Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
Auggie (August) really wants to go to school with kids his own age, but that won't happen because he doesn't look like the other kids. Born with facial deformities, Auggie has always dreamed of being normal because normal is average and normal is "nothing special." When Auggie's parents tell him that he has been accepted Beecher Preparatory, Auggie is terrified of the idea that he will go to school with kids he doesn't know; according to Auggie, it was one thing to meet kids when he was much younger since they didn't know any better, but, now, kids will know that he is different, which means he will be open to ridicule. Although Auggie and his father are against it, Auggie's mother believes it will be good for him since she is terrible at fractions and it's time that he gives middle school a chance and make new friends. Reluctantly, Auggie agrees to meet with the principal (Mr. Tushman), but he wasn't counting on a tour and meeting students from his class. Although everyone seemed really nice, Auggie knew they were freaked out about his face except for Jack Will. Charlotte was really helpful, but it was Jack Will who seemed genuine. When the first day of school arrived, Auggie was nervous and he new that people would react to his appearance so he kept to himself until Summer joined him at his empty lunch table. Is it possible that there are kids out there who don't mind his face? Even Jack Will joined them at their table so Auggie, for the first time in his life, had friends. Told from alternating point of views between Auggie, Jack Will, Via, and her friend, Justin, readers will learn how Auggie is not just special because of what he looks like, but how he makes people feel and just how challenging that can be for those who torn between wanting to be his friend, but are worried about what others will think.

Critical Evaluation:
What makes this story amazing is that it's a story for everyone. All of us, at one time or another, have known, or seen, people like Auggie and Julian. I have an older brother who has a learning disability so when Julian, and company, would say awful things about Auggie I wanted to throw the book across the room because I was soooo mad! I also wanted to cry my eyes out because all Auggie has ever wanted is to be normal, but, what also angers me, is that he IS NORMAL! This story conveys how fear of the unknown can have a very negative effect on people, especially when we don't teach our children to accept people for who they are and not what they look like. Honestly, who cares that Auggie's face is different, but, to a child, this is a life changing experience. If readers have the opportunity to check out, or buy, the special edition of Wonder (that has a chapter from Julian's point of view) it makes sense why he behaves that he does. However, his bullying is not at all acceptable and it's obvious where it comes from when his own mother demands the expulsion of Mr. Tushman for not following "protocol" in regards to Auggie's admission into Beecher Prep. Moreover, when Julian's mother said that Beecher Prep was not an inclusion school, I wanted to ring her neck. Another reason why this book is amazing is that Auggie has the most amazing support system, which, sadly, not all kids (like Auggie) have. Even with Via's outburst, she realizes that Auggie needs his family because everyone is so quick to reject him because of his looks. Lastly, I loved the dynamics of Auggie's friends and how most of the kids had evolved after the "incident" and how they got tired of Julian harrasing Jack and Auggie. This is a great story where adults and children can come together to not only talk about real tough issues like bullying, and tolerance, it is also about teaching, and learning, the power of empathy and kindness. This book is timeless and I can't wait to read it to my own children some day.

Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

I live in NYC with my husband, two sons, and two dogs. For many years, I was an art director and book jacket designer, designing covers for countless well-known and not so well-known writers in every genre of fiction and nonfiction. I always wanted to write, though. I kept waiting for the perfect time in my life to start writing, but after more than twenty years of designing book jackets for other people, I realized that the perfect time would never really present itself. It's never the perfect time to start writing a book. So I  decided to just go for it. Wonder is my first novel. And no, I didn't design the cover, but I sure do love it.

Genre:
Tween Fiction, Tween Issues

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 5 & up
 

Books Similar to Wonder:

•  The One and Only Ivan by Kathryn Applegate
•  Freak the Might by Rodman Philbrick

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

"Wonder is essentially ... a wonder. It's well-written, engaging, and so much fun to read that the pages almost turn themselves. More than that, Wonder touches the heart in the most life-affirming, unexpected ways, delivering in August Pullman a character whom readers will remember forever. Do yourself a favor and read this book – your life will be better for it." - Nicholas Sparks, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Slate.com, October 10, 2012:
"Wonder is the best kids' book of the year."

Entertainment Weekly, February 17, 2012, The Top 10 Things We Love This Week:
"In a wonder of a debut, Palacio has written a crackling page-turner filled with characters you can't help but root for."

The New York Times, April 8, 2012:
"Rich and memorable...It's Auggie and the rest of the children who are the real heart of 'Wonder,' and Palacio captures the voices of girls and boys, fifth graders and teenagers, with equal skill."

The Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2012:
"What makes R.J. Palacio's debut novel so remarkable, and so lovely, is the uncommon generosity with which she tells Auggie's story…The result is a beautiful, funny and sometimes sob-making story of quiet transformation.”

The Huffington Post,
March 1, 2012: "It's in the bigger themes that Palacio's writing shines. This book is a glorious exploration of the nature of friendship, tenacity, fear, and most importantly, kindness."
January 2013: "I think every mother and father would be better for having read it. Auggie's parents -- who are never named in the book, and don't even get to narrate a chapter of their own -- are powerful examples not only of how to shelter and strengthen a child with heartbreaking facial anomalies, but also of how to be a loving advocate to any kid."

The London Times, The Top 100 People to Watch in 2012:
"The breakout publishing sensation of 2012 will come courtesy of Palacio [and] is destined to go the way of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and then some." 

Plot Summary:
Rabi loves baseball, but the problem is that he is a better strategist than a player. In fact, Rabi does this super human trick where he can use statistics to determine the outcome of a game that not only amazes his fellow players, but rubs his coach the wrong way. The real problem with the team isn't Rabi's lack of batting ability, but Coach Cocoran's inability to put together a logical batting order and general managing all together. What should have been an easy victory ended up being a disaster. Along with a poor batting average, Rabi struggles with the fact that he is the only mixed kid on the team, which his teammates make evident when they bully him by calling him "red dot." Well, after this last game, and escaping the clutches of Sammy and company, Rabi decided that he needed help with his swing so he, Miguel, and Joe went off to practice in a park near Milrow Meatpacking Plant. What was supposed to be a quiet afternoon, ended in chaos when plant workers stormed out of the meat packing facility including Miguel's aunt and uncle. What was said to be as a building maintenance, it was much bigger and worse than that, especially when Coach Cocoran tried to eat Rabi's brains. Furthermore, amidst all of the chaos, Miguel's aunt and uncle were take away by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) since they witnessed the incident that occurred at the meat packing plant.  Although the boys have only seen two zombies, more and more emerge from the plant and when they tried to tell "responsible adults" more poor decisions were made forcing them to run from the authorizes. Is it possible that the zombie apocalypse is real? If so, Rabi, Miguel, and Joe must save their town from imminent destruction, but the problem is how can they get anyone to believe them that zombies actually exist?

Critical Evaluation:
After reading Paolo Bacigalupi's award-winning noel, Shipbreaker, I am so glad to see another side of his writing in Zombie Baseball Beatdown. This story is a lot of fun because not only is there action and zombies, there are a whole set of very real issues that most teen readers will not be familiar with. For example, our dynamic trio are a bunch of misfits who have a lot in common despite their difference. For example, Rabi is part Indian and Caucasian, which makes him stick out like a sore thumb in his quiet little town. Miguel, whose parents (undocumented workers) were deported because they had the courage to speak out about the awful conditions of the meatpacking plant. Lastly, there is Joe whose father is an alcoholic and a single father. Although the boys don't see their friendship based on their family lives, they stick together because they help one another in may ways that solidify this relationship. In fact, it is very apparent when Miguel's aunt and uncle are taken away by ICE  both Rabi and Joe tell him that he can stay with their families because Miguel "didn't ask to be an orphan). Actually, Miguel's family situation is a whole different plot of the story because Sammy's father (Rabi's arch-nemesis) is responsible for their deportation because they were going to bring down the whole meat packing facility, which means Sammy and his family would lose all their money; Sammy's family is the most affluent family in town so rather than doing what is right by the people, Sammy's father reported Miguel's family to ICE so they are no longer a threat to the company. Another thing that I love about this story is that is reminds me of the many wonderful stories by Roald Dahl where the grown-ups are beyond ridiculous and not at all responsible for their own actions.There is a lot going on in this little 292 page book that some readers might find their heads spinning; however, Bacigalupi is able to tie all of this together to create a very serious story, but with a fun twist that make this book difficult to put down.

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

Paolo Bacigalupi’s writing has appeared in WIRED Magazine, High Country News, Salon.com, OnEarth Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. His short fiction been anthologized in various “Year’s Best” collections of short science fiction and fantasy, nominated for three Nebula Awards, four Hugo Awards, and won the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for best science fiction short story of the year. His short story collection PUMP SIX AND OTHER STORIES was a 2008 Locus Award winner for Best Collection and also named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly

His debut novel THE WINDUP GIRL was named by TIME Magazine as one of the ten best novels of 2009, and also won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Compton Crook, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards. Internationally, it has won the Seiun Award (Japan), The Ignotus Award (Spain), The Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis (Germany), and the Prix Planète-SF des Blogueurs (France).

His debut young adult novel, SHIP BREAKER, was a Micheal L. Printz Award Winner, and a National Book Award Finalist.

His most recent novel, THE DROWNED CITIES was a 2012 Kirkus Reviews Best of YA Book, A 2012 VOYA Perfect Ten Book, and 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.
He currently lives in Western Colorado with his wife and son, where he is working on a new novel.

Genre:
Tween Fiction, Tween Humor, Tween Comedy


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4-7


Books Similar to Zombie Baseball Beatdown:

• Doll Bones by Holly Black
• The Grimm Conclusion by Adam Gidwitz

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

"Printz-winning Bacigalupi writing a middle-grade zombie novel? Yes, it really happened, and yes, it's pretty darn good....Simultaneously smart, funny, and icky, this book asks a tough question: Is it worth looking the other way in order to save yourself?"—Booklist

"A high-energy, high-humor look at the zombie apocalypse....a signal alert to young teens to think about what they eat....sure to be appreciated by middle school zombie cognoscenti."—Kirkus Reviews

"Defies the expectations of the comedy-horror genre, turning this zombie novel into an effective bit of social commentary while staying true to the story's grisly and goofy roots....Casual readers will have a blast, and those who look deeper will learn something, too."—Publishers Weekly

"It's a testament to the author's skill that [the characters] express values of courage, friendship, and integrity as naturally as they toss off hilarious observations....[A] fast-paced home run."—School Library Journal

"[Introduces] reluctant readers to activism through literature.... a dark comedy with a bit of heart."—The Bulletin

"Batting comes in handy beating down zombies....Will appeal to reluctant readers."—Library Media Connection

Plot Summary:
It all started with Dwight and his Origami Yoda. Tommy, Kellan, Mike, Cassie, Lance, Quovondo, and Harvey have written down their experiences with Yoda/green paperwad. Although Dwight is a bit of a weirdo, his origami Yoda might have special powers to not only tell the future, but provide some pretty solid advice. For example, it was Yoda who helped Tommy make the right decision about whether or not he should ask a girl to dance at the PTA dance. Yoda also helped Kellan take care of the water fountain and pants issue while Mike was able to break his strikeout streak. As for Sara, well Yoda provided his advice that not only was not only weird, but ended up with her having a great time with her lonely grandmother. Although Origami Yoda seems like the real deal, the group skeptic (named Harvey) always has to add his own commentary to each story, which leads to the argument about Dwight and how every character sees Dwight. Although Harvey is a jerk, he does make a reasonable assessment of Dwight who is a genius on minute and a complete weirdo the next; Sara, who has known Dwight her whole life, testify to Dwight's eccentricities (he would dig holes and sit in them because Origami Yoda said to). Well, one day, when Tommy, Kellan, Mike, and Harvey got into an argument about Dwight, the mission to document the success of Origami Yoda has revealed a very important question: Is Dwight be weird on purpose or is her really weird? In this hilarious tale of a group of friends who want nothing more than to fit in and be liked, are they so desperate that they will consult Origami Yoda and Dwight to make crucial decisions about life?

Critical Evaluation:
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is amazing. Along with the tween humor, and issues, readers go on a journey to prove the power of Origami Yoda or his maker, Dwight. The best part about this story is that every character has an individual story where they are so desperate that they confess their fears to Origami Yoda and Dwight. Dwight is the hero of this story because he has endured countless insults for walking around school with a finger puppet, but, at the same time, everyone is seeking Yoda's advice. I can honestly say that Harvey annoyed me sooooo much because he had absolutely nothing nice to say about Dwight or anyone else in the story. Although it sets up the next story, and Harvey is the villain, each character does something remarkable: they allowed themselves to be vulnerable. As we read each case study, all of these tweens have a fear or a concern. Granted, the last person they want to share their problems with is Dwight and his finger puppet, they needed to hear someone, or something, to tell them that everything is going to be okay. Although I don't condone fighting, I was impressed with Dwight when he hears about Caroline's problem with Zack Martin; he was her Knight in Shining Armor not because she was a girl, but because she was being picked on. One thing about this age group is that words really do hurt so I definitely felt Dwight's pain when people would call him weird or a loser. Furthermore, other than standing up for Caroline, he would deny his "friends" access to Yoda because they would be mean to him and expect him to help them. Readers of all ages will realize just how difficult these years are because everything is new: school, liking the opposite sex, making friends, and fitting in. I am happy to say that this book had the perfect ending and I am looking forward to the sequel!

Information about the Author:
According to his wordpress:

Tom Angleberger NOT Anglebooger!!!!!!!!
Age: secret
Birthday: Oct. 24
Location: secret
Toothpaste: secret
Home state: Virginia
Security Clearance: AlphaShadow1
Pen of Choice: Pilot G2 gel roller! 1.0 used for everyday doodling, .7 used for illustrating the Origami Yoda books.
Previous occupations: newspaper reporter and columnist, juggler, weed boy, lawn mower part assembler, biology research assistant (bug larvae and plant diseases)
Current occupation: author and illustrator, keeper of origamiyoda.com (with Webmaster Sam)
First novel: Begun in 8th grade, never completed.
Published or about to be published novels: Qwikpick, Stonewall, Origami Yoda, Horton Halfpott, Darth Paper, Fake Mustache, Secret of the [[top secret]].
Spouse: author and illustrator Cece Bell!
Tom sez: “I’m not necessarily all that creative. I’m more of a puzzle putter together. I take all these little puzzle pieces — Yoda, middle school problems, Cheetos — and I fuss and fuss with them until I fit them together.”
Inspirations: Star Wars, Fumiaki Kawahata, Daniel Pinkwater, my own personal social disasters…
SuperPower: Aspergers!
 

Genre:
Tween Fiction, Tween Humor

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4 & up

Books Similar to The Strange Case of Origami Today:

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney
• NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Jeff Buckley
  

Awards & Recognition:

• Positive Review from School Library Journal
• Positive Review from Booklist
  

Plot Summary:
Ivan has been at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade for most of his life. Things were a lot more exciting when Mack and Helen would treat him as their human child, but Ivan is older and yearning for the life he had before the Mall. Although he dreams of being with other gorillas, Ivan has a few friends who keep him company: Bob (the sarcastic, stray dog who sleeps on Ivan's Belly at night) and Stella (the wise and caring elephant and storyteller). The best part of Ivan's nights are when Julia, and her father, George, come to clean the Mall; George is the janitor and Julia helps when she can. Julia is an artist and Ivan loves art. Ever since he was a baby, Ivan always loved looking at colors, shapes, and even using mud to make his own drawings. Life for Ivan, before Mack, was perfect until he and his sister were taken from his troop and sold off. Although Ivan used to be the star of the Exit 8 Big Top, business has been slow and Mack has become more and frustrated. What's even harder is that Stella's past injuries are taking it's toll, but real problem is: Mack has bought a baby elephant and is bringing her to the Mall. Stella, furious and sad, takes the baby, named Ruby, in her care and acts as her surrogate mother. However, when Stella was unable to recover form her injuries, she made Ivan promise that he will care for Ruby. Ivan knows absolutely nothing about raising babies, but he knows everything about being a protector: silver back Gorillas have it imprinted in their DNA. In this story, a disillusioned Gorilla does the impossible to not only save an innocent elephant, but to convey that animals, just like humans, know what it's like to love and care for one another. 

Critical Evaluation:
Katherine Applegate has given a voice to one of the Earth's mightiest creatures and did it very well. The One and Only Ivan is actually based on a true story about a silver back gorilla, named Ivan, who was held captive for 37 years in a mall in Washington. After National Geographic aired a special on "The Urban Gorilla," the public was outraged and even young children wrote letters to have Ivan removed from the Mall. Eventually, the Mall went bankrupt and Ivan was moved to Zoo Atlanta where he lived out the rest of his lifedin harmony with his own kind until his death in 2012. Ivan was 50 years old and he continues to paint until his last breath. I absolutely loved what Applegate said about writing this book: 

"When I started to write about the grim facts of Ivan's solitary existence, a new tale slowly began to take shape. At least on the page, where anything is possible, I wanted to give Ivan (even while captive behind the walls of his tiny cage) a voice of his own and a story to tell. I wanted to give him someone to protect, and the chance to be the mighty silverback he was always meant to be." 

What we human tend to forget is that animals have their own consciousnesses, their own identities, and their very unique abilities. When I hear about animals, like Ivan, it is incredibly upsetting because these animals were not made to be pets nor side show attractions; wild animals are a part of this world for a specific person and we, humans, have only one purpose: observe and learn. As readers find out what happens to Ivan's families, they will be in for a shock at the current reality that all of the world's gorillas face. As Ivan re-lives these awful remembers, he becomes determined to not let Ruby waste away in the mall like he has. Unlike the Ivan, the story's Ivan is given the opportunity to be just like his father and protect little Ruby. In fact, Ivan and Ruby have so much in common, it was inevitable that he would predict Stella's wish for him to protect Ruby. The ending is absolutely beautiful so be sure to have the tissues handy. 

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

I've written many books for children and young adults, including The Buffalo Storm (a picture book), Roscoe Riley Rules (a chapter book series), and Animorphs (which I wrote with my husband, Michael Grant.) My novel Home of the Brave was awarded the 2008 Golden Kite Award for Best Fiction, the Bank Street 2008 Josette Frank Award for children's fiction, and was a Judy Lopez Memorial Award honor book.

I live in California with my husband, two children, and assorted pets.

Genre:
Tween Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4-7

Books Similar to The One and Only Ivan:

• Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel
• Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:
School Library Journal Best of Children's Books 2012

Kirkus Reviews Best of Children's Books 2012

Amazon 2012 Best Books of the Year, Middle Grade

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2012

New York Public Library 100 Books for Reading and Sharing, 2012

Cybils shortlist, 2012 middle grade fantasy (Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards)

Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2013-14 Master List

2012 Nerdies Book Award, middle grade fiction

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews:
"How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.”

Starred Review, School Library Journal: 
“The characters will capture readers’ hearts and never let go.  A must-have.”

Starred Review, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: 
“Extraordinary.”

Plot Summary:
It all started with a squirrel who got sucked up in a vacuum and turned into a superhero. Before his accidental sucking up, Mrs. Tickham was well into her favorite volume of poetry when Mr. Tickham gave her the Ulysses 2000 X vacuum as a present. Not only was this vacuum super sucky, it was multi-terrain! However, when Mr. Tickham turned on the super sucky vacuum, it took ohf with Mrs. Tickham straight into Flora's yard. What should have been a quiet day with her favorite comic The Illuminated Adventures of the Great Incandesto, Flora saw Mrs. Tickham being dragged by a crazy vacuum that was headed straight to a poor, innocent bystander: a squirrel. In a flurry, Flora did everything she could to warn the squirrel, but it was too late...he was being inhaled by the Ulysses 2000X and was kaput. However, Flora read in in a bonus comic of The Illuminated Adventures of the Great Incandesto called the Terrible Things That Can Happen To You how to perform CPR and that is exactly what she did. After resuscitating the former dead squirrel, a miracle occurred...the squirrel had somehow developed a consciousnesses and abilities such as super strength and he can now understand human speech. When Flora explained to Mrs. Tickham that the squirrel, named Ulysses, after his metal maker, was now a superhero like The Great Incandesto, she read to him from her poetry book, which stirred something deep inside of Ulysses: he loved words. Furthermore, when Flora took him home, Ulysses discovered her mother's typewriter, which revealed yet another super power: HE CAN TYPE! Flora decided to take him in under her wing to help him develop his new found powers just like Dolores, the parakeet, from The Illuminated Adventures of the Great Incandesto. However, Flora and Ulysses face a variety of obstacles that another bonus comic, entitled The Criminal Element, has predicted starting with Ulysses arch nemesis who has set out to separate Ulysses from Flora and ultimately destroy him! Holy Bagumba! Will our dynamic duo be able to escape their arch nemesis named "MOM!?!"

Critical Evaluation:
Kate DiCamillo has done it, AGAIN, in making me love everything about her stories. DiCamillo takes some very tough issues such as divorce, broken families, parental neglect, and the onset of adolescence and wraps them up in a funny, yet well-written story of a genuine friendship between a young girl and a squirrel. For Ulysses, he has never known what it's like to be human, in the sense, that he now has a conscience and sudden urge to express himself; everything used to be about food, but it's now about being alive. Although being sucked in a vacuum, and a near death experience, would rattle anyone, this incident has given an animal (that most people neglect) a new purpose in life: to be the superhero that saves everyone in the end. Along with this amazing friendship, Flora, a self-professed cynic, is starting to change because she, like Ulysses, is more aware of her surroundings and herself: Flora realizes how much she misses her father and how lonely she is. Although Flora's mother is the arch nemesis of the story, it's obvious her mother is also still grieving from the divorce, but is unable to express herself to her daughter so she throws herself into her work. It's not until the end of the story that she realizes the error of her ways, but, in the meantime, Flora feels that her mother loved her cheesy lamp than her; Flora's father, who has spent many nights on Mrs. Meescham's horsehair couch,  crying his eyes out because he is separated from his little girl, is also unable to relay his feelings to Flora (he's a pro at evading questions). Clearly, the adults, even Mrs. Meescham, are nuttier than Ulysses breath, but with Ulysses and William Spiver, Flora finally learns that she isn't alone, which not makes her happy, but a little less cynical. The best part of this story are the comics that K.G. Campbell has drawn because he captures not only the mood, and comedy, of the story, but the softness of the penciled comics conveys the fragility of both Ulysses and Flora who want nothing more than to be loved. This really is a sweet story and I giggled quite a bit simply because of all the "Holy Unanticipated Occurrences!" that occurred, a young finally realizes just how loved she really is.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, raised in Clermont, Florida, and currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I write for both children and adults and I like to think of myself as a storyteller.

Here are a few more facts about me: I am short. And loud. I hate to cook and love to eat. I am single and childless, but I have lots of friends and I am an aunt to three lovely children (Luke, Roxanne, and Max) and one not so lovely dog (Henry).

I think of myself as an enormously lucky person: I get to tell stories for a living.

Genre:
Tween Fiction, Tween Adventure

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4-6


Books Similar to The Illuminated Adventures of Flora & Ulysses:

• Unhooking the Moon by Gregory Hughes
• Who Could That Be At This Hour? By Lemony Snickey

Awards & Recognition:

• 2014 John Newbery Medal Award Winner 

From Amazon.com:
Newbery-winner DiCamillo is a master storyteller not just because she creates characters who dance off the pages and plots, whether epic or small, that never fail to engage and delight readers. Her biggest strength is exposing the truths that open and heal the human heart. She believes in possibilities and forgiveness and teaches her audience that the salt of life can be cut with the right measure of love.
—Booklist (starred review)

Original, touching and oh-so-funny tale starring an endearingly implausible superhero and a not-so-cynical girl.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Despite supremely quirky characters and dialogue worthy of an SAT prep class, there’s real emotion at the heart of this story involving two kids who have been failed by the most important people in their lives: their parents.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Rife with marvelously rich vocabulary reminiscent of the early superhero era (e.g., "Holy unanticipated occurrences!") and amusing glimpses at the world from the point of view of Ulysses the supersquirrel, this book will appeal to a broad audience of sophisticated readers. There are plenty of action sequences, but the novel primarily dwells in the realm of sensitive, hopeful, and quietly philosophical literature.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Eccentric characters, snappy prose and the fantastical plot give this delightful novel a giddy, over-the-top patina, but the core is big and hopeful, contemplative and bursting with heart. No small feat, even for a superhero like DiCamillo.
—Shelf Awareness

In "Flora and Ulysses," longtime fans will find a happy marriage of Mercy Watson's warmth and wackiness and Edward Tulane's gentle life lessons. In Flora, they will find a girl worth knowing, and one they will remember.
—The New York Times Book Review

[L]augh-out-loud funny, tender, difficult and hopeful all at once. ... Cynics beware, this book is meant for those open to joy, wonder, loyalty and friendship of all stripes.
—The Huffington Post

This is a fun and clever tale of an unlikely hero uniting an even more unlikely cast of characters. Kate DiCamillo strikes again. Each character is well-drawn, the story is packed with fun references and asides. It's a perfect blend of poignancy and magic.
—Fall 2013 Parents' Choice Book Awards

DiCamillo does here what she does best, which is tell a deceptively simple story that elucidates big truths. ...
Though their adventures are wild and wacky, the heart of the story is about a girl adrift and how she finds her way home. Pencil illustrations and comic book panels by K.G. Campbell complement Kate DiCamillo's text perfectly. After reading Flora and Ulysses, you'll be asking when the next installment is due.
—NPR Books

Plot Summary:
Binky is officially a space cat. Not only does he have his official Felines of the Universe Read for Space Travel (F.U.R.S.T.) membership, he has plans to build a rocket ship to battle aliens, discover new worlds, and have adventures. However, Binky has never ever been outside his space station so how is he supposed to go on this adventure? Well, Binky trains. He boxes with his cat toys, he runs around the house chasing the aliens (aka. bugs), and he studies the books that are in the space station. Binky believes that the aliens are trying to take over the world and that is why he must protect his humans. As readers read on, they learn that Binky came to his home to be their guardian, cuddler, and helper. As Binky prepares for this awesome adventure, he realizes there are few things he forgets about, which might make his mission a lot harder then he thought.

Critical Evaluation:
SOOOO CUTE! I am a kitty momma of a super cute cat like Binky and I could literally see my cat doing the same exact things! The colored illustrations are very angular, which give Binky an almost bunny-like appearance. However, the shapes enhance his silliness since Binky acts like a wild bunny in most of the scenes and his head fits in a space helmet perfectly. The text is simple and the funny moments are just spot on! I love the illustrations where Binky farts because cats are notorious for farting when no one is watching  (or so they think) and the very idea of cats wearing clothes is just as hilarious. This is definitely a quick read so readers will have no problem starting one and reading the rest in the series in one sitting. This series is lots of fun and I can't wait to read the rest of Binky's adventures!

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Ashley was born and raised in British Columbia where she resides still with her cats Gracie and Charlotte. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and a Graduate Diploma in Illustration from Sheridan College. In addition to her illustration, she founded Chicken Tika Creations (which she named after her dog, not the food) and is selling her hand felted items across Canada.

Genre:
Tween Graphic Novels, Tween Fiction
 

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 3-6


Books Similar to Binky the Space Cat:

• The Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarret J. Krosoczka
• Babymouse: The Queen of the World by Jennifer Holm
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

Spires’s mix of sly, dry and slapstick humor in her first graphic novel is perfect.

With plenty of visual gags and a cute hero, this book is perfect for kids who are transitioning from easy readers to early chapter books, while the dry humor will also keep stronger readers engaged. 

Plot Summary:
James Henry Trotter is an unfortunate boy. One day, he had a family and a lovely home until a Rhinoceros ate his parents. What's even worse is that he is now living with his Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker who are two of the most hideous, cruel, and funny looking women in all of England. Constantly beaten, and broken, James endures his aunts malicious behavior until an old man appears out of nowhere with a bag of tiny magical crocodile tongues. According to the gentlemen, if he boils and drinks these tongues with ten hairs plucked from his own head, he will be the happiest person alive. Overcome with excitement, James searches for a hiding a place until he trips on the roots of the old, lifeless peach tree and loses the tiny tongues. Saddened by these turn of events, the tree does something miraculous: it sprouts a peach that won't stop growing. Amazed, and bewildered, James' terrible aunts decide to make money off of this unfortunate incident, separating James from the magic peach. However, later that night, instead of picking up the trash left by visitors, James jumps the fence that guards the peach to find a hidden doorway. Not knowing what to do, James climbs inside the peach to find a group of giant insects having tea and sitting by the fire. Overcome with shock, James finally realizes that the crocodile tongues not only changed to the tree, but the insects that lived in the soil. Rather than than enduring his aunts' deplorable behavior, James and his new friends go on an adventure that will take them to place they never imagined.

Critical Evaluation:
In this short, yet imaginative, is a story about a little boy's bad luck. Not only were his parents taken from him, he was put in the care of two despicable adults. Like most of Dahl's stories, we have another tragic tale of innocent children growing up in the hands, and homes, of irresponsible adults. I think what cracks me up the most is the candidness in Dahl's writing that conveys to young readers just how bad James' life is with his aunts without traumatizing them. As much as we want to deny it, there are children who are just like James who live in dysfunctional homes where they know what its like to suffer. However, Dahl's characters, despite their treatment, never lose hope that things will be all right in the end, which, in turn, gives those readers hope as well. One prevalent theme that this story focuses on is taking pride in who we are. For example, when Grasshopper, Centipede, Spider, and Earthworm start talking about their role in nature, it lets readers know that they also have specific traits that contribute to our world. For James, who has always been seen as worthless, starts gaining confidence in himself as he becomes captain of this crew of oddballs. Without James, there would be no one to think of brilliant ideas as to how to escape a pod of man-eating sharks or turning a giant peach into a flying machine. In fact, with the help of his new friends, James has done many thing he never would have imagined doing! With every challenge, James and company are able to survive with trust, teamwork, and a little creativity. The ending is absolutely awesome because it not an every day sight to see a giant peach shish kabob-ed on the Empire State Building. Not to mention, New York City devouring the peach, leaving the pit for James' new home is just as brilliant. This book is just plain fun and I can't wait to talk to tweens about this story. 

Information about the Author:
According to the book jacket of James and the Giant Peach:

Roald Dahl, born in 1916 in wales, spent his childhood in England and later worked in Africa. When World War II broke out, he joined the Royal Air Force and became a fighter pilot. After a war injury, he moved to Washington D.C., and there he began to write. His first short story was published by Saturday Evening Post, and so began his long career.

Roald Dahl became, quite simply, one of the best-loved children's book authors of all time. Although he passed away in 1990, his popularity and that of his many books -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Danny the Champion of the World, to name just a few--continues to grow.

Genre:
Tween Fiction

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4 & up
 

Books Similar to James and the Giant Peach:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• Matilda by Roald Dahl

Awards & Recognition:

Reviews from Amazon.com:

"The most original fantasy that has been published in a long time...[it] may well become a classic."
San Francisco Chronicle

"This is a stunning book, to be cherished for its story, a superb fantasy."
Chicago Sunday Tribune

"Here is a broad fantasy with all the gruesome imagery of old-fashioned fairy tales and a good measure of their breathtaking delight."
Kirkus 

Plot Summary:
With the release of the movie, and all of the requests for "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," I decided that I should read it if I could get my hands on it. I was rolling on the floor as I read this hilarious story about the plight of one sharp middle school 'tween named Greg and his successes and failures at becoming somebod for everyone to remember. Greg tells readers about his plans in a diary, which is supposed to be a journal (his mom got him the wrong kind). According to Greg, he is going to become famous by gaining immense popularity as class president, working on the school newspaper, and/or being voted "Class Clown." Sadly, Greg fails at all because someone was either more qualified or better suited. However, most of Greg's problems lie with his inability to be honest with his family and friends. His relationship with his best friend, Rowley, is definitely interesting. Although Rowley isn't as smart, or "mature", as Greg, but he accomplishes more than Greg can ever dream of by being himself. There is also a situation where Greg played a mean trick on some of the kindergartners that he and Rowley walk home; Rowley ended up being blamed for the trick and Greg didn't admit fault. When Greg finally admitted guilt, Rowley ended up "rating" him out so Greg lost his responsibilities as a hall monitor and Rowley was promoted. Unfortunately for Greg, he may have been able to to keep his best friend, and his job, had he been honest and less "wimpy."

Genre(s):
Tween Fiction

Reading Level/ Reading Interest:
Grades 5 & up

Books similar to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid:

• Hank Zipper by Henry Winkler
• Weird School by Dan Gutman
• Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar