Sink or Swim

WHATEVER AFTER: SINK OR SWIM by Sarah Mlynowski. Scholastic Press, 2013.

The Little Mermaid is the fairy tale into which Abby and her brother Jonah travel when they enter their magic mirror. Abby knows the original story by Hans Christian Anderson and knows it will not end well for the mermaid. Surely, she and her bother can set things right?

Beholding Bee

BEHOLDING BEE by Kimberly Newton Fusco. Knopf, 2013 (Listening Library audiobook)

Bee always takes care to cover her "diamond," the birthmark on her cheek that causes folks to stop and stare and make rude comments. This is not easy when she has to work at the hot dog stand of a traveling carnival. Her guardian, Pauline, does what she can to protect Bee. But, one day, Bee and Pauline are separated. Bee is left to deal with Ellis, the cruel owner of the carnival. Before long, Bee is heading out, running away accompanied only by a dog and a tiny pig. Somehow, Bee manages to find her way to a house, a place where she is welcomed by two elderly women, women no one else seems able to see. This coming of age story, set during WW II, is about acceptance, about love, and about family.

The return of Moose

AL CAPONE DOES MY HOMEWORK by Gennifer Choldenko. August, 2013.

Moose and his mates are back in another adventure mystery set on Alcatraz in the 1930s, the days of Al Capone’s imprisonment there. When Moose’s dad is promoted, there are hard feelings among both the guards and the inmates. So, when the family’s apartment catches fire, Moose is certain it is the fault of someone upset with the promotion. Unfortunately, there are other residents of the Alcatraz employee housing that believe the fire is the fault of Moose’s sister, Natalie, a young woman who today would be diagnosed on the Autism spectrum, but then was just seen as someone dangerous. In order to clear his sister’s name, Moose must enlist the help of the other kids who live on Alcatraz. And a cryptic note, ostensibly from Al himself, might just be the pivotal clue in this mystery. Though the book is third in the series, it will stand alone. However, the reading is so much richer if you have read the other two titles. Choldenko combines mystery with a good helping of humor.