The Boy, The Boat, and the Beast by Samantha Clark - book review

Publisher's Synopsis: "The Graveyard Book meets Hatchet in this eerie novel about a boy who is stranded on a mysterious beach, from debut author Samantha M. Clark. A boy washes up on a mysterious, seemingly uninhabited beach. Who is he? How did he get there? The boy can’t remember. When he sees a light shining over the foreboding wall of trees that surrounds the shore, he decides to follow it, in the hopes that it will lead him to answers. The boy’s journey is a struggle for survival and a search for the truth—a terrifying truth that once uncovered, will force him to face his greatest fear of all if he is to go home. This gripping adventure will have readers hooked until its jaw-dropping and moving conclusion. Samantha M. Clark’s first novel heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice.”

My Two Cents: To pigeonhole  The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast as an "adventure" or even a "mystery" is way too simple.  To call it "horror" might be a bit closer; to call it a "coming-of-age" tale, still closer yet. Here's what I do know about this new book... kids are going to love the mystery and the adventure and are going to be gobsmacked at the ending not really being a mystery adventure at all.

Choose Your Path Books continue the fun for a new generation of adventurers

Remember the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series of books from the 80's? My kids loved those things and when I started teaching in the 90's, they were still going strong with my students. You have to figure that those original readers of the genre are now the parents of this generation, eager to expose their kids to the fun!

Smartly, Lake 7 Creative Publishing has launched the "Can You Survive?" series in the same vein. This time, kids choose their way through classic tales of Hercules, Perseus,  Treasure Island, King Soloman, and Robin Hood. Dubbed "Choose Your Path" books, these titles will excite a new generation of adventure-seeking readers.


Elementary age students are going to devour these. Recommended for both library and classroom purchase.

Genre: Adventure
Age:  3rd - 6th grade
Thank You: Media Masters Publicity & Lake 7 Creative Publishing for my review copies
Currently for sale: Here

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 © 2007-2014 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech - book review

Publisher's Synopsis: "When John and Marta found the boy on the porch, they were curious, naturally, as to why he was there—and they hadn't expected him to stay, not at first, but he did stay, day after day, until it seemed as if he belonged, running and smiling and laughing his silent laugh, tapping and patting on every surface as he made his music, and painting—with water, with paint, with mud—those swirly swirls and swings and trees.
One day a young couple wakes to find a boy asleep on their porch. Unable to speak, the boy cannot explain his history. What kind of people would leave their child with strangers? All John and Marta know is that they have been chosen to care for this boy. As their connection to him grows, they embrace his exuberant spirit and talents. The three of them blossom into an unlikely family, but how long can their happiness last? From Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech comes a singular story that reminds us of the surprising connections that emerge when generosity prevails."
My Thoughts: I am going to say something that I get so angry at others for saying: I don't think most kids will get this story. I HATE when adults underestimate kids! It is one of my greatest peeves... So let me explain further:
The Boy on the Porch is a well-written, lyrical, spare tale. It is the first 2013 Newbery contender I have read. It draws readers in with the mystery of a boy who doesn't speak and has no story. Once the protagonist couple find some information about the boy, the tale takes a turn more toward the couple's story and drops the boy's mystery, even though it has not been resolved. We learn how the couple become foster parents, loving role-models. Through all the children that grace their lives, they still wonder about that first boy. In the final scene we see the boy again, BUT we STILL don't get HIS story.
Now, adult readers will be fine with this. It's all artsy and deep. We can discuss it in book groups and mull over the themes and quiet beauty that is The Boy on the Porch. And I think, as a class read-aloud, teachers could guide students this way too. But the average non-guided kid will want a resolution. I also think that children lack the background experience to empathize with a childless couple, to understand the wanting in their hearts that is such a part of the quiet beauty in the story.
I cringe as a write that because I am sooooo underestimating young readers, but the readers that will embrace the abstract, minimalism of this story are definitely not the norm. Thus, in the end, this story may end up on only a few cherished shelves. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as a gold-seal award is more about quality than popular demand and silly, silly Twilight drove that home for me years ago.
Recommended for classroom discussions and young readers who enjoy minimalist stories (that rare middle grade student)

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Genre: Realistic Fiction (with a touch of magical realism & mystery thrown in)

Age: 8 and up (intermediate elementary - middle grades)

Pages: 160

Themes: Love without limitations, Dealing with loss, Acceptance, Non-traditional families

Character Development: Very strong on the part of the parents, weak on the boy

Plot Engagement: Mystery propels the story

Originality: Lots of 'mystery boy' stuff recently, especially made into movies - Benjamin Button & Timothy Green)

Believability: Some suspension of disbelief issues with sheriff not being more aggressive in wondering about boy's origin

Thank You: Harper Collins Children's for my advanced ebook

Date: September 2013

ISBN: 978-00618923

BUY The Boy on the Porch HERE

Find Sharon Creech reading guides, interviews and more on the Harper Collins website HERE

Sharon Creech is a Newbery winning author. Many of her books are based on her own childhood experiences with her sinlings. Before becoming a writer, she was a teacher. She lives in New York state with her husband.You can read more about her on her website.

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© 2007-2013 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

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Author Spotlight: Stuart Gibbs - For readers of mystery, action, adventure

I should have written about Belly Up when I read it two years ago as a CYBILS finalist and now, with author Stuart Gibbs' Spy School and Spy Camp additions, I have decided that an author feature is probably just the motivation that I needed! I will start by saying that I am not all that cracked up with "funny"stories, especially gratuitous humor. The great thing about Mr. Gibbs' writing? Authentic, quirky humor, not forced or center-staged humor, his is a 'smart' humor. All of his stories are mystery/adventure, great for both boys and girls, and solidly middle grade.

Belly Up: Still my favorite, Belly Up begins with a dead hippopotamus, floating 'belly up' in his zoo pond. Teddy Roosevelt Fitzroy & Summer McCracken, aged twelve, don't believe it was an accident like the zoo management contends and they very quickly realize lots of people wanted Henry the hippo dead. This book has TONS going for it and even the most reluctant reader will be enticed. The action is fast-paced, with all sorts of who-done-it possibilities. The humor is so smart, almost farcical. Add in the random animal facts that flow naturally within the story and this is perfect for just about ANY reader!

Runner by Carl Deuker - book review

I very rarely buy class sets of books for students without first having read them, but I bought a class set of Runner by Carl Deuker on a whim with some spare cash left from last year’s budget. I read it over the summer and was a bit worried because the conclusion is sad (and a bit cheesy). However, today, as I passed through one of my 8th grade classrooms, the teacher was singing its praises and the students were enthralled. I’ll be excited to see how they feel about the ending……

Synopsis: Chance Taylor is a high school senior who lives on an old dilapidated houseboat in Puget Sound with his alcoholic father. Chance gets the opportunity to make some money when a man notices him running around the pier and docks and approaches him about delivering some packages during his run. It doesn’t take long for Chance to figure out that something fishy is happening at the pier (oh…. such a bad pun, but too easy :-). Throw in a cute girl, a terrorist threat and a climactic ending and you’ve got an exciting read for all readers, reluctant readers especially.

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter - book review

Magical Realism. My favorite. The ability to see the real world through a glimmering eye. I should have known this would be one of my favorite reads of 2010, just from that cover!

Look at the three Hardscrabble siblings. There's Otto. He's is the oldest and has not uttered a word since he was eight, around the time his mother disappeared. He wears a scarf and communicates through an invented sign-language. The middle Hardscrabble is Lucia. She's quick-witted, daring, a bit controlling and understands Otto's invented language. Max, the youngest, is a brainy boy, often deep in thought. One of them is the narrator of the tale, though we wonderfully never get to know which. Mr. Hardscrabble is a portrait painter who travels frequently, returning with glorious tales of the royalty he meets. Through a series of missteps, the siblings end up in the home of their maternal aunt. It is there that the real story begins. The children learn of a mysterious Kneebone Boy, locked away in a castle tower. They, of course, decide that they must rescue him. And in rescuing him, they solve the mystery of their missing mother.

One thing I especially liked was The Kneebone Boy's genre defying uniqueness. For the same reason I shun mainstream media, I embrace those stories (and tellers) who see the world in a different slant, those who are able to impart a bit of magic into the mundane without throwing us into a fantastical world of escapism (don’t get me wrong, I like a good fantasy occasionally too). It’s the ability to look at a situation of normalcy with a magical eye that fascinates me, makes me want to readjust my own lens.

Quirky, odd, charming, witty, affecting, weird: I’ll be waiting to hear more from the Hardscrabble children……

Joey Fly, Private Eye in Big Hairy Drama - Book Review, Holiday Ornaments & Super Cool Contest !!!

Joey Fly and his sidekick, Sammy Stingrear – er… Stingtail, are back again with another crime to solve!  In this case, Harry Spyderson, tarantula director of the Scarab Beetle Theatre, has asked Joey to find his leading lady, Greta Divawing. It seems Greta has gone missing and Harry can’t stage Bugliacci without her!

Joey Fly, Private Eye, Book 2: Big Hairy Drama follows the same great format as the first. I enjoyed Joey Fly, Private Eye: Creepy Crawly Crime (here) and the second one is another champion for my classroom bookshelf. Together, Aaron Reynolds and Neil Numberman have created a unique and captivating landscape. Though I’m no soothsayer, I will easily prophetize their continued success (I’ll be waiting for Joey #3!). They have a winning combo: Reynolds’ gritty wit and word play mixed with Numberman’s eye for detail and ability to paint the joke without giving away too much.

I can’t remember him doing it last time, but Numberman has added hidden characters to search for, adding even further detail to the already eye-popping panels kids will love to dissect.

Recommended for strong readers, middle school students and lovers of the graphic novel format. Also great for inclusion in science classes or during a lesson on insects.

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Genre: Graphic Novel / Crime Mystery
Age: Middle Grades (use in high school for determining literary elements also!)
Pages: 128
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Date: November 2010
ISBN: 978-0805082432
Themes: Perseverance, Patience, Humor, Friendship
Character Development: Strong & continued well from first
Plot Engagement: Strong
Originality: Very original and unique
Thank You: Mr. Reynolds & Mr. Numberman for my copy :-)
Buy Joey Fly, Private Eye, Book 2: Big Hairy Drama HERE

Just in time to complete your Christmas tree: FREE Joey Fly ornaments! 

(Click to embiggen :-)

Teaching Ideas:
Mood & Tone Literary Devices: The monochromatic illustrations will assist educators when looking at mood & tone in the story. Have students identify mood & tone by offering copied panels with the words deleted. Later, offer the words to check their assumptions. Would make a great pair or group activity.

Genre: Look at the traditional stylings of a crime mystery: Examine detectives & their gritty speech patterns. Add other examples – like old movie clips in black & white. Examine the darkness. I’m thinking a clip from the latest Batman movie will stir up some interest. Discuss how these elements create a feeling in the genre.

Making Inferences: Discuss how small details lead to making inferences about who has committed the crime. Discuss false leads the author has planted to make us think one way. Discuss how to eliminate those false leads to draw a correct conclusion. I’m visualizing a flow chart….. students in pairs…justifying their reasoning (of course do this before you let them read the ending!).

Figurative Speech: Once again Mr. Reynolds gives us a ton of great opportunities to look at figurative speech.

Kidsmomo did a great interview with the Joey Fly Guys:

DID YOU MAKE IT ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE SUPER COOL CONTEST?  HERE IT IS:

MR. NUMBERMAN WILL DO A BUG CARICATURE FOR YOU. YES, YOU (and maybe you & you too)

FOR EVERY 10 COMMENTS, I'LL USE RANDOM.ORG TO SELECT ONE WINNER. 20 COMMENTS = 2 WINNERS, 50 COMMENTS = 5 WINNERS....

SO START TALKING IN THAT COMMENT BOX!

(contest ends January 1st, 2011)

Aaron Reynolds is a human, not a bug, but he often writes about bugs. He is the author of Chicks and Salsa, Superhero School, Buffalo Wings, and, of course, the Joey Fly, Private Eye graphic novels. You can read more about him and his other books on his awesome website.

Neil Numberman is a termite currently residing in New York City. Joey Fly, Private Eye is his first graphic novel, but he is also the author/illustrator of the picture book Do NOT Build a Frankenstein. Stop by his website.

P.S.: Wants some cool stocking stuffers? I'll be posting Joey Fly, Private Eye, Book 2: Big Hairy Drama masks tomorrow ..... so check back for some more Joey Fly fun!


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© 2007-2010 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom: The Body Thief by Stephen M. Giles - book review

Author’s Synopsis: "What secret is Uncle Silas hiding?

Adele, Milo and Isabella Winterbottom haven’t heard from Uncle Silas in years – unless you count the occasional insult. So curious eyebrows are raised when the cousins receive a mysterious invitation from their disagreeable relative. But Silas is dying, and a dying man with a vast fortune usually wishes to find an heir.

Or so the children believe.

But when they meet dear, old Uncle Silas and his hungry pet crocodile, the trio suspects that he may have a more sinister reason for inviting healthy, young relatives to his secluded island estate – a place where nothing is as it seems ..."

For readers who enjoy the Series of Unfortunate Events books or Roald Dahl’s style, I suspect The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom: The Body Thief will become another favorite. Uncle Silas is an evil villain living on a remote island complete with pet crocodiles. In fact the entire Winterbottom family tree is a lesson in Gothic dysfunction - nasty, greedy and downright criminal.

It is the well-developed characterizations that makes The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom: The Body Thief especially engaging and there are enough quirky side characters to easily plan character traits lessons. As with most mysteries, it is also good for making inferences and predictions. Although the themes are darkly humorous, The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom: The Body Thief has what it takes to attract both boy and girl readers and send them off to buy the sequel hinted at in the epilogue.

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Genre: Mystery
Age: 9-12
Pages: 240
Themes: Friendship, Making Decisions, Family, Suspense, Humor
Thank You to Sourcebooks Jaberwocky for my advanced copy
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jaberwocky
Date: August 2010
ISBN: 978-1402240904
BUY The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom: The Body Thief HERE

Begin your character traits lesson here

A peek at the dysfunctional Winterbottom family tree here

Stephen M. Giles lives close to the beach, collects old people and spends days wandering in his imagination. You can read more on his website.
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© 2007-2010 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com

Trackers by Patrick Carman - book review

I first applauded Patrick Carman for his unique concept book Skeleton Creek, where he tied 21st Century literacy to good old-fashioned storytelling. I am excited to say that Mr. Carman has done it again with Trackers, a cyber-mystery with gaming and internet components to complement the story of four tech-savvy teens thrown into a web of treachery. Adam, Finn, Emily and Lewis are cyber-sleuth teen geeks. Their goal? Solve local mysteries with their keen tech-skills. What seems a nice little community service adventure leads them into dangerous, and more global, circumstances.

The text structure of Trackers involves ringleader Adam being interrogated by a government agent, as he recounts the adventure in past tense. As with many first in a series books, the character development is minimal as we set the plot in motion. This editorial decision sometimes leads readers to want to learn more and invest in a continuing series, but can also throw those who need character development. However, as with Skeleton Creek, I suspect some reviews will miss the target audience and complain that Trackers is thin or that the computer enhancements detract from the telling.  I do not believe that this decision was unintentional.  If one reads Mr. Carman's fabulous Land of Elyon or Atherton stories, one can see that he does a fine job developing both character and story. The format of Trackers and Skeleton Creek, is an intended one and those of us who work with struggling readers love Mr. Carman for it.

Patrick Carman has created a new genre in story telling, allowing readers who might otherwise close a book before the second chapter access to the joys of reading.

Trackers is recommended for ages 9-12, male readers and especially striving readers in grades 5-8.

London Calling by Edward Bloor - book review

I had the great fortune of hearing Mr. Edward Bloor read the first chapter of London Calling to my middle school students. A deep booming voice and broad smile made Mr. Bloor an excellent narrator who, after reading the first chapter, held the students rapt and led our desire to continue reading more about John Martin Conway, a seemingly average boy on scholarship to an exclusive preparatory school.

At All Souls Preparatory School, Martin is bullied and unhappy. In fact, Martin’s life stinks all around. His mother and father are separated, his father’s drinking problem finally driving him away from the family. His beloved grandmother dies within the first few chapters and Martin has taken to hiding in his dreary basement where he is having odd visions of a boy from the past.

Although the boy, Jimmy Harker, says that he is from the past and that he needs Martin’s help, it will take some proving as he leads Martin through a series of Da Vinci Code-like research mysteries to confirm his presence. It is Jimmy’s question of, “What did you do to help?” that motivates the plot and provides the backdrop for Martin to emerge from his depression on a historical hero-styled quest.

London Calling is an ambitious novel. It hits three genres squarely and offers multi-layered themes while switching through present and past settings. Mr. Bloor is an excellent writer and manages to keep the genre-setting-time-plot hopping in check, but he does so at the expense of character development. The multi-layered themes are excellent for discussion, especially for social studies educators.

One theme, the father-son struggle, has both Martin and Jimmy dealing with “daddy issues” that need resolving in order for their souls to progress. In fact, the grandfathers in Martin’s life also play a role in shaping who he is and who he might become. Another strong theme is the religion / humanist struggle. The religious characters are less than pious and those once great men held in high esteem appear more sinful than those on common stature. Still another lofty theme is the difference between what is written and what is known about historical events and what really happened. This ties with the theme of the righteous, privileged man versus that of the common man, and the sacrifices each make and how they are historically recorded through time. Thrown into that already overwhelming theme is the added question of what makes a real hero. Jimmy’s coming-of age heroism might rewrite history, but it’s the poignant epilogue that brings the tears.

London Calling has all the great themes from which teachers and librarians love to choose books, and I suspect London Calling is a favorite of several. However, the novel's weakness is its inability to click with the youthful reader. A few strong readers, especially those lovers of historical fiction, will enjoy the story; but its broad message and intricate execution limit mass appeal. 

For history classrooms and historical-mystery fiction readers.

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Genre: Historical Fiction & Mystery. Age: 9-12. Pages: 304.
Themes: Depression, Family, Individuality, Father-Son Issues, Religious Symbolism, Overcoming, Societal Injustice. Publisher: Knopf. Date: September 2006. ISBN-10: 0375836357 ISBN-13: 978-0375836350.
BUY London Calling HERE

Random House Teaching Guide Here

Interview at Random House

Edward Bloor began as an English teacher, which led to a job as an educational editor. After sitting around reading young adult novels all day, he decided to give writing for young adults a try. You can read more about Mr. Bloor & his various books on his website.
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© 2007-2009 Cheryl Vanatti. www.ReadingRumpus.com