The Children's Hour - Children's Book Reviews - Middle Grades (10-12 YRS)

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS
MIDDLE GRADES (10-12 YRS)
NOTABLE BOOKS 2007

Middle Grades

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THE RAVEN LEAGUE: BUFFALO BILL WANTED!
written by Alex Simmons/Bill McCay, (Razorbill, $10.99, ISBN 978-1-59514-073-9), 208p, Ages 9+.
Continuing their exploits from "The Raven League: Sherlock Holmes Is Missing", Wiggins, Owens, Dooby, and Jenny meet Buffalo Bill Cody, when his Wild West show performs in London during the reign of Queen Victoria. Little do they realize that they are about to become involved in a dangerous human trafficking operation. This time, their famous detective friend Sherlock Holmes isn't around to help. With clever detective work at the exhibition grounds and waterfront alleys, they seek to prove Buffalo Bill's innocence and capture powerful villains.

ON THE WINGS OF HEROES
written by Richard Peck, (Dial Books, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-8037-3081-6), 160p, Ages 10+.
Boyhood memories from World War II are recalled in this humorous and poignant story of a midwestern family and their courage, sacrifice, and love for one another. Davy Bowman adores his father and older brother, Bill. When the war begins in 1941, Davy and his family adjust to scrap metal drives, blackouts, tire rationing, and Boy Scout paper drives. Bill enlists as a B-17 bombardier pilot, but life changes drastically when Bill's plane goes down in Europe. Radio news is crucial, and grandparents arrive to help. Davy's heroes are his dad and brother, but there are other heroes on the home front. A retired teacher steps up to help in Davy's classroom, when his teacher joins the war effort. "Under Miss Titus we learned a lot more than we'd meant to. Spelling counted. Everything counted, and she ran our grade like Parris Island boot camp for the marines." With honesty and warmth, this delightful coming-of-age novel is a great read. Characters are memorable, humor abounds, and sacrifices pull families together.

THE MAN WITH THE RED BAG
written by Eve Bunting, (Joanna Cotler Books, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-06-081828-9), 208p, Ages 9-12.
On spring break twelve-year-old Kevin Saunders decides to accompany his grandmother on a bus tour to Wyoming and South Dakota. Months after 9/11, Kevin is particularly suspicious of fellow tour member Charles Stavros, who is extremely protective of his red duffle bag. Convinced that this stranger is not a typical tourist interested in seeing the Great Salt Lake, the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone National Park, aspiring mystery writer Kevin keeps a journal of Mr. Stavros' strange appearance, mannerisms, and bandaged hand. With Geneva, another bus traveler, Kevin sets up surveillance, as both believe that Stavros plans to bomb Mt. Rushmore. When they finally realize that Stavros is not a terrorist, both are surprised to learn of the patriotic reason for his trip. Filled with memorable places and themes of jumping to conclusions and judging others, this story may present opportunities to discuss subjects of patriotism, panic, and racial profiling.

GREGOR AND THE CODE OF THE CLAW: BOOK FIVE IN THE UNDERLAND CHRONICLES
written by Suzanne Collins, (Scholastic Press, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-439-79143-4), 352p, Ages 9-12.
In this fifth and final installment to the Underland Chronicle series, 12-year-old Gregor learns that he is the warrior of The Prophesy of Time, which foretells of his death. With help from Humans, Fliers, Crawlers, and Nibblers, he gathers courage to defend the underground city of Regalia from an army of approaching rats. A new code, which the rats use to transmit information, must be cracked. There is a new princess (his sister) to contend with, as well as the dark side of his nature as he fights the huge white rat, Bane, to the death. Readers will sympathize with Gregor who feels torn between returning his family safely to New York City and leaving human and animal friends behind in the bittersweet conclusion. For those who love this series, it will be hard to forget the many endearing, yet flawed, characters. In the fantasy genre, this is one of the best.

WHAT-THE-DICKENS: THE STORY OF A ROGUE TOOTH FAIRY
written by Gregory Maguire, (Candlewick Press, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7636-2961-8), 304p, Ages 10-13.
As a natural disaster passes over their home, three children huddle together by candlelight and listen to a unique fairytale told by their visiting cousin, Gage. To keep the children from worrying over their missing parents, Gage tells them about the realm of skibbereen (tooth fairies) and one particular orphan skibberee, What-the-Dickens. Born alone, he discovers an attraction for teeth, develops an attachment to a white cat, befriends a feisty tooth fairy, who is working as an Agent of Change (trading coins for teeth), and learns about a tribe of skibbereen. Written as a story within a story, each of the children, as well as Gage, need the fairy tale to get through the stormy night, but the two oldest struggle between needing the magic of the fairytale and their parents' teachings of faith and reason.

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