Jo Schmo

DINOS ARE FOREVER by Greg Tine (Harcourt, July 2012) introduces readers to the newest superhero: Jo Schmo. When her uncle sends her a cape and an instruction book for superheroes, Jo is puzzled. Soon, though, she is hunting down criminals assisted by her slobbery sidekick, Raymond. Great good humor, an unusual sidekick, and a sometime dotty grandfather add to the funny business. In order for Jo to fly, for instance, she is told to think lofty. Turns out that sponge cake is the Key to thinking lofty. Art by Frank Dormer adds to the hilarity. <319>





WYATT BURP RIDES AGAIN (Harcourt, July 2012) is the second adventure of Jo Schmo. This time Jo has to travel back to time to undo the dastardly deeds of Wyatt Burp. Jo, handy with tools and tinkering, travels back with her slobbery sidekick, Raymond, to apprehend the criminal (and perhaps change history). Meanwhile, back in real time, two of Jo's classmates plan to bring her down. <320>

Frankly Fantastic

FRANKLY FRANNIE: MISS FORTUNE by AJ Stern (Grosset and Dunlap 2012)marks the return of the indomitable Frannie. It is Dad's birthday, and Frannie's mother has hired a fortune teller for entertainment at his party. Now Frannie is sure what she needs to become, a fortune teller! She makes her own tarot cards, borrows a bowling ball from a friend, and off she heads to school to open her new business. Of course, telling fortunes has some possibilities of disaster. Can Frannie handle the consequences of her predictions? <311>

Earwig and the witch

EARWIG AND THE WITCH by Diana Wynne Jones (Greenwillow 2012) gives readers a heroine who can stand up to all manner of beasts. Earwig has been happy growing up in the orphanage. When she is selected by a couple who want to adopt her, she is, quite frankly, disappointed to be leaving a place where she is firmly in charge. That is most certainly NOT the case with her new home at 13 Lime Avenue. Bella Yaga and the Mandrake are not really in the market for a child. Yaga wants a slave, and Mandrake just wants some peace and quiet. With the assistance of the witch's familiar, Earwig manages to wrest control and take back her life. <150>

spare and lovely

KINDRED SOULS by Patricia MacLachlan (Katherine Tegen Books 2012)is simply a beautiful story of the love between a grandfather and his grandson. Our narrator, Jake, is 10. He adores Billy (no one calls grandfather anything other than Bill) who is 88 years old and will live forever (according to Jake). Each day during the summer, Jake and Billy walk the farm. They visit with the cows, put food in the hummingbird feeder, and enjoy each other's company. Billy's old sod house still has a tiny remnant left up by the slough. When Billy falls ill, Jake is determined with the help of his family, to rebuild that sod house for his beloved grandfather. MacLachlan's story celebrates all that is warm and wonderful about a close knit multi-generation family in this spare and moving novel. <123>

tuck a kleenex inside the covers

SIGN LANGUAGE by Amy Ackley (Viking 2011) is one of those books that a poet once wrote should come with kleenex tucked inside. Twelve year old Abby's father has terminal cancer. The first half of the book follows Abby and her family as they deal with Dad's declining health and eventual death. However, the second half of the book deals with the grieving process of Abby and her mother. Anger, denial, depression: it is all here. Abby pushes away all those close to her in her desperate grief. <533>