KENNETH OPPEL

Kenneth Oppel Official Site


AIRBORN
"Matt, a young cabin boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy young girl traveling with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of mysterious winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the Earth's surface."

This was not what I expected. I had been recommending this book to boys as a Science Fiction adventure; just goes to show you how a cover and reviews can mislead. It's a wonderful story, but I think the audience extends to girls who have enjoyed books such as A Great and Terrible Beauty by Bray. Matt's relationship with Kate holds a prominent place in the plot. Kate's independence serves as a great example to girls. I don't like categorizing books as boy or girl interests, but this is not an adventure in the likes of Stormbreaker.


SKYBREAKER
Horn Book starred (Spring 2006)

This sequel to Airborn manages to delve into its characters even as it delivers yet another breakneck flight through the skies of its beguiling alternative world. The romantic tensions among the four adventurers, killing altitudes, conflicting agendas, and ruthless goons provide more than enough material for heart-stopping action scenes that will please even the most jaded of readers.


SILVERWING
"When a newborn bat named Shade but sometimes called "Runt" becomes separated from his colony during migration, he grows in ways that prepare him for even greater journeys."

Also, make sure to check out Oppel's Silverwing and sequels for an easy level, page-turning adventure.

EMAKO BLUE by Brenda Woods

"Monterey, Savannah, Jamal, and Eddie have never had much to do with each other until Emako Blue shows up at chorus practice, but just as the lives of the five Los Angeles high school students become intertwined, tragedy tears them apart." African Americans/High School fiction Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

Horn Book starred (Spring 2005)
"Opening with the title character's funeral, this novel about an innocent teen victim of gang violence then flashes back through the months leading up to her murder. This modern-day morality tale has about as much subtlety as a made-for-TV movie, but the suddenness with which the tragedy occurs is sobering, and readers will feel acutely the injustice of Emako's untimely death."

My Comment:
Woods zeroes in on the teenage heart with Emako Blue. She evokes time, place and feelings in a sophisticated yet concise style. I can hardly wait to get this into my students' hands.

FORGED BY FIRE by Sharon Draper

"Companion volume to: Tears of a tiger. Gerald, a teenager who has spent years protecting his fragile half-sister from their abusive father, must face the prospect of one final confrontation before the problem can be solved."Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

A compelling, dramatic story, this story conveys the importance of listening to your inner voice and following through with the right action. Gerald is a courageous hero and a strong role model for all teens. It's not easy standing up to evil when the evidence is not obvious or convenient to others. The writing is simplistic, but the storyline will carry teens to the gripping end.

A BIG THANK YOU TO MS. WEISS' SIXTH GRADE HUMANITIES CLASS!

Thank you so much for recommending some great books. Please share any more must reads and I will order them for the library. Ms. Sheehy, Mrs. Harrington and I are always happy to have you visit!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. Schuster

P.S. This is my dog, Tiki. He just likes to EAT books!

FRUITS BASKET by Natsuki Takaya (Stefanie M.)

"Translated from the Japanese.;"This book is printed 'manga-style' in the authenic Japanese right-to-left format"--Colophon. Orphan Tohru Honda is taken in by the mysterious Sohma, who introduce her to a world of magical curses and family secrets." (Stefanie M.)

Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

JUNIE B. JONES by Barbara Park (Hodalys A.)

"When her kindergarten class has Job Day, Junie B. goes through much confusion and excitement before deciding on the "bestest" job of all." (Hodalys A.)

Barbara Park

Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

FUDGE-A-MANIA by Judy Blume (Makayla H.)

"Pete describes the family vacation in Maine with the Tubmans, highlighted by the antics of his younger brother Fudge." (Makayla H.)
Judy Blume

Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

THE RIVER by Gary Paulsen (Johnny R.)

"Because of his success surviving alone in the wilderness for fifty-four days, fifteen-year-old Brian, profoundly changed by his time in the wild, is asked to undergo a similar experience to help scientists learn more about the psychology of survival." (Johnny R.)
Gary Paulsen
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE by Kate diCamillo (Ambreen H.)

"With her adventurous sister, Meryl, suffering from the Grey death, meek and timid Princess Addie sets out to find a cure." (Ambreen H.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

THE TWO PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE by Gail Carson Levine (Tiffany George)

"With her adventurous sister, Meryl, suffering from the Grey death, meek and timid Princess Addie sets out to find a cure." (Tiffany G.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

A HORSE FOR MANDY by Lurlene McDaniel (Beth D.)

"Mandy is thrilled when she gets her own horse for her thirteenth birthday, but her best friend, Laura, reacts strangely to the news, and their friendship is tested when tragedy strikes." (Beth D.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

STAR GIRL by Jerry Spinelli

"Stargirl, a teen who animates quiet Mica High with her colorful personality, suddenly finds herself shunned for her refusal to conform." (Alex H.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT'S ME MARGARET by Judy Blume

"Faced with the difficulties of growing up and choosing a religion, a twelve-year-old girl talks over her problems with her own private God." (Nicole C.)
Book summary by

Follett Library Resources

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS by J.K. Rowling

Booklist starred (August 2007 (Vol. 103, No. 22))

"The cloak of inevitability hangs on the final installment of the Harry Potter series. One must die, one will live. Friends will be distinguished from foes. All will be revealed. To Rowling’s great credit, she manages this finale with the flair and respect for her audience that have permeated the previous six novels, though the mood here is quite different..."

Harry, Harry, Harry...I am so bereft that it's over. I think I need to start at the beginning again. Thank you, J.K. Rowling for giving so many of us an unsurpassed reading experience.

If you haven't tried the Harry Potter books, well, what are you waiting for???

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS by Jules Verne

"Jules Verne's classic novel featuring Phileas Fogg, a wealthy gentleman who makes a bet that he can travel around the world in just eighty days." Audio version narrated by Jim Dale.

The Excellent, the bad and the ugly. Dale's audio interpretation is truly fabulous. I also thoroughly enjoyed the character of Phileas Fogg, a man whose calm demeanor and impeccable character remain constant in the face of disaster. The story is an excellent window into many aspects of technology and travel in the 1870's. I could not help but compare our wired world today with Verne's world. What stories could he have imagined today? That's the excellent.

The Bad and the Ugly. Jim Dale brought the book alive, but I would only give the printed version - although a great adventure - to a patient reader. Teachers could use parts of this book very effectively in terms exploring and comparing technology's impact on society then and today, or, now here's the ugly - the shallow stereotyping of world cultures from a white European 19th century perspective: Native Americans as "enraged monkeys" or the emphasis on the white skin of a beautiful Indian woman, thereby making her an acceptable companion for Fogg.

The publisher addresses these issues in an afterward. The bottom line for me is that this is a great adventure reflecting a historical perspective. How far we have come. I would highly recommend it as a teacher directed class read or as a family listening experience.

ENDYMION SPRING by Matthew Skelton

"Having reluctantly accompanied his academic mother and pesky younger sister to Oxford, twelve-year-old Blake Winters is at loose ends until he stumbles across an ancient and magical book, secretely brought to England in 1453 by Gutenberg's mute apprentice to save it from evil forces, and which now draws Blake into a dangerous and life-threatening quest."

Follett Library Resources

Mystery and magic combine to create a wide audience for this page turner. It reminds me a bit of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke in the the author's clear passion for books, but will appeal as well to the large number of students who read fantasy. I love the exposure to literature and history interwoven through Faust and Gutenberg. The editor, however, could have advised on a bit of medical logistics at the end, but I don't want to be a spoiler. A good recommendation for most students grades 5-7, possibly grade 8 as well.

THE BOOK THIEF by Marcus Zusak

"Originally published: Australia : Pan Macmillan Australia, 2005. Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors."

Follett Library Resources

An astounding book. Zusak towers over other writers in his absolute command of language. That said, I confess I had to start it twice. I just couldn't warm up to Death as the narrator at first. After a second attempt, however, I was completely hooked. Zusak is a brilliant and passionate writer who describes the experiences of a young German girl, her family and friends whose lives are shattered by World War II. This should be on every high school reading list. A select few middle school readers could also tackle it, but it's really one of those fabulous adult novels that is content appropriate for teens. It is worth experiencing in both audio and print format.

Zusak also wrote I Am the Messenger, which won a 2006 Printz Honor Award for Young Adult literature and is next on my reading list. He is truly a magnificent writer.

A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE by Ann M. Martin

"The summer that Hattie turns twelve, she meets the childlike uncle she never knew and becomes friends with a girl who works at the carnival that comes to Hattie's small town."

Follett Library Resources

A 2003 Newbery Honor Medal, this is one of those books that's been in my to-read pile for a long time, mainly because my students keep recommending it. They are right. It is a gem that would be great as assigned reading or a teacher read aloud. The discussion possibilities are terrific: friendship, teasing, acceptance, actions and consequences, comparing social views of disabilities in the 1960s versus today. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards, although an adult read, comes to mind as another portrayal of misunderstandings and actions in response to a disability that have profound life altering effects. Not a difficult read, but extremely thought provoking. Excellent choice for fifth, sixth and possibly seventh grades.

THE RIVER BETWEEN US

by Richard Peck
Historical Fiction; Civil War; Racism. "During the early days of the Civil War, the Pruitt family takes in two mysterious young ladies who have fled New Orleans to come north to Illinois."

Follett Library Resources

Richard Peck frames this novel as story within a story. The narrator, a boy, travels with his father in 1916 to see his grandparents. This beginning is a little slow and I wasn't sure where Peck was going. The story really takes off, however, once the grandmother takes over as narrator.The boy picks up the narration at the end, which concludes as a conversation with his grandmother and a revelation.

Truly skillful. Peck is a master! Highly recommended for both a Civil War reading list addition or just a good read.

JACOB HAVE I LOVED

by Katherine Paterson " Newbery Medal, 1981 Filled with resentment over the attention showered upon her twin sister, and awaiting the day she can leave her town behind, young Louise meets a wise old sea captain and begins learning how to let go of her anger."

Follett Library Resources

"Jacob I have loved, but Esau have I hated," Romans 9:13

This is a classic coming of age story with universal appeal. The depth of emotions may be appreciated by both middle and high school students, as well as adult readers. The book begins quietly and gently brings to life a young girl's struggle for identity in a small town in the Chesapeake Bay during World War II. Sara Louise comes alive as a complex girl with frustrations and dreams that are unique in circumstance but understood by all.

COUNTING ON GRACE by Elizabeth Winthrop

"Twelve-year-old Grace Forcier and her friend Arthur, taken out of school and put to work in a Vermont textile mill in 1910, are championed by their teacher who urges them to write the National Child Labor Committee, an action only Grace seems to realize will have serious repercussions."

Follett Library Resources

Winthrop conveys vividly the desperation, danger and hardship that families faced as mill workers. Their world is bleak and hopeless, bearable only through family bonds and caring people such as Grace's teacher and Lewis Hine, the photographer who recorded children laborers. This is a well researched, well written novel, one of my absolute favorites this year. An excellent read aloud or assigned reading choice.

Other good books on this subject are Russell Freedman's "Kids at Work" and of course "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson.

MAGYK by Angie Sage

"V"

Author, Angie Sage, is coming to visit today. This is an exciting mystery fantasy. Many students have already read and recommended this series. " Jenna learns that she is a princess found as a baby by the man she believed was her father and now she and Septimus, who was taken at birth by the midwife, are being threatened by the evil wizard, DomDaniel who intends to finish off the entire royal line."

Follett Library Resources

Angie Sage spoke to grades 5-8, courtesy of our favorite bookstore, Books, Byes and Beyond, which is located in Glen Rock, New Jersey. She showed pictures of her home in Cornwall, England and talked about the writing process. Most interesting to me was seeing the room in which she writes and the view from her window. Cornwall itself seems very magic-like with its hilly countryside and old homes. I highly recommend her as a speaker; she was relaxed, but knew how to keep the program moving. Sage pulled us into her world completely for 45 riveting minutes.

ELSEWHERE by Gabrielle Zevin

After fifteen-year-old Liz Hall is hit by a taxi and killed, she finds herself in a place that is both like and unlike Earth, where she must adjust to her new status and figure out how to "live."

Deborah Kris, our English teacher, recommended this book as a good middle school selection. Written in the present tense, it is a quiet but intriguing read with a satisfying ending. Elsewhere addresses mortality, romance and how we decide to live our lives, all in a manageable and entertaining style.

THE ACCIDENT by Diane Hoh

"A wispy, shadowy figure appears in Megan's mirror one day begging to trade places with her for just one week. The young girl begs her to let her live again. Gradually Megan comes to realize that she must grant this request."

My fifth grade student, Lior, recommended this scary page-turner. A word of caution: make sure your reader is really looking for a VERY scary book. Betty Ren Wright's ghost mysteries are a good alternative for those not ready for this.

THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY by Susan Patron

"Fearing that her legal guardian plans to abandon her to return to France, ten-year-old aspiring scientist Lucky Trimble determines to run away while also continuing to seek the Higher Power that will bring stability to her life."

This little Newbery has created quite a stir with its "word." Oh, the power of words! This is a beautifully crafted "small gem" (Kirkus Reviews). Patron manages to tell a complex story in a simple setting. Her language is poetic, yet so accessible. I do wonder if Lucky should have been cast as twelve instead of ten. I look forward to discussing it with my fifth through eighth grade students. I trust them to make the final judgement. My opinion? Thumbs up!

A DOOR NEAR HERE by Heather Quarles

"Four siblings struggle to maintain a seminormal home life when their single mother's alcoholism becomes debilitating."

Follett Library Resources

Publishers Weekly (January 24, 2000)

PW's starred review said, "A candid narrative voice joins with skillful pacing" for this story of 15-year-old Katherine, who tries to conceal her alcoholic mother's incapacity from authorities to prevent the family from being split up. Ages 12-up. (Jan.)

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

My Young Critic, Molly recommended this book to me. I stayed up too late last night finishing it. I kept hoping the children could pull off their secret, which indicates how convincing their perspective is conveyed. As a reader, however, I saw the inevitable disaster unfolding yet hidden from others. Very powerful. Thank you, Molly, for telling me about this compelling novel.

TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer

Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires, High School

498 pages.

Description

"When seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human." (Follett)

My Comments
A great vampire romance for Valentine's Day! This is a romantic page turner with a cliff hanger ending. A current favorite in Morrow House. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, New Moon.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd

Realistic Fiction, African American, Families, Coming of Age, High School

301 pages

Description

"Teenagers; Women; Racism; Beekeeping. "Fourteen-year-old Lily and her companion, Rosaleen, an African-American woman who has cared from Lily since her mother's death ten years earlier, flee their home after Rosaleen is victimized by racist police officers, and find a safe haven in Tiburon, South Carolina, at the home of three beekeeping sisters, May, June, and August." 

My Comments
A poetic journey with passages that make you pause and read again. It is a manageable and riveting read for older students, grade 8 and up. This is a great discussion book for a reading group or class.

LIFE OF PI by Yann Martel

Psychological Fiction, Survival, Adventure

High School

319 pages

Description

"Pi Patel, having spent an idyllic childhood in Pondicherry, India, as the son of a zookeeper, sets off with his family at the age of sixteen to start anew in Canada, but his life takes a marvelous turn when their ship sinks in the Pacific, leaving him adrift on a raft with a 450-pound Bengal tiger for company." (Follett)

My Comments
This currently ranks as one of my favorite books of all time. It is breathtaking, brutal, tragic and humorous. This is a challenging read, but deserves to be included as a suggestion for advanced readers. Not for the fainthearted. Consider listening to the audio version as I did. The narrator is superb.

THE WISH GIVER by Bill Brittain

Fantasy, Magic, Scary, Wishes

175 pages

"When a strange little man comes to the Coven Tree Church Social promising he can give people exactly what they ask for, three young believers-in-magic each make a wish that comes true in the most unexpected way."

Follett Library Resources

A good choice for that fifth grader who wants a "scary" book. The reader knows Thaddeus Blinn's offer must be a devil's bargain, but it is too tempting for the characters to resist. The results are predictable, but still compelling. Good discussion book and choice for students looking for a manageable page-turner.

WOLF RIDER by Avi

Mysteries and Detective Stories, Horror, Suspense

202 pages

Book Description

"After receiving an apparent crank call from a man claiming to have committed murder, fifteen-year-old Andy finds his close relationship with his father crumbling as he struggles to make everyone believe him." Reading Level: Young Adult" (Follett)

My Comments
This is a terrifying story of a boy's increasing involvement with a killer as he tries to protect a girl from murder. You feel his frustration, isolation and desperation build when no one will listen. He becomes obsessed with stopping what he believes is inevitable and is himself accused of stalking. A great recommendation for students who are looking for a really scary book. Just make sure they can handle it!