Word Nerd- Susin Nielsen

A bullying book with a difference, Word Nerd was a fun and fascinating read. Before I continue my review, though, I have to let you know that although the character in the story is only 12, there is language in this book that, in my opinion, renders it unsuitable for an elementary school. This is a huge disappointment to me, as the story itself and the characters have much to commend them. I feel that although there are many positive reviews of this novel, not one mentions any issue with language, and I see part of my mandate is to inform librarians and other readers of potential problems.

Ambrose is one of those nerdy kids we have all met, or perhaps have been ourselves. He and his mom have moved frequently after his father’s death, so making friends has been very difficult. His mother is quite over-protective, so he invents a world for her where everything is fine. But when some so-called friends slip a peanut in his sandwich, knowing full well he has a life-threatening allergy, the truth comes out and his mother decides he will stay home and take classes by correspondence. Bored to tears, he strikes up an unlikely alliance with Cosmo, an ex-con and the son of the kind couple who rent to Ambrose and his mother. They only have one thing in common; Ambrose has learned to play Scrabble with his mom and Cosmo learned in jail. When they join a Scrabble club, it is only the gorgeous gal who leads it that keeps Cosmo coming back. All of this, however, is kept a secret from his mom for obvious reasons. But no secret can be kept forever, and Ambrose has to face the proverbial music and learn to stand up to his mom in the process. I loved Ambrose’s attitude, his unique relationship with Cosmo, and his ability to find a world where he can be accepted for who he is.

Who do I recommend this to? Well, I’m not sure. I would prefer not to put it in my YA collection for the afore-mentioned reason, but the character is a little young for high school, so you readers will have to use your discretion.

I would like to ask a favour of anyone who reads my blog. If you do read it regularly or from time to time, would you please make a brief comment? I am trying to get a feel for how many readers I have and there are some publishers who will send me books for review if I can give them some idea of my readership. So give me a moment of your time, if you will. Many thanks!!

Wanting Mor- Rukhsana Khan

Another excellent addition to our global awarenes books, Wanting Mor looks at the life of Jameela in post-Taliban Afghanistan. When her beloved mother dies, Jameela is left to the mercy of her alcoholic and drug-addicted father. He hurriedly moves them to Kabul where he fairly quickly marries. The new step-mother is reminiscent of the Cinderella story. Jameela is expected to work like a slave with no appreciation and the father conveniently stays out of the way. After Jameela seems to be establishing a friendship with the son of her new step-mother, the complaints are so vicious that Jameel’s father takes her to the market and abandons her. Befriended by a kind shop-owner, she is taken to the orpahanage where she gradually finds her place and wonder of wonders, is given the opportunity to learn to read. This had been a dream of her mother’s who couldn’t read herself as she had grown up under Taliban rule. This is a solid story of a young girl with great courage.

Pop-Gordon Korman

Gordon Korman has done it again. In an amazing career spanning decades, this well-known author of the Bruno and Boots series seems to be able to continually come up with a new, fresh and exciting ideas. Pop is ostensibly a football story, but that’s defintely not all it is. Marcus moves to a new town where he hopes to continue to pursue his dream of becoming a quarterback for the local football team. But he is met with a lot of resistance; their team had an excellent season the year before and Troy is already their football hero and they do not welome new-comers. Marcus is determined nonetheless, to try out, and when the coach sees his promise, he is allowed to join but not in the coveted quarterback position. In the meantime, he practices at the local park where he is unexpectedly joined by an older man who obviously knows his way around the game, and is a prankster to boot. Undependable and eccentric, it takes some time before Marcus acknowledges that there is something wrong and that the man’s family are hiding something. This turns into a story that is heart-wrenching to say the least, and provides an authentic look at the impact of Alzheimer’s on an individual and their family, as well as a reminder of the health risks take by our professional ball players. This is an outstanding read which I would recommend for grade 7 through high school. It will appeal to reluctant readers and both genders alike. I now begin to look forward to the next Korman book to cross my path, as all recent offerings have been very satisfying reads.

Wounded- Eric Walters

Wounded presents a present-day issue in a most readable format; that of the cost of war to those serving in the armed forces as well as that of their families. Marcus’s father is serving in Afghanistan and he, his sister and mother, cannot wait for him to return. The telephone ringing at an unexpected time causes trepidation; an unexpected visit to school by a superior officer causes fear. Will he be the one this time to be called out to face bad news. Emotions run high throughout this novel and when his dad finally does return, his increasingly erratic behaviour brings you to understand the almost impossibility of fitting back into “normal” life. Although there are times when the conversation between father/son seems a bit stilted, one has to admire the strength of the relationship between them. This is an important novel for our students to read as there are many days when the paper shows the latest casualty, but we have no grasp of the huge emotional impact on those most closely involved. This would pair well with Deborah Ellis’s Off to War:Voices of Soldier’s Children; true short stories on the same theme.

Death in the Air- Shane Peacock

Well, Shane Peacock has done it again in the second of his stories of the early days of Sherlock Holmes. Although reading the first one sets the scene for this one and acquaints us with Sherlock’s background and family life, Death in the Air also can be read on its own. After solving a nefarious murder in Eye of the Crow and receiving no credit for it, Sherlock is increasingly determined to become a great detective acknowledged by all. When he is a close spectator of a great trapeze artist’s untimely fall, he is immediately convinced that it is a murder that he alone can solve. His investigations take him into the seediest parts of London, pitted against the notorious Brixton gang. If he can bring them to justice, he would have to be credited with an amazing coup and be given the reward that he so desperately needs to finance his education and to save his mentor and employer from ruin. The relationship between Sherlock and Bell is compelling and I trust will continue to receive a place in future novels. Whether Sherlock attains his goals in this novel, I shall leave for the reader to discover.

What World is Left- Monique Polak

Although all books that relate to the holocaust are horrendous, the emotions evoked by What World is Left increases as you realize that the story is that of the author’s own mother. A non-religious Jewish family in Holland, Anneke’s family cannot believe that they are being sent to Theresienstadt, a “model” concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Her father, an artist, is forced to use his skills in the camp for propagation. Anneke is forced into hard labour and learns just how much the human spirit and body can endure in order to survive.

I would highly recommend this for grade 8 right through high school. It would be a valuable addition to your Literature Circles list as well.

Listen to this excellent interview with Monique and her mother.

http://www.moniquepolak.com/video.html

Greener Grass- Caroline Pignat

Historical fiction at its best, Greener Grass is a poignant look at the great famine in Ireland of 1847, after entire potato crops were destroyed by blight. Seen through the eyes of fourteen-year old Kit, we are overwhelmed with the utter devastation which led to famine and death. Many landlords evicted tenants for non-payment of rent, and they were forced to exist on seaweed soup once daily. Many perished. As all good historical fiction shoud do, this takes us into the heart of Ireland and the hard choices that need to be made when survival is at stake. Kit is a resourceful and strong character who evokes our sympathy and draws us into the plight they faced. This will make a fine addition to both elementary and high school libraries and should be included in lists of excellent historical fiction.

Wild Geese is the name of the anticipated sequel.

Bite of the Mango- Mariatu Kamara with Susan McLelland

Although I read this last year, Bite of the Mango is not a book you would readily forget. A powerful and true story of a 12 year old girl who was faced with an attack of terrorists who brutally raped her and cut off both hands. I think for most of us, that would be the end of the story, but Mariatu is a young woman of great courage. This story chronicles her steps to regain her health, her freedom and hope. Today she attends university in Toronto and tours to tell of her experiences. This memoir would be excellent to include in the study of various cultures around the world.

www.mariatufoundation.com will tell you more of her work in Sierra leone today.

Submarine Outlaw- Philip Roy

A truly riveting adventure story, Submarine Outlaw will likely capture the heart and minds of all who have longed to escape the confines of their everyday world and try something exciting and even dangerous. Alfred has no desire to be a fisherman and approaches the local junkyard dealer and together, they build a submarine. Hard as that might be to believe, read on, for the  dramatic escapes and encounters Alfred makes in his undersea voyage are fascinating and believable. For those of you seeking another kind of adventure story, I would pair this with Kenneth Oppel’s Skybreaker and John Lunn’s The Aquanauts and would be suitable for grade 5 readers and into early high school. The sequel is already out and I have purchased it so I’ll be ready for those students who will want to continue with Alfred’s adventures.

This is nominated for the 2009 Diamond Willow category.

Read another review from the blog What Counts.

Polly Horvath

Dear Polly Horvath,

I always enjoy reading your books. I remember reading Everything on a Waffle and loving it, but with a niggling question: Which of my students will read this? Since reading more of your works, that question has become amplified. I really struggle with who your audience is. The characters are right for children and although the plot line is a little eccentric, there are students who would enjoy that. Your writing is superb but the flights of linguistic fancy often seem above what most of our readers would enjoy. Recently, because I’m really trying to figure you out, I read The Canning Season. Once again, it is full of quirky characters and a plot that dazzles the mind. But as I encountered some of your language choice, I thought, oh,no- this is not appropriate for my younger students for whom the story seems intended. But the characters appear to be too young for my YA (Young Adult) shelf and definitely too young for high school. So in all good conscience, where do I put this? To whom do I recommend this? I came to conclude that this should be an adult book. It would not take a great deal of revising in order for it to take on the quality of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, which it so reminded me of in terms of style and audience.

I also recently read My One Hundred Adventures. This seemed much more accessible to our elementary readers and I look forward to testing it out on some of my more discerning readers. Although, once again, there are many implausible scenes, it moves along at quite a sharp pace.

Reading The Corps of the Bare Boned Planes last year was what really set me off on this “who is you audience” rant. See the post I wrote on this at that time, which explains some of my frustration in trying to come to an understanding of you as a most excellent author.

So once again, dear Polly, you are an amazing writer. I just think that you need to decide for whom your writing is best suited. I will continue to read your offerings and perhaps I will find that indeed they have a child audience that I am as yet unaware of. We adult readers adore you!