The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

By Barbara Robinson

(1972) ISBN 006447044X

This is a tale with many humorous sides to it.  It is necessary to make this clear because at first this story seems to be only about troublemaking but the essence of this book is the opposite.

We start when the six Herdman kids, who all the school see as the worst kids in the whole world, decide to take part in the Christmas pageant (because of all the goodies to be gotten).  The reader is told the Herdman father ran off, the mother works two jobs, instead of working one job and accepting assistance and that many in the town think they understand the absence of the parents once they meet the Herdman kids.

The Herdmans are basically raising themselves hitting one another, setting buildings on fire, stealing, hitting their classmates and even engaging in blackmail.  The narrator’s mother has been corralled into managing the Christmas pageant and she is faced with the Herdmans volunteering for the key roles, after they secretly threatened everyone into not volunteering.  The rehearsals are indeed colored since to the Herdmans, the Christmas story is something new and they insist on putting things into a more down to earth perspective.

By the time of the actual performance, everyone comes to see just what will happen.  As narrated, the Herdmans in participating in a manner comfortable to them actually make the play very real.  They do not bring gold and myrrh, they present the Christ Child with a ham (their own) and burp the Infant.  Everyone in the audience leaves knowing this has been the best Christmas play ever.

The illustrations are invaluable in helping convey the humorous side to this whole story.  This is achieved in part by use of some exaggeration in these pictures.  For example, the Herdmans are drawn as almost demonic but still very funny.  This technique is vital to help keep the mood of the book in a light mood.

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline

By Nancy Springer

(2009) ISBN 9780399247811

From start to finish this book holds the reader’s attention so well.  Not only is the main character, Enola Holmes, extremely and intelligent (not surprising inasmuch as she is the sister of Sherlock, that most famous of detectives) but her resourcefulness is truly amazing.  This is especially impressive in that during Victorian times in England still did not allow women and especially young girls like Enola much freedom.

Regardless of any and all obstacles that face her, Enola, keeps the reader truly amazed and always entertained.  That part of this adventure involves the very old fashioned, and thank goodness now gone, article of female clothing, the crinoline is a bonus to this reader.  This is because this reader has recently stepped into the world of fashion and the history of customs.

It seems highly fortune that there are a number of other adventures of Enola Sherlock already in existence and that is not necessary to say farewell yet to this great character.

Circle of Doom

By Tim Kennemore

(2001, 2003) ISBN 0374312842

While Circle of Doom ultimately proves to be quite a delight and the reader may be sorry to say goodbye to the Sharp Family on the last page, Circle of Doom does commence on somewhat of an unhappy note.

The Sharp Family children, Lizzie, thirteen years of age, and her two younger brothers, ten year old Dan and seven year old Max, are very upset with their next door neighbors, the elderly Mr. and Mrs. Potward.  It turns out that Mr. and Mrs. Potward insist on just about absolute quiet in their neighborhood, a neighborhood which would seem to already have too much of that the quality.  After all, the entire neighborhood consists solely of Cleve Cottage, the Sharp home and the Briars, the Potward home.  There are no neighboring houses within the range of a fifteen minute walk and, even worse and disappointing to the Sharp children, there are no children within less than a forty-five minute walk away.

The Sharp children, and in particular Lizzie, decide to take matters in their own hands.  Lizzie has recently decided that that she might possesses magical powers and doing something about the grumpy neighbors seems a worthy first magical project.  While Lizzie receives resistance from the skeptical Dan, the youngest sibling Max actually believes in his sister’s powers, agrees to help Lizzie with her first magical potion making.

While the first Sharp attempt at magic appears to be extremely successful and Lizzie sees herself embarked on a career as a witch, it is the skepticism of Dan and the existence of Max’s great friends, the Dumplings (otherwise known to the Sharps as imaginary friends of Max’s) that will ultimately cause great changes to the relationships between the three siblings and all three will achieve personal growth, in particular, Max.

This book is recommended both for the emphasis it places on relationships within a family as well as the fun and entertainment within its pages.  It is a treasure discovered by chance and readers, including tweens, will gain much enjoyment within its pages.

Summer Party

By Cynthia Rylant

(2001) ISBN 0689832419

It seems that we enter this world of the happy cousins, Lily, Rosie and Tess at the wrong time as their happy existence together is coming to an end.  Nothing tragic is going to occur, it is merely that their parents are returning from a world tour and the two sisters Lily and Rosie and their cousin, Tess, are returning to their regular and separate homes located at some distance from one another. They had temporarily been all staying with their beloved Aunt Lucy and loving loved every second they had been sharing the same household.

This story may seem a bit idyllic but nevertheless a pleasant world to visit.  Readers, including tweens, who picks up this book, may just go along for the relaxing ride.  Following the realization about their imminent separation, the cousins start to make the best of the situation as they realize that they can look forward to future get-togethers and they can especially focus on the upcoming wedding of Aunt Lucy to Michael and Michael is a person the cousins all adore.  Tweens will certainly benefit by learning from reading of characters that cope with one of life’s disappointment and make the best of a situation.

On My Honor

By Marion Dane Bauer

(1955, 1986) ISBN 0899194397

One can only hope that young readers, especially tweens, will take time to glance through this book and then proceed to travel through the pages of this interesting tale.  The subject is a serious one and the lesson learned while achieved is valuable for both the book’s characters as well as for readers who will learn it in this second hand fashion.  What is learned with this reading may actually serve as a lifesaver in the future.

After promising his father, on his honor, to refrain from risky behavior Joel proceeds to fall under the influence of a risk taker and tragedy strikes.  This aspect of the story is of course heartbreaking but its telling can be invaluable for young readers of this story and readers will see Joel going through the grieving process.  Joel starts out making much use of rationalization to a great extent as he tries initially to cope with the consequences of his life choices.  However when Joel does decide to reach out, although in anger, and by blaming another person, does resolution begin to be reached.  This story also demonstrates clearly the great value of one’s family in coping with the pain of loss.

The Newbery Honor (1955) award was well deserved.

And Then There Were None

By Agatha Christie

(1939) ISBN 0312330871

This is one of the most intriguing of the books that have the fortune to be included in the mystery genre.  Written by one of the major masters of mystery books, this tale has been presented on the stage and on the screen.  The most satisfying means of enjoying this story however is in the reading of it.

Reading the recounting of how ten people invited to an island by an unknown host are then killed one by one, by person or persons unknown, and with each upcoming death, all the remaining guests, by now fully unwilling guests, the level of terror climbs higher and higher.  It does not seem to matter what means the guests take to protect themselves.  They can’t seem to hide or to protect themselves and forming alliances with one another is totally out the question inasmuch as no one can conjure up sufficient trust of one another.  This book truly presents the ultimate in pleasurable reading for hardcore mystery genre aficionados.

What makes this particular mystery so perfect is that at the end, it is almost impossible to guess the identity of the person responsible for the deaths.  It is clearly established that there are no survivors and even the police detectives are baffled.  Christie however is not that heartless and there is an explanation that makes perfect once the reader is led to it in a postscript.

Tweens can especially have a wonderful time reading this well written murder classic and in the process will have the opportunity to learn a great deal about human motivations that are quite complex.

The Spell of the Sorcerer’s Skull

By John Bellairs

(1984) ISBN 0803701225

In the midst of a February fun get away, Johnny Dixon and his companion, Professor Roderick Childermass, find themselves stranded when the professor’s vehicle loses a battle with the snow.  Their only choice is to take shelter in the closest inn and that chance decision will color their lives for the next few months and lead to a life or death situation.

The first thing that happens when the travelers settle down for a quiet night is that they learn the innkeeper has in his possession a clock with the name Childermass engraved on it.  Johnny and the professor accept the offer to take a look at this timepiece.  As they view this clock, the professor states that the dollhouse portion of the clock is a replicate of the Childermass parlor and that the figure in this dollhouse parlor represents an uncle who died mysteriously within the actual family parlor of the family home in Vermont.  There is an accidental touching of a skull that is the contained within the clock’s parlor.  This incident leads in a short time to Johnny having to reach out for help from others when the professor turns up missing, nowhere to be found.

With the help of several friends, Johnny succeeds in finally locating the professor but not before several scary moments which include encounters with witches and warlocks.  Johnny finds he must not leave much to chance.  Not to be overlooked is the diligent library research work in which Johnny and his friends engage in during their search for the actual location of the missing professor.

Twisted Summer

By Willo Davis Roberts

(1996) ISBN 0689804598

Cici is a girl in a hurry.  This year, after spending the precious summer elsewhere, fourteen year old Cici’s family is headed back to their usual vacation site at Crystal Lake joining their extended family as well as various other families with whom they have become close friends.

This year Cici looks forward to fitting in with the big kids since she is almost fifteen and she especially longs forward to the possibility of being considered as a girlfriend by seventeen year old, Jack.  Upon arriving at Crystal Lake Cici is dismayed to learn that during the year she missed at the lake, Jack together with his family has been snubbed by the community due to the murder conviction of Jack’s older brother, Brody.  Cici decides to remedy this situation by making it her mission to clear Brody, who she believes is innocent.  Cici sees this endeavor as also an opportunity to get closer to Jack and his family and in Cici and Jack do work well together manage to come with justice for Brody.

 

The action throughout this book is well paced, the characters are highly believable and there is not a dull moment and as such highly recommended for readers in the tween age group.

The Hardy Boys, undercover brothers. #18, D.A.N.G.E.R. spells the hangman

By Scott Lobdell

(2009) ISBN 9781597071604

Frank and Joe are presented here in Manga style as they go undercover to stop a madman who has threatened to erase the competition in the national spelling bee.  When the reigning best speller is called away to serve another duty, Joe does double duty as the stand-in as the school’s spelling bee contestant.  This however leaves Frank with double duty in attempting to solve the mystery of who is the threat to the safety of the spelling bee contestants.

The Manga style of this adventure adds to the entertainment and excitement of this adventure and makes for a fun experience for the tween audience.

Dear Mom, Get Me Out of Here!

By Ellen Conford

(1992) ISBN 0316153702

Paul Tanner’s parents have accepted a work position in Switzerland and in order to catch their plane, they drop Paul off at his new boarding school, Burnside Academy, without ever meeting with the headmaster.  They feel somewhat confident about the academic standing of the school inasmuch as Uncle Jack attended this institution thirty years prior and since Uncle Jack has achieved much and is in fact very prosperous.  Paul, however, quickly learns that relying solely on past conditions of institutions can be such a mistake.

At Burnside the food served to the students is atrocious, the plumbing leaves a great deal to be desired and that is just the beginning of the list of atrocious conditions that the Burnside boarding school students must face.  The school’s teachers do any thing but teach and the coaches are extraordinarily lacking in any athletic skills or ideas as to what is involved in athletics.

Paul finds that while his fellow students are very much academically challenged to begin with and not being helped scholastically due to the poor quality of the school’s faculty, the students have bonded and are quite co-operative with one another, and in fact are a good hearted lot.

So when Paul contacts his mother, via mail in this pre-cell phone era setting, and asks that his parents inspect the school, he has conflicting feelings about leaving.  Things have changed and he does not want to leave his new friends.  All that Paul and his school mates ever want is for the leadership of the school to be changed.  The readers of this very enjoyable book will have fun learning just how the creative lads at Burnside achieve this goal.

Bridge to Terabithia

By Katherine Paterson

(1977) ISBN 0690013590

This is a book with many twists and turns.  Readers are first introduced to Jess Aarons, a fifth grader who has prepared himself all summer for the start of school and its upcoming athletic contests with his fellow students only to find that he and the rest of the boys have been bested by the newest student.  Most annoying of all, that superior athlete is a girl and there is not much chance that Jess will be able to avoid running literally into this competitor in as much as she, Leslie Burke, turns out to be Jess’ new next door neighbor.

The reader is next surprised when Jess and Leslie form a fast friendship.  Part of the reason that these two young people become such close friends is the fact that they both possess strong and beautiful imaginations.  With this in common, the two friends create an imaginary and quite separate play area in the woods near their homes.  Their play area, which Jess and Leslie consider to be their kingdom, can be reached only by the use of a swinging rope.  Jess and Leslie, name this secret kingdom, Terabithia and they literally seem to consider this place their heaven on earth, a refuge from bullies and other unpleasant challenges common in the world of tweens.

All does not go well for our young friends when one of them drowns trying to reach this private kingdom one day.  The most difficult aspect of reading this beautifully written book is learning of this turn in the story and having to look on as the surviving friend struggles to copy with this loss.  Inasmuch as this story is beautifully told and also is a very good depiction of a tween friendship, this book is highly recommended even with the challenge presented by the loss of a beloved character.

Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You

By Barthe DeClements
(1985) 9781413148503

This book with the attention grabbing title has wonderful qualities as well as aspects that had they been addressed in greater depth would have resulted in a book closer to excellent.  The matters not discussed sufficiently include the over mischievous behavior of the main character, Helen Nichols. However once the obstacles that our main character faces, readers perhaps will understand the frustrations that may account for Helen’s misbehavior at times.

Helen Nichols is excellent in her mathematics classes, athletic endeavors as well in her music activities.  What plagues Helen is a condition that has plagued far too many members of our world for too long but which has fortunately has been begun to be addressed by educators with far better skill in the past few years.  We, however, must continue with greater vigilance to identify and assist sufferers of the condition which causes Helen so must unnecessary physical discomfort and academic frustrations.

Helen Nichols, our very normal and well liked sixth grader, is quite convinced that she will not make it to seventh grade because of the academic failures that constantly befall her in one area of her studies.  Helen’s mother means well, absolutely loves her daughter and works very hard with Helen to overcome the school obstacles that this condition present but the reader will quickly realize that the wrong approach is being employed. 

It is now widely acknowledged that sufferers of dyslexia will not benefit from spending hours upon suffering hours of approaching learning to read in the conventional approach and in this story, once Helen is placed in the special reading educational setting, she benefits tremendously and learns to accept herself as being not “dumb” but rather a regular kid.

Jacob Have I Loved

By Katherine Paterson

(1980) 0690040784

Commencing the reading of this book can be somewhat painful for anyone who has ever experienced sibling rivalries.  Of course we are aware that such rivalries can be normal occurrences in families and that most families survive these challenges.  In fact those readers who do complete the reading of Jacob Have I Loved are rewarded with a tale that ultimately has a happy ending and is well written.

The book’s main character, Sara Louise, has always felt herself undervalued by her family who she is convinced love only Sara Louise’ twin sister, the more beautiful and talented Caroline.  The reader can see quite clearly from the first page that Sara Louise has almost crippled herself emotionally due to all the suspicions and resentments that she bears towards her sister.  It almost gets to the points that readers may begin to wonder whether Sara Louise is either imaging slights against her or whether the family is actually abusive towards Sara Louise.

As this story progresses and Sara Louise continues in her struggles to come to terms with her different disappointments.  Due to the unhappiness that she has caused for herself, or at least has exaggerated, Sara Louise almost passed up an opportunity for a well deserved college education.  Fortunately she listens to the advice of a friend and takes the opportunity she deserves.  Eventually Sara Louise grows to the level she deserves and even considers entering the medical profession, as a doctor.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

By E. L. Konigsburg

1968 (068985322X

Unlike the stories of the usual run aways that newspaper readers are informed of and that cause much vicarious worrying, Claudia Kincaid is a very much prepared eleven year old girl.  Before setting out to absent herself from her family, the family that Claudia views as taking her for granted as well as placing too demands on her, Claudia pinpoints the exact place to which she wishes to run.  Yes, the place to run to is even more important inasmuch as we learn from the beginning that Claudia is not one to welcome discomfort or cold or hunger.  That is how Claudia decided on running to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where one can live in comfort if one is careful not to be discovered by the museum personnel.

As soon as Claudia begins to make her plans she realizes that being short of savings, not being one to put off spending on treats, and she must find someone with a bankroll, so to speak.  That is how Claudia decided to bring her brother, Jamie, who never spent any of the loot he has ever acquired.  Jamie is flattered by being let into this plot and agrees to join her.

With all the intrigue that Claudia and Jamie must involve themselves in while secreting themselves from the security personnel and also attempting to solve a mystery about one of the museum statues this story has so much to hold the interest of readers.  Readers of this book have ranged from ages of nine and on up.  When these readers are quizzed years later, they tend to sigh with pleasure and agree that this is one of the greatest books ever.  No wonder that it won the Newbery Award in 1968.

Bernie and the Bessledorf Ghost

By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor   ISBN 068931499X

For readers, especially tweens, this is a wonderfully comfortable read.  Lovers of mysteries will be pleased with the good, steady pace of the plot and the solution to this mystery will be quite touching and make somewhat sense to a number of the readers whether they be tweens or just general readers.

There is always something in this book to hold the interest of the reader be it the maneuvering and sleuthing activities of Bernie, the main character, or the supportive efforts of Bernie’s eccentric family as everyone in the family bands together to bring an end to the mystery of the nightly re-appearance of a ghostly boy, who coincidently appears to share Bernie’s age, eleven years.

Bernie’s mother, an imaginative person possibly due to the fact that she is a romance writer, leaps to the immediate conclusion that this boy wants to take Bernie away.  With this motivation, Bernie immediately gains his mother’s support and therefore also his father’s in the nightly mystery activities that take over the entire household and even the hotel occupants.  Readers who engage in a good amount of library use may especially get a laugh at Bernie’s imaginative use of his local library.  Bernie takes library use seriously.

While this work is part of a series of books that feature Bernie and his family, the Magruders, this work can be enjoyed on its own by readers who are totally new to this wonderfully entertaining family circle and tweens will be able to identify with the initiative efforts that Bernie, the main character, puts into this mystery solving.

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

By David A. Cam

1980 ISBN 0670200395

We join Cam Jansen, as she and her friend Eric commence their spring vacation with a visit to the mall.  It may be time off from school but there is never time off for this sleuth when Cam and Eric find that they have been sitting right in the vicinity of an actual jewelry store robbery and all they were trying to do is baby-sit Eric’s baby brother, Howie.  Eric’s mother had left Eric in charge of Howie while she shopped with the remainder of Eric’s siblings, twin sisters.  In solving this robbery, the police are greatly puzzled when the person who seemed the culprit is found with no jewels on his person and no opportunity of disposing of the evidence.

As related in previous episodes, Cam has the advantage of possessing in her brain, the equivalent of a traveling surveillance but she actually still has to also use her detective’s reasoning and logical strategies for any mystery solving.  It is when Cam and Eric follow up on the missing facts and the original suspect, that they are able to solve this robbery.  The amount of action in this book is enough to keep the interest of the readers and most likely keep them as fans.  While Cam and Eric place themselves in danger fortunately they receive the proper amount of assistance and live to tell the tale.  Hopefully readers will not follow their risky example and risk their safety in any similar situations.  The illustrator, Susanna Natti continues to provide us with good insight into the characters and the action of the story.  We are given enough details to keep our interest in the story.  We get to know the characters well with the use of the illustrations.  Cam Jansen continues to be fun for all her readers.

When You Reach Me

 

By Rebecca Stead

9780385737425

In this book, awarded the 2010 Newbery Award, our main character is Miranda a sixth grader who presents the reader with a good representation of the present day life style of many young people around us.  Yes, Miranda is a Latchkey Kid living with her mom in New York City.  Miranda’s father is not in the picture.

Miranda and her next door neighbor, Sal, another sixth grader, negotiate their way every day back and forth to school past the homeless, in particular one man who sleeps at night under the mailbox, and the older youths who hang around and look menacing to the passing Miranda.  Miranda and her mother, a paralegal, have their dreams for a possible financial windfall should Miranda’s mom be successful on a game show.  The preparation for this game show has become a family project with even Richard, mom’s boyfriend, taking part by lending his support also.

Early in this story Miranda is presented with the challenge of trying to determine the identity of the sender of notes that are coming her way in mysterious methods.  These notes convey the baffling message that the writer will be coming to save the life of a friend of Miranda’s but that Miranda must write back to the writer of these notes.  For almost the entire length of the book the identity of the note sender is unclear.  However the reader to who takes note of Miranda’s interest in time travel will consider that the final turn of this book makes more sense.

The Westing Game

By Ellen Raskin
(1968) 0525471375

The “Westing Game” is thoroughly intriguing, complex in its plot and full of characters upon characters.  It is suggested that it’s reading is undertaken only by readers with a sufficient amount of time as well as a location where distractions can be held to a minimum.  The variety of twists and turns as well as character transformations in this work call for readers who are able to pay close attention.  It is the confident view of this reviewer that overall, readers will be well rewarded for their efforts.  There is never a dull moment in this book but it is necessary to focus fully from start to finish.  This book, winner of the Newbery Award in 1968, is one of the most enjoyable mystery books that this reader has ever encountered.

In that the main character, at least a very important one, is a 13 year old girl, this book seems ideal for the Tween audience.  This work however can be fully enjoyed by a very wide age group.  The interesting constant twists and turns that start from the beginning and end only when one closes the book ensure the attention of its audiences no matter who they are.

The main theme of the book is that of a huge fortune available to one of 16 potential candidates, with the winner to be the one who is able to determine who is person responsible for “taking the life of Samuel W. Westing”, the person who is the extremely wealthy person after whom this book is named.  To help you start solving this mystery, the immediately preceding sentence has been written so as to contain two important hints to get you started in the “Westing Game.”

A Series of Unfortunate Events: Book the First, The Bad Beginning

By Lemony Snicket

(1999) ISBN 0064407667

With warnings galore we decide to venture nevertheless into the unique world of the unfortunate Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny.  We start our acquaintanceship as their world falls apart with the deaths of their parents (we are told of the deaths, no bodies found) and the loss of their beautifully comfortable home, these incidents brought about by a great fire.  Their problems are compounded by the sketchiest of provisions for their care left by the parents.  There seems to be a good case for a malpractice suit against who was their attorney.  Per the terms of the parents instructions, only a relative can take charge of the trio and no specific persons were named and certainly no research was done so as to eliminate the odious and dangerous Count Olaf who claiming to be a relative immediately takes charge of the children and immediately set out to separated the children out of their huge fortune, a fortune that is not to be touched until Violet come of age and we quickly learn Olaf’s way around that problem.  It is due to their own resources that the Baudelaires do manage to live another day and escape from the Count’s clutches at least for the time being but since this is only the first volume in a series there is much suffering or fun to look forward to depending on how you like your reading or the bend of your sense of humor.  The Illustrations give the reader the proper start from the beginning and keep the mood in the right course, the unfortunate world of our friends, the Baudelaires.  This series is quite unique and the one comparison that comes to mind is the old films called The Perils of Pauline.