Moon Over Manifest

Vanderpool, C. (2010). Moon Over Manifest. New York: Random House Books.

Moon Over Manifest is the 2011 Newbery Award Winner.  It is about Abilene, who is a wandering girl left behind by her wandering father, whom she refers to as Gideon Tucker throughout the entire novel.  The story unwraps the mystery of Manifest, the town where Gideon sends his daughter to be looked after by Shady, a preacher who wears many hats for the town of Manifest.  Abilene meets a diviner and spends her summer working for Sadie.  Miss Sadie tells Abilene stories that help to open up the past and bring together the stories and the people of Manifest, eventually helping Abilene to see where she fits in the puzzle.  The story is tender, tough, and based on true events.  The author includes historical notes for readers to pore over after finishing the 300+ page novel and believe me, readers will gladly do so.  (Grades 4 and up).

Around the World

Phelan, M. (2011). Around the World. Boston, Massachussets: Candlewick Press. 

A Scott O'Dell winner for historical fiction, this book is a fantastic graphic novel.  It begins with the introduction of men sitting around a card table discussing the amazing feats of man and one man dares to challenge the others that he can circle the globe in eight days or less.  This is the beginning of a novel that inspires the three following short stories: Thomas Stevens, a former miner, who circled the globe on one of the earliest bicycle designs, Nellie Bly, female reporter, and Joshua Slocum, a retired captain mourning the death of his first wife.  The stories are extremely inspirational and attract enthusiasm and a desire for more information.  (Grades 2 and up).

Ninth Ward

Parker Rhodes, J. (2010). Ninth Ward. New York: Little, Brown And Company. 

This wonderful story tells of a young girl’s experience during hurricane Katrina.  Only, she is not just any young girl - she has “the sight” which enables her to see ghosts, including her own mother who lays on the bed upstairs.  The story tells of a young girl’s loss, triumph, and growth in the midst of a horrible natural disaster and provides the perspective that may be misunderstood by others of those who could not evacuate.  Ninth Ward is written in the dialect of those from the ninth ward in New Orleans and demonstrates how far a mother and guardian will go for the child they love.  (Grade 4 and up).

Turtle in Paradise

Holm, J. (2010). Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. 

Set during the depression, a story about a young girl, named Turtle, who is sent to live with her aunt in the Florida keys.  Throughout the story Turtle is insistent that kids are worse than adults, kids are no-good and don’t get what they deserve.  However, through Holm’s writing, it is clear that it is the adults in the story who aren’t always what they seem and perhaps could do with a little more kindness.  This is a story about growing up during the depression and being willing to do just about anything to make a nickel, including a band of boys who run the diaper club and Turtle who finds work on a sponging boat.  The story evolves into an adventure, resulting in Turtle’s questioning all she knows and loves and making a strengthening conclusion.  (Grade 3 and up).

Dead End in Norvelt

Gantos, J. (2011). Dead End In Norvelt. Harrisonburg, VA: RR Donnelley & Sons Company.

Set in the 1960s, in the midst of the communist war, a boy, Jack Gantos, is learning how to survive life in his parents house.  His mother prefers to barter for everything and his father believes in the value of cash. Caught in-between the arguments of his parents and having made one big mistake, Jack gets grounded for the summer.  Instead of baseball and hanging out with friends, Jack helps his neighbor, an elderly obituary columnist, Miss Volker.  Miss Volker is an original Norvelter and is tracking the deaths of the others, planning on being the last one standing.  This summer though, things speed up and the deaths seem to come unnaturally rapidly.  Miss Volker is the target of accusatory fingers, but did she really do it? This book is the 2011 Newbery Award Winner.  The way Jack Gantos weaves historical fiction with wild fiction is phenomenal and makes for a thoroughly entertaining read.  Just make sure you aren’t a nose-bleeder.  (Grade 3 and up).

90 Miles to Havana

Flores-Galbis, Enrique. (2010). 90 Miles to Havana. New York, New York: Roaring Brook Press.

     

      Julian is a young boy swept up in a Cuban Revolution and sent by his parents to Miami, Florida,  where the government officials cannot touch him.  Here he is placed in a camp ruled over by a child-dictator, which calls for a mini-revolution carried out by the children.  In this way Julian learns about revolution and dictatorship first-hand and understands the implications of a democratic society.  Julian runs away from the camp and also learns what it means to live an unsheltered life while retaining his superior moral character.  Julian meets Tomas who is fixing up a boat to help reunite more families in Miami.  Can Julian help Tomas and will he find his family again?  After this experience, will Julian ever be able to be a boy again and will his family accept him for who he really is?  This is an excellent book and provides invaluable insight to a little known historical event. (Grades 5 and up).

A Time of Miracles

Bondoux, Anne-Laure. (2009). A Time of Miracles. New York: NY, Delacorte Press.

      A mother goes to extremes to keep her child safe.  Gloria is raising Blaise and tells him the story of how she rescued him from a derailed train.  In the story his mother is carted away but we never know what becomes of her and Blaise is raised by Gloria in the midst of the collapse of the Soviet Union.  Throughout the collapse is severe political unrest and Gloria and Blaise flee the civic chaos.  Gloria heads toward France but when the path becomes too dangerous she finds passage for Blaise and is left behind.  As Blaise grows up he struggles to understand his identity and searches relentlessly for his mother, but when that search proves fruitless he realizes he must find Gloria.  This story is heartbreaking and extremely insightful.  (5th grade and up).