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Flashback March 2007
A flashback to what I was reading in March 2007.
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin. From my review: “Matthew tells his story to his younger sister, Emmy; the story of their lives when Emmy was still small. When Matthew, Emmy, and their sister Callie lived with their mother and dreamed of escape. Nikki, their mother, is hugs and kisses one day; curses and slaps the next. It’s an uncertain way to live; and Matthew begins to hope that something will change when he sees a man in a store stand up to a man shouting at a small child. By a twist of fate, this man, Murdoch, starts dating Nikki. Maybe, things will change. But Matthew has forgotten the rules of survival; including the rule of not hoping for escape.”
The Secret of Me by Meg Kearney. From my review: “An adopted child, Lizzie, tells her story thru poetry; her experiences and her thoughts. This is a work of fiction, but is based on the author’s life and feelings (but, still, fiction).”
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Jackie and the Shadow Snatcher by Larry DiFiori. From my review: “Jackie is the type of kid who would lose his head if it wasn’t attached. So it’ s no surprise when he loses his shadow. But it turns out it’s not only lost; it’s been taken by the Shadow Snatcher, who takes shadows, sews them together, and uses them to hide his criminal activity. Can Jackie get his shadow back?”
Queen Bee by Chynna Clugston. From my review: “Haley is the new girl in 7th grade. She’s glad she’s in a new school; it’s a chance to start over and be popular! The only problem . . . she’s got this little thing called psychokinesis. Which can cause a wee bit of trouble. It’s classic middle school story line. Girl wants to be popular so doesn’t hang out with the friendly girl. Popular group has a Queen Bee. There’s a nice shy boy; but he’s not cool enough.”
Say Please by Tony Ross. From my review: “The Little Princess not only learns to say “please,” she also teaches others to say “please.””
Kali and the Rat Snake by Zai Whitaker; illustrated by Srividya Natarajan. From my review: “Kali is reluctant to go to school; he had been happy at the thought, but once the other children learned that his father was a snake catcher and he was an Irula, they stayed away. Things only got worse when the other kids saw that Kali’s favorite snack is fried termites. All that changes when something happens at school and only Kali can save the day.”
Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess. From my review: “Bloodtide and Bloodsong are set in a future that’s barely recognizable. It’s a post–apocalyptic world that is as bloody and brutal as anything out of the medieval past. It’s a world of death and violence. Science has made magic real; with cloning and machines, and “magic rings” studied under microscopes. Yet magic is not lost; gods such as Odin and Loki are real (or are they the result of some high tech machine?) For example, Sigurd says he is born to do great things: “You think I’m arrogant; I’m not. I was made for this — literally. My father designed me for it. Every gene in my body was picked for this purpose. My mother brought me up for it; the gods shaped me as the keystone for this time and place. It’s no credit to me. I have less choice than anyone.” Magical swords coexist with people that are part pig and part dog because of DNA manipulation.”
Pandora’s Box: A Greek Myth, retold and illustrated by Jean Marzollo. From my review: “A retelling of the Greek myth of Pandora.”
Filed under: Reviews
About Elizabeth Burns
Looking for a place to talk about young adult books? Pull up a chair, have a cup of tea, and let's chat. I am a New Jersey librarian. My opinions do not reflect those of my employer, SLJ, YALSA, or anyone else. On Twitter I'm @LizB; my email is lizzy.burns@gmail.com.
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