December 2016

Starred and Recommended for

December 2016

Starred

ELEMENTARY

Where Did My Clothes Come From?

Author: Butterworth, Chris

Illustrator: Gaggiotti, Lucia

Candlewick Press, 2015

ISBN: 9780763677503

Grades 1 - 3, Grades 4 - 5: Where do our clothes come from? From natural fibers to synthetic fibers, this book covers how these materials are used from farm to finished product. An emphasis is placed on the process of making clothing items familiar to kids: jeans, silk, wool sweaters, fleece, and rubber boots.

Verdict: Excellent nonfiction purchase. Colorful and accurate depictions from farm to factory to closet. Only wish they would have included an occasional picture of the process.

Curricular Use: Ask students to bring in an article of clothing or look on the tags they're currently wearing. Students could learn about the process for making the clothes they wear each day. This could also be used as a starting point for further research. (Poor working conditions, how other clothing types are made, etc.)

Reviewer: Katy Olson, Elementary Librarian, St. Helens Elementary

Hippopotamister

Author: Green, John Patrick

Illustrator: John Patrick Green

First Second Books, 2016

ISBN: 9781626722002

Grades 1 - 3: The book Hippopotamister is written in a comic-style fashion. The story’s two main characters are Hippopotamus and Red Panda, who live in the city zoo. The zoo is in disarray. No one is taking care of the grounds let alone the animals. Red Panda is fed up and decides to get a job among the humans. He reports back to his friend Hippopotamus that each job he has is “awesome.” One day, Hippopotamus asks his friend Red Panda if he can get him a job too and Red Panda decides that Hippopotamus has to become a Hippopotamister. Hippopotamus feels insecure as he tries each job from construction worker, hair stylist to art restorer to musician. Red Panda keeps a good attitude while Hippopotamus gets more and more discouraged that he can’t do anything right. After almost sitting on a child when working in a child care center, Hippopotamus returns to the zoo, but is still unhappy until a light bulb goes off in his head. That night, he goes to work at the zoo, fixes the front gate and many other things. The animals are grateful and Red Panda returns to the zoo with children in tow and the zoo is saved. The author/illustrator includes an how to draw segment at the end of the book. The reader learns to draw the Hippopotamister and the Red Panda and is encouraged to include one of the many hats that the two characters wear in the story.

Verdict: Hippopotamus learns transferable skills in this uplifting story that encourages readers not to give up. The comic-book like format appeals to struggling readers.

Curricular Use: Career exploration, self esteem

Reviewer: Sonja Sample, Child and Family Liaison , Lower Columbia College Head Start

The Big Monster Snorey Book

Author: Hodgkinson, Leigh

Illustrator: Leigh Hodgkinson

Nosy Crow, Candlewick Press, 2015

ISBN: 9780763686604

P - K, Grades 1 - 3: Eye catching illustrations of Monsters, kids will grab it off the shelf time and again. A brilliant little monster sneaks around recording the unique sounds of big scary monsters as they sleep. Once the big scary monsters wake up the little monster hits "play" and gets fantastic night of sleep as the big monsters run to hide from the sounds of the loud scary monsters they hear. Verdict: Fun, easy read for all ages. Buy a couple of copies this will become well used.

Curricular Use: Fun art projects for kids to create monsters using modern art techniques.

Reviewer: Jodie Rodriguez, Elementary Librarian, C.V.G. Elementary

SECONDARY

The Cat King of Havana

Author: Crosshill, Tom

Illustrator: NA

Katherine Tegen Books, 2016

ISBN: 9780062422835

Grades 9 - 12, Grades 8 - 12: Rick “That Cat Guy” Gutiérrez is known mostly as the creator of CatoTrope, a popular cat video website he began after his mother’s death two years ago. After being dumped on his sixteenth birthday, Rick decides to branch out a bit. Though he’s avoided his Cuban culture since his mother died, his best friend convinces him to try out as a congo drummer with a band he found on Craigslist. Which is how Rick finds himself watching Ana Cabrera dance.

In the first part of the novel, Rick takes a beginner’s salsa class and becomes friends with Ana through a dance/website exchange. When she is feeling desperate after her step-father dies and her drunk father moves back in with her and her mother, Rick spontaneously suggests they spend the summer in Cuba: get away, study salsa.

Rick and Ana stay with Rick’s aunt and cousins in Havana, family he doesn’t really know since his mother, who came to the U.S. alone as a teenage refugee, cut off her ties to Cuba and rarely spoke of her life there. Ana hopes to spend their time in Cuba making a film about local dance, as well as studying salsa with Rick as they planned. Rick hopes to learn more about his mother, and maybe get Ana to fall for him.

The book deftly handles the many contradictions of Cuba, and parallels them in many ways with Rick’s own coming of age. Rick’s aunt Juanita is close with the government, which affords the family many privileges. Her daughter, Yolanda, though, has counterrevolutionary beliefs, and a large part of Rick’s time in Havana deals with her friend being grabbed off the streets by secret police and Rick covertly sending an encrypted video of it to his friend back in New York. Yosvany, Rick’s other cousin, is a ladies-man whose priority is to have fun. Rick admires his confidence, but is conflicted by his machismo, especially when he finds himself trying to imitate it. And it’s difficult for Rick to learn much about his mother’s youth when so many are afraid to speak about those who left. There is also a lot of dancing. This funny and thoughtful novel is highly recommended for high school and public libraries. Verdict: “The Cat King of Havana” will appeal to readers who enjoy other travel-related YA novels, with the novelty of having it take place somewhere much closer, yet less accessible, than the primarily European-centric sub-genre. This book seems particularly timely now with the recent death of Fidel Castro (who makes an appearance in the novel), where the future of Cuba is once again in American news.

Reviewer: Becky Standal, Youth Services Specialist, Longview Public Library

How it Feels to Fly

Author: Holmes, Kathryn

Illustrator: NA

HarperTeen, 2016

ISBN: 978006237349

Grades 9 - 12: Sam is a ballerina who suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, and body hate issues. Upon her dance instructor's recommendation, Sam is sent to Perform at Your Peak summer camp for high performing teens with anxiety issues. Sam must complete the summer camp before she can attend a ballet intensive camp. Sam has severe body issues. She has gained 14 pounds--just her body growing and developing into a woman's body--yet she sees herself as fat and thinks everyone is staring at her and talking about her behind their backs. Sam's worst enemy is herself and the constant voice in her head telling her she is fat and not good enough. Actually, Sam's worst enemy is her mother, who pushes Sam to the point where she has meltdowns. Sam's mother lives vicariously through Sam's ballet. She has lofty goals and ambitions for Sam. The other teens at the camp, most whom are athletes, one who is a budding actor, suffer from their own issues. The teens learn to trust one another, then open up to one another and their counselor, Dr. Lancaster, about their fears and triggers and coping skills. They learn to face their fears and develop proactive coping skills. Of course, there are the cliche scenes where Sam falls in love with peer advisor Andrew (who doesn't return the feelings); Sam and Zoe break into Dr. Lancaster's office (well, the door was unlocked, so was Dr. Lancaster's desk); Sam and Zoe steal the camp van and drive Sam to the ballet intensive camp so Sam can give it one last shot to prove herself (after being told she was not accepted to the ballet intensive); Zoe steals beer when the group went into town one evening (and they have a late-night party); the campers and their advisors sneak out to swim in the lake at midnight. Along the way, though, Sam learns that gaining 14 pounds does not mean the end of her dance career. While she may not be a top ballerina, she is learning she can try different styles of dance. Sam learns to speak up to her mother. Sam learns to move forward with her life in a new direction, and that's okay. How it Feels to Fly offers insight into how teens who are pushed by parents and coaches really suffer on the inside. How the pressure to be a peak performer has a devastating affect on the mental, emotional, and physical state of each individual. While I got a little tired of Sam's whiny voice, and the cliched scenes which are typical in so many YA novels, I did enjoy this book. I felt Dr. Lancaster should have been portrayed as a stronger therapist--she seemed rather passive and lax throughout much of the book, but this was necessary so some of the other shenanigans could happen. I think this book provided compelling insight into how teens perceive themselves, and what they will do to themselves in order to cope with their insecurities and anxieties and uncertainties, especially if they are being pushed to the limit by parents or coaches. Verdict: How it Feels to Fly provides excellent insight into how we all struggle and cope with our inner demons, especially when under pressure.

Curricular Use: Independent reading.

Reviewer: Debbie Rock, Library Media Specialist, Kelso High School

Sabotage: The Mission to Destroy Hitler's Atomic Bomb

Author: Neal Bascomb

Illustrator: NA

Arthur A. Levine, 2016

ISBN: 9780545732437

Grades 9 - 12: This is Bascomb at his finest. I liked this even more than his Nazi Hunters, which I loved. Sabotage has the spy and secret mission appeal but it also has explosions, military training and fighting the Nazis. This is the story about the dedicated men who risked their lives to keep Hitler from obtaining the heavy water his researchers needed to create a nuclear reactor and atomic bomb. The major source of this water was a power plant, Vemork, located in Norway. I loved Bascomb for explaining the chemistry and physics in a manner our kids could understand. And I appreciated that he did not minimize the sacrifice that all the participants made; the Norwegian people suffered horrible reprisals for each success the saboteurs achieved, as well as bombing casualties. This is a story about patience, following orders, loyalty, intrigue and sabotage. The prologue sets the historical scene with the German invasion of Norway. There is a pronunciation guide, list of “players,” bibliography, index and chapter notes, all of which turns this book into a research tool as well as great narrative. Verdict: Another enticing non-fiction to use when meeting the requirements of the CCSS for research in history, also interesting references to the physics behind the atomic bomb.

Curricular Use: Good background for WWII study.

Reviewer: Lisa Sudar, Teacher Librarian, Mark Morris High School Library

Holding Up the Universe

Author: Niven, Jennifer

Illustrator: NA

Alfred A. Knopf, 2016

ISBN: 9780385755924

Grades 9 - 12: I fell in love with Niven's "All the Bright Places," so I awaited this book with giddy anticipation. It was SO worth the wait! When Libby's mother died, Libby drowned her sorrows in food, right up until she became so heavy that she had to literally be cut out of her bedroom in order to save her life. She's used to being mocked and taunted, so when Jack Masselin uses her for the Fat Girl Rodeo, she does what any self-respecting girl would do. She punches him. Hard. That punch becomes the beginning of a memorable love story that doesn't end as sadly as "All the Bright Places." Jack has his own issues, not least of which he suffers prosopagnosia or face blindness. His disability comes with some pretty serious consequences: he winds up kissing his girlfriend's cousin, he winds up grabbing a kid who looks like his brother at a birthday party his brother is attending, or not being able to recognize his own parents. To compensate, Jack makes a joke of everything and accepts the mantle of "jerk." It's better than admitting to everyone that he doesn't know who they are are. Somehow, though, he begins to see Libby and falls in love with her spirit. Jack's voice is pretty profane, but that is overshadowed by a truly delicious story with utterly memorable characters that explores beauty, race, family and the quest to become emotionally healthy. I purchased two additional copies, and both were checked out immediately. Verdict: This must-have romance will appeal to students of both genders and truly explores the difference between lust and intimacy.

Curricular Use: This book hits the following Washington Health Education Core Ideas: H1.So1.HSa, H1.So1.Hsb, H1.So3.HS, H8.So4.HS, H1.So5.HS, H1.Se5. HSa, H1.Se5.HSb. These standards are the ones focused on self-esteem, harassment, intimidation, and bullying, and healthy sexual relationships.

Reviewer: Jodi Kruse, Teacher Librarian, R. A. Long High School

Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound

Author: Pinkney, Andrea

Illustrator: NA

Roaring Book Press, 2015

ISBN: 9781596439733

Grades 9 - 12: This is a book that would be wonderful to listen to. For students who have heard the term Motown, but may not understand what it means in regards to music this is a wonderful resource. But it is also a revelation for anyone who loves music. Berry Gordy, Jr. who founded Motown music speaks to working on a car assembly line and dreaming of creating music that would “create a place where a kid off the street could walk in one door, an unknown….come out another door a star.” The book opens with quotes of key players in this journey and a “definition” of what “the Groove” is- not just an indentation in a vinyl record, but a character in this book who is “driving” the car Rhythm Ride and narrates the history of this style of music, as well as the Black people of Detroit. We’re told “Buckle up baby, settle in” as the story begins with a bio of Berry. Page “headings” on the right help the reader keep track of each chapter as they read. Black and white photographs throughout punctuate the chapters, “records” or vinyl encase the page numbers at the bottom of each page.This book reads takes the reader on a ride not just through music history but also through the racial tensions in Detroit and deadly race riots that took place 1967. A comprehensive timeline, index, list of sources for “Further reading” and a “selected discography”- a list of songs and records by year- make this book not just an interesting read but a research tool. I enjoyed the ride and learned much for this new source of Black history and music history. Verdict: Good source for students of music and American history.

Curricular Use: Interesting use of a fictional "character" as narrator. Good for point of view studies. American Black history study through the lens of music.

Reviewer: Lisa Sudar, Teacher Librarian, Mark Morris High School Library

Saving Red

Author: Sones, Sonya

Illustrator: NA

Harper Teen, 2016

ISBN: 9780062370280

Grades 6 - 8, Grades 9 - 12: I waiver between a starred review and a recommend for this particular title. Jay Asher is quoted on the cover as saying "I couldn't put 'Saving Red' down," and that is a pretty apt description. Think of this as Ellen Hopkins lite. It's free verse, so it goes quickly, and the plot is riveting. Molly is a freshman, and like many students, has put off the mandated community service hours until the last minute. In the mad scramble to accomplish the assignment, she takes on the task of counting homeless people in her Santa Monica town. One of the tenets of this task is that she not interfere with the homeless people in any way. It's a prohibition that she finds impossible to honor when she meets a girl she calls "Red." Red is completely unpredictable, but she is also alone and Molly feels immediately drawn to and protective of her. As the story unfolds, readers discover that this connection is, in part, due to the disappearance of Molly's older brother, Noah. Molly's goal--in spite of her own seriously messed up life--is to reunite Red with her family. She is aided in this quest by Cristo, a gorgeous guy that she meets and falls in like with instantly. Molly begins to appreciate the challenges of helping someone who is clearly mentally ill when she discovers that Red talks with The Duke and Lana--voices that Red hears in her own head. The erratic behavior is ultimately what landed Red on the beach as a homeless girl, and what keeps her from being reunited with her mother in San Francisco. I loved the characters, and the plot draws attention to the preponderance of mentally ill individuals who wind up being homeless. Red is a fully formed, sympathetic character who readers will find themselves loving as much as Molly loves her. Molly is equally sympathetic. Readers might initially believe she is a middle class girl without a care in the world, but it is Molly's own struggle that will make readers connect with her character. From a mother who is using medical marijuana to emotionally check out to a father who is using work as an escape, Molly is not nearly as carefree as one might think. The entire story is told in language that builds emotion without the use of profanity. It is Molly's compassion in the face of occasionally dangerous situations that make this such a winning title. If anything, my only concern is the tightrope that Sones is walking between encouraging readers to activism and recognizing the limitations an average person might have in trying to get a mentally ill homeless person the help he or she needs. Verdict: "Saving Red" is a great book for reluctant readers and socially conscious readers alike.

Curricular Use: This is a title that begs a discussion of text complexity. Though easily accessible, Sones' use of free verse to tell Molly's story includes multiple layers that are not as straight-forward as regular prose. This could pair well with a nonfiction title about homelessness which would allow students to "analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take" (RL.9). This is also an excellent text for analyzing author craft and structure (RL.5).

Reviewer: Jodi Kruse, Teacher Librarian, R. A. Long High School Library

Top Prospect

Author: Volponi, Paul

Illustrator: NA

CarolRhoda Books, 2016

ISBN: 9781467794336

Grades 6 - 8, Grades 9 - 12: What must it be like to be in middle school and be incredibly talented in a sport--so talented, in fact, that you are recruited by a college while still in middle school? That is the scenario Paul Volponi explores in "Top Prospect." Travis Gardner gets a break that many middle school students can only dream about--his brother Carter is offered a football scholarship to Gainesville University, and while the coach is extending that offer, Travis gets the opportunity to meet Coach Elvis Goddard. The invitation to use Gainesville's sports facilities becomes Travis's entry ticket to college sports. Any suggestion Coach Goddard makes, Travis immediately implements to the instantaneous improvement of his game. After just a few meetings, Coach Goddard extends an informal scholarship and Travis becomes fully immersed in the world of college sports--including a seamy underbelly that he never expected. Volponi is one of my favorite authors, and while he abandons the gritty language of some of his early work, he doesn't shy away from some of the biggest controversies surrounding college athletics. He skillfully explores the pressures as well as sibling dynamics using not only prose from Travis's perspective, but short snippets of Carter's perspective and news articles from "The Gainesville Sentinel." Volponi's Afterward supplies statistical information about the practice of recruiting "understandings" between colleges and promising middle school athletes. This title will have appeal for athletes spanning a wide age range. Verdict: This is a fabulous companion to books like "Stick" by Michael Harmon or nonfiction books like "The System" by Jeff Benedict.

Curricular Use: Volponi's use of newspaper articles provides an opportunity to discuss Craft and Structure [ELA 5: Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g. a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole; ELA 6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text] as well as Integration of Knowledge and Ideas [ELA 9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take]. This is also a title that could be used as a discussion tool for the the Washington State Health Education Core Ideas related to Substance Use and Abuse (since the use of performance enhancing drugs is addressed), Social Emotional Heath (specifically Stress Management), and Wellness.

Reviewer: Jodi Kruse, Teacher Librarian, R. A. Long High School Library

The Sun is Also a Star

Author: Yoon, Nicola

Illustrator: NA

Delacorte Press, 2016

ISBN: 9780553496680

Grades 9 - 12: I got to read "Everything, Everything" for the School Library Journal, and I loved it. The difficulty of writing a brilliant debut is following it up with a book that is equal in caliber. Nicola Yoon successfully does this with "The Sun is Also a Star." Natasha and her family are living in New York illegally. At least, they were. When her father is arrested for driving under the influence, his expired visa is discovered and the whole family is scheduled for deportation. Daniel is the second son of a Korean family. His older brother, Charlie is a bona fide jerk. Charlie has also been thrown out of Harvard, making their home a minefield of not-so-subtle digs at Charlie and increased expectations that Daniel will attend Yale and become a doctor. Daniel is a hopeless romantic. Natasha is a stoic scientist. They meet quite by accident, and Daniel is immediately drawn to Natasha. Natasha is focused on meeting with an attorney in the desperate hope that she will get a judge's stay and she will be able to continue to attend the science magnet school until graduation. She doesn't believe in such things as fate and love at first sight. Those beliefs are challenged as she spends her last day in the United States with Daniel. Granted, some of the events defy credulity, but Yoon successfully captures the cultural experience both of illegal immigrants and the children of first generation immigrants. The difference between this and other books tacking the same issue is that Natasha and her family are Jamaican, an experience that is rendered with some accuracy since Yoon, herself, is Jamaican. The ending is bound to disappoint some readers despite the epilogue, but it doesn't take away from the overall appeal of the story as it unfolds. This is a story that will have appeal for readers of both genders who find themselves lost in a good love story. Verdict: This is a highly recommended story that will add diversity of experience to collections. Fans of Yoon's debut will love this stand-alone.

Curricular Use: This is an excellent text for analyzing the structure of the text and how those relate to one another (ELA L.5) and assessing how point of view or purpose shapes the text (ELA L.6). This is a book that will help students "gain a reservoir of literary and cultural knowledge" as suggested in the note on range and content of student reading in the Common Core State Standards (p. 35).

Reviewer: Jodi Kruse, Teacher Librarian, R. A. Long High School Library

Recommended

ELEMENTARY

Lion Lessons

Author: Agee, Jon

Illustrator: Agee, Jon

Penguin, 2016

ISBN: 9780803739086

P - K, Grades 1 - 3: Not karate, not yoga, not the violin, this little boy wants lion lessons. But, master lion worries as his young pupil struggles to pounce, roar, and prowl. Maybe what this boy needs is a good cause to motivate him. Verdict: Fun, interactive particularly for pre-school to 2nd graders.

Curricular Use: Great for younger grades, especially Kinders. This book could be used as a springboard for a wiggle activity: pretending to be a lion. Quick and easy read-aloud.

Reviewer: Katy Olson, Librarian, St. Helens Elementary

How Things Grow

Author: Carle, Eric

Illustrator: Eric Carle

Grosset & Dunlap, 2015

ISBN: 9780448487687

P - K: One word descriptions takes the reader on a journey of growth in Eric Carle's book How Things Grow. His signature illustrations are marvelous and enhance the introduction to vocabulary. The book is unique as it includes flaps that flip up on the right-hand side of the book through which reading becomes a hands-on experience. As one flips up the flap, he or she discovers that a chick grows out of an egg, an oak tree grows out of an acorn and so forth. The illustrations next to the word of the objects make it easy for young children to make the connection between print and pictures. Verdict: This book could be used to help someone to read and write as the beautiful illustrations make the easy connection between print and pictures.

Curricular Use: This book could be a tutoring tool for a struggling reader and writer.

Reviewer: Sonja Sample, Child and Family Liaison, Lower Columbia College Head Start

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman

Author: Edwards, Michelle

Illustrator: Karas, G. Brian

Schwartz & Wade Books, 2016

ISBN: 9780553497106

P - K, Grades 1 - 3: Sophia helps her neighbor, Mrs. Goldman, make pom-poms for knitted hats, but Mrs. Goldman doesn't have a hat for herself. Sophia decides to make her one, but how will she fix all of her mistakes? Verdict: Simple story about a girl who loves her neighbor and wants to help her. I loved the theme of community, actually knowing your neighbors and helping them.

Curricular Use: This book could be used to promote classroom community and observing the needs of others in our sphere of influence. Also, for students learning how to knit, there's a pattern in the back.

Reviewer: Katy Olson, Librarian, St. Helens Elementary

My New Mom and Me

Author: Galindo, Renata

Illustrator: Renata Galindo

Schwartz and Wade Books, 2016

ISBN: 9780553521244

P - K: A simple easy to read book with a big message on love. A little puppy gets a new home with a momma cat. Even though the mom looks different she can still take care of him and do all of the mommy things with him. A book that is great for all kids showing that families can look different. Verdict: Beautiful illustrations and message for the early readers section.

Curricular Use: This book is useful for social skills and discussing what makes a family.

Reviewer: Jodie Rodriguez, Elementary Librarian, C.V.G. Elementary

Penguin Problems

Author: John, Jory

Illustrator: Smith, Lane

Random House, 2016

ISBN: 9780553513370

P - K, Grades 1 - 3: Penguin has so many problems. It's hard to catch fish, it's cold, he can't fly, and the other penguins don't seems to care. An unexpected pep talk from Walrus may be just the thing... maybe. Verdict: A great read-aloud for younger kid.

Curricular Use: Themes of choosing positive attitudes are addressed in a fun and light-hearted way.

Reviewer: Katy Olson, Librarian, St. Helens Elementary

Grades 1 - 3, Grades 4 - 5: This book will have kids begging you to read, "Just one more invention." Filled with accounts of how food, modern medicine, fun, and stories came to be. We all know history if filled with people making mistakes, but rarely do we hear of people who make the best of them. Here you learn about how people took mistakes and turned them into "new" products that I couldn't imagine life without. Potato chips, Coca-Cola, and chocolate chip cookies . . . learn how all of these things came to be and much more. Verdict: I will be buying another copy. Kids will love learning about history and teachers will love the creative ways to use this book.

Curricular Use: Great for classroom discussions on perseverance. Creative writing. Inventions and how they impacted history.

Reviewer: Jodie Rodriguez, Elementary Librarian, C.V.G. Elementary

Let's Go to the Hardware Store

Author: Rockwell, Anne

Illustrator: Melissa Iwai

Christy Ottaviano Books Henry Holt and Company, 2016

ISBN: 9780805087383

P - K, Grades 1 - 3: Author Anne Rockwell takes the reader on a trip to the hardware store. A family of five moves into a house that needs repairs. So, Dad takes son and daughter to the local hardware store. The children learn about the names of tools and what they do. The illustrator Melissa Iwai includes pictures of tools and their names at the bottom of some of the pages. This book is a tribute to male involvement as the Dad is portrayed as a patient man who lets his children pick out some of the tools and supplies needed to fix the crack in the ceiling, to fix the screen door and to build new kitchen shelves. The children are portrayed as behaving themselves very well while having fun in a hardware store. They get to make choices and they learn useful information on how to do do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. Dad even buys them a DIY birdhouse kit. But he forgets to buy the picture hangers Mom asked for. So, son, daughter, and Dad return to the hardware store to get them. The story provides opportunities to talk about emotions and sparks discussions on what is needed to fix certain things, which builds children’s problem-solving skills. The book helps with vocabulary building and sparks children’s imagination on how to turn something broken into something that functions and something that looks good helping with image-building and self-confidence. Verdict: This book teaches vocabulary related to tools and fixing things and portrays a positive father-children relationship showing a positive experience taking children on a shopping trip to buy tools and that gets children involved in the tool selection.

Curricular Use: This book could spark discussions about family relationships, self-confidence, and feelings in addition to fixing and building things with tools.

Reviewer: Sonja Sample, Child and Family Liaison, Lower Columbia College Head Start

Nightmares! The Lost Lullaby

Author: Segel, Jason & Kirsten Miller

Illustrator: Karl Kwasny

Delacorte Press, 2016

ISBN: 9780385744294

Grades 4 - 5, Grades 6 - 8: Nightmares! trilogy book 3. Charlie and his friends are shocked to see a new girl at school, INK, the girl who haunts their nightmares. To make matters worse, she seems to have become human. INK's evil twin, ICK is trapped in the Netherworld and is creating an army of Nightmares to break into the living world and take it over. Charlie must go into the Netherworld and discover what ICK needs in order to stop having her own nightmares and stop the army of Nightmares. This is a fun, spooky (not scary) fantasy adventure and a good conclusion to the series. Verdict: Upper elementary students will love this series.

Curricular Use: Pleasure reading.

Reviewer: Debby Iverson, Library Media Specialist, Coweeman Middle School

Every Day Birds

Author: Vanderwater, Amy Ludwig

Illustrator: Dylan Metrano

Orchard Books, 2016

ISBN: 9780545699808

P - K, Grades 1 - 3: Every Day Birds provides children with knowledge about twenty different birds common in North America. The author Amy Ludwig Vanderwater introduces a bird with a brief description in poem form on each page. Rhymes on every other page create a nice flow of words. The illustrations created out of cut and layered paper make the birds come alive and complement the descriptions of the birds perfectly. At the end of the book, Vanderwater includes facts on each bird and websites where the reader can find more information on birds. Verdict: This book is a great resource and sparks or enhances children's curiosity about birds. The additional facts and provided websites make this book interesting for first and second graders in addition to preschoolers.

Curricular Use: The book enhances a study on birds, could be a resource for a first or second grader for a talk on birds.

Reviewer: Sonja Sample, Child and Family Liaison, Lower Columbia College Head Start

Night Owl

Author: Yuly, Toni

Illustrator: Toni Yuly

Feiwel and Friends, 2015

ISBN: 9781250072917

P - K, Infants and Toddlers: Night Owl listens to the sounds of the night as he is trying to distinguish his mother’s hoot from the other sounds that he hears in this cute small board book. The book introduces math vocabulary as it compares sounds as being too short, too long, too high, too low compared to the hoot of Mother Owl. As a thunderstorm starts, Night Owl flies home to the safety of his nest, where he continues to listen. When mother owl arrives home, he falls fast asleep. Verdict: This book introduces math vocabulary and encourages children to listen.

Curricular Use: A good bedtime story

Reviewer: Sonja Sample, Child and Family Liaison, Lower Columbia College Head Start

SECONDARY

Three Dark Crowns

Author: Blake, Kendare

Illustrator: NA

Harper teen , 2016

ISBN: 9780062385437

Grades 9 - 12: This is my first Kendare Blake book, and I have to admit, it is quite a world. The insulated island of Fennbirn is preparing for Beltane and the crowning of a queen. One queen. In order to become queen, the reigning queen must kill her two sisters, and it is with this teensy, tiny little detail that a political intrigue worthy of a "Game of Thrones" audience ensues. Mirabella is a powerful elemental. She is able to manipulate earth, wind, fire, and water. Katharine is a poisoner. She is able to ingest the deadliest poisons without ill effect--except she isn't very adept. Arsinoe is a naturalist, able to bond with an animal familiar that acts in accordance with Arsinoe's wishes--except she is unable to control even the easiest of animals. Separated at a young age, each of the girls has been taught to fear and mistrust one another by the factions that want to have political control over the island. At the Quickening, a celebration that coincides with Beltane, each of the queens is expected to demonstrate her power. Each is courted by a series of suitors, one of whom will be named the king and who will be the sire of the next set of triplet queens. At the end, one of the queens will emerge triumphant and will kill the other two. This is a story that is not for the faint of heart or the reluctant reader. The sheer number of characters surrounding each queen combined with the machinations to bring each queen to preeminence make this a title that will appeal primarily to those who seek a deeper political fantasy. It will also be for readers who are willing to delay gratification, since it ends on a cliff hanger that will have to be resolved in future books. Verdict: Readers who enjoyed Tahira Sabaa's "An Ember in the Ashes" or who enjoy a royal fantasy will relish this title by a Washington author.

Curricular Use: This is a book that is designed more for enjoyment. It would be a stretch to look at the political structure as part of a social studies class, but could be used to foster a discussion about tradition and cultural resistance to change.

Reviewer: Jodi Kruse, Teacher Librarian, R. A. Long High School Library

The Leveller

Author: Durango, Julia

Illustrator: NA

Harper Teen, 2015

ISBN: 9780062314000

Grades 6 - 8, Grades 9 - 12: Phoenix "Nix" Bauer is adding to her college fund in a pretty unusual way. She enters a virtual gaming environment called the MEEP and drags people back to the real world and their real responsibilities. She's good at it, and $100 per hour for jobs that usually take her only 15 minutes is multiplying quite nicely. It isn't a surprise then, when Donavan Salvador, the creator of the MEEP calls for her services to help retrieve his son. More experienced hackers and retrievers have tried already, and have wound up seriously damaged, which is just the kind of challenge Nix prefers. What follows is a descent into a virtual world with all kinds of challenges and surprises. Nix does eventually get her man, but it isn't without cost. This is a fast-paced action story that stars a strong minded young woman. The villain at the end is plausible, but unexpected. Fans who don't have the 50 page attention span required to get into Poznanski's "Erebos" will like "The Leveller." Those who crave more gaming action than Silver's "Rush" will also find much to like. Overall, I would equate this title to some of Robert B. Parker's adult books--not a ton of substance, but a story that will have ample entertainment appeal. Verdict: This is a good title for reluctant readers from middle to high school who crave action adventure in the virtual gaming environment.

Curricular Use: This title could be loosely incorporated with the following Next Generation Science Standards: MS-ETS1-2 Engingeering Design: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine who well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem; HS-ETS1-1 Engineering Design: Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.

Reviewer: Jodi Kruse, Teacher Librarian, R. A. Long High School Library

The Black Key

Author: Ewing, Amy

Illustrator: NA

Harper, 2016

ISBN: 9780062235848

Grades 9 - 12, Grades 7 - 8: The Lone City Trilogy book 3. Violet and the group of rebels, The Black Key Society, she belongs to are poised to over throw the royalty that run Lone City. Violet's main concern is that her sister, Hazel, is being held captive as a surrogate. Violet is determined to help all of the young girls who are Paladin, powerful descendents of the island's original inhabitants who are unaware of the magical powers they possess, and unite the Paladin to destroy the outer wall that separates the royalty from the lower circles. Violet and the Society are successful and must sort out their new lives. Having not read either of the previous books, it was easy to jump into the story. This fantasy adventure is suitable for upper middle school and high school students. Sexual content is off page, although prostitiution, drug abuse and cutting are mentioned. Verdict: This will be a hit with high school girls - strong female character and mild romance, a great combination.

Curricular Use: Pleasure reading

Reviewer: Debby Iverson, Library Media Specialist, Coweeman Middle School

Going Geek

Author: Huang, Charlotte

Illustrator: NA

Delacorte Press, 2016

ISBN: 9780553539431

Grades 9 - 12: Skylar is an L.A. California girl who attends an east coast prep boarding high school. Her mother produced the teen movie of the decade and her popularity has been insured by that mystic. But her Mom’s promise of a sequel has stalled, so Sky returns for her senior year after being a waitress and is scraping by. Her “shame” is outed and suddenly she is a persona non grata with her preppy crowd of “friends.” Her boyfriend (a local, live-at-home soccer star) feels betrayed by her and dumps her, even as she is booted from the “good” dorm to a lesser one. At first I was unimpressed by our protagonist; she’s rude and shallow and is trying to skate by doing not much at school. However as she is adopted by her new dorm mates and begins to find herself I became more interested in her life. This story takes us up to winter break and (spoiler alert) a re-creation of the student panel responsible for the campus activities. It sounds rather thin, but there are surprises and it was not as predictable as I thought it would be. I have kids who will eat this book and I liked the final revelations about self and effort and friendship. Verdict: Will be popular with the Pretty Little Liars or even Sarah Dessen readers.

Curricular Use: Good insight into self-image and popularity. Could be added to a health class reading list.

Reviewer: Lisa Sudar, Teacher Librarian, Mark Morris High School

How to Win at High School

Author: Matthews, Owen

Illustrator: NA

Harper Teen, 2015

ISBN: 9780062336866

Grades 9 - 12: Oh, success. How would one define it? Popularity? The opportunity to have sex with two girls at once? Every school knowing your name? This debut novel by Owen Matthews is a gritty look at Adam Higgs's transformation from loser to the top of the popularity peak at Nixon High School. The middle child, Adam's older brother was a talented hockey player until an injury on the ice left him paralyzed. Adam revered Sam, his brother, as a god, and continues to seek Sam's advice about becoming popular at his new school. His younger sister, Stephanie, is a freshman at the new school, and she has managed to become a goddess despite the family reversal of fortune that has them living in a significantly less luxurious home and neighborhood. In a fit of determination to become a god at high school, Adam takes a page from Tony Montana's life in "Scarface" and reinvents himself. Unfortunately, what it takes to become popular and successful in high school leaves him hollow. In stark prose and short chapters, Matthews tells the story of success, excess, and what is really important and caps the tragedy with a ray of hope. Verdict: This is a mature title that will resonate with readers of G. Neri's "Surf Mules" and Kathleen Glasgow's "Girl in Pieces."

Curricular Use: Because of the mature nature of this book, it is not one that would be recommended as a core curricular book; however, it provides an interesting study in self-esteem. The Washington State Health Education Core Idea surrounding Social and Emotional Health specifically looks at self-esteem and its impact on personal dimensions of health.

Reviewer: Jodi Kruse, Teacher Librarian, R. A. Long High School