The Same Stuff as Stars, by Katherine Patterson

Stars backlight the story of eleven year old Angel, who lives with her seven year old brother Bernie at her grandmother’s house. Angel takes on much of the responsibility for Bernie as Grandma simply sits by the fire most of the day and wraps herself in poverty and despair. Angel is thrust into the adult world by having to keep a constant watchful eye on her little brother and help out her old grandmother, when she just needs to still be a little girl.

The butt of mean girls at school, Angel keeps to herself and sometimes talks to the stars… or even to the entire universe or any power out there; she just wants to be heard. Fortunately, she is befriended by her uncle who lives on the property and he teaches her about the stars in which she takes her only solace.

The drama takes a twist when Bernie is unannouncedly picked up from school by her low-life mother, and Angel finally makes grandma face all the hard facts from which she has been hiding. Guided by her faith in the stars and belief that someone is listening, Angel rises to her challenges and teaches the adults in her life that they must move past obstacles and hurtfulness and find the positives in their given lot.

Entertaining and gripping, The Same Stuff as Stars is a great book for any tween and most meaningful for any older sibling responsibly caring for and loving a younger brother or sister.

Patteron, K. (2002). The Same Stuff as Stars. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 978-0618247448

Loser, by Jerry Spinelli

Donald Zinkoff is that kid. The awkward, sometimes loud and different kid who never fits in the neighborhood or at John W. Satterfield Elementary School. In a naive Junie B. Jones sort of way, Zincoff bumbles through life not noticing all the eyes cast his way with lids in widened amazement. We all know one of these stand-out kids who “just doesn’t get it.” One thing Zincoff does get is the freshness and excitement of a snow which is “sticking” and beacons to him one evening after supper. As he envelopes himself in visions of a forthcoming snow day and glances up and down his street, he spies some reflecting red lights which draw him to the next street and upon a crisis involving what he perceives to be to a search for a missing toddler named Claudia.

Zincoff uses his laser focus and takes off in a childlike search for the little one. In only Spinelli fashion is the reader drawn into Zincoff’s world and realizes only in the end what has happened. Perception becomes reality with OMG moments as young readers will learn to build empathy with those amongst us challenged cognitively and or socially.

Spinelli, J. (2002). Loser. New York: Harper Trophy. ISBN 978-0060540746

The Trouble Begins, by Linda Himelblau

Du and his grandmother recently left Vietnam and traveled to California to reunite with the family they haven't seen since Du was a baby. So far, Du hates a lot of things about America:

• His old, nosy neighbor called the police when Du picked berries from his yard
• The school cafeteria food and American frozen food are both disgusting
• The principal doesn't understand that being quiet doesn't mean you are disrespectful
• Americans say stuff is free when it's not
• His name in English means 'dog poop'
  

His older brother and two older sisters, who speak perfect English and totally understand the American way of life, think Du just messes around all the time and isn't thankful for his new home. Du slowly starts to realize that maybe he should try harder to impress his father, who is constantly disappointed or angry with him.

Himelblau's novel provides young readers with a heightened awareness of the norms in other countries. While other students may speak different languages or do things that appear weird, they are probably facing the same fear and insecurities as everyone else. This is also a great book for any kid who has ever felt like an outsider. Just like Du, we can all discover our inner Dragon and overcome life's challenges.

Himelblau, L. (2005). The Trouble Begins. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0-385-73273-2

Stranded in Boringsville, by Catherine Bateson

After her parents' divorce, Rain and her mother relocate from a bustling Australian metropolis to her late grandmother's delapitated house in the country. With a slow combustion cooker instead of a normal stove and no pizza joint for miles around, Rain tries to convince her mom that they shouldn't even bother unpacking. They should just rent out the old Clarksville house and move back to the city. Slowly, though, memories of time spent with her grandma in the garden and eating delicious, home-cooked meals return. Rain also meets the quirky but charming neighbor, Daniel, who is one year younger and proclaims himself "phenomenally bright." When Daniel eventually reveals a secret to Rain, she realizes that perhaps she doesn't have as much to complain about as she thought. This is a moving story about two isolated kids who find friendship and solace with the other.

Adding to the story are the many different forms of writing. As the cover art suggests, Rain and her mother communicate through refrigerator magnet poetry. This is their forum to express all the emotions that are difficult to share with eachother elsewhere. The point of view also switches from Rain in traditional prose format to Daniel, who communicates through his Star Trek-esque Captain's Log. Presenting both characters points of view makes this story feel "whole" and makes it a great book for girls and boys alike. And at 138 pages, Stranded in Boringsville is an excellent addition to lists of recommended short books.

Bateson, C. (2002). Stranded in Boringsville. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-1969-X

Boy Meets Boy, by David Levithan

Boy Meets Boy focuses on gay tenth-grader Paul, who attends a very accepting California high school, where many students are open about their sexuality. Paul has openly dated many boys in his school but suddenly finds himself in a dead end relationship-wise. That is, until he meets the adorable, green-eyed Noah in the self-help section of his favorite bookstore...

My favorite sections of the novel involve Paul's coming out stories. At five years old, he announces to his mom, “I'm gay!" In response, his mother shouts across the house to Paul’s father, “Honey, Paul’s learned a new word!” Levithan also brings to life several colorful characters. We meet drag queen Infinite Darlene, who is both the Homecoming Queen and the star of the football team. We also see how Paul's best friend, Tony, battles his homophobic parents and a religion that does not accept homosexuals.

The tween literature landscape is already rife with a variety of races and backgrounds, characters with handicaps, kids with a variety of interests, and many different family structures. It is great to finally see so many characters with which LGBT teens can relate. Levithan’s novel provides kids with an excellent example of what an accepting school and community looks like and could provide much-needed hope for LGBT kids whose home and school lives are not so welcoming to their sexuality. Simply because the central characters are already well into high school, I would recommend this book mostly for seventh through ninth graders. I would also recommend Boy Meets Boy to straight and gay readers alike; yes, this book focuses primarily on homosexual characters, but it's not far off from any other tween novel that focuses on love and relationships.

Levithan, D. (2003). Boy Meets Boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-82400-6

The Klipfish Code, by Mary Casanova

While most people are aware of the horrors that took place in Germany during World War II, most do not know about the Nazi occupation in other countries. When her home country of Norway is invaded by the Nazis, Marit refuses to accept their presence. She wants to do something to return her country to peace, but what? Marit starts by secretly saving paperwork written by other resistance fighters. Then she wears a paperclip on her collar as a covert sign of solidarity among the Norwegian people. But when her family members start to disappear, she knows she needs to take much bolder actions. Marit and her younger brother use what was known as the klipfish code and risk their lives to see their family again.

This is obviously heavy subject matter, especially with Marit’s separation from her parents when they join the Nazi resistance, but Casanova handles the topic in a manner appropriate for tweens. I would not outrightly recommend The Klipfish Code for anyone under 10 because of the mature content, but parents can be the best judge of their child’s maturity and reading level.

Finally, this book will have a greater impact if the reader has some previous knowledge of WWII and Nazi occupation. As such, it would be an excellent addition to a classroom lesson plan on this critical time in world history.

Casanova, M. (2007). The Klipfish Code. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 978-0-618-88393-6

The Chocolate Wars, by Robert Cormier

“They murdered him.” Any book that opens with such a line is sure to be tense, mysterious and, most likely, violent. The Chocolate War will get your heart pounding and make you squirm in your seat. While it is a suspenseful story of an underground society steeped in the history of Trinity private school, it can also be viewed as an extreme commentary on the cliques and cruelty often present among teens.

After examining his father’s monotonous life, Jerry Renault decides he wants a life that stands out, where there are no days that are just “fine.” The high school freshman gets the opportunity to stand out when he challenges the school’s secret society, The Vigils, and their malicious leader, Archie.

While I don’t think girls would necessarily dislike this book, it should be mentioned that there are no female characters in Cormier’s novel; the most prominent female character is Jerry’s deceased mother, who is described through flashbacks. Also worth remembering is that The Chocolate Wars was originally published in 1974. As such, today’s young readers may not fully grasp the contrast between the prep school boys and the free-thinking hippies that pass through his town. However, this book is considered a classic for many reasons. For instance, Jerry’s maxim- “"Do I dare disturb the universe?"- will still ring true among readers. And Jerry’s eventual answer may surprise them....

Cormier, R. (1974). The Chocolate Wars. Alfred A. Knopf: New York, NY. ISBN 978-0375829871

Adam Canfield of the Slash, by Michael Winerip

Soccer practice, jazz band rehearsal, Quiz Bowl Gladiator meet, running club, baritone lesson, school newspaper deadline. If this insane schedule sounds familiar to you or your child, this book will be a hit. Adam is constantly running late, trying to stay on top of his daily schedule, and has now begrudgingly accepted the position of co-editor for the school newspaper alongside his good friend Jennifer. Adam wonders if something has to give, and even considers giving up his favorite activity, reporting for the Slash. But after a meeting with the school principal, the Slash’s star reporters suspect a cover up at Harris Elementary/Middle School and Adam decides to give the story his all.

Impressively, Adam and Jennifer maintain a fraternal relationship and mutual respect for the other, at a time when society and media almost force tweens to explore their sexuality. Jennifer is almost the antithesis of a girly girl as a hard-nosed editor, playing basketball with Adam and, as he says, she isn’t “one of those annoying girls who spends their time on the computer filling in do-it-yourself romance sites for the boys they liked.”

While the cover art definitely has boy appeal, the point of view actually switches from Adam to Jennifer every few chapters. This is therefore a great book for both genders and allows the reader to explore the two personalities at the forefront of the story. At over 300 pages, Adam Canfield of the Slash isn’t the shortest of novels, but the action is so immediate and fact-paced (like Adam's crazy schedule) that readers won’t notice how quickly they reach the suspenseful end.

Winerip, M. (2005). Adam Canfield of the Slash. Candlewick Press: Cambridge, MA. ISBN 0-7636-2340-7

Al Capone does my shirts

Like many authors before her, Gennifer Choldenko grabs onto an already fascinating piece of history and imagines the characters and scenarios that were involved. When twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan’s dad gets a job on Alcatraz, the whole family moves onto the island. While adjusting to living in this strange place, Moose must also deal with the Warden’s conniving daughter, Piper, who loves to get him into awkward situations.

The reader quickly learns that Moose’s sister, Natalie, is “different.” Although it is never stated outright, it appears Natalie has autism, a condition not named or fully understood in the 1930s. Rather than display embarrassment and try to hide his sister, as some kids might do, Moose patiently handles his sister’s outbursts and proudly explains to others that Natalie is way smarter than they are.

In many ways this is a classic coming-of-age story, although Moose grows up in a very intimate community of families, surrounded by hundred of convicts, on an island in the San Francisco bay. What young man wouldn’t be enthralled by the stories of Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly that are woven into the novel? This novel is most excellent for boys grades 5-8, but girls and even adults will also be fascinated by Choldenko’s novel. I know I was!

Choldenko, G. (2006). Al Capone does my shirts. Puffin: New York, NY. ISBN 978-0142403709.

Word Nerd by Susin Neilsen

Anyone between the ages of twelve to sixteen interested in words would be attracted to Word Nerd by Susin Neilsen. The story of Ambrose, a boy growing up most recently in Vancouver BC with an overprotective widowed/single mom, is one that both boys and girls can relate to on many levels.

Ambrose has moved a lot as his mother struggles to balance this two-person family. His mom has not secured a solid job, which has triggered moves from one university position in one area to another. Ambrose struggles to fit in but finds he always has the wrong clothes, shoes, and academic interests. As a result of the moves, Ambrose has made or sustained no true friends.

Instead, as the title depicts, words have become his friends. He and his mom engage in games of Scrabble often. Ambrose loves the study of words, their origins and playing with them. He hates physical sports which often makes him a loner and a target.

The true adventure begins when Ambrose discovers a flyer for a local Scrabble Club. He befriends an ex-con named Cosmo and talks Cosmos into driving him to the club’s practice sessions despite his mother’s orders to “stay clear of that young man.” They soon develop a quirky big brother/little brother type relationship wherein each discovers a friend in the other. Ambrose helps Cosmo stay on the straight and narrow by steering clear of old acquaintances all the while winning over a new girlfriend, and Cosmo teaches Ambrose some fighting blocks for self-defense while covertly assisting in driving Ambrose to the big regional Scrabble tournament for which he has qualified.

It is an early coming to know one’s self book that many in the tween age group struggling to identify their own self and win autonomy will enjoy. This is also a story about loving someone despite, and because of, their weaknesses and faults.

Nielsen, S. (2008). Word Nerd. Tundra Books: New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-88776-875-0

The Baby-sitters Club: Mary Anne Saves the Day

I could not resist revisiting the books that were a staple of my reading diet during my tween years. I must preface this entry by saying that my review is based on the original 1987 version of this book, which is all that was available at my local library. Martin’s series has recently undergone a facelift in the form of graphic novels. I hope to read one of the updated novels and compare it with the older version in a later review.

In Mary Anne Saves the Day, the fourth of over one hundred novels in the series, the usually shy Mary Anne (whose dad became super overprotective after her mother passed away) gets a chance to prove that she is not the immature weakling everyone thinks her to be The four members of the club are a close-knit group, never missing a weekly meeting and walking to school together everyday without fail. But when they get into a huge fight with no resolution in sight, the Babysitters Club may fall apart. Mary Anne decides it is up to her to bring the girls back together. Readers are also introduced to Dawn, the next member invited to join the club.

Although each character verges on caricature (e.g. Dawn, the blonde, tree-hugger from California and Claudia, the Chinese-American girl who tries to distance herself from her parents’ traditional ways), tween girls will identify with each of the babysitters in some way. And these are smart, entrepreneurial young ladies, usually supporting each other instead of working against the others. Certainly, Martin’s novels are a welcome change from some of the self-destructive role models and negative self-images that tweens are exposed to all too regularly.

Martin, A.M. (1987). The baby-sitters club: Mary Anne saves the day. Scholastic: New York, NY. ISBN 0-590-43512-4

Eggs, by Jerry Spinelli

Eggs is the rare gem for tweens that could appeal to girls and boys alike. Nine-year-old David has just relocated to a Pittsburg suburb after the death of his mother. He expresses his sadness and anger by lashing out at his grandmother and refusing to make new friends … until he meets thirteen-year-old Primrose, who lives in a van outside her psychic mother’s house in a shady part of town. While theirs is an odd relationship, it works. Both feel like outsiders and shun the people closest to them. At one point, David points out the irony in their friendship: Primrose tries to escape the mother who she says is crazy, while David wants nothing more than to have his mother back. Although they maintain a tough exterior- David constantly shouts at Primrose “I don’t like you!” and Primrose calls David names like “infant turd”- they find in the other the love and support they need.

Spinelli’s prose is great for readers who like it brief and to the point: “A drape parted. Light. Her silhouette leaving. Dark again. Night in a box. David alone. Scared.” I consider this the antithesis of J.K. Rowling’s rambling, 50 words per sentence style!

My only qualm with Eggs is the sometimes unrealistic circumstances. Yes, these characters are raw and real, but what grandmother would allow a nine-year-old free reign of the city, regardless of the circumstances? How many times would your grandson stay out until 2 am before you noticed? However, because this is such a powerful story and David’s progression from boyhood requires him to explore on his own, the reader lets it pass. Overall, Spinelli’s Eggs is a funny but moving story full of quirky, loveable characters.

Spinelli, J. (2007). Eggs. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316166464.

Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech

Walk Two Moons is an endearing tale of thirteen year old American Indian, Salamanca Tree Hiddle as she navigates the emotions and reality of her mother’s death. She travels across the country with her eccentric grandparents and they visit the sites that her mother had on her same journey which ultimately ended with Salamanca’s mother’s death, in a bus down the side of a ravine.

As Salamanca’s journey begins she shares the story of a friend called Phoebe and the many escapades of Phoebe’s family. Interestingly, the stories shared evoke the exact emotions which Sal is experiencing. Along the way Sal gives herself over to the anxious journey and weaves a saga with Phoebe as main character, as she is wrapped in the quirky love from her grandparents. The Greek and Native American myths wrapped into the story also provide wisdom and strength. In a twist with that will surely evoke tears from the reader, Sal experiences yet another major loss along the journey.

Walk Two Moons is a great book for any youngster facing and internalizing the realities of losing a loved one. In the end she faces the truth of her mother’s demise but realizes that her mother will always live on in the streams, trees, grasses, and the smells of that summer she trekked to find her mother and ultimately find herself.

Creech, S. (1994). Walk Two Moons. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0064405171

Kira-kira, by Cynthia Kadohata

“My sister, Lynn, taught me my first word: kira-kira."

Katie looks to her big sister and best friend, Lynn, to make sense of the world around them. Lynn explains to Katie that there is kira-kira (“glittering”) in everything around them. Lynn encourages Katie to become a great doctor, scientist or tennis player. When the family struggles to afford a house, it is Lynn’s idea for them to stop spending their allowance on candy and secretly save it for their parents. Lynn is the kira-kira in Katie’s life.

But when Lynn becomes seriously ill, there is no longer a role model for Katie to follow and she must learn to be a big sister herself. She constantly sees the worry on her parents’ faces, and tries to be responsible and tough so her parents have one less thing to worry about. In between being a caretaker for her younger brother, Sammy, Katie struggles with schoolwork and daydreams about her imaginary future husband Joe-John Abondondalarama.

On a historical note, Kira-Kira explores the prevalence of racism in the 1950s and 60s South. There are only six Japanese-American families in their Georgia town. Lynn points out to the unaware Katie that she may not have many friends when she enters first grade because they are Asian-American. The conditions of lower-class factory workers are also described in detail.

My first impression of Kadohata’s novel is that it seemed too young for the tween set. We are introduced to the main character before she is even five, and tween readers may initially have trouble relating to Katie. However, throughout the course of the novel, Katie develops into a very mature and admirable young woman. Kira-Kira is a beautifully written glimpse into one family’s life through the eyes of their middle daughter.

Kadohata, C. (2004). Kira-Kira. Atheneum Books: New York, NY. ISBN 06985639-3

M magazine (June 2010 issue)

Part People and part Seventeen, M magazine combines fashion with celebrity gossip for the tween set. An explosion of glossy celebrity photos helps readers dissect who is dating who, who wore what where, and who really is the cutest Jonas Brother of them all. And, of course, every issue includes the requisite Justin Bieber/Joe Jonas/Taylor Lautner foldout poster.

On the fashion side, M offers advice on which type of bathing suit is best for which body type and the newest accessories and products for summer. While some parents may object to this blatant celebrity worship and obsession with fashion and beauty, there are more innocent parts of the magazine to balance out the commercialized side. For instance, readers can take a quiz titled "What Pet is Best for You?" and tear out a sweet poster of a puppy in a basket.

Still unsure whether or not M is appropriate reading for your tween? For a frame of reference, I instantly labeled M as the Tiger Beat for a new generation. As I'm sure most of us remember, such magazines are mostly a tool to aid in the innocent fun of room decorating and giggling with your girlfriends.

Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff, by Jennifer Holm

Many graphic novels are presented in the classic comic book style: thick, black lines, action heroes, and each scene presented in a series of frames. While author Jennifer Holm is a master of the typical graphic novel style (as seen in her Babymouse series), she experiments with a different form of graphic novel in Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff.

As the title suggests, the reader learns about main character Ginny Davis' struggles with friendship, family and getting the lead role in the ballet recital through the minutia of Ginny's everyday life. It's as though the Davis family has gone out to dinner and the reader is left to rummage through homework assignments, instant message screens, hand-written poems, and refrigerator post-it notes. Tweens anticipating their middle school years will laugh when Ginny accidentally colors her hair pink right before school picture day, and will lament with Ginny as her older brother gets into increasing trouble with the law. Readers will devour Holm’s work to find out if Ginny actually survives all the ups and downs of seventh grade, including eating the dreaded cafeteria meatloaf.

This not-so-novel is perfect for those readers who are unwilling to pick up a 200 page book. With Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf, they may not even notice they actually (gasp!) reading!

Holm, J. (2007). Middle school is worse than meatloaf: a year told through stuff. New York, NY: Antheneum Books. ISBN 978-0-689-85281-7.

Olive's Ocean, by Kevin Henkes

“The world was changing before Martha’s very eyes, and she hated it.”

Martha, the heroine in Kevin Henkes’ Newberry Honor Book, is in many ways a typical twelve-year-old girl. She complains of being the middle sibling and is embarrassed by her parents’ constant bickering. In the summer before seventh grade, however, she finds herself in a not-so-typical situation. Olive, a student who arrived in Martha’s class late in the previous school year, dies suddenly in a tragic traffic collision. Although Martha and Olive had barely spoken, Martha soon learns that she unknowingly shared a connection with her late classmate. During her family’s annual summer trip to visit Godbee (Grandma Boyle), Martha is able to unravel the meaning of this unexpected connection. Henkes subtly conveys the message that changes in life may occur suddenly and without one’s approval, but we must accept and grow from these transformations.

While some of the subject matter in Olive’s Ocean could be considered heavy for some readers, Henkes presents the tougher subjects side-by-side with Martha’s new aspiration of becoming a writer and her crush on her grandmother’s neighbor. This balancing of subject matter keeps the novel from becoming too grave, a possibility when dealing with the loss of young life. Martha is a multi-faceted character with which many tween girls can relate. They will also admire Martha for her courage and candor.

Henkes, K. (2003). Olive’s Ocean. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0-06-053543-1 / 0-06-053544-X