey paints a very sympathetic portrait of the young Marie Antoinette, totally naive and unprepared for the intrigue of the French court, where she soon becomes a pawn in a game played by the king's maiden daughters (the "aunts") who conspire against the king's low-born mistress, Madame Du Barry. With no real friends, no privacy, and little support from her awkward husband, Marie Antoinette is expected to dominate the intricate court life, guided by conflicting advice from her mother in Austria and the "aunts." We can't help but feel sorry for this pampered princess, who enters France on her wedding voyage from Austria to the cheers and love of the French people but who later becomes the target of their hatred and vitriol. How this transformation occurred with undoubtedly be covered in the next two volumes of this trilogy.

Although published for adults, this engaging book is suitable for teens as well, especially those with a strong interest in history. There is some frank discussion of sexual intercourse (or lack thereof, since Marie Antoinette's husband was unable to consummate their marriage for many years, much to the dismay of not only Marie Antoinette, but everyone at court, where everyone knew of the lack of activity in the marital bed). My own teenage reviewer found the book "too long and too detailed," but otherwise "fun." She gave it 3 out of 5 stars, mostly because of the length.

Grey includes a detailed bibliography of sources she consulted.

Book Review: Titanic, Book One: Unsinkable,by Gordon Korman (Scholastic, 2011)

2011-08-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and a slew of new books on the subject, both fiction and non-fiction, are due to be released in the coming months. The senseless tragedy that was the Titanic is a source of endless fascination across generations, and the anniversary is likely to spur a flood of new interest among young people.

The well-loved and versatile author Gordon Korman, who has published many popular action-adventure trilogies for young readers (i.e. Everest, Island, Dive, and Kidnapped) is a natural to capture this story for a new generation of readers. According to his blog, Korman has always been a Titanic buff, and in this series, he follows the adventures of four young passengers on the magnificent and supposedly unsinkable luxury ship's maiden (and only!) voyage.

Paddy is a petty thief and a stowaway, running away from gangsters who would like nothing more than to murder him for stealing money from them. Sophie is the daughter of an American suffraggist, and is embarrassed when her mother is arrested and delivered to the Titanic by police for her illegal activities. She meets a new friend on the ship, also traveling first class--Juliana, whose wealthy father seems to spend all his time gambling. The fourth character of this quartet is young Alfie, who gets himself hired on as a steward, although he's underage, because his father is working as a stoker on the ship. There's non-stop action in the story, as well as mystery, as the boys find a scrapbook filled with clippings about Jack the Ripper. Could the real "Jack the Ripper" be hiding on the ship among the passengers?

Korman's trilogies are perfect for reluctant readers; volume 1 is a manageable 170 pages, and volume two, Collison Course, was just released August 1. The finale, S.O.S., releases September 1, so fans don't have to wait long for the conclusion of the series. There's lots of foreshadowing of the coming tragic events in this first book (i.e. Paddy hides out in a lifeboat, wondering why there aren't more of them). Even if they know what happens to the ship itself, readers will be on pins and needles to see how our appealing young heroes and heroines fare when the iceberg strikes. Are they among the lucky few that make it onto the lifeboats or will they go down with the ship? We won't know until September.

In coming months I will be reviewing other Titanic novels, including Allan Wolf's upcoming YA novel, The Watch that Ends the Night, which will be released in October.

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World,by Bryn Barnard (Alfred A. Knopf, 2011)

2011-08-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 8-14.

Kids definitely learn more about Islam today in the public school curriculum (at least here in California) than I did as a kid, but I don't think the curriculum includes the many fascinating facts explored in author/illustrator Bryn Barnard's new book, The Genius of Islam, an attractive, elegantly illustrated slim volume suitable for older elementary school or middle school children.

An introduction gives a brief introduction to Islam as "one of the world's great religions, one of history's most important civilizations, and one of the foundational cultures of the West." Barnard stresses Islam as much more than an Arab religion, but rather a diverse culture which borrowed elements from other cultures and faiths and rewarded minorities in its midst, including Jews and Christians. Barnard then addresses a number of areas in which Islam was particularly influential, including calligraphy, mass-produced paper, the introduction of what we now call Arabic numerals, architecture, astronomy, health care, agriculture, technology, optics, musical instruments (particularly percussion instruments), and translation of ancient writings.

Why are we not more aware of all these contributions? Barnard explains that during the Renaissance, some influential European thinkers such as the 14th century Italian poet and scholar Petrarch resented the influence of "infidels" on Western philosophy and learning, and demanded that all Arab learning be expunged from European university education. Indeed, Muslim philosophy was removed from European university curricula, and Europeans began to take credit for Muslim inventions. Over centuries, Muslim contributions to Western thought were "barely a memory."

Barnard is an extremely talented artist as well as a capable writer, and the book is abundantly and attractively illustrated in full color. Back matter includes suggestions for further reading as well as recommended websites. Endpapers show maps of the Islamic World in 622-750 and 1500 CE.

One issue I had with this book is that since it ends at the Renaissance, it leaves the reader wondering whether the contributions of Islamic civilization ended then as well! Nonetheless, this book serves as a worthy introduction to a fascinating subject, and would be an excellent addition to classroom and school libraries.

Presidential Libraries, Nixon, Watergate, and historical fiction

2011-08-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my teenage daughter and I visited for the first time the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California, not too far from our Southern California home. A few years ago, the National Archives took over the Nixon Library from the Nixon Foundation (an organization run by Nixon loyalists) and just this year unveiled a new, state-of-the-art exhibit on Watergate.

This exhibit, intended to present a balanced view of the complex web of Watergate, chronicles the events from June 1971, with the leak of the Pentagon Papers and the formation of the secret White House group known as the Plumbers, to Nixon’s resignation and his public explanations of Watergate after he left office.

I was in junior high school during the Watergate Hearings, and because I lived next door to school, came home at lunch where I watched the drama of the hearings unfold on live television. It was my first experience watching our government in action (remember this was before the days of CSPAN!) and it made an indelible impression on me.

Tim Naftali, the library’s director and curator of this exhibit, commented in an interview with NPR, "Our main client is the 14-year-old visitor who is texting while you are telling them about people not only their grandparents' age, great-grandparents' age," he says, "but from a different era and culture." With this visitor in mind, Naftali’s exhibit mimics a web experience; in each section
is an interactive video screen where visitors can hear some of the infamous tapes recorded by Nixon at the White House, as well as watch snippets of oral histories with key participants in the scandal. Even the graphics and colors are clearly designed to appeal to a young audience.

While touring the museum, I couldn’t help but think about the lack of historical novels for young people exploring this important time period. In recent years, we have seen a plethora of historical novels about Vietnam and the Civil Rights movement, but nary a one for young people about Watergate (not trusting my memory, I turned to WorldCat and Amazon, my trusty sources, and found nothing). OK, authors out there--I see a niche ready to be filled! It’s also time for a really compelling narrative nonfiction account of the Watergate events for young people; many books for older kids and teens on Watergate exist, but most were written before many of the key documents from the affair were de-classified.

Have you visited any presidential libraries and do most of them attempt to present an unbiased view of the person in question? Please leave a comment below.

Book Review: The Lost Crown, by Sarah Miller (Atheneum Books, 2011)

2011-08-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Like so many other readers, I am fascinated by stories of doomed princesses. Sarah Miller’s new YA novel, The Lost Crown, about the last few years in the lives of the Romanovs of Russia, tells their story from the point of view of all four Grand Duchesses, the beautiful and privileged daughters of Czar Nicholas II. Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, sometimes known as OTMA, each of them imbued with her own personality, narrate in alternating chapters how world war and revolution irrevocably changed their lives, robbing them not only of their privileged status but eventually of their lives as well.

In a recent interview, Miller was asked why the story of the Romanovs’ assassination has so much “staying power.” She comments:

Think about the things that fascinate the public: celebrity, royalty, beauty, youth, power, wealth — and, of course, tragedy. One or two items on that list are enough to grab most people. The Romanovs can boast all seven. I suspect it also has a lot to do with the extreme contrasts in the story. There’s the riches-to-rags aspect, and also the incongruity between the irresistible appeal of Nicholas II’s personality and his ineptitude as a ruler. With the possible exception of the empress, the whole family was so guileless and personable that you can hardly help liking them even as they hurtle themselves toward their own destruction. Even their jailors were taken aback by the sympathy they developed for the Romanovs after observing them in person.

There’s just something enthralling about a senseless tragedy... it’s hard to quench people’s appetite for stories about the Romanovs, Anne Frank, and the Titanic. Things that never should have happened are hardest to let go of because we crave an explanation. That’s why the grand duchesses in particular have tremendous staying power. People can stomach the political necessity of executing the tsar, the empress, and maybe even the 13-year-old heir to the throne, but there was no reason for those four sisters to die. To top it off, so many photos have been left behind showing them vibrantly alive — dancing, swimming, rollerskating, playing tennis. That’s pretty much a recipe for immortality.

The book begins with the duchesses enjoying a glorious day on the imperial yacht, dancing, playing games, spoiling their lapdogs, and flirting with the handsome officers. Their happiness is only tainted by the illness of their young brother, Aleksei--perhaps the most famous hemophiliac in history. But soon they learn of the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Austria, and war breaks out all over Europe.

The whole family throws themselves into war work; the Czarina herself and the two oldest daughters, Olga and Tatiana, are trained to nurse by the Red Cross, and the younger girls visit the wounded to cheer the soldiers. The men are thrilled by the attention from the royal family, begging for photos and autographs. But as the war goes badly for the Russians, dissent begins to grow, erupting in revolution and the abdication of the czar. Soon the family is forced to leave their palace for house arrest in rural Tobolsk and finally imprisonment in Siberia, at Ekaterinburg, where their tale comes to its inevitably tragic and violent conclusion.

Miller works hard to create a distinct voice for each of the archduchesses, although I must admit that at the beginning I had trouble separating all but the youngest, Anastasia, who is portrayed as the impish jokester of the bunch. Her book is impeccably researched, with original source material including the diaries and correspondence of the four girls, much of it still available only in Russian, used by the author in her attempt to create a balanced portrayal of the historical events and to create sympathetic young women that contemporary girls would identify with.

Russian names, with the language’s extensive use of nicknames, can be confusing to English readers, and the author therefore includes a cast of characters list at the beginning of the novel, which includes formal names, nicknames, and descriptions of each character in the book, so that readers can keep everyone straight. Miller also includes a glossary of Russian words and phrases, which are scattered liberally throughout the text. A brief epilogue describes the horrific assassinations in the cellar in some detail, as well as the rumors of survival of one or more of the imperial children that persisted for years after the revolution. Back matter includes reproductions of both formal and informal photographs of the imperial family, an author’s note on her research, and an excellent bibliography, including on-line resources and films as well as an extensive selection of books on the Romanovs.

Some other novels for young people on the Romanovs that are worth reading include:

Anastasia’s Secret, by Susanne Dunlop (Bloomsbury, 2010)
Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, by Carolyn Meyer (Royal Diaries series, Scholastic, 2000)
The Curse of the Romanovs, by Staton Rabin (Margaret K. McElderry, 2007)

Note: You may know Sarah Miller as the author of Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller (Atheneum, 2007), another excellent historical novel which tells the well-known story of Helen Keller from the viewpoint of her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Her website includes links to all the best Romanov websites, as well as websites about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. You can also access a number of interviews with her about The Lost Crown and her research about and interest in the Romanovs.

One of the many photographs of the doomed Romanov archduchesses

Book Review: These Hands, by Margaret H. Mason (Houghton Mifflin, 2011)

2011-08-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 6-12.

I just came across at my local library a moving new picture book that combines a little-known piece of labor history and the civil rights movement with a tender portrait of a grandfather’s close relationship with his grandson. Author Margaret Mason explains in an author’s note that during the 1950s and early 1960s, African American workers at Wonder Bread and other bakery factories were allowed to sweep the floors, load the trucks, and fix the machines—but they were not allowed to work as bread dough mixers or bread dough handlers, “because the bosses said/white people would not want to eat bread/touched by these hands.” Inspired by the stories she heard from an old friend who was a Bakers Union organizer, she wrote this inspiring tale of overcoming discrimination.

Joseph’s grandpa’s hands can still teach a young fellow how to tie his shoes, play the piano, do card tricks, or hit a line drive. But because they weren’t allowed to touch bread dough in the factory, “these hands joined with other hands,” writing petitions and demonstrating until their proud hands could finally touch the bread dough. And Joseph, too, can do lots of things with his hands, now, all by himself, including baking “a fine loaf of bread.” A refrain of “yes, you can” unites the free verse poetry of Mason’s text. The incomparable illustrator Floyd Cooper, winner of four Coretta Scott King honor awards, provides the stunning illustrations, done in his signature oil wash style with kneaded erasers, which produces an almost glowing softness to the muted earth tones of the colors.

Highly recommended for public and school libraries.

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Big Wig: A Little History of Hair, by Kathleen Krull (Arthur A. Levine, 2011)

2011-08-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 8-12.

Hair--we’re all obsessed with it, to one degree or another. But how many of us spend time thinking about the history of hair? Veteran non-fiction writer Kathleen Krull does--her first “book”, written when she was ten, was called “Hair-Dos and People I Know,” a collection of hair-dos of all kinds.

So it should be no surprise that her newest book looks at the history of hairstyles, and of those individuals who “made history with their hair.” In the beginning, she reminds us, “everyone is furry.” But over the centuries fur coats grow smaller and smaller, until they’re mainly on top for sun protection. Now we’ve got hair instead of fur. Krull touches briefly on many hair related topics in chronological order, from the evolution of hair color (how and why did a cavewoman wind up with blonde hair?) to Egyptians who shaved their heads to get rid of bugs but then wore wigs to protect their heads from the hot sun, to punk rockers’ Mohawks and Dorothy Hamill’s wedge cut. Kids will especially relish descriptions of all kinds of disgusting-sounding early hair products. Did you know “goat pee” and “pigeon poop” were early remedies to get rid of baldness? Cleopatra recommended a blend of horse teeth and deer marrow, mixed with toasted mice, to her bald lover, Julius Caesar. Avocado, bear grease, and butter were used in various time periods to make hair soft and shiny. Flour helped powder wigs for 17th and 18th century aristocrats, and Marie Antoinette and her friends sported huge hair-dos adorned with everything from miniature ships to birdcages and toys.

Back matter includes “hair extensions,” providing further details about hair in each of the time periods portrayed in the text as well as a bibliography with other sources suitable both for young readers and adults.

The illustrations by British artist Peter Malone greatly enhance this entertaining volume. At once elegant and hilarious, who could resist the whimsy of three monkeys sitting in the African savannah on beauty parlor chairs with hair dryers over their heads, surrounded by elephants, giraffes, and oddly enough, the Statue of Liberty? Or Cleopatra and Julius Caesar surrounded by a variety of animals in the process of urinating into buckets? Or my personal favorite, a bear barber coiffing the Mohawk hairdo of a Native American. The finely detailed gouache art will be sure to fascinate young people who take the time to carefully peruse the drawings. Especially noteworthy is the way Malone mimics the style of the art of the countries and periods discussed; i.e. text about samurai hairstyles is illustrated by a drawing in a perfect mimicry of Japanese classical art.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Three Musketeers, illustrated by Brett Helquist

2011-07-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Release date: September 27, 2011

I try to be disciplined and not buy too many books these days, since I have absolutely no more room in my house for bookshelves and the ones I have are so overcrowded. Still, I can't resist ordering this new children's edition of my beloved The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas, illustrated by the fabulous Brett Helquist, who you may know not only for his many picture books for also for his fabulous illustrations of the Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events. The book is abridged, in an illustrated young readers edition of 272 pages, but should be suitable for younger readers (the original is a massive tome, 720 pages in the Penguin classics edition). The release date is probably no accident, since a new 3-D movie version of the classic starring Orlando Bloom and others is due to be released on October 21 of this year. See the trailer on YouTube!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Book Review: The Auslander, by Paul Dowswell (Bloomsbury, 2011)

2011-07-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Release date: August 16, 2011

Auslander is the German word for “foreigner,” and British novelist Paul Dowswell’s 2009 novel (to be released in the U.S. by Bloomsbury in August 2011) spins a compelling tale of one foreign youth’s experiences in Nazi Germany. When Peter’s parents are killed in the German invasion of Poland, he is sent to a Warsaw orphanage along with other war orphans. But 13-year-old Peter is one of the “lucky” ones; he’s Volksdeutscher--of German blood, with blond hair and blue eyes. He’s therefore selected to be adopted by a prominent German family, and soon is living comfortably in Berlin. His new father, Herr Kaltenbach, has an important job deciding who is “racially valuable” or “racially worthless.” He has three new sisters, and although Frau Kaltenbach is cold to him, he is kept busy with his new school and Hitler Youth meetings, barely leaving him time to be homesick for Poland. In his fantasies, he wants to be a Luftwaffe pilot, much to the delight of Herr Kaltenbach.

Although Peter may seem on the surface like the perfect young Nazi, he is unable to accept without question the Nazi propaganda he is fed at home and at school. When he becomes romantically involved with Anna, whose family works for the resistance, Peter soon is helping Jews go into hiding. When the Gestapo begins to suspect Peter and his friends, they must leave Berlin; will they be able to escape?

I was very impressed with the complexity of this story, which could be read by adults as well as young people. Dowswell’s carefully researched novel reminds young readers that not everyone in Nazi Germany was pro-Hitler or even a Nazi. Anna and Peter listen secretly to the BBC, and attend parties where they dance to “degenerate” American jazz. Peter is a well-rounded character, who although at first wanting to fit in with his new family and follow the party line, maintains his compassion and humanity throughout. For example, Peter not only puts himself in great danger to deliver messages for the resistance, he also wants to help fellow Poles who are working as slave labor in Berlin, and tries to bring them food. There is plenty of exciting action as well, especially at the end as Peter and Anna try to make their escape.

The author paints a vivid picture of what it was like to grow up in Nazi Germany, complete with fascinating details such as the family Christmas tree decorated with illuminated plastic swastikas. The children receive Christmas presents laced with Nazi propoganda, such as a book on the perils of fraternizing with Jews or a doorknocker decorated with a caricature of the head of a Jew. They hide in bomb shelters as the Allies bomb Berlin, killing thousands. Peter struggles with his beliefs, realizing that both the Allies and the Nazis are murdering innocent civilians.

This novel would be even more meaningful if paired with Susan Bartoletti’s award-winning non-fiction book for young people, Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler’s Shadow (Scholastic, 2005).

Disclosure: ARC provided by publisher.

The Fourth Musketeer

Black History Month 2012

Book Review: Breaking Stalin's Nose, by Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt, 2011)

Book Review: In Trouble, by Ellen Levine (Carolrhoda Lab, 2011)

Book Review: An Elephant in the Garden, by Michael Morpurgo (Feiwel and Friends, 2011)

Book Review: Bambino and Mr. Twain, by P.I. Maltbie (Charlesbridge, 2012)

Author Interview: Kristin Levine, author of The Lions of Little Rock

Book Review: The Lions of Little Rock, by Kristin Levine (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2012)

Book Review: The Cats in the Doll Shop, by Yona Zeldis McDonough (Viking, 2011)

Book Review: Behind the Masks: The Diary of Angeline Reddy, Bodie, California, 1880 (Dear America), by Susan Patron (Scholastic, 2012)

Blog Tour/Book Review: In Darkness, by Nick Lake (Bloomsbury, 2012)

Book Review: Promise the Night, by Michaela Maccoll (Chronicle Books, 2011)

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens: My Top 10 Favorite Books from 2011

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Irena's Jars of Secrets, by Marcia Vaughan (Lee & Low Books, 2011)

Book Review: Love Twelve Miles Long, by Glenda Armand (Lee & Low Books, 2011)

Nonfiction Monday: Saga of the Sioux: An Adaptation from Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Henry Holt, 2011)

Longing, Belonging, and Speaking out for Justice: Writing from Real Life (Guest post by author Katherine Schlick Noe)

Book Review: Something to Hold, by Katherine Schlick Noe (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011)

Book Review: Jeffersons Sons: A Founding Father's Secret Children, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011)

Book Review: Soldier Bear, by Bib Dumon Tak (Eerdmans Books, 2011)

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Alicia Alonso Prima Ballerina, by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Marshall Cavendish, 2011)

Book Review: The Last Musketeer, by Stuart Gibbs (Harper Collins, 2011)

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War, by Tony Horwitz (Henry Holt, 2011)

Book Review: Caleb's Wars, by David L. Dudley (Clarion Books, 2011)

Book Review: Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be, by John Harris (Peachtree Publishers, 2011)

Book Review: Vietnam Book One: I Pledge Allegiance, by Chris Lynch (Scholastic, 2011)

Veteran's Day Guest Post and Giveaway: Author Monika Schroeder: After the War Was Lost

Book Review: My Brother's Shadow, by Monika Schroder (Frances Foster Books, 2011)

Happy Haulidays Contest from Chronicle Books!

The Onion 2012 Daily Calendar $12.99

Hope Valley Sticky Notes & To-Do's

Out of Sight

Ivy and Bean Boxed Set 2

The Ivy and Bean Secret Treasure Box

Alphabeasties and Other Amazing Types

I Know a Lot of Things

Tools

Passover: Celebrating Now, Remembering Then

Let Freedom Sing

Giant Pop-Out Farm $10.99

Photobooth Dogs

36 1/2 Reasons to Laugh

Disneystrology

Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids

L.A. Bizarro

Hooked on Hiking: Southern California

Milk & Cookies: 89 Heirloom Recipes from New York's Milk & Cookies Bakery $24.95

Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe $35.00

Moleskine 2012 18 month weekly planner pocket black soft cover $14.95

Typewriter Ecojournal: $10.95

Total: $498.99

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures, by Katherine Paterson (Chronicle Books, 2011)

Book Review: Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants, by Tony Johnston (Harcourt, 2011)

Book Review: Never Forgotten, by Patricia McKissack, artwork by Leo & Diane Dillon (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011)

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Joan of Arc, by Demi (Marshall Cavendish Children, 2011)

Book Review: City of Orphans, by Avi (Simon & Schuster, 2011)

From the Backlist: For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Delacorte Press, 2003)

Historical Fiction Awards from Great Britain

Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Allan Wolf, author of The Watch that Ends the Night

Book Review: The watch that ends the night: voices from the Titanic, by Allan Wolf (Candlewick, 2011)

Nominate your favorite books for the Cybils Awards today!

Thoughts on Banned Book Week

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Kennedy Through the Lens: How Photography and Television Revealed and Shaped an Extraordinary Leader, by Martin W. Sandler (Walker & Co., 2011)

Book Review: Prisoner of the Inquisition, by Theresa Breslin (Corgi Books, 2011)

Book Review: Lights on the Nile, by Donna Jo Napoli (Harper Collins, 2011)

Giveaway and Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Thomas Jefferson for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities, by Brandon Marie Miller (Chicago Review Press, 2011)

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Book Review: Dear America: With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson, Hadley Virginia, 1954 (Scholastic, 2011)

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Presidential Libraries, Nixon, Watergate, and historical fiction

Book Review: The Lost Crown, by Sarah Miller (Atheneum Books, 2011)

Book Review: These Hands, by Margaret H. Mason (Houghton Mifflin, 2011)

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: Big Wig: A Little History of Hair, by Kathleen Krull (Arthur A. Levine, 2011)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Three Musketeers, illustrated by Brett Helquist

Book Review: The Auslander, by Paul Dowswell (Bloomsbury, 2011)