by Markus Zusak

"It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . ."

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist- books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

Watch a book trailer at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2FGzXj-d2k&feature=related

Random House Children's Books
552 pages
Interest Level: YA
ISBN: 9780375842207
Copyright: March 2006






 

 

Written by John Marsden

Review
It is difficult to figure out where this story is supposed to be taking place, but hints indicate it might be on the island of Tasmania. Even the nearby town of Wirrawee sounds like "Where are we?" Ellie Linton is a teenage girl who has fought in their civil war. Now there is an uneasy peace and she lives near the border. One day her father, mother, and a family friend are killed by a private army from across the border. Ellie decides to keep the farm, although everyone says she will eventually lose it and all her money invested in it. Mix in 2 ex-boyfriends, liberation raids into enemy territory, and trying to keep up in school, and things get pretty hectic. On top of that, her trustee wants to cheat her out of her farm.  Because of adult language and content, this book is not necessarily recomended even for a high school library collection.
 

Written by Mark Greenwood, Illustrated by Frane Lessac

Review
This book gives a totally different perspective on war, and the way in which wounded men were transported during the years of 1914-1918. Teachers looking for a book about World War I will appreciate it. Specific information about the two main characters can be found at the back of the book. The only negative would be the size of the pictures. They are small and would be difficult for students to see, if one was doing a read aloud in class.  

Written by Mary Englar

Review
This book tells about the Comanche Warriors. It explains how they got their horses and how they came to be experienced horsmen and hunters. It talks about how the Indians were eventually put on the reservations and how the Indians could hold off the government until they took away their horses and destroyed their food. It was very interesting and gave a lot of in-depth information about the Comanche Warriors.  

Written by Carla Killough McClafferty

Review
An interesting look at a brave attempt to save targeted refugees and victims of Hitler's regime. Varian Fry was an American who went to Marseilles to help those who were trying to flee from the Nazis. He was especially targeting famous artists, poets, writers and award winners such as Marc Chagall and Andre Gide. He was to stay a couple of weeks and ended up being in Marseilles for over a year battling against the Gestapo, French Police and the American embassy. It is said that he was responsible for obtaining freedom for over 2000 individuals and their families. Varian had witnessed first hand what the Nazis were doing to Jews and tried to make the world aware of the problem and the disasterous results if no help was given.  

Written by Mal Peet

It's 1995 and 15 year old Tamar's grandfather's suicide bewilders her, as does the collection of things that he has left her in his apartment. There is a mystery, she knows, and her grandfather loved puzzles, as does she. Her father, his son, has disappeared, and she talks a distant relative into helping her solve the mystery -- which is related to the other part of the story, that of two undercover operatives who parachute into the Nazi-occupied Netherlands late in 1944 and encounter both the starving winter and an array of plots, relationships and dangers.

I liked this book a lot. I did find it confusing at times, but that might be because I was trying to read two books at once.  

Written by Markus Zuzak

 

Written by Matt Doeden

This book is about weapons used in the ancient times. Ancient times are described as anything over 2000 years ago. Weapons used for killing food and for fighting are described.

Sara Justet, Carl Sandburg Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-8

Weapons of Ancient Times
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-1967-7
Release Date: July 2008






 

Written by Matt Doeden

An illustrated guide to the development of the types of weapons used in the Middle Ages. This book will be useful for students that are studying the Middle Ages and the different types of weapons used at that time. This book could also be used for 6th Grade interconnections shelf.  The book is written in a brief and simple text for the reader to understand, with wonderful color illustrations that depict the Middle Ages era. Pictures show the castle, knights, siege weapons, hand weapons and some of the defenses the knights used. Book is complete with Weapon Facts, glossary, read more and internet sites that would be useful to the reader wanting to learn more about the Middle Ages and siege warfare.

Review by Bonnie Prime, Taylorsville Elementary Library Media Assistant
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 1-6

Weapons of the Middle Ages
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-1969-1
Release Date: August 2008  

Edited by Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell

The mix of literature in this book is the strongest point. It contains both fiction and nonfiction. This book was touching and thought provoking. Do we really need war? Is it necessary? What price are people paying for it? It really makes a person wonder what we are really trying to accomplish and save.

Erin Tanner, Cyprus High Social Studies Teacher and School Technology Specialist
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 9-12

War Is...: Soldiers, Survivors and Storytellers Talk About War
Candlewick Press
194 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3625-8
Release Date: September 2008

 

Written by Philip Brooks

This book is one volume in the series A Wicked History. The format is very appealing and visual with classical art, maps and charts. The text is compact and easy to read. This book will appeal to the most reluctant reader interested in warfare and battle. A good introduction to ancient civilizations. Includes an index, glossary and suggested books and web sites for more information.

Review by Carol Burmester, Evergreen Jr. High Library Media Specialist
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 5-9

Hannibal: Rome's Worst Nightmare (A Wicked History)
Scholastic
128 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-18553-7
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Terri Dougherty

This book was very informative, as it explained perhaps the most important and critical battle of the Civil war. The two generals, George B. McClellan (Union Army) and Robert E. Lee (Confederate Army), were extremely intelligent and different in their concepts of fighting. From being meticulously organized, afraid to lose a battle, and bold enough to win, McClellan was lucky as one of his soldiers found Lee's plan of attack in Maryland. Lee, who always would take risks, was surprised as thousands of soldiers were killed in the battle, ultimately a huge turning point of the war. Never knowing about the battle at Antietam, I enjoyed learning more history of the Nation. Student friendly and well written. Some photographs are graphic and not for Elementary students.

Review by Lyn Cheney, Evergreen Jr. High Library Secretary
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 7-9

America's Deadliest Day: The Battle of Antietam
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-935-6
Release Date: July 2008
 

Written by Markus Zusak

Who better than Death to narrate a story of World War II?  He knows all the intimate details better than anyone.  In The Book Thief, Death unburdens upon the reader a story that haunts even him, that of the girl Liesel Meminger of Molching, Germany.   Liesel, after watching her younger brother die on a train ride, is inexplicably abandoned by her mother.  She becomes the foster daughter of Hans and Rosa Hubermann.  Hans is a supremely good and patient man, while Rosa has a rough exterior and a filthy tongue that hide a heart of gold.  In the impoverished and absurd circumstances of Nazi Germany during the war, Liesel and her best friend Rudy negotiate the trials and adventures of early adolescence and develop a taste for thievery; particularly, in Liesel’s case, book thievery.  In due time, in their own dangerous and brave act of thievery, Liesel’s foster parents “steal” something of great worth from the very Fürher himself.  The world of the book is that of a very real and dangerous circumstance in which patriotism and duty to one’s country seem far distant from morality, and often there are no good choices to make.  So many innocent, decent people get caught in horrific realities because of rhetoric and definitions.  The power of words for both good and evil is a central theme of the book.

Death, in addition to telling the story with his expectedly dark and ironic humor, tired voice, and outsider perspective, also reveals to the reader that he has a heart.  This is one of those rare and precious books that, while describing dire and heartbreaking circumstances, are also filled with joy, life, humor, and humanity.  Death voices his perplexity over the paradox that so much good and so much evil can come from humanity, and, by the end of the book, I was left pondering upon the same quandary.   I highly recommend this book to any reader, probably 9th grade to adult.

Review by Joshua Whiting, GSD Library Media/Instructional Technology Assistant
Rating: ★★★★★

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up
A Printz Honor Book, 2006

The Book Thief
Random House
560 pages
ISBN: 978-0-375-83100-3
Release Date: March 2006  

Written by James R. Arnold

The Aftermath of the French Revolution makes reading history enjoyable. The author takes us from the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the gruesome guillotine executions of the war years, through the aftermath of the revolution, explaining the social and political changes this period brought to all of Europe.

The clear, concise text and parenthetical (if redundant) vocabulary helps aide the 7th-10th grade student in understanding this crucial movement.  The book is illustrated by beautiful reproductions of French oil paintings from the late 18th-early 19th centuries.  Highly recommended.

Review by Jane Crockett, Cottonwood High School Library Secretary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 7-10

The Aftermath of the French Revolution
Twenty-First Century Books / Lerner Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-8225-7598-6
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by David Ward

This is the story of young slaves that are held captive by a group that they call the Spears. The children are paired male and female by their captors. Corki and Pippa are one such pair. Each day they go out to a large beach/plain area where they collect baskets of shards. At night the ocean reclaims this area and the slaves must be taken into the mountains or drown. Pippa and Corki meet two recently captured slaves called Tia and Bran. Most of the slaves speak many different languages and so it is rare that a pair of slaves speak the same language as Pippa and Corki. Pippa and Corki take Tia and Bran under their wing and teach them what they will need to know to survive as slaves of the Spears. The children are also aware that the Spears seem worried and preoccupied by some other problems. As time goes on they realize that war is coming and they are fearful about what will happen to them. When the attack comes, some of the slaves work together to save themselves and the others. Now comes the challenge, how will they live when they are no longer slaves, and what became of all the Spears. The answers are surprising and lead to the next story in the trilogy, Beneath the Mask.

Curriculum Ties: This book could be used by social studies teachers to discuss slavery, and how to create a new society.

Review by Robin Larsen, Matheson Jr. High Library Media Specialist
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Middle School

Escape the Mask (The Grassland Trilogy #1)
Amulet Books
195 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9477-5
Release Date: April 2008  

Written by M.T. Anderson

In the Novanglian College of Lucidity in Boston, the young boy Octavian is raised as the noble son of an African princess.  He is waited upon and receives an education in science, history and philosophy, has become proficient in Latin and Greek, as well as a virtuoso of the violin.  And yet, his every action and bodily function is observed and recorded, and his mother, though a personage of royalty, is sometimes constrained from her own will by the men of the college.  In actuality, Octavian is a slave and the subject of a scientific experiment.  The philosophers of the college wish to ascertain whether, given the same opportunities, an African has the same capacities as a European.  When the college’s longstanding patronage falls through and the slave-owning funders of the college make it clear that they want the “experimental” education of the boy to fail, Octavian becomes personally aware of and subjected to the true horrors and rigors of slavery in the American colonies.  In the midst of the turmoil of the Revolutionary War, Octavian makes his escape, but has nowhere to turn in a land where people are crying out for liberty, and yet would hold him captive.  Written as a first-person manuscript that incredibly recreates the diction and writing style of the late 18th century, as well as incorporating actual letters and documents from historical figures of the period, this is a fascinating, harrowing book with a hint of hope, as the story of Octavian continues in a companion volume, Kingdom on the Waves.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Library Media / Instructional Technology Dept., Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 9+

Winner of the 2006 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

The Pox Party (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I)
Candlewick Press
351 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2402-6 (hardcover) / 978-0-7636-3679-1 (paperback)
Release Date: September 2006  

Written by M. T. Anderson

Kingdom on the Waves continues the fascinating narrative of the young man Octavian, describing his time in the royally controlled and besieged city of Boston, as well as his subsequent adventures in seeking out and joining the Royal Ethiopian Regiment of Lord Dunmore, exiled governor of the colony of Virginia. Dunmore has issued a proclamation promising freedom to all slaves who will escape from their rebel masters and join the King’s Army in suppressing the rebellion of the American colonists. Much of the volume recounts the battles, trials and tragic circumstances of these African-American soldiers devoted to the cause of liberty, fighting others also devoted to the cause of liberty, albeit a different liberty. This book brings back to light the real moral ambiguities of the American Revolution by presenting the circumstances from the often-ignored perspectives of royalists and slaves in the American colonies. As in the first Octavian Nothing volume, Anderson reveals himself as a master at re-creating authentic 18th Century language and tone, having immersed himself for six years exclusively in writings of or about this historical period. These are smart, challenging books that illustrate that books with the “Young Adult” label do not necessarily have to be patronizing or insulting to the intelligence and capacity of teenage readers.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Library Media Department, Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: High School / Adult
A 2009 Printz Honor Book

Kingdom on the Waves (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II)
Candlewick Press
561 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2950-2
Release Date: October 13, 2009 (paperback)  

Written by Anna Myers

This is a fictional account of Nathan Hales' decision to join the patriots and eventually become a spy. The story is told through the eyes of Nathan Hale and a fictional character Jonah Hawkins. The story begins in New London where Nathan Hale has accepted a position as a teacher. Jonah is one of his students whose tuition is being paid by Nathan's cousin Samuel Hale. Jonah and his sister Mercy are living with Samuel Hale because both of their parents are dead. Samuel Hale has taken them in because their father was one of his employees.  Nathan enjoys teaching and finds life in New London pleasant. He has two love interests, his step sister Alice and Betsy Lawrence, the niece of the man he boards with in New London.   It is 1774 and heated debates are taking place about the taxes that have been placed on tea and other items by the English Parliament. Torys, or loyalists, are under a great deal of pressure as patriots begin to rise in numbers. Nathan finds himself at the opposite end of his cousin Samuel, who is a determined loyalist. After Lexington and Concord, Nathan decides he must join the patriot army. He is offered a captains commission in the army and so he returns home to enlist the help and support of his friends in Coventry, Connecticut.   Samuel has taken his family and fled to New York, where he accepts a position as a pay master for the English army. As soon as he can afford it he plans to take his family, including Jonah and Mercy to London, England.

This was a fun book to read and it is well written. The author presents the story from Nathan's point of view and also from Jonah's. The final chapters of the book give a personal look at what may have happened to Nathan Hale after he accepted his mission as a spy.

Curriculum Ties: This would be a good book to read with students in a social studies class as they study the Revolutionary War. It would also be a good book for English teachers to recommend if they want students to read historical fiction.

Review by Robin Larsen, Library Media Specialist, Matheson Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Middle School / High School

Spy!
Walker and Company
211 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9742-1
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Michael Ford

This is a sequel to The Fire of Ares. It is the continuing story of Lysander, a young helot slave who discovers that he is in fact the son of a Spartan warrior named Thorakis. At the end of the Fire of Ares, Lysander had won the games and stopped a helot (slave) uprising. At the beginning of this book he is awakened in the middle of the night and taken to the helot village where he is forced to whip his friend Timeon.

Lysander is now training to become a Spartan warrior. Spartans' must endure many trails and tests to prove themselves worthy of the red cloaks they wear. One test is surviving in the mountains for five days without food or weapons. Lysander is chosen to go to the mountains with Demaratos, a boy he does not like, and an older boy who is near manhood (eighteen) Agesilaus. Agesilaus killed his own brother in a competition and is known to be cruel. Lysander knows this will be a difficult test because he is with people he does not trust. As Lysander and Demaratos suffer the tasks that Agesilaus assigns them they become friends and begin to look out for each other. Driven by hunger, Lysander, Demaratos, and Agesilaus plan a raid on the helot village to steal food. Lysander volunteers to go because he is most familiar with the camp. As he prepares to steal food he discovers that his friend Timeon has died, not from the wounds inflicted by the whip of Lysander, but from a knife wound.

For the final test Lysander and Demaratos must kill a fish, a bird, and a wild animal. Demaratos nearly drowns catching the fish but is saved by Lysander. While they are cooking the fish Agesilaus brags that he is an assassin in training and Lysander realizes that he is the one that murdered Timeon.

As they are heading back to camp they see fire and rush to see if the forest is burning., instead they find the campfires of Persian invaders. Lysander wants to rush back to warn Sparta, but Agesilaus will not allow them to go because they have not finished their tasks.
 
During the night, Lysander steals the knife of Agesilaus and leaves to return to Sparta to warn them of the Persian soldiers. He is attacked by a wolf and he uses the knife and a tree branch to save his life. Agesilaus has caught up with him and tells Lysander that he will not live to return to Sparta. His enemies want him to die. As wolves attack, it is Agesilaus that is killed, leaving Lysander and Demaratos free to return to Sparta.

In Sparta, Lysander discovers that the Spartans think the attack is coming from the north, but the Persians fires that Lysander saw are to the south. He must convince the elders that the real threat is to the south and that troops must be sent. The only problem is that most of the troops have already gone south and only a few remain in Sparta. This forces the use of all the boys still in training, including Lysander. Lysander and his friends will now face the biggest test of their lives. Will they survive fighting the Persians and their general Vaumisa?

This is a fun story and action packed. The book is very descriptive and I would not recommend it for younger students or those that are squeamish.

Curriculum Ties: Greek history. This would be a good book to read with a group of boys, or to recommend to boys. This book has action, adventure, and gore.

Review by Robin Larsen, Library Media Specialist, Matheson Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 8-12

Birth of a Warrior (Spartan Quest)
Walker & Company
262 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9794-0
Release Date: November 2008  

Written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

This is the story of Helmuth Hubener, a young boy growing up in Nazi Germany. The beginning finds Helmuth in prision awaiting execution. Prisoners are not told their execution date and must wait from day to day for their death. Helmuth is reflecting on his life and the path that has lead him to prison. You see glimpses of his youth with his mother (Mutti) and his grandparents (Oma and Opa). He does not know his father and his mother never even married his father. He has two older brothers, Gerhard and Hans, from her first marriage. They are Mormons living in Hamburg. The story depicts the rise of Hitler and the lies he used to increase his power and authority. Because of the poverty in Germany, Helmuth is at first torn between his fear of Hitler and the promise of a better life. He hates the way Jews are treated and fears the new ideas of turning in your neighbors and family for unpatriotic behavior. Who can you trust in this new Germany?

In middle school he joins the Hitler Youth because it is expected and he does not want his family to stand out. He writes papers he does not believe in to get the grade he must have to graduate. His mother's new boyfriend, Hugo, is in the SS. He spouts Nazi propaganda and pressures the boys to be good Germans. Gerhard and Hans have moved out and returned to live with Oma and Opa. Hans helps to build submarines and will not be drafted, but Gerhard will be drafted as soon as he finishes school. Gerhard is sent to France with a work group and returns with a ham radio. The only stations that Germans are allowed to listen to are the German stations like the RRG. When Gerhard is drafted, he locks the ham radio in the closet and tells Helmuth he must not listen to it because he will get the whole family in trouble. Helmuth cannot help himself and he breaks into the closet. At night he listens to the BBC news in German. The BBC news is nothing like the German RRG. Helmuth becomes more and more disturbed about the lies he now knows the people are being told. Helmuth has read the works of Heinrich Mann and believes he must share his knowledge with others. He prepares a pamphlet called, "Who is Lying," to get the word out. Now he faces death. People are trying to save his life because of his age and his past works. Will they be successful?

Curriculum Ties: This would be a good book to read with a class about Nazi Germany, or even about the choices citizens must make when a government is hurting people. The reading level makes it easy for all students to appreciate.

Review by Robin Larsen, Library Media Specialist, Matheson Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

The Boy Who Dared: A Novel Based on the True Story of a Hitler Youth
Scholastic Press
202 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-68013-4
Release Date: February 2008  

Written by Terri Dougherty

This book describes events before, during and after the Battle of Iwo Jima. It contains actual pictures of the event, the people involved, and maps of the area. There are captions under the pictures and definitions of words throughout the book as well as a glossary in the back of the book. This book has a lot of information for students who are interested in learning about this battle.

Review by Debbie Singer, Library Media Assistant, Bacchus Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 5-6

Raising the Flag: The Battle of Iwo Jima
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-42961-939-4
Release Date: July 2008  

Written by Scott Westerfeld

Continuing the Uglies trilogy with Tally Youngblood and Shay, her friend, they continue to cause concern and havoc for the community leaders. There is so much contention that a war ensues to correct the loss of the rebellious deserters. The leaders of their society declare war on the community where the deserters have gone, due to a mix-up, once again by Tally and Shay. Through it all, they are deemed responsible for not only starting the war, but the safety and death of some of their friends. This is a great read, but I wasn't comfortable with the acts of the cutters, actually cutting themselves. Other than that, it was a great book, and a great finale for the trilogy.

Review by Lori Draney, Library Media Assistant, Gourley Elementary School
Rating: ★★★½✩
Interest Level: Junior High

Specials (Uglies Series #3)
Simon & Schuster
372 pages
ISBN: 978-1-41694-795-0
Release Date: 2006  

Written by Lois Lowry

The 1990 Newbery Award Medal winner, this book is set in Denmark during WWII. A fictional family placed in actual events, this tells of the effort to help the Jews escape Hitler's forces. The story is lovely despite the subject and shows the warmth and humanity that triumphed over the evil of that time. It is a well told story and appropriate for even younger grades in my opinion. It emphasizes courage and ingenuity in the face of fear.

Review by Susan Bush, Library Media Assistant, Magna Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-6

Number the Stars
Random House
137 pages
ISBN: 978-0-440-22753-3
Release Date: 1989

 

Written by Ruth Gruener

This book is about a young Jewish child striving to survive the Holocaust. The girl gets put into hiding a couple of times. She is without her family and then loses some of her family. She is reunited with her family, but does have to move several times.
It is written front the child's point of view. It is written at a fourth grade level. It is a chapter book.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Destined to Live: A True Story of a Child in the Holocaust
Scholastic
156 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-89204-9
Release Date: October 2008


 

Written by Tim Hoppey, Illustrated by Ramon Espinoza

Jungle Scout is a story about 16-year-old Lam Hung, who guides an American platoon through the jungle of South Vietnam. He knows the area well. He guides troops through a dangerous area and gains the trust of troop members. I thought the book helped demonstrate the injustice between cultures. I liked the book.

Review by Diane Scott, Western Hills Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 2-5

Jungle Scout: A Vietnam War Story
Stone Arch / Capstone Press
49 pages
ISBN: 978-1-43420-747-0
Release Date: August 2008

 

Written by Jason Porterfield

Interesting information about war tactics. Gives information about special operations in the Korean and Vietnam wars and in current conflicts. Also provides information about equipment, gear, and types of aircraft used. Good index.

Review by Joy Brown, Language Arts Teacher, Granite Peaks Alternative High School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

USAF Special Tactics Teams
Rosen Publishing Group
64 pages
ISBN: 978-1-40421-753-9
Release Date: September 2008
 

Written by Efraim Karsh

A discussion about the causes and effects of the Iran-Iraq War. This book has an index, glossary, and maps.

Review by Dayanne Coombs, Library Secretary, Granite Peaks Alternative High School
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Interest Level: Grades 8-12

The Iran-Iraq War
Rosen Publishing Group
96 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4358-7499-2
Release Date: September 2009



 

Written by John DiConsiglio

This is the perfect biography for those reluctant readers. The cover and the format will entice readers and yet the book has enough information to complete any biography assignment. The black and white illustration and the large print make it an easy but interesting read. It includes a time line and a glossary.

Review by Cindy Moyle, Granite School District Library Specialist
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 8-12

Francisco Pizarro: Destroyer of the Inca Empire (A Wicked History Series)
Scholastic Children's Press
121 pages
ISBN: 978-0-531-18551-3
Release Date: September 2008  

Written by Catherine Jinks

Babylonne is a miserable sixteen year old girl living in exile with female relatives who are anything but normal.  Because of the religious beliefs of the "Good Christians," all the women of the household hate and even revile anything associated with the Catholic church.  When Babylonne plots her escape from her abusive relatives, she ironically must accept help from a learned Catholic priest who can tell her about her parents who, she thinks, are long dead.  The Priest attempts to get Babylonne to safety in Campostele, but there is a vicious war going on between the French and the Good Christians, making it a deadly trip even with the protection of the priest.  Babylonne has a venomous tongue, and she curses those she fears and hates in creative, sometimes vulgar ways. Her sense of humor and identity make her a heroine who is real and yet admirable.

Review by Linda Douglas, Language Arts Teacher, Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 8-12

Babylonne
Candlewick Press
382 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3650-0
Release Date: November 2008  

Written by Robin S. Doak

It's always difficult to find biographies or Civil War books that are appropriate for elementary students. They tend to be too long for their attention span or the reading level is too high. This book is great because it is long enough to give detailed information and the reading level is appropriate for elementary students. I also liked the double spacing used as the print format. Any "We the People" book, especially a "good" biography is appreciated at our school.

Review by Kathy Loewy, Library Media Assistant, Twin Peaks Elementary School
Rating: ★★★✩✩
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

Confederate General: Stonewall Jackson
Compass Point / Capstone Press
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7565-4110-1
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Matt Doeden

This is an informational book about war weapons. The photographs are good, but it lacks facts and information. I know a student would enjoy the pictures, but I'm not sure if they would really read the book to extract information. It has a good library binding.

Review by Kristen Hunt, Library Media Assistant, Whittier Elementary School
Rating: ★★★½✩
Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Weapons of the Cold War
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2332-2
Release Date: January 2009  

Written and Illustrated by Ken Stark

The illustrations are beautiful in this book. My compliments to Mr. Stark. They show the true "gentleman" Robert E. Lee and the rougher, yet determined and humane Ulysses S. Grant. It's important that students realize how difficult this war was, not just physically, but emotionally. It changed the direction of our nation. Mr. Stark has done a nice job of this. Students will now be able to understand both points of view. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that the print is small and a little hard to read.

Review by Kathy Loewy, Library Media Assistant, Twin Peaks Elementary
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 5+

Marching to Appomattox: The Footrace That Ended the Civil War
Putnam / Penguin
48 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-24212-0
Release Date: January 2009  

Written by Elizabeth Raum

World War II: An Interactive History Adventure puts the reader in the middle of the action. There are three different story lines that are based on actual events in the war. As the events unfold, the reader chooses a scenario and is then told to turn to a certain page to continue the story. At the end of the book there is a time line so the reader can see how the events in the book related to each other. I had my son, who loves books about war heroes, read this book and he really liked it.

Review by Vala'dee Tanner, Library Media Assistant, Rosecrest Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 3-7

World War II: An Interactive History Adventure
Capstone Press
112 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2344-5
Release Date: January 2009

 

Written by Eric Fein

A brief account of one of the most important battles of World War II. This book tells you why the allied forces needed to invade, where they choose to invade, and how successful and deadly this battle was. I would recommend it for those interested in learning about World War II.

Review by Debbie Luke, Library Media Assistant, Westbrook Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 4-6

D-Day: The Battle of Normandy (Bloodiest Battles)
Capstone Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2299-8
Release Date: January 2009
 

Written Katy Moran

Essa, a 14 year old boy, is caught up in the warring tribes in England in 731. The Wolf folk are in danger of being destroyed by the evil King Penda of Mercia.  Essa is unsure of his bloodline and the role he is supposed to play.  Essa has a special power that, if he learns to use it, will help him save his people.

Review by Kathy Roach, English Teacher, Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Junior High / High School

Bloodline
Candlewick Press
297 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4083-5
Release Date: February 2009

 

Written by Emma Clayton

Mika and Ellie are twins recently separated by Mal Gorman, the overlord of the Youth Development Project.  Everyone has been told she is dead, but Mika knows she is not.  Gorman has a diabolical plan to exploit Mika and Ellie and other mutant children born thirty years after the Animal Plague. The Plague has forced the earth's population into the top third of the world, surrounded by a monstrous wall. Mika and Ellie must find each other and save the thousands of other 12 and 13-year olds from being used as soldiers in a future war.

This book may remind you of Ender's Game, but it has its own identity because of the characters and plot turns.

I liked the book a lot and it surprised me many times. It read very quickly and kept my attention the entire time.

Curriculum Ties: Science Fiction, future studies, problem solving

Review by Linda Douglas, English Teacher, Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

The Roar
Chicken House / Scholastic
481 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-92593-8
Release Date: April 2009
 

Written and Illustrated by Michael Foreman

This is the story of a young boy who finds a seedling plant and starts to nourish it and help it grow.  This seems somewhat unremarkable, except for the fact that the boy lives in the midst of post-war rubble and ruin, separated from his former home by barbed wire and soldiers with tanks.  There is nothing green in his world.  He has to move aside broken bricks just to give the plant room to grow.

The illustrations, done mostly in gray and sepia tones with selective and striking use of color, are extremely effective at setting the moods of the story.  This is a touching tale of tenacity and hope in the face of terrible trials.  It tastefully shows some of the realities of war from a child’s perspective, hints at the idea of peaceful resistance, and will probably provoke a lot of discussion and questions from young students about these topics.

Review by Joshua Whiting, Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades K-3

A Child's Garden
Candlewick Press
32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4271-6
Release Date: May 12, 2009
 

Written by Lisa M. Bolt Simons

Military books are very popular with the boys at our school, so I was excited to have this book for our younger/reluctant readers. Short sentences and controlled vocabulary give just the right amount of information about what it means to serve in the army. Large, full page, colorful, and up-to-date photographs compliment the text. Also, a glossary, "safe websites," and "read more" sections extend the learning. Once again, Capstone has come up with a winning series kids will love. I highly recommend this book.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades PreK-2

Soldiers of the U.S. Army
Capstone Press
24 pages
ISBN: 978-1-4296-2250-9
Release Date: January 2009
 

Written by Roberta Edwards, Illustrated by True Kelley

I would recommend this book for all libraries. It it a very comprehensive and easy to read book. It is long enough for many of the biography reports that children are asked to write. It was very easy to understand and follow the life of George Washington. It gave just enough information, but not too much to lose the young reader.

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 3-9

Who Was George Washington?
Grosset & Dunlap / Penguin
104 pages
ISBN: 978-0-448-44892-3
Release Date: January 2009


 

Written by Ann Burg

I really kind of liked this book.  It was a book about a half-Vietnamese and half-American child who was born during the Vietnam War, whose mother had forced him (out of love) to leave with some American soldiers for a better life. The kid doesn't remember much about Vietnam, I'm sure because he blocked it out, but his american parents encourage him to start talking.  By taking him to a Vietnam Vets club he starts talking and overcomes the adversity in his town.  Apparently he feels responsible for his birth brother's crippling, which is too bad; no matter what he does that seems to hold him back.

Reviewed by a student at Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★✩
Interest Level: High School

All the Broken Pieces
Scholastic
219 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-08092-7
Release Date: April 2009  

Written by Marcia Williams

Flossie Albright is a sister book to Archie's War. It is told in a diary/scrapbook format. She writes about her feelings about her father going off to fight the war, while she lives in the countryside.

Flossie's thoughts and experiences give an interesting view of World War II in England. The author uses illustrations, snapshots and paper craft (fold-outs) around the written entries. The book is interesting, but quite long. Much of it is written in cursive, so it takes a bit more effort to read.

Review by Kay Thomas, Librarian, Eastwood Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★✩ 
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

My Secret War Diary, by Flossie Albright
Candlewick Press
142 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4111-5
Release Date: Nov 2008

 

Written by Andrew Langley

This is a fairly detailed look at the WW I offensive that led to the Allies' victory. The illustrations/photographs are all in black and white, which might make engaging elementary students a bite more difficult. Since boys always go for the war books though, the book will still be useful, especially for 5th and 6th graders. It is very well done and teachers will also find it supports their curriculum well. 

Review Kathy Loewy, Librarian, Twin Peaks Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★½ 
Interest Level: Grades 5/6+ 

The Hundred Days Offensive
Compass Point Books / Capstone Press
96 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-132257-5
Release Date: Oct 2008


 

Written by Stephanie Fitzgerald

We don't usually think of the part women played in the Civil War. Mary Walker went against all norms and was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor in the face of great prejudice as a surgeon. I didn't enjoy this "Signature" biography as much as others I've read. Mary was just too eccentric, but I have teachers that will love this book. Interesting students in it will be more difficult.

Review by Kathy Loewy, Librarian, Twin Peaks Elementary School
Rating: ★★★½✩ 
Interest Level: Grades 5-7

Mary Walker: Civil War Surgeon and Feminist
Compass Point Books / Capstone Press
112 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7565-4083-8
Release Date: Jan 2009

 

Written by Tanya Landman

A 14 year old girl who is an Apache, wants to become a warrior.  The book tells the story of her quest to be a warrior and find out how her father died.

I thought after reading the first few pages that this would be a hard book to read. There were a lot of Indian names in the first few pages that made it difficult as the story was set up. Once that was done I really felt the story was very compelling. I really liked the story!

Review by Warren Child, Library Media Specialist, Cyprus High School
Rating: ★★★★½ 
Interest Level: High School

I Am Apache
Candlewick Press
320 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3664-7
Release Date: Aug 2008
www.tanyalandman.com  

Written by Elly Gross

This is a personal story for Elly Berkovits Gross and her imprisonment in a concentration camp during World War II. As a young girl of 15, she, her brother, and mother were taken by cattle car to Auschwitz-II/Birkenau concentration camp. There she was separated from them and never saw them again. She tells of her imprisonment and her survival during this horrific time. The tale is told in short, cryptic chapters. Her father was also taken and killed by the Nazis previous to her internment. In addition, Elly was forced to work as a slave laborer for the Volkswagen factory. When later reparations were paid by Volkswagen, she donated all her share to charity. Her effort here is to keep the memory of the holocaust alive and make sure the story is told.

Review by Fay Mason, Library Media Teacher, Churchill Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★½ 
Interest Level: Elementary and Secondary

Elly: My True Story of the Holocaust
Scholastic
125 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-07494-0
Release Date: Mar 2009
 

Written by Sherri L. Smith

This is a fictional book based on the story of the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots).  Ida Mae Jones has been taught by her father to fly. He is gone, but her dream is to continue flying and get her pilot's license. She passes the test easily, but is refused the license because she is female.  Not only that but she is black.  When the call comes for women to fly planes for the army, Ida decides to help in the war effort by enlisting. She leaves her mother and family, forges her father's license to show her name and picture and joins the WASP. Training is in Texas and "Jim Crow" laws would have her hung if she is ever found out because she passes herself off as white. She claims she is Spanish to explain her slightly darker complexion. The book is full of exciting flight episodes and also the danger and joys Ida finds as she is trained and makes close friends in the WASP. Excellent reading. 

Review by Fay Mason, Library Media Teacher, Churchill Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 6-12

Flygirl
Putnam / Penguin Group
275 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-24709-5
Release Date: Jan 2009
www.sherrilsmith.com

 

Written by Ann Rinaldi

Historical Fiction. Claire Louise lives in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1863 during the siege by the Union Army. Her family relies on her strength during the 47 days of this Civil War period. Once again Ann Rinaldi makes history come alive. This book is short so it's a great introduction to historical fiction.

Review by Kimberly Jensen, Librarian, Diamond Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★✩ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-7

My Vicksburg
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
152 pages
ISBN: 978-0-15-206624-6
Release Date: May 2009
www.annrinaldi.net



 

Written by Carolyn Marsden and Philip Matzigkeit

Eban is a white American living in 1960s Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). His parents are Methodist missionaries and pacifists. While they live on a black mission, Evan attends an all white school in town. Evan is torn between his friends at the mission and his friends in town and what he is being taught at school. When the school mandates that all students must become cadets and fight against the black uprising, Evan must decide which side he is on.

Having just read the Kite Runner I was a little bit leary to read this book. There were some of the same kinds of themes, but they were handled on a level that is appropriate for an elementary child to read.

Review by Jane Walton, PTA Board Member, Diamond Ridge Elementary School
Rating: ★★★½✩ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

Sahwira: an African Friendship
Candlewick Press
189 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3575-6
Release Date: Apr 2009


 

Written by Abraham Lincoln, Illustrated by Michael McCurdy

Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" is beautifully illustrated in black and white.  The impact of this great and powerful speech is highlighted by those dramatic illustrations. The book includes a foreword written by renowned American historian Garry Wills. I loved this book and believe it would be an asset to 5th grade in studying American History.

Review by Renee Larsen, Library Media Assistant, Hillside Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4 and up

The Gettysburg Address
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
28 pages
ISBN: 978-0-395-69824-2
Release Date: Sep 1995 (reprint)

 

Written by John Flanagan

Things are not looking good for our heroes. Will has been forced into hiding with the rightful ruler of Macindaw. His friend, Alyss, has been captured by the evil ruler, Keren. Forced to be hypnotized by her captor, Alyss keeps forfeiting information that puts Will at a disadvantage. In a last ditch effort to try and retake Macindaw, he pays his old friends the Skandians to help him launch an assault on Macindaw. Just in time, his knight friend, Horace shows up to help him launch the perfect assault. Things get complicated, however, when a Scottish General forms an alliance with Keren to take over Araluen and Macindaw together. Will Alyss ever get saved? Will Will and Horace be able to successfully take back Macindaw or will Araluen be lost forever to Keren and his Scottish allies? Although not as fast-paced as its counterparts, the suspense and humor embedded in this book make this book worth the read. Lovers of the Ranger's Apprentice Series and adventure will enjoy not only this book, but the five other prequels to this book.

Review by Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★½ 
Interest Level: Grades 5-9

The Siege of Macindaw (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 6)
Philomel / Penguin Group
292 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-25033-0
Release Date: 4 Aug 2009
www.rangersapprentice.com  

Written by John Flanagan

Far from home after escaping Skandian slavery, Will and Evanlyn's plans to return to Araluen are cut short when Evanlyn is taken captive by the Temujai army. While attempting to rescue Evanlyn, Will runs into his old friends, Halt and Horace, who have abandoned their positions working for the king of Araluen to come and rescue Will and Evanlyn. The three of them succeed in rescuing her, but discover the Temujai Army's plans to take over Skandia, then Araluen. Now Will and his friends must convince the Skandians to fight for their country and win in order to save everyone. Will our band of heroes succeed or will all be lost? Fast-paced story, well-developed characters, and a story of courage and bravery worth remembering make this book a must-read for avid and reluctant readers alike.

Review by Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★½ 
Interest Level: Grades 5-9

The Battle for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 4)
Puffin / Penguin Group
294 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-241340-1
Release Date: January 7, 2009 (paperback)
www.rangersapprentice.com

 

Written by Michael Ford

This is the third book in the Spartan Quest series. In this book Lysander seeks the aid of the Oracle in answering questions he has about his family, birth, and future. With the Oracle's answer in hand Lysander returns to camp only to find his barracks has been chosen to complete a dangerous mission to the town of Taras in Italy. The town has been taken over in a revolt and the Spartans need help to regain control. Lysander and his friends once again prove themselves equal to the match. Lysander is always torn by the fact he is not a full blooded Spartan. He relates to the plight of other people, but he remains loyal to his oath as a Spartan. This is a great book for boys that like war and adventure, but it is also very graphic in the descriptions of battle and death.

Review by Robin Larsen, Library Media Specialist, Matheson Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★½ 
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

Legacy of Blood (Spartan Quest Series)
Walker and Company
298 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9844-2
Release Date: May 12, 2009


 

Written by Kirsten Bodie

When Jenna gets an offer to be a princess in a movie, she jumps at the opportunity. When she gets to Skandia, however, she finds out she was brought there to play the princess' double. When she overhears the ruler of the country and his advisor talking about needing to kill someone, however, she becomes suspicious. When she gets kidnapped by rebels, she realizes that there is a lot more going on in Skandia then she's been told. While being their captive, she finds out that the ruler is trying to take away all of the rights of the North Skandians and the rebels are trying to stop him. Will Jenna figure out who is right? Why does Jenna look so much like the princess?  The characters and plot are well-developed. The story is fun and fast-paced. The author does a great job of making good and evil seem apparent on both sides, even when it comes to the regent. Avid and reluctanct readers who love action, adventure, and/or princess stories will love reading this book.

Review by Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 4-8

The Princess Plot
Chicken House / Scholastic
378 pages
ISBN: 978-0-545-03220-9
Release Date: May 1, 2009


 

Written by Charles Dickens, Introduced by Roddy Doyle

A tale between two cities, one in the midst of a bloody revolution, and one man caught between two worlds. Charles Darnay flees from France to escape the revolution, but returns to save a dear servant from death. By doing so, he puts his own life at risk and gets captured. He needs to escape, but who does he trust in a world where everyone wants you dead. A gruesome but fairly entertaining book to read, readers will be disturbed, entertained, and made curious about the French Revolution by this book. People like Madame Defarge, who knits her enemies’ names into whatever she’s knitting, and Jacques Three, who is a member of a corrupt tribunal with the only goal to see how much blood they can have running through the streets of France, increase the appeal of this book even more to whoever reads it. With a funny, but true to Charles Dickens’ style of writing, introduction, Roddy Doyle makes readers think twice about the events that happen in this book. With a glossary of terms and a who’s who guide to the characters in the book, readers will be able to not only enjoy this book and all it has to offer, but understand it as well.

Review by Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★✩✩ 
Interest Level: Grades 7+

A Tale of Two Cities
Puffin Classics / Penguin Group
446 pages
ISBN: 978-0-14-132554-5
Release Date: Mar 5, 2009 (reprint)


 

Written by Jean Fritz, Illustrated by Margot Tomes

This was a wonderful book for kids to read. There is so much history given in an easy to read format. The children will like the little added details that are not normally talked about. We have a great background on what Paul Revere was like and what his life was like.

Curriculum Ties: American History, Revolutionary War, Boston Tea Party

Review by Karen Manning, Library Media Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School
Rating: ★★★★★ 
Interest Level: Grades 3-6

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
Putnam / Penguin Group
45 pages
ISBN: 978-0-698-11351-0
Release Date: May 1996 (reprint)



 

Written by Suzanne Collins

Wow! What a page turner! Catching Fire is Book 2 in the trilogy of The Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta, the victors from District 12, are forced into the arena to play in the Hunger Games once again. While the government of Panem struggles to maintain total control over the people in each of the districts, citizens are starting to plot and stage uprisings. President Snow blames Katniss for the uprisings and threatens those she loves unless unless she can prove to everyone that she wasn't being rebellious in the Hunger Games. Will she be able to prove it, or will there be full scale rebellion?

Review by Shauna Jensen, District Technology Specialist, Granite School District
Rating: ★★★★★
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, Book Two)
Scholastic Press
391 pages
ISBN: 978-0-439-02349-8
Release Date: Sep 1, 2009



 

Written by Catherine Gourley

Andersonville Prison was one of the worst prisons ever recorded in history. Although the numbers who died do not begin to rival the numbers that died in concentration camps in World War Two, the horrors experienced by prisoners in this camp were horrible. Such conditions included sewage-filled drinking water, overcrowded living conditions, lack of quality food, and guards that were willing to shoot at a moment's notice if a prisoner escaped or crossed the "dead" line. Out of the 45, 000 men who lived there, over a third of them died. A prison that was meant to be a semi-humane way to house 10,000 soldiers soon became a death sentence for many. A well-written, well-researched account of the Andersonville horrors. With pictures, quotes from primary documents, and a unique perspective of soldier sentiments, readers who like history, narrative fiction, and death camp-type stories will enjoy reading this. I would recommend this to anyone who would like to learn more about the attitudes between Yankees and Rebels, problems soldiers faced during the Civil War, or the war from the lower ranking individuals who were most affected by the war between the states.

Review by Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High School
Rating: ★★★★½
Interest Level: Grades 7-12

The Horrors of Andersonville: Life and Death Inside a Civil War Prison
Lerner / Twenty-First Century Books
192 pages
ISBN: 978-0761342120
Release Date: Mar 2010