Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm takes place during 1935 when jobs are hard to come by and and money is even scarcer. Turtle is an 11 year old girl who's life is turned upside down when her mother takes a job as a housekeeper for a woman who refuses to have children in her home. Turtle is sent to live in Key West, Florida with her aunt and cousins who she barely knows. Turtle, like her namesake, has a hard shell and makes do in just about any situation... even when she finds a mysterious treasure map leading to Black Caesar's pirate gold. A series of strange events eventually lead up to Turtle's mother returning, a sudden knowledge of who her long-lost father really is, and a happiness no one thought imaginable during such tough times.

This was a really cute story. I found myself really admiring Turtle's resiliency through the various situations and predicaments she gets into. The story revolves around several real events, including the hurricane of 1935, chasing Black Caesar's treasure, rum runners, and even Little Orphan Annie and Shirley Temple!

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen by Lauren Kate is about Luce, a 17 year old girl with a "troubled" past. She ends up in a private boarding school for troubled kids after a strange fire killed the boy she was with. After that, even her parents were afraid of her. Top it all off with the fact that she let it slip that she occasionally sees evil black shadows around her, and she was off to Sword & Cross with 80 other problem children. One particular boy, Daniel catches Luce's attention immediately. He's absolutely gorgeous and seems to want nothing to do with Luce, avoiding her and being downright rude at all costs. Another boy, Cam, also has Luce's attention because of his constant attempts at wooing her. While he is very attractive as well, for some unexplained reason, Luce finds herself drawn to Daniel. She even begins to feel that she somehow knows him from somewhere. Along with her only friend, Penn, Luce begins to delve into Daniel's past, trying to determine who he is, where he came from, and how he ended up at Sword & Cross with the other misfits. What she discovers begins a turn of events too amazing to be believed.

This was an awesome fantasy! There was a touch of mystery in it that kept me turning pages deep into the night. I am excited for the sequel, Torment, this fall (2010). I can't wait to find out what happens between Luce and Daniel and Cam now that I know the secret about their ever-entwined lives.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford is about Henry Lee, a twelve year old Chinese boy growing up in Seattle in 1942, during World War II. Henry's parents send him to an all white school where he is forced to work in the lunch room and clean the classrooms at the end of the day to earn his tuition. Henry is the only non-white student in the school... until the day Keiko, a twelve year old Japanese girl, arrives. She, too, is "scholarshipping", or working for her school entrance. Henry has grown up with a very traditional father who strongly shows his support for his home country of China, against the Japanese in the war - in fact, Henry's father forces Henry to wear a button that reads "I am Chinese" every day (the Chinese and United States were allies during WWII). Henry knows his friendship with Keiko is forbidden, but he is drawn to her anyway. Their friendship grows as they work together and walk home from school together, until the day Keiko and her family are moved to a Japanese internment camp, for "their own protection". Henry finds them at the train station and offers his button to Keiko, hoping he can save her from leaving. During her stay at the temporary camp, and her longer stay in the permanent camp in Idaho, Henry finds ways to stay in contact with his best friend. Until one day, when his final letter to Keiko is returned to sender unopened. It is at this time that Henry decides to stop defying his father, who hasn't acknowledged Henry for over two years because of his friendship with Keiko's family, and return to China to finish his schooling. It is also at that time when Henry begins dating Ethel, the woman he will end up marrying and having a son with.

This book is also about the adult Henry, sharing his grown-up story in 1986 with his son Marty and Marty's fiance, Samantha. A famous Japanese-built hotel in Seattle has been purchased, and in the basement a virtual museum of possessions found. Trunks and personal possessions from the Japanese families sent to the internment camps, stored in the basement for 40 years. Henry is sure he'll find something of Keiko's he's been searching for on and off for many years, in that basement. Struggling with feelings of guilt about his recently deceased wife, and excitement at the thought of finding Keiko again, Henry finds what he was looking for and is able to fix something he'd always thought he had broken.

This book was amazing! I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. I loved the way the author took the story back and forth between the 1940s and 1986. I don't typically read books written for adults, but I'm glad I read this one. I think it can be enjoyed by my 6th graders, as well! Another great read about Japanese internment camps during World War II is Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata.

Truce by Jim Murphy

Truce by Jim Murphy is the true story about a very special incident that took place during World War I. World War I was basically fought between Germany and the "Allies" - A group of countries united against Germany. In the fall of 1914 The allies and Germany faced off along the border of France. Both sides dug long and deep trenches from which the soldiers fought, but also slept, ate, and lived. By Christmas of that year both sides were getting tired. So, in many places along this line of trenches, men from both sides came together in the middle the field in between (No Man's Land) to enjoy a temporary truce and celebrate Christmas together.

This was an amazing story. I don't know very much about World War I, and this book gave the perfect amount of background information so I understood the reasons all of it happened. I am amazed that these men were able to set aside their differences and literal hatred for one another to celebrate something so important. It gave many of the soldiers an opportunity to realize that the men they were fighting against were just like them.

Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff

Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff is about Sam, a boy who is deathly afraid of eleven... but he doesn't know why. Just before his 11th birthday, Sam sneaks into the attic of the apartment building where he lives and discovers a newspaper clipping with a photo of a himself at 3 years old along with the word "Missing". Suddenly the strange dreams Sam has been having seem like clues, and Sam starts to suspect something strange involving Mack, his grandfather who Sam has lived with most of his life. Unfortunately, Sam can't read very well and is unable to figure out what the article says. He is determined to solve this mystery, so he enlists the help of Caroline, the new girl at school who loves reading more than almost anything else. What they begin to uncover after reading the article and doing some more digging starts to reveal the reason Sam has always been afraid of the number 11.

This was an excellent story! I thought it might turn out to be a fantasy or science fiction story, but it definitely was realistic fiction with some mystery thrown in. The book is short, but really "meaty"! I really felt connected to all of the characters, but especially Sam and his reading teacher. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good mystery.

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury is based on the true story of the Boy Scout Troop that was hammered by a 7.2 earthquake and subsequent tsunami on the island of Hawaii in 1975. In this story, Dylan's Scout troop hikes out to Halape, Hawaii to camp on a deserted but beautiful beach at the base of the volcano. Dylan is plagued the whole way by Louie, an older boy who has had it in for Dylan since they first met. Louie doesn't even seem to want to be there, and the other scouts aren't sure why Mr. Bellows, their leader, insisted upon Louie joining. They set up camp after a grueling hike, and everything seems fine, the first night, except that Dylan is awakened in the middle of the night by howling dogs - the same dogs he's sure he saw one their hike in. The next day the troop meets Masa and his friends, fishermen who have ridden their horses in and are camping nearby. They share some information about the dogs that seems like myth, but has Dylan on edge. Masa believes they are signs from the ancient Pele, that tell of something to come - possibly the volcano erupting! In the dead of night, it seems like Pele has spoken, because a massive earthquake hits, destroying everything. It knocks much of the shore of the island into the water, causing an enormous tsunami. Surprisingly, it's Dylan and Louie who have to work together to make sure everyone gets out alive.

This was an AWESOME adventure story! It had me on the edge of my seat nearly the entire time! I really liked the way the author wove the characters' back stories into the main story. It was written in such a way that I forgot it was even based on a true historical event. Then, I got to the author's note and found out that it was not only based on a true story, but the author's actually related to one of the Scouts who survived this ordeal! Probably my favorite of the Maud Hart Lovelace Nominees for the 2010-2011 school year.


For more information: 1975 earthquake/tsunami at Halape, Hawaii.

Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle

Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle is set in 1929, while Prohibition was in full swing. Ruben and Jeddy, best friends living in a small New England Town near the coast. One afternoon the two boys discovered a dead body had washed up on shore! They were certain this man, who had a bullet hole in his neck, was involved in rum-running, or illegal liquor smuggling. Ruben found a pipe and tobacco pouch on him, but no other identification. Ruben and Jeddy went back to town to report their find to Jeddy's father, the police chief. Neither Chief McKenzie nor the deputy, Charlie Pope responded. After three hours of waiting, the deputy finally came and had the boys show him what they found. By that time, the body had disappeared without a trace. This incident began a number of unfortunate events, including the break-up of Jeddy and Ruben's friendship, the arrest of a prominent business man (and Ruben's father's boss), the arrival of a mobster from New York, the kidnapping of Ruben, and even more death. To uncover the rest of the mystery, read Black Duck.

This was a great mystery! The story is told by Ruben as an elderly adult being interviewed by David, an 8th grader who really wants to publish a story in the town's newspaper. He's certain if he can just get Ruben Hart to tell his story, he'll have the perfect scoop. Ruben is willing to talk, but only in short installments over several days. By the time the whole story comes out (for the first time ever), Ruben and David have developed a lasting friendship. Ruben's story is based on real events that actually happened aboard the Black Duck (a liquor smuggling ship) in 1929.