Enna Burning

by Shannon Hale (read August 2006)
This author can write a good story! This month I've been fortunate enough to read all three of her novels. They are great not just for young adults, but all of us who are older. Enna Burning is the sequel to Goose Girl. Let me just tell you what my daughter says about these novels, "They have everything: romance, mystery, drama and fantasy." This novel focuses on Enna and they tough choices she has to make concerning friendship, loyalty, love, country and self.
This book rates a 5 out of 5.

The Princess Academy

by Shannon Hale (read August 2006)
Another fabulous YA novel by the author who wrote Goose Girl. My teenage daughter read Goose Girl and encouraged me to. While I read that, she started on the sequel, Enna Burning. I tried to catch up so I could read that with her, but she finished it too fast. Then she started on Princess Academy. I abandoned Enna Burning and Gentlemen & Players which I was well into so I could read Princess Academy with K. We bought a copy and checked a second out from the library. It was fun reading it together.

The prince is going to choose a wife in a year and the priests have determined that the princess will come from the mountain. The mountain girls are not fit to be princesses so they have to go away from their families to the academy to learn.

Hale's books have obstacles that young girls have to learn to overcome. Usually the girls are dubious about their abilities, but they make the effort to conquer after careful consideration, education and positive action. I rate this book 4.75 out of 5.

The Goose Girl

Shannon Hale (read July 2006)
I read this young adult novel at the recommendation of my daughter, Katie. It is a retelling of the Grimms' fairytale, one which I knew nothing about. The New York Times Book Review included this sentiment: "In layer upon layer of detail a beautiful coming-of-age story emerges, a tale about learning to rescue yourself rather than falling accidentally into happily-ever-after."

To quote Katie, "It has a perfect mixture of adventure, mystery, shock, terror, sadness, hapiness, romance, and treason." We are both anxiously awaiting the arrival of the sequel, Enna Burning, which we ordered from amazon.com and should be here any day. (Katie's at camp this week, so I will patiently (*grimace*) wait for her to read it first. We enjoyed Shannon Hale's writing so much we felt safe in ordering Princess Academy as well.

Ani, the main character, had very little self-confidence as a child. One day her father praised her and "she felt her chin tremble a little and covered it with a hand. His assurance that she was wonderful was a stab in the soreness of her insecurity."

As she was contemplating her journey to a far off kingdom for an arranged marriage "she told herself, 'no more crying.' It was not difficult. Her eyes were dry and sore. She concentrated on forming the images and sensations of her Kildenrean life into a body, and in her mind buring that body, peacefully, next to her father's tomb in the soft summer earth."

I won't give any lead-up to this next quote, because it would reveal too much of the story. "She had leaned against the idea of her mother's perfection all her childhood, as though it were the cane to her lameness. But that crutch had not served her." Ani starts to think of some of the things she has accomplished and says to herself, "I've done that much. What more can I do?"

One final quote: "Sometimes it'd be nice just to hold something real in your hands that felt like a measure of your worth."

I rate Goose Girl a resounding 5 out of 5.

The View From Saturday

by E.L. Konigsburg (read June 2006)
What a wonderful book. One of my favorite Newberrys, along with The Giver, Island of the Blue Dolphins and Holes. I had planned to read the 2006 Newberry Award book, Criss Cross, but the librarian shared her opinion that The View from Saturday was much better. I thank her for directing me to this book.

The story features four 6th graders and their teacher. We focus in on each of the children one by one and experience their journeys of emotional and social growth. The journeys are not catastrophic; just parts of their lifes that help them grow. The ribbon that runs throughout is an academic team contest at the end of the school year. I know, the storyline does not sound that intriguing, but the book IS magnificient. I rate this book with a 5.

Towards the end of the book the 6th grade teacher, Mrs Olinski, is meeting her former mentor and principal. She watches this older woman who she has greatly admired and thinks, "A turquoise jogging suit. Tuquoise!" She had always regarded turquoise, like shocking pink and chartreuse, as the color equivalent of the word ain't: quaint when seldom used but vulgar in great doses.

Konigsburg also wrote the 1967 Newberry Award From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I'm thinking I'll read it for next summer's reading program

The Ship That Flew

by Hilda Lewis (read June 2006)
Written in 1939 for an English audience The Ship That Flew is a timeless tale. I read it in eighth grade and enjoyed it every bit as much at 55 as I did then. One things strikes me different from today's world and the way things were back then: The children had hours of free time to wander about without any supervision. Today children may be unsupervised, but they are not outside playing for whole afternoons and evenings at a time. It's too bad that there's so much to fear in today's world.

The ShipThat Flew is a fantasy in which a young boy buys a magic ship and learns that it can fly to other places and through time. He and his siblings take adventures to visit the tombs in Egypt, Normandy England, the Norse Gods and several other places and times. I can't wait to be able to read this book to my grandkids when they get just a little bit older.

Bridge to Terabithia

by Katherine Paterson
My daughter recommended this novel. Well written and great story of a friendship between two fifth graders-a boy and a girl. Keep a box of kleenex colse by.

Island of the Blue Dolphins

by Scott O'Dell
I didn't see the movie by the same name, but I'm not sure it followed the book. Based on a true story of an Indian girl who survives 18 years alone on an island. In 1976 the Children's Literature Association named this riveting story one of the 10 best American children's books of the past 200 years.

The Giver

by Lois Lowry.
When I read this book as a youth I didn't understand it very well. Much later in life I reread it and loved it. A couple years ago my mother and I attend a book fair at the Salt Lake City's new and wonderful library. Lois Lowry was one of the presenter. She was absolutely charming--humorous and thought-provoking. She mentioned that she had written 2 sequels to The Giver, Gathering Blue and Messenger. Rush right out to buy them. Loved them all, though Gathering Blue was my least favorite, but very necessary to the series.

Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry.
Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943, this 1990 Newbery winner tells of a 10-year-old girl who undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend. I really loved this book and highly recommend it.

Bridge to Terabithia

by Katherine Paterson
My daughter recommended this novel. Well written and great story of a friendship between two fifth graders-a boy and a girl. Keep a box of kleenex colse by.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead

by Avi. I've read 2 books by Avi and loved both. This one is about a 13-yr old boy in 14th century Europe. A great selection for young boys (or old women, like me).
4. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.
I didn't see the movie by the same name, but I'm not sure it followed the book. Based on a true story of an Indian girl who survives 18 years alon on an island. In 1976 the Children's Literature Association named this riveting story one of the 10 best American children's books of the past 200 years.

Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

by Kate DiCamillo. Such a cute title and a wonderful book. Aimed at 4th-5th grade, I think. While looking for a picture of the cover I ran across this great guide for teachers, along with activities, etc. What a fun book to use in teaching! A teacher's guide to Despereaux
DiCamillo is the author of some other noteable books that I look forward to reading. You may have heard of Because of Winn-Dixie and Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.