Book of the Month Archives

This page contains annotated citations for the books that have been highlighted as a Longfellow Lions' Book of the Month.   Selections are listed in reverse chronological order.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Found. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2008. Grades 6 and up.
     Twelve years before a plane had appeared from nowhere and landed at a small airport. There was no pilot or flight attendant aboard, only 36 babies strapped carefully into the seats. Now Jonah and his friend Chip , both of whom are adopted, begin receiving mysterious letters, the first of which says only, "You are one of the missing." The second warns, "Beware. They're coming back to get you." Thus begins a mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, blow their minds with a surprise twist, and leave them eagerly awaiting the second book in the new Missing series.
 

Mowll, Joshua. Operation Red Jericho. Candlewick, 2005. 271 p. Gr. 7 and up.
   The first book of the Guild Trilogy quickly and deftly plunges readers into an exotic corner of the first quarter of the twentieth century. Teenage siblings Rebecca and Douglas run through a series of adventures in a submarine, on the streets of Shanghai, and among pirates. They are bold, inquisitive, and creative, and they leave behind for readers' inspection numerous documents of their adventures, including Becca's diary, Doug's sketches, and such visual artifacts as maps and photos. First-time novelist Mowll spins a heady yarn, and his characters have some distinctive traits: Doug's speech, for example, is peppered with the term lethal. The reproductions, which are highly detailed, look suitably authentic and will have great appeal for readers who thrive on schematics and puzzles.

Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight. Little Brown, 2005. 512 p. Gr. 8 and up.
   This heady romance intertwines Bella Swan's life with that of Edward, an alluring and tormented vampire. Bella's life changes when she moves to perpetually rain-soaked Forks, Washington. She is instantly drawn to a fellow student, Edward Cullen, beautiful beyond belief and angrily aloof. Bella senses there is more behind Edward's hostility, and in a plot that slowly and frighteningly unfolds, she learns that Edward and his family are vampires--though they do not hunt humans. Yet Edward cannot promise that his powerful attraction to Bella won't put in her in danger, or worse. Recklessly in love, Bella wants only to be with Edward, but when a vicious, blood-lusting predator complicates her world, Bella's peril is brutally revealed. This is a book of the senses: Edward is first attracted by Bella's scent; ironically, Bella is repelled when she sees blood. Their love is palpable, heightened by their touches, and teens will respond viscerally (excerpted from Booklist, 11-05-05).

Sachar, Louis. Small Steps. Delacorte, 2006. 257 p. Gr. 6 and up.
     Two years after the events portrayed in "Holes," Theodore Johnson, aka Armpit, Camp Green Lake's overweight bully, is back home, working, trying to finish high school, and spending a lot of time with Ginny, a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy whose family lives on the other side of his family's East Austin duplex. He's doing a good job of staying on the right side of the law until his old Camp Green Lake buddy X-Ray shows up with a scheme to get rich quick by scalping tickets to an upcoming concert. Inevitably, this leads to complications, and Armpit, who has been trying to take "small steps" on the straight and narrow, finds himself once again running afoul of the criminal justice system. In his first major novel since "Holes," Sachar explores issues of race, the nature of celebrity, the invisible connections that determine a person's life, and what it takes to stay on course.

Irwin, Steve and Terri Irwin. The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin. Dutton, 2001. 160 p. Gr. 7 and up.
     People were shocked and saddened to learn of the unfortunate accident that took the life of wildlife advocate Steve Irwin early this month. But it was Irwin's life rather than his death that was important. His conservation and wildlife education work made him a world-wide celebrity and did much to protect the animals he loved. This entertaining read is filled with Irwin's enthusiasm, wit, and passion for the natural world; fascinating stories of the couple's life and adventures; and black-and-white and color photographs.

DiCamillo, Kate.  The Tale of Despereaux.  Candlewick, 2003.  272 p.  Gr. 2-7.
     The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin are detailed in this 2004 Newbery Award winner.

Paolini, Christopher.  Eragon.  Random House, 2003.  544 p.  Gr. 7 and up.
     In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.

Zevin, Gabrielle.  Elsewhere.  Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2005.  288 p. Gr. 7-10.
   15-year-old Liz Hall, the victim of a hit and run driver, wakes up on a ship to Elsewhere in this original look at the afterlife. Life on Elsewhere is much like life on earth, except that its citizens age backward until, as a baby, they are set afloat in the river to return and be born into a new earthly life. Liz tries desperately to cling to the shreds of her former life, but eventually learns to move on, finding family, friends, and love in Elsewhere. Zevin ignores theology and focuses on developing her complex protagonist and telling an intriguing, satisfying story.  At the same time she manages to convey deeply positive themes of love, loss, and letting go.

 
    Fiction            Non-fiction

Benchley, Peter.  Jaws. Doubleday, 1974; reissued by Random House, 2005. 320 p.
     Gr. 7 and up. 
__________. Shark Life: True Stories about Sharks and the Sea. Adapted for young
     people by Karen Wojtyla. Delacorte, 2005. 193 p. Grades 5-8.

     One author, one subject, two genres.  Thirty years ago Peter Benchley's novel and the movie adapted from it cast the shark as a merciless villain and made people afraid to go in the water.  The book and movie remain classics of terror today.  Benchley, an ocean conservationist and advocate for sharks, now turns his hand to non-fiction to show readers that sharks do not have to be feared.  In Shark Life he tells true stories about his own adventures with sharks and offers readers a guide to being safe in the water, learning how to read the behavior of marine life, and what to do in dangerous situations. Benchley says, "I couldn't write Jaws today... It used to be believed that great white sharks did target humans; now we know that, except in the rarest of instances, great white shark attacks are mistakes."

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  New York : Scholastic, 2005.  652 p.
     Harry Potter returns for his sixth year at Hogwarts, but all is not well. War is brewing in the world of wizards and witches, and that war threatens to spill over into the Muggle world as well. Lord Voldemort's power is growing, his Death Eaters are becoming more and more bold, and the wizarding world is touting Harry as "The Chosen One," the only one who can defeat the dark Lord. Dumbledore  begins private tutoring sessions to help Harry understand his past and future. Yet Harry and his friends remain typical teens, struggling with classes and homework, sports, and first loves.  The Dark Mark lights the sky above Hogswarts, ushering in a heart-wrenching ending that is sure to leave readers questioning as they eagerly await the final volume of Harry's tale.

Beard, Darlene Bailey. The Babbs Switch Story.  New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux.  166 p.
     In 1924, in Babbs, Oklahoma, 36 people died when fire broke out at a Christmas party in the town's one-room schoolhouse.  As a note makes clear, the event inspired Beard's novel, but the incendiary relationships, not the fire, fuel it.  Twelve-year-old Ruthie Tillman tires of the idiosyncrasies of her older sister, Daphne, who is "not right in the head."  Colorful, period-flavored dialogue keeps this tale moving at a fast clip as it explores the complexities of friendship, family dynamics and the awkward but exhilarating steps toward first love.  Beard makes plentiful references to the '20s; at the same time, her evocation of the jumbled feelings of adolescence, both loving and hating a sister (or a pesky boy), are timeless.

Shusterman, Neil. The Schwa Was Here. Dutton, 2004.
     A Brooklyn eighth-grader nicknamed Antsy befriends the "functionally invisible" Calvin Schwa, a boy who is tired of blending in with his surroundings and being overlooked by everyone.  When he actually begins to fade away, he vows to do something to get everyone's notice, so much so that the Schwa will become unforgettable.

Farmer, Nancy.  House of the Scorpion.  Atheneum, 2002.  400 p.  Ages 11-14.
     As Matt, a clone of the 142-year-old powerful drug lord El Patron, grows from a boy to a young man with intelligence and ideals, he tries to reconcile his love for El Patron with the knowledge of the real reason he was created.

Sequoyah Children's Book Award Winner

Kehret, Peg.  Stranger Next Door.  Dutton, 2002.  176 p.  Ages 10-16.
     Alex has moved into a new neighborhood, leaving behind his old school and all of his friends except Pete, a cat whose presence comforts him.  Pete is intelligent, listens, and understands Alex, but will a cat's help be enough to save Alex from imminent danger?

Soto, Gary.  The Afterlife.  New York : Harcourt, 2003.  161 p.  Grades 7and up.
     Chuy, a senior at East Fresno High School, is brutally murdered in the restroom of a club where he has gone to dance, but his spirit continues on a journey of personal exploration.  As he drifts though his hometown, he manages to achieve many of the things he didn’t when he was alive--recognizing how much he is loved by family and friends, saving a life, punishing a thug, and even falling in love in this richly textured coming of age story.

Polacco, Patricia.  Christmas Tapestry.  Philomel, 2002.  unpaged.  Gr. 3 and up.
     A minister's family works hard to repair a run-down inner-city church in time for the Christmas service.  A roof leak causes the plaster to fall from the wall shortly before the service is to begin, but in a nearby secondhand shop they find a beautiful Christmas tapestry that is just the right size to cover the damage.  When the boy hangs the tapestry he begins a Christmas miracle that will heal broken hearts and unite families.

Hampton, Wilborn.  September 11, 2001 : Attack on New York City.  New York : Candlewick, 2003.  145 p. Gr. 6 and up.
        Wilborn Hampton says that "no single event since the attack on Pearl Harbor has so traumatized and galvanized the American people....  And the only way to begin to understand the horror of what occurred on September 11 was to recount it through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand."  This book details the attacks and personal stories of several New Yorkers who lived through the collapse of the World Trade Center, including the author, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, NYPD firefighters, and many more.  Hampton does not gloss over the horror of the attacks, but focuses on the courage of the survivors, making this an inspiring testament to the spirit of New Yorkers and all Americans.

Pratchett, Terry. The Wee Free Men.  New York : HarperCollins, 2003.  272 p. Gr. 6 and up.
     Discworld is colliding with the world of Faerie, and the two are beginning to overlap allowing faerie creatures to escape into the real world.  Young Tiffany Aching's baby brother is stolen by the Faerie Queen, and it's up to Tiffany to rescue him.  She needs magic, and she needs it now!  The magic lessons don't work out well, but she does have the help of the Nac Mac Feegle, the Wee Free Men.  The small, blue, heavily tattooed clan loves nothing more than fighting, drinking, and stealing, and the chance to do all three at once is too much for them to resist.  Tiffany, heavily armed with an iron skillet, her wits, the feisty Feegles, and a talking toad proves to be a formidable adversary for the cruel and selfish Queen.

Trueman, Terry.  Inside Out.  New York : HarperCollins, 2003.  128 p.   Gr. 6-12. 
      Zach is waiting in a Spokane coffee shop to meet his mother and get his antipsychotic medication when two teenage brothers try to rob the business.   The police arrive and a hostage situation ensues with Zach having increasing difficulty following his captors orders as his medication wears off and his schizophrenia makes itself evident. 

Flinn, Alex. Breathing Underwater. HarperCollins, 2001. 272 p. Gr. 7 up.
     It was only a slap. Well, maybe more than one. And maybe Nick used his fist at the end when the anger got out of control. But his girlfriend Caitlin deserved it -- hadn't she defied him by singing in the school talent show when he had forbidden her to display herself like that?  Nick  justifies his violence with arguments like these until he is arrested for physically abusing Caitlin.  A judge orders him to take part in a family violence class where he must examine the anger and fears that fuel his abuse in this compelling novel.

Hahn, Mary Downing.  Look for Me by Moonlight.  New York : Clarion, 1995.
   While staying at the remote and reputedly haunted Maine inn run by her father and pregnant stepmother, sixteen-year-old Cynda feels increasingly isolated from her father's new family and finds solace in the attentions of a charming but mysterious guest who is never seen in daylight hours.

Rennison, Louise.  Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging : Confessions of Georgia Nicolson.  New York : HarperCollins, 2000.  256 p. 
     If you enjoyed the film Bridget Jones' Diary you will be captivated by this humorous and entertaining book! Georgia records the momentous events of her life--and they are all momentous--in her diary, forming a truly hilarious account of what it means to be a modern girl. Georgia struggles with the myriad issues facing teen girls--boys, of course being at the forefront-- with humor and honesty. 

Nelson, Peter.  Left for Dead : A Young Man's Search for Justice for the USS Indianapolis.  New York : Delacorte, 2002.  201 p.
     Documents how eleven-year-old Hunter Scott was inspired by a passing reference in the movie Jaws to research and uncover the truth behind a historic World War II naval disaster aboard the USS Indianapolis.  His efforts led to the reversal of the wrongful court martial of the ship's captain. A full-color photographic inset and a preface by Hunter Scott round out the volume ( excerpted from Publisher's Weekly). 

Beard, Darlene Bailey. The Babbs Switch Story.  New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux.  166 p.
     In 1924, in Babbs Switch, Oklahoma, 36 people died when fire broke out at a Christmas party in the town's one-room schoolhouse.  As a note makes clear, the event inspired Beard's novel, but the incendiary relationships, not the fire, fuel it.  Twelve-year-old Ruthie Tillman tires of the idiosyncrasies of her older sister, Daphne, who is "not right in the head."  Colorful, period-flavored dialogue keeps this tale moving at a fast clip as it explores the complexities of friendship, family dynamics and the awkward but exhilarating steps toward first love.  Beard makes plentiful references to the '20s; at the same time, her evocation of the jumbled feelings of adolescence, both loving and hating a sister (or a pesky boy), are timeless.

Harry Potter fans, get ready to meet Artemis Fowl!

Colfer, Eoin.  Artemis Fowl.  New York : Scholastic, 2001. 
     Who is Artemis Fowl?  A genius.  A millionaire.  A criminal mastermind.  And he is only twelve years old.  Yet as crafty as he is, Artemis may have met his match in Captain Holly Short, an elf from the LEPrecon Special Forces, when he plots to steal the richest treasure the world has ever known - the timeless treasure of the fairies!

Pullman, Phillip.  The Golden Compass.  Knopf, 1996.
     The protagonist of this complex fantasy is, Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Oxford University. But it quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own--nor is her world. For one thing, people there each have a personal daemon, the manifestation of their soul in animal form. For another, hers is a universe in which science, theology, and magic are closely allied.  A universe in which Lyra must learn to use the golden compass to read the truth and save the children of her world.

Viorst, Judith.  Sad Underwear and Other Complications.  Atheneum, 1995.
      This collection of poems in a variety of formats is a companion to Viorst's earlier If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries.  Most of the poems are comical, but many are surprisingly thought-provoking.  Readers of all ages will enjoy the snap and clarity of the poems and have fun with the language Viorst uses.

Peck, Richard.  A Year Down Yonder.  New York : Dial, 2000.
      This sequel to Peck's Newbery Honor-winning A Long Way from Chicago (Dial, 1998) is narrated by Mary Alice, who is now fifteen and has been sent to live with her formidable Grandma Dowdel after her father loses his job in Chicago-a casualty of the 1937 recession. Grandma is still dispensing her own brand of justice in her small Illinois town, and, as before, Mary Alice soon finds herself an accomplice to many of Grandma's brazen schemes in these hilarious stories that rest solidly within the American literary tradition of Mark Twain and Bret Harte.

Sachar, Louis.  Holes.  Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1998.
     Stanley Yelnats, wrongly convicted of stealing a pair of sneakers, is sentenced to Camp Green Lake where the young residents must dig holes five feet wide and five feet deep each day.  Stanley soon realizes that the boys may be digging for a reason besides building character, that the warden is looking for something specific.