weaving through storyland

Though the temperature was near 90 this morning, I think I was suffereing from frostbite and hypothermia as I wandered with Hazel through the frozen woods of BREADCRUMBS (Walden Pond Press, October 2011) in search of her lost friend Jack. Hazel and Jack have been friends for years. They have dived into a wading pool filled with ice to beat summer heat; they have jousted with plastic swords. In short, they always are together. They help one another through the dark times. But now, something has changed. Jack gets something in his eye one day on the playground, and before long he wants nothing to do with Hazel. As she is trying to cope with this heart-shattering event, Jack simply disappears. Hazel heads off into the woods off the sledding hill, the last place Jack was seen. It will be a journey that will test her in many ways. <390>

Here is a book that is firmly set in the real world but that wanders into the land of fairy tales easily without skipping a beat. This retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's THE SNOW QUEEN also includes references to texts as far ranging as WHEN YOU REACH ME, and CORALINE with mention of Narnia and Dictionopolis. Other fairy tales leave traces (THE RED SHOES is memorable) as well. What sets this apart, though, is the lyricism of the language. Here is a small example from Chapter Nine: "Trees stretched up into the darkening sky like yearning giants, their thick branches contorted and mean from reaching out for something they could never grasp" (p. 109). The possible ladder rungs for this might include:

CLOAKED and BEASTLY by Flinn
THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND IN A SHIP OF HER OWN MAKING by Valente
NOAH BARLEYWATER RUNS AWAY by Boyne
RECKLESS by Funke
BEAST, CRAZY JACK, SPINNERS by Donna Jo Napoli

chilling out

Even though it has been in the triple digits outside this past week, I have been chilled through and through as I read Mike Mullins' ASHFALL (Tanglewood, October 2011). When a supervolcano erupts in Yellowstone, ash spews far and wide turning daylight into darkness. Alex is home alone when this happens: his parents and younger sister have gone off to visit family in Illinois while he stayed home in Iowa. Without electricity, running water, and food supplies things turn nasty quite quickly. Alex decides to leave his neighborhood and travel to Illinois to find his family. It is a journey fraught with many dangers. First, there is the ash which is caustic to breathe and hard to traverse. Marauders looking to prey on innocent travelers pose any even bigger threat. Readers who loved Susan Beth Pfeffer's trio of books beginning with LIFE AS WE KNEW IT, will definitely want to read this novel. Chapters are short (3-5 pp.) making this ideal for a quick read aloud every day; it should also appeal to reluctant readers because of the action-packed scenes where Alex must defend himself and others. <370>

There will be a sequel to ASHFALL in 2012, ASHEN WINTER. You can read an excerpt on the author's web site: www.mikemullinauthor.com

Illegal

I took some time this weekend to do some more reading. I love those rare days when I can sit and read most of the time. I read Bettina Restrepo's first YA novel (she had written a children's book a few years ago). ILLEGAL (Katherine Tegen Books 2011) is told in a series of short chapters that function almost as vignettes as readers meet Nora, a teen living in Mexico. Her father has gone off to Houston to work and, hopefully, send money home to the family grapefruit orchard. But weeks pass since the family has last had word (or monies) from Dad, and Nora and her Mother undertake a dangerous trip across the border aided by a coyote (one who preys on illegal immigrants). They arrive in Houston barely alive but determined to find Father. What they learn about America, about how illegals are treated, and about the fate of Father is a compelling read that draws the reader into the book and into the heart and mind of Nora. <355>

The writing is strong here. The language is at once lyrical and strong with verbs propelling the action forward. This examination of the immigrant experience through the eyes of a teen is one that reluctant readers will appreciate (for the short chapters) and avid readers will as well (for the incredible use of language). There are precious few books with Hispanic main characters. Here is one to offer to readers that can open their eyes and minds to what one suffers to come to a new country and survive.