The Tattooed Potato by Ellen Raskin

Title: The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues Author: Ellen Raskin
ISBN 13: 978-0606153492
Originally published in 1975

Newbery Award-winning author Ellen Raskin is a masterful storyteller and The Tattooed Potato is an excellent example of intrigue and obfuscation and detection!  Just who is Garson?  Is he really the two-bit portrait painter of New York's upper crust?  Or is he the elusive painter Sonnenberg? Or worse, Sonnenberg's murderer?  And what's with his alter-ego Inspector Noserag?  Is Noserag real?  Is Garson real?  Who is really responsible for the deaths that span decades in this dark and mysterious novel?  If you liked The Westing Game or any other novel with quirky characters and a clever plot, you must read The Tattooed Potato!

Caduceus: Staff of the Alchemist

Resource: Free Online Game
Creator: FableVision and the Childrens Hospital in Boston
URL:  http://kids.generationcures.org/play
Ages: 10+

In 2009, the American Library Association (ALA) named Generation Cures: Caduceus as an example of great interactive software for kids.  Noting that it was a free game that could be played online, I decided to check it out!  The ALA was right!  Caduceus is a great game!  It's not really a role playing game, but you do have to get into character.  A plague has killed thousands of your countrymen and you are a brilliant student determined to help find a cure.  Commissioned by the Children's Trust at the Children's Hospital in Boston, this puzzle-type game asks kids to think and encourages philanthropy.

Creating an account was easy.  The FableVision software laid down very specific ground rules.  They said I couldn't use my real name to login and, since they reserve the right to approve all user names, I figured I wouldn't be able to use my real name even if I tried.  I was also reminded about some rules of conduct.  No name calling, play fair, NEVER give my personal information, and so on.  I liked that FableVision was looking out for me.  To create my account, I needed an adult's email address.  Still, everything was spelled out nicely for any young user.

In addition to Caduceus, FableVision has many other products behind its name including: the Lure of Labyrinth game; and Animation-ish an animation program selected by the ALA in 2009 for its exemplification of great interactive software for kids.  They have created interactive websites for the likes of PBS, Jim Henson, and the National Academy of Sciences; and have animated many information videos for museums and hospitals.

Young Fredle

Title: Young Fredle
Author: Cynthia Voigt
ISBN 13: 978-0375864575
Publication Date: January 2011

In the tradition of other valiant and lovable mice comes Fredle.  Inedible Fredle, as he comes to be known, is a curious house mouse who gets pushed out of his nest when he's poisoned by a peppermint patty.  Having never seen the outside of a kitchen, let alone the outside of the house, Fredle has to survive the great outdoors with limited house mouse skills.  He's an earnest little mouse, and that serves him well in his adventures as he makes friends with some dogs, some woodshed mice, a family of cellar mice, and even endears himself to a clan of racoons.  He escapes a house cat, a black rat snake and the hungry talons of a bird of prey, and he witnesses beauties no other house mouse has ever lived to see.  With all the attributes of a little hero, Fredle discovers what it takes to be himself no matter what world he lives in.

Shake Rattle & Turn That Noise Down!

Title: Shake Rattle & Turn That Noise Down--How Elvis Shook Up Music, Me and Mom
Author: Mark Alan Stamaty
Publication Date: January 2010
ISBN 13: 978-0375846854

A very quick and funny read.  This memoir reveals one boys' love of rock and roll music and how that love helped him succeed as a cartoonist, helped him outperform his fears, and helped him to meet the President Bill Clinton.

Told in a graphic novel format, this book chronicles the true story of a boy who uses his love of Elvis, and rock & roll music, to help him overcome fear and shyness.  His interest in Elvis music also helps to propel him from local fame to national celebration.  A very entertaining book, that not only reveals Elvis' role along a continuum of transformational figures in the history of rock, but also delivers the information in a dynamic and current manner.  An excellent choice for any library serving tweens or teens!  An ALA Notable Book.

Nothing Black or White, only A Million Shades of Gray

Title: A Million Shades of Gray
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
Publication Date: January 2010
ISBN 13: 978-1416918837

A Million Shades of Gray is an excellent book!  Set in South Vietnam just after the Americans disengage from battle, this is the story of courage, strength, perseverance, faith, selflessness, and war.  Y'Tin, the youngest elephant handler in Vietnam, and his family are in danger because he belongs to a clan of people who corroborated with the Americans during the war.  Y'Tin soon learns that war never ends as his family seeks refuge by hiding in the jungle.  A poignant and very moving story of a young boy growing up at war.     

GirlsHealth.Gov -- Be Healthy. Be Happy. Be You. Beautiful.

URL: GirlsHealth.gov
Creator: Office of Women's Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This site offers comprehensive information about girls' health issues and is maintained by the Office of Women's Health.  I love this website.  It is very easy to navigate.  The information provided is easy to digest.  I love that it offers personal stories of kids who have experienced the various issues discussed.  I love that it gives factual and complete responses to questions about bodies, relationships, bullying, drugs and more; and that it offers links to other sources of help and information.  It's section on relationships is very valuable in that if offers advice on dealing with conflicts between girls and their friends, girls and their families, and girls and their boyfriends.  Oh, I almost forgot, I love that it has extensive information for Spanish speaking families.  Spanish speakers are given complete access as the entire website is well-translated.  It's amazing.  A very valuable resource for tween girls and anyone who works with them!

Nujood Ali--International Hero of Women's Rights

Title: I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
Author: Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui
Publication Date: March 2010
ISBN 13: 978-0307589675

In this true story told by the main character, we learn about Nujood a ten-year-old Yemeni girl who is married off as a child only to suffer rape and abuse at the hands of her husband who is in his 30s.  In a culture where women are subservient to the point of invisibility, Nujood shows the greatest courage by escaping her deplorable situation and running to the nearest court of law.  There she tells her story, determined to seek the asylum of divorce, and is assisted by many powerful Yemeni and international human rights advocates.  She bucks patriarchal dominance and is granted freedom from an abusive marriage.  More than that, she becomes the voice of Yemeni girls, many of whom must suffer the same wrongdoing.

The contents of this book are serious.  It reveals a true picture of an impoverished Yemeni family.  While the principle tenets of Yemeni culture are portrayed as matters of fact, so is the abuse that becomes inherent to it when poverty levels become so extreme.  This book could prompt important classroom discussion for teachers of 7th or 8th grade.  Because of the stories of rape and abuse, it might not be appropriate to younger tweens.  Still, this book is powerful and is told using language that tweens could relate to.