Reading Rumpus: October 2011

Nowhere Girl by A.J. Paquette - book review

Synopsis from the publisher: "Luchi Ann only knows a few things about herself: she was born in a prison in Thailand. Her American mother was an inmate there. And now that her mother has died, Luchi must leave the only place she's ever known and set out into the world. Neither at home as a Thai, because of her fair skin and blond hair, nor as a foreigner, because of her knowledge of Thai life and traditions, Luchi feels as though she belongs nowhere. But as she embarks on an amazing adventure-a journey spanning continents and customs, harrowing danger and exhilarating experiences-she will find the family, and the home, she's always dreamed of. Weaving intricate elements of traditional Thailand into a modern-day fairy tale unique unto itself, Nowhere Girl is a beautifully rendered story of courage, resilience, and finding the one place where you truly belong."

Nowhere Girl is told in first person and likable narrator Luchi Ann's coming of age search for a home tugs at the heartstrings. There is a bit of adventure and a bit of danger, enough to keep the plot from being totally stagnant. The Thailand setting provides an appealing addition to the tale. The beautiful cover art lends even more likability to Luchi Ann.

However, Nowhere Girl is a bit predictable and much of the story settles into too convenient a place. It is not strongly plot driven and would mostly appeal to a strong, realistic fiction reader. Reluctant readers would easily lose interest.

All that being said, Nowhere Girl is a well-written tale that many students will enjoy.

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Genre: Realistic fiction
Age: Middle Grade 10+
Pages: 256
Themes:

Character Development: Great
Plot Engagement: Fair
Originality: Good
Believability: Iffy at times

Thank You to Bloomsbury Kids for my advanced copy
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Date: September 2011
ISBN: 978-0802722973

BUY Nowhere Girl HERE

Book Site: Bloomsbury Kids

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Author A.J. Paquette lives in Boston with her husband and two daughters. She is a chocolate connoisseur. You can read more about her on her website.

Interviews with the author on
From the Mixed Up Files of Middl Grades Authors: HERE
and
Cynsations: HERE

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Visionary of the century. RIP Mr. Jobs.

I very rarely post off topic on Reading Rumpus, but....

Pick Me! Pick Me!

I am thrilled to announce that I have been invited back to the CYBILS party!

Here's why the CYBILS rocks the Newbery:
The books are ones that kids WANT to read. Not to say that the Newbery Committee hasn't gotten it right a few times (The Giver, The Graveyard Book, Holes, Maniac Magee), but most Newbery winners require a bit of cajoling from an adult before a kid will engage. It seems the shiny medal doesn't call to them the way it does teachers and librarians.

The thing that makes the CYBILS so great is the desire to find quality literature that also calls to kids all on its own, without much cajoling (because lets face it, in today's information saturated environment, we have to cajole toward books a little, period).

I'll be looking at middle grade titles in the first round and sending the best of the best of the best onward to the round two judges. My fellow round one judges include:

Colby Sharp of Sharp Read
Jennifer Donovan of 5 Minutes For Books
Karen Yingling of Ms. Yingling Reads
Grier Jewell of Fizzwhizzing Flushbunker
Michael Gettel-Gilmartin of Middle Grade Mafioso
Beth Gallego of Points West

I'm starting my reading/judging today!
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