Showing posts with label PYP fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PYP fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Book 80 - The Danger Box by Blue Balliet - Three Oaks, Michigan, USA

How can a legally blind boy solve a mystery? Zoomy is legally blind - his world can be scarey sometimes as things come in and out of focus.  He lives with his grandparents who have taught him how to make lists to help bring some order and predictability into his world. 

One evening Zoomy's father returns driving a stolen car, bringing a mysterious box and danger into their quiet lives. This is the first time Zoomy has met his his absent father and he is not sure he likes the way Buckeye creates havoc for his family.

Zoomy's grandfather is an antiques dealer and he takes the box to his shop but not before Zoomy, a keeper of notebooks himself, asks if he can read the notebook they found inside the box.

The notebook holds many mysteries for Zoomy who spends time at his library trying to discover what the notebooks is all about. While at the library Zoomy meets a true friend in Lorrol, who is at Three Oaks for the summer vacation. Together they begin to work out that the notebook is very precious indeed and written by a famous man who not unlike Zoomy is full of self doubt and uses the notebook to bring order into his life.

Throughout the novel there are issues of "The Gas Gazette" written by Zoomy and Lorrol with clues as to the identity of the notebook writer. 

Review from Kidsreads by Norah Piehl   Review from the Chicago Sun Times by Deborah Abbott
Blue Balliet speaking about her novel


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Book 73 - Tall Story by Candy Gourlay - Philippines and England

How can you love a brother who is on the other side of the planet? How can you know a sister how lives in a large city, in a country you have never been permitted to enter? Andi and Bernado are siblings. Andi, short for Amandolina, had been born in England. Her mother had gone there from the Philippines looking for work. She had left her young son, Bernardo in her sister's care, hoping that she would be able to brig him with her in the future. Somehow the Home Office had never seen fit to give permission despite numerous petitions. She remarried and had Andi. Andi had been only once to San Andre to visit her brother and her extended family.

Andi loves playing basketball and despite being so small she is a great point guard. Bernardo plays basketball to be with his friends. His incredible height makes him very useful. When finally some good news arrive from the British Home Office, Bernardo's reunion withhis family in the UK is not as easy as it may sound.

Winner of the National Children's Book Prize in the Philippines and the Crystal Kite award 2011- this book is a wonderful read. 

Candy Gourlay's website and Book Dragon's review

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Book 51 - The terrible secrets of the tell all club by Catherine Stier - USA

This is for the younger end of the Young Adult fiction category - I guess what I would call a "tweens" novel. The four main characters are your stereotypical middle schoolers - the Queen Bee, Kiley, who is theofunder of the Tell All Club, Josh - the nice guy who seems to love basketball but actually hates it, Anne the new girl to the school and TJ the lovable rogue who always seems to get into trouble. Kiley starts the club by sending the others 50 questions they must answer honestly if they want to get into the club. Question 1 what is your favourite salad dressing? As the questions progress they become more and more personal - what is your favourite memory, what is your most embarrassing moment? and then the final one Who do you really like? 

As can happen with these kind of things once the questions are answers there is no telling who is going to end up seeing your answers.... 

This novel has many twists and turns with misunderstandings and interesting consequences. The characters are more rounded than they first appear. I do like Josh's mother who is forever baking pies to apologise to her community for the actions of her bully son - Josh's big brother. There are some funny moments and some real life lessons. A good read for grade 4 to 6 students.