7th & 8th summer reading - part 2

[S L Johnson <lucyfan@JUNO.COM>]

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More suggestions.....
1.  Robert Lipstye. The Chemo Kid. N.Y.: Harpers Collins, 1992. 167 pp.
2.  Summary: Fred=92s life is changed in one evening when his friend
notices a lump on his throat. From then on, the reader enters a world
where a
wimp turns into a superhero fighting against injustice, steroid punks,
drug
dealers, and toxic waste dumpsters. Is it the fantasy of a kid fighting
cancer with experimental drugs or is it really happen? In the end, it
does not really matter because this is a story filled with adventure,
friendship, and fun.
3.  Critique: I selected a Lipstye book because the online card catalog
listed it under male juvenile fiction. This is a book that deals with a
real problem that faces a number of young teenage boys -- cancer. It is
an
inspiring story packed with many things that would appeal to a young
teenage boy in the 1990s. The story comes complete with a superheros
creed - Do no harm for profit. Protect the needy. Always choose right
over wrong. Plus
it captures a theme most young boys identify with: Most people are just
empty styrofoam burger boxes floating along the storm drains of life, but
the hero is a person with cold fire -- a seeker with the fiery passionate
rightousness to complete the journey and cool confident skills to
triumph.
4.  Uses/Users:  Teenagers facing an illness or as part of a curriculum
on illness and coping.
5.  Extra information:  Lipstye is a prize winning author. Other titles
by him include One Fast Summer, Summer Boy, and The Contender. His most
recent novel is The Brave.
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1.  Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. 280
pp.
2.  Summary: Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle journeys with her
grandparents from Ohio to Idaho, retracing the trail her mother took
before she disappeared out of her life. During the trip, Sal relates the
tale of her friend, Phoebe Winterbottom, who received mysterious
messages; who met a potential lunatic, and whose mother also disappeared.
3.  Critique: Creech portrays Sal as a sensitive, intelligent character.
She has a positive voice filled with hope that feminists would find
inspiring. Sal is a great storyteller who unfolds a complex, many layered
tale of
her own difficulties in dealing with loss and acceptance of her mothers
departure.
 4.  Uses/Users:  Because of the excellent literary qualities of this
story, I would recommend it for language arts classes for grades 7-10.
5. Extra information: The books is a John Newbery Medal Winner.
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1.  Thompson, Julian.  The Trials of Molly Sheldon.  Henry Holt and Co.
Inc.NY. 1995. 177 pp.
2.  Summary:  Molly Sheldon is a young, average teenager with a special
gift she keeps to herself. She works in her dads antique store and is
drawn
into a modern-day censorship battle when protestors start picketing the
store
because they object to videos and books sold in the store. If that is not
enough, Sheldons special gift is discovered, and she is captured and
finds herself in the midst of a modern-day witch trial.
3.  Critique:  The books jacket includes words from a flyer handed out by
the demonstrators:This establishment is contributing to the breakdown of
morality in American Society by ofering obscene and violent books and
movies to the public, for sale or rent. Kindly do not patronize this
store.
Young people get to see the issue of censorship through the eyes of a
peer.
Mollyscoffs at the idea that she would go out and get pregnant from
watching
movies. She says: Wow. Is there some major facts of life you haven't told
me yet?. She makes an excellent argument which I think young readers
will enjoy.
4.  Use/Users: This book could be included in a display on censorship
issues as a launching tool to encourage young people to explore the issue
more.
Other titles can also be included in the display.
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1.  Taylor, Mildred. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. New York: Dial Books,
1976. 276. pp.
2.  Summary:  Young Cassie Logan and her family must confront racism and
hatred in their Mississippi town during a turbulent year of night riders
and burnings. After two men are burned to death by the riders, Cassies
parents organize a boycott of the local store which is owned by a member
of the
night riders. The fight now involves saving the family's land.
3.  Critique:  I loved this story as a teenager. I had not read the book,
but watched the movie. The plot and events unfold in a smooth narrative
in
the voice of Cassie. Young readers will identify with the terror she felt
when seeing the headlights of the night riders pass her farm house. They
will
laugh at the antics of the Logan children when they sabotaged the white
bus which splashed them with mud every day during the heavy rains.
4.  Use/Users:  I would recommend this book for middle school Language
Arts reading lists. It could also be included in a unit for African
American
history.
5.  Extra Information: This book is a 1977 Newbery Award recipient.
Another book by Taylor about the Logan family is Song of the Trees, which
won the Council on Interracial Books Award in the African American
category and
was a New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year in 1975.
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1.  Levy, Robert.  Clan of the Shape-Changers.  Boston: Houghton Miller
Co.,1994.  183 pp.
2.  Summary:  Sixteen-year-old Susan is marked by green eyes. It is a
mark which distinguishes her and makes her hated. Susan also has a
special
power which she uses during her time of testing to help others and make a
difference on her world.
3.  Critique:  This is a very fantastic tale of adventure that children
will enjoy. It is fast paced and exciting right until the finish. It is
full
of imagination and excellent characterization. I loved the wolf that
accompanied Susan on her quest. He seemed almost human. He was the adult
on the trip. I also enjoyed the transformation periods of Susan. It was
fun imagining
myself becoming a little mouse and scampering about to spy only to be
chased by
a big cat.
4.  Use/Uses:  This is a book which can be used to encourage reading. It
is also excellent for a book talk and in special displays on fantasy.
This
book could also be used to encourage special writing projects. Children
could
draw illustrate scenes from the book for art projects. (Although the
character
is 16, this book seems to be written especially for middle schoolers who
can't wait until they are older teenagers!)
5. Extra Information:  Clan of the Shape Changers is a South Carolina
Junior Book Award Nominee for 1996.
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1.  Klause, Annette Curtis.  The Silver Kiss.  N.Y.: Delacorte Press,
1990. 198 pp.
2.  Summary:  Mysterious and beautiful, the teenage boy draws young Zoe
into a web of love and suspense while helping her cope with the terminal
illness of her mother.
3.  Critique:  This book is filled with the promise of first love. The
romance in it will appeal to teenage girls seeking love and suspense in
the same read. It is definitely a page turner. I think boys will like the
story as well because it is told from both the viewpoints of Zoe and the
mysterious boy, Simon. The book also includes some exquisite narration
such as this passage:
The night was crisp and sweet like apples... Moonlight lit the
gazebo,tracing it with silver, but a shadow crept inside, independent of
natural shades. She uttered a small, surprised cry, and fought him for a
second, but he stroked her hair and caressed her. I won't hurt you, he
thought. Little bird, little dear. I won't hurt you.
 4. Use/Users:  I would use this book in a booktalk to turn teenagers on
to reading. It could also  be included in a book display featuring gothic
romance novels. The scenes are tastefully done without overly sexually
explicit material.
5.  Extra information: Robert Cormier gave this book an excellent review.
On the jacket, he is quoted,"There has never been a young adult novel
like
The Silver Kiss. It blazes a bloody trial in YA literature -- it is
horrific,
tender, poignant, and mesmerizing. And probably, unforgettable." William
Sleator also wrote: "The Silver Kiss is not only a marvelously grisly
thriller with total credibility. It is also full of compassion -- for
monster as well as victim." This novel is Klause's first. She is a
reviewer for
School Library Journal.
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1. Chetwin, Grace. Collidescope. New York: Bradbury Press, 1990. 221 pp.
2.  Summary:  The life-paths of three very different people collide  in
this tale of fantasy and science fiction. Hahn is a humanoid scout from
the
future on a mission to survey Earth when his spaceship is attacked by an
enemy.
Frankie is walking home from her karate class as Hahn"s spaceship plung
es toward the ground, and Sky-Fire Trail is born in a pre-Colonial
America minutes after Hahn's spaceship crashes in the swamp near his
village. The
crash and simultaneous birth of Sky-Fire Trail is an omen to his people.
The collision displaces all three people, and a chase through time and
space
begins.
3.  Evaluation:  The story is rich in detail, characterization, and plot.
 At 15, Frankie is a very intelligent young woman dealing with what she
feels
are major problems in her life. Her mother is divorced and has met a new
man,
and Frankie can't find a nice boyfriend because most do not want a girl
who
knows karate. It takes meeting Sky-Fire Trail, whose whole way of life is
about
to be eradicated by an invasion of Europeans, to understand that she has
a
very blessed life. Another major plus for this book is that the setting
on
Long Island, New York in both present and pre-Colonial America is well
crafted.
4.  Use/Users:  I would recommend this novel for middle and high school
language arts class. The story would especially appeal to 14- and 15
year-olds because of the ages of the main characters, Frankie and
Sky-Fire Trail.
5.  Other Information:  Chetwin is also the author of the Gom fantasy
series One of the books, The Riddle and the Rune is an ALA Booklist
Editors
Choice.
(Thank you, Mary Logan. The detail will be _very_ helpful.)

more will come - look for part 3

Shari J
Teacher Librarian
Felix Festa Middle School
West Nyack, NY
lucyfan@juno.com